The Pitch Clock: Jake Storiale & 2004 Baseball Card Trivia

[0] You're listening to Draft King's Network.

[1] Welcome to the pitch clock.

[2] Here's the pitch, a two -part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert.

[3] This is the pitch clock.

[4] Pitch clock is back.

[5] And before we get to our interview with an expert, we have two fellow members of the shipping container with me today.

[6] We have Chris Cody and Mike Ryan.

[7] Taylor, why don't you go ahead and let us know what today's game will be?

[8] I'm on fire in this thing.

[9] The baseball cards are back.

[10] We have the complete set of 2004.

[11] It's divided into three piles.

[12] We're not doing the who's got what?

[13] Everything okay.

[14] Always nervous, dude.

[15] This desk is so small.

[16] This desk is miniature.

[17] But we have A, B, and C, Jeremy A, Mike Ryan B, Chris Cody C. That's it.

[18] And so I actually, I don't believe I've played this specific game.

[19] So could you explain the rules to the audience?

[20] Yeah, a very small watch.

[21] I do have a very small watch.

[22] I'll give you a name from the 2004 complete set Tops Cards.

[23] You have to just tell me what team were they on this card.

[24] It's like a doll's watch.

[25] This is where I famously said Carlos Zambrano.

[26] What's a giant?

[27] Was a giant.

[28] Okay.

[29] All right.

[30] So I'm A then, so I'll go first.

[31] Correct.

[32] The first name up, Robin Ventura.

[33] And it's going to be seven rounds.

[34] And what year are we talking?

[35] 2004.

[36] 2004.

[37] All right.

[38] So that's every card.

[39] that you're pulling is from 2004, so we have to guess the team that this player was on in 2004.

[40] Correct.

[41] Robin Ventura was on the New York Mets in 2004.

[42] Incorrect.

[43] Dodgers.

[44] Okay, so we don't get to steal.

[45] Okay, good.

[46] Are you allowed to curse?

[47] Are we allowed to curse?

[48] Can curse if you want.

[49] It's going to be bleep.

[50] But you can curse.

[51] Mike Ryan, Gary Sheffield.

[52] In 2004?

[53] I'm going to say New York Yankees.

[54] He wasn't Yankees.

[55] That was right.

[56] Damn.

[57] I knew that one.

[58] I knew it too.

[59] I did not.

[60] A years I would have got wrong.

[61] That one I would have Yeah, right.

[62] Chris Cody?

[63] Orlando Hudson.

[64] Oh.

[65] The O'Dow.

[66] A national.

[67] He was at one point.

[68] Does the room know it?

[69] Yeah, can I take a guess?

[70] No steals, but...

[71] No seals?

[72] He was...

[73] Was he a Diamondback?

[74] Nope.

[75] He was a Blue Jay?

[76] He was a Blue Jay.

[77] He was a National.

[78] He was a Washington player at some point now.

[79] He might have been.

[80] Okay.

[81] Jeremy, round two.

[82] Harvey Vasquez.

[83] It's Vasquez.

[84] Javier Vazquez in 2004, was he a San Francisco giant?

[85] White Sox?

[86] No!

[87] Can I guess?

[88] Was he a New York Yankee as well?

[89] He wasn't a Yankee?

[90] White Sock?

[91] Uh -uh.

[92] Wasn't he a Marlin?

[93] No, not.

[94] Go ahead.

[95] Tell us.

[96] He was an Expo.

[97] Okay.

[98] Oh.

[99] Right.

[100] Forgot those guys.

[101] This is devastating.

[102] All right.

[103] So he wasn't a Washington National.

[104] Yeah, definitely not a Washington National.

[105] We're no Washington National.

[106] If they were Montreal X -Bel.

[107] Well, wait, that would have been bullshit if you, you got to give me that one.

[108] No, no, yeah.

[109] That was another point of contention last time.

[110] The half point that we kind of let linger on too long.

[111] Doug Glanville, Mike Ryan.

[112] Oh, I know.

[113] Doug Glanville in 2004?

[114] I'm going to say Doug Glanville was a Chicago Cub in 2004.

[115] Oh, that would have been my guess.

[116] Where was he at?

[117] He was a Philly.

[118] Wow.

[119] But I thought he got, okay.

[120] No, I knew he was a Philly.

[121] I just thought he was a cub by that.

[122] He was a cub.

[123] year before.

[124] Yeah, I was remembering 03 and I'm like 04 is close enough.

[125] This is pretty disappointing.

[126] We've only gotten one right so far Chris.

[127] Chris Cody.

[128] I got this.

[129] Al Leiter.

[130] 04?

[131] Don't make gestures.

[132] Small watch.

[133] So tiny.

[134] I like my one.

[135] I'm going to go with I'll just go with the Mets.

[136] He wasn't in that.

[137] He was a net.

[138] Devastating.

[139] And now our expert from this week's episode of the pitch clock is going to be from John Boy Media.

[140] We have Jake Story Ellie talking Jake on socials.

[141] Jake, first and foremost, thank you so much for joining us today and blessing us with your presence here on the pitch clock.

[142] Hey man, thank you and Matt, expert doesn't get thrown out a lot.

[143] So a little nervous about that one, but I'm excited to yuck some ball.

[144] Yeah, well, we know what you're talking about when it comes to baseball and that's why we're excited to have you here because we're going to start right here with some of the best teams in baseball.

[145] Right now, it's the Dodgers, the Yankees, the Phillies, and the Orioles with the four best odds to win the World Series.

[146] So if I asked you right here sitting here today, of that group, which would you say is the most likely to actually win it all?

[147] Ooh, of that group today, and we joked about this beforehand, but you're not getting Yankees out of me. Yankee fans are in a weird spot with the crew right now.

[148] I think if I had to put my actual hard -earned money on it, I'd probably lean Dodgers.

[149] Like, they haven't been whole all year.

[150] Mookies missed a ton of the season.

[151] They have a full pitching staff on the IL.

[152] Right.

[153] While they kind of have a pitching staff back that, you know, whether whoever comes back, whether it's Glass Now, Yamamoto, and even if they don't, they're still positioned okay.

[154] That, yeah, the Dodgers just got Muncie back.

[155] They just got Tommy Edmund back.

[156] So the Dodgers have been one of the best teams while still playing with one arm tied behind their back, that I want to be surprised if they get hot.

[157] We've seen San Diego and Arizona have their hot streak.

[158] I want to be surprised if the Dodgers have another hotter streak while they've already been better than these teams.

[159] So they're the safest one at this point.

[160] We certainly know that the pressure is on that team to go ahead and win it this year, given what the payroll looks like, given what that roster looks like.

[161] And you're right, as they get healthy, we can only anticipate.

[162] anticipate that they'll get stronger and stronger.

[163] Jake, when it comes to the best record since the All -Star break, we talk about those teams that have had hot streaks.

[164] He got the Padres, the Diamondbacks, and actually the Brewers as well, all those teams with the 643 winning percentage over that stretch.

[165] So all in different positions, obviously the Brewers lead their division by a landslide and they're going to go ahead and win the Central.

[166] The other two teams were talking about here in the Padres and Diamondbacks, they're leading the wild card in the National League.

[167] if I had to say, hey, one of those teams is going to go on a run and steal that National League pennant from the Dodgers, which one of those three teams would it be?

[168] Man, that's tough for me because I have been welcomed into Diamondbacks culture with welcome arms.

[169] It throws off a lot of Yankee fans.

[170] Do you not remember 2001?

[171] I do.

[172] And that's fine.

[173] but, you know, the rivalry's been cool since then that I would lean the two West Coast teams and it's so rude to the Brewers and rude to the Central.

[174] But it feels like we've done the Brewers game a lot where the snakes are the defending NL champs.

[175] They've been hot.

[176] There's an argument their team is better that you're not going to want to see them come October.

[177] I think, again, if this was real money, it just feels like something's happening.

[178] in San Diego right now.

[179] And they're doing it without Fernando Tatis Jr. That I love lineup depth.

[180] And I think where that Padres lineup currently is without Fernando and where they're going to be with him, I just believe in the postseason.

[181] Everybody has arms at this point, obviously, to different levels.

[182] Not everybody has bat.

[183] So if you have a one through nine that's relentless, and we kind of have seen that in the NL between the Phillies, the snakes just got.

[184] hot at the right time last year.

[185] And the Texas Rangers hit their way to the World Series, which, like, I feel like that's never happened before.

[186] And I think there's just so much good arm talent in baseball that I think hitting is going to become more of an October thing.

[187] Jeremy, Corey Koski.

[188] How old were you in 04?

[189] I was nine.

[190] Yeah, this is that should be...

[191] That's hard prime, though.

[192] Yeah, no, I'm disappointed that I haven't gotten one yet.

[193] And I, Corey Koski, I don't want to confuse him with another player, but I think he was a Chicago White Sock.

[194] No, Brewer, not at that time.

[195] He was a blue jay or a twin.

[196] He was a twin.

[197] Julio Lugo.

[198] Stroes?

[199] Yeah.

[200] He wasn't a Nash.

[201] He wasn't a Metshire.

[202] He wasn't a Mets?

[203] Where was he?

[204] Where was he?

[205] Whoa.

[206] So I can take the lead here.

[207] I can take the lead here.

[208] Okay.

[209] Octavio Dotel.

[210] Oh, boy.

[211] Oh, you mean a guy that played for 15 teams?

[212] A thousand teams.

[213] He played for like everybody in baseball.

[214] He only played for one of them, I think.

[215] Ethan blink twice if it's National League.

[216] He's not gonna do it.

[217] Say the name again?

[218] Use it in a sentence.

[219] Octavio do tell.

[220] Every team thinks they're in Octavio do tell away.

[221] That's a really good, that's a good sentence.

[222] The two teams that are coming in my mind are Astros and A's.

[223] I haven't guessed yet.

[224] Okay.

[225] He perked up though.

[226] But he perked up.

[227] Astros.

[228] He was a shrill.

[229] I got the perk.

[230] I read the perk.

[231] I read the perk.

[232] Wow.

[233] I did not give that way.

[234] Taylor gave it.

[235] I would not get it.

[236] We can review it.

[237] It's not you.

[238] Let's see the replayable.

[239] Let me see the perk.

[240] Yeah, we might need an instant replay.

[241] We might need to review the tape.

[242] But that means through what?

[243] Four rounds.

[244] Three rounds.

[245] Because Cody leads two to Mike's one to my zero.

[246] Now we're headed to round four.

[247] Jeremy.

[248] Ruben Sierra.

[249] In 2004.

[250] This is easy.

[251] I believe Ruben Sierra was in New York Yankee in 2004.

[252] I knew he was 03.

[253] I just didn't.

[254] Thank God.

[255] Okay.

[256] Off the Schneide.

[257] Mike Ryan.

[258] Bartolo Colon.

[259] That's tough, man. That's another one.

[260] He's played for a million teams.

[261] I'm pretty sure in 04.

[262] I think I know where he was at.

[263] Does he won a Cy Young in 05?

[264] Jeremy, shut your mouth.

[265] 2004.

[266] I think he was an angel?

[267] Guardian.

[268] This was a tough one.

[269] Yeah.

[270] It's the White Sox.

[271] I don't really remember him on the White So.

[272] But by 05.

[273] Did he win a World Series in 2004?

[274] Five, he was an angel.

[275] That's what I thought.

[276] He won a Cy Young for the Angels.

[277] I was pretty sure.

[278] That, I've been so close on mine.

[279] Let's go.

[280] Let me build this lead up.

[281] All right.

[282] So I've tied Mike.

[283] Chris has a chance to take a two -point lead here.

[284] Kevin Millwood.

[285] Oh.

[286] Stop giving them the easy one.

[287] Rangers.

[288] He wasn't a Ranger.

[289] Cleveland.

[290] Not Cleveland.

[291] Really?

[292] Philly.

[293] This is like.

[294] Man, 2004 is a strange year for all these players.

[295] He's getting the easy one.

[296] This is like using it.

[297] You would have guessed.

[298] what I guess.

[299] No, I guess Philly.

[300] You got the, it was clearly Philly after we had guessed.

[301] It's not because you got it wrong.

[302] I said this one's easy and then I got a right.

[303] There's clearly three teams he played for.

[304] Round five for me. Jason Kendall.

[305] I mean, Jason Kendall was a Pittsburgh Pirate.

[306] Oh, in 04.

[307] Is that right?

[308] Can I see all?

[309] So that's not right?

[310] Did he lock in a final guess?

[311] Look, he said Pirates.

[312] At this point, I said it.

[313] I'm going to, I'm going to It was the Pirates.

[314] Of course.

[315] That's the worst one you've ever selected.

[316] That guy played for one team.

[317] He played for the A's too.

[318] He was an A. That's That is such bullshit.

[319] But Pittsburgh Pirates there.

[320] I mean, maybe.

[321] I got anything over my shoulder if the Mike picked it up, yelling he was a cub.

[322] Yeah, at the very end of his career, right?

[323] At some point he was a cup.

[324] At the very, very end of his career.

[325] But yeah, Jason Kendall, I think.

[326] But you don't include him if the answer's pirates.

[327] Give me an easy one.

[328] That feels good.

[329] I've tied up with Chris here, right?

[330] Have you?

[331] Just random.

[332] You didn't get the one you were just on, right?

[333] Jeremy has two, but you also have this round.

[334] Yeah, up on.

[335] Mike Ryan to go to two.

[336] Omar Vescal.

[337] I mean, now we're just doing guys that are clearly with the team.

[338] Come on.

[339] Hold on.

[340] Or am I trying to trick Mike?

[341] He's played for...

[342] He did play for several teams.

[343] He played for, like, three teams.

[344] He played for the White Sox.

[345] He played for the Giants.

[346] He definitely played for the guards.

[347] Where was he in 04?

[348] I think...

[349] Oh, boy.

[350] Don't help me. Town on alert.

[351] This is another one that I'm going to get wrong by like a...

[352] In 04, I think he was...

[353] White Sock?

[354] He said White Sock.

[355] He was a Cleveland Indian.

[356] Yep.

[357] Guardian.

[358] Fine.

[359] Yeah.

[360] All right.

[361] All right.

[362] Let me take the lead.

[363] here.

[364] All right.

[365] Milton Bradley.

[366] Ooh.

[367] That's a tough one in 04.

[368] If he gets a run, can I guess?

[369] Yeah, because you know the two or three teams he played for so you're just going to guess the other one.

[370] Let Mike flex a little bit.

[371] Milton Bradley was throwing his helmet and arguing with umpires while playing for the Rangers.

[372] Did he ever play for the Rangers?

[373] I don't know.

[374] Yeah, I think so.

[375] A blue team.

[376] I can picture him.

[377] I was going to guess exposes.

[378] back -to -back, Cleveland.

[379] Yeah.

[380] Jeremy, round six.

[381] Tom Glaven.

[382] In 2004, Tom Glaven.

[383] You think it's easy, but it's right around then.

[384] So many times you guys have said this is easy, then you name three teams.

[385] It's right around.

[386] He's in the NLES to this point.

[387] I just don't know if he's a grade or met.

[388] And I don't want to be premature, but I'm going to say, I'm going to say that by 2004, he's in New York.

[389] Yeah, he is.

[390] He wasn't a match.

[391] Wow.

[392] Thank goodness.

[393] That was, I was really nervous about that one.

[394] Jeremy said the two easiest ones, Jason Kendall and Tom.

[395] Tom, when did he go?

[396] Let's find it out.

[397] When did he go to the Mets?

[398] I just knew that at that point.

[399] You know, drafted Tom Clavitton?

[400] Okay.

[401] You know who drafted Tom Clavitton?

[402] The L .A. Kings.

[403] He got drafted in the NHL.

[404] That's a fun fact.

[405] You know where Wayne Gretzky got drafted?

[406] Which, by the Braves?

[407] He was undrafted.

[408] I think you just joined with the Oilers when they expanded from the World Hockey League.

[409] So it's three to one to two.

[410] The best hockey player of all time was an undrafted player?

[411] Yeah, because he was already on the other.

[412] It's like basketball.

[413] You don't know.

[414] Mike's turn?

[415] Mike Ryan.

[416] Carlos Belcheron.

[417] In 2004.

[418] Easy.

[419] Not easy.

[420] No, man. Carlos Beltron played for a bunch of teams.

[421] So my options are my rights.

[422] My right?

[423] This era are Royals, Mets, and Trows.

[424] Those are your options for sure.

[425] Yeah, I think, so.

[426] I think I think I had it.

[427] It all depends on where.

[428] he is in the baseball card.

[429] I think he might have moved teams this year.

[430] I'm going to go Astros?

[431] It's not yet.

[432] That's what I thought it was.

[433] Really?

[434] I thought I thought Astros too.

[435] He was a royal still.

[436] Really?

[437] He got traded that year though, right?

[438] Because I think he blew up that postseason.

[439] I thought that 05 postseason was when he got traded.

[440] It doesn't tell me if he got traded later in the season.

[441] I thought 2005, for what it's worth, I'm remembering 2005 as the year that he was traded from, or I guess maybe two.

[442] It would have been 2005 he was traded to the Asho's.

[443] You need this to tie Jeremy going into the last round.

[444] Can you get me in Tom Glavin or Jason Kendall?

[445] I mean, I can't.

[446] Yeah, he was traded June 24th of O 'Four.

[447] Oh, four.

[448] Yeah, this has been really hard luck for me. That's tough, man. Except for Jason Kendall and Tom Glover.

[449] All right.

[450] Kenny Lofton.

[451] Okay.

[452] I think I know.

[453] Can I guess?

[454] I like this.

[455] Can I steal his?

[456] No, often.

[457] Let me think about this.

[458] In 04.

[459] Ethan, talk to me. Ethan.

[460] In 04.

[461] Don't look at his face.

[462] Can I just take this point?

[463] Give you $100.

[464] I'll take, uh, I don't really, this one's tough for me. I can only really, uh, I'll go guardian.

[465] He wasn't a guardian.

[466] I think he was a Yankee?

[467] He was a Yankee.

[468] Yep.

[469] All right, going into the last round, Mike Ryan has one.

[470] Jeremy has three.

[471] Let's go.

[472] It's not really one.

[473] It's not really one, though.

[474] Call it one and a half.

[475] You've been right there.

[476] I think everyone listening agrees that I'm in the league.

[477] I don't understand how you could say that.

[478] I'm following them straight back.

[479] I'm this shy from getting the timing down.

[480] They are random.

[481] They are random.

[482] Yeah, come on.

[483] Jake, I'm really interested in the reports that came out earlier this week about a potential six inning minimum for starting pitchers.

[484] I personally think it's really interesting and probably something that would be good for the game in the long run.

[485] For those who don't know what the rule would be, it would require.

[486] starters to pitch at least six innings unless they've reached 100 pitches, have given up four or more earned runs, or they get injured and that injury ends up putting them on the IL, that IL stint would be required.

[487] So Jake, what are your thoughts about this potential rule going into something like Major League Baseball?

[488] Yeah, so we've mold this over a little bit.

[489] And I actually our producer, Big Baby David, we did some light research on.

[490] And again, when you said experts that's kind of not our strength over here but um i think we we did some kind of unique math that found out like it would affect those rules would currently have affected like 20 % of starts which that's a chunk right that's one out of five that's every lap through the rotation um but again that would that's not having had the rule that teams probably would have adjusted and operated differently i'm open to it uh my concerns are what they are hoping to accomplish with the rule like they kind of want starting pitchers to become more star power again like that used to be the question hey you're going to the game who's pitching today that's kind of been out for a while now uh so i guess the question in my head becomes like chicken or the egg a little bit like i i hate to use this guy as an example and you know he's been friendly with us and unfortunately he's on the opponent right now corbin burns uh corin burns has been an ace for a couple years now he's on a team vying for the best spot in the American League.

[491] Like, Corbyn Burns is an ace in this game.

[492] And in the nicest way possible, this guy's come to our office.

[493] I don't know if, like, Corbin Burns doesn't necessarily move the needle the way I think MLB thinks it might.

[494] And it's not, Corbyn Burns don't grow on trees.

[495] Like, I don't, teams would love for more Corbyn Burns.

[496] So I think the star power that baseball is looking for from the old school pitching match, right, shares are versus Verlander today.

[497] Tune in.

[498] I don't know if that's going to solve it.

[499] The pitching world does need more change.

[500] And maybe it is this with the double hook that you'd lose your DH if you pull your pitcher before the six.

[501] I'm open to it.

[502] I'm open to any new rule if it can help improve the game.

[503] I mean, the past couple have, which has been awesome.

[504] And, you know, there's some other fun ones around it.

[505] Like, should we make more bullpen rules that if you bring in someone out of the bullpen, they have to face five batters or something like that?

[506] I don't know.

[507] I'm wearing, right now, I'm wearing one of our warehouse games jerseys.

[508] Let's go baggage.

[509] And it's fun because we make up all sorts of weird rules.

[510] And we have a lot less pressure because we don't have old -timey people being like, how could you change that where baseball does?

[511] So I'm open to some change.

[512] because I think pitching either way needs some tweaks.

[513] I don't know if that one is the solution.

[514] All right, so that means I have a one -point lead headed into the final round.

[515] I'm going to save Jeremy for the end.

[516] Jeremy, Gary Jeter.

[517] Hold on, I have three, Chris has two, Mike has one.

[518] This guy's really funny.

[519] I'm gonna save Jeremy for the last because if he gets this one, it's over.

[520] Yeah.

[521] Mike Ryan, your card is still the same pile for what it's worth.

[522] Yeah.

[523] Magliar Dona.

[524] I don't like that.

[525] Well said.

[526] I don't like that.

[527] I think it was a white sock in 04.

[528] You slurred there.

[529] I kind of swallowed that way.

[530] In 04, I think it was a white sock.

[531] He was a white sock.

[532] All right.

[533] So Mike's now got two?

[534] Yep.

[535] And Jeremy has.

[536] I have three.

[537] So Chris Cody, you need this to keep the game alone.

[538] Sidney Ponsone.

[539] Oh!

[540] Come on.

[541] I mean, come on.

[542] Rest and peace, right?

[543] Ethan, talk to me. I don't like Sydney Ponsone.

[544] he's not dead ooh could this be $50 wait Sydney Ponsone's still alive yeah he is Sydney Ponsone very much still that's a fine damn 47 ah fuck have you googled siny Ponsone just that I just I just Google Sydney Ponsone and I'll tell you I would not have gotten the team that he was with in 2000 oh he's from Aruba that's where I was confused what The Giants He was not a giant Disappointing part for you is he was in black and orange He was a Baltimore Oriole This is a weird card Yeah, did you know that he was with the Orioles Giants And then Orioles again?

[545] Yeah, he had one season And did you know that he's not good?

[546] Can I get my final one just to I'm sorry to Sidney Ponsone I really I can't believe you killed Sydney Ponsone It's okay Mike Your final card Jeremy With the win R &RUVIN Tino Martinez Tino Martinez in 2004 This is bullshit This is...

[547] No, I actually don't know.

[548] I'm not sure who you would have been.

[549] I'm gonna play you like I don't know.

[550] I think he was still the Yankee.

[551] He wasn't a Yankee.

[552] He wasn't a Yankee.

[553] You tipped, you guess Yankee.

[554] No, I said...

[555] Oh, hold on.

[556] I mean, it doesn't...

[557] Sure, I'll guess the Yankees.

[558] You get...

[559] Fine!

[560] Fine!

[561] I'll take the L on that one, but I win.

[562] He was a MET.

[563] He was a MET.

[564] He wasn't a MET.

[565] Dodger?

[566] Mariner.

[567] He wasn't a Manner.

[568] Oh my God.

[569] Who was he with?

[570] Was he a Ray?

[571] This is a Marlin?

[572] No, it wasn't a Marlin.

[573] He was a Cardinal.

[574] Oh, yeah.

[575] The captain of that's so easy, nobody knew he was a Cardinal.

[576] You jerks.

[577] That's, that was tricky.

[578] Sidney Bonsone.

[579] I think everyone.

[580] Oh, sorry.

[581] I believe you killed Sidney Bonsoe.

[582] I thought for sure he was dead.

[583] I'm like a dog with a bone on this one.

[584] I think everyone would agree I won this.

[585] And now, the rest of our interview, including some Yankees and Mets talk with Jake Storeelli.

[586] I know you and John Boyle.

[587] talk to Aaron Boone every week.

[588] And this week, he got pretty annoyed with you guys asking about potentially benching Anthony Volpe.

[589] He's kind of been in that little bit of offensive funk that I feel like he'll get there.

[590] What's there on Volpe?

[591] Because he's great defensively.

[592] So that allows, you don't need him to be a juggernaut offensively.

[593] But he's been...

[594] The most important spot.

[595] Come on, man. This guy's a player.

[596] You're like, yeah, the defense is great.

[597] We acknowledge that.

[598] Like, that's enormous.

[599] he's the best shortstop in the league defensively yeah he's sitting like a league average or below league average hitter well below yeah add it all up he's a he's a winning player like stop it i mean i can say stop it back if i want i disagree has two good offensive weeks and he's a 720 ops and the best defender in the league you got yourself a pretty damn good player right there he's going to get there to just have him not in the lineup next question seriously When you run the team, you can make that call.

[600] I just want to know what your thoughts were, what your reaction was to his sort of, you know, strong passion about how Volpe plays the shortstop position and why he should be in a lineup every day.

[601] So it's tough because there's three different worlds in play.

[602] There's the real world of a baseball team and athletes and how they operate.

[603] There's then the world of podcasting and conversation where we do hour long episodes three times a week that conversation is constant and flowing.

[604] And then there's a world of social media where it's give me that 10 second clip and oh, is Boone mad at them?

[605] For us, it's, there's an organizational problem where the Yankees, they're worried about the media becoming a thing because it's New York and I get it.

[606] And now look at us.

[607] Like we are part of the problem.

[608] That I think they try to get ahead of situations where they've said, you know, Anthony Volpe is a shortstop.

[609] and that's it.

[610] And defensively, he's been awesome.

[611] He's been so much better than his gold glove season from last year that defensively, and as a great shortstop, that's such a valuable person.

[612] I get that.

[613] I 1 ,000 % get that.

[614] Jimmy, you know, Jimmy, when he digs, he digs.

[615] And we had a little birdie tip us off.

[616] And Brian Cashman did a press conference last off season where he was like, you guys, wait, Volpe's going to go nuts.

[617] next year.

[618] And when he's an amazing hitter, you guys are going to compliment our minor league hitting program and blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

[619] We talked to Boone yesterday and they're like, hey, that great defense at short with a below average hitter, that's a good MLB player.

[620] And it's like, whoa, you know, those goal posts have shifted significantly.

[621] And I just think if the Yankees, like, Volpe was in a funk until yesterday.

[622] And hey, maybe we were part of the baseball gods that we're going to look up in a couple weeks and he goes nuts because he's shown the talent.

[623] But Volpe's gone through a couple funks this year when you've had guys like, Aswaldo Cabrera has had a really good stretch.

[624] Why not give Volpe a day off against the tough righty?

[625] Paraza is on the team right now.

[626] Him and Volpe were supposed to go toe to toe for a while.

[627] Parazzo was supposed to be better defensively that it's like, well, if he's going to be on the team for a week or two, why not get Volpe some rest?

[628] Like by trying to get ahead of a couple things, I think they've put themselves in a bad position baseball -wise that if Volpe had, you know, semi -regular gotten days off, or maybe if he even played a day at second base, oh my goodness.

[629] Like, if that had happened ever, then none of this would have been a problem.

[630] So we like Volpe.

[631] And he's 22 and he's shown a lot of good signs.

[632] But it's also like a lot of young players, most young players are bad at baseball.

[633] It's really up, you know?

[634] So like, in a way, are you hurting him by being like, hey, I know you're oh for your last 20, but go out and get this guy today.

[635] Like, sometimes that hurts more than it helps.

[636] Little time off to dig yourself out of a hole can sometimes be really great, even if not physically, just mentally to get that relief when you're playing in a marathon of a season.

[637] So, you know, we're talking about Volpe, but what are the vibes like around the Yankees in general right now?

[638] it's really interesting man we were at the uh the first ever fanatics fest this weekend and we had a blast it was a good time a lot of yankee fans obviously everyone's reaction uh it was kind of my like next part of the conversation because it's like oh we love you guys oh thank you oh what's up and then my my next pivot point if we need someone's like how do you feel about the yanks and almost everyone to a tee kind of did like the shrug like i don't know like we're good right like the record says we're good, we have star talent that is unmatched on a lot of teams ever with Judge Soto.

[639] Now Cole looks like he's back.

[640] That there's a lot to like, but there's also just a lot of holes on that offense.

[641] And the bullpen is scary.

[642] Like the rotations had their ups and downs, but there's bodies that are going to contribute, although Louis Heel leaves the game with an injury yesterday, although we're daydreaming that that may lead into more of a bullpen role going forward.

[643] The bullpen has been out of sorts for a little bit.

[644] And, hey, you can look at some teams in recent years, that Atlanta Braves team that won the World Series.

[645] Their bullpen going into the playoffs was actually out of sorts a bit.

[646] The Texas Rangers, who won last year, their bullpen coming into the postseason was like, oh, my God, bad.

[647] Oh, my God.

[648] I don't know, man. They are a good team.

[649] We would love if just a couple question marks could get a race.

[650] If Glaber could hit like Glaber, if Verdugo could hit like Verdugo.

[651] If, you know, if Nestor, Rodon was dominant going into the postseason, something like that would make Yankee fans feel a lot better.

[652] But right now we're good.

[653] Well, only the Rockies have a worse ERA among starting pitchers since the middle of June.

[654] So how much hope are you putting?

[655] into like Clark Schmidt's return to the rotation?

[656] I'm interested to see, you know, the more injuries you see over the years, the more skeptical you get.

[657] I think Clark's going to be good.

[658] I think they've slow played him because he's been there in a position where they technically can do that if you don't necessarily care about the division race.

[659] That I don't know, I view it as an opportunity.

[660] If Clark comes back and he's pitching like he did to start the year, you might have a three, four starter there in the postseason, which is.

[661] is incredible.

[662] If it looks a little different, then maybe you consider him for the bullpen, which is still a problem.

[663] So getting Clark Schmidt back will be a win in whatever fashion it is.

[664] But yeah, Garrett Cole, that's obviously one of the big ones.

[665] He's had back -to -back good starts.

[666] Rodon, the season overall, has been good.

[667] Some of the numbers are a little deceptive.

[668] He's had two blow -up starts that if you really get those out, and you could do this with a lot of pitchers, but his numbers with look much better.

[669] And yeah, I think a Nestor or a Stroman will go into the postseason hot.

[670] And I kind of like the makeup of both those guys in the postseason that I'm not too worried about the rotation.

[671] The good news is, is both of those guys you just named in Cortez and Stroman, those guys are gamers.

[672] Like those are the types of guys who thrive when the lights are on and they really want that pressure put on them in a start and postseason.

[673] So, you know, for me as a Miami guy, I'm hoping Jazz gets healthy and contributes to you guys making a run because it would be really fun to watch.

[674] Let's shift across town in New York real quick to the Mets.

[675] Obviously, there are a couple of games back of the Braves at the moment for the third wildcard spot in the National League.

[676] But a bigger question, are we potentially watching the last month of Pete Alonzo as a Met?

[677] Man, that's my guy, Jolly Olive, who works here, big Mets fan does some awesome stuff for our J .M. Baseball YouTube and his own.

[678] You know, He's the Mets guy in the office, amongst a handful of them.

[679] They're powerful but mighty bunch.

[680] That, yeah, I think that conversation has really opened up over the past couple days on one of my other shows.

[681] Wake and Jake, Jolly was like, I'm taking it in as a Mets fan as these could be the last five weeks of Pete Alonzo.

[682] And it's one of those things that doesn't sink in until you hear that sentence.

[683] You're like, what?

[684] Like Pete Alonzo, he is the Mets.

[685] like it's Pete they've got an interesting offseason coming.

[686] If he goes to the finish line and he has a couple good weeks, his numbers are going to be in line with his numbers and you just can't pencil in that many guys for 35 home runs a season or whatever Pete can bring in.

[687] There's going to be a big market firm.

[688] I try to put myself in a GM shoes and say like, hey, you know, if I was running a front office and that 35 homer a year right -handed hitting power first baseman slash DH and now there's 30 DHS is kids free agency and I've got the payroll to go get them.

[689] You go get that guy that it's very interesting to see the Mets approach with it.

[690] I don't think it's over like I think there's a number to be met with the Mets and Uncle Steve in that payroll that, you know, I'm hearing all these Soto rumors.

[691] Let's say that doesn't happen.

[692] Well, okay, maybe of that 600 mill, 150 goes to Pete.

[693] All right, Jake, final question for you here.

[694] Final question.

[695] We stick with New York.

[696] We look at both of the stars you just mentioned.

[697] Juan Soto and the Yankees, Pete Alonzo and the Mets.

[698] Which of those two stars is more likely to be on their same team come next season?

[699] Juan Soto is a Yankee or Pete Alonzo is a Mets?

[700] tough to cover the bias on this one but I'm wearing I'm talking Jake wearing a Yankees hat I literally wearing pinstripes I mean I know it's not Yankee pinstripes but still pinstripes here's what I will say I think the Alonzo discussion is interesting like the other teams you'd mention like Seattle has been looking to Welch a power thirst for a while who knows what other teams Cubs any any team can truly use Pete Alonzo the one that got our office scared the other day Houston Astros.

[701] Yikes.

[702] Like, if Pete goes there, start penning in 40 homers a year.

[703] I would say Soto to the Yankees just because they paid a decent price to get Juan Soto.

[704] Like, go look at what Michael King's doing this year.

[705] That's right.

[706] One of the other prospects they gave up, that brought in Dillon C's for them.

[707] Like, Padres ended up in an okay spot for trading away a guy like that.

[708] And for the Yankees, it has opened up a new core timeline for them with one.

[709] John Soto being 25, Austin Wells behind the plate, Volpe, like, they have instantly reinvigorated a new young core that I think, I think it's going to go down just like Judge.

[710] I think Soto's going to hit free agency.

[711] We're going to hear about the Blue Jays.

[712] We're going to hear a lot about the Mets.

[713] I'm sure Dodgers might rear their head.

[714] Why not?

[715] And always a mystery team.

[716] Shout out to our guy John Heyman.

[717] But I think at the finish line, and let's say it's 650, I think.

[718] I think Juan Soto is going to go back to the Yankees and say like, hey, you have to be in the neighborhood and that 600 or 575 will get it done.

[719] And that's exactly what Judge just did and laid out a game plan for two off seasons ago.

[720] It would be remarkable to see those guys play basically the rest of their careers together.

[721] But I also got distracted the moment Michael King's name was mentioned.

[722] I thought about the fact that the Marlins traded Michael King for Garrett Cooper and the Yankees traded Michael King for Juan Soto.

[723] Jake, thank you so much for joining us for this interview on the pitch clock.

[724] Sorry to end with that memory, but thank you.