2 Guys Talking Baseball
We’re Back! (Without Dinosaurs)
What if your favorite baseball team could turn their season around with just a few strategic moves? Join us as we return to the airwaves from our new home in Morristown, Tennessee, where we rekindle our love for baseball by catching up on the current state of our beloved teams. Brian laments the Chicago Cubs' pitching struggles amidst hefty financial outlays, while Dallas revels in the Dodgers' recent knack for winning close games, even in the face of injuries. This lively discussion sets the stage for our excitement about the new season and the evolving dynamics of these iconic franchises.
In the next chapter, we shine a spotlight on Tennessee's college baseball team and its standout players like Christian Moore and Xander Secrest. We also celebrate Dylan Drilling's historic homers and the unique presence of Kirby Connell, acknowledging the significant impact of college sports in the Knoxville area and the transformative role of head coach Tony Vitello. Our passion for college baseball is palpable as we outline our plans to cover more of it next season, along with major league updates and advancements in baseball technology.
Finally, we cover recent milestones in baseball, from Ryne Sandberg's inspiring resilience to Shohei Otani's extraordinary achievements. Our debate on the American League All-Star selections highlights players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, and Adley Rutschman, while underscoring the importance of representation with figures like Mookie Betts. We wrap things up with quick hits on cutting-edge pitching machines and quirky stories like the "Grimace Mets." Tune in for a jam-packed episode brimming with insights, debates, and a genuine love for America's pastime.
What if your favorite baseball team could turn their season around with just a few strategic moves? Join us as we return to the airwaves from our new home in Morristown, Tennessee, where we rekindle our love for baseball by catching up on the current state of our beloved teams. Brian laments the Chicago Cubs' pitching struggles amidst hefty financial outlays, while Dallas revels in the Dodgers' recent knack for winning close games, even in the face of injuries. This lively discussion sets the stage for our excitement about the new season and the evolving dynamics of these iconic franchises.
In the next chapter, we shine a spotlight on Tennessee's college baseball team and its standout players like Christian Moore and Xander Secrest. We also celebrate Dylan Drilling's historic homers and the unique presence of Kirby Connell, acknowledging the significant impact of college sports in the Knoxville area and the transformative role of head coach Tony Vitello. Our passion for college baseball is palpable as we outline our plans to cover more of it next season, along with major league updates and advancements in baseball technology.
Finally, we cover recent milestones in baseball, from Ryne Sandberg's inspiring resilience to Shohei Otani's extraordinary achievements. Our debate on the American League All-Star selections highlights players like Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Jose Altuve, Aaron Judge, and Adley Rutschman, while underscoring the importance of representation with figures like Mookie Betts. We wrap things up with quick hits on cutting-edge pitching machines and quirky stories like the "Grimace Mets." Tune in for a jam-packed episode brimming with insights, debates, and a genuine love for America's pastime.
Hello everyone, welcome inside. I guess this is the new location, three Crows Studios, beautiful Morristown, tennessee. We skipped down the road from Dandridge. A little lesson in Tennessee geography. My name is Dallas Danger. I'm joined by my best friend and colleague, brian Logan. This is Two Guys Talking Baseball. Brian Logan, we are back.
Speaker 2:We are back, finally, After a long hiatus. We are back in stride and ready to go this season we're back without the cartoon dinosaurs.
Speaker 1:Brian, are you familiar with the 90s cartoon film?
Speaker 2:we're back I was not, but you brought it to my attention and now I want to see it I don't remember anything about it.
Speaker 1:uh, I haven't seen it as an adult, I just thought that was a fun movie reference to sneak in there. But yeah, we're back. We're happy to be talking baseball again. Circumstances have changed a lot in our lives over the last two years, since the last time we hit record on this thing. Obviously, we're in a different location, brian has moved into a quaint little home and we've got a small room as opposed to a big studio, but we're kind of happy with it.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's very quaint. It's not the three-car studio that we're used to, but it will definitely do and we have just enough room to get exactly what we need done.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think you're right. I mean, I like the vibe in here.
Speaker 2:We got a ceiling fan which is good for the air circulation. Very nice, very nice and makes all the banners kind of wavy. Very nice, very nice and makes all the banners kind of wavy.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a little action for you. If you're watching on YouTube, or if you're not, you can probably hear the fan a little bit. Right right, All right, Brian. Well, let's remind everybody who we are. We met through professional wrestling. We sort of connected as people, though, with baseball. We're both big baseball fans. Brian's a huge Cubs fan, I'm a big Dodger fan. So, Brian, we're going to do a little check-in here. How are you feeling about the Chicago Cubs?
Speaker 2:Well, I still love my Cubs, but they've got to do something, man. I mean, this pitching is atrocious with a capital Rocious. Because I'm telling you, man, they we're back to the eighth inning, anything can happen and we can't play ball like that. The the pitching staff has got to get better well, it looks like they're trying.
Speaker 1:you know they picked up another reliever whose name escapes me, but you know tyson miller came off the dfa wire and has helped him out in the bullpen. It's just interesting with the Cubs because, with their track record over the last couple years ever since they broke up that great 2016 World Series team kind of all at once and just shipped everybody out you never know what they're going to be looking to do at the deadline, because half the time they act like they're in it to win it, half the time they act like they're tanking and you just never know which Jed Hoyer you're going to get. And I don't want to put all the blame on him, because I think it's more the ownership than anything. That's part of the reason I think Jed Hoyer's in his position is it was getting a little much for Theo and now he's just kind of the scapegoat. But yeah, we'll see.
Speaker 1:Maybe they'll go out and get some relief help at the deadline and really go for it, because the way it's going right now, every day they get further and further away from playoff position and I know we just hit the halfway point of the season really, so a lot of baseball left. But you're right, they've got to do something about the back end of that bullpen, because they're playing a lot of good close games and the offense is keeping them in ballgames and the starters are keeping them in ballgames for the most part. Then you get to those late innings and it just all falls apart. You're right, something's got to be done if this Cubs team is going to contend. But again, I think the question is do they even want to contend?
Speaker 2:Well, I think they came out there. I saw a list. They spent something like $239 million on players, and so they're spending the money. It's just the players aren't performing.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And Jed Hoyer gets blamed a lot by the Cubs fans, and maybe for good reason. But there are a lot of one-run games and you just have to win those games. You can't constantly lose one-run game for a week.
Speaker 1:You can't do that, you just can't do that and be competitive?
Speaker 1:Well, and that kind of segues into my Dodgers, because that's something that good ball clubs do. Good ball clubs beat the teams they're supposed to beat and they win close games more often than they don't. And that's kind of what the Dodgers have been doing. We just had a nine-game stretch, very conveniently on the calendar because right before we lost Mookie Betts for a pretty extended period, probably a couple months. Uh, max Muncy, already on the shelf. We got some pitching injuries we're dealing with too. But uh, seven and two in that nine game stretch beating the teams we're supposed to beat. Um, getting what we need when we need it. Uh, gavin Stone just last night, as we're recording, a complete game shutout first one in a couple years for the dodgers. Uh, first complete game by a rookie for the dodgers in in 11 years. Uh, shout out, hyunjin ryu, who's back in korea these days, but a lovable uh, dodger alum.
Speaker 1:But but yeah, I feel really good about the dodgers because this is a team that was put together to dominate. Uh, when you look at the, the money that was spent, the players that were put in place this season added to an already pretty good team. But the goal is not what we're doing now the goal for the Dodgers 100%, very clearly and very out front is what happens in October and the additions of Yamamoto and Glasnow and, of course, shohei Otani, the big one, who we'll get to what he's been doing lately a little bit later in the program. But, yeah, I feel really good about the Dodgers and, at the end of the day, world Series or not, go all the way or not, with this year's team, I really love this team. The identity of this Dodger team is really great. There are some powerhouse guys that don't get talked about a lot, miguel Rojas being one of them. He has started to, I think, make it very clear that he wants to coach and manage when his playing days are over and that's showing on the field and he's been a big part of Mookie Betts' success. There's plenty of discourse about the level of success Mookie's had at shortstop but from my point of view, watching him every day, he's doing about as well as you can expect and Miguel Rojas is a big part of that.
Speaker 1:I'm feeling good about the Dodgers right now, on pace to win 100 games. I think we're going to hit a good hot streak once we get some guys back, which is coming, but I like that, even with the injuries, we're not rushing guys back, we're not pushing guys. We're getting guys healthy because again, we know we can win this division with guys on the shelf. It's all about October because the last few years October has been nothing but heartbreak for this Dodger team.
Speaker 1:And you know one of the things when Shohei not to get too long-winded, but when Shohei came on board and they talked to him and asked him about why he chose the Dodgers, one of the things he pointed to was the fact that the front office told him flat out they view the last 11 years making the playoffs, winning the division, winning 100 games nearly every year, one World Series title. That's a failure. That's an organizational failure top to bottom, and I think that honesty and the idea that we have to do even better to feel like we're successful I think that said a lot, not only to Shohei but to me and to any other fan that heard that that's a big thing. So I'm feeling pretty good about the Dodgers. I hate that the Cubbies are struggling a little bit.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:It's funny, man. You go back and listen to the original 11 episodes we did of this podcast in 2022, which should be available in any podcast feed. They're definitely still on YouTube. If you want to go back and get a feel for what we were doing a couple years ago, please do that. But I always had faith in the Cubs, I mean, and even more so now with some of the additions they made.
Speaker 1:I love Shota Imanaga. He's finally hit his rough patch, but that's to be expected with anybody coming in first year. You know, from another league or from college, or from high school or minors, whatever. The big leagues is tough. I mean, the biggest step up is stepping into the big leagues from wherever you're coming from, whether it's AA, aaa, the MPB, the KBO. It's a big step up in competition.
Speaker 1:It's the best players in the world, especially now, in this digital age we live in, where scouts don't even have to get on a plane to see. You know players from other countries that are doing well and have prospects. You know, and that's always been the thing If you're good enough, they're going to find you. So Michael Bush I love Michael Bush man. He's fantastic. I loved him on the dodgers but but knew eventually this was going to happen and I'm so happy you went to a team that that I still kind of follow through you.
Speaker 1:And right, there's some other friends of mine, the cubs because I love michael bush and I think he's going to have a really long, successful career and, uh, potentially turn into a beloved player, uh, for the cubs. I mean, he's that type of guy. So, yeah, so that's how we're feeling about our teams, but we're going to get right back into things. The first thing that we're going to talk about today. The men's college world series just came to a close and our local boys maybe surprisingly finally got over the hump. The Tennessee Volunteers, tony Vitello's squad, are the national baseball champions. Brian and I both watched game three of that final series and Brian above all, that was a fantastic game. That was great TV, from the first pitch all the way to the last.
Speaker 2:It was so entertaining and for guys like us that watch a lot of baseball, it was good to see the college game played that way and be so entertaining and so competitive.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And it was just a pleasure to watch those boys play.
Speaker 1:It really was. I mean, top to bottom. Both teams deserved to be there. They clearly, you know I hate that A&M was without Braden Montgomery, projected first-round pick. You know, really solid player but still a lot of talent on that squad still fought until the end. I mean it ended up being a one-run game from a 6-1 lead and that speaks to Texas A&M's program.
Speaker 1:But we're going to talk about Tennessee and some of the things we saw. For me, I'd heard about Christianian more. I admittedly, you know and this will probably change next season if we, if we continue to do this podcast, but but I don't keep up with college baseball, uh, quite as much as I probably should. But I'd heard a lot of talk about christian more. Simo, as we will refer to him, uh, lead off home run, set the tone, went out there right away and played Tennessee's game because they led the nation in percentage of their runs that came from the home run. They're very home run reliant, but that's because they got guys that hit them. I mean, I think they broke the record for most guys in a season to hit 20 or more and Simo just went out there and got one to hit 20 or more and simo just went out there and got one to hit and and launched it and that really set the tone.
Speaker 1:And the other thing for me, brian, was xander secrest, the the starting pitcher for tennessee. Um, talk about setting a tone and giving your team a chance to win. His stuff was disgusting. I mean they talked in the broadcast at you know at the outset about his change up right and how that was going to be a swing and a miss pitch. But that sweeper, holy cow. If he can take that sweeper to the pro level like that, that's an elite pitch. We're going to be talking about that pitch as one of the best in baseball if he can sustain that as he elevates and gets drafted and goes through the minor leagues.
Speaker 2:I mean his career is wide open if he can keep that kind of stuff going forward. And Simo, I mean he's the backbone of the team, he's the spiritual guy that gets him through it, that keeps them up and playing, and it really showed on camera and it showed in his playing ability.
Speaker 1:Yeah, one of the key plays that I don't know that enough people are going to talk about from that game was in the seventh inning, top of the seventh inning, right before Tennessee kind of scored a bunch of runs and got that, got out ahead more. There was a play at first base, a ball bounced over the first baseman's head. Simo was right there backing it up and it it made it look routine and that to me, you know, especially at that level, separates you and that's why he's projected to be such a high draft pick. That's why he's got such a bright future as far as projections go, because he's doing those little things. And ever since I started watching every day, watching my team every day, the guys that do those little things each and every day, that put in that extra work, those are the star players at the big league level. That's what separates you, I think, at that level, is that little extra that you give to yourself and to your team, all in the name of winning. And they interviewed him a little bit and all he talked about was he dreamed of winning the national championship. That's why he was at at Tennessee, that's why he was doing the things he did. Um, excuse me. So for him to pull that off and and be such a big part of it, I'm sure that was special for him. And, yeah, bright future ahead for Simo uh, for sure, you know.
Speaker 1:Just mentioning some other guys Dylan Drilling homered in all three games of the final series. First ever player to do that. You know big deal. I mean to step up in three big games like that and get a hole to one. All three games, that's big. But the guy we really got to talk about, brian Logan, that we really have to talk about, is Kirby Connell, the reliever. I guess he's been the closer. He pitched the eighth inning in the deciding game. But man, what a cool dude I mean.
Speaker 2:I mean, what a look, right yeah. And then he can play to back it up. I mean, he's already looking like he's been in the majors since the 70s.
Speaker 1:Totally man.
Speaker 1:I mean he's ready to go, he's ready, he's ready to go, he's ready, he's ready. Man, he's great and uh, the impact he's had on on the city of knoxville and uh, just that fan base and that program. And, and you know, if you're not familiar with what we're talking about, look up kirby cannell. Um, I saw a great post. It was a picture from the, from the game three, and it was, uh, him on the mound and you know he's got the mustache and the hair and if you can see his shoes, he's got great shoes. But it said I've watched enough baseball to know that if a guy comes in on the mound looking like this and he throws left-handed, it is over.
Speaker 2:Yes, totally over, just shutting them down.
Speaker 1:Really great stuff, man. We love this game because of the personalities that are in it, and I think Kirby Connell is one of those. Wish all these guys the best as they move forward in their careers. We were all very happy around here to see Tennessee get the job done. Absolutely. This is an area of the country, if you're not familiar, where we live, where professional sports has never really been king because we don't have major cities close by. We have to go to Atlanta or Cincinnati or Charlotte to get big league major sports for the most part. So Knoxville, having a Division I school that historically has been pretty competitive in the major sports, is a big deal here. I mean, there's orange everywhere, everywhere you go it's orange.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you can't walk down the street here without seeing a checkerboard or a big orange tee. It's part of life here. I'll admit it gets on my nerves a little bit, but I was very happy to see Tennessee get this done. Say what you will about Tony Vitello their their head coach but he, he brought something to that program and, and you know a lot of people view it as they act like they've never been there before.
Speaker 1:But those kids are having fun playing the game and I think that's a big part of success in the game of baseball is is the love, you know, and and the understanding that it's a pleasure, it's a privilege and a blessing to get to play that game at that level.
Speaker 1:You know you hear the best major league players talk about it. To get to play that game every day for a living and make the kind of money they make. It's a thrill and a pleasure. And you know, anthony Rendon aside, you know that's that's what it's all about. You know loving the game and if you love the games deeply enough and you have the talent and you have the mindset, you can be successful. And Tony Vitello has brought that to Tennessee's program and I don't I honestly, if he sticks around and doesn't get poached by another program, I think this could be the first of many multiple national championships. They've been in that position for the last four or five years. As the top team, they've won the most games since 2020 or 2021, I want to say, and so yeah, this could just be the first, not just the only.
Speaker 2:Well, you talk about everybody on this level and the pro level. They're all good at that level. I mean there's no real bad players at that level. I mean some are better than others and what makes them better than others is the fact that they do those little extra things when the time is needed to add to the game, and then they have that love for the game. Those are the two it factors that you got to have to stand out and these boys have it yeah, yeah, and again, hats off to texas a&m.
Speaker 1:They've got it too. Uh, really good program. Saw that schlossnagel I think I'm saying the coach's name, right is is headed to texas, which is uh, a big deal it was. It was kind of interesting. You know, I I had interesting.
Speaker 1:I had a conversation with my brother, darren, who covers a lot of college baseball. As the game was starting he called me and we were talking. He said well, do you know the big underlying story? I said no, I don't know what you're talking about. He said well, the morning of the game three Texas announced that they were firing their head coach.
Speaker 1:There's a lot of connective tissue with the AD there and the two coaches that were in the deciding game. I think they touched on it during the game broadcast ESPN did. But there was reason to believe that one of those two guys was going to be the next coach at Texas. And my brother made a great analogy. He said Texas is the Yankees of college baseball and the idea that Vitello was going to go was kind of interesting because he doesn't match that culture, but maybe Schlossnagel does a little bit more. So kudos to him and the job he did and getting an opportunity to go to a really high-level, high-pressure, big-expectation type of program like the Texas Longhorns. So hats off to both programs. Like you said, brian, it was a joy to watch them play that game.
Speaker 2:Complete joy, complete joy.
Speaker 1:And honestly I will say this it made me want to watch more college baseball Me too absolutely.
Speaker 2:I mean Ashley even said that you know next season we need to go up and watch some games live, sure, and anytime you can get out to a ballpark that's a great day, absolutely.
Speaker 1:Ashley, by the way, is Brian's lovely wife, who has at times been on the microphone. She has been known to talk, yes, yeah. So we're still trying to figure out what exactly we're going to do with Brian. After I bailed out of two guys talking baseball two years ago, brian decided to do a few episodes of a different podcast with his wife that I was very impressed by and enjoyed a lot. So we're going to do something with those episodes. Maybe throw them on the Patreon. Yeah, make them available on the Patreon for everybody.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I think that's probably what we've decided on. So, uh, we'll talk about that, excuse me, when we wrap things up later, but uh, but yeah, kudos to tennessee, kudos to texas, a&m and everybody involved for putting together a great college baseball season. And, uh, you know, my brother, darren uh does a great ACC baseball podcast with Danny Graves, former Major League pitcher and broadcaster now, and so I'm sure Darren at some point will be on here to talk about that and talk some college ball with us. And, yeah, we're looking forward to next season, I think, college ball-wise after that championship game.
Speaker 2:Yeah, we're definitely going to take in some games and, you know, watch some more on TV and just get that whole overall experience from that level of the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it was kind of refreshing because the Major League season which Brian and I, we watch our teams every day for the most part, and it can get to be a bit of a grind there's parts of the year where things aren't going good, like you're talking about with the Cubs right now.
Speaker 1:It's very tough and sometimes you just don't want to watch and and. But it was refreshing to have that high intensity, a lot on the line and and just the, the guys playing for the love of the game, a little bit more, uh, I think, than than happens across the board, maybe at the at the top level. I I name dropped Anthony Rendon. It's been in the uh, the news and the headlines this season about his, his comments about not really loving the game, doing it as a job, and I think that exists a little bit more at the major league level than it would at the college level. Uh, for sure, but uh, yeah, just to put a bow on it, we're gonna, we're gonna try to keep a more of an eye on the college game and and cover that a little bit more, because we got swept up by it in that great game broadcast, yeah. So look for that next season. Hopefully.
Speaker 1:This is a long-term thing for us to go around. I think that's the plan anyhow. So we'll keep an eye on the college game, all right, so we're going to move on. This is a segment we used to do that we're going to keep doing. We've changed our format a little bit, a couple of ways, trying to be a little more laid back make it easier on us in the preparation for each episode. But we're going to do some quick hits. Brian, you ready to rapid fire?
Speaker 2:I am ready for a quick-hitting, rapid fire competition.
Speaker 1:All right, I I saw this uh just maybe last night or the night before as I was perusing, uh, our twitter. Uh, we're not going to call it the other thing. It's twitter and tweets forever, no matter who likes it and who doesn't. But I was on the uh, two guys talking baseball twitter. That's at 2gtb pod. Please follow us. I try to post a lot and share things that I see uh baseball related on there.
Speaker 1:But I saw jeff pass in one of the uh, not one of the premier baseball writer journalist. What have you in the uh in the world right now? He had tweeted out a link to an article, an espn article by alden gonzalez, about something called traject arc. It's a new sort of pitching machine that's been designed that can mimic any pitch that's been thrown in the major leagues. I'm assuming that stat cast has a lot to do with this. And as far as the right, you know the, the, the visuals of it all, the mapping yeah, the mapping, that's the word I'm looking for. But, brian, this thing is really cool and hitters now have a new weapon, as Passon put it, against elite pitching. But, man, the first thing I thought, and I think you admitted to the- first thing you thought when you played, you famously couldn't hit the curveball.
Speaker 2:I couldn't hit a curveball. That's why I was a really good fielder and could play on the college level as a fielder. I couldn't even hit as a little leaguer. If somebody threw a fastball I was pretty good, but if they put any movement on it, I was done for. Yeah.
Speaker 1:So imagine if you had this technology back then and you could say well, I'm facing, oh you know, stinky jones from wherever. Tomorrow I'm gonna set this thing up to just throw me his curveball over and over.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm, it might have saved my baseball career. We could be.
Speaker 1:We could be talking about a whole different life for you yes, it could.
Speaker 2:I mean, we'd never got into wrestling, I would. It would be totally different. Uh, uh, I needed this thing, man. We need to get the time machine and go backwards with it yeah, if only, if only.
Speaker 1:All right, moving along, the grimace mets, man. This is one of the weirdest, coolest stories in baseball right now. So back on, let me see june Grimace. The famous purple thing that is a McDonald's character, mcdonald's mascot, threw out the first pitch at Citi Field. Since that day, the Mets are 11-2. They just swept a two-game series the Subway Series with their crosstown rivals, the Yankees, who are really stinking good, with their crosstown rivals, the Yankees, who are really stinking good.
Speaker 1:This is the type of thing, brian, that can propel a team that's on the fringes into being a competitor. Because I think back to 2002, I think it was the rally monkey for the Angels Quirky little thing, you might think. Whatever, it's a gimmick, it doesn't mean anything. They go on and win the World Series, kind of unexpectedly. I don't know man, this is a small sample size. The Mets are going to met, they always do, but man, I don't know man, this is a small sample size. The Mets are going to Met, they always do, but man, I don't know. 11-2 since the deal, and the fans are back at the ballpark and they're wearing the costumes, they're making the big signs and all I mean. It's a phenomenon right now, and I think all that energy is pushing the mets towards competing. I don't know. What do you think?
Speaker 2:you can't mess with something like that. I mean, grimace comes out, he's a star in his own field. He comes up there and he motivates the players. I mean, they've got to put him on the payroll, he's got to make all the ballparks, he's got to be on the plane with them. I'm telling you, grimace is something not to mess with and they are playing great.
Speaker 1:And McDonald's is loving this.
Speaker 2:Of course no pun intended.
Speaker 1:Very shortly after the Grimace era sort of became a thing online, they switched their social media. Their profile picture was Grimace in the Mets hat. They had a banner photo, a cover photo, whatever you want to call it. That was Grimace and a bat, and they're absolutely into this because you know McDonald's they're all about that money, oh yeah, and Mets fans are probably pulling through that drive-thru a lot more than they were a month ago.
Speaker 2:Of course, and what is Grimace? I think he's a gumdrop who knows Gr, of course. And what is Grimace? I think he's a gumdrop who?
Speaker 1:knows Grimace is kind of his own thing now. He's been around long enough that he's just a Grimace. That's what he is. A lovable character from our childhood is now propelling the Mets to success.
Speaker 2:I mean, can he stick around the whole season? Will they be able to get it done? I mean we'll have to wait and see, but they're off on a very good start.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we're going to keep an eye on the Mets. They're in a good position right now, but, man, with this new playoff format, there's so many teams that feel like they're in it. It's going to be very interesting. But, moving along, brian, this is a big one for you and your Cubs fandom. Ryan Sandberg had his statue finally unveiled at Wrigley Field. That was June 23rd. It was the 40th anniversary of the Sandberg game, which was sort of the moment where he became more than a man, I think A legend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, an absolute legend and went on to have a brilliant career. Uh, you can bring up joe morgan and roberto alomar and some other guys. Maybe honus wagner gets thrown in that conversation if you want to go all the way back, but for my money ryan sandberg belongs in the conversation.
Speaker 2:Is the best second baseman of all time oh, he, without a doubt, is the best second baseman of all, that baseman of all time.
Speaker 2:Um, the uh statue looked great with the colors yeah, the rustic look but with the blue uh tints on them, with the shoes and the caps and stuff like that an amazing statue. I just love the statue. And he said in an interview that he, when they asked him about it, he wanted to be in a fielding pose because that's what he resonated with. He felt that, being a batter, anybody could do that, but his fielding was really where he stood out and it was it. I love the statue. It was uh, bill murray came out for it sure, yeah, of course he did I mean, yeah, I'm pretty sure he just lives at the park.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, it was a great night and I watched the Sandberg game when it happened all those many years ago.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just a great moment in time. And you're right, a beautiful statue. The color accent sets it apart, I think, from other statues at other ballparks. And you're right, I saw that same interview where he talked about wanting to be in a fielding position because he said you know, everybody slumps at the plate, right, but if you can bring your glove to the park every day and give your team solid defense behind your pitcher, you could be in there every day, even when you were struggling with the bat. And he felt like that was an important part of his game and it was.
Speaker 1:That was part of what made him so great, was his overall game. I mean, really a guy that was going to help the team any way he could, and defense was a big part of that, of course. Well-rounded, yeah, well-rounded player. I don't know that I'd go all the way to 5'2", but close, real close, but a great ball player and a great man. Happy to see him. He seems healthy too, which is great, because you know we were real worried when he got that cancer diagnosis what was that?
Speaker 1:Last year, I guess that came out, yeah, and so to see him up on his feet and looking good and happy and to be celebrated. You know it's. It's just good that he was around to see this happen and to to to feel the the the effect that that game and his career had on not just Cubs baseball but baseball as a whole. You know, I saw some, some pictures and some posts of of people I know from the internet that are not Cubs fans that were in attendance, because he has that much of an appeal to baseball fans on the whole. So congrats to Rhino, very happy to see that, and again, a beautiful statue to the sculptor and to everybody with the Cubs Kudos there. Really, really momentous occasion. Speaking of momentous, going from your team to my team, the Dodgers, shohei Otani is a flipping unicorn man.
Speaker 2:He is not human.
Speaker 1:He just broke a Dodger franchise record. He has an RBI in 10 consecutive games. And this isn't the LA Dodgers, this is the Dodgers all the way back to the 1800s and the Robins and the Bridegrooms and all that. Nobody in Dodger history has ever done what he's doing right now, and he's doing it out of the leadoff spot because Mookie Betts is out with injury.
Speaker 1:And you know, oral Hershiser on one of the game broadcasts the last couple of days said you know, the media is starting to poke at Dave. We got some time till Mookie's back, but they're already thinking hey, when Mookie comes back, is he going back in that leadoff spot or are you going to keep Shohei there? Because he's been red hot doing Shohei Otani things, which we'll get into a little bit more here in just a minute when we talk about our all-star picks. But, brian, I mean I looked at my partner, jen, the other night watching the game. She was watching with me and I said you know it is a blessing and an honor and a privilege to get to watch Shohei Otani every single day.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean what do you think? Do you think he stays in the number one position? I think you leave him there.
Speaker 1:You don't mess with that when, when mookie comes back. Well, there, there's a couple ways of looking at it. Number one mookie. Mookie is really comfortable in the leadoff spot and I think shohei can is capable of doing these kind of things anywhere in the order. The other thing that is interesting is when mookie went on the shelf, dave did something he was not doing previously, and that that is break up Shohei and Freddie Freeman, who are both left-handed hitters and really good left-handed hitters, because Dave has always kind of gone, you know, right, left, right, left, right, left, just because with the new three-batter minimum rule, if you're going to bring in a lefty to face Shohei and Freddie, you're going to have to deal with a right-handed hitter, and right now, a lot of times that's Will Smith, who is a lefty killer, one of the best hitters against left-handers in all of baseball. So you know, I think there's a couple different ways of looking at it.
Speaker 1:The good thing with the Dodgers is their analytics team and their scouting teams are second to none in my book and they're going to have all kinds of numbers and stats and ways of looking at it and they're going to figure it out, and I'm sure they're already thinking about that. I mean, we got time again. We got a while before Mookie's back, but again, the goal in LA is October and a championship, and I'm sure that's on Dave's mind. What are we going to do in October if we've got all these guys? Where are we going to put them in the order? I'm sure it's already on his mind.
Speaker 2:Right, I mean, what about a one-two punch of Mookie being in the one slot and Otani in the second slot? I mean you've got speed there and you've got the RBI ability. Right, you know, you've got speed there and you've got the RBI ability. So you know, I agree with what you're saying, that Otani can produce in anywhere you put him and we'll just have to see where you know Dave thinks is best for him. But you know, I mean he's bringing it, he's the star. I mean it's no hype, it's all meat and potatoes with him.
Speaker 1:Yeah, good problem to have for Dave Roberts, for Doc and the Dodgers. And you know, for us it's kind of boring radio because there's no. He's the reigning NL Player of the Week and there is no curse right now no curse, no NL Player of the Week, curse this go around.
Speaker 1:If you are not familiar with the curse of the NL Player of the Week, please go back in the archives and listen to our original 11 episodes from 2022. We had a lot of fun with the curse of the NL Player of the Week. It was a real thing for a while. Yes, it was. You know, francisco Lindor jamming his thumb in a hotel room and all kinds of crazy stuff happened anytime. Anybody won the NL Player of the Week back then. So please go check that out. But let's do our last little quick hit here. This was something I threw on kind of last minute. You know we've been gone for two years. We're getting started halfway through the season this year, so I wanted to kind of catch up on some things.
Speaker 1:Rintaro Sasaki he was expected to be the number one overall pick pretty consensus across the board in the NPB draft in Japan. I've read some places that the high school statistics are kept kind of shady over there, but best anyone can tell he hit 140 home runs in high school, which broke the previous record by a lot. He's a power hitter, he's a prodigy. He has done something unprecedented and decided to forego a professional career in Japan at all. He's 19 years old. He's over here, he's in the States now. He's going to be attending Stanford and playing at Stanford. He's in the MLB Draft League right now, one of the summer collegiate leagues, one of the affiliate leagues of Major League Baseball, playing for the Trenton Thunder, and his first game there he hits a home run and it's just a fascinating story that I think, as his career goes on at Stanford and beyond, he's going to get a lot of attention, and especially with.
Speaker 1:Here's the thing Otani just got the biggest contract in the history of everything, right. Yoshinobu Yamamoto just got the biggest contract in history for someone who only pitches. Japan won a really great, amazing, entertaining World Baseball Classic and there's more guys coming. Roki Sasaki is posting at the end of this season. There's tons of guys from Japan that are major league ready, but Rintaro Sasaki is foregoing that whole weird complicated posting system and he's coming straight to the United States. Brian, we've got to keep an eye on this guy.
Speaker 2:I I mean this is going to be a huge story, without a doubt. I mean, with all the japanese players coming over and him going, you know, bypassing playing over there to come here, I mean we got to see what happens with this kid. I mean it's amazing.
Speaker 1:I mean 140 home runs, that's, that's wild yeah, he, he beat the previous high school record by like 20 some. I mean, he just crushed it. And and, uh, I, I get the feeling with his ambition and the fact that not only did he say I'm going to play in college, but you know, I read some articles from before he had committed to Stanford and everybody thought it was going to be Vandy, and you know Vandy's like the top program in baseball, in college baseball, and everybody thought, oh, it's Vandy, and then he just picks Stanford. He wanted to go to Stanford.
Speaker 1:I think we might have another Otani on our hands, not that there's ever going to be another Shohei Otani, but from an attention standpoint, from a, you know, one of the things that makes shohei so great is he's so regimented, he's so. He lives his life so privately. He's just very much about putting in the work right and focusing mentally. Baseball is such a mental game. We could talk all day about the mental aspect of baseball. But that's what makes Shohei so great. And I think Rintaro Sasaki, based on the little bit we know about him, I think he's got that same wiring and I don't know if it's a cultural thing or if it's just he sees guys doing that over there and emulates it. But I'm really intrigued to see what this, what this kid does at stanford and be and beyond, because you know, if he goes to stanford and continues to to hit the way he has in high school in japan and the way he seems to be already hitting in the draft league, um the sky's the limit.
Speaker 2:I mean there's no stopping him with those kind of numbers. I mean he I almost don't even have anything to say because it just boggles my mind 140 home runs. Yeah, I mean we definitely got to watch this kid, without a doubt.
Speaker 1:A hundred percent More on Rintaro Sasaki in the future. Fortunately for us, stanford is in the ACC and, as I mentioned, my brother, darren, does a fantastic ACC baseball podcast. So I'm sure Rintaro Sasaki will come up when we talk to Darren in the future. But that's going to do it for Quick Hits and we're going to move on. So today, as we're recording, is the last day of the first phase of voting for the All-Star Game and, as Brian and I do every year, whether we're doing a podcast or not, we go in and vote for the all-star game and, as brian and I do every year, whether we're doing a podcast or not, right, we go in and, uh, vote for the all-star game and then compare our picks. So, uh, brian, you ready to do some, uh, some all-star picks here? I have picked some all-stars. Yes, I have all right.
Speaker 1:So here's how we're going to do this. We're going to start with the american league. Brian and I both obviously less familiar with the American League than the National League because we watch a lot more National League teams through the Cubs and the Dodgers, but we're going to start with the AL. We're going to go position by position, the same order that you vote when you go on the website, be sure. Well, I guess by the time you hear this it'll be over and we'll be in the second phase of voting. But we'll certainly talk about that, uh, when we get to it. But, brian, let's get started with, uh, your american league first baseman, vladimir guerrero.
Speaker 2:So he's uh, he's got the power, he's, he's out there. I really enjoy watching this kid and he may be leaving his team.
Speaker 1:I'm not gonna, you know, rumor anything out, but I'm hoping really big that this guy leaves the blue jays yeah, I find it fascinating that the blue jays are being sort of talked about like they're sellers because they have a lot of talent. On that squad I also picked vladdy jr. Um, you know, had a little bit of a down year last year. Uh, his career ops plus, though, is 131, and it's 130 for the season this year. So we're kind of just back to the Vladimir Guerrero Jr that we expect to see, right, and that's an MVP quality guy at first base. He's done a lot of work on his body and his conditioning to to be a better defensive first baseman, which I've always admired about him, and I I mean, I grew up watching his dad, you know. So that Blue Jays team, when they were just loaded, the whole infield was second-generation Major League guys. I just loved them. So, yeah, I'm right there with you. Vlad Guerrero Jr, I think he's the guy there at first base. Yeah, without a doubt.
Speaker 1:All right, I almost don't want to talk about second base, but go ahead. Well, I, without a doubt, all right. Uh, I almost don't want to talk about second base, but go ahead. Well, I had to go with jose altuve. Yeah, me too, and I mean we didn't have much choice there, did we? No, I, you know I. I looked at it and it was like there's got to be somebody, there's got to be anybody I can vote for other than altuve, because I can't stand that guy.
Speaker 2:I know me either, but he's, it's him, he's the premier American League second baseman, whether we like it or not.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he's the only guy there that I thought had all-star credentials. I can't remember the name, but the guy from the Twins had good numbers, but I didn't even know who he was, and it's the All-Star game. So you've got to have some appeal to be a starter in the All-Star game, in my opinion.
Speaker 2:It is a popularity contest, it is.
Speaker 1:But that's why the fans get to vote, because Major League Baseball understands that it's less about the statistics and more about who do the fans want to see all together in Texas this year for the All-Star game. Right yeah, all right, third base is going to get a little interesting, so go ahead. Isaac Paredes, oh, isaac Paredes, isaac.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:Isaac Paredes. Isaac, that's an interesting pick. What led you to Paredes?
Speaker 2:I actually was watching Tampaa bay some okay and uh, and he was. He's just my pick man.
Speaker 1:I enjoy watching him play yeah yeah, and that's that's my american league team is the race yeah, right on, um, I like he's like parades, he's a good player, um, I think, at the end of the day, this is all sort of mental masturbation, so to speak, because this is Jose Ramirez's spot. He's driving in runs like it's easy and has Cleveland playing really good ball. But the guy I looked at was Royce Lewis from the Twins. He's only played 20 games this year small sample size, but in that 20 games he has a 215 OPS plus.
Speaker 1:This guy has been riddled with injuries from the word go. When he's healthy, he's an all-star right, and we talk about this a lot, brian, you know, when we talk baseball and when we've done this podcast in the past, you got to stay on the field. If this guy can stay on the field, the twins have an all-star in their hands, and I just felt like I think it's a foregone conclusion. Jose ramirez is probably going to start the all-star game at third base for the american league, and he should. I didn't want to leave royce lewis out of this conversation, though, because that's, I mean, 100 ops plus is the league average hitter. Yeah, he's more than a hundred percent better than league average in those 20 games. I know it's 20 games, I get that, but that's marvelous. I mean, that's fantastic.
Speaker 2:If he can stay healthy, he's on pace to be an all-star.
Speaker 1:Absolutely All right. So let's go to shortstop in the American League Shortstop. I got Boba.
Speaker 2:Shett. I love Boba Shett man. I just like saying the name Boba.
Speaker 1:Shett, boba Shett. It sounds like Boba Fett, it does Boba Shett. He's another guy that's been bandied about in some of these trade rumors and a lot of people think the Dodgers should make a play for him, and I just don't. I'm not sure how I feel about that. Obviously I'd be happy to see him as a Dodger because I really like him Again. One of those guys from Toronto that I grew up watching his dad I loved Dante Bichette growing up, but yeah, so I just couldn't go any direction other than Gunnar Henderson from the Baltimore Orioles here. He is having a monster year. He's already got 5.9 war, and that just say what you want about war as a statistic. But to me that means he's doing it all. He's hitting, he's fielding, he's running the bases. Baltimore's got something on their hands with Gunnar Henderson for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, that's a good pick. That's a very good pick, I mean, but who do you think will get the nod, though I think Gunnar's got a good shot.
Speaker 1:I haven't looked at who's leading in that in the shortstop category over there, uh much, but I mean I think gunner's got a good shot. I mean he again he's having a monster year. The orioles are right there in the conversation again in the american league east. Uh, again, it's a tough division, um, but but yeah, I mean I think he's got as good a shot as anybody else. Right, right, right, right. All right, let's move to the outfield. Go ahead and give me all three of your outfielders and talk a little bit about why you picked them.
Speaker 2:Well, I got Aaron Judge, because you know he's the big power guy. I got Tommy Pham and Juan Soto from the Sox and the Yankees, respectively.
Speaker 1:Tommy Pham is an interesting one to me because he's really been a journeyman but he's. You know the White Sox are terrible, they are not good at all, but he's been their best hitter. He's leading off for them now and I think it's really interesting because again he's on a bad team doing well. Does he get shipped off to a contender, just like he did last year? Because you look at the World Series and I know the Diamondbacks came up short, but he was the best hitter for the Diamondbacks in the World Series last year and he falls to a kind of lowly team and doesn't really get a big contract. I don't know, man.
Speaker 2:He's not staying there on the south side.
Speaker 1:I don't think he is man and that's so fascinating. Is it just his attitude? Is he just that bad of a dude that nobody wants to give him a real contract? He's a fascinating case study, but I'm glad he came up because he does deserve some consideration here. Typically with teams that are that bad and everybody's got to have a representative, but it's usually with teams that are that bad and everybody's got to have a representative, right, but it's usually with teams that bad, it's usually like, oh, just give them a relief pitcher, right, tommy Pham might be the guy for the White Sox I mean, he might be the or it might be Garrett Crochet, who's been pitching really well for them. But yeah, tommy Pham belongs in this conversation.
Speaker 1:I landed, similarly, aaron Judge duh 5.7 more, 217 OPS plus, and he's played the whole year. This ain't a Royce Lewis where it's 20 games. He's played the whole first half of the year and is more than 100% better than league average. That is ungodly, that is crazy. I mean that is ungodly, that is crazy. I mean that is just unbelievable. And and that's why the yankees are where they are right now. It is he's the major factor, and another reason for that is juan soto, who I also picked 434 on base, which is crazy. Um, he's one of those guys uh similar kind of similar to bryce harper, uh, who we'll get to when we talk about the National League. But, but I hate Juan Soto, but if he was on my team I would love him, right.
Speaker 2:I just I don't want to play against.
Speaker 1:I just don't want to. I just don't want to look across and see him. You know, and, and you know that was a big storyline when the Dodgers were at Yankee Stadium. Soto was out of the lineup and and, uh, I was okay with that. Uh, I was okay with that because, uh, he's really good and and takes a lot of walks, but but also can hurt you, uh, if there's guys on base and and, uh, yeah, a good attitude guy too brings a lot of swagger to the, to the team and, um, you know, brought something to the yankees more than just what, what he does on the field, right?
Speaker 1:So my third outfielder in the American League, I picked Stephen Kwan from Cleveland. Not a big power guy, not a lot of slug, but has a .377 batting average, 182 OPS plus, and I think he's as big a reason as anybody why Cleveland's having the year they're having. I know we talked about Jose Ramirez, but in order for Jose Ramirez to drive in, you know all those runs, somebody's got to get on base in front of him, and that's been steven kwan a lot this year, right, all right. So we're, uh, we're getting close to the end here on the american league, brian, who is your american league catcher?
Speaker 2:I have adley rutschman yeah, I did.
Speaker 1:I got adley again too and I think, um, I don't know man, he's kind of the standard Barrett catcher in the American League now he really is.
Speaker 2:I mean he's the go-to guy, I mean he's doing great, and I mean we've picked him previously, didn't we?
Speaker 1:Well, we've talked about Adley a lot because, I've liked Adley for a long time. You know, my brother, darren, put him on my radar when he was in college and talked very highly of him, and you know for me, the moment he stepped on the field and shook the umpire's hand and looked around and took it all in and they caught that on camera. That was for me. That was the moment where I went. You know what? There's something to this kid.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he gets it. It's just a feeling and I know that's normally your department.
Speaker 2:Yes, feeling, you're the numbers and I'm the emotion, yeah, but I love that.
Speaker 1:And you look at where the Orioles were when he debuted and what they've done since then. There's something to Adley Rushman.
Speaker 2:Oh, without a doubt there is.
Speaker 1:And I am the numbers guy. So as a catcher, as an everyday catcher as much as you can be an everyday catcher these days 297, 14 home runs, 53 RBI I mean that's outfielder shortstop numbers, that's not catcher numbers. So the Orioles have produced an amazing lineup. There were other guys that I considered for the Orioles in other spots that just didn't quite make the cut, that I think will be on the team. But Adley's the straw that stirs the drink for the Baltimore Orioles and other spots that just didn't quite make the cut, that I think will be on the team. But Adley's the straw that stirs the drink for the Baltimore Orioles and will be for a very long time.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely. He's their guy now. I mean, with all those great teams they had of past and lore. He's the extenuation of that, the new version of that.
Speaker 1:Absolutely. I mean, he's a franchise guy, to be sure, All right. So now we're going to the designated hitter, which used to only be the American League, but now we get to pick in both leagues. So who you got there, Brian?
Speaker 2:Jim Carlos Stanton. Now I realize he's injured, but that was my pick when I made it. He wasn't on the injured list yet, Right.
Speaker 1:Well, I mean, that's the thing about the all-star voting too is and we'll touch on this more when we get to the NL on one of my picks. But yeah, I mean, just because he's injured doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it. I went a little bit different direction. I went Jordan Alvarez from Houston. I just think it's his spot to lose right now. Um, he's sort of the way we've talked about adley at catcher. I think yordon alvarez is kind of that guy, designated hitter now. Granted, stanton is fantastic as well. Um, there's some other guys, you know, doing some good things in the dh spot in the american league, but I, you, you know, jordan Alvarez is just, he's just that guy and I think it's his spot to lose, as much as my disdain for the Astros persists. That's the guy I picked 147 OPS plus on the season. You know, just a excuse me a consistent, solid hitter, and that's what you want in your DH spot.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, absolutely Consistency, the ability to get the job done for sure.
Speaker 1:All right, we're going to move on to the National League man. This was a lot of fun for me because there's a lot of guys having great seasons in the National League. There were some close races for me and I'm going to talk about that, but let's get started. Who you got at first base? Freddie freeman, and I love that pick because freddie talking about a consistent hitter, there were times this season where everyone talked about freddie and freddie talked about freddie like he was struggling or he was going through it and he was hitting like 280. And now he's back up towards 300.
Speaker 1:I just could not and I know this is going to rub you the wrong way I could not deny Bryce Harper. Oh, my gosh, because, as you've wanted for years, he's healthy. Oh, I know he's on the field. Yes, years he's healthy. Oh, I know he's on the field. Yes, 3.6 war, 177 ops plus, uh, 20 home runs. And the last thing in my notes was sorry, freddie, I'm sorry, I love you, you're my guy. Uh, go dodgers all the way, but watching bryce harper, uh, this, I think, is a good time to bring up the point that when I look at these picks and I look at the differentiation we have. The level of talent in the major leagues right now is maybe at an all-time high oh yeah, I agree there are traffic jams at so many of these spots and Bryce Harper is at the top of the list.
Speaker 1:He's one of those guys. If Shohei Otani decided to become a lawyer, if Mookie Betts had gone to bowling or basketball, we'd be talking about Bryce Harper every day, right, because he's that good of a player, he's a generational guy, and I will never forget watching him hit that home run in the NLCS when everybody in the world, everybody in the building, everybody watching on TV, knew there was a feeling. I'm feeling it now. I'm getting goosebumps. You knew he was going to come through and then he did it. Yeah, that control of the moment that is something that doesn't get talked about enough. When you're separating guys who are good players or great players and then like the greatest players and that's what separates Bryce Harper apart is he. He has control of the moment in those biggest moments, uh, so I just couldn't. I couldn't, uh, deny him that spot again. Sorry, freddie, I love you man, I'm sure you'll be there, uh, but, but Bryce, it's Bryce's starting spot. All right, let's move on to second base.
Speaker 2:I got Ozzie Albies from Atlanta. I love Ozzie man. Yeah, he's a fun player.
Speaker 1:He is fun. He's a lot of fun. He loves the game, he's fun to watch. But for me this year, cattell Marte just kind of picking up where he left off last year. I've always liked Cattell Marte. He's one of those guys that I've always thought, man, he'd be cool to have him on the Dodgers. I get to see him a lot in the division with Arizona 4.1 war, 139 OPS plus. He deserves a nod this year, man. He's been consistently good for Arizona for a long time and deserves some flowers. He got some in the playoffs last year because he performed really well in their World Series run. But yeah, give him the all-star nod. He deserves it, man. Really solid player. All right, I guess that brings us to third base.
Speaker 2:Well, and here's where you know, I picked Christopher Murrell and that was a feeling that's a popularity. Of course I realize that he doesn't really stand a chance of that, but on my all-star team he's my third base.
Speaker 1:Well, here's the thing about Christopher Murrell for me and Brian and I if you're watching us on YouTube, you see he's decked out in the Smokies, the AA affiliate of the Cubs that are just down the road here in Tennessee for us, so we get to see them quite a bit. We got to see a lot of Christopher Murrell up close and in person. If he saw a kid, they were best friends. Yeah, absolutely, they were best friends. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, he loves interacting with children in the, in the, in the, in the ball, in the ballpark, in the stands. Um, electric player, you want to talk about love and playing the game? There is nowhere else in the world he would rather be than standing on third base at Wrigley Field every day and, uh, I love him. A little down year for him, uh, but, but you know, if I'm building a franchise, he's one of the first guys I I want to build around, oh, yeah without a doubt, and he's just so fun and he's a hugger, so he hugs everybody.
Speaker 2:um, and, like you said, when he sees a kid at the ballpark, when he was with the smokies, I mean all those kids legitimately thought that they were he was with the Smokies. I mean all those kids legitimately thought that they were, he was their best friend.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean, he elevated their experience at the game so much and that to me, that's as important as anything else. You want that on your ball club and the Cubs are lucky to have him. I had to go a little bit different route though, because, again, the numbers aren't there for Murrell this year. I mean, he was my guy last year. If you go back and listen, last year he was my guy. But I went Alec Baum from the Phillies.
Speaker 1:A lot of RBIs, you know a lot of that is the lineup he's in, but we'll talk more about RBIs and what they mean with another pick. I had earlier 138 OPS plus for Baum. You know when he first came up he was highly touted and struggled, was getting some of the jeers that the Philly fans are famous for, and took it on the chin, turned it around and now is a big part of Philadelphia's success and they're having a monster year leading the NL standings and not looking like they're going to slow down. So I had to go Alec Baum. But yeah, man, I love Christopher Murrell, so shout out to him Hope he continues to be successful and he'll get that all-star nod one day he's headed there.
Speaker 1:He's still pretty young, I think too he is.
Speaker 2:He just turned 25, like a few days ago.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so still a lot of baseball left there, if he stays healthy. And uh, yeah, we'll see christopher morel there one day. Absolutely all right, my bias is about to show over these next couple of picks next. Okay, let's go to shortstop all right, uh, de la cruz is my shortstop for cincinnati ellie de la cruz man, one of the most fun players to watch in all of the game that inning last year when he stole three bases in the same inning. He stole second, he stole third, he stole home.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:That is going to be a moment that's going to be replayed over and over for eternity.
Speaker 1:Yes, eli's great, really fantastic. Love him a lot. I'll be honest, this was the only position, al or now, I didn't even look. I went right to mookie bets, and here's why. Uh, yes, he's on the injured list. No, he won't be able to play if he is selected.
Speaker 1:However, mookie is a face of the league type of guy, and something that I pound into people's minds constantly is the idea that we have sort of turned baseball, intentionally or not, into a little bit of a country club sport and young black American kids aren't playing baseball anymore because and I don't want to get too far down a sociological rabbit hole here but if you grow up with no money and you get an opportunity let's just look at Kyler Murray.
Speaker 1:A few years ago, he could either go to the NFL and be a millionaire day one or he could go to baseball and spend four or five, maybe longer years in the minor leagues making peanuts and eating ramen noodles. Of course he's going to pick football, right, and I talked to people close to the situation and there was belief that Kyler would rather play baseball, but the money was the deciding factor Right. That is a problem for baseball, that is a problem for the major leagues and that's a problem for Rob Manfred, and they've done a lot to address it. I'll give them that, but we need to continue and we need to do more. And Mookie Betts I think it was last year or maybe the year before at the All-Star Game was walking around with an airbrushed T-shirt that just said we need more black people at the ballpark. And he's right American black people, we need them back at the ballpark.
Speaker 1:Yeah absolutely, because Willie Mays just passed away and one of the famous stories about Willie Mays is him playing baseball in the streets of New York with sticks and rocks. That's baseball, you can play it anywhere. You don't have to have money to play baseball, right, and the fact that we've cornered this game into that position, like we've cornered so many other things in this country, to being revolved solely around money first pardon my language, but it's bullshit and I money first, uh, pardon my language, but it's bullshit and I'm sick of it. And mookie betts is the poster boy for that movement, right, and for that reason. Now, listen, I could talk about his numbers all day, because they're there, but at the end of the day, the all-star game is, you know, the showcase of the immortals, if you want to put it that way. I mean, this is, this is where it all stars. And mookie's a star, he's one of the biggest stars in the league, he's one of the best players in the league. I mean, the guy is a six-time gold glove right fielder and he moved to shortstop this year, right, and has done pretty well.
Speaker 1:I mean, you can look at the defensive metrics. I don't get too into the defensive metrics because I don't think you know when. When one says he's top five and one says he's bottom five in the whole league, it's hard to say which one's accurate. You know there's a lot of noise when it comes to defensive metrics. Uh, I watch the dodgers every day. Yeah, he's made, but who doesn't? At every position when you play 162? Just the gumption. The gumption to say, yeah, I want to play shortstop now, I want to help the team and move, yeah. So I got a lot of love for Mookie Betts. Obviously he might be my favorite player in all of baseball, but I didn't even look, didn't even look at the numbers, didn't look at anybody else. I went straight to Mookie. Love LA De La Cruz. He'll be there. He'll be an all-star, for sure, but Mookie's the guy.
Speaker 2:Right, I agree with Mookie's, the guy. I mean you know he's the guy you want playing there, totally. Yeah, I kind of agree with that. All right outfield all right, my outfield I got cody bellinger e and a half because they're my boys. Yeah, that's a little biased. And jason hayward more bias showing through. So my whole outfit is our outfield is made by cubs and former cubs well, I love all three of those guys.
Speaker 1:Uh, obviously, hayward's a dodger. Now Cody is a Dodger legend. Won a World Series with the Dodgers, won a Rookie of the Year and an MVP there. I've always loved Cody Bellinger. Ian Happ, you know solid, I mean just one of those guys that shows up every day and helps the team. I mean really fantastic. Jason Hayward you know people might be going when you say his name in an All-Star conversation. Look at the numbers. That's the thing the Dodgers do, though. The Dodgers take guys like Jason Hayward who are forgotten about and put in the scrap heap and put them in the position they need to be in to succeed. He doesn't hit a lot against lefties Now when he has this year he's been better against them, but he doesn't do it that often because he needs to be in there against right-handed pitching and it's hard to say. A platoon guy should be an all-star, but he brings so much more to the table. I mean you know from his Cubs use.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, he's a motivator. He keeps the team together and he's defensively. I mean he's solid there. I mean he's defensively.
Speaker 1:I mean he's solid there. I mean he's just a good player to have on your team. Very good player he's. He's. He's made a difference for the dodgers, uh, in the clubhouse and off the field for sure. So I can get down with those picks. Uh, as biased as they may be, I can get down with those picks okay. So, um, very quickly on my outfield, uh jerks and profar. Uh from the padres. I think uh last check he was the number one vote getter in my outfield. Jerickson Profar from the Padres. I think last check he was the number one vote-getter in the outfield, and with good reason 156 OPS+. He's on bases over 400, seven-a-monster year for San Diego.
Speaker 1:More rivals I'm picking here, but this year's kind of surprise for me has been the giant center fielder, helio ramos. Okay, hitting the ball really well, playing good and out in the outfield, 158 ops plus. Just saw him in person not that long ago and uh really, really impressed uh with with his game this year. He's having a good year. I think he deserves an all-star nod. Maybe not a starter, but but wanted to bring him into the conversation right. Um, and you know I'm a big american dad fan and uh just just every time I hear his name I go helio, helio, ramos, helio. Sorry if you are not familiar with the reference, but that's what plays in my head. All right, my third outfield spot. This and again the dodger bias might be shining through, but I went to oscar hernandez um, a lot of rbis this year and man every time to, oscar hernandez has stepped into the batter's box in a big moment this year for the Dodgers. He has delivered. He went off at Yankee Stadium for three games. You couldn't get him out and a good Yankee team with some good pitching couldn't get him out.
Speaker 1:And I saw Dave Roberts before the game in the last couple of days, was asked a little bit about where some of his players were in the voting for the All-Star game and he talked about Tay, oscar and RBI has become a stat that a lot of people discount as a situational stat, as something that guys get more RBIs because they're in better lineups. And while there is some truth to that, dave roberts made a very good point. He said if you talk to pitchers, they will tell you when there's guys in scoring position, they pitch differently. When you talk to hitters, they will tell you when they are in the, when they are at the plate and there's runners in scoring position, they get pitched too differently. So there is value in rising to that occasion, stepping up to that moment and driving runs in. Here's the deal. The goal is to score more runs than the other team. Rbi is a valuable statistic. Now, I'm not putting somebody in the All-Star game solely on RBIs, but that is still a stat that I think has more merit than a lot of people that are really into, um, advanced statistics like I am. Give it credit for. Uh, tay oscar is a star.
Speaker 1:Uh, my one complaint with tay oscar right now is he's only on a one-year contract and the dodgers haven't inked him up yet. Yeah, and they need to. I want him. I want him in dodger blue for a long time. He wants to be in dodger blue for a long time. He has said publicly he's sick of jumping around. He feels like he belongs with the dodgers and he wants to win. And if you want to win and you got a shot to play for the dodgers, it's a no-brainer. Oh, absolutely, because again, you know that is. That is the culture in in la. Now the culture is winning and going for a championship. We don't win it every year. Nobody wins it every year, but the goal is to win and if you get a chance to play for the Dodgers, that's giving yourself a really good opportunity to get a ring or two or three if you're under contract for a while.
Speaker 1:Definitely puts you in the conversation every time. Had to put Tao in there. He has become very quickly one of definitely put you in the conversation every time had to put teo in there. He has become very quickly one of my favorite players in the game and I will be heartbroken if he plays one year and they let him walk yeah, yeah, I enjoy watching him play for you guys and, uh, I hope they they get him and keep him I do too. All right, who is your national league catcher?
Speaker 1:well, I went with willie contraris and william, william, william, not wilson, right, right, well, yeah yeah, the one used to be the cub, no yes, wilson used to be a cub.
Speaker 2:William is his little brother, who plays for the brewers now okay, well then, I've got them mixed up, but the point being is I discontinued. I didn't think about Will Smith. Okay, until after the fact.
Speaker 1:See, and I think that's a big problem, because here's the thing, by showing through again, I am definitely picking Will Smith Right. William Contreras is probably going to start the All-Star game. He's had a great year. He's up for a batting title, which is really impressive as a catcher Right. But the idea that Will Smith is third in National League catcher voting is absolutely absurd to me. I didn't look up, I didn't do a lot of research on Will Smith, so I can't rattle off numbers, but here's the deal. I see people talk all the time on Twitter about all the categories for the season. For the last two years, since Will came into the league, where Will is the top catcher Right War hitting this year, he has become so hard to steal on. He has really shaped up. Uh, his defense against the running game, uh, the way he calls a game has gotten so much better. Will smith is the best catcher in the game.
Speaker 1:He's just not a flashy guy right he doesn't say much, he's not outlandish, he's a quiet kind of reserved guy with a boring name. So I get it, but we got to at some point start talking about him in the same conversations that we talk about guys like Adley Rushman, Because you know Right. Because you know, it's just absurd to me. It's absurd that so few people believe in Will Smith as an all-star, and it hurts me a little really, at the end of the day, Are you taking it personal?
Speaker 1:I'm trying not to Brian, I'm really trying not to, but it's hard because, again, I love my Dodgers and I watch them every day and I see the work he's put in and I see what he's done. You know, when you watch Dodger games, they don't talk about a big three. Everybody talks about Freddie Mookie and Shohei. It's a big four with Will Smith and, honestly, if you want to get down to brass tacks, it's a big five with Tao. Right, I mean, this is a one through five, one through six. You add Max Muncy into that conversation. When he's healthy, it's not just the guys with the big contracts and the big endorsement deals and all that.
Speaker 1:Will Smith is a big part of the Dodgers' success. He's a big part of why we win 100 games every year. Right now, william Contreras hats off to to him. He's had a great year. Um, he's doing it for the brewers and he's probably going to start the all-star game and I won't be upset if he does, but will needs to be there. Yeah, will needs to be there every year. Um, you don't sign catchers to 10-year extensions, right? The dodgers are the smartest team when it comes to spending money on players. They just sign will sm Smith to a 10-year extension. That's how good he is.
Speaker 1:So if you don't know about Will Smith, I encourage you, even if you hate the Dodgers, I get it. Nobody likes us anymore, that's okay. You need to at least look into it, because he is that good and he needs to be in this conversation every single year, as long as he's healthy and playing at the level he's played the last four or five years. All right. So that moves us to the designated hitter, and this is going to be a short conversation. Shohei Ohtani.
Speaker 1:Who else? Who else? Who else? This guy has a 4.7 war. All he does is DH. Yeah, he's played no defense, he hasn't pitched and he has almost a five war half way through the season. Holy guacamole, what's his 194 ops plus? I mean, he's right there with judge, yeah, as far as hitting goes, and he's and he's only, he's only heated up lately. So that number, I think, is just going to keep going up. Yep, I mean, he's, he's a unicorn, without a doubt. He's a once in a lifetime guy, and you and I have talked about this off air a lot. It is. It is we.
Speaker 1:We are so lucky to exist in a time where we get to see him play yes yeah, um, he's the guy.
Speaker 1:I mean he's, he's, he might be the national league mv MVP as a designated here, which would be the craziest thing to ever happen, maybe. Yeah, that is A full-time. Dh has never won MVP, and probably rightfully so, but now we live in a different time and he's at least in the conversation as the MVP. So, yeah, so that's our all-star picks, and again, I want to touch on the fact that there was a lot of traffic jams here. Some of these picks were really tough and that's just the level of talent that's in the big leagues right now. I mean, this is a special time to be a baseball fan, a major league baseball fan, and I think, man, the all-star game is going to be a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:It's going to be a blast. I can't wait to see it. It's always a good time, the Home Run Derby yeah speaking of the Derby, did you see?
Speaker 1:Shohei said he has some interest in being in the Derby. Oh, that is interesting. Now health is going to be a factor. He's still rehabbing his arm and his elbow. The Dodgers are big on workload, but they let Mookie do it last year, Right?
Speaker 2:So they may let him do it this year.
Speaker 1:So if he wants to do it and they feel like he's healthy enough to put in those extra swings, that would be amazing.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, it would Really cool Something to see. Really cool, real quick, going off on a small tangent. What about we got to otani, uh, a couple years ago, yeah pitch when he was with the angels and it was his worst outing ever oh, it's crazy.
Speaker 1:He got lit up, got the cruise to the sixth inning and they got on top of him I mean the one time that he's off his game.
Speaker 2:We're, we were there watching. We were there that place was.
Speaker 1:That place was dead and quiet, and then the sixth inning happened, and it was the loudest building I've ever been in in my life yeah, it was amazing to sit there and watch him go through that and we did an episode from our hotel room in atlanta that you can see in the archives that's on youtube for the visual of us sitting in a hotel room doing an episode.
Speaker 1:Yes, but it was a lot of fun. That was a good trip. I'm sure in the future we're going to do some more trips like that. We're racking our brain for fun stuff to do, for not just the podcast but for Patreon and little extras on social media. So we'll probably be going to some games and hooting and hollering and having a good time. Without a doubt and, brian, I think that unless you've got anything else, Just we'll see them at the ballpark there you go, so that's going to do it for us this week.
Speaker 1:Brian, uh, is at three crows, bri, on twitter, I'm at dallas danger. The show is at 2gtb pod. Please follow us there. We try to, uh, we try to be really interactive, uh, especially if you're into music, uh, or wrestling, uh, we're good follows for that too. Um, but yeah, we've got our store back up. That's right If you were with us in 2022, we had a really great shop with a lot of cool products stuff for your pets, stuff for every member of the family.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a little something for everybody.
Speaker 1:Yeah, a lot of cool stuff, not just T-shirts, hats.
Speaker 2:Stuff you can use, not just stuff. We're selling stuff that you can actually use.
Speaker 1:Yeah, really useful practical stuff, not just clothes, so check that out. 2gtbstorecom is the place to go there. We've talked a little bit about our Patreon. We never really got into Patreon the first go round. We talked about it and never really got anywhere. We're hitting it hard now. Uh, we really want to bring you the opportunity to get closer with us and see more and hear more about us and and the game we love. So patreoncom slash 2gtb. Actually, once we get done here and maybe take a little break, we're gonna uh, cut something.
Speaker 2:Brian has a little history on the bobblehead the history of the bobblehead will be on Patreon.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so we're going to talk about that and then I think next week we've decided at some point we're going to record a conversation about Brian and myself's favorite ballpark meals over the years.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you got to get your grubbage on, and that's what we're going to be talking about next week.
Speaker 1:Brian has a routine with food when he goes to the ballpark. It we're going to be talking about next week. Brian has a routine with food when he goes to the ballpark. It's fascinating, it's amazing, it's like it's based on what any of it is and it's it's so. It's so great to see. So, um, you know, hey, maybe if you guys get, get on board with us and support us, we'll be able to go to the Patreon and subscribe there. We're not going to make it, you know, crazy expensive. It's going to be affordable. We just we just want to offer a little bit more for anybody that wants it. And then, if, if you're, if you're watching us on YouTube thank you so much Please subscribe to the channel. Leave us a comment. Comments help people find the show a little bit easier, and we're trying to do some things on YouTube that we need more subscribers for. So please subscribe to the YouTube, even if you're not listening on YouTube. We would appreciate it a lot if you would head over there.
Speaker 2:And just give us a click and subscribe.
Speaker 1:Yeah, just search Two Guys Talking Baseball on YouTube Should be easy to find, and we'll appreciate that very much. We're just trying to do some things on YouTube that we're restricted on because of our subscriber count, so tell your friends. If you like what you hear, please spread the word. We're trying to get this back out there. It's been a lot of fun today, brian. I'm glad we're back to it. I've had a blast. I'm glad we are too. All right, so until next week. My name is Dallas Danger. That's Brian Logan. Thank you so much and yeah, we'll talk to you next week.