Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 449 | MLB Requests Federal Mediation

Episode Date: February 7, 2022

Use code 'TALKIN' for $20 off your first SeatGeek order. https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALKIN  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to talking baseball where there is no baseball and there is no talking. Let's do it. Welcome to talking baseball. Brought you by Seatgeek. My name is Jimmy. Jake taking, I thought you're taking your pulse. You're just stretching over there.

And Trev with the glasses on looking great, BBD in the corner. And we're doing a labor pod discussion today because it's bad. How hot in the streets is baseball, Jake? Oh, it got hot over the weekend, but like bad hot. Like driving through Nevada in summer and your tops out in the E-zone. Oh, man, we hit the bad place. We were kind of wondering where this was, and it was kind of part of the allure. We talked secret deals for a while.

We talked, you know, peaceful negotiations. everyone had kind of been friendly until kind of this past week when the players had to come out, get their message across. We turned down the negotiator and the owner said they were going to offer. Then they didn't offer. So we have hit it. And so people are probably hitting up the number one labor pot in the world to get their stuff. So I'm generally well. Shade my goatee. Sorry about it. I know, Trev. It's okay.

Was that a celebration or sadness? That was a celebration. I think Jimmy hit it on the head last episode when he said people who don't know you are, like are going to treat you differently than you actually are because you look, I mean, for lack of a better term, like a scumbag. You're not a scumbag. No better term. Not all the time. It was a bad look. But I was going to offer if he kept it that you and I, Trev, would go go tease on Wednesday. But he's shaved.

I don't think I could do that. You would have. I've done some dumb stuff with my fish or have before. I don't have the best. Like mine's not like super thick. You know, it's everywhere. I'm not patchy, but it's not like a real thick beard. So it doesn't look great when I style it all up.

I think you would have looked great. How are you, Trevor? You know, I wanted to talk a little bit about the alumni game. I had kind of a funny story from that. I'm doing great here. I'm a little sore from that. I put out a tweet. I pitched two innings, give it five runs.

Not good. Got knocked around. First inning was good. All those runs were in the second inning, mind you. But pregame, I'm out there. I'm warming up. And I recognize a guy like another alumni who usually pitches in the game. game. And I'm like, okay, I'm going to do two endings or maybe three, like how many you're going to, are you going to do? He's all do two or three. I'm like, okay, we're trying to piece together the pitching plan. Yeah, pitching path to victory. Exactly. And so he's playing catch with this guy who I don't recognize. But the ball is humming out of this guy's hand. I kind of like take a double take. And I'm like, hey, like maybe he's like a recent alumni who went to college and grew and got bigger, whatever. Like the ball is absolutely hissing.

out of this guy's hands. I go, you want to pitch today? And he kind of looks at me like I'm an idiot. And I'm like, no, like we need pitching. You have an arm, like, holy crap. And my buddy looks at me and goes, hey, that's Tony Gonsolin.

I'm like, okay, well, Tony, I'd like you to pitch, but you don't have to pitch him our high school alumni game. But, dude, it's like, I kind of forget what, like, speed is real shit looks like coming out of the hand and then you see it and you're like oh okay what was catterday doing the Cresby high school alum game I think he was buddies with one of the alumni he came to throw a little bit one of the guys caught a bullpen for him it's like a throw day for him he just came down but like I didn't really like just like recognize him right away you know he's in street

clothes he didn't have any dodger apparel he didn't have like the mustache and a long hair no he just kind of I was like man this guy is electric guys What's going on? Well, I think if he had like, was clean-shaven or just a normal full beard and without the long hair, when people have signature looks and then they erase them,

you don't know what they actually look like, you know? Like Jake, without the go-tee, I don't know who he is anymore. I just know him as go-tee guy. Pack a cigarette, squat on a quarter. Hawking Lugies. Did Tony Gonson give you some love? I mean, Trevor Plouf, 1006 bangers?

Sounds like you just laughed at him for not knowing him. Why don't you throw that right back in his face? So you don't know me? I don't know if you knew me or not. We'll see. But I did throw like a lot pregame to get like loose. I got to do that. And he mentioned that.

He's like, you just threw way too much in the bullpen. You're not going to be able to get through two innings. Surely he was right. Fucking alpha. So were the kids just wearing you out, dude? Hmm? Who's the youngest person to get a hit off you in the alumni game?

And how much should it make you mad? I don't know. Like the first ending I was good. I'm telling you. I struck two guys out, like went through the heart of their order. And then I just got tired. I didn't have any zip.

My ball was flat. I'll put some videos out. I want to shout out one kid. They got a freshman at this high school. And the same is Diego Velazquez. And he is an absolute stud. Okay. Reminds me of me.

DV. Wow. And he has how much I love myself. Oh, Trev, did you get any balls right back to you? PFP. I did. I got a video and put it out today. Okay. All right. You make a play? I'll put the video. Oh, wow.

Suspect. I just want to point out that this is like what an egotistical pod we got going here. I mean, we all are wearing our name on our shirt. That's ridiculous. That is funny. Wow. B.B.D. What a bunch of losers. What's your guys depict your name as?

Media company. Automata p.f. Trev, insult for you. Sucks. All right. Well, all right. Super Bowl's coming up and there's Seat Geek

and if you want to go to the game, you can use Code Talk and you get $20 off tickets at Seekek. This whole show is brought to you by Seekek. They're very good friends with us. I have actually a new idea that I'm going to tell Seat Geek, I won't share it with you guys, but I'm excited about it. I'll share it with you guys. I won't share it with the public yet in case it doesn't happen.

Code Talk and $20 off your first Seat Geek order. They rank all the tickets. to make sure you're getting the best deal you can. Zero to 10. Green means good. Go buy them. Red means a bad deal. Stop.

Get away. So thanks to Seatgeek. Now in order to buy baseball tickets, there needs to be a season, Trev. And I, it came to a crashing halt, everything over the weekend or last week. And I mean, it kind of,

I'm not like really, really in the week. because I'm so just disgusted by it all, but the basic, like basic, basic, basic, basic summary for anyone else that doesn't know anything about what's been happening is the MLBPA countered. MLB said, we will get back to you. And then instead of countering, they said, well, why don't we go to a third party mediator to settle this? And then the MLBPA said, no, we don't.

don't need that. Like we made you an offer, respond to it. And then MLB said, we are not countering to your offer, even though they had said they would. And MLB is trying to play the media game very hard, but their record scratch are like, oh my God, I'm so shocked noise behind the times. and their tactics are just very empty and transparent and not hitting the actual public. So I think the owners and the league, obviously I've looked kind of bad this whole time, but I think like my dad's generation,

who kind of like isn't in the weeds, but we're like, well, I don't get it. It's like, you know, well, fuck, that looks bad. Like complete turning point because it looks awful. for the owners in the league. A lot of people have been mentioning how, you know, it's not as easy for MLB to control the narrative as everybody has a platform now. You have your social media and you're able to say things and, you know,

everyone can have their opinion. So I don't necessarily doubt that that that's a big factor and maybe why some of the public opinion is swayed towards the players. I really think what's going on is the players are just, like galvanized. You know, I talked to one guy, he made a really good point, current player, and he said, the reason that we're so adamant about getting to the table and hammering something out that's mutually beneficial is of the way we got treated in 2020. And I was thinking, I was like, I was like, I was really bad, but like, what was so bad?

I know you guys wanted to play more games and all that stuff. I understand that. And he said, exactly. He said in 2020, we got paid, you know, two thirds of our salary or half of our salary. And we had to give extended postseason. He's like, we got, we got absolutely screwed. He goes, they're trying to do the exact same thing now. Let's push them. Let's wait. That's end. That's shorten the season this year. And then let's expand the playoffs. He's like, we are stronger and more unified than ever because we know how we got treated in 2016 and then 2020. and that's kind of why you're seeing all these guys take to their social means it's not to make some like cool like you know uh hashtag trend or something like that like they're guys are really pissed like they want they want to play ball they want to play a full season they want to negotiate when when you don't play a full season you don't get paid your full salary this is their job this is their livelihood and they know that that's being threatened and you got to think about the guys who maybe this was their year that they're going to get to go through it arbitration and they're going to make half of what they are supposed to make and then maybe next year they get released and then what's it all what's it all for so like there is a strong bond right now like there always is but i just feel like guys are seeing they are seeing that being unified and and wanting to get to the table means something and they're just expressing

it on their own yeah man I've kind of entered the dark place. I know I know we've been flip-flopping on pessimistic Monday or Wednesdays and kind of to the tune of baseball. They, man, you know, now the news this morning, Labor Secretary Marty Walsh throwing his hat in the game. I'd also like to throw my hat in the game. That guy needs to chill out.

You know, Marty says he's willing to get involved. I too am willing to get involved. if both sides want me to get in. So I'll try to do my best on it. But, man, I, you know, the shower is a dark place for me, and episode cuts out. I kind of let myself go, and I... The go to you.

I think we're going to head heavy into this. Because, man, the games, both sides think the game. scare each other. And once that April or opening day was supposed to be, what, April 1 or March 31st this year, once we cross that, like, it's going to be dark. It's going to be heavy. It's like neither side is going to do a two-week scramble after we miss that to be like, oh, we're starting to miss games.

Like, let's get to figure out. No, both sides think that's their strongest leverage. so they're going to try to icebox each other as hard as possible. Like, I'm prepared, and again, hopefully Wednesday's optimistic episode. But, like, I think we're going to be midsummer, like, waiting for games. I think we've hit the ugly point where these sides, we've hoped that there's been a point of communication. We've talked about secret talks.

Those don't exist. Ben Franklin's here. Um, that's an inside the office joke right now. But, uh, man, it's, uh, I don't know. Both both sides have their leverage. We, we thought there was some progress. Trev, I know you've got your little birdies out there. I've got my little birdies out there.

And kind of like you were saying before, you know, it's, it's a little bit of a mix. Like you get some feedback that there were some positive talks going on. Uh, but this last one where the owners didn't counter back. it felt like almost like the trust was, like these sides hated each other and there never was trust. But at the same time, it felt like trickling through these negotiations. There was a little bit. Like, you know, each side had been at the table and we're kind of doing this together. I think that fully got thrown out.

And yeah, I mean, I'll, you know, see you guys July 4th. Get ready. Opening day. I think that was all hogwash, though. the positivity that was on social media from people meeting, you know, for a couple hours, two days in a row. Every single tweet that said it was positive was followed up by the fact that they didn't touch on any core economic issues. It was all side shit. So we never really got like real good news.

And like we know from talking to people I know from being involved in the meetings. Like there is no love between these two sides, like zero. And that, you know, we knew that a. big fight like this, I guess, was coming. But to see it come, you know, and being the thick of it now sucks, dude. And that's like, these dudes, the owners, MLB, they're willing to start the season late. You know, it's going to be a small financial setback for them. But they, but like I just said, there are guys who like this is, they've worked their entire lives. And now this is their chance to make some money for their families. And they're going to be making a fraction of that.

because the season's going to start late. MLB's banking on those players being like uncle. Like I need to, this is my window and we're sitting out here. That's the kind of people we're dealing with. Like they want to put people in that position. But I just, I think it's too strong right now. Like I said, I've told you guys this from the get-go. Every single time the players meet, it's us versus them.

We are in this together. And it's a unified statement from start to finish. So it could get real ugly here, man. Like real ugly. Well, I don't know the next steps. I don't think anyone knows the next step. Because what the hell is the next step when MLB says they're not going to counter? And say, okay, we'll accept it then.

The owners are meeting up this week, Tuesday through Thursday, with the hope, well, the players are hoping, with the hope that the owner's three-day meeting, we're golfing, right? We're just golfing. The owner's three-day meeting leads to finally a counter-offer. Where are they meeting? I believe, and I will research this while we talk,

but I believe they're meeting in three separate locations. I think there's like in Arizona They moved to Dallas And they moved to Florida or something like And that could be wrong What do you mean? You mean all 30 are going to meet in one area Then they're all going to travel together

Are you saying there's three different sections I'm going to check it out And they all like three commerce rooms zooming together The fact that came in my head is scary And maybe that was during the dark shower times But I believe I love a good dark shower That was the last update

All those lawyers are just going to get together They're going to play wordal I play some golf some golf. They're going to talk about the board apes they're going to buy talk about their NFT purchases. The room that they're meeting in is going to suck, which is you wouldn't think so because they're all billionaires

or millionaires, you know, and you think it'd be nice. But, you know, even even president's main hallways. So then they're going to talk and then they're going to say, let's ask for more and then they're going to come back out. That's a thing, man. The owners literally, and I was getting upset with the updates. I'm happy the PA

let me figure out in the order in which I want to talk about everything I just said. It's too much going on. One, I'm happy that the PA said no to the third party, the federal mediator because obviously that's just a public trap by the owners

to act like they're trying to meet in the middle to the public, knowing that anytime you get like a federal third person, they're going to sign with the fucking billionaires. And because there's been like precedent set by the past dealings. And those past dealings are nothing but the owner's fucking over the players. So any third party arbiters like, well, based on the last couple things that you guys have has agreed upon, this would be the natural succession. So like the players knew they'd just get like roasted by this third party guy based on

what they've already like established. and that's exactly what they're trying to change. So I'm happy the PA just straight up said no to that. I think it was pretty obvious the reasons why they did. The updates we were getting before, some of the things that PA was supposedly like agreeing to, I was shocked because the owners were asking for more. Like the league said, hey,

and this is obviously me paraphrasing the legal words, but according to the reports, this is true. I'm just going to use silly, jockey, paraphrase sentence that the league said, hey, we know you don't like how we manipulate the service time of young players. If you want us to stop manipulating the service time of young players, why don't you give us more draft picks if the service time manipulation stops and that player wins an award?

that was their like fix like hey i know we've been cheating you out of money and you want it to stop but it's only going to stop as if when we do stop cheating you out of money you give us a tip for not stealing money from you like that was the spirit of the first couple offers in some of the ways and it's it's just so disheartening and stupid what's so messed up is we have like actual evidence like multiple cases of evidence of teams manipulating service times we have the guy who's the Mariners idiot

that like did the Rotary Club thing I mean that is like proof hey that was good content so I don't know the white what was his name White Walker Eyes Matthews White Walker Eyes Say it again BBD Yeah he resigned Dude, but like You could

That's out there and like We should have them on the show What are we doing? What are we doing? Oh, man They, by the way, They're meeting in Orlando

Through Tuesday through Thursday through Thursday, Not sure where Why Orlando? Not sure where I got my cross. They're always in Orlando. Why? There's not even, That's where winter meetings were supposed to be.

Good golf. Maybe. Maybe. Maybe they're, already had some hotels. Man, I stayed at a nice hotel in Orlando. So maybe they're going to stay a nice hotel. Yeah.

But there's not even a team in Orlando. Is that why? I don't know why they meet there. Yeah, like Jake said, there's probably good golf. Great meeting. Disney World with their families and stay at the four seasons there. Orlando's kind of like,

it's not like a paradise. So I'm not, it's a little, I was going to react. And like if they said like, you know, Wichita, I'd be like,

all right, they're getting shit done. And then if they said Miami, I'd be like, that's why they picked Orlando. That's why. It's the perfect middle ground. Like they could get work done in Orlando, but they're not.

Yeah. I got to be honest. I'm kind of a big fan of Orlando. Okay. Okay. Great. You got kids. Maybe I just had a great time and it's like,

you just hit that button for me that one time. But if I went back to her, maybe it wouldn't. I don't know. I met Cow Ripkin in Orlando and Danny Age during the strike of 1994. Look at that. It was like three weeks after the strike ended. They both went to Disney, and I met him. Cow Ripkin almost landed on me.

I came down the slide. Cow Ripkin almost clobbered me. My dad was like, hey. You punched your dad punched in the face? And then my dad recognized him. Then I went, took a picture in front of him. Big guy, Cal. Okay.

Yeah, he is a big guy. Bigger guy, Danny. He is. Danny Strange. I'm shocked when I hear about people. I had like a good little read on the internet. Yes. You know, we talked about the lockout and like, why did the owners lock the players out?

It makes zero sense. Like, as a business decision, I was trying to come up with a meme for this, Jake, and I just couldn't do it. So I put it down. I think that's the best. It was good, right? What? Come right away.

Don't force it. Don't force it. We're still talking memes or what? Anyways. Thinking about the lockout and how. dumb of a business decision that is by the owners, like literally taking your product away from your customers. Like, nobody makes that business decision ever except, except they've seen this play out before. There's a reason they lock the players out. Now, if they, for people

who don't know, the owner shows to lock the players out, they could have continued to operate under the old CBA and still negotiated. We could even start the season. Under the, the old CBA. Obviously, the players have to agree to that. You can still negotiate. Everything can start on time. People could come this spring training. You wouldn't have to have all these families talking about canceling their trips. You know, your season ticket holders are going to get to see opening day at the right time. Like there's all these things. They could have done this. But the reason they didn't. And it came apparent to me after reading a tweet was if they were to start the season under that CBA. And then they got to July, they start to lose their leverage.

it's a leverage play for them. When we get to July, then the leverage would switch over to the players. The players don't want this, but at that point, the players could strike and threaten the postseason. Now, like I said, players want to be on the field. This is just something they could have done. And the owners foresaw that because they are smart people. They're like, no, if we lock them out now, they can't start the season until we get a deal in place at the lockouts here. So no leverage for the players.

It's all business and leverage with these guys. And they're willing to take their product off the field from their customers to maintain their leverage. It's something, man. So Trev, I mean, Jakey Dark Times here, and I'll play devil's advocate. Maybe. Don't fully know that phrase. Trev, we just went through a season like you mentioned in part of the game. the reason the players are mad.

We did a 60-game sprint with expanded playoffs. We know the owners in expanded playoffs is like their biggest win and want from this. We never got the numbers or the books back from the owners on the 2020 season. What if they're anchored up and it's part of the reason that the owners are ready to let this dip into games, that they're like, well, we already know if we do 60 games with expanded playoffs, we're going to make XYZ plus fans in the stands and some stuff like that. Like, wouldn't the owners be super prepared for that? And isn't that still a win for them if they get their expanded playoffs?

Like, they don't care about the season? Well, that's what I'm saying is they don't necessarily care about the money they'll lose in the short term if they get a CBA that they like and they get the expanded playoffs like they'll miss some games for that but on the flip side if they started the season this is what's what happened in 94 it's why you know you said to Cal Ripkin in 94

you start the season and then the players strike well now you lost all your leverage and you lose you're losing that playoff money and that's you know they do not like that so that's where we're at with this it's just become such a tactical tactical negotiation and we're just seeing it play out.

And I'm happy we're talking about it because I know I'm pro player. I get that. But why do you think that is? If the players do something really stupid, I'll talk about it. We've done that before. And I'm scared for them a little bit right now. I'll tell you why. Do you remember when they did the when and where thing?

And we were like, love that. Like, let's go players. One and then M. And then M. And then M. And then M.B was like, okay, here's the stipulations. Like, let's go. Same offer.

Oh shit. We don't like that. Never mind. I'm scared. That's going to happen again right now with we're at the table. That's the new hashtag at the table. Well, now they're going to meet. They're going to come with some bullshit offer and they're going to say, we're at the table too.

I don't think. I think if I was to knock on LBPA's door, I would say no more slogans. No hashtags. Stop with the hashtags. This is in 2010. Some of this stuff was really genuine and that's what resonated with people like Scherzer, but Scherzer said. Yes.

Yes. And dude, Tyones out there, he's on Twitter. But, like, stop with the hashtags. See, I'm going to disagree a little bit there. And especially, why aren't we taking this to TikTok? Why don't we have the lockout dance? If we want to put pressure on the owners, if we had all the players doing the same lockout dance,

like maybe there's a key and you got to, you know. Like they're cuffed? Chuffed. And that goes viral. That's how the owners feel it. They're all on TikTok. I think, was it, Wayne Wright? I don't want to say it wrong.

I read a tweet from a player. I talked about it before the show with you guys. And I don't want to get it wrong. Yeah. I will say, while you look, it is pretty funny because, you know, Scherzer did have a fantastic tweet that we're all talking about. We want a system where threshold and penalties don't function as caps, allows younger players to realize more of their market value,

make service time manipulation, a thing of the past, and eliminate taking as a winning strategy. Beautiful tweet. 10 of 10, crushed it, Mad Max. I will say he's not a big tweeter. So, yeah, like four tweets down from that, it has his when and where tweet,

and it's like, ha, memories, bad times. You know, we have, I don't really want to get into this, but I have to. We have a guy in our chat, Midnight Maverick, what's up, dude? He's talking about players making six figures, and you've got to stop crying because that's a lot of money to me. Look, I understand that.

Making six figures, half a million bucks in one year is nuts. And people, you know, there's a lot of people that are not even sniffing that. I understand that. The thing people have to remember is you get paid below poverty wages in the minor leagues. Okay. And you have to work your way up and work jobs in the offices. Most people have to do that. I was fortunate enough to have a bonus.

helped me out a ton. Not everyone's like that. You work your way up. And then you have such a finite window to make money. You've given your entire life to go reap the benefits of becoming an elite player in your field. And if you're going to miss half a season and not get that extra money, like that's a big deal to people. 500 grand and you work 10 years to get that, like think about it. It's not, it's not, you have to realize it's a small window and it takes a long time to make money. And what MLB is doing now is having more guys than any other professional league making a league minimum that hasn't risen with inflation. Like there are more guys making a league minimum. They're trying to extend the control that once you start to make any sort of money, you get axed.

It's a bad system right now. That's why players are asking for more when guys first get to the bivis. They need them to get paid more because there's more guys like that. They're using those guys. I understand it seems like a lot of money, but like there's taxes and it takes a long time to make it. And you have to average that over all those years. It's just talk to guys that play two years in the big leagues and ask them how much they walked away from the game with. I mean, I don't even.

I mean, everything you're saying is 100%. I just hate that you even have to say that because it's just like common sense that people just want what they're worth. and clearly the industry is making like a ton of money and some players are and dude you know what fuck I hate the people that are like you're just playing a kids game it's like it's not like Travis not like you just I'm going to scream that at a Broadway show right dude like it's this is for kids I don't do I just don't get I just don't I just catering to the dumb when we even argue this, but it's like, it's not like Trev and I had the same fucking childhood and played baseball every

day. And, um, I just decided I didn't want to play professional baseball and play a kid's game. And Trev decided he did. It's like, oh, I think Trev put a lot more work and effort and decided that this was going to be the career path. He was going to fucking, uh, try and achieve and put all of his hard work into. Like, Trev probably worked harder to become a big league baseball player than I've ever worked at anything besides maybe building this company but that's the same thing and then and then so that's their that's the fuck it's i hate when people say just play the kids game it's like well they're not literally kids playing game it's the best of the best that put their entire life into this being their career and when they finally reach the pinnacle they should get a slice of the pie

that they deserve but i mean it's just that's just that's just arguing anyone that doesn't agree with us just isn't going to agree with us. So I feel like it's wasted breath. You're not going to change anyone's opinion on that. Either you're just like a kind of someone who just sits back and yells things or you have a brain. Well, I mean, people just associate, you know, you think about Major League Baseball. You think about Mookie Betts and you think about Bryce Harper's deal. And you're like, holy shit, these guys are rich.

Look at the cars. I go into a clubhouse, dude, and talk to like the team. Like there's like one or two guys that are, you know, doing it like that. Okay. Everybody else is fighting for everything they got. And especially nowadays, like I said, there's so many guys that are the one to three year dudes in there and they're just trying to hang on because they know it took so long to get there and this is their shot.

It's, you know, I talk to, I talk to guys like Flaherty, for example. You know, like 2020, they make whatever percentage. and now like 20, 22, like he's probably not going to make his full thing. Like, it's, this is his window, you know, and like it's getting taken away from him. And it's, I know he's like in a better position than a lot of other people because he's going to have a long career in the big leagues. But, you know, I feel for these guys, dude. Like, I don't know. It's like I'm beating a dead horse.

But that's a, I can't say that anymore. There's no way you can say that anymore. Eating a dead horse? Yeah, I take that back. Why can't you say that anymore? I don't know, but I just know you can't. Our grandkids won't be able to say it. You probably can't say like beating a dead dog

because people like dogs more than horses. I think when you're saying you're beating a dead horse, like people are selling you to stop doing it. When they're saying you're beating a dead horse. I think the way we use it's fine. I don't, I'm sorry. I feel like there's some reason you can't say that word. Don't have to beat a dead corpse, kind of the same thing.

I feel like that would even be fine. I was just, I was just, I was just looking at some of the old Stanford baseball rosters thinking how different it would have been if me and Treve went that route instead of going to pro ball. You chose to go into electrical, you chose to go into electrical supplies. Well, it would have been crazy because like Treves mentioned, Jed Lowry was there. Do we kick him to the bench? And like Sam Fold was in the outfield. Like, does that, do I get kicked out there?

Because I was still an outfielder a little bit. but I want to bet on any of that, Jim. You, Jedd, and Sam Foll just running a baseball team. Right now. That's what we have. It was originally flogging a dead horse, which makes more sense because they said the politician didn't know he was flogging a dead horse, because that's when you hit him with the whip to try and make them run faster.

So, like, you're trying to get something done. You didn't realize the horse was dead. Beating a dead horse. You're riding a horse and you don't know it's dead? That's apparently the... I mean, that seems impossible. Maybe they're trying to wake the horse up. Just fucking flogging it.

I don't know. You can bet on that and much more at Draft Kings. This is a podcast coming to you from the Drafking's studios here in Manhattan. Download the Drafking Sportsbook app and use promo code John Boy. Get 56 to one odds on either team. Bet just $5 and get $280 and free bets if your team wins. Rams, Trev. Do you see the graphic?

They put out you versus India, like you as a Rams fan. Oh, man. Player. A player, yeah. Oh, player, yeah. So you bet just $5, you win $280,000. And free bets of your team wins. Promocode John Boyt, Jaffirking Sportsbook,

an official sports betting partner of Super Bowl 56. This is the long one. Here we go. 21 plus minimum agent location requirements vary by jurisdiction. Cdraffking's.com slash sportsbook for a full list of requirements and state specific responsible gaming resources. Voidware prohibited gambling problem. Call 100 Gambler and in Tennessee.

Call or text TN Redline. 1-800-889-9-7-8-7-7-77. Visit ccpg.org slash chat in New York. 8778 Hope and why or text Hope NY 467369 Well time you're starting to find it I do want to dispel like a little bit of the notion of this whole The only one losing

Really losing is the fans And I think for the most part that is true Like we're like fans are just sitting here like can you guys just fucking get it together So we can watch some baseball like we are We are fans of your sport. Can you just go play your sport? But the game, I believe this. I really truly believe this.

If the players get a fair deal, and we do some of those things that Shuriserva's talking about, we fix the competitiveness, we don't allow tanking, we get all the best players on the field, so we stop manipulating service time. That's a better product for the fans. Like think about all the teams, like fans of teams now that go to the park,

knowing their team is actively trying to lose. That's what, six or seven teams every year? And if players are making more money, that has zero correlation to ticket prices and all the stuff inside. As players salaries have gone down, which they have decreased, the average salary and the biggest has decreased

over the last five years, have ticket prices gone down? No. The owners don't care about it. that. So I want fans to be able to watch baseball. I totally am on that side of things. I think they deserve that, but it should be the best baseball we can put out there. And right now, we're just not doing it. It's very clear that we're not putting the best product on the field at all times. And really, that's what fans deserve. Not some, hey, we're going to rebuild for

five years and just absolutely suck. Like that, that ain't it, man. So we're trying to put the best product on the field. The only problem is that the strategy does work. You know, you saw the Cubs. It has worked a few times. Has worked a few times, but the Cubs have done it, the Astros have done it. And who else? Well.

Like the Orioles have been bad for a while. Yeah, yeah. Though the White Sox just did it. The White Sox did it. And they're decent now. But they're not that I didn't win a World Series. Yeah. Yeah.

When they traded sale, that was the start of their. Yeah, it just gets tricky because what is the line between rebuild and tank? I think the white I think the white sucks it was a known thing that they were like I mean they're bad but there's a lot of teams that have have been doing it and yes that's the thing a lot of they're not success stories they're not smart enough to get back yeah or lucky enough yeah yeah yeah it's true it's true the draft is it's luck well it's a lot of a lot of free agent uh amateur free agent signings is like the you do you back the right 16 year old kid that is I know That's a huge part of team success as did we pick the right dude

from the academy in Dominican Republic or Venezuela? It's wild. I mean, even the Astros who, you would probably, most people would say it worked the best, the tank for several years. I mean, it's still only like three, four of the guys that were part of that, they're part of that core, but it's still only a few guys on a 25, 26 man roster.

So you've got to get lucky in other ways, too, and make other smart decisions. Well, you've got to be able to spend. You gotta do everything else. It helps. It's a great way to get that part. It's proven that it works, but they should make it so it's not as a juicy.

I would say this. I think those teams that it has worked for, it's really just on their tactics. That's essentially it. And the Braves, people are saying the Braves did it. Well, the reason the Braves are good is because they signed,

you know, two international free agents, and they're really, good and they signed them for cheap and now you know freddie freeman wasn't part of the rebuild like they had freddie freeman so who's part of the rebuild for them swanson braves are a really good org uh if you look at their team page the braves are a really good organization because they're owned by uh the people they're not turner yeah but it's like a it's public yeah so basically the people The people on the Atlanta praise.

So the owners are meeting in Orlando and that's it. And we just wait and see what they say. But, I mean, we're missing April, right? Travis, you think there's, I mean, just logistically, like if they were to say tomorrow, right? They're moving in Orlando. So just play the game logistically. if they were to say, by the end of this week, okay, we're on, we accept your offer,

and let's play. Like, let's put things in place. And then they do pitchers and catchers. They can still, they can still. Yeah, they're fine now. Yes. Yes. Okay.

March 1st is like the deadline. I think if they, yeah, I think it's, yeah, I agree with that. If they do, if they say March 1st, we got a deal. we, I think we might push it back a little bit. I, I, I, I, it's not a situation. They won't because they don't care about, they don't care about the player safety, Treve. Well, no, they, they, they do, they, they will.

Not if the games are out there. Jacob de Grom, all these guys, like maybe teams, individually teams will, but the league won't care about the schedule. So if you have to pace back to Grom and you don't see them the first two weeks of the season, they don't give a shit about that. Um, no, March 1st is, kind of the deadline because they're still like the Rule 5 draft has to happen.

We still have a ton of free agents that have to happen. There's going to be a ton of trades, but that's one like basically one calendar month. So there's three weeks to basically. I don't think, and this is going to sound crazy, I don't think the players would

agree to that quick of a turnaround. Which sounds like, hey, we want to play but then you offer to play. But you can't that's. you sound like a pitcher trev that's who i'm talking about though that's who needs the endgame rep so sorry ass pitchers

i would say you need shit maybe a month's enough time i don't know seems like you be rushing into it yeah we'd get like two endings of de grom the first day and then we'd have to read out the ease into it maybe we expand the rosters for the first month or something like that if they get it if they miss games if they don't get it on time, which what,

they got three weeks to get that on time? Or three weeks to be close to on time. It opens up the whole new can of worms where now they have to negotiate how they're going to deal with missing games. So. Yeah, it does. And like Jake said,

we have a, I don't, I keep cussing, sorry. We have a lot of free agents out there still. Yeah. A lot of them. Like,

And you have to, there's a lot of these guys are going to like determine how a roster is shaped, dude. Like where Carlos Correa goes determines a lot of teams pass. And I just don't see it happening that quick. Like I don't think the owners want it to happen that quick. I don't know. Maybe they do.

Maybe they want to put players in a bind and say, hey, sign with us. The season's about the start. Take it less money. That doesn't sound like the owner, though, does it? Oh, wait. No, no. That's pretty much everything.

I do want to say Maverick. in the chat who I called out a little bit. Thank you for the donation. He did not have to do that. I appreciate the talking back and forth. We're here to talk. I'm not going to put anybody down. That's what,

owners have a have a roadmap for a 60-game season and expanded roster in their back pocket. Like you're saying, I think the onus becomes more and more on the players, especially the free agents. I mean, absolutely brutal. And, you know, I've talked. on here about how crazy Carlos Correa's free agency is. Imagine if, you know, June 1st,

they come to a deal. If you're Carlos Correa, if you're Carlos Correa, what are you supposed to do? You're supposed to negotiate that contract, bring it to every team around the league. They're all going to lowball you. I mean, that's when we start getting into the, like, if I'm Correa, I'm looking at like a one year just to do it all over again. So I, I don't know. There's so many moving parts. Hey, maybe we get the huge update from Orlando on Wednesday. And just like we've talked about, Matt Stafford, Clayton, and Trev, hoist the Super Bowl trophy on Sunday and announce that we're back.

But yeah, that's starting to look slim. I know that was looking good for a while. We're going to put together a show with the PA and the league. DBD's working on it. We're going to host. We're going to host it. Host it. Everyone that watches it has to have a barf bag next to them.

Just be ready. Yeah. Well, we'll ask the good questions. Me and Marty Wells. Well, just give me a video of Manfred and Clark shaking hands. And I'll just analyze that and I'll let you know where we're at.

I like that. They should have to meet. We should just get to see them walk into. to the door and walk out and then just side by side their expressions, you know, and then base all of our opinions on that. I don't know what it's going to take, man. I don't know. There's been some verbal like altercations going on apparently in these meetings.

I read something like that. There's been a lot of cussing. Wow. Like you today on the show. I cussed you much today. I apologize. Thank you. It's not me.

It's not you. It's not you. It is me. It's me. We're going Arizona. We'll be ready. What? Yeah.

Oh, Arizona, yeah. Yeah. We're not calling it a spring training trip anymore, Trev, because spring training might not be going on. It's just called Arizona trip. Just an Arizona trip. We're just going, hang. Yeah, we're just going to go hang out.

Play some sport. Dude's being dudes. I actually have a lot of people asking me if we're coming out. So I think we're going to have. a lot of fun out there. Yeah, I think a lot of players will still be out and about. I will. And then we'll just start our own MLB like Nutsack said.

What? Tyler Matzick. Yeah. Hmm. There's a lot of... Was that Will Smith that struck out all the Dodgers in a row? Poo-ho, somebody, and then bets? I think it was Matzak.

That was Mattzick. Yeah. That was like the most dominant two innings ever. wherever it was it was badass that big old thing all over the mound that's what he's doing on Twitter yeah

yeah yeah all the Braves are all the Braves guys are really spicy on Twitter right now because they got the ring yeah yeah yeah good Trevor ploof so Wednesday I guess we'll do something else

should we all watch um yeah we're not gonna league of their own and then give it a a movie review reenact it no that's like

I mean what are we MLB network we're just gonna play a league of their own no no we're not gonna play a league of their own we're gonna play a league of their own

we're gonna act it out act it out we each have like three characters Jake is obviously Rosie O'Donald and Madonna's character thank you

he just has a lot of scenes talking to himself both of your personalities exactly I was gonna say like you have that nastiness of Madonna in that movie and slutiness yeah

yeah And sluttiness. And then Rosie O'Donnell's like, that's just who you look like. Same amount of sluttiness. Yeah. From the three of us. Mm-hmm. Three friends.

Travis, you can be Jimmy Dugan. Wow. I'll be the little kid. No, I don't want to be Jimmy Dugan. Okay. Yeah, you've been Jimmy's been. He's hung over too much. Jimmy's been Jimmy Dugan from the start.

He just wanted you to kick it back. So good job. Yeah, you can play that for sure. You can be Jimmy Duggan. Yeah. I think you're better Jimmy Duggan anyway. You better ever character. All the way.

I'm an actor. I'm a classically trained actor. So that's... Treve, you're Dottie Henson. Yeah. No, because I would never lose purposely. Oh, big debate, whether she did her on purpose or not. Maybe it wasn't purposely.

I think it was. Of course he was on. This is Doddy Henson we're talking about. Yeah. The league meant nothing to her. She wanted to be a mom. Shit, guys, we're doing next episode now. Now we just ruined next episode.

So we're going to need something else. We're going to have to watch another movie. Damn. You guys there. Bye. Treve can be both sisters. Madonna's my neighbor. Wow.

Should I go play catch with her? No. Yes, you should.