Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Offseason Signings and Rumors!

Episode Date: December 15, 2025

Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALKIN10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountWhether you’re just wanting to test an idea ...out, or you’re getting serious about launching your own brand, it’s never been easier to get started on https://shopify.com/talkinShop SKIMS Mens at https://www.skims.com/talkin #skimspartner Coach Trev and Talkin’ Jake discuss what Jorge Polanco brings to the Mets, the Diamondbacks bringing back Merrill Kelly, how Robert Suarez fits in the Braves bullpen and more! 0:00 Intro3:15 Jorge Polanco - to the Mets8:38 Mets offseason moves so far11:15 Mets going to make a trade?20:11 Merrill Kelly back to Arizona32:35 Kenley Jansen signs with Tigers43:20 Robert Suarez signs with Braves53:00 Do teams really need a great SS?56:15 Tyler Rogers signs with Blue Jays1:10:35 Adolis Garcia signs with Phillies  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:01 Hello and welcome to talking baseball. We had a flurry of trans. Merrill Kelly, Jorge Polanco. Honestly, there's a lot to cover some L-O-L Mets. Let's talk, Paul. Josh Bell to the Twins. Josh Bell to the Twins. Tyler Rogers.
Starting point is 00:00:23 Younghoe Park. Natural power. Yeah. Hello, and welcome to talking baseball. It's December 15th. What? How's it happening? We're going to talk about time, the reality of it, the non-realities of it.
Starting point is 00:00:41 I'm Jake Storelli. That is Trevor Plouffe. Rob Choracco is producing his butt off. As we get deeper into the throes of the offseason where we got some juices. Bobby Suarez closing games in Atlanta is Kenley Jansen. It's not, there's still a lot of, I don't know, I was going to make a weird juice pun. I'll leave it. Coach Trev, how are you?
Starting point is 00:01:06 A juice pun? Juice pun. There's a lot of big free agents still out there. A lot of juice left to squeeze. Yeah, something like that. Yeah, there are. There's some big names still out there. But, you know, for some of these signs, like, when you look at bullpen construction,
Starting point is 00:01:24 when you look at some of these pieces that we're going to talk about today, a lot of the times these are the moves that can come back to either haunt or help you in the postseason. So, you know, maybe not the biggest names, but definitely. at least some key moves going down here. As for me personally, I'm doing great. A big weekend of sports. My teddy ball game. Shout out.
Starting point is 00:01:46 First, over the fence, Homer, very proud dad. He was, I've never seen him smile like that. So it was really cool to see. So, SoCal Padres. Oh, here's the vid. Get it, get a big dog. Let's go. Nice.
Starting point is 00:01:59 Dead center, too. Dead center. Stayed through the zone. Levi, get out of the way. Levi. I don't want to see that. It's nice. Days through it.
Starting point is 00:02:11 Yeah. Yeah. That little fist pump around in first base. That was pretty cool. I'll get into it. I mean, I'm not sure if you'll care. This team that we beat, we don't care.
Starting point is 00:02:23 Never mind. The gold bracket, two weekends in a row. They were the dogs. We'd mercied them. Whoops. And then we lost the next two games. It doesn't matter.
Starting point is 00:02:33 I was a proud. uncle for Teddy's home run. So that was pretty cool. And then you're at your buddy Matthew clinched, clinched playoffs and might be looking at an MVP. So everything's coming up, Coach Shrepp. Josh Bell to the twins? Yeah. We've been eating the first baseman.
Starting point is 00:02:51 Switch hitter. The Nats refused to trade him because he was such a good guy in the clubhouse. Okay. Okay. We won't get to that. Well, we will get to. Well, actually, I, Trev, I think the one I want to stay. start with.
Starting point is 00:03:06 Just because they've been kind of a sexy team of the off season for the wrong reasons, I think it's the Mets and Jorge Polanco. Jorge Polanco, who you bought his first suit. Like, let's not forget that. That's true. Let's not forget that, Trev. Your fingerprints are all over this. The Mets make a move, their move.
Starting point is 00:03:29 And there was already some, what are the Mets going to do? there was already some Mets second base jokes out there. Well, Jorge Polanco hasn't really been brought in as a second baseman. Jorge Polanco is brought in for some first base, D.H. Two years 40 mil. Okay, okay, Georgie. Maybe you get that suit back, Coach Trev. And yeah, it was just as the Mets were seeing Edwin Diaz go,
Starting point is 00:03:57 we're seeing Pete Alonzo go. Hey, Polanco had an awesome year last year, and he has a very nice career, which I felt pretty good because I was like, last year I was like, hey, I think you should sign Jorge Polanco because his free agent, dude, what a case of your free agent,
Starting point is 00:04:13 you're dictating what the market brought to you, that he gets a nice little two-year payday and he'll be switch hitting in the middle of the, the Metropolitan's lineup. Look, I love me some Jorge Polanco. I'll tell Mets fans what you can expect. Like the opposite of Clubhouse cancer. He's just going to go in there and do his work.
Starting point is 00:04:32 a man of very few words Jorge Polanco is. Interesting. Just an absolutely standout personality guy, like a guy you want in the clubhouse puts his head down, goes to work. Switch hitters, nice. I mean, I don't know where he's in a slot in the lineup. Right now, Fangrass has him protecting Juan Soto. I think that's going to be something we'll have to figure out during the off season. You got to have somebody behind Juan Soto or else you're going to be paying a guy $800 million to walk a lot. I think that's going to be something to, to figure out is Jorge the guy? I'm not sure. But a very, this is another one of those guys, like I referenced at the beginning of the show.
Starting point is 00:05:11 Like, yeah, not the flash he is signing necessarily. But, you know, we saw him. We're watching it right now in the playoffs. What he did against our guy, Scoobel. Like, he is a guy. Like, you talk about a slow heartbeat guy. That's Jorge Polanco. The moment's never going to get too big for him.
Starting point is 00:05:29 The market can't get too big for him. He's just a ball player, which I love. So you're getting it a consistent baseball player. Now, the first base aspect is a little interesting to me. I don't think he grades out well as far as metricly defensively, but I also don't think he's like, he's not bad defensively. And you put him at first base,
Starting point is 00:05:50 he has a full offseason to learn it, a full spring training to learn it. I think he can be just fine. And if you're going from Pete Alonzo defensively to Jorge Polanco, I honestly don't think there's a big gap there. and maybe Mets fans don't want to hear that. I think Jorge might have a little bit more range than Pete, but he will have to, you know, figure some stuff out there defensively
Starting point is 00:06:09 as the season goes on. I'm sure he will. But I don't know, man. Like, you can laugh at the signing and say, yeah, you lost Edwin Diaz. You lost Pete Alonzo. You got all this stuff kind of coming out about like this Lindor. Like, is this true like the Lindor Soto stuff? I keep hearing it.
Starting point is 00:06:26 I'm like, is this even real? Jorge Polanco will be involved in none of that. So you got a ball player, which you replaced Pete Alonzo, who's just this ball player with Jorge, who's the same thing. Yes, and Jorge Polanco, if you look at the baseball card since 2018, so he's 24 years old, he has been a positive hitter in all but two seasons. One was 2020, where he played 55 games. I can kind of scratch that.
Starting point is 00:06:56 And then it was his first free agent year with Seattle, which Seattle had this kind of history of guys going over there and struggling or not being able to play up into their baseball card. That, again, for me, that was the outlier that he goes back to Seattle. And I didn't like that because I was like, damn, I'm looking at one thing in Jorge Polanco's career that's different. He goes back and he has the best season of his career, arguably, at least OPS plus-wise.
Starting point is 00:07:28 And the strikeouts in 2024, and in 469 plate appearances, nice. He had 137 strikeouts. Last year, 524, so another 50 plate appearances, the strikeouts went down to 82. So the contact is there, which I feel like I take crazy pills sometimes where I'm like, contact, contact, contact.
Starting point is 00:07:55 from the Blue Jays. And again, copycat in all sports. You and Dalton talking about some of the Rams offensive sets, three tight ends, how that's going to be the new trend. I think contact baseball is going to be very sexy again, unless the rest of your statistics go with everything else. Then we can ignore the strikeouts. If not, not striking out super matters. The pressure it puts on a pitcher, the pressure it puts on a defense that, yeah, I think unfortunately for the Mets, This being their, is this their first offensive? Well, they traded for Simeon.
Starting point is 00:08:32 And who will be playing defensive shortstop, so that's a good thing for them. Devin Williams, who will be in the back end of their bullpen, and now Jorge Polanco to play first base slash DH. It's still a parts in, parts out feels tough between Diaz, Alonzo. I mean, the other side of that trade is, like, Nimmo went out, who was a very solid contributor, for them and Tyler Rogers who we're going to get to him a little bit.
Starting point is 00:08:58 So it's still what is next for the Mets. I understand the sentiment that Mets fans have right now, a lot of animosity towards the front office because you did just get slapped in the face with some big names leaving. There still is, if you're looking at it like big picture, take a step back, there still is plenty of offseason left. There still are many guys out there that can help you. and free agents, yes, but trade market as well.
Starting point is 00:09:26 You have the goods to go out and do it. So this still can be a successful offseason for the meds. I would have brought Pete back. They don't believe in Pete. That's clear as day. They don't. How weird is that? They just don't believe in him, which I think is silly.
Starting point is 00:09:42 Sometimes you got to get, like you got a big brain great, dude. Like sometimes it gets in the way. It's too big. It's not an issue on this program. You're not. Tell me I'm wrong. But you're absolutely right. Pete should be in that lineup behind Juan Soto.
Starting point is 00:09:57 That's like the easiest decision you ever had to make. You didn't do it. You don't believe in it. That's fine. You better use that big brain then to go out and get some guys. There's still time for you to do that. Yeah. But the clock is a ticking, man.
Starting point is 00:10:09 And we just talked about before the show. Christmas, Onica, they're here. Guys want presents. Yeah. Yeah. And that's big contracts. That's starting positions. I should, I think you led us
Starting point is 00:10:22 into the follow-up conversation there for Los Mets. And I want to tell the people it's brought to them by Siki. And if the Mets want to get people back in those seats, they got to keep running. MLB, yeah, we're in a little bit of a timeout. Although spring training, once that calendar changes, it starts sneaking up. But NFL, NBA and NHL are ramping up with Seatgeek.
Starting point is 00:10:46 If you're looking to go to a game, people, Seat Geek is where you want to be, or a concert, or a festival or whatever. It is the World Cup coming in New York, New Jersey in 2026. Can we finagle our way into that? Interesting. Yes. Seat Geek code talking 10, 10% off your next set of tickets at Seat Geek.
Starting point is 00:11:06 That's talking 10% off any tickets with promo code. Talking 10 at Seekek. Mets are going to make a trade between Viantos, Mauricio, Luis Senhelecuna. Like, again, the young pieces there are starting to, Brett Beat Beatty. Like, I think it's people are more after the young pitching. And that's fine. But like, you know, whether Tong, Sprope, I don't, I think McLean's probably on the
Starting point is 00:11:40 untouchable list right now. I just watched this video, McLean on pitching ninja talking about like his hand placement on his sweeper. And it's, it's wild. These pitchers now, they're too smart. They used to be dummies. They used to be dummies back in the day. Now they're getting a little too smart with their fingers.
Starting point is 00:11:57 Sorry. Yeah, I don't know. We were just making fun of front offices for being too smart a second ago. Because they still got to make one mistake, Trevin. We just turn on it. Get your hands in. The Mets are setting up for a big deal. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:12:13 I feel weird because we're genuinely very much aren't these guys of like doing clickbait type stuff. But, like, the Mets, they have to have something planned, whether it's, like, they could put scoble in that rotation, and it would make a lot of sense that, you know, is that a young player, a young pitcher? Does that get you home? Again, you know, I know there's been a lot of Cattel Marte trade rumors. The Mets have to be, they have ammunition.
Starting point is 00:12:44 They clearly free agent-wise. You know, they're still in on belly, potentially Tucker, potentially some other guys out there. But it feels like what this team's goals should be. Like adding Marcus Simeon, Lindor is 32, Soto you gave a Billy to, Jorge Polanco for the next two years. They need win now moves. And they have a lot of young guys that I'm interested to see what Ronnie Maricio turns into.
Starting point is 00:13:13 I'm interested to see what Luis Enelacuna turns into. but they're 23 and 24 that I don't think they're currently on the Mets timeline. But hey, maybe this is where I'm wrong, and this is going to be the conversation with the Mets front office is, you know, we attacked Stearns for having a big brain and getting the Mets job for making the Brewers into a powerhouse organization. I guess that's what we're going to find out in the coming months. Does he think that they're capable of keeping those young guys
Starting point is 00:13:43 and like we're just going to, this is going to be a Mets fact? and we're looking at this year, we're looking at the next five years, or is it like, hey, we got to, it's time to go. But the point of having all these guys that you can draw in from your minor league system, which you better not trade Jet Williams. You better not trade him. Yeah, he's on your no fly list. I don't believe in untouchables.
Starting point is 00:14:09 Who said that? Scott Harris. I don't know who said that. Yeah, he did say that. Okay. I've been listening to a lot of GM interviews. I don't, I like, what are you doing? I don't, I don't want to.
Starting point is 00:14:19 I do a show of Chris Rose and that's what he loves that. Oh, yeah, that's true. Well, it's guys his age. Oh my gosh. Anyways, the point of David Stern's coming to New York was like, hey, let's do that. And then get the free agent. You got Juan Soto. That's great.
Starting point is 00:14:36 You had one right in front of your face with Pete Alonso. Yeah. He should have been back. That's, Edwin Diaz sucks. He left. Whatever. for $3 million, it sounds like he didn't want to be there. Right?
Starting point is 00:14:48 Or like I don't know the whole behind the scenes to that. I don't know. Pete Alonzo, to me, should have been met. He's not. Let's see what their next step is. They do have six top 100 prospects if you're counting McLean and Tong and Sproat there. So they have ammunition to go make trades. Or maybe they're banking on those guys coming up.
Starting point is 00:15:06 Because a lot of them are towards the upper levels of the minor leagues and I've already broken into the major league. So maybe you're saying, hey, we have this influx of talent coming in. We believe in these. guys. Like there are ways they can go. But surely the Mets have plenty of moves left from them before the season gets started. Second half of their lineup right now. Well, I guess I'll start with Polanco at DH. And again, sliding Marcus Simeon into the two hole. I don't know if that's who you're going to want in front of Juan Soto. Palanco. It could help a ton. It could help a ton. It could also Yeah.
Starting point is 00:15:45 Jorge Polanco, D.H. Vento's at first. McNeil in left. Alvarez at catcher, Beatty at third. Currently lists your guy, is it Bengay? Carson Benj? He's not on my no-fly list. Not on my list. He's a 59th-ranked prospect in all of baseball.
Starting point is 00:16:05 Him and Jet Williams figuring it out, Tyrone Taylor? I don't know. There's, it's a lot of interesting pieces. I would really. I would love if, let's get a piece to protect Juan Soto. Like, that's been the conversation. I know you've been watching general managers on whatever, I don't know, whatever you and Chris Rose watch, Fubo,
Starting point is 00:16:29 like wherever you guys tune into those, that, I don't know, like I had MLB network on the other day, and I think your guy Ron Darlane, like he was goof and he's like, Soto's going to, like current Mets lineup, Soto might walk 200 times. And that's just not good for the game. But Jorge Polanco needs to be in front of Soto, Lindor Polanco, Soto, somebody. And I still think that's going to happen.
Starting point is 00:16:56 It is just interesting lefty-righty, and that's where Pete, like the run-driving inability that we still, yes, it's availability with RBI, but there's still an ability to get it done. It's a right-handed power bet. Correct. You need a, like, hey, I guess if you get Breggy, you put him behind Soto.
Starting point is 00:17:18 I'm in for that. Kyle Tucker happens to be incredible versus lefties and righty. I just, the lefty lane them, I don't love it. I mean, yes, so I want Kyle Tucker on my team no matter what, sure. I think a right-handed bet. I know the splits, whatever, but. Yeah, I get it. And I do think there is something to that outside of the splits,
Starting point is 00:17:38 but maybe the big brains get in the way there. But yeah, like this Mets whole lineup would feel a lot different if we said they open up every game with Lindor Soto Tucker. But again, I'm going to call myself out for the people. Like I have just assumed, or for the Mets to get back on track, I'm either saying like, hey, give the 400 mil to Tucker or go trade everything for Scoobel, which that's a tough ask. And I- Oscar's there, I feel like for the taking from the Dodgers if they wanted it,
Starting point is 00:18:13 you could put him behind Soto. Like you just need somebody that, you know, makes people pitch to one Soto. Those guys out there. There was, um... We gave Heim time. Do we have to give Stern's turns?
Starting point is 00:18:29 We could give Stern's turns. Yeah. We can give Stern's turns. Okay. Well, I think that's, I think that's going to be the interesting part. I think we're going to find out at the end of this,
Starting point is 00:18:39 are we giving Stearns turns, or right now are we just overreacting in the moment that the players out, again, how these transactions are going down in operation order, like, I don't know, if the other good Mets moves happen, the offseason can still be a success, but I don't, Nimo Alonzo Diaz, Tyler Rogers. Yeah, yeah, let's find out.
Starting point is 00:19:09 Let's give Stern's turns. I nailed that one, huh? You never played Mario Party, did you? I don't think so. Mario Paints back in the day. Oh, wow. Yes. Mario Party was a game of games.
Starting point is 00:19:28 Like, if I could go back in time and try to trick Jimmy into some game or stuff, like he'd have some Mario Party in him, because it's literally just a game of different little games. And they were called turns. So that's where I don't know Stearns turns A Mets party We'll figure something out
Starting point is 00:19:45 If you try something You get a turn at it That's just where I was at We're creative cats Trev Okay Hey why don't we save Because there's three significant
Starting point is 00:19:56 Bullpen moves And this Josh Bell signing That's kind of just taken over this morning We love Josh Bell I guess One of these things is not like the other And he signed the same contract as Jorge Polanco.
Starting point is 00:20:10 Merrill Kelly, two years, 40 million, back to the snakes. This had been rumored. In Arizona, boy, ASU, throw them forks up.
Starting point is 00:20:22 And, yeah, has reestablished himself in Arizona, got traded, they got some prospect capital back, and now he returns for two years.
Starting point is 00:20:31 And hey, man, I think we're starting to appreciate innings just a little differently. Kelly has that 32 starts last, year, 184 innings, a 352 ERA. His off-speed stuff has graded out really well every year. So, you know,
Starting point is 00:20:47 as he ages a little more, maybe you could spin that as a good thing. He's the current favorite on the debacks to be their opening day starter. So this was one that I think coming into the off-season was assumed to get done. But I don't know. I think if you're a lot of fan bases putting your team's vision board together and you were looking for a three four starter to eat a lot of innings. Merrill Kelly would have been a guy you'd be like give me him. I mean two years 40 I like him on any team. I think this is one we're like man like why didn't my team go do this and I think it's because he wanted to be in Arizona. That's why your team didn't do it. I'll say what I usually say about guys like Merrill. Well first of all I think the story is awesome if you don't know. I mean yeah,
Starting point is 00:21:32 it gets drafted. It has to go to Korea. Initially signs I believe was like a one year five and a half with a dime backs. Tori Lavello sits him down, tells him he stinks. Yeah. He responds to that. And now, after his age 37 season, he's finally a true free agent, which is really cool. To be able to get to free agency, you know, I think a lot of times we just, we're talking about these guys, these superstars that get to free agency and sign these big contracts.
Starting point is 00:21:58 For the overwhelming majority of players, like getting to free agency is so huge and just very rare. So he finally gets to do it, choose where he gets to choose where he plays, which is really nice. You nailed it about the durability with him. He's going to take the ball. He's going to throw. And he's one of those guys, man, who just has a bunch of pitches that he throws. Very tough to game plan with. Last year, five pitches over 10%.
Starting point is 00:22:26 And this is something I, you know, when you watch a pitch, you kind of see it. But change up 88 miles an hour. four seam 91 92 cutter 91 sinker 92 like they're all the same speed that just kind of move in different ways and again as a hitter it's like you kind of got a guess uh or or hope he makes a mistake in the middle and you're just there but a guy like meryl kelly would have gave me fits just because i i like to be able to differentiate between the pitches so you know to pick it up earlier that's kind of where his success lies is the fact that everything's kind of coming out of the same tunnel there, in a lower arm slot and just you got to see it deep, coach.
Starting point is 00:23:10 Late movement. If you know what I mean, that's where the success is from. And yeah, I'm just, I'm happy. You know, does this make all of a sudden Arizona World Series contender? It helps. I tell you that much. Doesn't hurt. Trev, we jump to the same like turkey math is one of my favorite turns and maybe I'll
Starting point is 00:23:28 explain it at the end of the program. But like, dude, he throws. 83% of his pitches between 88 and 92 miles per hour. They just do a little something different. It's really interesting because I feel like getting into our hitters'
Starting point is 00:23:44 mentalities, he's one of the guys that you step up to the dish and you kind of you know where your clicks are going to be at. It's just finding the right one, but it's really tough to find the right one. Yeah, it shows there's a lot of ways to pitch and get it done, which remind me,
Starting point is 00:24:01 When we talk about Tyler Rogers and Kenley Jansen later, I've been running through some chaos pitcher theories in my head. But, yeah, 83% of the times he's thrown a ball up there kind of within the same 3 to 4 miles per hour, just makes it move a little differently, get them to chase, put a couple in the zone. And, man, in two of the last three years, 2023, he threw a buck 77 innings pitch.
Starting point is 00:24:28 By the way, to a 3-2-9. also Arizona not known as a pitcher's park. I think it is now. Really? Are we changing that? Yeah, I think it's changed since they did the Humidor. Rob's on it on the... He started moving before you even said it.
Starting point is 00:24:44 3-5-2. And again, his numbers with Texas actually were up a little bit. But those innings, man, like you don't see guys putting those up. And yeah, I do think, you know, for a lot of free agencies, like I think there was a Jorge Polanco quote that was like, I really wanted to return to Seattle, but I took the best contract. It's like, yeah. That's, um, that's the formula.
Starting point is 00:25:08 A little straight at you, Jorge. Um, I think Merrill Kelly had a little less, less wiggle, um, that he wanted to be in Arizona. Like, I, that, again, my Jake snakes, people forget, um, it was really interesting to see, like they are, it felt like a family friendly company. Again, I was coming out of normally dealing with the Yankees who are like Disney World, Star Wars, where the dime back's like, all the security guards knew the members of the front office, like the play.
Starting point is 00:25:42 It was really cool that I think Merrill Kelly at this point of his career, potentially thinking about the next part of his career, that was a big part of his decision. And, you know, it's not like he's around market value. Like it's, you know, for where he's at age-wise in his career. I was a little shocked when you look. Okay, so the dimebacks go to the World Series in 23. They signed Corbyn Burns, and we're like, for me, I start daydreaming.
Starting point is 00:26:13 Hey, we got that young core hitters locked up. Like, what Phoenix, Scottsdale, Scots Vegas has turned into? I was like, snakes, like, let's go. Fan base is there, yeah. We got people. We got sports people, like between the Cardinals, the Sun. Like, yes, that area is about it. Spring training is there.
Starting point is 00:26:34 Early look at the snake's rotation. We need a little more juice. I mean, yeah, I agree. It's Erod, it's fought. It's Nelson. Kelly Nelson, Erod fought. Soroka currently slotted in there, which again, I don't like him in the rotation. You want him in the bullpen.
Starting point is 00:26:56 We know. I've been hammering the table to get him in the bullpen. I got two things. Merrill Kelly. Number one, quickly. I feel like, you know, he's rich, rich now. So I just have this vision of him stepping out in Old Town Scottsdale, belt buckle, boot cut jeans, new pair of boots.
Starting point is 00:27:14 Everyone's wearing boots these days. I can't pull it off, Jake. I tried. And Olivia's like, do not wear it. Really? That shocks me. Yeah, not a boot cut. I'm not a cowboy.
Starting point is 00:27:23 Everyone's turning cowboy. And I'm like, hey, man, I'm just not a cowboy. Yeah. That's okay. Yeah, I feel. I can do cowboy work, put me out there. I'll outwork anybody. Right.
Starting point is 00:27:33 But I'm not going to dress up and play like cosplay a cowboy. That's not me. Yeah, I feel like if I go full cowboy, it feels a lot more build a bear than cowboy. I've never thought of you to build a bear, but I'm probably never going to think of you as anything. I've had that one in the chamber. A lot of the clothes my mother tends to buy me. It lands closer to build a bear than I'm going to wear this. And that's just how she views me.
Starting point is 00:28:03 by the way. Crazy. Unbelievable. The bear is still like cranking, right? Like, they haven't slowed down. No. Nuts. Okay.
Starting point is 00:28:16 Expensive, too. So neither of us are cowboys. That's fine. That's fine. That's okay. We'll do the work, though. Cowboys respect us. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:28:26 Because we do the work. I can ride a horse. Fine. Whatever. Second thing. Gosh, I forgot what I was going to say already. Unbelievable. You got me with the building.
Starting point is 00:28:33 I torpedoed you with that one. Oh, okay. You know, it's interesting. We talk about, like, the speed differential between the pitches. And my take as a hitter is, uh, I, I think the difficult pitchers to face, the guys have like extreme differences, you know, think like a Zach Grinky, Ephis, Udarvish, big slow curve ball, and they're also throwing cheese. Like, if you have like a 15 to 20 mile an hour difference between your fastball and an
Starting point is 00:29:00 off speed pitch, that's very difficult for a hitter. If you have something like this, where everything's the same, that's also very difficult for a hitter. Sometimes this, like what Merrill Kelly does, if he's missing his spots, can be very advantageous to a hitter. Where you kind of want to stay out of, I believe, as a pitcher, is like that like 10 mile an hour difference where it's just like, all right, I know that like out of the hand I can see it. It's not too drastic of a difference. My cadence is kind of still the same. So I think if you're a pitcher, that's a little secret for you. Like you either got to do extreme or jumbled.
Starting point is 00:29:36 I think that's your best bet as far as, you know, disrupting timing. Because guys are used to seeing 10 miles an hour difference, 12 miles an hour difference, whatever it is. So like get on the extreme version of that. I think that's what I, that is the next frontier pitching is arm angles, speed differential, and then obviously pitch design, you know, seem shifted bullshit. is already here. Whatever those geeks are talking about.
Starting point is 00:30:03 So, I mean, yeah, that's this, the jumbled up mess of miles per hour is, is good. Whatever our guys, Eno and Derek are talking about on rates and barrels. Treve, you have no idea how well you just teed up the next part of the conversation. because arm angles, timing, throwing the same pitch between Kenley Jansen, Roberts, Juarez, and Tyler Rogers, you get all of that. And the teams that got them, they were shopping on Shopify. Maybe. I don't fully know.
Starting point is 00:30:46 What I do know is we use Shopify. Day one, Jombino. Hey, let's start slinging some shirts. How do we do that? Shopify. And we're still with them. I think that's the part of the story that I find so impressive about them for seven, eight years now. Sheesh.
Starting point is 00:31:04 Shopify is where we started at John Boy Media, and we just relaunched our merch store on Shopify with our new slash line site. It was a dream. We brought the ideas. Shopify brought the execution. As you're shopping our new launch, check out what Shopify can do for you. They have their Shopify sidekick, Shopify magic, and a suite of AI tools. That's a game changer. helps you dictate where your business is going and growing.
Starting point is 00:31:29 Hello. If you want to be like us and start building your brand from the ground up, it's time to go over to Shopify and start your trial today. Click that link, Shopify.com slash talking if you're ready to leave the amateurs and head over to the big leagues. Let's see. Do we go by the money or do we go by the prestige? Because that would either be Bobby Suarez or Kenley.
Starting point is 00:31:52 I think we, I don't know, go arm angle. So we go Kenley, Suarez, Rogers. Okay. Let's do Kenley, because A, I get caught up in Kenley, man. Kenley Jansen, one year, $11 million to the Tigers. An interesting conversation of where he's going to slot into that bullpen. Are they pitching chaos? They just, they re-signed Finnegan.
Starting point is 00:32:17 Vest kind of took over the closer role. that Ken Lee, you know, just very casually in his age 37 season, 62 games, a 259 and 29 saves, whip under one for Kenley Jansen. The Hall of Famer, fourth in career saves, did you know, and still pitching at a fine level, throwing that cutter basically 80% of the time, if not more. and you talk, dude, there's so many ways to get outs in this game
Starting point is 00:32:53 between the timing and the leg kicks and everything Kenley does. Location, he is one of my favorite pitchers to watch. And the Tigers that have had a lot of bullpen questions and pitching questions. Now with Finnegan Kenley and Vest, at least you have the start of the recipe. It's a phenomenal signing for them. I mean, he's kind of like a set-it-it-and-forget-it guy. I think, you know, the numbers last year,
Starting point is 00:33:20 you mentioned the 259, 62 games. That's what the angels do. Like, getting up for a season that you know, you're not really, like, competing for anything. And Kenley's obviously done that throughout his career. It's very impressive, man. Like, he didn't go there to die. Do you know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:33:35 Yes. In his age-38 season, he thrived there. So you're getting a guy who just, he's going to take the ball. You're right out the timing. We're watching some of the clips right now on the YouTube version, where the leg lift is just a little bit different. the arm angle is just a little bit different. He's got great arm action on, well, he throws three pitches,
Starting point is 00:33:53 obviously mainly cutter. We're kind of going back and forth through the years just to see how often he's thrown the cutter. And it's fluctuated, I believe, from like 64% to 84%, depending on the year. Last year we had him at 81%. We'll sinker, a little slider mixed in there as well. But I don't know where he slots in. I think if you're the Tigers and your AJ Hinge, it's like, hey, probably hot hand. I bet he gets the first go at it
Starting point is 00:34:20 out of spring training and just kind of see where it lands and matchups based pitching, I think is something that they really like to do. So I don't think it matters. Like, hey, this guy's our closer necessarily. But yeah,
Starting point is 00:34:33 I mean, this is another signing where I'm like, your team could have had this guy. But I think he wanted to go somewhere that is creative with their pitching, is still going to be in contention. Unless they trade scoble, that's going to be,
Starting point is 00:34:46 if they trade scobs, I am very fascinated to see what they do in 2025. They reallocate that money somewhere else and are they going to be as competitive without the best pitcher on the planet? But that's for another day. Kelly Jansen's a win for them no matter what. An all-timer man, first ballot Hall of Famer.
Starting point is 00:35:08 I like to think so, especially where relief has become valued in today's game and when you look at his resume, it's insane. I left Tyler Hollin out of that bullpen before, so that's... Yeah. We got some arms out there. Yeah, I end up being a little old school in the fact that, like, I would let Kenley close
Starting point is 00:35:27 because he's fourth in career saves. He can't... Coming off a nice year, a really nice year, that I think Vest would currently be labeled as the bad man for them out of the bullpen in a good way. And like, you can use him in that kind of future of baseball role that, hey, if, if one, two, three is coming up in the eighth inning, then it's not even a conversation. Like, Vescan be your going get-em guy.
Starting point is 00:35:54 Finnegan had some high moments for them. I mean, they have three guys in their bullpen who had 20 plus saves last year. So that's kind of impressive that, you know, something that was viewed as a weakness or how do we get more arms out there is something that they've clearly attacking. And yeah, man, I don't know.
Starting point is 00:36:14 When you're someone like Kenley, and it's different, man. Like, Rob just played that montage of Kenley throwing. Show me the other guy that does that. Show me the other guy that's mess, kick, messing up his leg kick every time. I don't want that. Like, I'm so happy that more guys don't do that. And not only that, it's one of the biggest bodies you're going to see on the mound.
Starting point is 00:36:36 Like, so you're, it's everything. It's, nothing about it feels right. And then as a hitter, you're also playing that game of, like, okay, I, pretty much know what pitch is coming. It's just, is it going to be low? Is it going to be high? And that's where I find Kenley just beautiful because you see so many guys expand the zone because you're like, okay, I'm looking for the cutter. Okay, I got the cutter. Maybe it's a little high, but whatever. And then you see those kind of awkward check swings where it's like, that is high, but I saw the pitch I was looking for that it's just such a different at bat.
Starting point is 00:37:12 is one of my favorite pictures to watch. I'm just going to do something I usually don't do on this show. Okay. I'm going to give you a compliment. You nailed it right there. Right. You got into the mind of a hitter. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:37:26 When you're going up there expecting a pitch and you get it, you expand because I got it. And then, yeah, like sometimes it's a type of horizontal movement. Sometimes it doesn't. Rob's playing on the YouTube right now. This is every Ken Lee Jansen at bat. Look at these swings. It's just, that's Tay Oscar. Who's, who's that?
Starting point is 00:37:46 Is that hobby? It's also like the slow delivery to the good arm angle. That one was sped up a little bit. So yeah, you are initially as a hitter, you have to say, okay, let me get on time with him. And it kind of messes with guys. Like, hey, if I have a leg kick, when the hell am I supposed to start my leg kick? So guys will, you know, kind of change their approach. maybe their front leg stays down a little bit longer.
Starting point is 00:38:12 So that's already messing with you a little bit. And then, yeah, you know what pitch is coming and you see it. It moves late. Sometimes it moves more. Sometimes it moves less. Sometimes it rises. Sometimes it sinks. It becomes an bat where he has to make mistakes.
Starting point is 00:38:26 And he doesn't, like, he doesn't miss in zone a lot. So it's a difficult debate. I said on the show before, I think you have to try to pull him as a righty. That's where, I mean, I feel. him a couple times. And if you try to go to right center, which is kind of like what you think with the cutter going away from you,
Starting point is 00:38:46 you end up filleting it, kind of just kind of, yeah, filleting is the right word. Okay. Pop up to right. If you try to get on top of it and think about hitting the top of the ball, I think that's a better course of action.
Starting point is 00:38:58 But you might end up hitting into the shortstop. It's a difficult bet. You nailed it, and I can't believe I'm saying that. I know. Thank you, and I love you too. The other thing that when I was getting into Kenley's stats last night, because yeah, I'm a little different like that.
Starting point is 00:39:14 I was prepping. You know, for a little while there, I feel like he was lumped with Clayton as being like a playoff, almost like one of the Dodgers weaknesses. Like, hey, you know, if Kenley's out there, you got a shot. He allows base runners, which, by the way, career whip is under one. So, but dude, in the postseason, the guy has thrown another season.
Starting point is 00:39:40 59 games, 65.1 innings pitch, a 2-2-E-R-A. The guy, you're right, and again, sometimes we see with the writers in the Hall of Fame that things aren't always clear-cut. This guy is a first ballot Hall of Famer. 0.79 whip in the playoffs. The guy's a legend,
Starting point is 00:40:02 and he did come to the office, and his personality was cool. Like he was a, like, because he's Kenley Jansen, he didn't have his guard up. He's like, at the end of the day, I'm Kenley. Like, I'll mess around with you guys. He's one of those guys. He could go until his 40s if he wants to. Like that cutter's sitting 92, 93.
Starting point is 00:40:24 He's still getting people out. And the way he pitches, I think he can still go as long as he wants to, that if he wants to keep collecting 11 million a year and getting big outs, I think he can do that. Agreed. How long do you want to play it for? I think he wants to get to 500. That's a big number for him.
Starting point is 00:40:41 Yeah. He's 467 right now, 476. 476. Yeah, man. Silly. He's a guy. Great signing by the Tigers. He's a guy.
Starting point is 00:40:53 What's the contract again? One year 11. Oh, come on. Give it to me. Is he going to be my new David Robertson? He might be. Slightly different bodies. Both great.
Starting point is 00:41:05 I mean, 6-5-265. He's got him listed. Oh, Bobbo. Wow, you just got to pull them. Get your hands in. Do you get to third on this? There's Doge.
Starting point is 00:41:17 Two runs score? 11 pitch at bat. Wow. Was it really? Yeah. Oh, Chris Colabello up next. Interesting. Then you guys lost.
Starting point is 00:41:29 Do that again, Bobby. You know what to be doing it. Run it back, baby. Now they were here. Kenley looking at it. Now that we're here, Anthony Swarze. This is my game right here. If you're on the YouTube, I think I'm sorry.
Starting point is 00:41:42 We're now watching a... Oh, he left it over the play. I like your stance there, Trev. That's not... Dude, I would... What year was this? 2014. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:41:52 Oh, there we go. I started out so freaking hot that year. I was so... I was dialed. Yeah, this was April 30th, 20th. Oh, I think I hit like 3.30 or something in April that year. Wow. Me and Chris Colabello just raking in the middle of Twins line.
Starting point is 00:42:08 Don't leave it in. Don't leave it in. Sorry. What a young whippersnapper that guy was back in the day. Sorry for the YouTube and podcast and everyone. Just every once in a while. It's okay. It's good.
Starting point is 00:42:21 No, that's good. The, I mean, probably the second biggest free agent reliever that was out there. Robert Suarez from the Padres. He signs with the Braves. Again, we've been wondering how the Braves were going to, manipulate this off season. They brought back Riesel and now Robert Suarez, you got two
Starting point is 00:42:43 something about a traditional eight, ninth inning, although who do you give what to? Still gets me going a little bit. Three years, 45 million. And Robert Suarez, he's got a couple years on him. First deal of three or more years for a 35-year-old
Starting point is 00:43:02 or older reliever since Will Harris going from Houston to the Nats. Do you remember? Yeah. Right? We just did that this morning. Howie Kendrick off the pole. Suarez was awesome last year.
Starting point is 00:43:16 Another whip under one, 297 ERA, 40 saves. Career low walk rate, strikeout rate was his highest since 2022. He was dealing last year. Some other fun numbers on here on the sheet. But I guess instant reaction from Brave Suarez, God, an easy 101 there. Your thoughts? Again, you know,
Starting point is 00:43:43 snaps this guy for his story because he ended up playing in Japan for a while coming over. I think now with his contract, he's going to be a 75 mil career earnings guy, like coming over late after a career in Japan. That's pretty awesome.
Starting point is 00:43:59 So, Stoke for him, I want the Braves to be back, and I'm looking it up right now. I should know this off the top of my head. very, very bad start for the Braves last year, but they picked it up throughout the year, right? They just dug themselves too big of a hole.
Starting point is 00:44:13 Am I correct about that? Let me see, because I've given that speech about the Orioles. For the Braves, it felt a little more like a slow march that there was hopes. Oh, yeah. 0 and 5, 14, 11, 13, and 14, 11, and 5 in a really bad July. Last two months were good. Okay. So I had that wrong.
Starting point is 00:44:32 It just kind of never took flight, if you will. Um, so yeah, you talk about who's going to get the pill in the ninth. I don't think it matters. I mean, I think you bring a guy in. I think he's got to earn it. Like I think myself gets the ninth and then you got Suarez and eighth. Like who actually cares. Right.
Starting point is 00:44:52 You got your contract guarantee. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, a great signing event. I want, I want to see them back in the, in the thick of contention in the in the end at least. I think this obviously helps.
Starting point is 00:45:06 Yeah, Braves. interesting. Reisel and Robert Suarez, I still don't know where I currently stand with age in bullpen. Like, in a way, these guys have been built up for bullpen lives, that part of me likes that. In a way, Father Time is undefeated
Starting point is 00:45:20 that I still don't really know what to do with that. That, I don't know, is there going to be a point in this season when we're talking about the Braves, eighth, ninth inning guys are both 35 years old and older? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I don't know. I do like that with Dylan Lee, Aaron Bummer,
Starting point is 00:45:36 they got a pair of lefties out there. Aaron Bummer's name does make me laugh. I mean, that's just crazy. Bummer? And then, yeah, right now, like, Joel Pyeamps, who had a rough year last year, but he's seen some peaks in valleys in baseball, Grant Holmes through a lot of innings last year.
Starting point is 00:45:57 But, yeah, the Braves, it's still, I don't know, Mike Yostremski signed. I don't really know if we talked about that too much, that the Braves have been in the mix in making moves. It's just been a lot of, again, not a move if your team signs these guys. You should be more excited than the public. Full year of jerks and pro far after there's, you know, a dummy PED suspension.
Starting point is 00:46:24 So you got that going for you. Yistremski is a fine ball player. You can put down towards the bottom of the lineup. They're still looking for a shortstop. They still have, you know, a nice core of players in that line. line them. So this is a team obviously that's going to be there again this year. I'm curious what they do at shortstop. You know, who they're going to find to play there. And they can make a big, I mean, Corey Seeger said to be available. Every team wants that guy. I think a big acquisition
Starting point is 00:46:52 at shortstop would kind of like put them back into the forefront of everyone's mind because I don't, I don't, they're not there for me right now. Maybe that's just me. You know, we had some teams surpassed them, I think. And they've had, they were such a model of consistency, but I feel like it's easy to get back to that for them, like one down year, okay? Like, I just expect them to be back next year. But I do think they need to keep going on the lineup. Yeah, it's, man, the Braves conversations are going to be very interesting next year. Who's catching? Like, that's interesting. Yeah, or like, will Sean Murphy get dealt? Because, I mean, Drake Baldwin, they currently, they currently have him batting forth behind Ronnie as a 24-year-old
Starting point is 00:47:33 lefty hitting catcher in the middle of the lineup that I don't know. They've juggled the two catcher thing and you know, you can you can D.H. Sean Murphy if you need to. Yeah, their offseason is going to be very interesting to track because the Phillies, we've kind of been like what is going to be the next step for this team. The Mets have been kind of one of the hottest topics of the offseason. And this Braves team, you know, 0 and 5 at the start, the July numbers were horrific, but it's what is next? And is there a big splash or they dealt with injuries?
Starting point is 00:48:06 Spencer Shrider had to build himself back up that what are the real expectations for them? Or what is their off, what does their front office think? Are they like, hey, we need the splash? Or are they like, no, like we're still very talented. God, Seeger does have Braves energy a little bit. You know, I still let me just like that. It feels like he's cut from the chipper Jones cloth of like you are the next. Is he like the player that's probably like, he's so good, but we don't, I just, I don't think about him that often.
Starting point is 00:48:41 What's up with that? Is it just because he's in, he's in Texas, but like he also won in Texas. So it's like, he was covered up in L.A. by some bigger star power. He, I mean, personality wise from what we've seen from Corey Seeger, he's pretty like his brother. Like they're kind of North Carolina. Like, I think we joked when Kyle Seeger retired. We're like, I think he's one of those guys that we were never going to see again. Like he was, he was good. I played baseball. If you come by the farm, I'll pour you a drink, but otherwise we're good.
Starting point is 00:49:18 Cory Seeger had six war last year. I know. He's a two-time World Series champ two-time World Series MVP. Like this guy is a gangster. He had six war in a hundred games. Yeah, if he is on the trade block. I think that's just a me thing. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:49:35 Chris Young did say on MLB Network Radio that he understands teams are checking in, but it's overblown, and they are not shopping Corey Seeger, and we want Corey Seeger to help win us in our next championship. Of course you would say that. I will say an interesting note on an interesting note on that. Great, Jake. That's how you hook the people in. I got excited. Danny Wexelman, who hosts on Sirius with our guy Co-Tuck.
Starting point is 00:50:05 She posted on her on her Instagram that they had GlassNow on. And Glassnow and Kotuck are fools. Two people that are really happy being themselves. Keep your girl away. Those two guys. Well, hey, both. Cole just had another kid. Tyler's married now.
Starting point is 00:50:24 Life comes at your family. I'm not saying they're going to want your girl. Your girl's going to want them, no. You're right. You're right. You're right. You're right. I got no counter to that. that I was like, oh, I got to listen to this.
Starting point is 00:50:38 And it was serious, so it's kind of limited. So Danny Wexman sent me the clip, 12 minutes of awesomeness. I mean, just, you know, great, great crew just popping. Tyler Glassnow said that Friedman called him said, we're not trading you. So again, interesting. Look, and put that in the back pocket as the O season goes.
Starting point is 00:51:00 But we also kind of know who the Dodgers are as an organization that we've never heard stories that are start that way and end the other way. Like the Dodgers very much handle them as a class. So I don't know. I guess if your fan base is drawing up Glassnow trades, they kind of stomped that one out. Yeah, why would they? They don't need to clear up like money.
Starting point is 00:51:26 So you have this guy, you got to lean heavily on your rotation last year into the postseason even. so you understand the importance of having pitching death. There's no reason to. Yeah. Yeah. I agree. How did we get here?
Starting point is 00:51:42 Braves. Need a shortstop. That's how we got to do. Yeah. I mean, right now at least Dubon at short, which I love me. So, Mariscia Dubon. He's a great bench piece, versatile guy, can play a bunch of different positions. Love that for them.
Starting point is 00:51:53 I love that they have Dubon. They need a shortstop. Shortstop matter. Let's see Or like do they I don't know I feel like I look at the roster right now
Starting point is 00:52:05 I'm like hey This can get it done Would a bangor of a shortstop help Absolutely Still is still a very good ball club Yeah no and I mean like Full season from Ronnie I need Austin Riley to
Starting point is 00:52:18 To pick it up a little bit Like yes you're not wrong Bounce back for our guy Spencer There's a lot of ways to win in baseball I just do think I mean this is like Little League bullshit, but when you look at the shortstop, you kind of want to be like, that's our guy.
Starting point is 00:52:36 You either got to just be an absolute wizard with the glove. Right. You can, I guess they tried that with Nick Allen. Yeah. There's a couple ways you can approach shortstop. I mean, it's very hard to find a freaking shortstop that can bang, dude. That's like, that's, those don't just grow on trees, man. It was me.
Starting point is 00:52:54 It was Francisco Indoor. You know what I'm saying. I know what you're saying. I guess for me, that's what you're saying. I've almost flip-flopped. I know we saw Bichette at second, but there's still something, even like, Trev, this is actually, again, me complimenting you.
Starting point is 00:53:07 Watch out people. If it's an F-R-F episode, watch out. Like, you know, Bichette's defense isn't great at shortstop. He has the arm, he has some range. Just the whole package isn't there over 162. I don't know. If I have Bo Bichette at shortstop, I'm still like, I think I have a better shortstop than your team
Starting point is 00:53:26 because he's an amazing hitter. and he can make the plays you need that I don't know. I was kind of team like just where we're at with baseball. Like, yeah, Bichet plays second now and we'll do that. I don't know. The team I like, if Bo Bichet was their opening day shortstop, I would be on cloud nine. Yeah, you would.
Starting point is 00:53:44 Yeah, you would. So, I don't know. Sometimes we get too far into the perfect player, and it's really hard to be the perfect player, which leads us into the guy, the reliever we left for last, who I think he'd like. that because I think that's how he's been treated his whole career. But we're not going to skims over Tyler Rogers.
Starting point is 00:54:05 Oh, speaking of skims, Trev might have a story about that. Skims, the brand known for revolutionizing shapewear, has now launched a line of men's underwear that's about to change your daily routine because they have an option for every underwear preference. Skims helps take the guesswork out of underwear, and they're truly a gift you can get excited for, I think. Hold on. I'm skimming right now.
Starting point is 00:54:31 That's, I'm skimming live. I'm skimmed up. I am too. Whoa. Double skimmy, skimmy, skim. I just, I kind of had to find the right one. It's great underwear.
Starting point is 00:54:46 These, these are my new one, one. I forget if these are the athletic or whatever. I used to go. I'm not going to mention the brand, but it has like a really strange name, athletic brand.
Starting point is 00:54:58 Okay. it's a fruit in the name oh off in on skims shop skimscom let them know we sent you after you place your order select podcast in the survey select our show in the drop down menu that follows and if you're looking for the perfect gifts this season the skims holiday shop is now open at skims dot com um tyler rogers who again in this world
Starting point is 00:55:23 i say something real quick please just i'm just in hammas if you haven't got your significant other anything for the holiday. Just get this is an easy one. Nice. They all like it. Okay, go ahead. Tyler Rogers, who if you, we just looked at stats, these stats that we get obsessed with,
Starting point is 00:55:42 you'd look at the numbers and you'd say, absolutely. This guy has been one of the most consistent relievers in the game, getting outs every year, throwing innings every year. What the fuck? You play the tape, and you're like, what the hell is that? The Blue Jays signed Tyler Rogers. A lot of fun, Trey Yassavage, Tyler Rogers overlays,
Starting point is 00:56:07 our guy pitch ninja in on that one. This guy has been incredible. He's got a vesting option for the fourth season that would get him up to $48 million. That would be the biggest bullpen signing in Blue Jays history. The guy's a dog, dude. He's hopped around teams the last few years. It is so hard to be a consistent.
Starting point is 00:56:28 consistent reliever in the sport because with the limited innings, you give up one or two bad games or you just get beat and it can change your year stats. Not for Tyler Rogers. Nothing but weak contact. First pitch strikes. And dude, you talk about guys getting contracts and getting paid.
Starting point is 00:56:48 There was a time when I think he didn't get called up until 29 or nearing his 29th birthday and now here he is getting the contract. good for him, man. I root for the Rogers brothers, no matter what, just excellent people. I mean this in like the most endearing way.
Starting point is 00:57:08 I do love my grandpa ow. He's passed away. They remind me of my grandpa out. Just like workers. They just like go come to work. They do it and that's it. They don't really brag. They don't do anything.
Starting point is 00:57:17 She goes like, yeah, I'm just here. Like just good, solid people, guys you need in the clubhouse. And then you get on a savant page. And this is like he, it's a weird page.
Starting point is 00:57:27 because there are some that are like in the 1%, but you don't care about any of those. All the ones that matter are like 95 and above. Yeah, obviously the fastball V-lilow is not going to be there. That's kind of what makes it great. The whiff percentage, nobody cares, man, because, like you said, like the hard hit rate is in the 95th percentile. That's what Tyler Rogers does.
Starting point is 00:57:50 I mean, negative 61 degree arm angle, sink or slider guy. I mean, you just don't see pitches coming from there. You just don't see it. And that is, that sucks. Oh my gosh, man. It's a blitzball. That's a blitzball right there. I have no.
Starting point is 00:58:07 It's rising slider that you swing it, that it hits you in the face. Our blitzball battle rolling out right now, by the way, go check it out at Warehouse games. Treve, this is the number one thing. It's blown my mind since baseball. And, like, again, I fake lumped myself in with hit. I don't know how you hit that. And the game doesn't know how to hit this guy, but even sidewinders,
Starting point is 00:58:32 like I've just never understood the angles or repetition needed to hit the ball off of them because it's totally different. The angles are completely changed. It's, I mean, he's an extreme case of it, obviously. Like, he's like a true submarine pitcher, not just like a sidearm slinger. We, I'll bring it back to Crespi Carmelite High School,
Starting point is 00:58:55 My high school coach was at the forefront of this. I'm serious. He's a legendary L.A. guy. Scott Muckie, shout out egg egg. He'd have guys that couldn't throw hard that, you know, they couldn't really hit. They were pitchers, whatever. Every single year, we had at least one guy drop down and throw from down there.
Starting point is 00:59:12 And that was his thing. And they'd be effective. We'd turn a couple of these guys into some of our best pitchers who had no chance throwing over the top. And it's just because you don't see it. As a hitter, you have to be so disciplined against guys like, this. You have to really, again, similar to like what Kelly, I said about Kelly Jansen and like trying to kind of change your approach. You have to kind of spread out. You have to eliminate the leg
Starting point is 00:59:37 kick. You have to have your hands super close into the body because you just have to have to have your head completely still because it's a brand new arm angle for you and you have to be able to read it as early as possible. And then you can't try to pull it. You got to go up the middle. You have to toned down the swing. It becomes a lot of bat to ball stuff. Like you're not going up there trying to hit a homer against Tyler Rogers because it ain't going to happen. It's not going to happen. You have to just be so disciplined. And it messes with guys, man. And there's something about, I think, not only his effectiveness when he's pitching, but going from him to somebody else, you're next to bat. You're like, what the hell's going on right now? Yeah. So it just, there's a,
Starting point is 01:00:21 there's a cause and effect situation. with him. But again, like a guy that you can throw 74, 74, 70, 77 innings pitch because it's less wear and tear on the body with the arm like this. I don't know, man. It's a great signing. I love it. And again, I root for these guys. But I mean, we're showing the clips on on YouTube right now. It's just you just don't see. I mean, his knuckles are on the dirt, man. So, okay, a couple things. And let's get lost in it in a little bit, Coach Treve, because it's, I don't know, it's the holiday season, we're yucking ball. Dude, I'm racking my brain last night because Kenley with the timing stuff, I'm kind of like,
Starting point is 01:01:04 why don't we teach pitchers that more? Like, because I don't know, like the old baseball thing that I feel like a lot of ballplayers get taught is like, you know, pitchers, they could stand on one leg all day. Like when you're a young pitcher, they have you do this drill where you just stand on your leg one day in the set. okay, if we're doing that, like, why aren't more pitchers messing with leg kick timing? I feel like that's, don't get me wrong, I get it's a skill, and it throws off the routine and location, location, but also we live in this Velo stuff world that, okay, if you can add a little
Starting point is 01:01:42 leg kick, that can be a massive weapon for you. It's part of what's making Kenley go on. And then the follow up to that conversation is, it's tough. to make the big leagues, as I've seen, that like, how come more guys don't try to be like Tyler Rogers, or is the question a lot of guys do, it's just impossible to be this consistent or have the location good or have the stuff good? I don't know. Like, I'm, I guess I'm missing the Tyler Rogers part on it of why we don't have the story of like the rays have 10 guys every year they try to turn into tight.
Starting point is 01:02:21 Tyler Rogers. I guess I'll start with that. There should be more. I mean, it's, it's a, it's a good point. Is it a pride thing? I've often wondered the same. I think so. And then I think, you know, you're, you, you grow up pitching one way. You get drafted. You believe in yourself. And then if you don't, if you don't have success, you kind of just get released. Yeah. But now, you know, you can put all the trackman on yourself and send videos out. I, I, I'm with you. I think more guys should. do this. I mean, there's most guys that drop down. I mean, how many do we have in the league every year? Like three? It's not a lot, man. Like Joe Smith. Tyler Rod, I'm trying to think of guys that really came down
Starting point is 01:03:05 sidearm. Like, a lot of those guys do have at least initial success. Hobie Milner. Yeah, like I, from the left side, sheesh. I agree. Like, again, I just talked to him like, he would do that all the time. If I was a guy who like, my stuff is not good. Maybe I had an
Starting point is 01:03:21 arm injury. I'm not having a ton of success in the mind of these. I would say, hey, guys, guess what? I'm dropping down. This is what we're going to do. At least give me a shot. Teams would be like, heck yeah, fine. Let's see what you got. Yeah. So I'm with you on that. I think more guys should do it. It is a pride thing probably, which goes into your next question basically. Like, why don't guys manipulate their, like, leg lift more? I think they think I can beat you with just my stuff. Right. And it does, it's, it's, they get into so much into what's my best stuff. And if I do this, I might not get back to where I need to get to.
Starting point is 01:03:58 My stuff might tick down a little bit. And I don't want that. I need to be, my numbers need to be here. There's a lot of that. When it's like, I get that. When you're trying to get to the big leagues, you have to have these numbers. But also, like, can we get back to like, hey, go get guys fucking out? Like, that's what matters the most.
Starting point is 01:04:17 So if you're, if your stuff has to tick down a little bit, but you're messing with the hitters timing, okay, I think guys are afraid to try it. It's a skill, too. You have to be able to have great balance. We saw Marcus Stroman always working on it. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:04:31 And he tried to do it a little bit. I think it probably affected his stuff. I don't think he got plus, I don't think he got better because he manipulated his, like, his windup. Do you? It's tough.
Starting point is 01:04:47 Like, I only caught so much of Prime Strom that I feel weird grading a lot of my Stroman thoughts. Prime Stroman, I don't think did that, did he? Again, I'd have to, like, in my head, I don't have that. I have, I have, you know, the Stroman in my head was trying to get through with 88 and, like, doing whatever he could. That, again, part of me appreciates that because it goes back to the original thought of, like, there's a lot of ways to get out.
Starting point is 01:05:14 And, like, even, again, if you played baseball at some of the lowest levels, Hello. That first time you saw a pitcher, like the heaney hitch in his glove. Like your brain just sees that and it bothers you. Kershaw, when he's in the windup and he does the full iconic over the top. Like something about that is different. And the more different it is, the harder it is to hit. And I mean, look at Tyler Rogers is the perfect example of all that.
Starting point is 01:05:46 That the messing with the timing thing, every time I see a pitcher do it, Like you see more relievers do it. And maybe that goes back to your pitcher confidence level. Like I'm a starting pitcher. Like I don't need to bust out all the tricks where there's a lot of relievers that are, they try to quick pitch you or hold on to something. Oh my gosh. Okay.
Starting point is 01:06:08 I just had a thought. Please. I think of like 1930s baseball. Oh, yeah. I think we're getting back to that. Like it's all about being different now. And it kind of should be because, yeah, disrupting timing is one of the biggest things you could do as a pitcher. I think we end up seeing in the years to come, yes, stuff plays no matter what.
Starting point is 01:06:34 Okay. I think location probably plays a little better, but stuff allows you some mistakes with your location. I think we'll see more guys try stuff out, especially because now we have all the numbers. And if it works, it works. so I'd expect to see more arm angles. I'd expect to see more guys kind of, you know, dangling in their delivery, all that good stuff. I do want to get back to Tyler Rogers in the Blue Jays bullpen
Starting point is 01:06:58 because that's kind of how we started this. You know, one thing they did struggle with last year was homers, and this guy doesn't do that. So, you know, where does he end up pitching in that bullpen? I think they find lanes for him. I'd continue to go if I was. the Blue Jays and for my bullpen,
Starting point is 01:07:20 I think that is an area where we could make some strides. But Tyler Rogers is an excellent addition to a Jeff Foffman. And I believe they came out and said, like no guarantee Hoffman's the closer next year.
Starting point is 01:07:35 So like they're in the market. I mean, and man, that's what they've done so far. Tyler Rogers, Dylan Sees and Cody Ponce. Like they have, they've beefed up their pitching a little bit. And yeah, I, you know, I mentioned the pitch ninja, but, okay, your first two at bats are against you Savage,
Starting point is 01:07:54 highest release point in the game. I don't know, here comes Louis Varlant. He's going to be the closer, isn't he? Pumping at you. And here comes Tyler Rogers, thrown from his shoes. So, yeah, man, the Toronto having themselves a nice offseason where they haven't, they haven't lost anything yet. I mean, Bichette and Bassett, Sir Anthony, Scherzer,
Starting point is 01:08:19 so they have some free agents out there. Manoa, signed with the halos. But yeah, they've beefed up their pitching. Tough. That's a crazy visual right there. It's tough, man. And I guess the other thing when I was spinning last night, I was like, you know, maybe guys don't go for the drop-down
Starting point is 01:08:36 because of injury risk. But, dude, Tyler Rogers, you mentioned some of the stats on the way. Trev, he has led the league in appearances in one, two, three, four of the last six seasons. It's why softball pitchers can pitch as much as they do. That's the natural movement of your arm. So it's less wearing tear on your arm. I guess, hey, big brain front offices.
Starting point is 01:09:02 Why don't you listen down here for a little bit? Colorado, we're coming for you. What if I told you you could have a pitcher who's more effective, who can pitch more? If you didn't see that V-Lo number, that's the only difference. That's the only difference. I think we are big brain baseball guys.
Starting point is 01:09:24 And it's awesome. Oh. Bob Nightingale just reported that Adelis Garcia and the Philadelphia Phillies are finalizing a one-year $10 million deal. My God. Yes. Okay. Yes.
Starting point is 01:09:39 In that freaking lineup? I mean, Sien Doley. hit in like seventh for those guys. Oh my goodness. There's more in there. There's more in there. Testosterone. Through the roof.
Starting point is 01:09:55 What do they do last year? He's... It wasn't great last year. No, he's been... Ever since he was the king of the world in that postseason, it's... It hasn't been great. It's only 32, coach.
Starting point is 01:10:09 Like, what's not bring him out to the pasture just yet? I'm not. that's again where where free agency we get to be annoying and almost none of it actually matters but like I don't know that stadium good place to hit that lineup good dudes to hit around like if there is a recipe for Adolias Garcia to bounce back it's it's Philadelphia I love that we have to end with that nice look at that just a little bobby it's a little salt they sprinkle on top. Is he's still in?
Starting point is 01:10:45 He's out. He's got some steakhouses and stuff. I think he's out, dude. I think they're all closed down. Whoa. Yeah, he's donezo. Yeah, I think he'd be like tax fraud or something too. Whoa.
Starting point is 01:10:56 Yeah. Can't do that. Lee didn't need to land the ship there. Hey, we love you guys. We're still kind of on call. If one of the big things drops, we'll try to be ready for you. Otherwise, yeah, we're Monday, Wednesday. we'll figure out, we're figuring out the holidays a little bit.
Starting point is 01:11:16 Oh, Rob, I had a good idea for one of our YouTube, just like videos you've been cranking out. Wait for it. Jake sucks. Current, still active MLB pitchers that have hits. Like Kenley Jansen has three hits. Okay. Yeah. Like that.
Starting point is 01:11:36 Yeah. I mean, Max Fried used to rake. Raker. You could do a whole video on hits. but like, I don't know. I feel like Merrill Kelly's got some knocks. Ooh! Let's see at the buzzer.
Starting point is 01:11:47 Clicking over Merrill Kelly, internet. Four hits.

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