The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Inside The Parker - Closing in on a Deal; MLB Insider Tom Verducci and MLB Writer Bob Klapisch on Latest Negotiation Latestin on a Deal; MLB Insider Tom Verducci and MLB Writer Bob Klapisch on Latest Negotiation Latest

Episode Date: June 18, 2020

This week on Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob explains why Aubrey Huff keeps proving why the Giants were right to dis-invite Aubrey Huff from their 2012, and why he feels like MLB and the players are closing in on a deal.He also gets the latest info on ongoing labor negotiations form MLB Insider Tom Verducci and longtime baseball writer Bob Klapisch. Dock Ellis III looks back on the 50th anniversary of his dad pitching a no hitter whole tripping his face off on LSD. Click here to subscribe and download all of the latest Inside the Parker podcasts!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smigel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter.

Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down,

and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild. I mean, it was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, what's good, y'all?

You're listening to Learn the Hard Way with your favorite therapist and host Kear Games. This space is about black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit or armor? It signals to the world that you not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to. Listen to learn the hard way on the IHard radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this Valentine's with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more.

Surprise your Valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $3999, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. From the Berkshires to the sound. From wherever you live in MLB, America, this is inside the parker. You give us 22 minutes and we'll give you the scoop on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame voter number 86.

Rob Parker. Welcome into the podcast. I'm Rob Parker, your host, and what a show we have in store for you today. We'll talk with Tom Broducci from Fox and the MLB Network. He'll get us caught up on the negotiations. Also, great baseball writer Bob Clapish from the Newark Star Ledger. He drops by, and a special treat. We'll talk with Doc.

The third. That's right. The son of the former pitcher, Doc Ellis. That and much more. But first, let's get it kicked off with getting robbed. Better up. To lead off, it's getting robbed. And keep him up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball.

Number three. Say it isn't so. Aubrey Huff, the former Major League star, is at it again. This time on social media. and I just can't get it. He was critical of the government and medical people about the lockdown in the country because of the coronavirus

and went to some extremes to say, and I quote, that he would rather die of coronavirus than wear a mask and live in fear. And Huff just went on to rip people for living in fear and wearing masks and said that he would go into stores and he would refuse to wear a mask and it was against his rights as an American citizen and so on and so on.

And obviously he has his own opinion. But this is another point of why Huff was disinvited to the reunion of the 2010 San Francisco Giants World Series Championship team. Huff continues to make all kinds of noise. And I understand why an organization would rather not. This is not what they're looking for, this kind of negative publicity. So for people who thought maybe the Giants were ridiculous and not inviting him to the celebration of the 2010 championship, I think you just found out the reason why. Number two. I know people were shaking in their boots when they saw the report that between six and eight owners were so frustrated with where the negotiations were going that they were going to say, just let's forget it.

let's not have a season. And of course, the commissioner would need two-thirds of the owners to ratify any kind of agreement with the players' union. But I don't really think that the owners, even though six or eight who probably were frustrated when they even talked about it, were serious about the idea of not having a season. I just don't believe it. They know what kind of financial damage it would do to the sport. And let's not forget, baseball just signed a new deal with TBS and, and Turner for a billion dollars.

So the last thing that the owners want to do is damage the product to where that deal wouldn't be worth nearly as much money. So I get the frustration, but just relax. Deep down, I believe the owners and the players want a season. Number one. Thank goodness. I know there's no deal done yet, but the bottom line is they're talking.

They met face to face. That's what we wanted to hear. You know, without meeting, there's no way the deal can get done. But the commissioner Rob Manfred and the union chief, Tony Clark, they did meet. There's some framework going on. That's all we could be happy about. And, you know, with the meeting, there is a chance that a deal will be done. Baseball could start as early as July 19th.

And then we could have maybe even expanded playoffs a little bit. But we got to get a major league baseball season in. So this is good news for everyone in baseball America. Good for the players, good for the ownership, and good for the fans. No doubt about it. So movement has happened. We have to feel optimistic. It looked bleak just days ago back on Monday.

But now there's a ray of hope. And I don't know about you, but I feel good. I think we'll have baseball. comes the big interview. Listen and learn. Oh, it's so good. All right, let's welcome into the podcast, one of baseball's finest analyst, Tom Verducci, of course, with Fox Sports and the MLB Network, a guy I've known for a long time

and admired. Tom, welcome to the podcast. Hey, thanks for having me, Rob. So we got some movement, Tom. I think that's all, you know, you can't get a deal if you don't meet face-to-face and try to hammer out things. Where are we on this? I think we're talking about the framework of a deal.

Now, it's not a done deal, but at least now there is, let's say there's territory where both sides can agree on. And I think the big change here, number one, as you mentioned, face-to-face meetings finally, right? I mean, two sides have been communicating via electronically for so long, but Rob Manfred went out and saw Tony Clark in Arizona, And the big other change is they finally crossed the bridge to offering players 100% of prorated pay. Determination is how many games will we play, but the players were adamant from day one.

They were not taking what they call the second pay cut. And the owners kept coming up with other proposals. This was the first time they said, okay, we're giving you 100% of your salary on a per game basis. Let me say this, Tom. This is the only part that I don't get. And I respect the union. they've worked really hard to get what they have. They have the best union in the country,

way better than the other sports, and they've sacrificed and done things. But in a pandemic, it looks so bad to me, the optics, of everybody else taking pay cuts and furloughs and 40 million people out of work, and the baseball players, you know, just wouldn't budge. Am I wrong? Well, no, I mean, that's the way I think a lot of fans look at this,

especially when you think about, what is it, 40 million people filed unemployment claims since the pandemic broke. So there's a lot of people out there sacrificing and suffering. And for a score with an average salary of $4.4 million, it's hard for people who wrap their arms around the position the players took. But, you know, again, the disagreement between the owners and players were so deep. They couldn't agree on what they agreed on back in March, because back then they did have an agreement. The players took that to mean that that covered even if games were played an empty ballparks. And the owners were saying, well, wait a second. No, I mean, we need to now talk about how we're going to pay players in the face of no fans in the ballpark.

But I will say this, Rob, that the players were galvanized. They found their voice here after years of talking about things like free agent compensation, pension plans, economic systems. This was easy for players to rally around. They're talking about taking money out of their paychecks, right? Everybody can relate to that. And I think, for me, for the first time in a long time, they were solid on that position. And I think they'd probably surprise the owners a little bit with how solid they were on that front. Our guest is Tom Reducci, of course, baseball analyst for Fox Sports and MLB Network.

The idea that there would not have been baseball would have damaged the sport itself and hurt the players if there was no, obviously they would have lost salaries for 2020. And then it would be hard pressed to look at, say, like a guy like Muky Betts who was going to be a free year. agent looking for a big deal, a $400 million deal. All bets would have been off if there was no baseball. Am I right? 100%. In fact, I've been saying that all along. What I've been saying is that the lack of a season, like no agreement whatsoever and no

baseball, so you'd be talking about 17 months where baseball is dark, that to me all along has been the greatest incentive to get an agreement because the downside is enormous. You're not just talking about losing games in 2020. You're talking about losing revenues in 2021. In 2022, there's a compounding effect. How the heck do teams go out there and sell sponsorships and advertising when no games been played for 17 months? You know, the downside is enormous.

And it was last month I talked to a major league executive who's been through all the labor wars when everything looked really, really bleak and both sides were, you know, playing the PR game and saying nasty things about one another. And he said the same thing. He said they will reach an agreement because they have to reach an agreement. So I'm with you on that. The downside to this is like standing over a cliff and wondering it's going to hurt if you're going to jump.

Well, yeah, they knew it was going to hurt big time if they jumped off the cliff. And here's the other part. I know people in other sports, Tom, they love to rail on baseball. Baseball's dying, this and that. And the facts just remained that baseball's had growth 17 years in a row. financially. Last year was their greatest year ever, $11 billion in revenue. The sport has never been healthier.

We just went through 26 years of labor peace up until this thing here, Tom. And then on top of that, in the midst of this, they signed a billion-dollar deal with Turner for baseball in the future. I mean, and we saw three players last year get huge contracts, including Mike Trout, $420 million. So baseball was riding a wave until this situation. Yeah, I'm glad you said that because, you know, this whole thing baseball is dying. I mean, a lot of people think that because they're using old metrics.

Like, if you're going to TV ratings, I mean, look at the Oscars, look at the any kind of award show or big-time TV show, because there's so many darn channels and choices out there, ratings are nothing. of what they were in the 80s and 90s. I mean, that's just silly. You can't measure it just on that alone. Attendance, yeah, it's dropped slightly the last seven years, but as you mentioned, their revenues are going up

because they're finding more and more ways to generate revenues. You know, people are consuming baseball in more ways by more people than ever in the history of the sport. So, yes, it's very healthy, and one reason it's very healthy, Rob, is because it's the king of live content. coin of the realm and the entertainment world now. And especially now, we're talking to... Last night, a blown call changed a game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines.

We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down,

give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. SportsSlice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the 4th. And on my podcast, The Cliverts show, I'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff. Like being an internet famous referee. We're in the middle of a game. This linebacker walks up to me. He goes, hey, ref, my mom wants you to wave at her.

What? Quarterback on office blue 42. Hey, ref, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clippers show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite,

I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good. advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff rant and recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit. Hey, cream. Cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite,

the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the MyCultura podcast network available on the I-Hart Radio app, Apple Podcasts. or wherever you get your podcasts. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself.

We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clear. clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected. We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more.

Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you. you get your podcast. Next few months here, where no movie studio and TV studio can crank out any new content because of the pandemic, you know, baseball will be able to, I don't want to say have the floor to itself,

but in terms of live content, man, you're talking about more than 2,000 games a year, now I'm an expanded postseason. That's what sells in today's world, and baseball has that. No doubt about it. His name is Tom Verducci, one of the best in the business.

Tom, thanks for joining the podcast. Appreciate you. Hey, my pleasure, Rob. Thank you. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1,800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets

to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more. Surprise your valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1-800flowers.com slash tune in.

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Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. Walk a mile in my shoes. We've all felt left out. And for some, that feeling lasts more than a moment. We can change that. Learn how it belonging begins with us.org

brought to you by the ad council. Walk a mile in my shoes. Adoption of teens from foster care is a topic not enough people know about, and we're here to change that. I'm April Dinnwity host of the new podcast, Navigating Adoption, presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Each episode brings you compelling real-life adoption stories told by the families that live them with commentary from experts.

Visit Adoptuskids.org slash podcast or subscribe to navigating adoption presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health at Human Services administration for children and families and the Ad Council. It's time for the Pocket Protector Central. The analytic numbers you need to know. Well, maybe. Anthony Masterson is his name.

BS analytics is his game. What do you got for me, Anthony? Well, Rob, the new surrounding baseball hasn't been exactly rosy lately, with each passing day seemingly getting farther and farther away from anything resembling a legitimate season. Now, Commissioner Manford can implement a 50 game. his hand be played, so should that occur, what could we potentially see

in terms of a postseason? Last year through the season's first 50 or so games, the AL division leaders were the ones who took the top spots, the Yankees, the Twins, and Astros. The Plucky Rays would have made the playoffs in a 50-game season last year as well, the same way they did through a full 162 games, though their wild card opponent would have been the eventual third place Texas Rangers,

not the Oakland A's. At the NL, a whole different story. The 50-game division leaders were the Phillies, Cubs and Dodgers with only L.A. taking the division at the end of the year, and the Phillies and Cubs missing the playoffs completely. Atlanta and Milwaukee still would have made the postseason, though the eventual World Series champion nationals were at their famous low watermark of the season. A 19 and 31 start, second worst in the league, only better than the Marlins. Now the rest, thankfully for Natch fans everywhere, is history.

What could 50 games bring us this year? It's anybody's guess. It was a big week in the big leagues. Who's up? Who's up? Or is it fair? And now, here's shadowleague.com MLB insider, J.R. Gamble. All right, J.R.

Until this point, is it foul or fair to say that it's the player's fault that a deal hadn't been struck with Major League Baseball? That's foul. That is a foul ball. Man, for it's been mostly sick. since he took over for a Bud C-Lift as NLB Commissioner and has prospered and had peace for the most part. But Amherst faced with the toughest challenge as commissioner because the owners are budging and not all the players.

He's hired and paid by the owners, which makes it complicated, and the players aren't very happy. He's walking a tightrope road. Andrew McCutche's video detective MNMB owners as father figures and one of the players to accept whatever they dished out. It's reported about six owners don't want to put. and others don't like the way Manfred is negotiated.

He's also not confident that the 2020 season will happen. If the league would give them full-pro rated salaries, a deal will probably come, but Manfred needs a way to make it happen. Anything else is going to be seen as disingenuous and players, time is running out. He doesn't want a lost system on his watch. Trash Talk Twitter.

Your chance to trash anyone or anything in Major League Baseball. This week's winner is Miami Mando. That's right, at Lakers Cain 305. He writes this, I'm trashing one guy and one guy only. Robert D. Manfred Jr. And don't even speculate on what the D stands for. This buffoon is in way over his head and single-handedly ruin the sport that I've loved since I was six years old.

All right, if you want to be a winner like Miami Mando, Make sure you hit me up on at Rob Parker, FS1 on Twitter, and you indeed could win a new era snapback baseball cap, just like Miami Mando, for his hot take. When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto. If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, older new. All right, let's welcome into the podcast, Bob.

Clappish, one of the best baseball writers in this country from the Newark Star Ledger and also MLB National columnist at the Bleacher Report. Clap, what's happening? Doing great, even better because we got some movement on baseball and clap. Obviously there's still ways to go before an official deal is done, but you got to be optimistic from the stuff that you heard on Wednesday and where this was headed. Yeah, look, it's been too... Clap, let's be honest. If there were no season,

the damage done with fans, when you consider the landscape we're in, where people, 40 million people, apply for unemployment benefits, and people have been furloughed and let go all over the country, and had this not been able to get done, people would have looked at baseball

and said, wait a minute, billionaires and millionaires arguing over, you know, splitting the revenue and we had a summer with no baseball. How much damage would it have done? Oh, Rob, I think the damage. Say it isn't so. Oh, my God. His name is Bob Clapish, of course, baseball writer for the Newark Star Ledger and National columnist at the Bleacher Report.

Baseball, though, coming into this, which was the weirdest part, was 26 years of labor piece, 17 years of growth in revenue, and last year, $11 billion in revenue. And on the heels of it, clap, you know, we saw the TBS Turner deal for a billion dollars. So baseball's never been healthier. Why don't these sides trust each other? And here's the other part that tickled me when the players were saying that they wanted the owners to open up the books. And I said to myself, to show that they've paying people 35 and 40 million.

million dollars a year? Like, like, the idea of it is like, like, they're getting shortchanged or they're not making any money. I found it, I found it to be funny. There's not, they're not watching baseball. Speaking of Rob Manfred, the commissioner, you know, of course he's the lead guys out front. People have been bashing them big time. But this sport has been through this. He's not the first commissioner that has to deal with this. This is just a part of the job, isn't it? When I look at what he's done or what's been on,

we've had work stoppages in the 60s, the 70s, the 80s. You know what I mean? Like for on and on and on no matter who's the commissioner, how much blame does he really get? Well, it's a thankless job, you know, trying to be the commissioner. Clap, one last thing on the future and the health of baseball. I talk to gambling people, and you know, with gambling now going to be, you know, legal in most states

and people are going to be able to bet. Even some people think at ball games, you know, as the games are going on, I'm told that baseball will be the bigger beneficiary of gambling on games, even bigger than football. A, there's more games, and B, there are more things to gamble on, like at bats, whether a guy strikes out, whether a guy hits a fly ball, like there's all these other angles. Have you heard much about that?

and that could be a new revenue source that could help baseball moving forward. That is a widened concrete. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo.

Every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real.

From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context, and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast.

And for more, follow Timbo SlicLife 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. What's up guys? this is cliverteller the fourth and on my podcast the clivert show i'm bringing you conversations about all kinds of stuff like being an internet famous referee we're in the middle of a game this lineback this linebacker walks up to me he goes hey ref my mom wants you to wave at her what time out quarterback on office blue 42 hey rep my mama want you to wave at her what Hey, Ms. Parker.

Listen to The Cliverts show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. The story I've told myself about love or relationships can then shape my behavior, and that can lead me to sabotage the possibility of connection. This Mental Health Awareness Month, tune into the podcast deeply well with Debbie Brown and explore the journey of healing, self-discovery, and returning to yourself. We explore higher consciousness, emotional well-being, and the practices that help you find clarity, peace, and self-mastery in a world that can feel overwhelming. The world is becoming lonelier. We're not becoming more social and connected.

We're becoming more individualized, but we actually meet people in connection. If you've been searching for a soft place to land while doing the work to become whole, this podcast is for you to hear more. Listen to deeply well with Debbie Brown. from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy

who yells out, help on the internet. Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than me. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian. And recently, I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast,

Hope from a Hippocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice. and thoughtful solutions. Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant,

recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're on your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Oh, cream of chicken suit.

Hey, cream, cream of chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to help from a hypocrite. as part of the Mike Coultera podcast network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Get him to lock you in on the sport because right now the sport is for most younger fans. All right.

He is Bob Klappish, a guy I work with back in the 80s at the Daily News in New York. A guy I admired and copied my baseball style after, Bob. I appreciate you. You know that. You're giving away our age, Robin. Thank you, man. I appreciate you having me on. No doubt. We'll talk to you soon. Stay well. You and your family, clap.

All right. Thank you, Rob. Now it's time for some diamond dust with Wish TV's Phil Sanchez. Out of here! He played baseball in college. Now here is MLB knowledge. Overshadowed by the disastrous news coming out of Major League Baseball is a story that any other year would be huge news. On Monday, Rob's New York Yankees and Major League Baseball appealed a ruling by a judge ordering a letter from MLB Commissioner Rob Anford to the Yankees GM Brian Cashman. Now, according to various reports, the letter details an investigation into possible signs stealing by the Yankees in the 2015-2016 season.

The letter allegedly points to the Yankees improperly using a dugout phone to call back to the replay room in an effort to steal opponent's signs. Now, this all comes, of course, after the Houston Astros were seriously punished for using cameras to steal signs back in 2017 and 2018. That scandal resulted in the ousting of Astros manager, AJ Hinch, Red Sox manager Alex Quora, and future Mets manager Carlos Beltron. Now, whether or not the letter is released remains to be seen, but the Astros players, of course, having a field day with the news,

many took to social media to troll the Yankees, specifically Aaron Judge, who was very outspoken about the Astros. Now, baseball has way bigger concerns right now. But this has the potential to be the perfect example of the old cliche. Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. If you love to be remembered as the person who gives the best birthday gifts, I'm here to tell you that 1-800 Flowers.com is your ultimate birthday gifting destination. 1-800 flowers has thoughtful and artfully created options that are guaranteed to deliver the best birthday surprise.

Shop thousands of unique gifts at 1-800flowers.com for, exclusive offers and great values. To order today, visit 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. And we're live here outside the Perez family home just waiting for the... And there they go. Almost on time this morning.

Mom is coming out the front door strong with a double-armed kid carry. Looks like dad has the bag's daughter is bringing up the rear. Oh, but the diaper bag wasn't closed. diapers and toys are everywhere. Ooh, but Mom has just nailed the perfect car seat buckle for the toddler. And now the eldest daughter, who looks to be about nine or ten, has secured herself in the booster seat. Dad zips the bag closed, and they're off.

Ah, but looks like Mom doesn't realize her coffee cup is still on the roof of the car, and there it goes! Oh, that's a shame. That mug was a fam favorite. Don't sweat the small stuff. Just nail the big stuff. Like making sure your kids are buckled correctly in the right seat for their age and size. Learn more at nhthsa.gov slash the right seat. Visit nhtsa.gov slash the right seat.

Brought to you by Nita and the Ad Council. Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree. They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles. They see a windy path that could lead to adventure. and they see you.

Their fearless guide is this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the ad council. Now bring in the closer. Track one, drag two. The right three. Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA. And it isn't even close.

The reason baseball is better than the NBA and the NFL is because of great stories. Like this one. It was 50 years ago a week ago that Doc Ellis pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates reportedly pitched a no-hitter on LSD. We woke him in the son of the late Doc Ellis, Doc Ellis III. Doc, tell us, is that story true or not? It's all the way true for me, just growing up with my dad and seeing certain things that he's done. and his antics I was able to witness after his playing career.

He's always spoke his mind and was no nonsense. And just needing that help every game. You know, the Greenies, he's mentioned before in documentaries and stuff. Just his fear of failing and wanting to stay there. You know, he was able to get a 12-year career. So I know he was about his business and trying to stay at that peak level. But let's just be honest. I know a lot of people, whenever that comes up, and it was the 50th anniversary,

so that's why it's reason to mention it. But your dad was a hell of a pitcher, and people just shouldn't remember Doc Ellis just for the supposedly LSD game, correct? Oh, yeah. In L.A., growing up with Chet Brewer, he was an old brother that tried to get some of the young blacks in the area to have interest in. baseball and he took a liking to my father and developed an array of pitches about four or five pitches and like I said he was able to maintain a nice career in you know 70 71 the no hitter

and start with white of blue another black pitcher back in the day and just that all black starting lineup some of those things he also in 76 you know he got a ring with the yanks So, good his thing. No doubt. Thanks for sharing some memories of your late dad. Doc Ellis III, joining us here on Inside the Parker. Thanks so much, Doc. All right, anytime, Rob.

In the words of New York TV legend, the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time, this time, until next time. Rob Parker, out. He can't get it. This could be an Inside the Parker. See you next week. Same bad time, same bad station. Right to the romance.

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