The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Parker – Inside the (Rob) Parker - Mariners' fool's gold start; Kimbrel/Keuchel sign; Prayers up for Papi; Guest: Jim Leyland on analytics, unwritten rules

Episode Date: June 12, 2019

This week on Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob explains why the Mariners' hot start was just fool's gold, why he's glad to see Dallas Keuchel and Craig Kimbrel finally signed, and sends his well wishes to David Ortiz as he recovers after being attacked in the Dominican Republic. He also runs down his Top 3 MLB Teams of the Week, names this week's 'Twitter Trash Talk' Winner, and gives the Analytic Stat of the Week. Guests: 3-time MLB Manager of the Year and World series champion, Jim Leyland on the home run explosion, analytics and unwritten rules; USA Today MLB writer Bob Nightengale with the latest Big Papi update, Keuchel and Kimbrel signing. 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. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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, 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 with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano. It's our favorite time of the year on our podcast point game, the playoffs. We're digging into the biggest surprises of the season. And I'm looking back on some of my greatest playoff moments. If we didn't talk ever again, I was harmed. you just understood.

That's how personal it got. Wow. Then after that game seven, Mark keep coming to her. He's like, you know, I love you, dog. You know, it's all love. This was just playoffs. This was just basketball.

So listen to Point Game on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Millions of Americans are getting back to work. Career Builder calls it the great rehire. And we want to help you get the best jobs before everyone else. Career Builder gives you the competitive edge to get the job you want, at the salary you want with the benefits you want. We even send job alerts, so your perfect job lands right in your inbox.

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Built Ford Proud. At Target, we come in for black-owned coffee and leave with change in our hands. We come in for healthier snacks and leave feeling more fulfilled. At Target, better days are within our reach. What we value most shouldn't cost more. 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 103, Rob Parker. Welcome into the latest edition of the Inside the Parker podcast. Rob Parker here, you there. Coming up on the program, we'll have... Former Tiger manager, Jim Leland. He'll join us. Plus USA Today baseball writer Bob Nightingale, plus much, much more.

Welcome in. Let's go. Better up. To lead off, it's getting robbed. And keep them up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one. When the Seattle Mariners got off to their hot start of 13 and 2, people were like,

Are they baloney or are they filet? It was unbelievable. Don't forget what the offseason was like. Paxton, Segura, Cano, Diaz were all traded during the off season. So everybody thought it was a rebuild. But somehow, some way, the Mariners were off and running. After that, in their next 18 games, they went 5 and 13. And as of Monday, they were 28 and 41.

That's right. They are 10 and 26 in their last 36 games. You smell that? They stink. They are baloney. When you gut a team and take away all those players, you can't maintain it. You can maybe have a good two or three weeks and people aren't sure if what you were doing made any sense. Or maybe the team was better with subtraction is better than addition.

No. Seattle, you sold out your. team, you sold out your fans, and you officially stink. Number two. A couple of big free agents were finally signed. My goodness, it took forever. But yes, Dallas Keikl signed with the Atlanta Braves and the Cubs signed Craig Kimbril. And you know what?

I was glad to see both teams do what they did because the Atlanta Braves have a good young team. They don't have a big payroll. and they could have just said, hey, we made the playoffs last year, we don't have to go spend money, let's just let this thing roll out with the young guys, and instead they made a conscious decision. They want to do more than make the playoffs. And they said, Kiko was a guy who's performed in some big spots,

pitching a lot of big games when he was in Houston, so I love that about him. And the same thing with the Cubs. Everybody thought when they won the World Series that they were going to be in the way in the National League for years to come. And instead, it didn't happen. Despite all their young players and whatnot, it's tough. So they decided that they needed some help.

And Craig Kimberle, one of the best closers out there, who was sitting on an island waiting for a job since the Red Sox gave up on him. And the Cubs, they spent more money. They dove in. I'd love to see both of these guys back playing, and I'm glad both the Braves and Cubs didn't stand pat and spent some mullah.

Number three. Sad news in baseball. David Ortiz, Big Poppy, was shot in his home country of the Dominican Republic. He has been airlifted by the Red Sox back to Boston for more treatment. And there's a report in the New York Post saying that possibly it was a hired hit by some drug-lowered, because a big poppy was allegedly messing with his wife or girlfriend. Who knows when we get into all that? But the bottom line is we wish nothing but a speedy recovery for David Ortiz,

one of the shining lights in Major League Baseball as a player. And now, after his career, as a broadcaster, he lights up any room and makes baseball more fun. Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn. Oh, it's so good. Let's welcome to the podcast, Jim Leland, former Major League manager, of course, three-time manager of the year,

won the World Series with the Florida Marlins in 1997, and currently is a special assistant to the Detroit Tigers. Hey, Jim, welcome in. We appreciate it. No, thanks, Rob. Great to talk with you. No doubt. Now, Jim, we already know, everybody thought with the steroid era over

that the home runs had gone away, But they haven't. People are still hitting home runs like crazy. And last night, the Arizona and Philadelphia set a major league record with 13 home runs. Can you explain what's going on with the home runs in Major League Baseball? Well, I think you got – first of all, I think you got more people swinging for them than before. I think, you know, there's also more strikeouts to go along those home runs. So there's a lot of strikeouts as well.

So I think, you know, people talk about the launch angle, which is really a burst of. of the upper cut, which has been around forever. But I think, you know, some people are claiming that the baseballs are hard. I don't know if that's accurate or not. Major League Baseball says they're no different. So I think, you know, these guys are definitely big and strong, and they're upercut and they're striking out a lot much more, that much more, and they're also hitting more home runs.

Right. As a home runs, I get strikeouts. You don't want the game to be just strikeouts and home runs. Do you miss the stolen base to hit and run and some other things? And the shift also, Jim, takes away a lot of hits. Is this good for the game? Well, I think, first of all, I like the art of knowing how to win a game, and I think that's something that's lost in our game today.

I think there's certain players in your lineup that certainly they're going to hit home runs. You don't mind them to hit home runs. You want them to hit home runs. That's part of their game. But there's a lot of people in the lineup that can't hit home runs that are trying to hit home run. And we're not executing the things that help you win games late in the game. I think that's a mistake. I also think that they can tell you all they want,

in my opinion about the shift, I think it's over-exaggerated. For instance, I've heard commentators in the last couple weeks talk about a left-hand hitter hit a two-hop ground ball in the first base, and they said he hit right into the shift. He didn't hit into the shift. He hit where the guy's been standing for 150 years. Exactly.

Everybody's caught up in this stuff. So the same way with a guy in short right field. If you hit a ground ball out of that guy, it would have been a ground ball at him if he'd have been, playing Deadpool in the infield. So I think some of us are overrated, to be honest with you. I've seen quite a few teams get burnt by the shift this year because people haven't been able to get over to cover to make double plays.

So I think there's some advantage to it. Yes, I do. But I think it's overrated myself. What about the analytics? I'm not an old school. I'm not, hey, you kids, get off my long guy. But Jim, the analytics of some of this, I think, is gone too far. No? Does it all? And here we are, and I'm not ripping Billy Bean. I'm just saying he's the guy, everybody loves Oakland,

but there's two things that haven't happened with all the analytics. Billy Bean has never won a World Series, and they have the lowest attendance in baseball. Are we following the right guy? Well, I think what's going on in analytics. I think it's just a fancy term for analyzing your players' performance and analyzing things that are going on with the game. That's been going on forever.

I do think there's more information. I understand that. I've never met a manager yet. They didn't want as much information you could get. but it has to be information that's going to help you win a game. It's got to be information that's going to help you get your players better. It's got to be information to help you draft players. So there's more information out there.

You know, I'm not old school either. I'm old, but I'm not old school. I'm for any information you could get to make your players better, makes you win more games. But I think a lot of this stuff is what we've had for years. There's just more of it now, and people are making a bigger deal about it. Jim, there was an altercation the other day when Max Muncie hit a home run off of Bum Gardner, and he took exception to him staring at it and went into the water and had some words as Max Muncie rounded the bases.

Is that old school baseball? You cool with that, let the players police it, or do we need to stop pitchers complaining when guys hit home runs and look at them? Well, I think what we have to do is we have to get all the managers to get. together and decide what's okay and what isn't. Let the players, let the players have meetings. What's okay and what isn't okay? Because it's not okay for your team and not okay for my team. Is it okay for your team, but yet it's not okay for my team?

I think the managers themselves and the players have to get together. What's showboating? What's rubbing in somebody's face? What's insulting the opponent and what's not? And I think that's the way you're going to curtail that because I think there is some extremes when people are doing some of this stuff with their home runs. But, you know, what, I mean, what's the extreme to the players? them figure it out because it's going on all over baseball now. So like I said, it can't just be

one-sided. If your players are going to do it, and I had some players that did some stuff during my career, too. I didn't really care for it, but, you know, that's just the way it was. Well, you know, you can't be mad at the other team when they do it. So I think the only way that stuff's going to get stopped is when somebody gets seriously hurt, which I think is going to happen, or I think that the players and the managers get together and they have some type of a media, and sit down and discuss it and decide, hey, you know, we got to knock some of this stuff off. We're taking a chance. We're going to get somebody hurt seriously.

And that's when that stuff's going to end. Jim, the baseball has shifted away from your old school managers. It just seems like now the only people they want to hire are former TV guys and guys who are into analytics and will basically take the lineup card from the front office. when you see guys like Dusty Baker, Joe Girardi, Mike Sosha, John Farrell, all these guys out of baseball, I know you retire, but all these older guys without jobs, is there a chance we're going to see any more old school managers,

or is that done? I think it's pretty much over with. I don't think they want to pay the managers anymore. If you notice the salaries of the managers now, I think there was some college coaches that made several more, college baseball coaches I'm talking about that made several much more money than for major league managers last year. That's unbelievable. That is unbelievable. I can't even fathom that and I know that's a fact. So, you know, I think that, you know, the old guys, I guess I think we're kind of a thing

of the past. I think it's a shame because, you know what, I think there's a combination myself. I think that there's a lot of smart young people that have come into the game of baseball, but you know what? There's still a lot of smart older people out there too. And I think there should be a happy medium somewhere where there's a combination of everybody getting along together. I don't have any problem with getting this information and having somebody give me information might help me win games or make our club better. I think that's all good. I'm all for moving forward. It's 2009. 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 SportsSlic 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. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped. up in the chase, that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing, and we're still chasing it, and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes

about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth, or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines, is we have real conversations about on healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys?

This is Clever 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, 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 with 42.

Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better. What? Hey, Miss Parker. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defying the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs. I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup,

he has to really guard guys like Nas Reid. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some playoff history too. Steve Nash will get that thing. That man, hell get the flying.

He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball, like, after you go through a training camp with that, I said, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court, and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

19, but nobody can make me believe that Mike Sosha, Buck Showalter, or Joe Girardi, guys like that, that shouldn't be managed. One last... He's a little older like I am, maybe, so maybe that's a little bit different because, you know, we're getting up there pretty good. But, you know, some of the guys like Gerardy and Shorewood, those guys, in my opinion,

should be managing a major league baseball team. No doubt about it. Last thing, you had Miguel Cabr in Detroit when he won the Triple Crown. He's been through a lot with injuries or whatnot, but he doesn't seem to be even close to what he was. How hard is to watch Miguel struggle to even hit home runs now? Well, you know, he's still getting his hits, and he's still going to get his hits. I believe he'll get 3,000 hits.

I don't think there's any question about it. He's still going to drive in some run. So his production is going to come a different way than it used to. Obviously, he used to hit 40, 45 home runs. I think those days are gone. He's got a bad knee. I don't think he can turn on his back side. You know, I just think the weight shifts and everything is a little bit different.

You know, he's still a great hitter, but without the absence of the power. And it does hurt. You can see that, you know, you can see the pain sometimes. face the way he's moving around. You know, he's been hurt. You know, he played one year with me. He had a broken foot for part of the season. Nobody really knew about it.

And, you know, this guy has played through so much, and I give him so much credit. So, you know, it's just sad to see because, you know, when people think about Miguel Cabrera, you think about a home run hitter. There's no question about that. And the home runs just aren't there anymore. And I'm not sure how many are going to be there because I think because of the injuries, not for any other reason.

Hey, Jim, what a pleasure. Thank you so much for, join the podcast. Stay well and we'll talk to you soon. Okay, Rob, thank you. There's a recipe for getting your car running just right. And whatever you're cooking up in the garage, you'll find what you need at eBay Motors.com. They have over 122 million car parts and accessories in stock, all at the right prices. And that can help you turn your ride into something really tasty. The parts you need are just a click away at ebaymotors.com. Let's ride. At Target, we come in for black-owned coffee and leave with change in our hands.

We come in for healthier snacks and leave feeling more fulfilled. At Target, better days are within our reach. What we value most shouldn't cost more. Millions of Americans are getting back to work. CareerBuilder calls it the great rehire. And we want to help you get the best jobs before everyone else. Career builder gives you the competitive edge to get the job you want, at the salary you want with the benefits you want.

We even send job alerts, so your perfect job lands right in your inbox. Go to careerbuilder.com today or get left with whatever jobs are left. Find your next job fast at careerbuilder.com. It's time for the pocket protector central. The analytic numbers you need to know, well, maybe. FS1's Anthony Masterson is his name, BS Analytics is his game. What you got for me, Anthony? Well, let's take a dive into one of the most divisive areas of Sabre metrics, fielding.

Now, without a tangible way to track the skill of a fielder, different sites have varying info when it comes to grading a fielder. One of the most recognizable fielding stats we have at our disposal is called defensive run save. Similar to wins above replacement, DRS is a metric that tries to combine everything a player does with a glove on his hand. into one handy number. Now, like war, DRS is based upon how well or how poorly a player contributes relative to the league average at that position. It's not just errors, but range as well. With every batted ball being tracked in the stack cast era,

players who convert batted balls with a higher hit probability into outs have a better chance at having a higher DRS. The last season, Oakland A's third baseman, Matt Chapman led all of baseball with 29 defensive runs saved on his way to winning the platinum glow. Award as the AL's top fielder, even though he committed 20 errors. Chapman has been caught at 98 miles per hour with his arm and made 36 diving, sliding, or jumping plays last season, 11 more than any other third baseman. Yes, we can track things like that.

So it's no longer how many web gems a guy gets that puts gold on his glove, Rob. There you go, Anthony. Another thing I'm not sure I'm going to be able to use, but we appreciate you. That ball is. 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. After giving up a home run to Max Muncie of the Dodgers pitch. 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 athletes 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 beaders 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 SportsSlice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kier Games. And in recognition of mental health awareness month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests.

I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the world, of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me.

Kear games is we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. What's up, guys? This is Clivert Taylor the Fourth. 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, 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 with 42. Hey, Wreck, my mama want you to weigh better.

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. What's up, fam? It's Isaiah Thomas. And I'm C.J. Toledano, and our podcast Point Game is about defining the odds. Like LeBron heading into the playoffs without Luca and Austin Reed.

And finding ways to win. no matter what. He's the smartest player to ever play the game. His IQ is at a level that we've never seen before. And he knows. Without Luca and Austin Reeves, I got to manipulate the game. We get a player's perspective on the challenges of the playoffs.

I think Joker's going to be exhausted this series because when they don't have Rudy in the lineup, he has to really guard guys like Nas Reed. He has to guard Julius Randall. And then he has to give us everything he gives us on the night-to-night basis on offense. And when IT's friends stop by, like Quentin Richardson, we dive into some

playoff history too. Steve Nash would get that thing. That man, hell get to flyin. He running up the court, licking his fingers why he got the ball. Like, after you go through a training camp with that, Isaiah, you figure it out real quick. Get your ass up and down the court,

and you're going to get the ball. So listen to Point Game on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Madison Bumgardner, from the Giants, yelled at him as he rounded the bases and said, Don't look at it. Just run.

Is that fair or foul, J.R.? That is a foul ball. Bumgardner knows better. He's one of the greatest playoff pictures of all time, and he's made enough grown men cry in his life. We don't need to see him catching feelings of getting offensive because he got blasting into the ocean. That's just sour grace by a guy who realizes he's not as good as he used to be,

and he's touchy about it now. Everybody's so sensitive these days. It's not like Monty did a Ricky Henderson collar pop or Joey Bax mega toss. He admired the energy of his power blast. With all due respect to the game of baseball's archaic rules and Bumgarner's desire to return baseball back to the 50s, I love what Monty did.

And I love what he said to Bumgarner after, even more. Fasten your seat back. Give you fuel, give me five, give me that what I desire. Here comes Parker's top three MLB teams this week. Number three. The Minnesota Twins, I got to give them credit. They keep hitting the long ball and keep winning. And yes, it appears to me like they're going to win the AL Central going away.

I mean, they have feasted on those bad teams in the Central with a 14 and 6 record as of Tuesday. And here's another one. The twins are four and three against Houston this year, three and one against Tampa Bay, so they also have beaten the good teams. Number two. The New York freaking Yankees. Yes, I'm going to keep pounding that drum. They continue to win.

Tuesday, they beat the Mets. They've won over 40 games with most of their team on the injured list, and they continue to play good baseball, had a couple of hiccups, but they still maintain a great record despite all the injuries, and they're only going to get better. They are the number two team. Number one. The Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yes, they're running away with the NL West. They're a powerhouse. Not only do they hit the ball and hit the ball out of the park, they're beating up their opponents as of Tuesday. The Dodgers was 17 and 7 against. NL West opponents, and here's even the kicker. In the last 13 games coming in the Tuesday night, their staff ERA was 1.83.

You can't get stingier than that. Dodgers are the best team in baseball. Why is it that the oldest child grows up with the strict rules, but the younger ones get away with everything? Shouldn't everyone get the same treatment? AT&T gets this, and that's why they've been given all their customers, both new and existing, the same great deal.

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Visit Carebuilder.com. Take out the papers in the trash. It's time for Trash Talk Twitter. Your chance to trash anyone or anything in Major League Baseball. This week's winner comes to us from the Ark One Tech. He tweeted, The Cleveland Indians need to sell their team. The ownership is a joke and cannot survive

in baseball with the anemic offense that resembles a 4A baseball club. Also, good luck with trying to trade any of their pitching now with the injuries to Kluber, Clevenger, and Kurosko. Kluber's value has been depreciated. Why haven't they called up Bobby Bradley, too, batting 280 with 17 home runs and 46 RBI's. Shake in my head. Cleveland Indians equal. Absolute embarrassment.

If you want a chance to win a new era snapback hat, send your trash to at Rob Parker, FS1, on Twitter. 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, old or new. Let's welcome in baseball writer from USA Today. his name is Bob Nightingale by far the best baseball writer in the country Bob

welcome to the podcast sure my pleasure thank you Rob always update us on Big Poppy have you heard anything since he's been back in Boston well he walked today for the first time so he actually took some steps get him off the hospital bed so very encouraging news

the second surgery last night was more exploratory so everything is looking good and you know I think the Red Sox, you know, really wanted to make sure everything is going to be fine and take care, you know, get the best care possible. And that's what it is getting. So all signs are very optimistic. Bob, what about the story that it was a hit on him because it wasn't a robbery in the Dominican Republic?

Is that story have legs? I think it does have legs, Rob, just in the sense where because it's not a robbery, you know, he wears expensive jewelry. I'm sure he's got some nice cash in his pocket. So, you know, it was a crowded place, too. So it does seem like a hit. You know, what you don't know is, you know, why wasn't it a hit? Was it just some crazy guy trying to make a name for himself? There were two guys involved.

You know, one guy got away. You know, or was it, you know, when they paid to do something? So those would be the big questions as we move forward. Let's turn to baseball on the diamond. The Atlanta Braves and the Chicago Cubs, they both went out there, made some moves. Braves get Dallas Keiko and the Cubs pick up Craig Kimbril. I like both of these teams doing what they did.

Tell me how each of them will help these two teams. Yeah, you know, you both aren't chartered territory in the sense where, you know, they miss all the spray training. They miss the first two months of season. You know, now you're going to, you know, face hitters that are in mid-season form. So I think it's a little, you know, premature for people to think, okay, excuse me, the Keiko a few years ago, or even the Kimball. You know, the red flags are, in Kimmel's case, a lot of pressure on him right away.

You know, we saw what happened to Greg Hall in a year ago. Holland, they signed an opening day with the St. Louis Cardinals, and he led the league in the saves with a complete nightmare. Pitch four months for the Cardinals and got released. Now you're starting for $3 million with the Diamondbacks. And he says it's just, you know, a complete disaster missing all spring training and being thrown through wolves like that. So we'll see what happens.

You know, Cickel's been working out and through all the time. Very good, his first performance, seven innings in Class A. It's going to make at least one more Marely start. I would think if they're smart, they'll keep them down there a little bit longer. In Kimmerle's case, I think the Cubs are wise, keep them down to Mirele's for three weeks, just of all the time missed, and we'll see how they react. And same thing. I mean, anybody could have Kikol on winter.

Yeah, they waited for the non-compensation for after the draft, but, you know, it's not like he got a ton of money. He lost a lot of money from what he could have made. Same thing with Kimball. You know, he should have made at least $60 million, only got 43, and here's a boss of red tax, you know, desperately need a closer, and they passed completely on them.

What about the talk that the Yankees looked like they were a favorite to get Keikle? The Yankees being cheap, or why didn't they get them? I think he just tucked her to gun and saying, you know what? We'll give you pro-rated of what the qualifying offer was, the 17 to 0.9. So, you know, their thing was, you know, we're going to give you less. So you got $13 million from Braves. You probably would have got about 11.5% from the Yankees. And I don't think it was a situation where, okay, he wants the extra million a half.

You know, if you're a pitcher, the last place you want to be as America League East. It could be a nightmare, you know, with the DHS, every powerful offenses. You want to be in the National League. So I think for his future in getting a bigger contract, you know, made the right, wise choice staying in the National League. Bob, the All-Star balloting has been released for both the American and National League. Luke Voight leads the American League for the Yankees at first base. Tell me about the year he's having.

Yeah, I mean, he was the guy just kind of giving up by the – The St. Louis Cardinals a year ago, and, you know, he didn't really have a spot for him. He was going to pinch it and everything else. I wouldn't have a spot to get him an everyday job. So, you know, Greg Burr gets hurt and opens up the door for him, and he's taking this opportunity and run with it. You know, very good year. And, you know, you look down, I'm not sure he shouldn't be the first, you know,

the All-Star starting first baseman. It's not just a New York thing with the bandbounding. He may be having the best all around the year. A streaky guy. And just, you know, what a cheap, easy trade this was for the Yankees. They give up nothing to get them. No doubt about it. Hey, Bob, always thank for your knowledge.

He is Bob Nightingale from USA Today, a friend and a great baseball writer. Bob, thanks for joining the podcast. Yeah, my pleasure. Thanks for having the closer. Trackwood. Two, right, three. Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. I don't know about you, but there's nothing better in the world than to sit out in the beautiful weather, and it is here.

Summertime. That's why baseball's better. You get some fresh air. You get to sit outside and watch the game and have fun with friends and food and a couple of cold ones. or ice cold Dr. Pepper. I mean, who wants to go watch football in the winter outside? Or have to slug all the way through to try to get to an NBA game during the winter? Or being cooped up in an NBA arena when the weather's warm.

There's nothing like when the weather breaks through and you finally get to go outside and spend the summer at the ballpark on a beautiful summer night. I go to Dodger Stadium. I love it. That's why baseball's better than football and basketball. It's a fair ball. 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 of Parker. See you next week. Same bad time. Same bad station. Ford Motor Company is committed to moving forward together with new all-electric vehicles that offer inefficient and exhilarating driving experience.

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Head over to Ford.com to learn more. Built Ford Proud. Ford Motor Company is committed to moving forward together with all new electric vehicles that offer an efficient and exhilarating driving experience. Don't be the last to join us on the road of new electric vehicles as we redefine what electric can do. Ford is going above and beyond to not only create the smartest most connected EVs and technology, but to also make sure that customers are well educated on how to move forward with electric energy.

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So journey into the future with Ford's lineup of electric vehicles, with many affordable options to choose from. Head on over to Ford.com to learn more. Built Ford Proud. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened.

That's where SportsSlice 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 Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slical Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network.

on TikTok. Another podcast from some SNL late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel 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. What's up, guys? This is Clever 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, 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 with 42. Hey, rep, my mama want you to wave at her. What? Where's she at?

Hey, Ms. Parker. Listen to the Cliverts show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Hey, I'm Diana Maria Riva, and on my new podcast, How Hard Can It Be? I call on my Gen X squad from Ohio to Hollywood as we navigate Midlife's most fantastic BS. Unfiltered conversations from night sweats to futas to scheduling sex. Wait, what sex? Is it just me? Or does every woman my age want to look at Pinterest instead of having sex?

time. They say we can't polish a turn, but we're sure going to try. So let's get blunt with laughs, tears, or tears of laughter. Listen to How Hard Can It Be with Diana Maria Riva on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.