The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1375 - LIVE From The Home Run Derby, Rob Manfred, CC Sabathia, Jett Passan, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani

Starting point is 00:00:00 This is the Sports Center 50-50 Tour. We will be landing in Atlanta shortly, Mr. McAfee. Next stop, the Home Run Derby. Let's go! When the music gets down in your soul Let's do what the blues gets you We're headed home We are live from beautiful Atlanta, Georgia, where all the bats are harder and

Starting point is 00:00:30 hotter than out Georgia summer. The Pat McAfee show is here. We're coming out. She. Hey, why? Let's go. This show stinks. And the fact that you listen, we are very, very thankful for. McAfee on the line with a gorgeous assist.

Starting point is 00:00:54 The all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers. You pink. Stunner! Stunner! Damn it! Your friend tell a friend something nice could change their life. The all-time leading tackler for the Green Bay Packers. You pink! Stunner! Stunner! Damn it! Your friend tell a friend something nice could change their life.

Starting point is 00:01:09 People count! People count! Four! Four! Four! Four! Four! Four! Hello beautiful people and welcome to glorious Atlanta, Georgia. More specifically, the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater. Here in the battery at Truist Park at the All-Star Game this program begins now baseball it's the midsummer classic and we have somehow been invited to be a part of the entire operation we are so incredibly grateful and thankful for the MLB because the MLB had to really move mountains to get us here there's some

Starting point is 00:01:43 people at ESPN who have hated us since the day we got to ESPN, who were trying to hold us back in SVP. Mike Foss turned over every single stone. The MLB heard about our problems and they said, how can we help? We would like you to experience the midsummer classic, the thing that captivates the world,

Starting point is 00:02:00 and more specifically, the home run derby, where dongs are in abundance. So shout out to the MLB. We'll have the commissioner Rob Manford joining us in about 15 minutes. Shout out to Mike Foss doing his thing. Shout out to the production people that built this in the middle of the Roxy theater. Shout out to a man who was 28 years in the army doing our audio and all the boys here. It is going to be an absolute blast as we celebrate baseball in a world that we don't know necessarily everything about.

Starting point is 00:02:24 Now, not saying there's any world we know everything about but this is certainly one that I am a little bit of a fish out of water but learning about the great tradition and the history and the amount of stats and the amount of things that pop off every single night in the baseball world has been a blast. We're off for a week we hope you all had a great one we certainly enjoyed the time but it is magical to be back chit chatting about sports, more specifically the sport of Baseball! The Talks at Tables here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt.

Starting point is 00:02:51 Ty, you have the eye black on in the entire American League All-Star uniform. Feels like you really made the team last night whenever they gifted you all of this. Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, this is, you know, this is a dream come true. We were on the field last night, just having a catch, a catch you know I mean just tossing the ball around. I'd never thought I've never been to an All-Star game, never been to a derby,

Starting point is 00:03:12 never really thought at this point I'd ever have the opportunity but man that was just incredible you know like how often do you get to go to NMLB ballpark and have it be completely cleared out and then just be like, hey, you jackasses can kind of go have your pick of the litter, do whatever you want. Now I don't think they were too jacked up that we were on the field. You know, we got the lights turned out on us a couple times. Couple times, yeah.

Starting point is 00:03:35 But no, so far, I mean, this has been A1. So hats off to the MLB. This has been literally a dream come true for me. Shout out to the MLB being very kind to us and obviously Ty, you and I might be a part of something a little bit later that's gonna be absolutely ridiculous before the home run derby.

Starting point is 00:03:50 Cannot wait for that. I will also be hosting the press conference that'll be happening here at the Coca-Cola Roxy Theater, which is part of the battery here at Truist Park. Truist Park, this is the third time that the All-Star Game has been hosted in Atlanta. First time at Truist Park. We got the whole tour last night, clubhouses and everything.

Starting point is 00:04:07 I'll say the American League clubhouse, they had the boom booms on. That's not it. The equipment managers and everybody that was in the American League clubhouse last night, a lot more of a bop sesh last night in there. National League, super professional. Yeah, very pristine. They're very, very professional, very pristine. If you want to look into betting and does that change anything?

Starting point is 00:04:24 I don't know. No players were here, but the certainly equipment managers and everybody setting up this glorious event were in there. Everybody from the MLB has been so cool to us. It's been nice to meet everybody and walking around their clubhouse with something special. They got a lot of cleats. A lot of stuff. They got a lot of stuff.

Starting point is 00:04:40 Yeah. A lot of stuff. And obviously I believe that is, yeah, it's Paul Skeens. He's the starting pitcher for the National League tonight canards on on Wednesday I cannot wait Boston Connors here you're wearing a hard hat there what do you have going on just want to you know it's all about the players and I get it is the Derby you know the coaches can't get out there and compete in some kind of coach Derby. But typically it's a first base coach, third base coach type

Starting point is 00:05:06 of uniform. However, this is actually the future star game. I don't know what you guys did this week. I actually played in the MLB future stars. Who won? The future stars won. Future stars won. Now the audience won.

Starting point is 00:05:19 Exactly. They won too. Because they got to see what. I think the winning coach was Chipper Jones. I believe yeah Chipper was there You know if Chipper's by the way, he's what? Jones Chipper Jones Chipper Jones Chipper Jones Chipper Jones We're in an empty theater except for the people that set this up They can hear that outside of here

Starting point is 00:05:37 I would assume got a chance to buy Chipper Jones dinner last night in Atlanta. What an honor of a lifetime Yeah, he looks so cool, obviously an absolute beast. Best switch hitter? Him or Mickey Mantle? Best switch hitter ever. Okay, so since Mickey Mantle, the best switch hitter of all time, and I think he would take a lot of respect to that after the story we heard about him hitting from both sides of the plate. Big story tonight in the Home Run Derby is Cal Raleigh. Also switch hitter, obviously the catcher for the Seattle Mariners, leads the MLB in dingers. Friend of the show, he has the nickname Big Dump.

Starting point is 00:06:05 He is the odds on favorite, and tonight it should be a spectacle. We got a chance to see a lot of the things they have in store, and obviously we've watched the Home Run Derby for him, because I'm an ADD guy, so whether you're a baseball fan or not, the Home Run Derby is... You watch. We're talking dongs on it. Bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum, bum story that we'll talk about forever which is whoever wins his home run derby you look back on the great times Harper winning with his dad emotional that was you go through it all

Starting point is 00:06:47 the stories in the box, but they do talk about a little bit of maybe a slump after the home run derby which is why maybe some of the guys don't like to do it. Cal Raleigh MLB leader and home runs doing the home run derby is a big deal I think for the home run derby right. Yeah without a doubt, I mean he's you know had arguably the best first half, you know in one of the best first halves in the history of baseball. We'll see I mean you hit 38 homers before the break even if he does have a little slump like he's got breathing room and he can still hit 60 plus homers so

Starting point is 00:07:16 but yeah this is this is why you know like a lot of times we'll get some of these younger stars who maybe like the casual fan hasn't really heard of and you know you get kind of like the buzzwords like all his exit velocity or you know the amount of barrels He hits like he hits the ball really hard swings really fast Cal Raleigh is the current home run king in the MLB and he's Agreeing to do the the Derby. It's awesome. Yeah, it's a huge deal But I think there is just like the dunk contest became and all these other things I think people are worried about getting hurt or maybe using extra reps or maybe changing their swing for this, so it ruins the game.

Starting point is 00:07:46 And we know how little stish this baseball is. Yeah, for sure. So you add something into the middle of the season that's a little bit different than your regular routine. Do you want to change anything? We shall see. Big dumper ain't worried about nothing. Can't wait to watch him and the boys tonight,

Starting point is 00:07:57 including the cruise missile. Let's go to one half of the hammer. Done! Cowboys, AP tone. Hope your break was good. People said you're really tall on the internet. With that being said. That was a tough situation.

Starting point is 00:08:06 I didn't have shoes on. You got Siciliano pretty bad. Yeah. Yeah, a group of six, eight guys wanted to come up and take a photo. Get out of that group. That's what's gonna happen. Get out of that group.

Starting point is 00:08:14 And people were like, why isn't he wearing shoes? I was at the beach. Who wears shoes at the beach? Yeah, agreed, we're having a real off time. You gotta do what you gotta do. I'm happy to hear you enjoyed it. People were calling you a short king though. They were.

Starting point is 00:08:22 Which. From other short kings, I saw. Yeah, there's Tone right there. So you're saying that group of friends right other short kings, I saw. Yeah, there's tone right there. So you're saying that group of friends right there, six, eight plus. Yeah, I mean, you know me. You stood the furthest away from the, you Sicilian-ed yourself.

Starting point is 00:08:33 Yeah. Birkenstock's ain't six, eight. Listen, listen, we. I know that. I was leaving the beach. Yeah, but he's closest to the camera, he gets it. I was leaving the beach with a three-year-old, I just carried six chairs up to my truck in 95 degree heat.

Starting point is 00:08:45 I wasn't really thinking about anything except for, hey, let's get this beautiful picture and let's get back to the point. Yeah, nice to meet you, boys. I'm happy to see that that happened. Good interaction. I'm just saying a lot of people make it funny. I don't like that.

Starting point is 00:08:55 Thanks for representing the program so well. Don't embarrass the program. They said some people were saying, well, it's kind of embarrassing with how short you looked. I don't think that's the case. But next time, we'll obviously have a better read on it. You obviously like to gamble on things. We just saw a big dumper is the odds on favor

Starting point is 00:09:08 for the home run derby. Let's go to the All-Star game as a whole. There was an interesting stack there about the American League just belt to ass in this All-Star game. Yeah, AL has won 10 out of the last 11. Now the NL won two years ago, AL won last year. So the last two years it's been split,

Starting point is 00:09:22 but the AL has been the more dominant of the side. are currently plus 115 to win the all-star game on Tuesday night so if you like those odds basically a pick them for which side you want to go with and then recently the total I believe is seven and a half it has been a lower scoring game in the last four or five years season just because I mean you got pitchers going one inning given their best stuff and pitching normally trumps hitting so in this in these games normally a lower scoring nine-year NFL vet Darius J. Butler you look so cool in that shot right there next to digs obviously everybody's trying to figure

Starting point is 00:09:54 out the you look tall too yeah everybody's trying to figure out the all-star game the Pro Bowl the special you know I think hockey had it good with the four nations yeah I think they stumbled into something that's very beautiful I think that's all changing it the four nations. I think they stumbled into something that's very beautiful. Basketball changing it to World versus... Basketball's gonna do the World Cup, I think, or whatever the case is. World versus U.S. Yeah, so it's like there is a lot of things that are hopefully getting right. NFL, Pro Bowl, I don't know what they... I don't know how you fix it.

Starting point is 00:10:16 I don't think you dance. Flag football, I guess it's just a... It's almost like a carnival. Yeah. It's like a festival. Shot to T-Mobile, by the way. Shot out. Yeah, T-Mobile, by the way. Shot out. Yeah, T-Mobile. T-Mobile came in a big way and was like, you guys should do this. Great service on that bus.

Starting point is 00:10:28 Sweet. Thank you. Great. Great service, and I was so happy about it. Yeah, D-Bone put together a good graphic of what our actual life was driving down here and shot to T-Mobile, shot to Red Bull, too, for giving us wings. But T-Mobile really stepped up in a big way. Their shit's everywhere here.

Starting point is 00:10:41 So, like, there's no reason for them to have to do anything more for us, especially because we're a late edition. Once again, because we're being held back by people saying we couldn't come here, who actually didn't know that we couldn't come here, who actually have no power. And they think they do. And then they find out quickly that they don't. Accurate. That's kind of the breakdown of the entire situation. Same story, second verse.

Starting point is 00:11:01 Actually, it's like the fifth verse at this point. And it's just different departments. This one just so happened to be baseball world, and it's like, I don't know why you would act like that, but just know, inevitably, you're a dinosaur. Okay, and that's the way things go. Let's move along. But T-Mobile calling in and being like,

Starting point is 00:11:21 hey, we wanna help out however we can, we can help. It's like, thank you, T-Mobile, and your color pink is dope. Yeah, is dope. Very, very, very dope. But figuring out the All-Star game, it feels like the midsummer classic is just part of tradition now. It's just part of folklore. It's just part of past. It is what baseball's pastime is. Celebrating all the greats. I don't know how the game is. I guess they have to pitch because the balls have to be strikes.

Starting point is 00:11:40 You have to get out of the game. But like the home run derby, kicking it all off. What a spectacle. what a beautiful spectacle. You can't go wrong with home runs. You mentioned the dunk contest earlier. That was something we used to look forward to as kids for the All-Star weekend. Deep balls in football, you always want to see deep balls. And then obviously deep balls in baseball, the bombs.

Starting point is 00:11:56 We kind of grew up in that era where maybe not the balls, only the balls being juiced up. So we saw a bunch of home runs every night. The balls are big. Yeah, we got everything being juiced up. But we saw a bunch of home runs every night. So we got a big, yeah, we got everything being juiced up. But I'm excited to see Cruz. Yeah. All types of balls.

Starting point is 00:12:10 I didn't know what you're talking about. You know what I'm talking about. Actually, I think it's trunk. I was going to say it. I mean, I wouldn't mind bringing that air back. Well, I did pitch immediately upon meeting the three MLB people that I've been in correspondence with via email as soon as I saw them in person last night,

Starting point is 00:12:24 just straight to the, when you guys going to give it up and just say let the boys juice? And they're like, well, come on. Yeah, battle bats. They say, well, he did it once. No, had to run, had to run. The MLB people are electrifying. That is what we have learned

Starting point is 00:12:40 and we're very thankful for their hospitality. The commissioner, Rob Manford, will join us in about four minutes or so. Let's chit chat about some summer sports that are taking place around the sports globe. I don't know if you saw it, there's an ex-hockey guy playing golf. Oh yeah, we saw.

Starting point is 00:12:55 That was a big time sports moment this weekend. Now we have since learned that guy's face that got beat up had taken down a lot of booze. Sure. 36 holes, but what I'm saying is, if this has happened to you on a golf course, I think it's time to hang up to clubs. 36 holes, boozing all day, feeling good. Obviously liquid courage is a real deal.

Starting point is 00:13:13 God do some recon on who you're stepping up to here. X Goon, guy who played multiple hockey levels, guy who's been no stranger to war, tosses his ass in the pond after telling him he's gonna do it. I'm gonna throw you in this water you watch your mouth and this is a nice warning once again for everybody out there. COVID got everybody comfortable. Yeah very. He's coming back he's throwing me water I don't believe it.

Starting point is 00:13:35 Bang he says bang. Oh you like that? I'm doing my own soundtrack and his friend, don't watch that kid. I'm like, bang, bang, bang, bang. And he's like, I'm not done yet. I just had my 30th beer. You think you're tough, don't you? I'm going to throw you once again in his pond. You don't fuck. See you. First time, shout to the Canadians, I guess.

Starting point is 00:14:02 First time that we have seen an internet video where everybody immediately goes The guy beat the guys ass is right Yeah, and then the guy got his ass beat comes out and gives his speech and we all go bye We already we've had friends that are in that situation as well down. I'm happy the boys dropped the gloves One of them settled things and we've all moved forward thinking the right thing happened You're not a cameraman too. You know, usually you're looking like, hey, cameraman, you had one job, you know, for him to have that type frame because I had no clue who he was picking his fight with. And then once Bigfella came into the frame, what were you drinking to pick that fight

Starting point is 00:14:35 with the biggest dude on the course? But yeah, it turned out exactly how it should have. That might have been for 4Loco Nick out there. Nick's a little bit taller than that guy. I also appreciate the fact that that guy got humbled. You know, everyone's why you need to get punched right in the mouth. And COVID people got too comfortable.

Starting point is 00:14:51 That's where I was headed. Everybody got comfortable talking shit on people, social media, bam, bam, bam. We're locked in our houses, literally nobody can see anybody. And then everybody just thought that internet life carried into real life. Like I can go ahead and fire this tweet off at this guy.

Starting point is 00:15:04 You want some? You want some? Come meet me. And the guy's like, well, I'm actually here and this into real life. Like I can go ahead and fire this tweet off at this guy. You want some, you want some, come meet me. And the guy's like, well I'm actually here and this is real life. And let me tell you what's gonna happen in real life. Bang, bang, bang. I love everything about it. Yeah, it's the best. We had that string of videos from baseball games actually.

Starting point is 00:15:19 And that was your big takeaway. It's like, hey guess what? We're back out in public now. You can't be bumping your gums and if you are bumping your gums you have to understand that this guy might not be about it and he might drop you like a bad habit real quick in baseball is no stranger to settling their differences in a fight is not correct which I

Starting point is 00:15:35 actually respect to have a lot of hockey tool, you know baseball has a lot of the hockey past we need to monitor own game policing governor in sport. They'll throw fastball somebody's jaw. Yes. And then everybody will run in and say, hey, whoa, whoa, you don't do that to my teammate. I respect that. I appreciate that.

Starting point is 00:15:49 I like that that still exists in 2025. Now, speaking of existing in 2025, almost maybe even thriving. Now, granted, we talked about an era there where there's summer of dongs. Sure. And everybody's, oh, yeah, baseball dongs. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:16:02 And, and, and. I mean, every summer's potentially summer of dongs. Correct. But there was one summer baseball dongs. And, jeez. I mean, every summer's potentially summer of doom. Correct. But there was one summer of dongs where the dongs were in abundance. But now it feels like after a lot has happened, a lot of transition, a lot of change, MLB is in a great spot.

Starting point is 00:16:18 Joining us now is a man who's been the commission of MLB for the last 10 years. I believe he signed on through... 2029. 2029. Ladies and gentlemen, commissioner of MLB for the last 10 years. I believe he signed on through- 2029. 2029. Ladies and gentlemen, Commissioner of MLB, Rob Manfred. Yeah, Commish! Yeah, Commish!

Starting point is 00:16:30 Hey, hey, Commish! Hey, hey, Commish! Woo! Appreciate you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Let me get this the hell out of your way here. Okay, I'll put this down. Put this down here.

Starting point is 00:16:44 Put this bad boy off. I got you, commission. Great, thanks. No problem, I'll put this over your shoulder too. Super professional. Super professional. There you go. Commission, hey, thank you for letting us be here. Thank you for being here. We're just thrilled to have all of you. I hope you have a good time while you're here.

Starting point is 00:17:05 It's actually a great four days and the best we have to offer in a lot of ways. Okay, so let's talk about that. Getting a chance to meet your people, okay? And the three guys, Chuck, I don't want to get the name. I got last names and first names from the Zoom calls and emails. I don't want to mess it up.

Starting point is 00:17:23 There's been three lads from your team that have been here for like 30 years each that have taken care of us and made sure that we have a great time. So hospitable, which leads to this question. Feels like your guys' league as internet people was a league that didn't want to see the internet become a big baseball place.

Starting point is 00:17:40 I only say that because cease and desist were happening. There wasn't a lot of videos being distributed. There wasn't a lot of interviews with players. It almost felt like the MLB did not want the internet to kind of do their thing. Then over the last few years, it feels like, and this has had to be a decision that you have made and people that have been around here a long time,

Starting point is 00:17:56 transitioned to maybe into the most open league whenever it comes to the internet and digital. Obviously signing John Boy, obviously with how welcoming you've been to us. What went into that decision, and do you believe, like we believe, that that is a great thing for the MLB? Well, you know, it absolutely is a great thing for Major League Baseball, 100%.

Starting point is 00:18:17 Ironically, in the early years, we were very forward thinking on internet delivery. You know, MLB.TV was the first over-the-top product. We were very forward thinking on internet delivery. MLB.TV was the first over the top product. The problem is we got into this thing where we thought we could drive everything to our platforms. Got it.

Starting point is 00:18:36 Okay, so then when I became commissioner, I came up a different side of the business. Some of the people you were referring to came to me and said, we got this wrong. You know, we're just in the wrong place. We're trying to drive everybody here. The right strategy is to make sure we are where the people are.

Starting point is 00:18:55 You got to go where people are going. And that shift has been a really good thing for us, a really good thing. We've enjoyed the hell out of it. We've enjoyed covering it. And obviously, you know this now, because you guys have leaned into it and your crew has. It's like a lot of things are clips.

Starting point is 00:19:09 Like our show is a clip show to some people, where they just see clips. And it doesn't matter if it's just the clips, at least they're seeing our product. I like to see that you guys are doing the same thing with the MLB. Now, another question. The rules changes that have taken place.

Starting point is 00:19:22 I talked to Betman a little bit, and whenever they had the lockout, I think the NHL had the lockout, they changed the rules and that have taken place. I talked to Betman a little bit, and whenever they had the lockout, I think the NHL had the lockout, they changed the rules and made a different game coming out of the lockout. They have obviously prospered since then. For you guys, it seems like you guys have tinkered with the rules,

Starting point is 00:19:35 whether it's the pitch clock or some other things, no game is too long, it feels like it's all consumable. Is that ongoing? Is that at a point where you figured it out? Like, and when does the decision go to, let's try to make our game more suitable for the modern times? Well, look, when you get to the point

Starting point is 00:19:50 that you think you have it figured out, you better retire, because they need a different guy. You know what I mean? I just, I mean, 100% and kind of tell you that. We're always trying to fix this. Yeah, yeah, I got it.

Starting point is 00:20:01 I respect that. I mean, look, we feel like we made a set of really fundamental changes. You know, the institution of the clock, the elimination of the shift, the bigger bases. They were really two themes behind it. Number one, we listened to our fans. Our fans were saying the game's too long,

Starting point is 00:20:19 there's not enough action. And you know, we worked to address that. The second thing is all of the changes were directed at athleticism. You know when you can take your defenders and move them around wherever you want on the field that player doesn't need to be as athletic as if he has to stay in position and you know you saw it last night in a draft I had had my little seven year old grandson was with me sitting in the front row.

Starting point is 00:20:46 He sits through like 24 picks. So I saw him this morning. He says, why did they only pick short stops? I said, well, he picked short stops because it's the best athlete, right? Yeah. And that's important. And we need to continue to look at the game,

Starting point is 00:21:01 listen to what our fans are saying. And you know, I'm not looking to discard the history and tradition, I am looking to make adjustments to make sure we stay relevant. How long have you been with the MLB? I came inside in 1998 and I was an outside lawyer for 10 years before that. I'm old. So 37 years, roughly with the league. First of all, thank you for your commitment to sport and commitment to league. I said that to a lot of people. There of all, thank you for your commitment to sport and commitment to league. I said that to a lot of people. I think the equipment manager for the AL

Starting point is 00:21:29 is 49 years or something like that. And then the equipment manager for the NL is the bravest guy, I think it's like 30 some years. It's like everybody we've met has a lot of skin in the game here at the MLB for a long time. With that being said, I have to bring something up. Okay. Cause I attacked you pretty good. When you get caught on a conversation

Starting point is 00:21:51 by somebody recording here, you're over here, and you call it a piece of metal or whatever. Okay, listen, I thought you got screwed there cause you're getting recorded whenever you don't know it. But do you think like that and other things have led to a stain about how people view you just strictly? Let me tell you why me working with you and your people these last two weeks You might have the greatest group around you out of all the leagues

Starting point is 00:22:13 Legitimately, you might have all the greatest group around you and obviously you were the one in charge of them But at that moment it was hard not to just be like what is this guy? Did did you learn anything for that moment in did that moment? Deep down piss you off because it's, how am I getting outed by people that are supposed to be my team there? Look, I think if you got one chance to turn the clock back and undo something, that would probably be the thing that I would undo.

Starting point is 00:22:40 I did learn a couple of things from it. Number one, you know, I'm a lawyer by training. You say things to defend a position. In this case, it was what we had decided to do with respect to the Astros and that whole situation. You say things to defend your decision. And one of the things I've learned, at some point, you put your decision out there and let people think what they think and you're better

Starting point is 00:23:07 off. You know you really are better off because the guy who thinks you're wrong, the chances you're turning them around ain't that good. Just not that good. You know and so yeah I really did learn something from it. I think it made me better at the job as time is going on. But you know one of the great things about this job is you learn something every day you know you kind of and I think one of the reasons that you've had a positive experience with the people that work in baseball is I do think as an organization even though we have the reputation of history and tradition, I do think the organization looks at the game every day

Starting point is 00:23:47 and says, what should we be doing to make sure we're better? Well, I believe it. And just from what I've experienced, and I want to let you know, we were a part of that whole thing coming after you. I appreciate you addressing it, but I also appreciate you sitting in that batter's box, pun intended, and just continuing to go about it.

Starting point is 00:24:03 Cause you're in the fire brother. You are in the fire. Ty Schmidt, lifelong fan, also an AL All-Star this year. In respect to the salary cap debate, how likely do you think that will be in the next, I mean, I don't know, 10 years because I think as a Yankees fan, and we've talked about this a bunch, like I know there will be a floor so teams will have to spend to that but I've never liked how you know like teams like the Yankees and the Dodgers and the Mets will get punished because their owners are willing to go spend money you know to bring town and where you know these

Starting point is 00:24:34 guys are from Pittsburgh and it's like we miserable yeah exactly they just robbed they're okay with not spending money and hoping that their farm system and the guys they draft will be good enough to kind of take them to the next level. So yeah, just where do you see that going? So here's what I think about that. You know, we begin on every issue by listening to our fans. I think it is undeniable if you're denying it, you're not being honest, that we have fans in markets who believe they don't have a fair opportunity to compete.

Starting point is 00:25:08 Yeah, that's one of them right there. And you know, you can blame the owner, whatever, it's the system. It is the system that produces that, and at the end of the day, what we sell is competition. And so anything that undermines competition, which I believe the issue you're raising does, sooner or later we're going to have to come to grips with that issue, 100%.

Starting point is 00:25:29 You know what, I'm looking at his jersey, you know, I got to tell you, we did a custom one for you, Pat, just to show that we watch. Yeah! Okay. That's hilarious. Thank you, man. You're welcome. That is awesome.

Starting point is 00:25:45 We thought it would increase the likelihood you would wear it. Hold on though, to follow up on his question, and it's real. I grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. We had the Pittsburgh Penguins. They've won multiple back-to-back Stanley Cups. Pittsburgh Steelers, obviously, you might as well just, they've been, season tickets for that like 30 years in holding, you know what I mean?

Starting point is 00:26:09 So like the Pirates being a team, how many interviews you done with the shirtless man? Not that many. Yeah, not that many, okay. Well maybe this would be the last, or maybe this would be an annual tradition. But the- Oh now that looks good.

Starting point is 00:26:23 Yeah, I mean now that looks good I appreciate you when I grew up in Pittsburgh though I wasn't the biggest baseball fan strictly because I wasn't a Pirates fan right and the reason why I wasn't a Pirates fan is because the Pirates were just a team that you go down to the ballpark and have a good time right you never expected them to actually win and it's like I think at this stage especially with the sell the team chance everything you say them to actually win. And it's like, I think at this stage, especially with the sell the team chance, everything you say is the system's fault. It's like, it'd be good for the league

Starting point is 00:26:49 for every team to be competitive, right? Is that what you're selling is whenever it's like, we're trying to get that? 100%. For the good of the game, brother. Cause I think I would have been a good baseball fan and probably player. Would have been a good player. But just stayed away from it strictly because my dad was like, nope, we're not doing it.

Starting point is 00:27:03 And we're not getting into it because of the Pirates experience. Not saying it's just the Pirates. There's other teams that feel this way as well. But it is, it's good for the sport I think, right? Oh, you're right on the money, Pat. I mean, exactly right. The fact that a matter is, Pittsburgh's a great sports town. Great. It is a great sports town. There are tons and tons of really passionate Pirates fans who remember who remember when the Pirates were a great great team year year in year out and they just want to look at the system and say we got a fair

Starting point is 00:27:38 chance to win when you're sitting around in February looking at you know spring training and what the year is going to be like and we need to deal with that issue Okay. Well, we appreciate you. We assume you will for the good of all yinzers now speaking of the Pirates. We got the guy We got a starting pitcher. Okay, Paul skeins Paul skeins. We love him. He played for the Indians in Indianapolis Obviously we watch his run in Omaha with LSU. He's been very cool to us. We're very appreciative of him. I saw him miss a football throw for a million bucks at my big night out. He told me he slept soundly because, too, sorry, because I didn't have to give away another million bucks. So I like the cut of his gym. But it's not just Paul. I see, obviously, there's an entire slew of international media right now. I assume that's Japanese media, but I don't want to get too... you get... I think that's Japanese media. Sure. Lined up around

Starting point is 00:28:28 Shohei. Aaron Judge is hitting absolute bombs. You got Big Dumper, Cal Raleigh playing great. Feels like your stars are all playing great. How good is that for the MLB and sports as a whole? Look, we feel like we have great momentum right now. Yes. The rule changes helped. We're three years into them. They appear to be durable. When you make a change, you want it to last, right? They appear to be durable.

Starting point is 00:28:52 But you throw on top of that the influx of talent that we've had into the game. Paul's game is a great example. I mean, nobody really knows about him. And then all of a sudden in one year, he's the guy. You know, Aaron Judge, Shohei. Scoobble too, sorry. Yeah, I mean, another great example.

Starting point is 00:29:15 And I'll tell you, you think it's crazy here. Our opener in Japan. That was fun to watch, dude. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, unbelievable. Hey, are you guys are selling ads to Japanese companies? watch, dude. Yeah, man. I mean, it was unbelievable. I mean, unbelievable. You guys are, hey, are you guys are selling ads to Japanese companies? Oh yeah, our Japanese business,

Starting point is 00:29:29 we had a reception before game one, and it was our sponsorship group. So I thought, you know, I'm going to this party, I'm gonna see the usual suspects, you know, our American sponsors, 25 Japanese companies. Completely separate slate of companies. And you know, our individual teams have taken advantage of it. The Dodgers, clearly, and you know,

Starting point is 00:29:52 the Cubs went with the Dodgers on that trip, and you know, it was great for them. Shota Imanaga, friend of the program. You know, that's true, you know, and it's important to say that it's not just one guy. Yes, I agree. Exactly, it's a group of guys that it's not just one guy. Yes, I agree. Exactly. It's a group of guys that have come here and made a difference.

Starting point is 00:30:08 We're lucky. We got great players. We got some of our very best in big markets, and as a result, our attendance and our ratings are really good. The commissioners always hated by their crew. Betman even had the best year that they've had. He got his ass booed at the draft. Roger Goodell, I think he's having a little bit of a baby face turn. I think he's having a little bit of a baby face turn.

Starting point is 00:30:30 Still got to go out there with firefighters and the military. Still got to do that. How do you handle that as a human? Because you know you have to make decisions, and you have to be the face of decisions, and people are going to hate it. Everybody will say you get paid well, obviously, but you're still a human in there. You're a lawyer, but I assume you're a human in there. I haven't practiced in a really long time.

Starting point is 00:30:53 Anybody who tells you it doesn't bother them is lying to you. I mean, just 100%. Nobody likes getting booed. But you do learn to manage it. I mean, even last night during the draft, you come out, you try to smile at the people that are booing. Yeah, they're going to boo your ass. You know, they're going to boo no matter what.

Starting point is 00:31:11 You come out, you smile, and you go on. And you know, I do think that the biggest thing to think about is to convince the majority of the fans that you care about what you're putting out there in front of them for us, you know, 186 days over 162 game season. So many. It's unbelievable.

Starting point is 00:31:34 D-Bone has a question. Yeah, what's the biggest, I guess, common misconception on the commissioner's job, what you guys do? And then I guess the second part of that question, is there, we talk about the new rules and speeding up the game. Is there any old school MLB rules you'll bring

Starting point is 00:31:47 back? Yeah maybe like a boxing glove for when they want to fight. You know I have to tell you your second question may be the hardest question anybody's asked me in a really long time. And I'll tell you why we are really forward focused. And having said that, all of the rule changes that we put in three years ago, our kind of theme internally is let's put back out there the best form of baseball. Let's bring back the stolen base. Let's bring back the athletic middle infielders. Let's bring back the ball and play not just relying on a home run. So in a really kind of weird way we were looking backwards too. You know we wanted to get back to our best. I think the piece of the

Starting point is 00:32:38 Commissioner's job that people completely ignore is the internal piece and it gets back to what Pat was talking about with our organization. You know people focus as there's the guy, you know, he's running the sport. The fact of the matter is our sport guy gets run by 1,200 hard-working people that are in that office in New York every single day and it's really hard to get it right. Everybody thinks, you know oh god everyone wants to work in a sport, baseball, football, whatever your sport is, but it's harder than you think to get your organization right. Well your culture is seemingly great from

Starting point is 00:33:13 everybody that we have met so congratulations on that. Not easy as a leader. I know you want to defer to other people but there's somebody that has to guide the culture. You're doing a great job I think. Tone, Pittsburgh Pirates fan, loves your league, has a question for you. Yes I do. Yeah you talked about forward thinking. The robot umpires, the auto strike zone, which is going to be used tomorrow night, I believe, is probably some of the most forward thinking thing that's come across. Obviously umpires in the strike zone and strike zone changing every game, like it's something that's just been a part of baseball forever. Where are we at on that? And do you think that would be the most forward-thinking role that you guys have done? Yeah, look, I'm going to object to one piece of your question. I never call the automated strike zone system robot umpires because one of the things we really do want to preserve is the role of the umpire in the game.

Starting point is 00:34:03 The way the system is designed, he gets the call, he makes the call, just like he does today. In order to, that's his role. That's what he's doing out there. Number one. Number two, technology off the charts good. I mean, we started 10 years ago, it was two inches that was the margin of error.

Starting point is 00:34:21 Now it's like a hundredth of an inch. I mean, it's unbelievably good. And so here's the funny thing. It was the margin of error. Now it's like a hundredth of an inch. I mean, it's unbelievably good. And so here's the funny thing. You know, I have a very, we're not gonna get into exactly what it is, but I do have a transparent email and it's on purpose. I like to hear from people, figure it out,

Starting point is 00:34:37 just regular fans. And I do, now there's filters for bad words. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Need some words. Yeah. I wanna kill you does not get through. I wish I had that filter on mine. But here's the thing, you know, we put it out there in spring training.

Starting point is 00:34:54 You know, obviously a lot of people go to spring training. It's a really great time of the year for us. So this year, the emails about bad balls and strike calls have gone like this, up crazy, because they've now seen you can do it better, and the sort of theme of the emails is, what the hell are you waiting for? I got it, you know, you ought to go do it. And then there's this too, right, the reviews?

Starting point is 00:35:17 Yeah, challenge. Challenges, which is not in regular season yet, right? Right, we're gonna use it tonight, it's been used in the minor leagues for several years, and we tested it with big league guys in spring training last year. We're in a process directed at bringing it to the big leagues next year. The great thing about it that we didn't fully understand, you know, the rendition on the board afterwards is like a fan friendly.

Starting point is 00:35:41 Yeah, like tennis. Tennis. Yeah, the Hawkeye technology where it's coming in. Yeah, you know, I mean, it's weird. I was actually out at the U.S. Open, and, you know, I played a lot of competitive tennis up through college, and... Oh, really? You checked the watch?

Starting point is 00:35:54 Yeah. Yeah. I quit a long time ago, but I did play. Anyways, I'm out at the Open, and all of a sudden I realize there's no linesmen. There's no linesmen, but what had misled me is they're still showing the rendition up on the board and it made me realize there is entertainment value in that rendition that we need to take advantage of.

Starting point is 00:36:15 Well, there's also skepticism if you ask the tennis players. I mean, that was the first thing that we asked because in our league, the NFL, we've had to go through a lot of technology and I think what you're going to experience over the next couple of years, the same thing the NFL experienced at the beginning of it all, the UMPs are not just going to casually just disappear.

Starting point is 00:36:31 The refs for the NFL had a lot of pride in the calls that they were making in the field. So the technology thing was almost a pushback from the refs until it was sold to them like, hey, they're here to help you. Because I think I saw a guy accidentally go like this and the UMP was like, get your ass out of here. And that's because the UMP is like, oh, you think you're

Starting point is 00:36:47 going to show me? So we had that with the NFL refs for a bit until they got to the point of just acknowledging it was going to happen and understanding that it's there to help them as opposed to hurt them. Good luck to you trying to sell all the umpires on that, especially because you guys got like UMPs that are legendary.

Starting point is 00:37:02 So I'll tell you about that. That's actually kind of interesting. We had exactly that dynamic when we first went to instant replay. We don't want it, you know, we want no part of it. Because I think you're showing them up. Yeah, which you know what flipped them? The media.

Starting point is 00:37:17 They got tired of seeing themselves being shown up, you know, on ESPN and wherever. So they flipped on replay. We actually have the right with our umpire's union to deploy the automated strike zone system. And they were really forward thinking about it this time around. They really were good about it.

Starting point is 00:37:35 It helps them. You know, that's like the NFL refs, I think had to, and I don't think all of them are on board just yet still. But I think for them, it was just pointing out like, hey, instead of getting your family threatened afterwards, can we not just correct this in like two minutes or two seconds and then move forward? Connor has a question for you, Commish.

Starting point is 00:37:52 Yeah, Commish, something you guys were kind of ahead of, it feels like, was the streaming. With Apple TV, you guys were one of the first to kind of be on a streaming service full time, basically throughout an entire season. I know how important local markets is to baseball when it comes to TV. How are you navigating that kind of situation especially now as you know the NFL gets into it in other places? And are you guys up right now? I'm sorry? Are your rights

Starting point is 00:38:16 deals up right now? No no we're not up until after the 29 season. Got it. So excuse me I said 29 28 well 29 will be the beginning of our new deals. Got it. It's right around the corner. So look, I think the most important thing to say is, you know, the media environment right now is really kind of disrupted, particularly at the local level, it's hardest for us because we're the most local dependent in the RSN model. I think our goal is twofold. Number one, we want to sell more games nationally, okay? We think it's good for our exposure, more

Starting point is 00:39:00 broadcast exposure, big game exposure. We also believe that the buyers that are out there are going to be national buyers, you know, particularly the streaming companies. They don't want to buy the state of Wisconsin with all due respect. We love Wisconsin. Yeah, we do. And two counties in Michigan, which is what the brewers have to sell. You got to sell more nationally. Secondly, we need to streamline our offering.

Starting point is 00:39:27 We need to get out of the blackout business. Here's a great one for you. We took over the Padres local broadcasts a couple years ago because of the bankruptcy that had occurred. Within two weeks, we lit up MLB.TV, which is an out of market product. We lit it up in market in San Diego. We sold 20,000 subscriptions in the middle of the season.

Starting point is 00:39:50 What's that tell you? There were 20,000 people in San Diego wanted to watch games, were willing to pay for it, and we were telling them, sorry, you know, can't help you. You know? So we need to, we need, we need, and we are too many places right now.

Starting point is 00:40:07 We've experimented, Apple's been a great experiment, but we do have a lot of fragmentation. We need to get into a more streamlined model where a fan knows, Friday, I want to see my game tonight. Either they go to a digital service, they know the game's there, if it's not there, it's going to be one of a couple of national games and it's easy for the fan. That's what it needs to look like. By 2029, all the fans are gonna be sophisticated enough

Starting point is 00:40:30 with everything. You know, and are you watching all the other leagues? Do you guys talk to each other? Do you have a commissioner's group text? I was with all, I had dinner with all four of them. We don't have a group text that we use regularly. I had dinner with all four of them last week in Sun Valley. I've known Roger the longest.

Starting point is 00:40:46 We actually belonged to the same golf club years before either of us were commissioners. Which golf club? That's a place in New York. We don't need to do that. They're just trying to get in there. Adam, we've had a great relationship. He's great about, he came to the World Adam, we've had a great relationship. You know, he's great about,

Starting point is 00:41:05 he came to the World Series last year, I said Roger actually, and you know, I went to the Super Bowl, I went to part of the NBA playoffs, really nice back and forth. And Gary and I actually went to the same undergraduate school, so I've been doing panels with Commissioner Betman

Starting point is 00:41:20 for a really long time, and he will occasionally remind me that he's been Commissioner longer than I have. Yeah, I can imagine holding that over your head for a really long time and he will occasionally remind me that he's been commissioner longer than I have. Yeah, I can imagine holding that over your head for a little bit. That's a great group of people to be friends with each other because for us as sports fans, we appreciate the fact for everything you guys do for us

Starting point is 00:41:36 year round and we appreciate what baseball has done for us not only like these last couple weeks, but until we're done I think. I think it's going to become a new summer thing for us. And I'm learning about the game. So I'm like a child that doesn't really know much about the game. Can throw it, can catch it a little bit, can make contact if I have to.

Starting point is 00:41:52 Love ball skeins, love Shohei, love Aaron Judge. Dump her. Love big dumper. Love the trumpets guy. And I love the home run derby. So like I'm an eager new fan. And I think the way you guys have handled it has been fantastic

Starting point is 00:42:05 You should be very proud of yourself. Well, thank you. And look, we're happy really happy to have you here I can't tell you, you know, it's part of where we started your first question We want to go where people go and I know people are listening Well commish, how do you think tonight goes? I think it's going to be really exciting. You know, it's just for our fans, it's a different kind of product, right? It's kind of made for the one-off event. Let's get some excitement.

Starting point is 00:42:33 Get a view of the players that's different. You'll see out on the field, very casual, the guys that are not participating. So it's going to be a really fun evening. Yeah, we appreciate the helity. What's that, Connor? I mean, yeah, it'll be a really fun evening if we just juice the hell out of you. What's that Connor? I mean yeah it'll be a really fun evening if we just juice the balls.

Starting point is 00:42:47 Okay, that is a question. Why don't we just do that. What's going on with the balls? Why are the balls always a question? So just quick follow up. Obviously big dumpers not feeling the effects. Neither is Aaron or Shohei or some guys. But then there's other guys maybe that don't have

Starting point is 00:43:00 as much power that are saying the balls are different. Is that a constant conversation in baseball? The balls? I remember a few years back they were Jews. Yeah we did have four or five years ago a statistically significant performance of the baseball we undertook a whole program directed at one thing consistency. At the end of the day you have to remember our product, unlike anything else in professional sports, it's handmade. The sewing and everything is different. The issue that people were talking about this year, the seams are a statistically insignificant

Starting point is 00:43:37 amount higher, but that's just kind of how the sewing went this year. You're not going to fix that. Yeah, well, we're hoping tonight we got little baby seams. These balls are flying. We appreciate you so much. Hopefully it's the first of many times we get a chance to chat with you. Congratulations on everything you've been through at the MLB. Thank you.

Starting point is 00:43:56 Thank you for the hospitality. Well, thanks for having me. It's great to be with all you guys. And great to have you here. Yeah, great. Ladies and gentlemen, the commissioner of MLB, Rob Manfred. Yeah, come in. Thanks, guys.

Starting point is 00:44:07 Thank you. That was really fun. Yeah, we're still live. Great job. If you don't want to bear anything, don't say anything, it's a piece of metal. I'm joking. Okay, as Commissioner Manfred continues about his day,

Starting point is 00:44:20 we will obviously move to a legend, a first ballot Hall of Famer. I believe Commission and CC are about to switch places with each other and we can't thank him enough. First ballot Hall of Famer, ladies and gentlemen, World Series champ, legend, CC Sabathie. Yeah, CC. CC.

Starting point is 00:44:38 CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC.

Starting point is 00:44:42 CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. CC. Go get him. Yeah. Oh yeah.

Starting point is 00:44:49 And if you want a little bit of a red bull, it does give you wings. There's sugar free one too. If you need it. See, see good to see you. Diesel. Hi. Hey, good to see you. We're not all six.

Starting point is 00:45:03 All right. Here we go. All right. How tall are you? Hey, good. Yeah. We're not all six. I raise my seat. All right. Here we go. All right. How tall are you? Six, seven. Six, seven. Congratulations.

Starting point is 00:45:11 First ballot. Thank you. Well earned. I agree. Legendary stuff. Appreciate it. Obviously, you've done a lot of great things for the league since retiring and obviously while you're playing.

Starting point is 00:45:19 That's my first time getting to chat with him. I feel like he's, hey, I feel like he and the MLB are doing very good. Do you agree? Yeah, I feel like we're on the right track. I feel like we're doing some good things and getting fans back to the ballpark. The pitch clock has helped. That was Rob.

Starting point is 00:45:34 ABS I think is gonna help. So I'm excited about where the game is actually going. ABS, automatic ball and strikes. I'm sorry. It's not robot. No, don't call it a robot. We do not like saying it's a lot of fun. Automatic Bogg and Strikes. Automatic Bogg and Strikes, I'm sorry. It's not robot. No, don't call it a robot. Don't call it a robot. We do not like saying it's a robot. They're taking our job!

Starting point is 00:45:51 Obviously Boon is the manager and a lot of Yankees represented out here at the All-Star Game. What is it like for the players at the All-Star Game? Is it a lot of chit chatting with people they've never met before? Do all these guys know each other? What's the big benefit of the All-Star Game?

Starting point is 00:46:04 Some of these guys know each other, right? Because a lot of chit chatting with people they've never met before? Do all these guys know each other? Like what's the big benefit of the awesome? Some of these guys know each other, right? Because, you know, a lot of them play perfect game coming up and, you know, so they know a lot. What's that? It's like AAU for baseball. Got it. So it's like, you know, them coming up together. But now, you know, you get here

Starting point is 00:46:18 and there's some guys that you don't know. You get to hang out with, you know, some players that you look up to if you're a young guy. I know Jacob Medzorowski is, you know, 25 innings into his career and gets to hang out with some players that you look up to. If you're a young guy, I know Jacob Majorowski is 25 innings into his career and gets to come out here and hang out with Clayton Kershaw and all these different guys. So it's a lot of fun to be able to mingle here. It's tiring, though.

Starting point is 00:46:35 I feel like the All-Star break, I always tell them this. The All-Star break is too short. They just ended last night. They get here, they got the home run derby, all the media stuff. Then you got the game, and then you right back on. Yeah, it's really for the players. For the players, we need like Friday to Friday. We were watching them load in the bags last night,

Starting point is 00:46:52 like midnight. Yeah, guys are coming in. If you have a night game on Sunday and you get in at, you know, 1 a.m. and you got to be up to do all of this stuff and gets a little tired. That is baseball as a whole though. You guys are on the road for 186 days, I believe is what Manford just said there, 162 games.

Starting point is 00:47:07 Too many games? No, no, I love it. I love it. I mean, it's every day. You know, when you get to be a part of it. Well, I didn't play every day either. So I'm only playing every fifth day. So of course, I mean, I love it.

Starting point is 00:47:21 Yes, I have a question about Skeens. Because you started your career with the small market club, but you were never like, he has a two ERA, and he's four and eight right now. How do you deal with that mentally as a pitcher? How is it in the clubhouse? Do you think he feels jaded at all? How do you think that's going to affect his career later?

Starting point is 00:47:37 No, I think when you're in that situation, I was never as good as he was. You know what I'm saying? First foul of all favor. But I think, it's not weird, but guys are like apologizing to you like Oh, you know we want to score you runs And you know they feel just as bad as you know the fans you do but as a pitcher You know you go out and do your thing and it's all it's a team sport so

Starting point is 00:48:01 You know they don't they don't feel they don't get on you when you give up homers or give up runs and stuff like that. So I never got on my teammates about not scoring runs or making errors or anything like that because nobody's saying anything to me when I'm giving up 900 foot home runs. That's talking like some historic shit for Paul Skeens right now. And obviously the Pirates want on a little bit of a run.

Starting point is 00:48:19 I think we have a graphic with all the ERA plus, I believe is the stat here. Yeah, average ERA plus, can we take off the lower third there, is 100. with all the the e r a plus I believe is this stat here yeah average e r a plus we take off the lower third there is a hundred okay this is new stats you guys make up every sports making up new stats yeah I don't even I don't understand that you guys can explain e r a plus factoring ballpark dimensions and weather yeah a bad e r a is 75 a good e r era plus is 125 Paul skeins 214 Oh right now in 43 career starts 22% better than any live ball pitcher since 1920 across his first two MLB seasons

Starting point is 00:48:53 So he's holding up his end of the bargain obviously starting pitcher for the all-star game It's not just him scubal the other guy pitching for the intro time He's an absolute monster feels like there's a lot of great pitching going on it is I mean, I feel like the pitching out does the hitting right now. But Scooboo right now, he throws 103 mile an hour cutters. Yeah. Like, he is unbelievable. He almost took Detroit to the World Series by himself last year.

Starting point is 00:49:14 He got them to the ALCS. So that team has a really good chance to win. Last year, they were doing it with just pitching. Now they're doing it with pitching and offense. So it's going to be scary come October when that guy is healthy and he's on the mound. It's going to be hard to beat. Yeah, he's got a lot of moxie to him.

Starting point is 00:49:28 I appreciate that. Oh yeah. I love that emotion. Yeah, me too. You gotta pitch that emotion. I love it. Gotta be a human. Who won 26 last night?

Starting point is 00:49:35 Gage Wood, kid from Arkansas. Correct. He was the one that was whenever they called time. Oh yeah. Staring at the guy. Oh yeah. I love everything about him. Go ahead, D-Bud.

Starting point is 00:49:43 Yeah, these guys are trying to get to where you have think Tony just mentioned it first ballot Hall of Famer. I know one of the special things for us in NFL was we watched Baker get that knock at the door. What was that moment like when you found out you were going? I know you probably expect me but what was that moment like when it was realized? You know, it was it was a great moment. I didn't expect anything.

Starting point is 00:50:01 You know, I had a bunch of people over at the house and they have this like Hall of Fame tracker and you know, everybody was telling me not to check it out checking that thing every five. I didn't expect anything. I had a bunch of people over at the house and they have this hall of fame tracker. And everybody was telling me not to check it. I was checking that thing every Friday. For the last week. Go get your home stuff. I kept checking it. I was refreshing, refreshing.

Starting point is 00:50:13 And I felt pretty good on the morning of. And even when I got the call, they tell you if it's between six and 645, they call it like 638. You know what I mean? So I'm like a little bit. The windows closed. It was closing and everybody sitting around and, but it was

Starting point is 00:50:27 cool. I mean, I was kind of in shock and then if you watch the video, my daughter kind of grabs me and then I kind of come out of it and get to celebrate. But it's just a surreal feeling coming from where I came from in

Starting point is 00:50:37 Vallejo, California to Cooperstown. If I can make it there, I feel like any kid can make it. Yeah, if you're 6'7 and can throw the ball. It's like, it's like a late can make it. Yeah, if you're 6'7", and can throw the ball. Yeah. It's like, boomer.

Starting point is 00:50:46 It's like, boomer. It's like, boomer. I want to go back to the Yankees. When you first got there, I remember a lot of the rhetoric, or the media was saying, oh, he might not want to go to New York because he doesn't want to deal with all the bullshit surrounding it. Hoopla. Yeah, Hoopla, if you will.

Starting point is 00:51:02 How impressed have you been with Max Fried who you know goes there and Initially like he's not expected to be the ace You know they have Garrett Cole and then he kind of has to set a step up and he's been Unbelievable so far how impressed have you been with him? And how difficult is that when you're kind of thrust into like hey, you've got to be the guy for the Yankees Yeah, I mean it's been incredible to watch what he's done. You know, coming over from Atlanta, you know, he's already an established pitcher, a great pitcher. And then coming into New York, it can be difficult.

Starting point is 00:51:32 And, you know, we've seen so many guys come in there and fail, but I knew in spring training. I just watched him, watched his demeanor, watched the way he worked in his bullpens. I'm like, he's going to be fine. No matter whether he has to be the ace or whatever he has to be, he'll be pretty good. So it's kind of hard making that transition in New York.

Starting point is 00:51:50 Myself, I didn't wanna come just because I was a West Coast kid. I grew up on the West Coast. I thought I would play for Dodgers, Anaheim, whatever, but it ended up being the best move I could make. It was the best decision I ever made coming to New York. My family's growing there, we blast them. But if you can make that place work,

Starting point is 00:52:08 it's the greatest place on Earth to play baseball. If you can make it in New York, you can make it anywhere. It's a true story. It's a traveling circus. Everywhere we go, to the stadiums field, every time you show up in the Bronx, the stadiums hails. Stocks spreading. I mean, it's all real.

Starting point is 00:52:22 I get chills. Look, I got a little, a picture. It's real. So it's a lot of fun. I'm gonna pinstripe. Okay. Let's talk about the other side of the country. And you talked about a team you'd be playing for the Dodgers.

Starting point is 00:52:33 I mean, over here, we got Japanese media already setting up for Shohei. Obviously they got in here like an hour before we even started. Nobody else was here except for them. He's setting it all up. He has been spectacular for baseball as a whole. Have you got a chance to meet him Chit-Chat?

Starting point is 00:52:46 I think we're talking to him at like 2.35 ish right here. I'll host the press conference. Have you heard about this? Oh yeah. I'm hosting the press conference. I love it. I love it. I love it.

Starting point is 00:52:56 Hard hitting questions. Where are you supposed to be? In that jersey? I love it. Definitely. You gotta keep the jersey. One million percent. We have to keep the jersey.

Starting point is 00:53:02 You got a question, make it a good one. All right, enough. Let's move along. Honored to be a part of it. But then we're talking to Shohei here because the NL media day is right after the press conference. So everybody's gonna be in here. This place is gonna be Berserk. Yeah. He has been spectacular for baseball. Have you ever met him? What are your thoughts? How do the OGs

Starting point is 00:53:18 feel about it? Yeah, no, I met him a couple of times and the very first time I seen Ohtani play, we were in Anaheim and he hits a ground ball, chopper to short and he beats it out. And I looked at Luis Severino right to my right and I was like, that's the best baseball player I've ever seen in my life. He's the best baseball player. You remember that?

Starting point is 00:53:35 You guys played little league. We've been saying that since. You remember that 12 year old kid that just hit homers, he owned the hardest, he's the fastest. Gross smirterly. This guy's doing that in the big leagues. You know what I'm saying? He throws the hardest, he hits the, the smart early this guy's doing that in the big leagues. You know, he's the he throws the hardest. He

Starting point is 00:53:46 is the ball the furthest like he's the best player that I've ever seen. I mean, I'm a huge Barry Bonds fan. Grew up in the Bay Area and he's my goat. But I have to put show up there because I don't think Barry can go on throw seven in and shut

Starting point is 00:53:57 out. Yeah, so me and D but stopping baseball people. We agree. This guy's pitching faster. Everybody's hitting it in that the game is that the games literally. I created a gun show a thousand. I think about that the guy you created probably in real life

Starting point is 00:54:17 going to have a little bit of an arrogance problem. Yeah, it's true. The complete opposite. Yeah, it's like a little thank you very much. It's an honor to be here. I am better than all of you at everything and. Yeah. Yep. Slows fall. Hit the bat flip that one game where he was getting back.

Starting point is 00:54:34 Yeah. I was like, yeah, I like that. The Americanism. Oh, it's happening in front of our eyes. It is. CC, we appreciate you stopping by. Congratulations on the Hall of Fame. And what are you looking forward to tonight? We need big, big dumper needs to hit a few, right? I see see we appreciate your stopping by congratulations on the Hall of Fame on and what are you looking forward to tonight?

Starting point is 00:54:47 We need big big dumper needs to hit a few right? That's what he's a hit a few but James would have a good is my favorite player in the big leagues man and watch this game on the show tonight. Yeah, James would James would from Rockville Maryland known for his unique combo power and athleticism. Yes, sir. Got some notes on each of the hitters from the press conference.

Starting point is 00:55:07 Come on. Bro. Ladies and what's that? Okay, here's um, put that up. Ben Ward from ESPN who does our simulcast said their stats people ran through all their stats. They think the cruise missile O'Neill, is the odds on favorite to win this. Strictly because of Velo and bat speed is what they're saying. And I've heard that he puts on a show during BP.

Starting point is 00:55:31 Oh, my God. They just released a video the other day from the catcher's point of view. The ball jumps off his bat like no one else. I feel like we got a good field. It's going to be a lot of fun. Jazz is going to put on the show. Obviously, you know, he's a showman.

Starting point is 00:55:44 Byron Buxton's from Atlanta. It's going to be a lot of fun. Jazz is gonna put on the show. Obviously, you know, he's a showman. Byron Buxton's from Atlanta. It's gonna be a lot of fun. Big Dumper is leading the league in Homer. So Brent Rooker is excited to be in the Home Run Derby. So it's gonna be a lot of fun. This should be a good one. Shout out to ESPN stats for all of that. And shout out to the Pirates,

Starting point is 00:55:57 probably winning the Home Run Derby and having the ace and not being able to win a goddamn game. That's cool. It's pretty good. Easy jamming first round Hall of Famer. CC, Sabathia, we'll be back in the next hour before we lead into the goddamn game. That's cool. It's great. Amazing job. First round Hall of Famer. Appreciate it. CC Sabathia. We'll be back in the next hour before we lead into the press conference that's happening right here that I'll be hosting.

Starting point is 00:56:11 We'll be streaming it live on our YouTube. It'll also be on MLB network. Yes, we think it's ridiculous. But I'm going to go up there and I'm going to try to deliver. Because this is the All-Star game. This is the Midsummer Classic. This is history. This is legacy.

Starting point is 00:56:24 This is legendary. And this week, we'll talk about forever. Ties on the fucking All-Star game. This is the Midsummer Classic. This is history. This is legacy. This is legendary. And this week, we'll talk about forever. Ty's on the fucking All-Star team. Congratulations. First All-Star now. Good work, Ty. I didn't even see the pants. I love that.

Starting point is 00:56:33 Four units. I love that. What are you talking about? I love that. Can you put those things up there real quick? Yeah, when I get the socks. Oh, yeah. He's part of the team.

Starting point is 00:56:41 We got to get you some Jays, though. Yep. Hey, Aaron Judge will be joining us in the next hour. I believe there is a little bit of a J talk potentially happening there. Also, I'd like to be able to smoke some J's in this place. Did not do that earlier. Just want to let everybody know.

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Starting point is 00:57:35 Has the three pointer ruined basketball? And how did we get here? The rise of the three point shot can be partially traced to an eccentric Kansas genius named Martin Manley, whose story didn't turn out quite the way he imagined. I decided I wanted to have one of the most organized goodbyes in history, and I think I will be successful. 30 for 30 Podcasts presents a brand new original series.

Starting point is 00:58:01 Chasing Basketball Heaven. Available July 22nd, wherever you get your podcasts. Baseball is happening in a massive way in this glorious city. It is the third time this city has hosted the Midsummer Classic. First time it'll be in Truist Park. We are currently in the Battery, i believe is what they describe this area uh the roxy theater here is right across the street from truest park

Starting point is 00:58:30 then they have some bars across the street on the other side it is a beautiful setup down here this is exactly what everybody in professional sports is looking for let's own the park let's own the restaurants that people are tailgating outside of and let's even own the theater across the street for people to do shows at. This place is beautiful. Obviously, the MLB has done fantastic work in setting it all up, and thank you to them for having us. Now, I reiterated, I will reiterate the fact that I stated in the first hour, there was

Starting point is 00:58:59 a lot of people working against us coming here. A lot of people. The MLB stepped in and said, we would love for you guys to come. Them and Mike Foss came together, no stone unturned. I was on the emails, literally watching it all unfold. Send in a, well, tell that guy to go fuck himself. And then watch him kind of do their thing.

Starting point is 00:59:20 I'm pretty good one of those email sender. Might be the best in the history of business, to be clear. I think I potentially am. But the way this has come together, we are very, very thankful and grateful to be here. I think Ty and I will be a part of the Home Run Derby tonight. What?

Starting point is 00:59:34 I'm hosting the press conference that is happening on this stage over here. Pretty cool. At 2 p.m. You guys are getting it back? We will stream live on our YouTube, on ESPN+, Disney+, and TikTok Live. They will run it on the MLB network.

Starting point is 00:59:45 What I'm saying is we're very thankful and grateful to be here in the middle of the summer. We're at the home run Derby. We're going to watch this anyways. The fact that we get a chance to experience it. We're very thankful. The talk's that was here at Boston Connor and at Ty Schmidt. Ty really cool to be here.

Starting point is 00:59:57 Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, you mentioned it, you know, like as we've done this for a while now, and I love baseball. I watch literally every single Yankees game, every night of the week. And I just kind of figured like, you know, and you get it, cause we're a football show.

Starting point is 01:00:12 It's like, hey, we're going to get through the summer best way we can. And doofuses. Yeah, for sure. So I didn't ever think this would be an option, much less like basically having the red carpet rolled out for us. You know, it's like I-

Starting point is 01:00:24 And there's going to be baseball people that hate to hear that. Definitely. We just would like to tell you, we're sorry that it's happening and it hasn't happened to you. Hopefully it does happen for you guys someday. But after our conversation with Rob, feels like Rob really wants everybody to become a part of the MLB in baseball.

Starting point is 01:00:38 I don't like the gatekeeping fans that sports have. I don't get that. So like professional wrestling has it. And they're the worst people on the internet. Sure. I feel like all every sports in here. I don't know if every sport. professional wrestling has it. And they're the worst people on the internet. Sure. I feel like every sport damn near. I don't know if every sport. Football.

Starting point is 01:00:48 Yeah, I feel like football. Football does, because remember Taylor Swift. Taylor. That's nine year NFL vet, Darius J. Butler. UFC might have the most. That's one half of the hammer. Done. Cowboys, AP Tone.

Starting point is 01:00:57 I think wrestling community, internet wrestling community. Without a doubt. Very heavy gatekeepers. And what they like is not what I like at all I've been a wrestling fan my entire life. What do I know nothing? Yeah that entire thing? They're very gatekeeper II feels like UFC has that as well as rules guy I'll have a couple of friction shirts Obviously have to figure it out and we appreciate those people's passion because they are committed fully to said thing

Starting point is 01:01:20 They don't want to see it get ruined by others But it's like we get a chance to experience these fans in a negative way a lot because we're very lucky to be brought into these Worlds the baseball gatekeepers or something I saw I saw some baseball people pissed off about us getting an opportunity to be here and it's like I Understand why you're pissed because you probably think that you should be here When you get to the point you should be here I think Rob will have you like we're very thankful and very lucky and we're gonna try to do it some justice Yeah, without a doubt and I mean like you said like it's not it's not also TV execs that are not happy that we're very thankful and very lucky. We're going to try and do it some justice. Yeah, without a doubt. And I mean, like you said, like it's not, it's not.

Starting point is 01:01:47 There's also TV execs that are not happy that we're here. That is also true. That's a whole nother animal to talk about. But it's also no bullshit. Made level powerless TV execs, just so you know. And I think you're experiencing that right now. He who is watching this. Yeah, we're here.

Starting point is 01:02:02 None. Power negative, just so you know. Go ahead, Todd. Well, I was just going to say like it's, it's no bullshit. He who is watching this yeah, we're here not power negative Just so you know go ahead time well I was just gonna say like it's it's no bullshit the way we've been talking about it like you've you've said multiple times And it like it is sincere like hey, I'm actually like enjoying baseball this year You know it doesn't mean that you're gonna sit down and watch nine innings every single night But like if the Dodgers are playing late and Shohei is gonna get it back or you know the Yankees are playing Everybody's watching exactly exactly and it's been super entertaining

Starting point is 01:02:30 So yeah, this is kind of a perfect time for us to hey, let's let's dive into this a little bit Yeah, and learn about it D. Butch. I don't know how big of a baseball fan you are your fan of Every team in every league the that's not true. What's that stupid shit to like F1? I mean, that's not stupid. We're off this weekend and that's why I was able to make it to the final. But yeah, I do like sports in summer. You know, summertime has been a tough stretch. You know, I'm a football guy, basketball guy. So it's tough. Obviously, that's embarrassing. You just forgot you're a Panther fan. Back to back Santa Claus. I didn't forget.

Starting point is 01:03:07 It's top two. I just got in hockey, what, four years ago? So obviously, we are defending champ. Back to back. What's that? Since inception, you've been a fan. Yeah, you know, he knew of the team. I'm saying, but actually following,

Starting point is 01:03:16 actually watching the game. Like, 10 years ago, I couldn't name five guys on the roster. Now I can, you know, I can go talk to the players. All right, we'll talk to Jett Passen here in a matter of moments. He's been our baseball source plug for years. Can't wait to check out. Anytime we can see know I can go talk about it. Alright we'll talk to Jett Passon here in a matter of moments. He's been our baseball source plug for years. Can't wait to chitchat. Anytime we get to see him in person it's good. Before we get to Jett there's some summer sports talk that we need to get to. Hashtag summer sports talk. Hashtag program summer road trip. Hashtag things are happening. The

Starting point is 01:03:41 NFL always has its drama. Always has its drama. A lot of them. Guy got arrested over the weekend, obviously don't love that. Don't love that at all. TJ Watts still not a Pittsburgh Steeler. What the hell is going on? Hey, what the hell is going on in the Pittsburgh Steelers world, brother? I haven't worried in a long, long time. I'm starting to hear things.

Starting point is 01:04:02 No, because remember everybody say it's going to get done. We all know it's going to get done. He's TJ White. He's Pittsburgh Why is he skipping mandatory minicamp? Yeah. Well, he's won Process that's everybody said we're talking about Trey Hendrickson over in Cincinnati Yeah, because that's a big ray has come out and gone very public about it And we're like they're in trouble they're in trouble and then all Cincinnati Bengals fans kept saying was well Is TJ what in the building or not because it's kind of similar situation and The entire time I like no then we asked the people that would know the insiders are like it'll get though

Starting point is 01:04:31 We all think it's gonna get done It's like are we sure this is gonna get done TJ watt heading to the market would be bananas at this time of year I don't even know how possible would be but they still do not have a deal done in Kaboli Who is the Pittsburgh Steelers reporter for this particular program Has been saying a lot of things to him. Yeah. Yeah, he's right there He's talking about the length of deal guarantees in total value. So when like TJ's 30 years old right now So I think the team's kind of having a situation where they want to look at how many years do you want to have guaranteed? money with TJ

Starting point is 01:05:00 Miles Garrett had basically three years of what you You wonder? It's TJ Watt. First foul is Cole Jacket. Listen, I'm just telling you what I'm hearing, okay? I'm not saying I'm making these decisions. I'm not saying it's my opinion. But what side are you on? I haven't decided yet. What?

Starting point is 01:05:20 I won't decide until the dust has settled. No, and T's your side. If the Steelers keep Teej. Great move. If they decide to move on, boy, what kind of value did we get? The best. Yeah, you think Omar Khan's going

Starting point is 01:05:30 to be able to work a good deal, the Khan artist, the general manager for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They're in the middle of it. They've done a lot of things. Obviously, you go all the way back to Darius Slay, then DK Metcalf, Aaron Rodgers, trade for Jalen Ramsey, trade for John Smith. You make a lot of moves going all in seemingly.

Starting point is 01:05:46 You would think that TJ Watt would be on the team, but there's a lot of money going to a lot of places. And I know you're only paying Aaron 10 million or whatever the case is, but it's like, how do you get to the 40 number that TJ is probably expecting because you guys have kicked this can down the road a little bit and still have everybody? We shall see. This would almost be the year where the Steelers would be hoping for a hometown discount as opposed to the last couple years right correct that they've gotten it's like hell no exactly that's a they pushed past the point of hometown discount for TJ Watt and his eyes and you know if you

Starting point is 01:06:13 listen to JJ Watt speaking he didn't speak about TJ's situation he was speaking about Trey Hendrickson situation he's like if you get the deal done earlier it's obviously a lot cheaper and better for all parties when you kick it down the road hey we'll take care of next of you next year. We'll take care of you next year. It only gets higher, and then the feelings too, little negative feelings kind of can creep in there whenever it's that type of business. So everybody's assuming it gets done outside the world. TJ Skip, mandatory mini camp, that's a statement.

Starting point is 01:06:38 But I'm hoping he gets it done because this Steelers team, if TJ was also on the team, you're talking about a real run maybe for Are you worried? Yeah, a little bit but also the contracts out there like it's miles contracts already done like that should be TJ's contract Just do that one Yeah, I say now you're on now you're on TJ's side. I'm waffling a bit. Oh nice. It's got a penny pinch and pinch. Alright let's talk about what else is happening around the NFL. The quarterback series is back on Netflix and thank God. Thank God for obviously baseball carrying us. Yep. WNBA doing it's thing. Shout out to W. Shout out to the W.

Starting point is 01:07:24 I think there's some other sports happening internationally. I think I saw ping pong was taking place this morning. Yeah, sure. Table tennis. They had a big one. FIFA Super Duper Cup. Congrats to Trump and Chelsea for winning that one. Yeah, Trump won that one. Yeah, Trump and Chelsea. They scored two goals. They were celebrating a lot. Hey, Gumpy, let's go to the back there. Gumpy, was Trump, did he, did President Trump play for Chelsea in that final or how did that that hell come together? Gumpy he was the first one to touch the trophy. So technically he did play well, sir Well, actually I don't say too much. I touch that trophy before anybody else. Are you leaving? No Now I believe FIFA, look at how much fun is happening.

Starting point is 01:08:06 This is awesome, the FIFA president's back in there. I thought we were leaving, I thought we were leaving. So the president obviously celebrating with Chelsea. They won $100 million, Gumpi, and this tournament is now officially over. Was it a success or a failure? Gump, how should we be viewing the super duper FIFA World Cup?

Starting point is 01:08:22 Oh, they have it. Chelsea won between $ and 150 million dollars the tournament produced two billion dollars in revenue Cole Palmer scored two goals in the final one player of the tournament man of the match and Chelsea beat PSG who won the Ever pretty much everything PSG won everything this It was the first time they lost in a final. So Chelsea had an unbelievable tournament. They were plus 1200 at the start of the tournament to win it. And you, the Palmberg guy you talked about scoring two goals, I don't know if it was the finals or the semi-finals.

Starting point is 01:08:55 They were actually signing guys to their team. Guys were hopping on planes, flying over to these games in scoring goals. Yeah, Xao Pedro, they signed him his first game. He scored two goals in the semi-finals. He wasn't even on Chelsea at the beginning of the tournament. He's unbelievable, scored again yesterday too. Can you do that in TST? Well, so that's the thing. TST has this registration process where you gotta be registered as a coach or a player.

Starting point is 01:09:18 If in a super duper FIFA World Cup, we can just call guys, put them on a plane, and come win 140 million bucks. Yeah. Can Team USA do this during the World Cup. We should be able to Lou Messi Yeah, didn't that poopy Premier League team just do that too. They signed some guy like halfway through the season. Oh Burnley Yeah, wasn't it Burnley didn't Burnley just signed some guy Burnley made a big-time acquisition Who was it? They spent some money on a famous guy Gumps. It just happened Kyle Walker

Starting point is 01:09:41 He's one of the best right backs in England history.'ll be playing for JJ Watts Burnley so soccer's happening appreciate that but the quarterback series on Netflix is back three quarterbacks Jared Goff Kirk Cousins and Joey Burr now all three very interesting Kirk Cousins I appreciate the way he operates appreciate the way he operates it's more the same from the first season. You can just think to yourself, this is the most humble guy. This is the most nerdy quarterback in the history. He's very lovable. I will say Kirk Cousins in the entirety. Joey Burrows a dog. Joey, Joe Burr drops a lot of fucks. I like that. That is something. Seems like he's not holding anything back.

Starting point is 01:10:22 Also, he's learning how to play the piano just because he walks past the piano in his house and he figures he might as well sit down for 10-15 minutes to learn how to do this and now he's playing the piano. Haven't seen the entire series, I've seen a lot of it. Jared Goff and MC DC have been a huge piece of the story and I'll tell you if I'm a Lions fan and Foxy you could probably reiterate this more. You guys are bopping the quarterback I assume assume. Yeah, I absolutely love quarterback, Pat. To your point, I didn't know anything about Joe Burrow, learned a lot about him, I like him more.

Starting point is 01:10:50 Kirk Cousins, we knew he was the dog. How he handled the panic situation was flawless, it was perfect, love Kirk Cousins. But watching Detroit Lions, MCDC, Jared Goff in their best season ever, getting the full recap, it was amazing. It made me love Jared golf so much more and maybe love MCDC so much more and that's saying a lot like trust me I already love these guys favorite and franchise history and I thought that quarterback did an

Starting point is 01:11:16 outstanding job in some of these clips some of these behind the scenes are absolutely beautiful. Foxy forced us to run this but here's 2 clips quarterback on Netflix which with a long one. Yeah, it's a it's like 6 minutes, but I'll tell you it is beautiful and congrats to Omaha Congress NFL films congrats to Patrick Mahomes congrats to netflix on an incredible new season of quarterback here some footage of mcdc and Jared goff being on the same page.

Starting point is 01:11:42 I want to tell you how this is going to go down. DC and Jared Goff being on the same page. I'm going to tell you how this is going to go down. Offense, we are going to fucking put everything on your fucking ass, okay? I'm just telling you right now, you got to show up. You got to show up in a big way. The way we play ball, we're fucking going. We're going four downs all the way up and down this field.

Starting point is 01:12:05 As long as it's not four fucking 20, you understand? We're fucking going. And we will fucking just march down this field, and it's going to be so fucking glorious, gentlemen. This will be one you're never going to forget. That's fucking right. Let's fucking go. How low can we get this? There'll be left probably about 50 seconds. 50? Okay, got it.

Starting point is 01:12:26 If we don't get a first. No, I'm saying they'll have, yeah, if we don't get a first, we're going to have at least 50 left. But if we get it, we'll bring it down to zero. Yeah. I got it. I got it. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey.

Starting point is 01:12:41 Hey, one more first down, and we can bring it all the way down and kick it, OK? We need one more first down here, OK? Let's go, baby. Let's go. Let, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, It's going to be third and one for the Lions. Third down. Third down. They're going to need about a half yard. 180. One second. Gough takes the snap turn to give the demo right side. He is hit, and he's going to come up short. It is going to be fourth down and about a half yard. Now, this is a fascinating decision.

Starting point is 01:13:18 He's dying to go for it, but obviously he's got to kick this field goal. What do we do? Pick it? I'm not sure what we're going to do. I'm really, I'm unsure. I know the prudent decision would got to kick this field goal. What do we do? Pick it? I'm not sure what we're going to do. I'm really, I'm unsure. I know the prudent decision would be to kick the field goal and go play defense for 30 seconds and finish it off there.

Starting point is 01:13:32 But I know the way that Dan had come into the game mentally was that we were going to be really aggressive. We going? We are under a minute. They got no timeouts. We going? Kick to field goal. That's probably the right thing to do. Hey! F*** me.

Starting point is 01:13:56 I was pissed that we were not going to be able to finish the game with no time left and give them a chance to score. I think we do feed off each other a little bit. So I thought, man, we were hurting on defense. And we just brought some guys in off the street that were starting for us. And to me, that's not fair to ask them with 40-something seconds left to go out there against that offense. And I think his confidence is always going to help me. Let's finish this.

Starting point is 01:14:23 We got to go, Cubs. We got to go. We're going. His confidence is always gonna help me. You know what? Let's f***ing finish this. You gotta go, Cubs. You gotta go. We're going. We're going. They are trying to kill this clock and put Jake Bates in a position to go win it. We need a f***ing half a yard, okay?

Starting point is 01:14:41 Come on. Come on. Let's go, boys. You got it. You got it. On fourth down, Jared up under center. 180! Turns, gives it to Montgomery, gets the first down! Yeah! Woo!

Starting point is 01:15:02 Oh my God, Jared slipped. That could have been bad. My shoe is just a size too big and I think one of our linemen got a little piece of it. Jared tripped as he came out from behind center, handed it to Demo, just barely got it to him. He got the first down. You let that clock run now. Down to 30 and the Packers can't stop it. Good f***ing job. Hey, let's f***ing go. That's a s***.

Starting point is 01:15:37 Good f***ing call. If that hadn't worked, our defense would have had to get a stop and we would have had to beat them in overtime. But yeah, big balls by Dan. Bates is ready. Lions going for the win. Fox the hole, kick away. It is up and it is good. You want to talk about grit. What a night for the Detroit Lions. Hey! Hey! Hey! Great f***ing challenge. 4-5 on fourth down. Amazing.

Starting point is 01:16:12 Keep going buddy, keep going. See you in the playoffs probably. 12-1, still on top of the NFC. F*** yeah! Yeah! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh!

Starting point is 01:16:28 Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! I told you, you'd never forget this game. You will never forget this f***ing game. We don't have to talk about how tough we are. We don't have to talk about how resilient we are.

Starting point is 01:16:40 We f***ing live it, man. We've been living it! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Oh! Hey! We live it man we've been living it. I like he said this just don't just happen boys were different again, I'll say it again this group's in different. That's awesome Fox you had to love that I soon Foxy and shot the football being as amazing as it is nice to relive that moment and thank you to the Lions for allowing Omaha and NFL films basically

Starting point is 01:17:10 in to creep on them all year same with Joe burrow and Kirk Cousins yet again especially down here in Atlanta with what he experienced speaking of Atlanta the third time this city has hosted the All-Star Game first time in Truist Park joining us now is the insider the pit, the brain of the next generation of baseball. Ladies and gentlemen from ESPN, Jett Passage. You look really good, Jett. This is a grade A suit. Also, we got a little bit of a notch pocket square.

Starting point is 01:17:37 And we got the three peaks on that. Did you fold that yourself? Sure did. Wow. It's the all-star. Listen, if you're going to wear a suit in this heat, it better be right. I'm going to be outside at the derby tonight. It's going to be a mess. Yeah, I like that.

Starting point is 01:17:51 Sweat through it. It's a midsummer classic and it's hot. We're going to be out there as well. His eye black might run a little bit because of how into it he's going to be. Let's chit chat about this. What are the main storylines coming into All-Star weekend? All the studs playing, all the stars playing, should be a great home run derby.

Starting point is 01:18:08 Like, what is the story of baseball coming in here? Is there free agencies or trades? What should we be talking about? I think tonight we're gonna be talking about Cal Raleigh. You know, the big dumper in his breakout season. I love the fact that Cal Raleigh is gonna be out there leading Major League Baseball on home runs, Pat. At a time when Aaron Judge is around, when Shohei Otani is around, when you have all of these great home run hitters, here's a guy,

Starting point is 01:18:32 a switch hitter has never won the Derby before. Cal Raleigh is a switch hitter. A catcher has never won the Derby before. Cal Raleigh is a catcher. His dad, Todd, who was a head coach for a long time in college baseball, going to be throwing the pitches to him. His younger brother, 15-year-old T. Raleigh, going to be behind the plate, catching all catchers, a family full of catchers. And so the idea that this can be a family affair,

Starting point is 01:18:58 but that you're also going to have just monsters out there. James Wood, 6'7", could have been a tight end in another life. O'Neil Cruz, hitting a tight end in another life. O'Neil Cruz, hitting balls 122 miles per hour. What tall is he? 6'7". Byron Buxton, big guy, finally healthy from Georgia, coming into his own.

Starting point is 01:19:16 Matt Olson, been a home run hitter for a long time. It's not the most star studded field, but I think it's got a chance to be a really entertaining home run derby We got dongs on away ties a question for you, Joe Yeah jet in terms are you surprised by I don't want to say like the youth movement But I like we were kind of talking a little bit and it does seem that the last couple years All-star weekend has kind of been like a a way for the MLB to show like hey There are so many good young players that casual fans know nothing about.

Starting point is 01:19:47 Like the Derby is a perfect example. Yeah, and I think that that's why the Derby and the All-Star game are so important to this sport. Like, baseball right now in Shohei Otani and Aaron Judge have, I think, the two biggest stars of the last 25 years. Yeah. biggest stars of the last 25 years. Like these are real transcendent across all sports names that people know who do things that people can really like look at and say hey that's impressive. Shohei Otani playing both ways, hitting 50 home runs and stealing 50 bases. These are things that you know baseball has a difficult time going across into the football realm, the basketball realm, but I think baseball

Starting point is 01:20:26 has a moment right now, and those young stars are a big part of it. We're going to see one tonight in Junior Caminero. He's 21 years old. He's hit 20 plus home runs already in his first full season with the Tampa Bay Rays, has the fastest bat speed along with O'Neal Cruz in baseball, and has a chance to really put on a show tonight.

Starting point is 01:20:43 And that's what the All-Star Game should be. Right? Like this is a show. This is why Major League Baseball chose Jacob Mizorowski to come here after five starts in the big leagues. He's really good. He might be a hall of Famer. He might be a guy who flames out. We don't like, we don't know at this point. It's too early in his career, but what he, what we know he is right now is a guy who's going to go out there and one inning and throw 102 or 103 or who knows how hard and throw a slide. Maybe one of the five.

Starting point is 01:21:13 I love that. Listen, he could. He could. He's got he's got that arm in him and he's got that dog in him too. And I'm looking forward to seeing him go out there and pitch Kansas City, Missouri represent. You talk about shout out to you. You talk about the youth movement and everything like that. I think it's the seventh consecutive All-Star game where there's 30 fresh faces, 30 times making, 30 players making their debut at the All-Star game.

Starting point is 01:21:35 I think 13 out of the last 15 All-Star games has had that stat. So it is like a lot of youth movement coming through the All-Star. Is it still heralded around the league as a big deal to be an All-Star? I assume yes. It is, I mean listen, they've had this year particularly like some bigger names drop out, not like Zach Wheeler, didn't, you know, wanted to go take some time off.

Starting point is 01:21:55 Jose Ramirez wanted to go nurse some injuries and there are so many All-Stars now, it's almost like, okay, are we getting into the realm of participation trophy at this point. We have like a top 20 quarterbacks make the Pro Bowl. Yeah it's not quite like at the Drake Bay level at this point but baseball's All-Star game has also evolved it used to be like back in the 70s if you were a starter you would

Starting point is 01:22:25 play all nine innings. Like it was a it was a full game. They did not care. The starting pitcher would go deep into the game and you know like the the old baseball fan in me wants to see it return to that. So there aren't complaints about Mizorowskis or someone coming into here and not being deserving of it. But Major League Baseball has been accused of not being able to create stars. Well, when you bring a guy who throws 102 or 103 to an event where eyeballs are going to be on it

Starting point is 01:22:55 a whole lot more than they normally are for the Milwaukee Brewers, what are you trying to do? You're trying to create a star. It's tough to have both. And so, while I understand the Philadelphia Phillies being mad that Christopher Sanchez isn't here because he's had a phenomenal first half, I also understand Major League Baseball

Starting point is 01:23:12 has got a duty to its fans to put on the best game possible. And I'm sorry, but for one inning, I would rather see Jacob Mizorowski than Christopher Sanchez. No disrespect, Chris, like great pitcher. Oh, I do. D-Bucks with Washington Film, he's with the Phillies. Sanchez guy. Oh, I do. D-Bucks been watching film.

Starting point is 01:23:25 He's with the Phillies. Sanchez guy. Yeah, he's with the Phillies. He's with the Johns over there thinking that. Sanchez should be in this thing. We want to see fast pitches, big bombs. Yeah. That's what we want to see the All-Star,

Starting point is 01:23:38 especially because there's a lot of casuals watching, like myself. Tonight we just want to see the ball fly far. And I want to see somebody throw 104 miles an hour. hour. That is simple. I'm a simpleton. I apologize for that. But I want to see guys who make actual bats look this size and I want to see them take balls really far and I want to see pitchers on that mound throwing it really fast. Pat, here's why I wholeheartedly agree with you on that. Because what the All-Star game should serve as

Starting point is 01:24:07 is the gateway for people to become actual fans. When you see guys do incredible things, you're like, that's a guy I gotta watch. That's someone I wanna see a little bit more of. And then you watch a game, and it's not slogging on for like three hours like it used to. You got your two and a half hour quick baseball game and it's like, oh, this sport's not boring.

Starting point is 01:24:28 There's actually action going on. It's interesting. There are characters. There are personalities. Like I think baseball has a good product to sell right now. Agreed. And what the All-Star game should serve as is giving a little bit to the people to like bring them in,

Starting point is 01:24:42 give them those dopamine hits with those 104 mile an hour pitches and with those 500 foot home runs and after that say hey we also have something that has thought and that has strategy and that has all the things that you know those of us who have been baseball fans for a long time fell in love with it because of so it's not just the players it's not just sport teams have their own runs storybook type stuff happens droughts Heaters you name it throughout 162 games right now There's a bunch of mass holes that are feeling themselves go ahead con man I jet pad said it the Boston Red Sox are the team of baseball right now You know the story is the stars, but we're talking teams the story is the Boston Red Sox, okay? And absolutely they're on a 10-game win streak everyone after you know Devers gets traded and the socks kind of fall off a cliff a little bit now

Starting point is 01:25:29 they're on a 10 game win streak some people are saying it's because Alex Cora has the boys going some people are saying it's because Roman Anthony and Marcel Mayer they're playing so well on the field they're all also doing very well off the field her sources and photos but a lot of other people other people are saying that Donald Trump knows the game like Pete Rose. I'm not saying that that's... Was there a film study in the office? But yeah, some people are leaning towards the idea that maybe they got in there and JD Vance taught them how to turn to.

Starting point is 01:25:59 I'm not sure again whether that's the case or not. Some people are judging his running technique this weekend. Yeah. He looks to be in quite a panic. Tough trade. It looked like he was running after a child. A kid, yes. That's the, every dad knows that, OK,

Starting point is 01:26:14 I don't want to go sprinting after my child who's jumping into a tiger cage. But you know, like, 100%. Agreed. But to that point, they go visit the Oval Office to 10-0 now. 10-0 is going to be something that is celebrated by a political party, but for the people of Boston, whenever they trade away... Rafael Devers

Starting point is 01:26:33 And then they trade away Marshawn from the Bruins. A lot of Boston fans are like, are sports over in this town or are we waiting on the Patriots? Now they're the hottest team in baseball. Can that continue? And how many different teams go through these types of things? Every team does. Remember? Well, not the Pirates.

Starting point is 01:26:47 They won four straight, I guess. I guess they won seven straight. And then we went off for a week and they lost every single game until they came back. But they won last night. So if we're working, they're winning. Pirates did well in the draft last night, too, by the way. Yeah, I know. Every draft matters.

Starting point is 01:27:00 Seth Hernandez at six is good. But back to the Red Sox. We'll see them in ten years. Seth? You know, Seth. Seth Hernandez at six is good. But back to the Red Sox. We'll see him in 10 years. Seth? You know, Seth. Sethy. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:27:08 Hard throwing righty out of California. I like this guy. I picked the Red Sox to win the American League East before the season. Boom. Tell them, Jett. And in early June, when they were struggling, I was standing by them.

Starting point is 01:27:23 And here's why. Because they have been an incredibly talented team the whole time. Sometimes it takes a hundred games to figure out who you are. And that's an insane thing to think about. But it's reality. Like Sedan Rafaella, who's been brilliant, one of the best players in baseball, we didn't know what position he was for sure. You know in May was he going to be

Starting point is 01:27:48 an infielder. Was he going to be a center fielder. Now he's one of the best center fielder in baseball and you could make an argument that he belongs here in Atlanta right now. Roman Anthony you know takes a little while to figure out big league

Starting point is 01:27:59 pitching. When I was talking with with Cal Raleigh's dad Anthony Cal Raleigh's dad was saying you know we used to talk about this in our house And baseball, you know, you have low a you have high a double a triple a Major League Baseball is 8a That's how big the leap is from triple a up to the big league level so it takes guys some time to figure it out and Roman Anthony seems to finally be figuring it out and They've gotten healthier at this point.

Starting point is 01:28:26 Alex Bregman coming back is going to make it even better. Huge. And now we're going toward the July 31st trade deadline and all eyes are going to be on the Red Sox. Aroldis Chapman's going nowhere. Alex Bregman's going nowhere. They're going to add. And if they get another starting pitcher

Starting point is 01:28:40 who can be at the top of that rotation with Garrett Crochet, Brian Bayo pitching so well. Ooh, Mitch Caller told you. Lucas Gialito. The Boston Red Sox are legitimate World Series contenders. Suck it! Everybody! That was not directed at any individual, team or person. Just the world. With that being said, Brian Cashman basically, he never does this. He was like, hey, we need a reliever. We need a third baseman and we probably need another bat. With how well the Red Sox have closed out the All-Star break here and with how shitty

Starting point is 01:29:15 the Yankees have been pretty much for the better part of the last month, how much do you think that kind of lights the fire under their ass? Like hey, they need to go get multiple pieces. And the fact that both of them, by the way, are still behind the Toronto Blue Jays and the American League East. And the fact that the Tampa Bay Rays, I know that the Red Sox took care of them over the weekend.

Starting point is 01:29:34 But the Rays are a dangerous team, too. It's like the American League right now is the East, those four teams. The Central Detroit's running away with it. And out West, you've got Houston and Seattle. So there's seven teams competing for six playoff spots at this point. The urgency for the Yankees should be paramount right now, because this is a team that is having a prime year from Aaron Judge.

Starting point is 01:30:01 You cannot waste another Aaron Judge-like, all-time great season. And the Yankees, if they do not improve their team right now, are at the risk of doing that. But look, they've gotten a really good year from Cody Bellinger. Jason Dominguez, I think, is better than certainly I thought that he was going to be.

Starting point is 01:30:18 Like, it's a pretty deep lineup. In the starting rotation, if you have Fried and Radon at the top in a playoff series you feel good, they need to shore up that bullpen. No question about it. And if they can go out and get a Eugenio Suarez to fill that third base spot and go and get a couple of relief pitchers and maybe a... I don't even think they need the top of the rotation starter. I think more like a back-end starting pitcher just to fill in. I think the Yankees are gonna be just fine and

Starting point is 01:30:43 then October is such a crap shoot. Like I would love to sit here and say, if you go into October with the best roster out of anyone, you're going to win the World Series. That's not true. Like it happens every couple of years. If not, the Dodgers win every damn World Series. And you know, if the Dodgers lost this year,

Starting point is 01:31:00 it wouldn't surprise anyone, despite how much talent they have. I don't think Dodgers will lose anybody. No. Maybe Pittsburgh Pirates if they meet them in October. Bingo. They haven't ended the break here very well. Dodgers coming up. Well that's because all eyes are on your own star week. Boston Red Sox. But with the AL East, kind of sticking with them for a second, what happened to the Baltimore Orioles? Because they were supposed to be the, like you're talking about how you know the Pirates had a great draft,

Starting point is 01:31:26 you build your team in that way, and then I thought the Orioles did that. They were the one seed, or they were up there. They were good last year. Two years ago. Two years ago, yeah, and now they fell off a cliff. Is there a way you can build your team right, and then for the whole entire thing to collapse

Starting point is 01:31:42 a year later, because it feels like that's what happened with Baltimore. Yeah, and I don't think Baltimore is gonna have to go back into like a rebuild mode here, right? Like they've still got a lot of talent there. What they don't have is pitching. Pitching's been the Achilles heel all year. And you know, they addressed it last year by going out and getting Corbin Burns. And Corbin Burns was phenomenal for them. But he left in free agency this off season. They signed Tomoyuki Sugano.

Starting point is 01:32:09 They signed Andrew Kittredge. They just did fill in gap to gap moves, and it didn't work. Like the Pirates. No. No, they're pitching. Pirate, yeah. We got Paul Skeens, brother. Pirates.

Starting point is 01:32:22 And the Cruisemus. Fill in the gap to gap. Excuse me. I mean, there's a lot of gaps, but we got a couple gaps that we've certainly covered up You ever seen Titanic? Yeah There's a couple holes. Yeah, and then that thing goes up like this But Skeens is upper just yeah, I think that he's the captain poor guy in the missile cruise missile is out They're just hitting bombs. bombs in front of a great fan

Starting point is 01:32:45 base that fears that they'll never see a winner. Anyway, Tone has a question for you. I do have a question about Paul. Do you vote for any MLB Awards, player awards? I don't anymore. I stopped. Smart. Do you think the voters will hold it against him that he is the best pitcher?

Starting point is 01:33:01 He has a 2 ERA, but he's four and eight. Do you think he's, like, because I saw he's no longer the favorite to win the NL, Cy Young, which he definitely should be. Do you think voters are going to hold it against him that he's not winning games? Nobody looks at wins anymore. OK, good. Yeah. And it stopped with Felix Hernandez. Like, when Felix Hernandez...

Starting point is 01:33:19 Stand on, says the Pirates. It's a loser mentality. Yeah. Whoa, whoa, whoa. King Felix did have a situation like this. Yeah. And here's the pirates. It's a loser mentality. Yeah. Well, well, well, well. King Felix did have a situation like this. Yeah, and here's the thing. I think we all look at what teams do winning games, but pitcher wins are not in any way reflection

Starting point is 01:33:35 of their performance. You're going to have a guy probably win 17, 18, 19 games this year who's half the pitcher that Paul Skeens is. And so they will look at, when I was voting for the Cy Young, the first thing that I looked at was innings pitched. And I know that's kind of old school of me, but I want to see who goes out there and who posts. Like, who is going to get me deep into games?

Starting point is 01:33:58 Who's going to save my bullpen? Who's going to go CG if I need it? Which is why Zach Wheeler is right up there with Paul Skeens. Like, Zach Wheeler's awesome, which is why Zach Wheeler is right up there with Paul Skeens. He's the favorite. Zach Wheeler's awesome. And I think Zach Wheeler in the past, frankly, the year Corbin Burdens won the Cy Young,

Starting point is 01:34:11 Zach Wheeler threw something like 35, 40 more innings than him, and it should have been a lot closer than it was, but Skeens is going to throw a lot of innings this year. So I don't think there's going to be that much separation from there. I look at strikeouts, I look at walks, I look at home runs allowed.

Starting point is 01:34:25 And then from there, if those numbers are all tight, it's just looking at little tiny granular things. It's going to be an interesting and close vote. I will say there's a chance that some voters, if there is almost a virtual tie in terms of numbers, do wind up looking at the success of the team and Wheeler would be the favorite because of that.

Starting point is 01:34:47 Okay, so let's talk about the future of this particular sport and league. Celebration last night in a pretty big way. Go ahead, D-Buds. Yeah, you talked about Seth Hernandez, number six. Who was the winner last night? Yeah, of course. Who was the winner last night in your eyes of the draft?

Starting point is 01:35:01 I know it's much different than our draft in NFL. We're gonna see those guys week one, hopefully impacting wins, but who won in your eyes of the draft. I know it's much different than our draft in NFL. We're going to see those guys week one, hopefully impact and wins. But who won in your eyes last night? I think the Seattle Mariners really won. You know, they were a borderline playoff team last year. And Major League Baseball in this last collective bargaining agreement instituted a draft lottery for the first time.

Starting point is 01:35:21 And so the Mariners would have been picking down in like the mid to late teens, had they not won the number three overall pick. And Eli Willits goes number one overall. The Nationals are essentially in rebuild right now, and so they're spreading their money out among a bunch of young, talented high school players. And Willits is getting a way under slot deal,

Starting point is 01:35:43 which means the you know, the slot value for that top pick is around $11 million. It's not like the NFL where you get paid what your slot is or the NBA where you get paid like it in baseball. You can get creative. You can shift money around a little bit. So Eli Bobby Bonilla. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:36:00 And who's that other guy we talked about last night's getting 9 million bucks for the next 14 years? Oh, Chris Davis. Chris Davis. Max Scherzer is the second highest paid Washington national this year. Behind Steven Strasburg, who's not playing either. Number two overall pick, the Angels gave Tyler Bremner,

Starting point is 01:36:18 who was expected to go like in the early to mid teens, he went up to number two because he was willing to take a haircut on the pick. But Kate Anderson was widely regarded as the top prospect in the draft and the Mariners who already have Logan Gilbert, Brian Woo, who's here as an All-Star right now, George Kirby, Luis Castillo and Bryce Miller in their rotation. Get a guy who could be in the big leagues at some point in the next year or two and could be a top end starter, an absolute coup for the Mariners.

Starting point is 01:36:47 All right well thank you for the Intel thank you for the the vibes around baseball for years and years with us you have been our plug for baseball for years and I think we've been very transparent on our relationship with baseball I don't know much about it but now that we're here we have you to thank for a lot of it. We appreciate you bringing us into the world and we appreciate you taking care of us. You're the man. Honestly, I'm so glad you guys are here just to get to experience what this is like.

Starting point is 01:37:13 This is like I think this is my 22nd or 23rd All-Star game. I've been doing this a while now and being able to reach out to a wider group of fans and show them what this world is like it means a lot to me and you guys are a big part of that so thank you come on you're the man ladies and gentlemen senior MLB insider DSPN and pundit jet passing see you jet see you jet bye jet all right take a hike jet. That's what they're saying. Not me. I want to let you I see you. Oh At least a dismount. Okay, I was like 45% of his body height. He's got a low center of gravity

Starting point is 01:37:55 Yeah, I know I did the quick math I got that three put together back. Yeah exactly Hey, also beat that tree people forget Take that tree turn into a bat hit a Yeah, exactly. Hey, did you take that tree, turn it into a bat, hit a couple dingers with it? Did you take? I should've brought it here. Yeah, yeah, bring the whole tree. All right, anyways, tree tried to kill Jett Passon.

Starting point is 01:38:13 He survived. He survived. Hey! Joining us now, ladies and gentlemen, is a man who's a two-time AL MVP, a seven-time All-Star, a three-time All-MLB first team, four-time Silver Slugger, AL record for the most home runs in a season with 62 Currently has 35 homers. He's hitting 355 in

Starting point is 01:38:36 81 RBIs. At one point he was above 400 on the season. Ladies and gentlemen Ty Schmitz, Dream Human human Aaron Judge. All rise gentlemen. I don't know if you're gonna be able to fit your gigantic human being. Don't worry about it. Don't worry, full unit head. I had to do it. Yeah, full star. Yeah, he took that from your locker.

Starting point is 01:39:07 Yeah, he took that from your locker last night. First all-star knot for the kid. That's right. Yeah, this is his first all-star, so you remember your first time all-star, this is his first all-star. First all-star. Holy shit, we gotta lower that a little bit.

Starting point is 01:39:18 Huge game. Can you put that on? Is that big enough? Yeah. Let's do it. Jeez. Oh, let's go that big enough? Let's do it. Jeez. Oh, let's go. Oh yeah.

Starting point is 01:39:30 Aaron Judge! Hell yeah. Ty, is there anything you'd like to say to Aaron here before we get started? Yeah, I have two girls. If I do have a boy, I will be naming him after you. No pressure, but that is... Judge or Aaron? Aaron. Maybe Aaron Judge Schmidt judge Schmidt potentially on that note How does it feel to be the guy we I chit-chat with him about you?

Starting point is 01:39:50 And he talked about how you've really accepted and embraced the role of being the captain of the Yankees being the face of the pinstripes Which is obviously a big deal to him and your entire fan base. How has that been becoming that guy? Because obviously we've seen you for a while Gigantic human all rise we're hitting bombs. You've gone through your entire life publicly seemingly at this point. But how does it feel to be the guy in New York? It's incredible, I wouldn't say I'm the guy. I'm just another guy that's-

Starting point is 01:40:16 Which is what the guy would say. Exactly. No, I'm just trying to follow, just keep this legacy going. The captains that came before me, especially the last one, Jeter, the way he went about it, the way he played the game, the championships, just staying out of the spotlight, doing everything the right way.

Starting point is 01:40:36 I just try to follow his lead and just keep that legacy going. So then when I'm done playing, hopefully someone behind me is taking the next torch and that's all. Yeah, it's an old school mindset. It really is an old school mind. It feels like baseball has a lot of that inside of it. And we'll certainly ask you about that. You saying like not doing a lot of publicity.

Starting point is 01:40:52 He was kind of forced to do this one. So we appreciate you. We like to let people know Air Judge was not reaching out to get his face on a camera anymore. Kind of felt obligated to the MLB people because we asked about it for Ty and also because we've been following you. This year different. You're over 400 there for a while and then we're talking about like

Starting point is 01:41:09 a varsity player playing against JV. Does it look like a beach ball whenever you're in one of these zones or what is it about this year? Or maybe you just as a hitter as a whole? It's just trying to get better every year. We had a great season last year. I got all the way to the World Series.

Starting point is 01:41:22 We didn't finish the job but that's where I take the off season. Can I take a couple weeks to reflect and be like, hey, how can I get better? How can I help the team? What things can I do personally to just kind of take that next level in my development? And we're just working on it. So I try to look at the status.

Starting point is 01:41:39 Is it seeing the ball better? What is it? How does that work? How do you get better at seeing the ball? How old are you? 33. You're about to beat Jesus. You make it one more year.

Starting point is 01:41:46 Congratulations and God bless him. But with that being said, how do you, seeing the ball better, is that something? Or like, take me as somebody who never played baseball. How does a hitter get better? Well I think the cool thing about, with the major leagues, like when you're working your way up to the minor leagues,

Starting point is 01:42:01 you're in high A, you do well there, they bump you up to double A. And now it's a whole new league, new pitchers, new players, you do well there they bump you up the double A and now it's a whole new league new pitchers new players you do well there triple A well in the big leagues you're kind of you're at the top there's nowhere else to go so you're seeing the same pitchers

Starting point is 01:42:13 over and over and over again the new guys kind of come up they might stay there for a little bit they're gone but you see the same pitchers over and over so I feel like just getting a chance to see the same guy and get more at bats get a feel for it

Starting point is 01:42:25 You know, it's good things usually gonna happen more for the hitter How many times behind closed doors have you fist fought Shohei Otani? Not once not once man, he's he's a great guy, you know great ambassador for this game We're gonna get him back though I just talked to literally talked to Manford about this, and I assume he's very grateful for you and all the stars in the league. But you and Shohei and Big Dumper and Scoobal and Skeens,

Starting point is 01:42:53 all the stars playing well is great for the league. Do you guys feel that for the league? Do you feel the momentum that you guys are kind of a part of right now with the league as a whole? Yeah, baseball's in a great spot. I feel like just every stadium we go to, it's packed out. Just the publicity a lot of these guys are getting worldwide. We're having fans all around the world watching this game,

Starting point is 01:43:10 celebrating this game. It's something special. So like you said, when the stars are out there playing their best, it's good things for the sport, that's for sure. And I got to say also, when I work out at the Yankee complex, your guys at this show is on 24-7. Just to let you guys know. So I wasn't forced to do this when we heard about it.

Starting point is 01:43:30 I was like, I couldn't wait to get on here. So it's special. That's awesome. Go ahead, Ty. That's awesome. I just got goosebumps. So you guys have heard Ty. Obviously, everyone hitting wise,

Starting point is 01:43:43 it's kind of crazy because I expect you to if not hit a homer every single game At least go two to four. So like sometimes like, you know, if you go over two with a couple walks, man, Jesus Christ What's going on with judge you today? But I've I've just say yeah This guy gets it I take a bullet for him. I've long said though I don't think you get nearly enough credit for how good you are defensively. I mean just what was it Saturday against the Cubs you rob a PCA home run you have the shoestring catch and then you know you you have that the sliding grab to end Rodin's inning get out there unscathed how much of it because obviously like everyone's always going to talk about

Starting point is 01:44:22 your your numbers at the plate how much do you have to put in defensively, though, to make sure that you're sharp? Because you are a weapon in the outfield. Yeah, I just never wanted to be a liability out there. I wanted to be a complete player. I know how hard the pitcher's working on the mound. And I don't want to be that guy that drops a ball, lets a ball fall in, and he's like, just come on.

Starting point is 01:44:43 I didn't want that look. So I just want to always be a guy that the ball fall in and he's like, just come on. Yeah. I didn't want that look. So I just want to always be a guy that, you know, the ball's in my direction. You know, my teammates can depend on me. And, you know, talking about earlier what you said about, you know, going 0 for 2 or 2 for 4, I love those expectations. You know, that's one thing that drives me every single day is knowing that, you know, fans are coming to the ballpark,

Starting point is 01:44:59 they're turning on the TV, you know, expecting me to go out there and do something great for the team. So that's, that, that pumps me up here in that Yeah, you kind of ruined our show there for a while because remember we were just doing the 400 watch Yeah, is your bad over 400 so if we could fucking If we could please get back to before D bud has a question for you Aaron you obviously made the correct choice

Starting point is 01:45:19 But we're in a world now where young kids start to get specialized in sports really early on. You were a phenomenal athlete. I know at least the high school level and all different sports. When did you know for sure is going to be baseball. You're going to go that direction. I always thought it'd be

Starting point is 01:45:34 baseball. You know I love playing baseball growing up just a chess match back and forth pitcher hitter you know the pitcher catcher just everything involved. But I love football growing up

Starting point is 01:45:44 you know just the mentality you got to have to go out there and just I'm going to kill this guy in front of me. Which was a tackle. Yeah, yes, 7 you're right. But there is like a baseball 6, 7. I mean, I think. Oni. Is there like a too tall moment?

Starting point is 01:46:03 Like if you get the 6, six eight is that too big for baseball Well, I think I'm technically six eight, but I tell people six Because I assume too tall not I mean how many Randy Johnson's the only one I can think yeah As tall as you want Yeah, there's not too much strikes on his gigantic. Oh, yeah, he gets screwed with the low strikes all the time on his gigantic. Yeah. He gets screwed with the low strikes all the time. Yeah.

Starting point is 01:46:24 We'll talk about that. We'll talk about that. Okay. Before we go on any further, we're going to see you in some fresh cleats. I believe at this All-Star game. Oh yeah. Ladies and gentlemen, I think this is the debut. I think this is the first time anybody's getting eyes on him except for the team at Jordan

Starting point is 01:46:40 or Aaron Judge. Here's the the Air Jordan for retro baseball cleat that he'll be debuting and will be available on Wednesday on sale I believe. Size 75! I don't know if anybody else is going to have this size. Those things are beautiful. You're obviously on the Jordan team. How long has that been and how cool is that and how much do you have say in like what you want to kind of wear next because these are filthy.

Starting point is 01:47:08 Obviously a classic that everybody loves. Yeah this is a classic you know especially for all star game at school to kind of bring something out like this. But we the Jordan team they're so great with us every off

Starting point is 01:47:16 season and even during the season you know next couple of weeks we'll be kind of talking about what we're going to do next year. You know I've been on the brand twenty twenty three. So it's just a special partnership and what they love and support they show us every we're going to do next year. I've been on the brands. 2023. So it's just a special partnership, man.

Starting point is 01:47:26 What they love and support they show us every single night is incredible. I want to also hook all you guys up with some fresh Jordans, too, before we get out of here. So we'll try to get that lined up. We'll get all your sizes. We're getting Jordan gloves? That's my captain.

Starting point is 01:47:41 If you want some gloves, we'll hook up some gloves. No, no. Is that what you were talking about? What were you talking about? No, some shoes. Shoes? Shoes. We'll get you some fresh J's. So I know you want some gloves, we'll hook up. We'll hook up some gloves. No, no. Is that what you were talking about? Where you're talking about? Some shoes. Some shoes. We'll get you some fresh Jays. So I know you got some fresh shoes on right now.

Starting point is 01:47:49 But OK. This snake died in its sleep Aaron. OK. It lived a nice great life. But I will certainly put some Jays on especially if they're going to be gifted by you.

Starting point is 01:48:01 The Jordan team in every sport is obviously such a high rank in everything. All-Star week, obviously gigantic. You're very comfortable in this setting. What is it like for the new All-Stars? Like whenever you come here and you see all like what is All-Star week like as an All-Star for you guys? Is it too much? Is it tiring? Is it exhausting? Do you enjoy it? Is it a waste of time? Like what is the mindset of most players whenever they come here for this celebration?

Starting point is 01:48:25 You want to get this one. First time first time first time. He has experience. Wait to chop it up with you in the club house later. Honestly, I think you know I go back to my first one in twenty seventeen in Miami. It was just for me it was amazing to see a lot of the players that I looked up to you know Buster Posey was one of them. You know I'm stepping in for my first at bat in my first all-star game and I got Buster Posey for the San Francisco Giants calling pitches against me where I watch as a kid you know rooting them on

Starting point is 01:48:51 on TV so I think that's probably the coolest thing is he's getting a chance to interact with some guys you usually don't get to see pick their brain a little bit you know come out here celebrate the game I love what they're doing now having the draft here have everything here I think it just brings more excitement to this, you know special day Yeah, it makes it a big hub You know we get a chance to experience in football the Super Bowl do their thing and then for college football the playoffs have kind Of become that in the NBA all-star week is when everybody kind of comes feels the same right now

Starting point is 01:49:17 I don't know if it's always been like this You said it's pretty new but draft into this press conference in the home run Derby and everything. It's taking over the conversation We're lucky to be here Boston Red So fan, Boston Connor has a question for you. Yeah, Aaron, thank you for leading with that, because that's what I want to ask about. Something that I love about baseball and just sports in general is just hate. I love the hate that teams have for each other

Starting point is 01:49:37 and the best rivalry in sports, it feels like, across the board is Sox Yankees, or at least it was. As of recent, the Sox haven't been good when the Yankees are good, and then, you know, the Yankees haven't been good when the Sox are good. Right now it's kind of hitting its stride here where the Sox are getting good again. Do you think it's still possible to have very passionate, you know, throwback rivalries like the Red Sox and the Yankees used to have, or do you think at this point now, because of all the access, because everyone's friendly

Starting point is 01:50:07 with each other much closer, that it's almost, we're past the era of Veritek and A-Rod and those guys and now like the Red Sox, Yankees, rivalries in general are kind of going into a different stratosphere when it comes to that stuff? No, I think it's still there. You know, I think I think there's a level of respect that we have for everybody, especially when we go to Fenway and we step in that historic ballpark and,

Starting point is 01:50:32 you know, playing against those guys. I got a certain level of respect for them, but I also, you know, can't wait to, you know, beat them every single game I can. So, you know, especially you hear from the fans. The fans are yelling at you. You're saying some things you can't say on here. I don't think and in Boston, of course But it's fun, you know, I enjoy it, you know, I think we might get to that point at some

Starting point is 01:50:58 There might be some times where maybe a couple guys throw inside and we throw inside Yeah, but it's um, I don't know, it might be good for the game, but we'll see, man. I got so much respect for those guys. I think they kind of feel the same. So we just try to go out there and just put on a good show and kind of leave it all in the field. On that note of throwing inside,

Starting point is 01:51:15 Tony has a question for you. Yeah, I do. And throwing inside, and Ty talked about throwing low earlier in the low strike call. You talked about getting better each year. How do you feel, like, how do you deal with now in this point in your career, like just getting pitched around the time? Can you tell at the beginning of the bat that you're going to be pitched around or or you like, hey, I'm not going to get a pitch to hit this about? Or can you tell when you know like, hey, they're not going to give you anything? Usually have a feeling. But I try just to block that out because there might be one slip up or one mistake they make. And that might be the only pitch I see.

Starting point is 01:51:44 Might steal a dinner here. Yeah, yeah I see. Might steal a dinner here. Yeah. Yeah, might steal a dong shot. Exactly. So you just try to stay locked in. You kind of have a feeling. I think I get most upset when they're pitching around me and I'm fired back here.

Starting point is 01:51:55 It's like, whoo. Come on, buddy. We're seeing the same thing. How do you feel about the not robotic? The ABS. The ABS. Manfred told us, please don't say robot. They did.

Starting point is 01:52:06 Okay. I'm going to I take exception with you saying robot. It's a system that we have crafted over the years. How do you feel about that? Hitters love it. Pitchers hate it. Is that a good read? Yeah, a little bit.

Starting point is 01:52:18 I think it's just new. So it's just new. Anything that's new, people are going to kind of have their opinions, kind of hit on a little bit. But I still love the human element of the game you know it's kind of been my thing growing up I don't know if it's old school or not but I just love having the umpire back there the human feel but I know it's coming it's coming the next couple years so we just got to get used to it so are you allowed

Starting point is 01:52:37 to I don't know the rules please bear with me they're throwing outside on you okay with getting a walk maybe steal a couple strikes though. Can you step into that thing and hit that? Like are you like, you're not allowed to cross home plate there? You can do whatever you want as long as you stay in that little batter's box. So you can go all the way out to the edge of that. You cannot leave that going forward. Because if you were to take somebody who's trying to take you out.

Starting point is 01:53:01 Step on the plate. That would be higher up on the century if you did. I'm not saying you should do that. Don't change anything, Jesus, especially for me. But know that if you did do that, big pop out of me at my house. Sure. With that being said, thank you so much for stopping by. Congrats on the new shoes.

Starting point is 01:53:16 Congrats on another All-Star bid. Congrats on another phenomenal year. And thanks for representing the Yankees so well, because this guy's happy as hell every time he sees you. Without a doubt. Without a doubt. Are you excited to watch Jazz tonight tonight at Derby? I can't wait. I can't wait. He's gonna put on a show He's an entertainer and he's one of the are you gonna be on the field? We miss you. I'll be out there I'll be out there. Yeah, come on. Miss you. We appreciate you We continue on YouTube ESPN plus Disney plus tick tock live also the press conference

Starting point is 01:53:40 I will be hosting we live at two o'clock here and on MLB Network. We'll see you tomorrow, goodbye. Okay, we're still digital, don't say anything that you wouldn't wanna say. Do you understand what I'm saying? To your grandma. Do you understand what I'm saying? To the captain. People are still listening, captain.

Starting point is 01:53:54 Okay? I don't wanna say it, but I'm gonna say it for Ty. Every time you guys go into a slump, this guy's getting closer and closer to driving in traffic Okay, so when these slumps happen long season, what is it that gets you guys out of it? What like can you feel it when you're in it is everybody like actually from the baseball movies? I watch are we changing our underwear are we doing like is that type of shit happening like what happens in modern baseball?

Starting point is 01:54:21 That kind of to get out of a slump or do you feel like when you're going into one for teams not players but teams as a whole for teams as a whole like his tie is thinking about jumping off cliffs. You need to know that that that is what's happening. I don't believe that. He's a true Yankee fan. He rides and dies with us. Yes.

Starting point is 01:54:39 I do. That's the second part. That's what I'm talking about. You are repeating what I'm saying. Yes. You know, we play every single day. You know, so you kind of are just so focused on today and all of a sudden you look up and it's like,

Starting point is 01:54:52 hey, we lost five in a row and you know, we'll just say, you got to change something up. I think it's more of a joke. We're kind of like, hey, you know, we got to switch things up here, try to do something fun, just kind of get our mind off of the fact we just got our butts kicked for three games against the Red Sox. So we got to switch it up here try to do something fun just kind of get our mind off of the fact we just got our butts kicked for three games against the Red Sox so we got your

Starting point is 01:55:10 mental toughness for dealing with failures crazy it's not it's nothing like any other sport so I have so much respect for it and obviously I respect the hell out of you sick yeah the t-shirt yeah the accessory jacket the fucking yeah yeah you see the ring the ring. The ring, no. The whole thing. The ring's filthy. Baseball, we forget. That's my wife. Great taste.

Starting point is 01:55:30 Great taste. You're the man. Thank you so much for the hospitality. We'll see you tonight, I think. Can't wait. I think we're doing the intros for everybody. Oh boy. Oh yeah.

Starting point is 01:55:39 That's gonna be, no, it's great. I'm excited. I'm excited. Captain, I would respect. A little bit of a better response. Yeah, we should have a good time. We appreciate you. Okay, I'm gonna no, that's great. I'm excited. I'm excited. Captain, I would respect a little bit of a better response. Yeah, we should have a good time. We appreciate you. OK, I'm going to go do that and we'll continue on the other side.

Starting point is 01:55:51 I believe Shohei is joining us after the press conference at around 2 30. I will ask him about the other side of the air and judge, punch him in the face behind closed doors. Well, he said it didn't happen. We shall see. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're live from the All-Star Game. Page, Becker, teams stacked with new talent jewel is a complete dog the Valkyries take flight in the bay

Starting point is 01:56:28 We've got more stars and more heat than ever Wnba on ESPN presented by Google we can't get enough Baseball is happening. Yeah, And we are incredibly lucky to be here. One half of the Talks at the Table is here at Ty Schmidt in full regard. One half of the Hammer Down Cowboys AP Tone is here. Nine-year NFL vet Darius J. Butler is here. Yes, sir. And ladies and gentlemen, joining us live is a man who is in goat conversations already.

Starting point is 01:57:05 He can throw it, he can hit it, he can captivate an entire globe. Will, are you telling him these things? Ladies and gentlemen, Shohei Otani! Thank you. Thank you so much for coming by. Congratulations on another All-Star. What has All-Star Week become for you, just as you enjoy the week as a whole? I'm just grateful to be part of this All-Star festivity. The fans voted me in, so I'm very grateful that I get to participate and play. So I'm looking forward to it.

Starting point is 01:57:50 Hey Will, can you ask him who were some of the players when he got to his first All-Star that he was excited to meet and maybe got a little starstruck, which I assume they did the same exact thing for him. And Will, can we have good energy on the delivery? Who was your favorite player? Up until now. All-star. I grew up in Japan, so I watched Ichiro's All-Star. I watched his games a lot. To be honest, I grew up watching Ichiro a lot. I think it's a dream of a professional baseball player since I was a child. And also, thank you for coming out. I've always wanted to do this.

Starting point is 01:58:53 At first, I started watching Japanese baseball and then I started playing in the Major League. I've always wanted to play in the top of the league. Initially, I grew up watching professional baseball in Japan. I think that's how I started playing baseball. immediately because you pitch and you hit. I'm new to baseball, casual baseball, did not play growing up and all the baseball people are like, it's impossible to do because it's either too much wear or tear or not enough focus on something it's very difficult to do. Why do you think you've been able to have success doing it when so many other people don't? How difficult is it to be able to do that? I've been doing it this way for a long time.

Starting point is 01:59:49 I've been injured in both ways. I've been injured in both ways. But basically I'm doing it this way. I feel that it's difficult, but I think it's good to if I could do it naturally. before the boys have some and once again, Domo Rogato for coming by and everything like that. Do you have, you think, stronger muscles, stronger bones, better tendons than everybody else because you're able to do both? And if so, what should I be eating

Starting point is 02:00:34 to become Shohei Otani like? Compared to everyone else, are you a person with a strong body, and if so, what should I eat? I'm not fat anymore, I'm a person who has been struggling to gain weight. I was thin when I was in high school. I trained and managed my diet. I grew up like that.

Starting point is 02:00:58 I am a person who has been struggling to gain weight. I grew up pretty thin and it was not the way I look right now so I worked out a lot and I ate a lot and this is how I became. What are you eating? What is your meal choice? I love meat. Hell yeah. Hell yes. Meat, meat, meat, meat, meat, meat, meat, meat, meat. Hell yes! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me! Me!

Starting point is 02:01:25 Have you enjoyed America's customs and cultures since coming over here? And what is your favorite thing that America does? That you go like, this is very American of America and I like it. What do you think? What is it? I don't know. I'm really focused on baseball. I am really grateful that my teammates and fans have been doing a great job since the first year.

Starting point is 02:01:55 I am also a foreigner, so I am really grateful for that. when you're on like an absolute heater or would you rather hit against yourself like when you're just spinning it like you never have on the mound? Could you strike you out? I think I can I think it's pretty hard to hit right now but I think it's more likely make a choice, but I think it's better to throw than to or a hitter? Like whenever a lot of the baseball purists are like he's such a good hitter there's no reason for us to potentially go into pitching but on the flip side you're such a good pitcher and baseball revolves around having a good pitcher as well. Do you view yourself as a pitcher?

Starting point is 02:03:18 Is that how we should talk about you? Just happens to be a great hitter? Or are you a great hitter who happens to be a great pitcher? How would you like us to talk about you as doofuses that have a microphone? Can you please explain that? How do you want me to talk about that? Are you a pitcher because you're good at batting? Or are you a batter because you have a good shoulder? I don't know. Well, I think that the better players me which one I'm more of a better pitcher, I think I'm more of a better pitcher. of like a hitter who could who learned how to pitch more than the pitcher learning how to hit. What was the word doofus that you used in there? Ahorashi. Is that is that what doofus that's what is it again? Ahorashi.

Starting point is 02:04:40 Okay so yeah we are Horashi. D-butt professional athlete Horashi. Okay, so we are Horashi. We are Horashi. D-BUTT, professional athlete Horashi. Yeah, right. Yeah, so obviously I've dealt with injuries. You dealt with two major elbow injuries. Were there any difference coming back from this one? I know you've been taking them out recently. Any differences coming back from this one or is it pretty similar to the one before? I actually felt pretty comfortable and felt better after the second surgery.

Starting point is 02:05:27 You know just the way the ball fell in my hands when I first threw ever since the surgery, the progression throughout felt really comfortable and progressed a lot more quickly than the first surgery. How close to full go are we? You don't have to tell us obviously, please tell him he doesn't have to tell us. Well, it's okay if he doesn't want to tell us. Well, well, well. The feeling I have when I throw is good. I think it's enough if I can get more volume.

Starting point is 02:05:54 I really just have to increase volume. But aside from that, I feel pretty good with what I have. Okay, that's awesome. What are you throwing me? High fast ball. Always the racer. Got you. What are you throwing me? Oh! Hi, Fastball. Always there is. Got you. So fast! Geez! Towing has a question for you.

Starting point is 02:06:11 I think it's awesome that you bat leadoff because normally it was someone with your numbers, someone with your powers batting third, fourth, fifth. Why do you bat leadoff? Is it something that you want to do that Coach Roberts wants to have you do? Why are you in that lead-off spot? I feel pretty comfortable batting anywhere. That's my number one goal. How long have you been, you said you were skinny growing up. How long have you been a bomb hitter? You are a bomb hitter. I mean, you hit the shit out of the ball. So far.

Starting point is 02:07:10 So far. I mean, they travel so, and as a pitcher, it like, that doesn't really correlate, which I think why, uh, Aarichi's, like myself, here in America are so dumbfounded by it. But how long have you been a bomb hitter? And do you take pride in the fact that it's fireworks whenever you're at bat?

Starting point is 02:07:28 Like, must watch. Eh... Yeah, if you look back, my first year in the big leagues, I was pretty skinny. It's your own advantage. Yes. feel for it whenever you're pitching and hitting? Do you feel like that is an advantage to do both? You think one helps the other? I think I have more of a mindset as a where you can get advantage like that. Captivated the globe. Okay? Captivated the entire globe. You put the MLB in a spot that it's never been. We say thank you for that For the sport, but you're still so young in this entire game Is every day a process of trying to get better still as our new goals new dreams new everything like what does day-to-day look? Like for you whenever you're forecasting future plans That's a goal

Starting point is 02:09:04 Yes, it I always have. I want to keep changing my plans during the season. I think it's important to keep doing what you can do. I think I can go up even more. I want to keep changing my plans. Naturally, I just want to keep changing it. hell out of you coming here. We appreciate you stopping by our show. Thank you for what you do for sports as a whole and I think you help bring the world together brother and I think that's a beautiful thing. So thank you so much. We appreciate you and Will, great work. Will you had really good work.

Starting point is 02:09:56 So we've never had to deal with this. I can only speak one language. Okay. He's, you and him have to get along very. I can only speak one language, okay? You and him have to get along very well, right? I mean, you legit, you guys have to get along very well. Is that an accurate assessment of the entire thing? So with Will, whenever it starts, Will, I guess I'll ask you, it's a feeling out process, like a relationship, I would assume, right?

Starting point is 02:10:20 And trying to catch his demeanor and his tone and everything like that, because you were a very important piece of Shohei Otani's, Shohei Otani as a whole. Legit. Is it like getting a feel for who he is as a person, the tone, or how does that kind of work for you guys when you start?

Starting point is 02:10:33 Oh, well, he's a great person, so I really don't have to do much. No, but that's why, because you're trying to be, yeah. Well, I just want to let you guys know, it's amazing what you've done. We appreciate the hell out of you. And go baseball, dude. Good luck out there. Thank you guys know it's amazing what you've done. We appreciate the hell out of you and Go baseball. Yeah. Yeah, good luck out there. Thank you. Enjoy the week. Thank you. Will great work. Thanks Thank you very much. Ladies and gentlemen, multiple time MVP world champion world icon ladies and gentlemen, Sheheyah Toy

Starting point is 02:10:57 Thank you Sheheyah Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Good luck. Thanks. Hey, can I steal a selfie?

Starting point is 02:11:08 Boys, boys. Hell yeah. Thank you, thank you, thank you. There you go. Awesome, man. Great work, Will. Really good work, Will. Hey, a couple of all-stars right there.

Starting point is 02:11:16 That's right. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no.

Starting point is 02:11:24 Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, Will. Really good work, Will. Hey, a couple all-stars right there. That's right. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no, no. Don't. He's an athlete.

Starting point is 02:11:32 Thank you, Shohei. Did you see what he did? The look back. Oh, from this angle, he went, ah. Oh, is that what he did? Yeah, he was messing with us. OK, because I thought he was looking back mad at me, that I thought he would get jumping off of that.

Starting point is 02:11:44 No, he went, ah. Shohei! He will ban us forever from everything. Hey nice little laugh. What's up man? Nice little Monday here. Hey not a bad little show. Not a bad little show. Not at all. Tonight you're gonna be a part of the show as well? Yeah, so pumped for that. Host a press conference out there. Yeah, you did. You hit it really well. You did an excellent job. Andy, you had to step in in a couple of moments.

Starting point is 02:12:11 I couldn't hear. We couldn't hear. I couldn't hear it either, so then I listened to it on YouTube. I couldn't hear the multitude of questions. But that one, the rhythm and tone of it felt like oh this one is a little bit more serious could you please say that again yeah we are because could not hear it was pretty where we were sitting I think speakers

Starting point is 02:12:35 are shooting out yeah so we were kind of loud loud in the back yeah it was a it was an interesting thing so we nobody on the stage could hear most of that stuff so that's probably where my role probably could have been better. But shit, I couldn't hear him. I need a mic. It's good, man. We're celebrating sports though. Luck to be a part of it.

Starting point is 02:12:52 Thankful to be here. And thank you to the MLB for the hospitality. I think that's the big takeaway for this whole thing. I got a sleeveless jersey from the commission. So sick. Very cool. They put us right in the middle of the damn theater. We got jerseys too?

Starting point is 02:13:04 Yeah, they gave us all jerseys. Yeah, hell yeah. Hey, all star. Spell our names. Spe sick. Very cool. They put us right in the middle of the damn theater. We got jerseys too? Yeah, they gave us all jerseys. Yeah, hell yeah. Hey, all star. Spell our names. Here we go. Spell our names right. Yeah, even mine.

Starting point is 02:13:12 Wow. Wow. All the vows. Yeah, I have my real name. Really? Yeah. Wow, no alias. And now Jersey, but.

Starting point is 02:13:19 These people have been great to us. You get it. Tonight should be awesome. I think everybody should watch. Ty and I think are introducing the batters. So cool. What? Yeah, I don't know if I was supposed to say that right there.

Starting point is 02:13:34 Surprise! Oops. No, I don't think anybody would be mad that we said that. And I think they probably just told us to handle it however we want. Me and Ty are going to be introducing the batters this evening It is a title and an opportunity and an honor To be asked to do as such and we will do it justice. We understand what situation calls for. Oh, yeah Yeah, what situation doesn't call for? We'll be certainly

Starting point is 02:13:57 Excited to do the job and I think we'll be standing on like second base correct. Okay, and the middle of truth So far Wow gloves And I think we'll be standing on like second base. Correct. And the middle of Trues Park. Soap on. Wow. Gloves. Something to think about. Certainly, I think we're holding it. You won't. Hey, ball-skirting's job-skirting, brother.

Starting point is 02:14:11 You won't have one. I don't have the glove on. Hey! Oh, nice snag with the palm, too. Yikes. What was it? That was aggressive. It was a catch, man.

Starting point is 02:14:20 It was a catch. Hey, we're a baseball program, aren't we? Yes, we are. Nobody talks about it. Even us. Sometimes. We have a catch all the time. We do have a catch. Hey, we're a baseball program, aren't we? Yes we are. Nobody talks about it. Even us. Sometimes. We have a catch all the time. We do have a catch all the time.

Starting point is 02:14:29 This glove is... The worst? Stinks. Little stiff. That's a show. It's cool looking though. Show glove. Show glove.

Starting point is 02:14:37 Show, not like show head. No, like a show pony. Shout out to T-Mobile. Can't say it enough. If you're looking for phone coverage, get the best network. The best mobile network in the United States, as it was voted on by the name right here above my head. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:14:50 Man, that's fine. Prime print. Speed test, I believe it says. According to... Yeah. Always. Something speed test. Okla?

Starting point is 02:14:59 Okla. Okla. Okla. Speed test. Oh, God. I didn't see that helmet. Is there something on that helmet? Oh, yeah. I didn't see that helmet. Is there something on that helmet?

Starting point is 02:15:10 Uclus Speedtest said, hey, T-Mobile is not the best network. You can check it out at tmobile.com forward slash network. It's better over here. Yeah. T-Mobile. It's like Will being the best translator.

Starting point is 02:15:22 I mean, Jay would legitimately not be able to communicate with anybody. Don't. Actually, don't. So he understood what we were saying. I think he would. So I told Joi in that conversation, I told Joi that I only speak one language. That is true.

Starting point is 02:15:37 I can kind of understand another one though. You're right. So like French, I took, I think, two years in high school, and then I took four semesters in college of French. I took, I think, two years in high school and then I took four semesters in College of French. So I understand what they're trying to do with the words. So I know the ballpark of the words. How they're supposed to sound. So like I was in Morocco. French is the second native language there. So I heard people speaking in French, could understand kind of what they were saying, but didn't have the word bank to respond. I was Spanish felt like that's what Shohei was kind of yes Yeah, he understood what we're saying, but it's like I don't know if I have the entire answer yet

Starting point is 02:16:15 Especially with English where it's like there's so many slang terms and Japanese is so much different. Yeah than English language I mean that is a tough jump. I both ways. Like I think English to Japanese, tough, nothing similar. Like there's like you know like in the French language E E S E E N T O N T like the ending of words all mean things masculine feminine words so you kind of do that in the Japanese language there's it's very different. I mean, I went over there, it's tough. I mean, nowadays with AI that we're learning, sunglasses. Right, goodness. Shit, sunglasses, I might be able to just talk to everybody.

Starting point is 02:16:53 Definitely, yeah, for sure. Which would be so sweet. Shoulda used them for this. Oh yeah. How do I say, and then the sunglasses. Hey, meta. Translate this. But it's like, I think he's gonna get to the point

Starting point is 02:17:03 where he speaks very good English, but I think at the moment it appears he can understand what we're saying, but I don't know if he has the confidence fully yet to commit to a full answer. Do you think that's probably a good reason? Yeah, and I also think part of it is like, you see what he already has to deal with, with the Japanese media. Like, if he starts speaking English, unbelievable. It's like, he's never going to be able to breathe. Yeah. Yeah, you've heard that with like some hockey players, right?

Starting point is 02:17:25 Like some of the Russian hockey players are like now I'm not learning to learn it. Yeah If I learn what's it? I gotta talk to everybody That's amazing showing was awesome I love how they have to walk around in full. I know I Know I think that's an MLB mandate. I think all of the guys who are here have to be in full uniform. Did him I was on my phone All right. What how much time do we have and then we're go. Hey, hey, so everybody is like, hey Look over holy shit. Show. Hey, what's on in this full uniform? Yeah, sure. Holy shit good to see see you. Alright, we're out of here.

Starting point is 02:18:06 It's great to be back. Tomorrow we'll be in Indianapolis. And then Wednesday we'll be in Los Angeles for the ESPYs. ESPYs are Wednesday, Shane Gillis is hosting. Let's have a good night at the ESPYs. Let's enjoy that.

Starting point is 02:18:22 And then Thursday, who knows where we are. Legit, or what we're doing. Could be in Utah. Could be in Vegas. We'll be doing a whole show, who knows. The summer road trip is kind of destination-less. You're kind of on our way.

Starting point is 02:18:39 But are we ever getting there? Of course. Oh, we'll find out. We'll find out. We got wings, of course we wings. Shout out Red Bull. Red Bull was like, yeah, we just, hey, this guy want to be in your guys world, whatever you want to do. It's like, all right, how about next week? We got to go to... We need you. Sounds good. Because we drink Red Bull. Oh yeah. So like them becoming a partner, good news. This is just like whenever we actually use

Starting point is 02:19:05 all the companies. Without a doubt. Yeah. And they work. Those ones work. Yeah. Shout out Red Bull for all the years of service. All the years of service. Long time. And for getting in the sugar free game and not the taste changing drastically. Amen. And speaking of taste, thank you for working on the taste. Yeah. Yeah. Over the the years you remember way way way way way back Oh, yeah gave your wings, but also it was tough to get motor oil. Yeah. Oh, yeah Red Bull want to work Yeah, yeah, we got something here. They certainly do they've given us wings for decades. Thank you to Red Bull All right, let's get the hell out of here. It's how you and I got a big night. Yeah, we do Excited for it. Come on boys. Come on boys palm for you guys

Starting point is 02:19:45 You got what it's a got some notes You got what it I mean, do you want to hear the notes first? Oh, yeah, sir And then this might sway who you picture D-buts you'll be last. Okay, what Connor you'll be first, okay James would I Don't know if everybody knows who's batting when. Never mind. Oh yeah good point. Good call. Now I know who's leading it off. Maybe. Or last. But do they?

Starting point is 02:20:15 Yeah good point. Just pick them randomly. I don't think I want to do that either. Just look at the list and then pick who you think is going. Okay boom. Okay. Perfect. Boston Connor who will be winning the home run derby this evening that Ty and I will be announcing and hopefully Kick it off in a proper fashion. I mean I've given this a lot of thought And I'm really bummed we took that list off already Foxy. Yep And just taking a look again at the guys again that I have been looking into a lot. I'm personally of course gonna pull selfishly for Big Dumper but I'm going to pick the hometown kid Matt Olson to win the Derby. I mean I think

Starting point is 02:20:56 that's the best scene. A bunch of Braves fans here are gonna be pulling for him. Come on Matt EO make something make something out of your season because everyone says you either strike out or hit a homer. Okay, that's from Boston Connor who looked like this at one point on today's show, obviously. Stare it down. Stare it down. It's all my chance. Hey, good selection. Okay, we'll go with you, Ty Schmidt. Obviously, you'll be introducing the guys. Who wins it?

Starting point is 02:21:21 Yeah, I'm going to go with the long shot. I'm going to go with my Yankee brethren, my all-star brethren, Jazz Chishm jr. I think it's just a great night Jazz is a showman and I think he's gonna go out there with the intention of putting on a show so I'm gonna go with Jazz. KAP Town do you agree or disagree with that Tosh? I disagree I'm gonna go with O'Neil Cruz he's got you know the Velo he's got the bat speed but if you're looking for a you know a Dark Horse jr. caminero would be a second. Hey remember ESPN stat says cruise missile winner because the bat speed and exit velocity so they're saying hey who's gonna win

Starting point is 02:21:54 the cruise missile. D Butch do you agree with anybody or do you have your own? I got my own. I'm going with the guy who was fourth on that list but first in the big leagues and home runs and that's the big dumper right there, Cal. He's the favorite, I'm going there, not gonna make it too hard. Plus 260, I like that bet, I'm going big dumper. How about big dumper? And obviously I won't make any selections

Starting point is 02:22:14 because I would like to be known by a star. Journalism, okay. True, Mark. With that being said, come on, dump. Come on. He's a dump. With that being said, Cruz Missle would be cool too. Yeah.

Starting point is 02:22:27 How about Grey Wood, James Wood, Olsen, Rooker, Buxton, Caminero, Chisholm, Rizzo. Let's have a night tonight. Yeah, here we go. Let's enjoy it. Thank you to the MLB. Great work in the back, boys. Great work in the back.

Starting point is 02:22:42 Great work. Great work. Great work, production team that did everything. Hoo-yah, hoo-yah, hoo-yah, hell yeah, hell yeah. Thank you, back, boys. Great work, everybody. Great work. Great work. Great work, production team that did everything. Hula, hula, hula, hula, hula, hula. Thank you. Great work, boys. Audio, microphone, everything that goes into this is absurd, so we appreciate everybody that does it.

Starting point is 02:22:53 It's not easy either, and it's very tedious at times, because you gotta plug one thing into another thing, and then guess what? You gotta do that 100 more times. And they got little prongers that are tough. And also, ah, ah, ah, you gotta find it. If one is wrong. And if you fuck one thing up, whole show's ruined.

Starting point is 02:23:07 You're dead. All 100. Boom. Just like that. They just gave us lights. That's awesome. Good night. This show's over.

Starting point is 02:23:15 We're an MLB show. Yeah. Yeah. That's cool. All right. Be a friend, tell a friend something nice. It might change your life. We're gonna send you the other team on three.

Starting point is 02:23:23 This one's for baseball. One, two, three. Team. Goodbye.

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The Pat McAfee Show - PMS 2.0 1375 - LIVE From The Home Run Derby, Rob Manfred, CC Sabathia, Jett Passan, Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani

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