FiredUp Network
Saturday, July 20: Full Count
and welcome to full count your weekly MLB show here. We're going to be talking about topics around the game of baseball. I'm Justin Shin and alongside me is my co host John Luca Burr artist. Hi everyone. How's it going? I hope you guys had it all a good week. Yeah, for me it was good. Justin, how have you been? You know what? I've been busy, you know, busy with life and whatnot, but you know what? It's been good being busy is good and you know what? I'm very happy to be starting this with you. So it's ready to have a lot of fun doing this. Yeah, the goal I guess is to do it once a week. We do have lives. So once a week is a good commitment that we can keep track on. So it's a weekly baseball show. Let's just explain how we got started off following baseball the game, Justin, if you want to start us off there. Sure. So for myself, I've been playing baseball since I was eight years old, and I played two years of like competitive, well competitive level. I played six years total of competitive level of baseball. So I played like kind of recreational ish for eight to 12, eight to 12, and then 13, 14, I played kind of competitive. And then for all four years of high school, so like 15, 18, I played for you to travel the ball. Yeah, and then 19, now I'm 20 years old so 19 and 20 I've coached for three teams total around the area I live, which is rich Manu. So that's how I got into baseball. What about you John Luca. When I was a kid, you know, when TSN used to show Jay's games. Yeah, like that, that intro. Yeah, yeah, yeah. So good. And like, I used to love that intro too bad. They don't have those rights anymore to that. Yeah. The last, I loved it as a kid the last few years I kind of, eh, but I'm trying to get back into those days. It's really hard being a Blue Jays fan and trying to get back into baseball, watching them play right now. Absolutely. But yeah, the show I think will make me kind of, you know, will help me. Yeah. And before we get into this, the topics, you're just, we will say we were both the Jay's fans. Yes. We'll talk about a bit later, but just a quick thoughts on the Jay season so far. Oh, it's been tough. And what if you had one sentence, no one's like three words describe a Jay season. How would you feel like what three words would you honestly disappointing. Oh, that's, that's a tough one. That's a tough one. Maybe slow, because the team's been slow and in some ways and disappointing. Disappointing slow and. I guess, I guess maybe boring, because there's a thing. You know, it's kind of kind of the same thing that happens, you know, all the time. So it's, it's tough to be watching, but you know what I'm still pretty supportive of them, even though, you know, like many people across the country of Canada, it just hurts to watch. So let's get. So last week, I'll start break. I'll start game happen. The home run derby took place to start with the home run derby. Speaking of the Jay is one guy that used to have. I wish we still kind of had had to Oscar Hernandez one, the home run derby. I believe he defeated Bobby Whit Jr in the final. So how thoughts on that. I mean, you know what, Theo is, he's always been, he's always been known more for his power than I guess anything else. You know, he's. Yeah, I'm pretty sure like every lineup he's ever hit in. He's always like a three, four, five hitter, even in Toronto, hit four in Seattle, hit around the same thing Houston when he started, he came up, you know, he was more known for it. You know, for hitting extra base hits all of his power and then even with the Dodgers right now he's having a pretty good year. You know, he's putting up some. Putting a much better numbers than he did when he was in Seattle last year and obviously the daughters of the Dodgers. So he's very, you know, it's, it helps when you get to play on a team that's that good every single time. So I think that, you know, I don't think people necessarily saw him winning the home run derby just because we got Peter Lonzo in there. Marcello Zuna, Doris Garcia, like, guys, even Bobby Whit Jr. was kind of like a surprising final. Oh, absolutely, because, because when I think of Bobby, I don't think the former runs. Oh, I think I think of a guy who gets on base. He gets a lot of doubles singles and he steals, he steals a ton of bases. Right. He's, there's a reason he's these the Royals, like. Yeah, well, bad. And you know, there's a reason he's batting around the lead off spot. And it's because when you got a guy who runs as fast as him is what else would he do. Right. So, definitely the final two were a surprise, but I mean, I'm very happy. Tail wanted a, you know, as a J's fan and as someone, or as, and as, you know, tail was here for a while. It was, it was nice to see that it was nice to see, glad he's showing support with a Blue Jays or an end as you're the so it's pretty cool. Yeah, it was cool to see that. Do you think the home run derby kind of needs like a new format. Because I don't know, it just seems getting kind of like, it's not as as spectacle as it once was. Yeah. Yeah, you know what I think. Personally, I think they should go back to like 10 outs. I know it's yeah. How they used to do it right because it's. You know, if you get a limit, you know, 40 pitches, it's, you know, there's, there's guys, there's times where you can't necessarily control things. So, for example, Peter Lonzo, the defending champion he was, or no, sorry, Peter Lonzo, he's not the defending champion. Is he the thing? No, no, I don't know. Sorry, sorry, sorry, no, sorry. He's not the defending champion, but you know, a guy who has won it and who has tremendous power. When your BP, your batting practice pitcher's not giving him, you know, pitches that you can necessarily hit 400 feet. It's, it's tough, right? And you could even see that he was, you know, he was throwing it inside and he was kind of jamming him. And then, you know, it takes up, you know, you think to yourself 40 pitches, it's a lot, but you throw like five, you, you know, you hit a line drive for five. That's like, that's a quarter of your pitch is gone. That's 10, right? And then you only hit a few home runs and then your gas by that point, your power is all gone. But personally, I think 10 outs, just because it'll, I think it makes it the playing field a little more even. And I think it's, it makes it a little more fair for everyone else. So what about you, John Luca? Yeah, I want to see 10 outs again, just because also, but also the argument with 10 outs is that in drag on, right? Yeah, that's true. Because we obviously take less pitches. But I think also, but I don't mind it having it slowed down because it really, the tension, right? Elevated tension. Well, I mean, you know what, it's, it's a big, like, you know, it's reaching reaching. It's like a book reaching its climax kind of thing, right? Or it's like, you don't just go there and it happens. And then, you know, it's like, you know, everything kind of intensifies. And especially when that's the only event of the night. Like, it doesn't really, like, who cares? Like, absolutely. You want to get people their money's worth. So, yeah, absolutely. Just make a 10 outs again. And, and, and I also the knockout format too is a, I remember, like, back in the day, like, it would be just be, was it all of them would go and then what the top two, the top two would do the finals. I don't know, it was, I think it was like, for advance. Right. And then two, like, yeah, and then they would, like, your home runs, your home runs carried over, right? Yeah. So, like, 25, then one person had 23rd, 20, then it would carry over to one round. Yeah, do like that. Yeah, exactly. And also, things to spice up all the all star break. I went on Reddit and I just searched up what events can be added such a great place to look at it. I mean, this is from nine years ago, but like, I still think some of it is valid. Like, for example, for pitchers, they would have an event where you would split the zone into like the nine, like the nine quadrants. Yeah, into nine sections. And then if you miss a target, you have to move up to the other target. And you can't just like try to keep trying to throw on one spot. I think that's pretty cool. Also, a fielding one. Like, so from, so from the L field in any position they want, have them throw to first, second, third, and home, hitting player size target at each base. Quickest time wins. That would be, that would be pretty cool. And to see, like, I mean, I guess also, I gave you all guys to get hurt, but like, see, like, how fast. I just thought I could be good. I'm sorry. I hate that. Oh, what if somebody gets hurt? Obviously, I'm not asking a player to like, like, go, pull out, obviously, control yourself, but like, at least, I mean, you know, I think I think a cool one would be like to see like how hard they're throwing. I mean, well, they would happen. They would happen. Yeah, in order for you. Yeah, exactly. But, you know, I wanted to revisit the nine quadrants. That, that would actually be very fun because that's, as, as someone who played travel ball, I pitched all four of my years in high school. It's tough, man. It's the best control. Do you think that would win that would win that? Who's control control is trying to think of a, I'm trying to think of a guy who doesn't really walk. You know, we've got like the low walk rate or whatever. So, um, oh, that's tough. That's tough because it was, you know, with when guys, you know, are striking out guys it's. Oh, you know what? I think, you know, George Kirby from the Mariners. Oh, yeah, I've heard of him. Yeah, I think he would be like perfect for that because he, he even said in an interview once he hates walking guys like he's like, it just, I mean, and again, that is a picture too. It's something that, you know, you always cringe at when you walk a guy because you're like, not necessarily a free out, but you know, you, you wasted. You wasted effort on setting a guy to first base without even exactly. Right. So it's like, so I think George Kirby, probably he has, I believe he has like the second lowest walk rate or something in like the major leagues or something. He doesn't walk. He rarely walks guys. He's, he does. He still does. He throws in like the mid 90s, but he's, you know, he's very effective in that kind of way, right? So I think he would, he would be pretty good at that. And I'm moving on to the actual game. Some takeaways from the game show hail, Tony had a huge home run. Men like that and put that guy's crazy and quick kind he is, or furthering the case that he is just by far the best player in the major. Yeah, I mean, you know what, when you start, I'm interrupting, cut you off, but you know, when you got a guy who can lead. The National League and wins above replacement purely as just a DH, no, no, like, it doesn't get any crazier than that. You know what I mean? You know, you see, and his, I believe his, his wins above replacement is, I believe it's five on the dot. Which we did some things research before, we might be wrong, but I'm pretty sure no DH has ever led the majors and wins above replacement. I don't believe so. Yeah. So that's what he's, that's how good. That's how that's just, that's just how good he is. And then we're, and then a lot of people are forgetting about the fact that he's not pitching this year, he got Tommy John and he has not been throwing so can you. Yeah, so I can imagine, you know, what he would, you know, if he was on the J's, if he was on the J's, would they be a playoff team. Personally, I think, I think so. Maybe not necessarily the best one, but I think they would have a better chance because, you know, guys, baseball, especially as a sport where you can observe, you observe people, right, it's a slower game. So it gives a lot of players and fans the chance to observe, you know, players who are on the field, players in the dugout or in the bullpen or whatever it may be right and me personally as a coach. That's something that I do too is I, you know, I observe players who I coach and coach against or whoever else, right. So, for me, I think so, just because guys can watch out Tommy's routines and you know they can learn from him and stuff like that. And, you know, they always, they always say this, but when you got a guy who's a franchise player and maybe potentially one of the greatest hitters of all time or greatest athletes of all time. They tend to make their teammates and just the people around them that much better. Like you, you take hockey, for example, you get a, you get a superstar Conor McDavid, you throw him with certain line mates, those line mates become elevated there. Everything they do just becomes 10 times better purely just because of the fact that they're with, that they're with a guy like Conor McDavid. So I think it would be the same thing with Altani and the Blue Jays. And I mean, the Dodgers obviously they're a very good team already. But I mean, I think everyone's just always in awe because Altani does what he does on a weekly on a daily basis. He's just, but he didn't win MVP. He did not win MVP. That would be Red Sox is Sharon Duran. What do you think he's been really good this season? I mean, he's hitting his splits, his hitting splits, 284 average, 342 on base percentage, I believe, and then, yeah. I don't know. What a what a year. And what a year for that guy, man. You know, Red Sox fans have always, you know, knew he could do this, but now he's kind of making it more. He's kind of he's kind of establishing himself, you know, exactly. He's getting around to, you know, to becoming the player that they wanted him to be, you know, he does, he does everything. He hits the ball, he runs well, and he's a great outfielder and it's, you know, he does. He does everything that you would want your, I guess, like star player to do, right? Obviously, there's, there's other guys on that team too that are stars, but you know what for him to do to do all that he's, you know, the Red Sox fan, especially you can't complain, right? I mean, like I said, he's, or like you said, he's hitting 284, he got an A20 OPS, you know, he's the guys, the guys been raking and rightfully so, so it's. And I'm sure he'll help the Red Sox is the kind of in a playoff push. So let's kind of move more into the into the seasons, kind of get back on their way. Trade that line is coming up, you know, we are in Toronto. Many talks have been about the Blue Jays kind of looking to explore options. Do you see them do anything drastic at the deadline? By drastic, I mean, trading boba chef or a lot of your career. I mean, I don't think so, just because I think they're not in the worst spot, you know what I mean? Like, there's, there's other teams in the league or in the MLB that are in much that are in the same in same situations, but in like much worse circumstances. Like, you look at the Chicago White Sox, right? I believe they have the most losses of any goal, 20 some on straight losses earlier. Yeah, they lost, like, they lost, I believe, like, it was like, some crazy that is to do. Yeah, I have to be really bad. And you know what, it's, it's a team that has many struggles, you know, they are, you know, in the wildcard standings, you know, the White Sox are obviously, you know, they're done right. Like, they would have to have a miracle of a second half to come back. But the, I think the difference with the J's and teams, like the White Sox is that, you know, the J's aren't, they're not, you know, they're not in, they're not in like the fourth season of like tanking, right? Like, they're not like awful. Like, they, they did, they did technically make the playoffs the last two years, albeit two sweeps, very disappointing. But, but you know what, the White Sox did not make the playoffs, right? And to be honest with you, they are a team that has not had much success in the last probably 10, 15, maybe even 20 years, right? They've only won one championship in 2005 and so it's, it's been tough for them. And of course, so, yeah, again, like I was saying, sorry, falling off track, but the J's, I don't think they need to necessarily do that because if they pick up little pieces, because they got, they have the big pieces right now, right? That's the thing. They have a shed, they have Guerrero, George Springer, or whatever they just, the thing is, they just need to, I mean, Vlad is obviously improved and he's starting to hit much more. I mean, it's an all star this year, but I think if the other guys, the other couple guys start to get on track, you know, their picture starts to perform better. I think the Blue J's just need to pick up little pieces at the trade deadline, you know, maybe a few arms, maybe. So you're saying they could actually be buyers and not sellers. Personally, I think I think they could, because again, it's, it's not as, it's not like, you know, they're only, you know, in the wildcard, they're only like, okay, yes, they're not, they're eight and a half, I think eight and a half. Now, even if they turn it around, right? What is the ceiling? Like, do you see, like, if I'm making a miracle run to the World Series and just caching fire and, and because, yeah, we can make the playoffs, but like, is that the goal? That's not really what we want to do is just keep buying and, and, and you know, just to make just to make the break, kind of thing. Yeah, just to make the playoffs and lose again, or I really don't see why there would be a point of that. Yeah, that's true. So yeah, I guess we'll just have to wait and see. Yeah. It'll be very interesting come August, so not only for them, but for many other teams around the league and again, again, for the White Sox do even especially because they got, they have guys who are very capable of, you know, being very good players on playoff teams. Obviously being on the White Sox, when you're good it's, you're not known as much but you're, you know, you're still good but there's some guys, like there's one picture on that team gear crochet. You put on my nanny winning pitching staff I guarantee you, he will help out. I mean, I'm pretty sure he's leading the AL and strikeouts. So, yeah, he's, and you know what he's a reliever turn starter obviously people people do have a little bit of their. I guess worries because he did have Tom and John surgery. So, a couple of years ago so people do have that worry, but you know what he is, he has proved he has proven himself to be a very good pitcher and you know what he's, he has a 3.02 array is a 0.9. That's very good. Yeah, and 150 strikeouts in 107 innings. So that's, you know, and in a, in a life. Can a team make a move for him. Do you think who's the best position position team to make a move for him to make a move for gear crochet. That's a, that's a very good question. So you kind of stumped me there, but I would say of the teams, I'm just looking at the wild card standings right now. Honestly, I think, or like in the standings in general, I think I'm thinking of a team that needs pitching, pitching in general, maybe like one of the teams in that division, maybe the Minnesota twins. Okay, so, let's wrap it up here and let's talk about the a at least the Orioles currently have a one game advantage I believe over the Yankees in the division. What do you see in like how do you think this division is going to pan out. You know what, I think it'll very, it could, I think, you know, it'll very likely stay as it is. So no Blue Jays miracle. It's tough. It's tough. I would love as, you know, as a J fan, you always love to be enthusiastic, but you have to be realistic at the same time, you know, which kind of contradicts what I said about being buyers of sellers or whatever. But I think, I think maybe not this year, not this year, maybe next year kind of thing because they need to take a season to rethink rethink about it and like, genuinely make proper moves and whatnot because I think, you know, you give them a year or two and they could be back in it but me personally, I think, I think the Orioles are Yankee could either run away with it. You know, they're both again, they're only game apart right the Yankees the red and the Red Sox are there to where I think they're fine. Absolutely they are. Yeah, there are, there are four and a half games back of the Orioles and you know the Red Sox don't sleep on them. Right. Again, like I said, they're, you know, they're pitching has been pitching has been on point. Yeah, the pitching has been on point. Right. It's been, it's definitely not the best pitching staff. I believe that the Yankees would probably have the three teams out to the Yankees probably would have the better pitching staff. But Baltimore's bats are just, you know, in their farm system to the guys that they bring up, they, you look at their triple a team, they kill other teams on a nightly basis they genuinely. They'll put up 18 runs and then they'll do the same thing for the next three days in a row. It's. Great. So you see them dog named division for multiple years. Yeah. I mean, you know what, and they, they took the, they took the definition of a rebuild and they really rebuilt. Right. They went from a team who was. You know, dead last in their division, a team that could not win a team that could not do anything. But, you know, they've turned it around. And you know what, they've, they've certainly done it. So I think that they will, I think that they'll be the team to run away with it probably at the end. All right. And that's all we have really to talk about for this week because, like I said, it was the all star break, but we hope to come back at you next week as well. If you like what you saw, you can always watch us on true TV plus. But that's it for this week Justin. Thank you so much. Absolutely. Thank you, John Luca. And this was truly a pleasure. This was so much fun. And once again, this is full count. Thank you all for watching. [BLANK_AUDIO]