[MUSIC] Fan morning, Joe Sportsman, 5-9, Fan Ban, and his Frank Gunning. Blue Jay's Orioles, first of three games at Roger Center, starting tonight. Quick little check-in on some of the former Blue Jay's one. Is a Blue Jay that is not been a Blue Jay for a long time now. He's not a dodgery anymore either. >> That's who I thought you were talking about, but I was like, isn't that long ago? >> I guess. Longer than the guys that were treated as the deadline. >> Certainly, yes. >> Feels like a month before that, anyways. >> Yeah. >> Kevin Bijo was just DFA'd by the Dodgers. >> I thought you were gonna give me like a tail update or something the way you were setting up, like, I was been here for a long time. >> No, I know, we're aware, we're aware. >> I know, yeah, yeah. And he's, Blue Jay's had an opportunity to bring him back. He's a free agent, available for anybody he's taking. They had to take the short-term deal, big money, short-term deal in Los Angeles. Cuz there weren't as many suitors as there should have been for a guy with that type of hour. >> Yeah, clearly. >> Anyways. >> Sorry. >> Kevin Bijo, for me, a surprising DFA. This was before Daniel Vogelbach was DFA'd. >> Yeah, that's weird. >> Kevin Bijo, Daniel Vogelbach, may not be surprised to find out, has not resurfaced anywhere. >> It's not taking eight bees in Buffalo with Votto there. >> Hasn't even signed a minor league deal anywhere. >> Is he playing at Christie Pitts? God, what a fan favorite he would be. >> That would be legendary stuff by Daniel Vogelbach. Again, any of these conversations about failed major leaguers has nothing to do with them as human beings. I'm sure Daniel Vogelbach's an incredible dude, him and you say, thick as thieves. He was like a fifth coach there in the dugout. They loved him. It seemed like an affable guy. He sucks, did suck before he was a Blue Jay. And obviously sucked as a Blue Jay, no offense, no offense. But he sucked and had personally no offense, professionally little offense. >> Offensive. >> Yeah, it's like the idea that the Blue Jay's were gonna build their offense with you in the middle of it is, yeah, insane. It was insane at the time and just because he had a great spring training, what I continued to remind people was that he sucks and he ended up sucking. Kevin Bijo didn't really suck, like he had some, and I know Daniel Vogelbach's also had some moments of not sucking, but I think there was a longer track record of sucking. >> Anyways, Kevin Bijo drafted and developed player by the Blue Jay's who turned him from an organizational guy. So that's like a quad A guy that probably doesn't have a major future into like a real major leaguer and a guy that at a time, especially in that 2020 season, you're like, my God, this is a huge part of this offense, the incredible ability to take a walk, to get on base, to hit for some power and the positional flexibility. He was a guy that they decided. He was the last roster guy and to make room for some of the players they wanted to see, he had to go, DFA'd him. And boy, it was a nightmare scenario when it's like, who can pick like white socks picking you up or the A's or some crappy team like of course, cuz the bottom of their, bottom of their roster is probably horrible. So there's a higher or a lower bar of entry for their rosterable players, went to the best team in the National League or second best, right, them and the Phillies. And I don't know about you, I was terrified that he would look closer to the guy that at times has looked like not just an average major leaguer, but like a pretty good one with a pretty high on base. Turns out not the case. He was actually better as a Dodger than he was as a plujay this season, but still DFA'd 650PS. He was 614 as a Blue Jay, 306 on base, 192 batting average, so you don't have to worry about that. I wasn't worried about him kind of like finding it long term. I was very worried about just having to hear about what a perfect scrappy can put him anywhere, 26 man on the roster. He was through some run to a World Series where maybe there's a series and maybe there's a series he's he's he's out. That was what I thought was actually the most likely kind of twisting the knife moment here. I didn't think this was gonna be like a steep years thing where they traded away the World Series MVP, but I thought he was gonna be a part of that. And I think just kind of removing that it does, I don't know how much it would bother people because I think that Bezio is one of the people who even even as big as detractors, it was nothing personal. It was more John Schneider. Why do you have to play him so much? Like it was more you got frustrated with other people than you did with him. He was he was, you know, squeezing as much he he could out of the talent that he had. So I think that was the thing there, but yeah, no, no world where he kind of becomes something other than than what he's been, quite frankly. And honestly, the something that he's been, I still think is a Rossible, a rosterable Major League players got a career on base of three forty one. Yeah, just because the Dodgers don't have a spot for you doesn't mean like, I don't know, twenty eight other teams might like if we're just going to power rank them at worst, they're what the third best team in baseball. Yeah, I again, I think the White Sox got a spot for anybody who has even seen a baseball and knows how to spell baseball, the White Sox are interested in having you on their team who lost their twenty first consecutive game yesterday in Oakland to the A's. Wow. I thought it was bad when the J's went, what was it? It was more than twenty one games that scoring a run in the first inning. I thought that was bad. Imagine that. Yeah, there are now sixty one games under five hundred. Oh, oh, oh my God. I thought you were going to say back of something and yeah, five hundred, five hundred. Oh my God. Oh, we did our rankings of former Blue Jays that were dealt with the deadline that we're rooting for. And near the top of the list, I don't think it was at the top of my list. I can't remember who knows so long ago, but near the top, yes, even though he played on the the horrible, the villainous Houston Astros was you say, could, yes, who made his first start as an astronaut went really well. I gave up a home run early, but only gave up two earned runs on three heads, struck out eleven. So Blue Jays got the huge haul from the Houston Astros. Astros fans were apoplectic about the, the hall they gave up for Kukuchi. He had near right over six since May. There was real questions for me as to his viability, not just in the postseason, but the rest of this regular season in one start. He looks pretty good, but I got to say, I mean, part of it, he's a pending free agent. He wasn't, if he pitches well, maybe he can be a part of the Blue Jays fans plans in 2025. But part of it is again, like the personality and the haul that they got back. Honestly, I felt very good for you, say Kukuchi that his first foray into Astrodom went so well. Yeah. How could you not? This is a guy who again, like, I think so much of the goodwill he earned was what he had to, was his own doing and that he was so bad to like, we talk about, you know, levels of suckitude on this Blue Jays team. First season, you say Kukuchi boy, he was, he was as good as it gets in that metric. So I think that's a big part of it is the 180 you saw from the player, the personality is absolutely a part of it. And I think you do, you know, again, we have a lot of questions about front office, what it'll look like, you in a perfect world, of course, fleece everyone in every deal you make and you're the Rays. But I also think if you want to make trades with teams, the idea of a good point, the idea of like a win-win trade and teams go, oh, we gave something, but we got something, let's call the Blue Jays. Let's do it again. Like I don't think that can be overstated. Oh, it's a great point. This happens in fantasy sports all the time. Well, it's like, oh, I think this is fair, but this person has a history of every deal they make. The other person's embarrassed. I don't want to be the, the receiving end of the embarrassing thing. And for the long term as a trade, yes, trader, not a trade tour, a trader, like think like Hudson Bay. Yeah. Many moons ago, yeah. Yeah. You do want to have a win on the other side of things and, and it is probably better for the Blue Jays long term that you say kukuchi is good. And that the guys that they got and Jake Bloss and Joey Loperfito and Will Wagner are good. Don't get me wrong. Like mix in a fleecing every now and then as well. Don't have it. Don't have it all be win-win. You can occasionally flee somebody. Like for example, the huge nastros, Larry Ado and what they got out of there. So yeah, I look at it as you do have to mix in the odd win-win every now and again. And it appears early on that this might be the case between the Astros and Blue Jays when it comes to you say kukuchi. All right. Blue Jays Orioles happening tonight at Roger Center. Let's talk to Caitlin McGrath of the athletic. How's it going Caitlin? It's good. How are you guys? Doing very well. So let's talk about one of those guys that was acquired in the kukuchi trade, Joey Loperfito, who's the only guy currently on the Blue Jays 26 man roster. We assume it's just a matter of time before Jake Bloss ends up there and maybe just a matter of time until Will Wagner ends up there because he's been tearing it up in Buffalo. But the Loperfito of it all is an interesting one because he's joined a team where Addison Barger has started to hit like last six games, some serious offensive potential has been shown by Barger. And we know what he's done in AAA this season. Who do you think gets more playing time right now? Both left-handed hitters. They kind of have a similar offensive profile. If the Blue Jays have their druthers, who do you think gets the majority of playing time between those two right now? I mean, you might put Loperfito ahead just a little bit because Blue Jays are sort of in their assessing phase with him. Like they kind of need to see what they have in him. And so with Barger, obviously they haven't seen a lot of him at the major league level, but they probably have a better grasp of, you know, what he can do in his, you know, his serious floor and all that kind of stuff. Whereas Loperfito, obviously a new guy, you want to get to know him a little bit, see if, you know, you can get your hands on him too, and whatever instruction you give him to see if it's, you know, if it works at the major league level. So maybe I'd put him a touch ahead, but, you know, that's the, I don't know, you want to call it silver. I mean, the Blue Jays last couple of months here is that you are going to get a chance to see a lot of guys, you know, play probably more than maybe we expected at the start of the year. And I think that that's to some extent exciting because they're probably playing for an opportunity to be on the team next year. So there is some interesting internal competition, even if the games are somewhat meaningless in terms of, you know, what the Blue Jays do in the standings and all that stuff. So, you know, maybe, maybe we see a few other guys, you mentioned Will Wagner, who came over from the Houston system and just continued to hit, and he's also like 26 or something. So it seems like you should probably get him an opportunity sooner than later at the major level. And the Blue Jays just have a ton of infielders and a lot of guys with that same sort of prototype. So I think it's a bit about shifting through who they have and maybe who they can send down and trying to get Wagner a look. Yeah, I think I would expect him to get a look at some point in time. And yeah, it's just a matter of kind of when it, when it comes, you mentioned the positional versatility. Obviously, that's a great thing to have, especially when you're kind of building out your 26 man roster. But when you have so many guys that have versatility, but not necessarily a set position, it's kind of a double edged sword there. How do you think the Blue Jays will kind of juggle that? I mean, we have seen this in the past with prospects where, okay, it's great that a guy can play all over the diamond, but you would also like them to kind of have a home at a certain point in time, especially if you think they're going to be a bat that you want in the lineup, you know, potentially every day or most days. How do you think they'll kind of juggle that aspect of it, Kaitlin? Yeah, I mean, I think it's just giving guys opportunities. You know, I think it's Spencer Horwards is a great example of the guy that was kind of that versatile guy. He still is. I mean, he can still play first and still play that field if you need him to. But obviously, the move over to second, he completely embraced and he's kind of run away with that opportunity a little bit and he looks like a guy that can stick there. I think his bat fits better there. He's just kind of the build, the prototype that he is, the type of player that he fits better there. So I think, you know, with the Blue Jays, yes, you like those versatile guys. You like to move them around and they help you in terms of, you know, you can have a lot of different books to your lineup. But at the same time, like, if a guy kind of emerges at one position, I think that's also a success story and, yeah, like something, something like what Spencer did, I think, is, you know, maybe the Blue Jays hope that someone else can kind of emerge at a position, whether, you know, Addison Barger at third day, you know, whether it's Lappafito, I guess, you know, he's probably an outfielder, although he does have some experience, I think, in the infield as well. Yeah, is there something instructional about Spencer Horwards's progression as a professional baseball player? Because he's always been able to hit at the minor league level, and the question mark has always been, well, yeah, he's limited power, and what good is that at first base? And then he played 10 games in second base in Buffalo, and they're like, oh, yeah, you can play second base. And it's like, all of a sudden, it's like, oh my God, well, that's obviously a much better profile for a second baseman that it took until this very moment to have him play. And not everybody can do what he did as far as the positional flexibility. I get that, but like, do you think that story in itself makes the Blue Jays a little more open to having their prospects change positions because it was such a success. It has been such a success story with Spencer Horwards. Yeah, I mean, I think so, and I think why not, right? Like if they're, if you have a guy that is talented and flexible and is able to adapt to a position, I mean, I think Spencer may be way back when played some middle infield, you know, in high school and things like that. So we had some limited experience, obviously at the major level, I think, sorry, at the minor league level, he's mostly been confined to like left and first base, but, you know, he's obviously, you know, skilled enough to make that transition to second base and did it successfully. And so, yeah, I think if you can kind of, you know, alter a guy's position and in doing that, make him probably stand out a little bit more, just in terms of, yes, like, Spencer Horwards stands out more as a second baseman, as opposed to a first baseman that can, you know, get on base, but doesn't hit for any power. And you know, you probably put some confidence in him too, just because I think he's just high a lot more success and feels a lot more comfortable at that second base, even though he's still kind of learning at least the position in the field. You've spent a lot of time around this team, you know, over the past several seasons and obviously this year has had a very different feel than the years past where they were kind of marching towards the playoffs, even the year they didn't get in, it certainly felt like it was a very, very real possibility. Have you kind of noticed a change or do you expect a change of the feel around the team with this kind of injection of new life? Because again, it's been a long time since we've seen this, the way I kind of phrased it is. It's almost like a resetting of the Blue Jays season here. You were expecting Tiedemann to be this new life and, you know, we were expecting Manoa to maybe have a bounce back and you expect Martinez to come up and obviously none of those things for various reasons materialized. Have you noticed a kind of change around the team since the deadline? Yeah, I mean, I think the Blue Jays have done a good job this year of, you know, even though the reality of this situation is that they underachieved that they sort of failed at their collective goal, I think they've done a good job of just kind of still going about their business very professionally and still kind of wanting to go out and, you know, show that they're, you know, a major league team that wants to win. Like I think that oftentimes when they've had really bad games, I think back to was it the, it was the race when they blew out, when the race blew them out just ahead of the deadline, you know, and Chris Bassett came out and it wasn't, you know, you get to all these really upset at their performance, you know, it wasn't like, oh, this is whatever, I don't care. I just want to go home, like, you know, and I think when they win, they're still kind of, still kind of amped up. So I think it's done a good job of like, you know, as much as they're the reality of it, you know, it's not good, they've still come out and been professional and then, you know, you add that with all the young guys coming up and, you know, this is their opportunity, right? Like they, again, they're not playing for any playoff spot here, but they are playing for jobs in the future, they're playing to, you know, improve their standing within the organization. So I think that in itself has, you know, injected some life into the team. I think, you know, Kevin Gosman, I think was talking the other day and just saying how much he enjoys watching some of the young players and how impressed he is with them. And so yes, I do think that there is a bit of a different feel in terms of just like you, who you're watching and they've kind of turned the page on, you know, try to be, you know, the team they came in through this season wanting to be and they've sort of turned a page and embraced this, you know, new reality for them. But I've been around teams before where they're out of it and it's, you could tell they're out of it. They're just like showing up to the office and trying to get through the day. And, you know, guys aren't really doing much work and prep and stuff like that. Like I've seen teams that have really kind of thrown in the towel in August. And I haven't seen that from this club, which I think is a positive. Yeah. And that's what you get with young players generally, but yeah, even though the wins are not important, you still try and win every game, which takes me back to Saturday. And I know you were there in the Bronx, Caitlyn, where John Schneider decided to intentionally walk Aaron Judge with nobody on to out in the second inning of a 4-1 baseball game for a Blue Jays team that is, you know, well out of it and only about developing prospects. And then the same situation arose in the fourth inning and didn't do it. But I have a, it's, that was Saturday. It's too, I, and part of it is I haven't had a chance to talk about it on the radio, but I have a tough time getting over that mentality. And I know Aaron Judge is the closest thing to Barry Bonds since Barry Bonds. Like I get it. In a tie game in the eighth inning, if you're in a playoff race and the same situation arises, I am all for walking Aaron Judge. There was no, like there was no defense as far as your ability to win the game to make that decision. There's no defense considering where this Blue Jays team is in its stage of development. I mean, maybe I'm overdoing it. Like, well, I know, I know John was asked about it in, in the post game. Am I, am I the only person that cares that much about that moment on Saturday? I mean, I think Yikey says care as much, maybe for different reasons than you. But I mean, the boos were very loud. It's because Ben was booing from Toronto. Yeah. He actually heard him. Most of them, and it was definite for me, Kayla. Yeah. I mean, I think that, I mean, John's quote, I think it was Saturday was just like, I didn't feel like seeing him swing the bat. Didn't feel like it. I shouldn't feel like it. He didn't feel like it. What are you going to do? Yeah. I mean, to some extent, I think he was being brutally honest there. And I sort of believe him and just like, you know, I think there's sometimes where Aaron Judge has beat them so much and there is just residual, you know, trauma from that where they just like don't like to see him, homeroom them. I mean, there was a couple of games in a row where he's hitting their homeroom on the first inning, you know, and he's had a lot of, you know, great homeroom to get Blue Jays. There's been theories that he's single handedly won. Obviously, he hit, was it 61 a couple of years ago against the Blue Jays, you know, making history against them. So. Oh, yeah. The lasagna guy caught it. Remember all remember we had Tommy lasagna is something I actually just saw his name pop up like a week or two ago. I forget what it was. Yeah. Something by that. Yeah. See, a lot of historic moments with Aaron Judge and the Blue Jays. Yeah. Yeah. Sure. I mean, isn't John Schneider managing for his job? I don't know. It just feels like I guess everyone's just going to be rolled over for one more year. But boy, it's a tough resume for John Schneider. Frankie lasagna. Just to clarify. Thank you. But like if you're at the end of the season and you're defending things and I know like you're not going to probably defend one moment in the second inning of a baseball game in August. But if I were making the decisions, I would sit down and be like, Hey, John, what were you thinking there? Oh, you just felt like it, eh? Like shouldn't more go into it than that, Caitlin? Honestly. But what it like, would you rather them see what they can do against Aaron judge? Because I've heard the argument that more teams should do what the Blue Jays do against them. Just walk them way more. Yeah. Okay. But that's their circumstances for that, right? Honestly, like later in the game, it's the first time, according to, I forget, the codified baseball is the Twitter account. According to that account, it's the first time in over 50 years, a batter has been intentionally walked in that situation with two on and none out in the first two innings of a baseball game. Like it's the second inning, right? Like I get it, again, he's Barry Bonds right now. Yeah, you shouldn't pitch to him, especially considering the lack of depth throughout the rest of that, that order, the same situation arose in the fourth inning. If that's your philosophy, why aren't you doing it every time? Like there's no consistency, it's just, I hated everything about it. Yeah. That's fair. I mean, I think the consistency thing is fair and I think that yeah, like doing it when the situation calls for it makes a lot of sense, doing it on a whim. I think, you know, I can hear your side of the argument for that where it's just, it's not adding out the consistency isn't there and it just feels a little bit, you know, random or haphazard. Yeah. And it's anti-competitive. It's like, ah, and I get it. Like he's just killing everybody, but it's like, oh, we give up, well, you know, not only we're not going to win the game, we don't even want to challenge ourselves against the best hitter in baseball with our opening day starter. That's cool. In the second inning of a baseball game. Anyways, I hated it and I'm probably not done talking about it. Although I only have 37 minutes left, but yeah, tomorrow's probably too late to be still talking about it. God, I hope so. Can't live thanks for this. Thank you so much, guys. See you, Caitlin. Kayla McGrath of the athletic. Who doesn't love getting woken up at 8.05 in the morning and I don't know what Caitlin sleep schedule is, but to get yelled at about a decision that you didn't make. Yeah. I love you for this because you save it. Like me, I'm 13 out of 10 mad every day. I was actually that way driving in this morning. It's like, there's no traffic and I'm still mad, okay? But you save it and I love when you get so worked up about something. And honestly, I just, I didn't think you had it in you. This Blue Jays season left, like, not that you don't care, obviously you do, but I thought you would very much take the like, okay, like she's over. Let's see how this goes. But then something this piece of red meat gets put in front of you and I just love your reaction. And if ever you needed an indication, you're like, Oh, how much autonomy does John Schneider have in game, like, just feel like the decisions. Well, there you go. It just feels like actually would have been if he, it's kind of funny. I don't think he would do it. But if he thought he was as good as done at the end of the season, I was actually Ross's call. So we should have said it was like some khakis. We had a big meeting about it. It's just I hated it. I know you did. I just hated it. And I know there's no defense for it. There just isn't. It's like, if your defense is Aaron Judge, his Barry Bonds, yeah, that's a good one. In any other moment than the second inning of a 4-1 game with nobody on and two outs in a season that floss. I don't. I do not disagree. I wish I could, like it'd be better if I was, you know, able to have some stance, but even the guy who said do it, he was like, eh, I don't want to. So stupid. Anyways, let's take a break and come back and talk to Adnan Firk of MLB Network. Will I talk to him about the intentional walking of Aaron Judge on Saturday? I have a guess. Stay tuned to find out. Fan Morning Show continues. Ben Anis, Brent Gunning, Sportsnet 590, the fan. Bring the Blue Jays from an analytical perspective, Jay's Talk Plus with Blake Murphy. Be sure to subscribe and download Jay's Talk on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. Fan Morning Show, Sportsnet 590, the fan, Ben Anis, Brent Gunning. So Chicago White Sox, 61 games under 500. They lost their 21st consecutive, again, can you just definitively say under 500, not like back of some, though, 500. Did you know that they cannot draft higher than 10th next season? What? So they... Why? So they've drafted in the lottery last year because they don't receive the money that comes from revenue sharing because they're a big enough market. Right. They're not a poor, yeah. You cannot go two consecutive years in the lottery. I'm sorry. It's great. That's awesome. You think that... I don't know. You shouldn't be rewarded for this? I guess. But I... I don't know. I... It's too complicated. I'm out on that. Okay. Yeah, I love it. I know you do. Uh, let's talk to Adnan Burke of MLB Network. How's it going? I don't know. Maybe we'll find out how it's going. We'll be locked in a movie theater somewhere. Maybe. I don't know. Maybe it's like... Private screening right now. I want to see it. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. It's good. I want to see it. It's good. It's good. How about this take us off floating around? He is always like, "I don't stick to this part of the movie." So Jerry Reinsdorf of course has the Michael Jordan Bulls era. The Bulls have been under 500 outside of the Michael Jordan era. The White Sox have a World Series in 2005. I remember. Outside of that, they've only made the playoffs consecutively one time. Maybe Jerry Reinsdorf, I got underratedly one of the worst owners in all the pro sports. Let's talk to Adnan Burke of MLB Network. How's it going? Adnan. I'm doing great, Ben, but I wish I had a private screening room 8.30 in the morning going to Tuesday. Sorry about that. Yeah. Jerry Reinsdorf, it's crazy. You know, Jason Bennett is a good buddy of mine and former playoff playboys are the White Sox. He's now a person of the Tigers. Listen, he's told me many a story. Reinsdorf, I'm with you, Ben. I don't think he gets enough up for being maybe not one of the more generous owners of the sports, shall we say? Yeah. I would say. Yeah. I read Jordan rules. Just desserts here. It's a good point that Brent mentioned that because people often pointed Jerry Krauss is the villain, right? Of course, even the GM. He didn't want to. Yeah, everyone says, oh, he broke up the band. They want to pay these guys, you know, Jordan, Phillip, five, et cetera. But I'm like, you know, it takes you to tango here, like Jerry Krauss is not running the show. He's hitting his marching orders to someone else. So let's make sure both Jerry's get a little line thrown at them, right? Yeah, Jerry. Jerry. That's good. That's a good Newman impression. Yeah, I know. I thought so. Okay. But the rule that exists, that I kind of went under the radar in this new CBA at NAN. Of course, we have a draft lottery now in Major League Baseball, but that the White Sox cannot re-enter the lottery because they were in it last year despite being maybe the worst team in the history of the sport. Do you like that fact that they cannot draft inside the top 10 next year? I love it. I mean, falling short of relegation, which, of course, we don't have in North America unlike in Europe. I think it makes a lot of sense because, you know, you had to, they had to think of a deterrent fellas when it came to Tank because there was too many teams going, you know what? If we're not going to do that competitive, we'll just go ahead and stink for a few years. And what you've seen is that teams can be successful by doing so because, you know, no matter what you have, you're niche audience. Let's stick with it for pirates. You know, P&C Park is one of the most beautiful ballparks out there. No matter what you have your hardcore, let's call it 16 to 20,000 fans, you've got significant revenue sharing TV, money through Fox and CBS, and you spend all the rest of it like you can turn a profit. If you keep your budget at a certain level. So unless you have a salary cap, which, of course, the players would never want to have and it feels quite the most contentious issue ever in the sport, you have to find out different ways to not tank because, I'm going to give a salary cap, you have to spend a certain amount of money. Everyone can take care of it. But if not, you can just, if you're Jerry Ryan surfing up, well, I'm just going to keep it a very cheap budget. I'll still get my hardcore fans on the south side and I'll make money no matter what because I've got merchandise and revenue sharing, et cetera. So yeah, there has to be some sort of deterrent towards tanking and at least, hey, no top temp pick. Again, the pits we know it can be a crapshoot. Who knows how good those drafts can be, but at least it's something baseball's always recognized in the fact they're going to be anti-tanking. Yeah, you don't want that. And I think so much of it as well is that it's just like an everyday product, right? And it's like, you know, a bad NFL team, all right, every Sunday you can steal yourself for it. But when it is a truly, you know, a white Sox level bad baseball team, it is, it affects your life a little more if you are one of those, one of those diehards, you know, just talking about the idea of some of the rules around baseball, there's been talk about the possibility of one day there being kind of draft pick trades being, you know, a possibility obviously has to go into the CBA like everything else. What do you think that would do? I mean, you know, the NBA has a rule in place where you can't trade picks and back to back years, first round picks and it's to protect the owners from themselves. I do wonder if that's part of the reason there'd be a version from the owners in this, the idea of trading draft picks, because you kind of want to protect you from yourself. You can see an owner saying, all right, now's the time to push in. Does it cost me money? It just cost me picks. And these guys aren't even here yet, but do you ever see that kind of be in a possibility? No, it's a good point, Brent. I wouldn't completely discount it and you're right. I think oftentimes, you know, it looks adversarial. It's always players or owners, but you're right, sometimes it's owner versus owner, right? If I'm a house, Steinberg, I'm saying, hey, I'm trying to spend money, but it's like, again, how come these guys are able to get away with this and, you know, if my team brings in a certain amount of revenue within the sport, you know, that's not the same as the Cincinnati Reds, if they can get the same money. So I'm with you. Yeah, I think you have to be creative with these things. You want to be competitive. There's no question. The White Sox are doing right now. I mean, it's insane. I mean, when I look at the day, I was there's 60 games under 500. Like I was talking with Dan Blasek and of course, former Blue Jay and he was the tax of the Vegas. He didn't say how hard it is to lose that, but he came to the road because like, what's about? He just luck into a win here and there, but show off to the great manager set to me. You know, when I look at a baseball season, I said, we're going to lose 40 games no matter what. We're going to win 40 games no matter what. And it's the other 80 games to determine the season. And like in this case, the White Sox are proving it's very wrong. It's to be hard pressed just to win those 40 games, you know, to think that I never saw when I saw the Tigers was 119 games in 2000 for a, you know, Mike Baropp was a play game loser. Like, I'm like, this will never happen again, this is truly an aberration. And now I don't know what the fan do, but I'm like, I bet pretty good money. They're going to win a certain lose under 20 games. I got that to me is a reasonable certainty that they are not going to win more than 40 games. It's insane. And like, by the way, I think of it too as a broadcast. I've been watching like Aussie, he and most guys in the broadcast, like, what, what, what, what, like, we know how tough it is right now, talking Jay, the season they've had. Could you imagine talking pretty imposed after every White Sox game, like God, no, even like, yeah, the, the end game play by play and color analysts for White Sox. Like, you know, in blowout games, right? You talk about something else. Like the whole season has been talking about something other than that we are watching on the screen. That's insane. But yeah, by the third inning, it's okay. So Deadpool Wolverine, what do you think? By the way, I was terrible. Have you seen it yet? I have not, I'm going to go check it out. I can't believe so. By the way, $200 million opening day, but you're right. That what you were saying about it is the decline of cinema today. It's both good news and bad news, good news to movies, bad news is a sequel, combining two superheroes of what people want to go see. Yeah, it's not ideal. Also not ideal. The Blue Jays situation. Hey, the Blue Jays are bad, but not bad enough to lose the White Sox. They went five and one against the White Sox this season. Oh, happy days. Remember? Good times. Anyways, they're very bad and it's all about the youth and it's about 2025 and beyond and all the young players they acquired in trade before the deadline. But also maybe weirdly about Joey Votto, who is now playing for the Bisons in AAA, Adnan, obviously Votto, this has to be it for him, even if he appears in the Major Leagues and even performs well in whatever limited time he gets as a 40-year-old. He's been so injured and didn't perform in Dunedin. He has performed in now three games, one start with the Bisons, but he's in the organization. Like, do you think the Blue Jays should call him up? Like if he manages to stay healthy for a couple of weeks here, in this last season in which it's all about projecting what young players are part of this franchise going forward, should they still call up Joey Votto if he stays healthy and performs at AAA? Absolutely. I mean, I think it's almost laughable to think, hey, we got a big September call coming. You may have heard of him. My name is Joey Votto, he's one of the greatest Canadian players of all time. Normally, September call up to your AAA pro sports guy, he creates some seasonings for next year. This year, it could be Votto. As you said, Ben, why not? It's a lost season anyways, team's not going anywhere. Who knows how many fans? Frankly, if I was in Toronto and it was a lost season game, you want to go watch Joey Votto play him up? Why not? Sure. Like, just go check it out. Now, he might stick it up, but just the fact that he's obviously from a Toba Co, proud Canadian to see him play for the Blue Jays, actually said he has to perform, I mean, if he goes like, oh, for 20 in AAA, I wouldn't reward a guy when I've got somebody else in the roster spot. But as you said, this is probably it for him. And you know, he's going to be a Hall of Famer eventually, only he's the first ballot guy. But I think second, third year, fourth year, whatever, he's going to get his chance in Cooperstown, deservedly so, all the time, great hitter of his era. And again, just to see him in a Blue Jays uniform for a few games, what's the harm in that? As long as, you know, he reforms relatively well, as you said, you see, he's been hurt all year. I remember you guys asking me, we have to start of the year. If we said, over under like 15 home runs for Joey Prado, back down, we all took the under. Yeah, I certainly would have. And yeah, like proud Canadian, depending on when you ask them, we don't need to belabor that point, but I'll sneak, sneak that, sneak that in there. And I also think, you know, sometimes, I think some people could kind of roll their eyes at it. But there is not a, you know, this isn't like, Vlad, he is sitting down there in Buffalo and it's like, gee, which first baseman you're going to call up? Is it the future or is it Votto? And you know, I don't mean to disparage the guys that they've got, but this is a DH back. We're talking about here. And again, like, you know, you can like, well, Perfido and Addison Barger and, you know, cycle through the names as much as you want. I don't think any of that matters more than that kind of moment. And, you know, I sometimes think when people feel the idea of like, all they're doing it to sell tickets, it sounds cynical. I kind of look the other way. It's like, again, I think you could tell where I kind of stand on the Votto of it all based on my comments. But for most people, I think they would see that as a kind of happy, be it the send off moment or he finishes the year or whatever it is. And I sometimes think that, again, it's like, I don't know if the Olympics has got me feeling this way, but we get so bogged down in the definitive like win or loss nature of North American pro sports. Sorry for the blue chase. That's over this year. I do think if the cards align, they have to kind of they'd be foolish not to give a match shot. 100%. Because like you said, Brian, what would be the reason not to, you know what I mean? Like, it's not like he's inhibiting some hot prospect. I mean, you're putting a guy who signed with the purpose of playing one more season. Like, Votto claims basically say, Hey, I feel like this is a play out to me. Has been a play out to him the last few years. I'm going to help take this team over the top. And instead, it's been, as you said, a completely lost season. It has not worked out, but but what is the harm? It's not again, if you were taking away a roster spot from somebody, it felt like it was a truly selfish act, but no, the team's not going anywhere. He wants to play for team. And it's going to be, who knows, right? 40 games. Think about that. 40 games enjoy a lot of the blues. It'll be a curious footnote in his career. And listen, if he goes deep a couple of times, the Rodgers Center, we hear the horn go. It would just be a cool moment. That's it. In a season like this, you're looking for moments like that, at least Stanson, hold their hat on. Say that was something special. That was kind of cool. Yep. No more Yankees games, so they don't get to see Aaron judge have what might be even better season than the one he had a couple of years ago. He's been out freaking standing so much so. I don't know if you saw it on Saturday, Adnan, but the Blue Jays, the intentional walk. Dude. This is the third time I brought it up on the show because I can't get enough of it. It infuriates me to no end. It was in the second inning of a 4-1 game. The Blue Jays are not making the playoffs. They're horrible this year, obviously. But yeah, you don't try to intentionally lose baseball games, but that's also not a move that helps you win the baseball game. They're already losing 4-1. If you go by fan graphs, WPA, whatever, their win projection, they each plays individually parsed out and given a plus or minus rating as to whether it helped you or hurt you win the baseball game. That hurt the Blue Jays by an infinitesimal amount, but it didn't help them and you're not going anywhere and it's your opening day starter on the mound in Jose burrios. It's a 4-1 game and the situation arose two innings later in the fourth inning. The exact same with burrios still on the mound was 4-1, two out, nobody on base and they pitched to him. What did you think in watching that? I know he's getting the burri bond treatment because he is modern day burri bonds the season he's having. But in that circumstance, I cannot abide by the intentional walking of Aaron Judge on Saturday. I was shocked then when I saw the numbers. It's the first time it's happened that early to game within that context in 50 years. Exactly. You said I'm like, "Well, you said the bond treatment," but there had not been an instance where a guy had been intentionally walked with the bases empty. That early to game in 50 years, and by the way, the last half of it was 1973. That was because they walked a guy to get to the pitcher. It wasn't like it was intended by the guy, it was just a baseball strategy. The only justification I can give for it when I saw Schneider's comments was very flippantly said, "I was just tired of watching him hit." It reminds me of like, you know, Federer was never very through with a challenge system. Sometimes he would just challenge even though it was wrong. It was almost like, "Let me just get this out of my picture." So I think Schneider did it out of just irritation. He literally was like, "Honestly, I'm tired of watching this guy hit. Go walk him." The baseball strategy as a play, it makes no sense. As you said, you have burritos. What is the play of the scheme? If you're not going to challenge him, especially the bases empty, especially the score like that, it's literally a moment of frustration, irritation. Go ahead, walk him. I'm tired of watching this crap. And by the way, the fact that Austin Wells then got a hit, it would have been funny if it had a hurting Schneider, but of course the Yankees got to bring it out of it. It was fine. But I would do it. I like the passion by what you're saying, because generally speaking, if this happens more often, that would be annoying. Like if I start seeing teams like the White Sox or whoever, their teams are out of it just start walking, judging. But come on, dude, this guy's having a monstrous season and you're right. I looked at the numbers of the day, April 27th, he was hitting 185. And since then, he's been bananas, like OPS of 1,300 over that stretch, he's on pace for 59 home runs. I mean, look at a guy's stat line now, and he goes, "That wins MVP. That's why I'm awestruck." But it's over 300, over 40 home runs, over 100 RBI, and it's August 4th. I'm like, "That's mind-boggling." So I hope it doesn't happen more often. But that's why he described it. He was just annoying. He was going to take it easy. It was a fine walk. I'm not up here. You mentioned the White Sox there. I think they have reached a threshold where we need to start taking some things away from them. No intentional walks allowed for anyone ever again. Like you got to be within 30 games of 500 before you're allowed that. I think they should have a shorter pitch clock. They should not be allowed manager's challenges. Anything we can do to rid ourselves of the White Sox being on a baseball field this year, that is what we should be doing. Like you hit on something they're adding. That's my idea. I think you've spurned it on for me. I like it, Fred. A couple more things in the White Sox. And honestly, the game where I watched it in the post-game of the day. He mentioned Patrick Rofol is now 100 games under 500 as a manager. Like, could you imagine? Again, I don't think this is on the manager. I don't think I'm insane on the south. This guy stinks. But like, if he gets another shot at the end of this in the career, kidding? This guy was 100 games under 500. We can find some other poor staff who's in AAA, who's just desperate to be a big league manager. And the other thought is this. Now, these with Toronto in a loss season, they did deal their expiring assets. So, Takuchi, they got a pretty good haul for them. They were able to trade just in turn to the mayors. They were able to flip these guys and say, okay, fine, you meet Darcy, he's gone. We got them in return. I think that's part of the frustration if I was a White Sox fan, I'm like, wait. We had two really good pieces in Derek Christian, Luis Robert, and neither guy got dealt. So, we're going to set the record for the most losses in a single season. We're not going to get that top 10 graphic, and we didn't feel our two biggest assets. That, to me, would just blow my mind. Yeah. It's pretty nuts. Yeah. The Aussie Gien stuff was great in that. Yeah. He lost out that manager's position to Pedro Grafella, like he interviewed and like he wasn't given the job. And they told him in telling him that he wasn't getting the job that we found our next Aussie Gien. And yeah. Yeah. That guy's 100 games under 500. Really twist him a knife there. That's a tough one. All right. Last one before I let you go. But Bobby White Jr. is having the most underrated, unbelievable season, maybe in history. He's, I mean, part of it is Aaron Judge's year. And the other part is he plays with the Royals, right? Like this is, to me, the reason why guys, when they hit free agency, and he won't for a long time because he signed that long-term extension with the Royals, but it's why guys move out of small markets to big markets, like Bobby White Jr. should be one of the faces of this league. Like, if you just talk to somebody who's like a sports fan, but like a passing baseball fan, do they know who Bobby White Jr. is? I don't think so. And I'm completely with you, Ben, a certain fact is in Kansas City. But just to go by war alone, I think he's second to leave by the only judge. And I would argue he's, he's MVP, but wasn't for Aaron Judge, maybe won solo as well. But like, you know, prior to this season, he was a guy who had a very promising rookie year. You thought good expectations. I don't know if you guys do this. When you when you stubbornly cling to an opinion you had, I'll be specific to regards to win. You're like, you know, he's like, you know, he's like a 10 year, two 50 kind of guy. He goes 300 million. Aaron said, you're nuts. I said, he's a good player. He's got great speed. He's got power. He's going to get you to order hits. I said, but he strikes out too much is on basis, like three, 10. I said, he's like, you know, he's like a 10 year, two 50 kind of guy. He goes 300 million. Aaron said, like, it's never going to happen. So this offseason, as you guys know, he signed for 11 years, two 88 and I go, see, I told you. He's not a very good guy. He pointed out if he if the team picked up the options, which was the way he's playing they will, it'll be whatever 14 years, 320. So I had a personal animus against Bobby, which clearly just to prove Harold wrong, that he wouldn't get 300 million dollars and I've watched this every day going, he should get 400 million dollars. He is unbelievable. When he did last season, fellas, 30 home runs, 49 stolen bases already special and you normally have that sophomore slump. He's done the other way. He's like made a meteoric jump to being one of the best players in the sport and he literally is a five to a player, which I feel like it's so rare in today's game, because there's so much bloomer bust. You see guys with a ton of swing and miss, but not with whitties actually cut down the strikeouts and, you know, contact rate is up. Plays great defense. I'm with the man. He's an absolute gamer. And if he was something Yankee, he'd be everybody would know his name. There's no question about it. Oh, yeah. The next Derek Jeter, except better than Derek Jeter because he plays great defense at that position. And he's he's done all this in the cavernous Kauffman Stadium. And yeah, according to fan graphs, he's only 0.1 war behind Aaron judge, he's 7.6, a judge of 7.7. So it was way back. He's seven. What a bomb. Anyways, it could be an exciting race for that award down the stretch. Adnan, always a pleasure, buddy. Appreciate it. Ben and Brent, thank you. Amazing job of the throwing shade of five time gold Glover Derek Jeter. Yeah, he stinks. Anyways. Look, look, I could make a TV dive after making a great running catch and then not being able to stop myself. Okay. Don't get me started. We only have four minutes left. He's great. Great offensive player. And yeah, the defense obviously overrated. All right. Goodbye. Adnan. Thanks, boy. Take care of you too. Adnan Burke MLB network wandering around behind first base. Well, he makes a flip and just right place. Right time. No, no, like obviously he's good in any's magic when it when even I I was like, I had to throw on the game when he got 3000 hits, we're all like watching, waiting. And I happened. I was like barbecuing and I walked back in price, right, walked right back inside and it's like, and here comes the pitch whack and it's just guys magic. I hate it, but he is, but he's also overrated defensively, not even the best play made on like the left field line by a New York infielder of his era, David Wright's jumping catch where he went to the wall, then waited and timed it and then jumped into the crowd because he had to, unlike Derek Jeter, who's like, I just don't have enough athleticism to peel up here. I mean, that was a pretty good one on on Independence Day, where Jeter goes face first into the seats. Because it's because again, it's Jeter, it has to be magic. It has to be independent. Yeah. All that he is. He's magic and off like I'm not I'm talking defense offensively. Of course. Oh, yeah. Unfreaking believable, but yeah, glossed over that a way better defender at his position entered the fray in Alex Rodriguez is like, yeah, you're not taking this position. You go over there. Oh, but yeah, when we're talking about the all time, great defenders at the most premium position, you shouldn't be mentioning him because he's not that he was a below average defender of that. And it was, you know, if you watch Jose Reyes as a blue J place shortstop, you know exactly what we're talking about. I do. Just limited range. You wasn't throwing the ball all over the place. Nope. If you wanted a routine play committed got it and made Derek Jeter, your guy. But, yeah, what do you call a ball that Derek Jeter's left? It's a base hit. Yeah. Um, Joe throw. So cool though. Get out of here. Bobby Whit Jr. Like do yourselves a favor and go look at Bobby Whit Jr's baseball savant page because everything's at 99 just scorching red, including the defense at the most premium position. The speed is 99. It's unbelievable. It truly is. It's hitting free agency, like this is the same argument. So I was one of the people that believed, hey, Juan Soto is a better fit on this blue J team than show Aotani because he plays a not a premium defensive position, but a position of need for this blue J team. Give him my druthers. Hey, one guy for the next five years taking Bobby Whit Jr over Aaron judge. I don't think there's any debate about it. Yeah. I don't I don't disagree, especially given the age and all that. And I know you just gave the five years, but yeah, man, what a time to be alive if you're in Kansas City, my homes and Bobby Whit. All right. On this show, I'm done talking about the Aaron judge intentional walk. Thank God. I'm going to talk about it more with JD buckets, though, probably. All right. I will not enjoy it. All right. I'm off this show until next week, but enjoy Matt Marques, and we'll see you I think the rest of the week. Who knows? In the fan morning show, Ben and his friend, Gunning Sports at 5.9 in the fan. (dramatic music)
