On this week’s edition of Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob reacts to Aaron Judge's impressive stretch at the plate, Padres pitchers seizing control of the NL West, and a budding superstar in Washington. Angels M Ron Washington joins Rob to discuss their roller coaster start to the season and their young core showing promise in the first month. Twins Beat Writer Bobby Nightengale drops by to highlight some key members of the Twins returning to action to help them compete in the AL Central. Rob pushes back on the notion that baseball is still struggling in popularity by giving some eye-popping numbers on April attendance. Plus, the newest editions of Pocket Protector, Weekend Wagers, Rob's latest appearance on MLB Network, and much more!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
From the Burke shears to the sound from wherever you
live in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You
give us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the
scoop on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of
Fame voter number fifty seven.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You have another hot take?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Will not and Ot make the playoffs show? Hey me
the money, Rob Parker, Come.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
On, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost forty
years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I love this game.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and what a show we
have for you today. Coming up, we'll talk with Los
Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington, plus Bobby Nightingale, who covers
the Twins for the Star Tribune in Minnesota. He joins us,
and we'll have a Parker pushback that and much more.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Let's go better up to lead off. It's getting robbed
and keep him on.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Number one.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I know you get tired of us talking about Aaron Judge,
the Yankee superstar right fielder.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
We know how great he is. We know about the
home runs.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
The MVPs, but we really really need to focus in
on where he's turned the corner here. And he's not
just a home run hitter or Kyle Schwarber, where you're
hitting home runs or batting two hundred or something. Coming
into Wednesday night's action, Aaron Judge was batting four eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Hello is this on?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
That was after a fourth or four night against the
Guardians in Cleveland, four eleven Going into Wednesday night's action,
He's not just a home run hitter. He's a hitter,
one of the best. You know how hard it is
to hit three hundred in the big leagues. It doesn't
even happen. The league average is like two forty two.
(02:08):
And here's the other scary part. Judge's strikeout rate is
like one of the lowest in the game, twenty one
point two like strikeout rate and which is almost lower
than the league average. That is, how much he makes contact,
(02:29):
how much he hits for average, he can shorten up
and get you a double and driving a run with
a single.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
He could also go yard if you need him.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I mean, we're really watching a guy who's having a
dominance like Barry Bonds, had, and I know putting him
in that name, but we're serious. When you can hit
for average and for power, most of the time you
have to give up your power if you want to
hit for average to make sure you can, you know,
connect with the ball. But that's not the case with Judge.
(02:59):
He's still who could take that swing, can still get
a double, can still get a single, but if the
pitch is right, he could also hit it out of
the park. It's an incredible thing Aaron Judge has done
in a league where guys just don't hit three hundred anymore.
This dude is hitting four.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Hundred number two.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I know, when you think about the San Diego Padres
and their hot start to this twenty twenty five baseball season,
you're automatically go to think about Machado and Tattos and
guys like that and the big bats and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
But it's pitching. It's pitching that's gotten.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Them off to a great start, their best start at
home and their history I think since they went to
the World Series back many moons ago.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
But let's think about this.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
They've thrown seven shutouts in their first twenty four games.
That's coming into Wednesday Night's action, and Nick Pivetta has
been unbelievable four and one with a one point two zero.
King's been great for them. I mean, pitching is what wins. Yes,
you need timely hitting. It's great when you have masters
(04:09):
who could hit home runs, but when you're getting this
kind of pitching, and guess what can I give you
a history lesson? A team hasn't had seven shutouts in
their first twenty four games since the nineteen ninety two
Atlanta Braves, and that nineteen ninety two Braves team had
two Hall of Famers on it. It tells you about
(04:30):
the pitching so far for the Padres and that they're
going to be in this This will be a race
in the NL West. It's not a Dodgers runaway. The
Padres are involved. The Giants have played well. The Dodgers
of course, will be there, and even Arizona has some
really good pitching as well, and they should stay in
(04:50):
the race for a while.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Two. So this is going to be some division.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
But when you look at the Padres, look at their pitching,
it's the reason they sit the top.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Of the NL West.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Number three, talk about rising to the occasion. On Tuesday Night,
Star left fielder James Wood.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Delivered for fans. It was his bibble night in DC,
and guess what. He went three for.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Five, had a couple of doubles and helped the Nationals
win a game. And fans couldn't be any happier. They
get the bibblehead, they get the win, and this young
slugger delivers for the team with three hits on his
special night coming into Wednesday's action, two point fifty three
(05:42):
batting average, seven home runs, seventeen RBI.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
What a great start.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Great kid bats left, throws right, a rare You don't
see that many guys doing that anymore.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But James Wood looks like a young star.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
And the Nationals hit a home run literally with this
kid who's from Maryland, so you can't get any better
than that. A homegrown product of delivering for the fans
down in the nation's capital.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn what's so
good now?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Let's welcome in Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington joining
us here on inside the Park Iron.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
How are you.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
I'm doing very well. It's a beautiful day.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Always always thank you.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Let's start here. Your team off to a good start.
First twenty Games ten and ten. Any thoughts on just
surprise at the start or this is what you were
hoping or expected.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
No, I'm not surprised, And if you won't talk about
the expectations. I wasn't expecting five hundred. I was expecting
better than five hundred, and I know my players are
expecting better than five hundred.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
But it's a start.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
You gotta start somewheeres At least we're not starting in
a position where we have to catch up. Now, we
just have to find some sustainability and get some consistency
in our offense.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, that's the big thing.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Could you bury yourself in a big hole early on
in April, you know, hard to climb out of it.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Well, you know that's where five hundred comes in. But
no one should be happy with five hundred. I'm not
being a competitor. No, No, I'm not happy with five hundred.
Like I said, I know my players are n't happy
with five hundred. But we put ourselves in positions to
win ball games, and I think this year we're going
to learn how to win some of those games.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Let's talk about Mike Trout of course, move to right field,
the powers there, batting average, isn't there. Where is Mike
Trout at the start of the Season's healthy.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
He's coming, you know, I mean, you got to understand,
it's been two years since Mike has been in a
consistent situation where he was out on the field doing
things and you know, sometimes he hit the ball hard
and every felers got eleven guys on the field. But
he's coming. You know, he's working at it every day.
And we're talking about Mike Trout. We're not just talking
(07:52):
about some run of the meal baseball player in future
Hall of Famer, future Hall of Famer, and we only
what fifty to sixty bats into the season. You can
start checking Mike about one hundred that bats and you'll
see what Mike Trout is all about.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Let's talk about Kiren Paris, the young second basement got
off to a great start, power stealing basis. What's the
difference between last year when he was up here and
this year as far as hitting growth.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
He's starting to understand how to relax, He's starting to
understand what he can do and what he can't do,
and we're trying to help him to develop the things
that right now he's not able to do and that's
what growth is all about. You can see he's a talent.
He showed some flashes of what he's capable of doing.
And now once again you get to that word sustainability
and consistency. We need him to start sustaining things. We
(08:41):
need him to make the adjustments that need to be made,
and then we'll find out what type of big league
player he is. But right now, you got to give
him kudos for what he have accomplished to this point.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Our guest is Ron Washington, Los Angeles Angels manager. I
want to ask you about surprises so far on the roster.
Is there anybody else Obviously Conon's off the gray stuff,
but anybody else who who has surprised you so far?
Speaker 6 (09:08):
Well, we got to go to the bullpen. Johnson has
been a great surprise. A kid that hadn't thrown one
inning of professional baseball and here he is on our
roster picking up big ends. He has cold blood. He
just goes out there and he trusts what he's capable
of doing. And for a young kid that haven't had
any professional experience, that's something you learn and through the process,
(09:31):
and it's something that's a part of him right now
and I love that kid because he don't shy away
from anything, you know. I like what Detmers is doing.
And you know, we just got to start trying being
able to get him more innings out there because he
looked like he's a good piece in that bullpen, you know.
Other than that, again, we're just looking for sustainability and consistency.
(09:57):
And once we start the gathering that on the offensive side,
I think you're gonna really get a good look at
what we are about in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And how about starting pitching. You just mentioned the bullpenning guys.
You know, in baseball you gotta have guys who can
eat up innings and a starting staff. Are you happy?
Do you think you probably have to add somebody else
down the road or in the future, or where are
you on the starting staff?
Speaker 6 (10:20):
Well, I don't think when you start with the staff
unless you know you're getting blessed by the baseball guys
that you finished with that same staff. I think Soriano
has the potential to get us close to one hundred
and seventy hundred and eighty innings this year. I think
ca Channelwitz has a chance to at least get us
to one hundred and seventy. You know, we got ta
who's showing what he's about as far as his competitiveness goes.
(10:45):
We got Kyle Hendrix, who's a presence, who knows how
to pitch, you know, and his last three starts, last
two starts, it's been one pitch that has done him
in and we just haven't been able to make up
for it. But usually, you know, when you're in a
three run ball game and it lasted throughout the game,
you feel like you in the ballgame. And that's the
(11:06):
way we felt, and that's the way Kyle has been,
you know. So you know, I'm very pleased with I
was starting pitching. I'm pleased with the growth of our bullpen.
And of course we got Jansen on the back to
close it. We will get we will be getting Joyce
back soon. So we just got the whole of fort
and keep going. That's all we can do. Every day
we come out here. We got to grind and we
(11:27):
got to take advantage of the opportunities that presented and
present less opportunities to the opposition.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
One last question, Tim Anderson made the team out of
spring training, wasn't you know in the big leagues last year?
At the end of last year. This is a guy
won a batting title, have one of the most iconic
home runs in the cornfield in Iowa. You know, has
played at a high level. Just talk about his return
to the big leagues and what he's trying to accomplish
and re establish himself.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
He's been a real I wouldn't say a pleasant surprise
because the things, the skill set that he has is
still there. He may not be swinging the bat the
way he know he can and the way we probably
know he can, but again, we only in April, and
in this game, there's two things that happen. You get
off good or you get off bad. And he's gotten
(12:18):
off bad as far as the numbers go on the
offensive side, but he's been doing everything else. He's playing
tremendous defense. When you get on a base pass, he's
a threat, and we just got to let it grow.
And that's what you call a process. But I'm been
very pleased with his work ethic. I've been very pleased
as the type of teammate that he's been, and I
know that there's something left in him and before this
(12:40):
year's over, we'll get it out of him.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
All right, We'll appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Ron Washington, La Angels manager will appreciate you for joining
inside the Parker, Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nationet catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
In case you.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Missed Rob Parker on the MLB networks, here's his latest
appearance on pml.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Dina Rob Parker making his weekly appearance. He takes shots
from outside.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Rob.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Great to have you back on the show.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Hello, what's up, BK? How are you?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I want to listen.
Speaker 7 (13:17):
I just want to say the phrase double pizza boxes
because you're the guy who came up with the term.
You're the guy who calls the bases when they got
larger pizza boxes are But we saw a couple of
collisions at first base last week, Luisa Rise crushed.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Are you in.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Favor of they do this in college double pizza boxes?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
No?
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I do not want it. I know what happens every
so often. And you go, oh my goodness, gracious, that's
a shame. And I'm not unsympathetic.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
What's just don't why doesn't it just doesn't happen enough.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
There's no reason for you should be able to run
the first base.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Matter of fact, b kay, I saw in a college
game where a kid actually beat out an infield play
at first base, and because he touched the base not
the safety base, he was called out.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
That makes no sense to me.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Wait, all right, he touched either base. You can touch
in your your touch.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
He touched the regular base and was called out that
he didn't use the safety base. So there's a.
Speaker 7 (14:16):
Rule, all right, So all right, look, how about we compromise.
I'll eliminate that rule that says you have to use this.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
You don't have to use it.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
But if you're.
Speaker 7 (14:23):
Suddenly the first your large first basement is coming in
your direction, you can veer off. That's all I'm saying,
just as a you know, again, it's a safety valve.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Really, I understand the safety point of view, and if
you can make the game as safe as possible, I
just don't think it's necessary, to be honest, I think
we've played baseball that way and people need to avoid
a collision when they can. It happens once in a while,
but to me, it's not a pressing issue in Major
League baseball.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Okay, I think it's a little more pressing than you're
letting onto me that. I mean twice in a week
where guy's got crushed, one guy can cuss, and why
if you can just avoid it? You know, we don't
have to play eighteen ninety style. But all right, hey,
we're talking Earl Weaver. Coming up, we talk to the
guy John Miller, who wrote the book on Weavers. It's fascinating.
Who is your best manager of all time? I mean,
keep it in modern area. We don't have to go
(15:11):
back to Joe McCarthy, but modern era, last generation or two,
who do you have?
Speaker 3 (15:15):
This is a layer. It is he.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Not only is he the best manager, he has the
best nickname in baseball, the white rat Whitey Herzog.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Unbelievable manager costs.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
I'm saying, yes, yes, yes, Bob is agreeing with you,
by the way.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Without question.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
And I remember the moment when he was a manager
to Saint Louis Cardinals and Davy Johnson was a good manager,
but he used to manage circles around Davy.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
And I remember when he had a picture in.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Right field and a believer on the mound, and he
would flip flop them depending on who was coming up.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
So he had two ms in.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
The game, one in right field, one on the mound,
a leftian alrighty and I thought I.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Had never seen that. That was Whitey Herzog.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
I think Earl Weaver is right there with him, Tamula Sorda,
Tony LaRussa or there. Billy Martin might be the best
game tactician, though I would say maybe not the best
resume as good as Whitey or Earl Weaver, but tactically
and what Billy did even as a coach. You look
at teams the year before Billy arrived, and then when
(16:20):
Billy Martin was there, he looks like a Hall of
Fame manager.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I get it on Billy because whenever you see people
move from different teams and still have success, you got
to give them credit that it's something that they're doing.
And you're right, Billy Martin managed a few teams and
they all were better with him around. I mean, there's
other issues that would wind up coming around with Billy Martin.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Wasn't easy to live with over six mons. Liveability counts right,
a little harder with Billy.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
True, Yeah, that's the biggest issue for Billy not could
handle the game, and he did a great job. We
know that Detroit did it, you know with the A's,
obviously with the Yankees. So yeah, Billy Martin is one
of the top managers. But it's the white rat for me.
Speaker 7 (17:09):
He had an identity, created a team with an identity.
So did All Weaver. We'll talk about that in a
few minutes. Show he o Toddy even last week, you
know what, I was looking at his numbers, Rob and
I'm thinking, all right, he's got a three eighty on base.
He's slugging five to fifty, which is excellent, but it's
one hundred points lower and slugging than he's been. And
now look at his numbers, a three fifty eight on
base for eighty nine slugging. And he's also not pitching.
(17:31):
I don't want to beat him up on that. Most
guys don't have to pitch as well. But he's making
seven hundred million because he also pitches.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
What do you make of this.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Well, it's a couple of things.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
He had a terrible base running gap that we talked
about a couple of weeks ago, as well, trying to
steal a base with the time runs on base and
wind up getting thrown out and played yesterday. I watched
that game, and I thought he had an easy pop
up too, stopped with runners in scoring position. I thought,
(18:03):
just a terrible out in that spot. Didn't hit the
ball hardy then and then the strikeout was just awful
to me. I thought that was a really bad the
last one way out of the zone. I just was
surprised that he scuffled three RBIs in his last ten games,
the base running mistakes. He's just not playing well right now.
(18:24):
It doesn't mean that he's not going to play well
as time goes on. But if we're going to praise
the guy when he's raking and playing.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, we've got a point out when he's not playing well.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
You are absolutely correct, right We're I'm beating him up.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
It's like he's at a certain stratosphere, and that's why
he's regarded as a global superstar, and he's not performing
like one right now. Max Freed, you're big on Max Freed.
Sell me on Max Freed. I'm a little cool on him.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Tell me why you think he's so good or great.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
It's not just the four wins and and his You
throw out that first outing against Milwaukee, he's giving up
three earned runs in his last four games.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It's this bka. The Yankees lost.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The rating al Cy Young, who's lost for the season,
and they needed somebody to take over that spot and
stand up. And that's the thing that impresses me to
most most teams when they lose their ace in that situation,
are going to be in trouble because there's nobody to
take that spot and give him a sign.
Speaker 7 (19:22):
A guy for two hundred million, he should be able
to take that spot. I usually don't speak that way,
but he's at a certain level he's expected to be that.
You know why it leaves me called Robin, You're an
old school guy. He has one year with one hundred
and eighty innings, and I know one is the new
two hundred, but he really has one excellent year with
the innings and the er. Everything else is always it's
always missing a little something that's fair.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
But I'm saying in this spot, remember he pitched in Atlanta.
You show up to New York with that big contract, right,
and you're pushed to the front of the line.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yea and full to perform.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
I mean that That's what I'm looking at, and that's
why when a guy can do that. That's why the
Yankees have the best record in the American League, despite
the injuries, despite missing some big bets, that they're still
there and that's impressive to me. And MaTx Freed is
a big part of whitey Yankees are in first place.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
And you think he wins the cy Young this year.
I wanna be fair.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
You're right, So it's a big contract comes to New York, delivers.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
There's a lot to be said for that.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
A guy that you say is not delivering is my
National League MVP. Ellie Dela Cruz, did you want to
kick a guy while he was down again? Please go ahead.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
No, all I'm gonna say is BK just conceived the
bet that he's not going to win National.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
It's April twenty something.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
I don't know even you know what, right, he's not
an MVP territory now, right, he's just above league average hitting,
but his base running and his fielding alone with the
meager hitting, he's on pace for a four win season.
I know you don't follow wins above replacement, but four
war is an all Star. He's at an all star
level with a cold start, all.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Right, So he's not that far.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
But here's my issue, same old story. Ten strikeouts in
his last five games. He's a whiff machine. He strikes
out way too much.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
BK.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
He's not going to win an MVP striking out that much.
And I'll get the war and all the other stuff
you want to throw at me. When I'm looking at
him at a team that's five hundred, he's not an
MVP candidate.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
He'll get zero MVP votes zero.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
The way he's going, we'll see it's not over.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
But I think what you're saying is I should pump
the breaks and Elie Dela Cruz, oh.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
No breaks, pump the breaks.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
When I quote you all the time, you're that good, Rob,
we'll say again next week.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Oh right, all right, thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto,
if I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new. Now, let's welcome into the podcast.
Bobby Nightingale, one of my favorite baseball writers, the Twins,
with a Minnesota Star Tribune, a rename I know people
(22:05):
are like, isn't it the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
No, it's the Minnesota Star Tribune. Bobby, welcome into the podcast.
How are you doing well?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Thanks for having me, no doubt, So Bobby, let's go here.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Just a bad start by the Twins, eight and fifteen
in their first twenty three games.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
On Friday, they started a home series against the Angels.
Can they dig themselves out of this?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
I think they can.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
I mean the important thing for them is they have
starting pitching. You know, Pablo Lopez is coming back from
the injured list for the series against the Angels. Joe
Ryan when he's on, I mean, he's A's caliber type stuff,
you know, a good number two. Bailey over has been
a good number two, number three throughout his career. Simeon
with Richardson and Chris Paddock round out their rotation, and
then they have two guys David Fest and Zebbie Matthews
(22:52):
have been kind of bouncing between the Majors and Triple A,
who they got experience in the playoffs when they were
running for a playoff spot last year. So, you know,
I've covered a lot of bad teams in Cincinnati and
it's one of those if you can pitch, you can
win on you know, that'll carry you throughout the season.
And that's the fortunate thing for the Twins. They can't
hit right now, but they can pitch.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
And the division is what I want to talk about too.
The AL Central is pretty tough. Okay, Guardians off to
a great start. Okay, the Tigers, we know what they
did a year ago and they're playing well. And then
Kansas City's off to a rocky start as well. But
they have a lot of good players too. That's four teams,
like they're all bunched together. How many of those teams
(23:31):
are going to be able to make it to the postseason?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Probably two of them?
Speaker 8 (23:35):
Yeah, I think at least two. I mean maybe three.
You know, last year was three and the Twins were right,
you know, barely. It took a choke for them to
miss too. So yeah, I mean it's competitive. I mean
Detroit kind of up on the upswing. I mean they
have Trek Scougle, the best pitcher I think in the
American League, and in a lineup that's kind of growing
with them. Cleveland, I mean, they don't have the star power,
but somehow, some way, they always keep finding a way
(23:57):
to turn out pitching. And they went a lot of
those games every year. And one of those teams, you
can't write off. And then Kansas City, I mean, I
know they're off to a rocky start, but I like
their team a lot. I mean Cole Reagan's and Seth Lugo,
the pitching they have. Bobby Whitt Junior might be the
best all around shortstop in the game.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
So yeah, it's one of those.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
I mean, the Twins know they with the bad start,
they've got enough to you know that that puts you
in a hole. It's hard to come back from when
you're in a tough division.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Our guess is Bobby Nightingale, of course, who covers the
Minnesota Twins for the Star Tribune. Let's talk about Royce Lewis, who,
when he's healthy and can play, is a dynamic play
to third basement in h what's the update on him?
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You had a tweet, didn't you.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Yeah, he's running the bases.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
You know, by the time this podcast people are listening
to this podcast, he might have started a rehab assignment.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
You know.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
He mentioned, you know Friday, the Twins play and the
Timberwolves playing next door against the Lakers, and you know
some some players might try to do both, hit both,
but he'll probably be in Saint Paul Acrosstown doing his
rehab assignment, So huge news for the Twins. I mean,
he's a guy who when he's on the field, for
the most part, he's been pretty electric.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
They've been missing his power.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
I mean, he's a guy who you know, sets home
run records for you know, a feist amount of games
to hit a certain mark, So huge for them.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
He is a hamstring injury in spring training.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Slowly but surely, he's been kind of building up and
finally got to the point where he's running bases this week.
But it'd been hitting on the field for a while,
doing defensive drills for a while, so running was the
last step and he finally did that.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
How about Byron Buxton the other night, he made a
fantastic catch to win the game. He's healthy, we know
that he can play center field. What are the expectations
for him if he's healthy and stays in a lino.
Speaker 8 (25:38):
Yeah, I mean I think he could be, you know,
a Dark Corse MVP type candidate. I mean, obviously the
team has to kind of respond and win behind him,
but you know.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
He's been an unbelievable base runner.
Speaker 8 (25:49):
I remember the there was a stat it was like
the first twenty times he got on base. This year
he scored fifteen times, So I mean it tells you one,
he's stealing bases. Two we can score on anything. I
mean a single for first he can get around on.
So I mean it's one of those it's it's peak
Byron Buckston. I mean, obviously there's an injury history that's
gonna be a concern for him the rest of his career.
(26:09):
But he this was the first offseason in more than
a half decade, I mean more than five years that
hit a normal offseason, no procedures, no surgeries, and he
came to spring training in a really good spot, and
he said, you know, mentally that was a bigger deal
than physically, just because it's been so long since he
hasn't had to worry how to have to build up
after an injury. So, you know, the Twins are getting
the best version of Iron Buckston. He's thirty one and
(26:29):
still you know, stat casts rights is the second or.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Third fastest guy in the game.
Speaker 8 (26:33):
So you know a guy who's getting faster as he
gets older, which is a rare thing, and you know
Twins are taking advantage of it.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Yeah, he's an exciting player to watch no doubt about
it all, right, final two questions, just the strength of
this team and then give me the weakness that they
might have to address, you know later on the season,
trade deadline or whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
What's the strength of this team.
Speaker 8 (26:54):
I think eventually it'll be the bullpen's if they've had
a rocky start with it.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
But when you have John Doran and Griff Jackson the.
Speaker 8 (27:00):
Back back of the bullpen, Brock Stewart they just got
back from the injured list. I mean that's three relievers
that they really trust, that experienced pitching in big games.
I think that'll carry them throughout the season. You saw
it with Cleveland last year, where Cleveland basically had an
unbelievable bullpen and won.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
A division because of it.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
I'm not saying the Twins will be that level of success,
but I think it's the strength of their roster, and
then the weakness is just kind of finding the power
in their lineup. You know, they had Andrey to Matt Walner,
He's a guy that were counting on for thirty homers.
He's out with a hamstring. Obviously royce Lewis is on
the way back, but they don't really have any guys
that are gonna hit twenty twenty five home runs this year,
and so that that puts more pressure on the offense
(27:38):
to find other ways to score. And you know, Carlos
Kray is off to a slow start, Trevor Larnix off
to a start slow start, so they need some guys.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
To get going.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
At the same time, barn Buckson has been okay, but
without the power in the lineup, they have to find
different ways to score, and that that's been the big
challenge for him. That's why they're off to the slow start.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
His name is Bobby Nightingale covers the Twins for the
start of you and Bobby, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
You know, I'll see you down the road at a
ballpark near you.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
Thank you, buddy, of course, great saying you.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. It's time for the Pocket Protector Centrum, the
analytic numbers you need to know. Well, maybe it's.
Speaker 9 (28:27):
A pleasure to live in the times we do as
a baseball fan, of course, especially watching what some of
these pitchers can do. With the baseball sometimes things we've
never seen before. What's amazing to see is the dominance
of not just a certain pitcher, but a certain pitch.
Stat Cast has the rundown of how we can break
down these nasty pitches analytically. Through the beauty of run
(28:48):
expectancy graphs. We know that each event that happens in
a game affects the probability of scoring a run. A
strikeout with the basis empty and no outs lower is
a run expectancy about twenty five percent, but a strikeout
with the basis lone vaded and one out lowers it
nearly fifty percent. That's where stat caast's run values come from.
Adding up all the instances of pitch usage in these
(29:08):
situations with men on base, we can see what the
nastiest pitches are so far this season. Through the first
three and a half weeks, the slider from Marlin starter
Max Meyer has been baseball's best pitch, garnering a league
high thirty three strikeouts, seven more than the next closest
pitch so far, and a run value of plus seven,
tied with Houston's Hunter Brown's four seam fastball. Hitters are
(29:31):
batting just one to three on the pitch this season
and have swung and missed over fifty percent of the
time on that pitch alone. The worst pitches at minus
nine in the run value the four seemers from lefties
Jeffrey Springs, Chris Saylee, and Chota Imanaga. Plenty of time
to get those values up this season. Next time you
find yourself saying, man, that pitch was dirty, go check
(29:53):
out the pitch's run value. I bet you'll be surprised.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
No, this is blowing.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
It's the Parker pushback shot, the year Rob tackles the
outlandish takes in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Knowing it shot.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Today, I'm pushing back on all those people who still
are not on board with the resurgence of Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Can we stop it already?
Speaker 4 (30:18):
The rule changes, the young stars in the game, Baseball
is growing.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
And the popularity is growing.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Last Friday, major League Baseball had fourteen games on tap,
no home openers or anything.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
And you're ready for this.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
The sport averaged thirty five thousand fans at those fourteen games.
It was the largest Friday night crowd since two thousand
and eight. We're talking seventeen years. Thirty five thousand fans
(30:59):
on a Friday night in April.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
It's still coldback East. Have you watched the video?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Stop listening to people who are telling you that baseball
is a dinosaur and only old people go to it
and people don't pay attention to it or whatever. Please,
the NBA would die to get thirty five thousand.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Are you kidding?
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Thirty five thousand in April and the season is just starting.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Wait till the weather warms up.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Look at the young stars peppered all over, and then
the other big stars, the judges, and the Otani's Manny
Machado and all these other guys.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
I can go on and on. Bobby Wood Junior.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
My goodness, the game is healthy and the attendance numbers
tell you all you need to know. When people get
up out of their chairs, leave their homes to go
to the ballpark, it tells you they're engaged.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
I'm Rob Parker and that's my pushback.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Make way for weekend wagers, Yo, it's seanbo.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Fire up those bed naps.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
Let's go.
Speaker 10 (32:14):
A one win, one loss last weekend brings us to
five wins three losses so far in the season.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
But let's get it right.
Speaker 10 (32:20):
This Friday and Saturday, as we take a look at
one of the bigger matchups of the season, Yamamoto against Schemes. Yes,
the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Los Angeles Dodgers, and wild.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Schemes has seen better days.
Speaker 10 (32:33):
We think this overwhelming offense to the Dodgers takes it
for us. On Friday, take the minus one and a half,
take the run line, take the win.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
And on Saturday, you know, if the Chicago White.
Speaker 10 (32:44):
Sox and the A's are playing, balls are flying out
of West sax tiny little itty bitty Triple A Stadium,
go ahead to take the over over.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Nine and a half runs.
Speaker 10 (32:53):
On Saturday, Let's get these dubs for inside the Parker
MLB fans.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
When it comes to Major League Baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover fast.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I am the baseball kid, first, second, third, and we're
leading shows with baseball. It'll watch it again.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
All in one place, right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I love baseball.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Rob Parker out. He can't get it.
Speaker 5 (33:34):
This could be an inside of Parker.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
See you next week, same bat time from same Matt station.
From the Burke shears to the sound from wherever you
live in MLB America. This is inside the Parker. You
give us twenty two minutes and we'll give you the
scoop on major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of
Fame voter number fifty seven.
Speaker 2 (00:17):
You have another hot take?
Speaker 3 (00:18):
Will not and Ot make the playoffs show? Hey me
the money, Rob Parker, Come.
Speaker 4 (00:25):
On, I've been covering Major League Baseball for almost forty
years now, in New York, in Cincinnati, in Detroit, in LA.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
I love this game.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Let's go.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Welcome into the podcast.
Speaker 4 (00:44):
I'm your host, Rob Parker, and what a show we
have for you today. Coming up, we'll talk with Los
Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington, plus Bobby Nightingale, who covers
the Twins for the Star Tribune in Minnesota. He joins us,
and we'll have a Parker pushback that and much more.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Let's go better up to lead off. It's getting robbed
and keep him on.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major
League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Number one.
Speaker 4 (01:15):
I know you get tired of us talking about Aaron Judge,
the Yankee superstar right fielder.
Speaker 3 (01:20):
We know how great he is. We know about the
home runs.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
The MVPs, but we really really need to focus in
on where he's turned the corner here. And he's not
just a home run hitter or Kyle Schwarber, where you're
hitting home runs or batting two hundred or something. Coming
into Wednesday night's action, Aaron Judge was batting four eleven.
Speaker 3 (01:44):
Hello is this on?
Speaker 4 (01:46):
That was after a fourth or four night against the
Guardians in Cleveland, four eleven Going into Wednesday night's action,
He's not just a home run hitter. He's a hitter,
one of the best. You know how hard it is
to hit three hundred in the big leagues. It doesn't
even happen. The league average is like two forty two.
(02:08):
And here's the other scary part. Judge's strikeout rate is
like one of the lowest in the game, twenty one
point two like strikeout rate and which is almost lower
than the league average. That is, how much he makes contact,
(02:29):
how much he hits for average, he can shorten up
and get you a double and driving a run with
a single.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
He could also go yard if you need him.
Speaker 4 (02:38):
I mean, we're really watching a guy who's having a
dominance like Barry Bonds, had, and I know putting him
in that name, but we're serious. When you can hit
for average and for power, most of the time you
have to give up your power if you want to
hit for average to make sure you can, you know,
connect with the ball. But that's not the case with Judge.
(02:59):
He's still who could take that swing, can still get
a double, can still get a single, but if the
pitch is right, he could also hit it out of
the park. It's an incredible thing Aaron Judge has done
in a league where guys just don't hit three hundred anymore.
This dude is hitting four.
Speaker 2 (03:15):
Hundred number two.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
I know, when you think about the San Diego Padres
and their hot start to this twenty twenty five baseball season,
you're automatically go to think about Machado and Tattos and
guys like that and the big bats and whatnot.
Speaker 3 (03:31):
But it's pitching. It's pitching that's gotten.
Speaker 4 (03:34):
Them off to a great start, their best start at
home and their history I think since they went to
the World Series back many moons ago.
Speaker 3 (03:45):
But let's think about this.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
They've thrown seven shutouts in their first twenty four games.
That's coming into Wednesday Night's action, and Nick Pivetta has
been unbelievable four and one with a one point two zero.
King's been great for them. I mean, pitching is what wins. Yes,
you need timely hitting. It's great when you have masters
(04:09):
who could hit home runs, but when you're getting this
kind of pitching, and guess what can I give you
a history lesson? A team hasn't had seven shutouts in
their first twenty four games since the nineteen ninety two
Atlanta Braves, and that nineteen ninety two Braves team had
two Hall of Famers on it. It tells you about
(04:30):
the pitching so far for the Padres and that they're
going to be in this This will be a race
in the NL West. It's not a Dodgers runaway. The
Padres are involved. The Giants have played well. The Dodgers
of course, will be there, and even Arizona has some
really good pitching as well, and they should stay in
(04:50):
the race for a while.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Two. So this is going to be some division.
Speaker 4 (04:55):
But when you look at the Padres, look at their pitching,
it's the reason they sit the top.
Speaker 3 (05:01):
Of the NL West.
Speaker 4 (05:03):
Number three, talk about rising to the occasion. On Tuesday Night,
Star left fielder James Wood.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
Delivered for fans. It was his bibble night in DC,
and guess what. He went three for.
Speaker 4 (05:21):
Five, had a couple of doubles and helped the Nationals
win a game. And fans couldn't be any happier. They
get the bibblehead, they get the win, and this young
slugger delivers for the team with three hits on his
special night coming into Wednesday's action, two point fifty three
(05:42):
batting average, seven home runs, seventeen RBI.
Speaker 3 (05:47):
What a great start.
Speaker 4 (05:48):
Great kid bats left, throws right, a rare You don't
see that many guys doing that anymore.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
But James Wood looks like a young star.
Speaker 4 (05:57):
And the Nationals hit a home run literally with this
kid who's from Maryland, so you can't get any better
than that. A homegrown product of delivering for the fans
down in the nation's capital.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn what's so
good now?
Speaker 4 (06:16):
Let's welcome in Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington joining
us here on inside the Park Iron.
Speaker 5 (06:22):
How are you.
Speaker 6 (06:22):
I'm doing very well. It's a beautiful day.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Always always thank you.
Speaker 4 (06:27):
Let's start here. Your team off to a good start.
First twenty Games ten and ten. Any thoughts on just
surprise at the start or this is what you were
hoping or expected.
Speaker 6 (06:38):
No, I'm not surprised, And if you won't talk about
the expectations. I wasn't expecting five hundred. I was expecting
better than five hundred, and I know my players are
expecting better than five hundred.
Speaker 3 (06:48):
But it's a start.
Speaker 6 (06:49):
You gotta start somewheeres At least we're not starting in
a position where we have to catch up. Now, we
just have to find some sustainability and get some consistency
in our offense.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
Yeah, that's the big thing.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Could you bury yourself in a big hole early on
in April, you know, hard to climb out of it.
Speaker 6 (07:04):
Well, you know that's where five hundred comes in. But
no one should be happy with five hundred. I'm not
being a competitor. No, No, I'm not happy with five hundred.
Like I said, I know my players are n't happy
with five hundred. But we put ourselves in positions to
win ball games, and I think this year we're going
to learn how to win some of those games.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
Let's talk about Mike Trout of course, move to right field,
the powers there, batting average, isn't there. Where is Mike
Trout at the start of the Season's healthy.
Speaker 6 (07:32):
He's coming, you know, I mean, you got to understand,
it's been two years since Mike has been in a
consistent situation where he was out on the field doing
things and you know, sometimes he hit the ball hard
and every felers got eleven guys on the field. But
he's coming. You know, he's working at it every day.
And we're talking about Mike Trout. We're not just talking
(07:52):
about some run of the meal baseball player in future
Hall of Famer, future Hall of Famer, and we only
what fifty to sixty bats into the season. You can
start checking Mike about one hundred that bats and you'll
see what Mike Trout is all about.
Speaker 4 (08:06):
Let's talk about Kiren Paris, the young second basement got
off to a great start, power stealing basis. What's the
difference between last year when he was up here and
this year as far as hitting growth.
Speaker 6 (08:18):
He's starting to understand how to relax, He's starting to
understand what he can do and what he can't do,
and we're trying to help him to develop the things
that right now he's not able to do and that's
what growth is all about. You can see he's a talent.
He showed some flashes of what he's capable of doing.
And now once again you get to that word sustainability
and consistency. We need him to start sustaining things. We
(08:41):
need him to make the adjustments that need to be made,
and then we'll find out what type of big league
player he is. But right now, you got to give
him kudos for what he have accomplished to this point.
Speaker 4 (08:50):
Our guest is Ron Washington, Los Angeles Angels manager. I
want to ask you about surprises so far on the roster.
Is there anybody else Obviously Conon's off the gray stuff,
but anybody else who who has surprised you so far?
Speaker 6 (09:08):
Well, we got to go to the bullpen. Johnson has
been a great surprise. A kid that hadn't thrown one
inning of professional baseball and here he is on our
roster picking up big ends. He has cold blood. He
just goes out there and he trusts what he's capable
of doing. And for a young kid that haven't had
any professional experience, that's something you learn and through the process,
(09:31):
and it's something that's a part of him right now
and I love that kid because he don't shy away
from anything, you know. I like what Detmers is doing.
And you know, we just got to start trying being
able to get him more innings out there because he
looked like he's a good piece in that bullpen, you know.
Other than that, again, we're just looking for sustainability and consistency.
(09:57):
And once we start the gathering that on the offensive side,
I think you're gonna really get a good look at
what we are about in twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (10:04):
And how about starting pitching. You just mentioned the bullpenning guys.
You know, in baseball you gotta have guys who can
eat up innings and a starting staff. Are you happy?
Do you think you probably have to add somebody else
down the road or in the future, or where are
you on the starting staff?
Speaker 6 (10:20):
Well, I don't think when you start with the staff
unless you know you're getting blessed by the baseball guys
that you finished with that same staff. I think Soriano
has the potential to get us close to one hundred
and seventy hundred and eighty innings this year. I think
ca Channelwitz has a chance to at least get us
to one hundred and seventy. You know, we got ta
who's showing what he's about as far as his competitiveness goes.
(10:45):
We got Kyle Hendrix, who's a presence, who knows how
to pitch, you know, and his last three starts, last
two starts, it's been one pitch that has done him
in and we just haven't been able to make up
for it. But usually, you know, when you're in a
three run ball game and it lasted throughout the game,
you feel like you in the ballgame. And that's the
(11:06):
way we felt, and that's the way Kyle has been,
you know. So you know, I'm very pleased with I
was starting pitching. I'm pleased with the growth of our bullpen.
And of course we got Jansen on the back to
close it. We will get we will be getting Joyce
back soon. So we just got the whole of fort
and keep going. That's all we can do. Every day
we come out here. We got to grind and we
(11:27):
got to take advantage of the opportunities that presented and
present less opportunities to the opposition.
Speaker 4 (11:34):
One last question, Tim Anderson made the team out of
spring training, wasn't you know in the big leagues last year?
At the end of last year. This is a guy
won a batting title, have one of the most iconic
home runs in the cornfield in Iowa. You know, has
played at a high level. Just talk about his return
to the big leagues and what he's trying to accomplish
and re establish himself.
Speaker 6 (11:55):
He's been a real I wouldn't say a pleasant surprise
because the things, the skill set that he has is
still there. He may not be swinging the bat the
way he know he can and the way we probably
know he can, but again, we only in April, and
in this game, there's two things that happen. You get
off good or you get off bad. And he's gotten
(12:18):
off bad as far as the numbers go on the
offensive side, but he's been doing everything else. He's playing
tremendous defense. When you get on a base pass, he's
a threat, and we just got to let it grow.
And that's what you call a process. But I'm been
very pleased with his work ethic. I've been very pleased
as the type of teammate that he's been, and I
know that there's something left in him and before this
(12:40):
year's over, we'll get it out of him.
Speaker 3 (12:41):
All right, We'll appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Ron Washington, La Angels manager will appreciate you for joining
inside the Parker, Well, thank you for having me.
Speaker 1 (12:49):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nationet catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 3 (13:02):
In case you.
Speaker 1 (13:03):
Missed Rob Parker on the MLB networks, here's his latest
appearance on pml.
Speaker 2 (13:08):
Dina Rob Parker making his weekly appearance. He takes shots
from outside.
Speaker 3 (13:12):
Rob.
Speaker 2 (13:12):
Great to have you back on the show.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Hello, what's up, BK? How are you?
Speaker 2 (13:16):
I want to listen.
Speaker 7 (13:17):
I just want to say the phrase double pizza boxes
because you're the guy who came up with the term.
You're the guy who calls the bases when they got
larger pizza boxes are But we saw a couple of
collisions at first base last week, Luisa Rise crushed.
Speaker 2 (13:29):
Are you in.
Speaker 7 (13:29):
Favor of they do this in college double pizza boxes?
Speaker 1 (13:33):
No?
Speaker 4 (13:34):
I do not want it. I know what happens every
so often. And you go, oh my goodness, gracious, that's
a shame. And I'm not unsympathetic.
Speaker 7 (13:42):
What's just don't why doesn't it just doesn't happen enough.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
There's no reason for you should be able to run
the first base.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Matter of fact, b kay, I saw in a college
game where a kid actually beat out an infield play
at first base, and because he touched the base not
the safety base, he was called out.
Speaker 3 (14:02):
That makes no sense to me.
Speaker 2 (14:04):
Wait, all right, he touched either base. You can touch
in your your touch.
Speaker 3 (14:09):
He touched the regular base and was called out that
he didn't use the safety base. So there's a.
Speaker 7 (14:16):
Rule, all right, So all right, look, how about we compromise.
I'll eliminate that rule that says you have to use this.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
You don't have to use it.
Speaker 5 (14:22):
But if you're.
Speaker 7 (14:23):
Suddenly the first your large first basement is coming in
your direction, you can veer off. That's all I'm saying,
just as a you know, again, it's a safety valve.
Speaker 4 (14:31):
Really, I understand the safety point of view, and if
you can make the game as safe as possible, I
just don't think it's necessary, to be honest, I think
we've played baseball that way and people need to avoid
a collision when they can. It happens once in a while,
but to me, it's not a pressing issue in Major
League baseball.
Speaker 7 (14:50):
Okay, I think it's a little more pressing than you're
letting onto me that. I mean twice in a week
where guy's got crushed, one guy can cuss, and why
if you can just avoid it? You know, we don't
have to play eighteen ninety style. But all right, hey,
we're talking Earl Weaver. Coming up, we talk to the
guy John Miller, who wrote the book on Weavers. It's fascinating.
Who is your best manager of all time? I mean,
keep it in modern area. We don't have to go
(15:11):
back to Joe McCarthy, but modern era, last generation or two,
who do you have?
Speaker 3 (15:15):
This is a layer. It is he.
Speaker 4 (15:18):
Not only is he the best manager, he has the
best nickname in baseball, the white rat Whitey Herzog.
Speaker 3 (15:25):
Unbelievable manager costs.
Speaker 7 (15:27):
I'm saying, yes, yes, yes, Bob is agreeing with you,
by the way.
Speaker 3 (15:31):
Without question.
Speaker 4 (15:32):
And I remember the moment when he was a manager
to Saint Louis Cardinals and Davy Johnson was a good manager,
but he used to manage circles around Davy.
Speaker 3 (15:40):
And I remember when he had a picture in.
Speaker 4 (15:43):
Right field and a believer on the mound, and he
would flip flop them depending on who was coming up.
Speaker 3 (15:49):
So he had two ms in.
Speaker 4 (15:50):
The game, one in right field, one on the mound,
a leftian alrighty and I thought I.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
Had never seen that. That was Whitey Herzog.
Speaker 7 (15:58):
I think Earl Weaver is right there with him, Tamula Sorda,
Tony LaRussa or there. Billy Martin might be the best
game tactician, though I would say maybe not the best
resume as good as Whitey or Earl Weaver, but tactically
and what Billy did even as a coach. You look
at teams the year before Billy arrived, and then when
(16:20):
Billy Martin was there, he looks like a Hall of
Fame manager.
Speaker 4 (16:24):
I get it on Billy because whenever you see people
move from different teams and still have success, you got
to give them credit that it's something that they're doing.
And you're right, Billy Martin managed a few teams and
they all were better with him around. I mean, there's
other issues that would wind up coming around with Billy Martin.
Speaker 7 (16:44):
Wasn't easy to live with over six mons. Liveability counts right,
a little harder with Billy.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
True, Yeah, that's the biggest issue for Billy not could
handle the game, and he did a great job. We
know that Detroit did it, you know with the A's,
obviously with the Yankees. So yeah, Billy Martin is one
of the top managers. But it's the white rat for me.
Speaker 7 (17:09):
He had an identity, created a team with an identity.
So did All Weaver. We'll talk about that in a
few minutes. Show he o Toddy even last week, you
know what, I was looking at his numbers, Rob and
I'm thinking, all right, he's got a three eighty on base.
He's slugging five to fifty, which is excellent, but it's
one hundred points lower and slugging than he's been. And
now look at his numbers, a three fifty eight on
base for eighty nine slugging. And he's also not pitching.
(17:31):
I don't want to beat him up on that. Most
guys don't have to pitch as well. But he's making
seven hundred million because he also pitches.
Speaker 2 (17:38):
What do you make of this.
Speaker 3 (17:39):
Well, it's a couple of things.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
He had a terrible base running gap that we talked
about a couple of weeks ago, as well, trying to
steal a base with the time runs on base and
wind up getting thrown out and played yesterday. I watched
that game, and I thought he had an easy pop
up too, stopped with runners in scoring position. I thought,
(18:03):
just a terrible out in that spot. Didn't hit the
ball hardy then and then the strikeout was just awful
to me. I thought that was a really bad the
last one way out of the zone. I just was
surprised that he scuffled three RBIs in his last ten games,
the base running mistakes. He's just not playing well right now.
(18:24):
It doesn't mean that he's not going to play well
as time goes on. But if we're going to praise
the guy when he's raking and playing.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Well, we've got a point out when he's not playing well.
Speaker 2 (18:33):
You are absolutely correct, right We're I'm beating him up.
Speaker 7 (18:36):
It's like he's at a certain stratosphere, and that's why
he's regarded as a global superstar, and he's not performing
like one right now. Max Freed, you're big on Max Freed.
Sell me on Max Freed. I'm a little cool on him.
Speaker 2 (18:47):
Tell me why you think he's so good or great.
Speaker 4 (18:50):
It's not just the four wins and and his You
throw out that first outing against Milwaukee, he's giving up
three earned runs in his last four games.
Speaker 3 (18:59):
It's this bka. The Yankees lost.
Speaker 4 (19:02):
The rating al Cy Young, who's lost for the season,
and they needed somebody to take over that spot and
stand up. And that's the thing that impresses me to
most most teams when they lose their ace in that situation,
are going to be in trouble because there's nobody to
take that spot and give him a sign.
Speaker 7 (19:22):
A guy for two hundred million, he should be able
to take that spot. I usually don't speak that way,
but he's at a certain level he's expected to be that.
You know why it leaves me called Robin, You're an
old school guy. He has one year with one hundred
and eighty innings, and I know one is the new
two hundred, but he really has one excellent year with
the innings and the er. Everything else is always it's
always missing a little something that's fair.
Speaker 4 (19:45):
But I'm saying in this spot, remember he pitched in Atlanta.
You show up to New York with that big contract, right,
and you're pushed to the front of the line.
Speaker 3 (19:54):
Yea and full to perform.
Speaker 4 (19:57):
I mean that That's what I'm looking at, and that's
why when a guy can do that. That's why the
Yankees have the best record in the American League, despite
the injuries, despite missing some big bets, that they're still
there and that's impressive to me. And MaTx Freed is
a big part of whitey Yankees are in first place.
Speaker 2 (20:14):
And you think he wins the cy Young this year.
I wanna be fair.
Speaker 7 (20:17):
You're right, So it's a big contract comes to New York, delivers.
Speaker 2 (20:20):
There's a lot to be said for that.
Speaker 7 (20:21):
A guy that you say is not delivering is my
National League MVP. Ellie Dela Cruz, did you want to
kick a guy while he was down again? Please go ahead.
Speaker 4 (20:30):
No, all I'm gonna say is BK just conceived the
bet that he's not going to win National.
Speaker 2 (20:36):
It's April twenty something.
Speaker 7 (20:38):
I don't know even you know what, right, he's not
an MVP territory now, right, he's just above league average hitting,
but his base running and his fielding alone with the
meager hitting, he's on pace for a four win season.
I know you don't follow wins above replacement, but four
war is an all Star. He's at an all star
level with a cold start, all.
Speaker 2 (21:00):
Right, So he's not that far.
Speaker 4 (21:01):
But here's my issue, same old story. Ten strikeouts in
his last five games. He's a whiff machine. He strikes
out way too much.
Speaker 3 (21:10):
BK.
Speaker 4 (21:11):
He's not going to win an MVP striking out that much.
And I'll get the war and all the other stuff
you want to throw at me. When I'm looking at
him at a team that's five hundred, he's not an
MVP candidate.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
He'll get zero MVP votes zero.
Speaker 2 (21:27):
The way he's going, we'll see it's not over.
Speaker 7 (21:30):
But I think what you're saying is I should pump
the breaks and Elie Dela Cruz, oh.
Speaker 3 (21:34):
No breaks, pump the breaks.
Speaker 7 (21:36):
When I quote you all the time, you're that good, Rob,
we'll say again next week.
Speaker 2 (21:42):
Thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (21:42):
Oh right, all right, thanks so much.
Speaker 1 (21:45):
When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto,
if I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer
or broadcaster, old or new. Now, let's welcome into the podcast.
Bobby Nightingale, one of my favorite baseball writers, the Twins,
with a Minnesota Star Tribune, a rename I know people
(22:05):
are like, isn't it the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
No, it's the Minnesota Star Tribune. Bobby, welcome into the podcast.
How are you doing well?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Thanks for having me, no doubt, So Bobby, let's go here.
Speaker 4 (22:17):
Just a bad start by the Twins, eight and fifteen
in their first twenty three games.
Speaker 3 (22:23):
On Friday, they started a home series against the Angels.
Can they dig themselves out of this?
Speaker 5 (22:29):
I think they can.
Speaker 8 (22:30):
I mean the important thing for them is they have
starting pitching. You know, Pablo Lopez is coming back from
the injured list for the series against the Angels. Joe
Ryan when he's on, I mean, he's A's caliber type stuff,
you know, a good number two. Bailey over has been
a good number two, number three throughout his career. Simeon
with Richardson and Chris Paddock round out their rotation, and
then they have two guys David Fest and Zebbie Matthews
(22:52):
have been kind of bouncing between the Majors and Triple A,
who they got experience in the playoffs when they were
running for a playoff spot last year. So, you know,
I've covered a lot of bad teams in Cincinnati and
it's one of those if you can pitch, you can
win on you know, that'll carry you throughout the season.
And that's the fortunate thing for the Twins. They can't
hit right now, but they can pitch.
Speaker 4 (23:10):
And the division is what I want to talk about too.
The AL Central is pretty tough. Okay, Guardians off to
a great start. Okay, the Tigers, we know what they
did a year ago and they're playing well. And then
Kansas City's off to a rocky start as well. But
they have a lot of good players too. That's four teams,
like they're all bunched together. How many of those teams
(23:31):
are going to be able to make it to the postseason?
Speaker 3 (23:33):
Probably two of them?
Speaker 8 (23:35):
Yeah, I think at least two. I mean maybe three.
You know, last year was three and the Twins were right,
you know, barely. It took a choke for them to
miss too. So yeah, I mean it's competitive. I mean
Detroit kind of up on the upswing. I mean they
have Trek Scougle, the best pitcher I think in the
American League, and in a lineup that's kind of growing
with them. Cleveland, I mean, they don't have the star power,
but somehow, some way, they always keep finding a way
(23:57):
to turn out pitching. And they went a lot of
those games every year. And one of those teams, you
can't write off. And then Kansas City, I mean, I
know they're off to a rocky start, but I like
their team a lot. I mean Cole Reagan's and Seth Lugo,
the pitching they have. Bobby Whitt Junior might be the
best all around shortstop in the game.
Speaker 5 (24:13):
So yeah, it's one of those.
Speaker 8 (24:15):
I mean, the Twins know they with the bad start,
they've got enough to you know that that puts you
in a hole. It's hard to come back from when
you're in a tough division.
Speaker 4 (24:23):
Our guess is Bobby Nightingale, of course, who covers the
Minnesota Twins for the Star Tribune. Let's talk about Royce Lewis, who,
when he's healthy and can play, is a dynamic play
to third basement in h what's the update on him?
Speaker 3 (24:39):
You had a tweet, didn't you.
Speaker 5 (24:40):
Yeah, he's running the bases.
Speaker 8 (24:42):
You know, by the time this podcast people are listening
to this podcast, he might have started a rehab assignment.
Speaker 4 (24:47):
You know.
Speaker 8 (24:47):
He mentioned, you know Friday, the Twins play and the
Timberwolves playing next door against the Lakers, and you know
some some players might try to do both, hit both,
but he'll probably be in Saint Paul Acrosstown doing his
rehab assignment, So huge news for the Twins. I mean,
he's a guy who when he's on the field, for
the most part, he's been pretty electric.
Speaker 5 (25:04):
They've been missing his power.
Speaker 8 (25:05):
I mean, he's a guy who you know, sets home
run records for you know, a feist amount of games
to hit a certain mark, So huge for them.
Speaker 5 (25:13):
He is a hamstring injury in spring training.
Speaker 8 (25:15):
Slowly but surely, he's been kind of building up and
finally got to the point where he's running bases this week.
But it'd been hitting on the field for a while,
doing defensive drills for a while, so running was the
last step and he finally did that.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
How about Byron Buxton the other night, he made a
fantastic catch to win the game. He's healthy, we know
that he can play center field. What are the expectations
for him if he's healthy and stays in a lino.
Speaker 8 (25:38):
Yeah, I mean I think he could be, you know,
a Dark Corse MVP type candidate. I mean, obviously the
team has to kind of respond and win behind him,
but you know.
Speaker 5 (25:46):
He's been an unbelievable base runner.
Speaker 8 (25:49):
I remember the there was a stat it was like
the first twenty times he got on base. This year
he scored fifteen times, So I mean it tells you one,
he's stealing bases. Two we can score on anything. I
mean a single for first he can get around on.
So I mean it's one of those it's it's peak
Byron Buckston. I mean, obviously there's an injury history that's
gonna be a concern for him the rest of his career.
(26:09):
But he this was the first offseason in more than
a half decade, I mean more than five years that
hit a normal offseason, no procedures, no surgeries, and he
came to spring training in a really good spot, and
he said, you know, mentally that was a bigger deal
than physically, just because it's been so long since he
hasn't had to worry how to have to build up
after an injury. So, you know, the Twins are getting
the best version of Iron Buckston. He's thirty one and
(26:29):
still you know, stat casts rights is the second or.
Speaker 5 (26:32):
Third fastest guy in the game.
Speaker 8 (26:33):
So you know a guy who's getting faster as he
gets older, which is a rare thing, and you know
Twins are taking advantage of it.
Speaker 4 (26:40):
Yeah, he's an exciting player to watch no doubt about
it all, right, final two questions, just the strength of
this team and then give me the weakness that they
might have to address, you know later on the season,
trade deadline or whatever.
Speaker 3 (26:52):
What's the strength of this team.
Speaker 8 (26:54):
I think eventually it'll be the bullpen's if they've had
a rocky start with it.
Speaker 5 (26:57):
But when you have John Doran and Griff Jackson the.
Speaker 8 (27:00):
Back back of the bullpen, Brock Stewart they just got
back from the injured list. I mean that's three relievers
that they really trust, that experienced pitching in big games.
I think that'll carry them throughout the season. You saw
it with Cleveland last year, where Cleveland basically had an
unbelievable bullpen and won.
Speaker 5 (27:15):
A division because of it.
Speaker 8 (27:17):
I'm not saying the Twins will be that level of success,
but I think it's the strength of their roster, and
then the weakness is just kind of finding the power
in their lineup. You know, they had Andrey to Matt Walner,
He's a guy that were counting on for thirty homers.
He's out with a hamstring. Obviously royce Lewis is on
the way back, but they don't really have any guys
that are gonna hit twenty twenty five home runs this year,
and so that that puts more pressure on the offense
(27:38):
to find other ways to score. And you know, Carlos
Kray is off to a slow start, Trevor Larnix off
to a start slow start, so they need some guys.
Speaker 5 (27:45):
To get going.
Speaker 8 (27:46):
At the same time, barn Buckson has been okay, but
without the power in the lineup, they have to find
different ways to score, and that that's been the big
challenge for him. That's why they're off to the slow start.
Speaker 4 (27:55):
His name is Bobby Nightingale covers the Twins for the
start of you and Bobby, thank you so much.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
You know, I'll see you down the road at a
ballpark near you.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
Thank you, buddy, of course, great saying you.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live. It's time for the Pocket Protector Centrum, the
analytic numbers you need to know. Well, maybe it's.
Speaker 9 (28:27):
A pleasure to live in the times we do as
a baseball fan, of course, especially watching what some of
these pitchers can do. With the baseball sometimes things we've
never seen before. What's amazing to see is the dominance
of not just a certain pitcher, but a certain pitch.
Stat Cast has the rundown of how we can break
down these nasty pitches analytically. Through the beauty of run
(28:48):
expectancy graphs. We know that each event that happens in
a game affects the probability of scoring a run. A
strikeout with the basis empty and no outs lower is
a run expectancy about twenty five percent, but a strikeout
with the basis lone vaded and one out lowers it
nearly fifty percent. That's where stat caast's run values come from.
Adding up all the instances of pitch usage in these
(29:08):
situations with men on base, we can see what the
nastiest pitches are so far this season. Through the first
three and a half weeks, the slider from Marlin starter
Max Meyer has been baseball's best pitch, garnering a league
high thirty three strikeouts, seven more than the next closest
pitch so far, and a run value of plus seven,
tied with Houston's Hunter Brown's four seam fastball. Hitters are
(29:31):
batting just one to three on the pitch this season
and have swung and missed over fifty percent of the
time on that pitch alone. The worst pitches at minus
nine in the run value the four seemers from lefties
Jeffrey Springs, Chris Saylee, and Chota Imanaga. Plenty of time
to get those values up this season. Next time you
find yourself saying, man, that pitch was dirty, go check
(29:53):
out the pitch's run value. I bet you'll be surprised.
Speaker 3 (29:56):
No, this is blowing.
Speaker 1 (29:58):
It's the Parker pushback shot, the year Rob tackles the
outlandish takes in Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:05):
Knowing it shot.
Speaker 4 (30:06):
Today, I'm pushing back on all those people who still
are not on board with the resurgence of Major League Baseball.
Speaker 3 (30:17):
Can we stop it already?
Speaker 4 (30:18):
The rule changes, the young stars in the game, Baseball
is growing.
Speaker 3 (30:24):
And the popularity is growing.
Speaker 4 (30:28):
Last Friday, major League Baseball had fourteen games on tap,
no home openers or anything.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
And you're ready for this.
Speaker 4 (30:38):
The sport averaged thirty five thousand fans at those fourteen games.
It was the largest Friday night crowd since two thousand
and eight. We're talking seventeen years. Thirty five thousand fans
(30:59):
on a Friday night in April.
Speaker 3 (31:02):
It's still coldback East. Have you watched the video?
Speaker 4 (31:06):
Stop listening to people who are telling you that baseball
is a dinosaur and only old people go to it
and people don't pay attention to it or whatever. Please,
the NBA would die to get thirty five thousand.
Speaker 3 (31:21):
Are you kidding?
Speaker 4 (31:22):
Thirty five thousand in April and the season is just starting.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
Wait till the weather warms up.
Speaker 4 (31:29):
Look at the young stars peppered all over, and then
the other big stars, the judges, and the Otani's Manny
Machado and all these other guys.
Speaker 3 (31:39):
I can go on and on. Bobby Wood Junior.
Speaker 4 (31:42):
My goodness, the game is healthy and the attendance numbers
tell you all you need to know. When people get
up out of their chairs, leave their homes to go
to the ballpark, it tells you they're engaged.
Speaker 3 (31:58):
I'm Rob Parker and that's my pushback.
Speaker 1 (32:04):
Make way for weekend wagers, Yo, it's seanbo.
Speaker 3 (32:10):
Fire up those bed naps.
Speaker 5 (32:12):
Let's go.
Speaker 10 (32:14):
A one win, one loss last weekend brings us to
five wins three losses so far in the season.
Speaker 3 (32:19):
But let's get it right.
Speaker 10 (32:20):
This Friday and Saturday, as we take a look at
one of the bigger matchups of the season, Yamamoto against Schemes. Yes,
the Pittsburgh Pirates visit the Los Angeles Dodgers, and wild.
Speaker 3 (32:31):
Schemes has seen better days.
Speaker 10 (32:33):
We think this overwhelming offense to the Dodgers takes it
for us. On Friday, take the minus one and a half,
take the run line, take the win.
Speaker 5 (32:41):
And on Saturday, you know, if the Chicago White.
Speaker 10 (32:44):
Sox and the A's are playing, balls are flying out
of West sax tiny little itty bitty Triple A Stadium,
go ahead to take the over over.
Speaker 5 (32:52):
Nine and a half runs.
Speaker 10 (32:53):
On Saturday, Let's get these dubs for inside the Parker
MLB fans.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
When it comes to Major League Baseball, no one covers
it better than the odd cover fast.
Speaker 3 (33:05):
I am the baseball kid, first, second, third, and we're
leading shows with baseball. It'll watch it again.
Speaker 1 (33:13):
All in one place, right here on Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
I love baseball.
Speaker 4 (33:25):
In the words of New York TV legend the late
Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until
next time.
Speaker 3 (33:31):
Rob Parker out. He can't get it.
Speaker 5 (33:34):
This could be an inside of Parker.
Speaker 1 (33:36):
See you next week, same bat time from same Matt station.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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