Tim Kurkjian joins Fair Territory: USA beats DR, Italy vs. Venezuela

00:00:01
Speaker 1: Hello everybody, and welcome to the Monday episode of Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal. As you can see, that is not Ken Rosenthal. I am absolutely privileged to be joined by my friend Tim Kirchin, of course does a tremendous job covering Major League Baseball on ESPN, the twenty twenty two BBWAA Career Excellence Award recipient, as well as the co host of Is This a Great Game or What? With his son Jeff, part of the Foul Territory Network. More on the show in a few minutes. Tim, great to be with you. Thank you for spots. Starting for Ken, It's awesome to have you on the show. I am very interested in knowing what your takeaway is from last night's game. Usas win two to one over the Dominican Republic.

00:00:47
Speaker 2: What did you think?

00:00:48
Speaker 3: Well, it was a great game, and it's just another reminder how great the young players are in today's games. Look at the three guys who hit home runs last night. They are part of an incredibly bright future for Major League baseball. There are stars everywhere, a lot of Ever since Mike trouton Bryce Harper came in essentially together what thirteen years ago, the wave of players who are coming to the big leagues. They are so big, they are so strong, they are so fast, they are so talented, and they are so ready when they get here.

00:01:24
Speaker 1: That was my.

00:01:25
Speaker 3: Takeaway when you look at all those All Stars and then you look at the age of them. The game is in really good hands moving forward, and yet it really well. It bothered me a little bit that the game was about, you know, the final pitch of the game, which wasn't a strike. We shouldn't be talking about a missed call, an umpire or anything else when there's this many great players on the field. But that's what a lot of people were talking about in the game last night. Unfortunately.

00:01:53
Speaker 1: Yeah, it is unfortunate because that game was so good up until that final moment. But that being said, whether it was a bad call or not, tim the Dominican Republic wasn't that great when they had the opportunities to be great two for nine with runners in scoring position, and it wasn't as if they did not have chances. Are you surprised that that lineup was not able to capitalize in the big moment.

00:02:16
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm always surprised when a really good lineup gets shut down. Like that at the same time, Alana, we know this the pitching in the big leagues, the stuff we see every day. I say it every time I do a game, watch a game, how does anyone get a hit anymore? And I was told yesterday, you know, the United States bullpen is not very good, you know, given all things, And yet the bullpen was absolutely tremendous last night. They had very little chance to get hits off of that bullpen. And when you watch Mason Miller pitch, you ask all the time, how did anyone ever get a hit off of that guy? So yes, I'm surprised that that great lineup got shut down. But just another reminder. When our pitchers are locating with that ridiculous stuff, when they throw it where they want to properly, the hitters virtually have no chance. And these are some of the best hitters on earth. This is why the United States struck out fifteen times yesterday and won the game. This is what we face every single night. The pitching is ridiculous, and if you miss in the strike zone, it's not a single of the left field anymore. It goes thirty rows up. But if you locate with that ridiculous stuff. You don't just get people out, you strike him out.

00:03:36
Speaker 1: Mason Miller, Man, I tell you what, if you're in the National League and you're specifically the nationally West, you know a lot about Mason Miller. How does he compare tim to other dominant closers that you have covered in your tenure.

00:03:49
Speaker 3: Well, he throws a hat as hard as just about any closer that we've seen. And he's got that slider too, which he can balance and people still swing at it because they can't lay off of it. And alta. You know his story too. Remember he told me once that he got so sick that he went down to one hundred and fifty pounds. Well, why weigh less than that, but not many people do. And he's now up. Then he gained back to like twoint fifteen and started throwing really hard again. So he's been through a lot. And go look at his numbers in the World Baseball Classic. I'm not positive about it, but it's like fourteen batters faced and ten strikeouts against the best hitters in the tournament. That's how good he has been. I've seen better closers than him because they've done it for longer. But when it comes to overpowering stuff. Not too many better than that guy.

00:04:42
Speaker 1: Tim, And it wasn't just the fact that they couldn't capitalize with runners in scoring position. This is a game that really illustrated that base running fundamentals they still matter that momentum swing. Of course, when Aaron Judge threw out Fernando Tatis Junior trying to go first to third, and then the second time you have the opportunity to get to third, he stopped at second base and that proved to be a turning point in the game. So this is where the fundamentals the base running doing the little things really showed and reared its uglyhead.

00:05:13
Speaker 3: Yeah, a lot of Six years ago for ESPN dot com, I wrote a story that base running is the worst I have ever seen it in all the years that I've covered. And I didn't just make this up. Paul Moleander, Dusty Baker, all sorts of you know, veteran Major league players and managers told me it's the worst we've ever seen. So I wrote another story this spring, and as a run yet on the similar topic that if you don't run the bases properly, it might cost you a game. And to some degree, it cost the Dominican Republic a game last night. You got to go from first to third on that ball. You got to score from second on that ball. And my story that I wrote is all about getting a good lead, a secondary lead, which we don't talk much about. But because the players just overpowered the sport with their physical gifts, their strength, their size, their speed, their velocity, they are not always taught by the industry how to get a good lead, how to run the bases properly. And last night it didn't cost him the game, but it sure didn't help the Dominican Republic.

00:06:18
Speaker 1: Well, Fernando Tatist Junior seemed like he was a little bit gunshy going again because of the previous you know, at bat or whatever, when he was thrown out by Aaron Judge. Don't run on number ninety nine, Tim, Who is the best base runner that you have ever covered?

00:06:34
Speaker 3: Paul Monitors the best base runner that I've ever covered, And I've talked to him about this multiple times a lot. He played a game that same name that we played when we were kids. It was called hot Box, and hotbox is when there's a guy in a rundown and you're trying to get from base to base. You could play hot box with three people. You don't need eighteen people to play hot box, he said. We played that for hours at a time when I first started covering baseball.

00:07:02
Speaker 2: On it.

00:07:03
Speaker 3: He would get on first for the Brewers, Robin Yell would hit a rifle shot to right field, and all of a sudden, it's first and third with nobody out. Molder was so good at taking a big lead and understanding the dynamics of running the bases. He could sometimes get so far off of first base that he could peek in and see the catcher's sign from first base. This is back when we used to put signs between our legs like that. That's how good he was. Joe Madden told me the other day, Paul molders the best base runner I've ever seen. And we've had so many good ones, Davey Lopes, Joe Morgan, you know, Lou Brock. Of course, Ricky Henderson was great, but the best I've ever seen was Paul Molder. And I quoted him in this story about the importance of base running, and he told me, it's always been the most fun part of the game for me, and yet we don't really stress it very often in the big leagues, and sometimes it'll come back and get you.

00:08:05
Speaker 1: Yeah, you mentioned Davey Lops That's one of the guys I know with such a tremendous first base coach because he'd really tell the tendencies of the pitcher, knowing exactly what those guys were going to do. Tim you had mentioned the great hitters already at the age under the age of twenty five, Junior Camenaro, the home run Gunnar Henderson only twenty four, of the home run Roman Anthony just twenty one. The Boston future in terms of star studded power there so young star power is in the sport. But let's talk about this in terms of the face of it right now. Aaron Judge obviously is Team USA's captain. But is Paul Skins the pitching face of the sport right now?

00:08:41
Speaker 3: Yeah? I think he is. Alana, I have never seen in the forty five years that I've covered a pitcher come in and make this kind of impact in his first two full seasons now or his first two seasons. Fernando Alzuel had a nine star stretch at the beginning of his that no one will ever match but Skeens has essentially done this for two years. You could make a case that the day he arrived in the big leagues two years ago, he has been the best pitcher from that day until this day. And he still is. He's six', six he weighs two point. Fifty he's got ridiculous. Stuff he's a absolutely maniacal, competitor and all he cares about is. Winning and even though he only went what four and a third last, night he gave them a chance to. Win IF i had anyone to pitch one game for me right, NOW i would pick. Him and he is the face of pitching in baseball, certainly and he showed it to some degree last.

00:09:39
Speaker 1: NIGHT i love the fact that no free passes, either zero walks on the night Four. Skeens of, Course Mark, durosa tim took a lot of heat for the. MISSPEAKING i guess that he felt that the team had already punched their ticket to the. QUARTERFINALS a little bit of vindication last night though for d row by Starting Gunner henderson Over Alex bregman at third Against. Louisino, Obviously severno doesn't have the best luck against.

00:10:03
Speaker 2: Lefties did you like that MOVE i.

00:10:06
Speaker 3: Did BUT i will say how difficult it is For mark De rose to Tell Alex, Bragman, okay you're not playing, today to tell Cal rawley with sixty omers you're not playing. Tonight how do you do? That that is not an easy. Decision But Gunnar henderson is one of those Guys alna that we're talking. About he's twenty four years. OLD i remember during his rookie YEAR i Asked Aaron boone About Gunner henderson and he just looked at me like this and, said he's gonna be a. Problem and, boy has he been a problem For american ly all. Pitchers and to get that ball and put, them you, know on the board like that was just. Amazing and, yes he's so. Athletic he was a great high school basketball player that he can play shortstop and third. Base he can play pretty much wherever you put. Him but he's twenty. Four and then then There's Roman. Anthony this spring, Again Alex cora looked at me and, said if you lined up twenty really great prospects right in front of, you you don't even have to see them work, out you would pick Out Roman anthony and, said that's the best of the, group just by the way he, looks the presence that he. Has this is what baseball people can. See and that's how Good Roman anthony. Is and Then Junior cambinaro a lot of three years, AGO i did a playoff game from the booth with The Blue jays and The. Rangers i'm, sorry The rays and The rangers and cambin AROW i went To toronto the weekend before to make SURE i got a good look at The rays before a playoff. Game cambinaro put on such a performance of prodigious power in batting practice at The Rogers. Center he got a standing. OVATION i don't Think i've ever seen a visiting player in batting practice get a standing. Ovation that's how big his power was three years. Ago now he's had a forty five homer season and he's going to go back to that this year because that kid is, really really.

00:12:06
Speaker 1: Good future of this sport is, bright tim with these great young stars coming. Up, okay another semi final. Tonight It's venezuela versus The Cinderella team In Team italy eight Pm eastern ON fs. One Francisco sevelli managing against his native country Of. Venezuela this has just been such an unbelievable. Story what are you looking forward to the most in this?

00:12:27
Speaker 3: Game, well you can't take your eyes off The italian. Team and this Is, look this is why baseball is so so, great with all due respect to, basketball WHICH i absolutely. Adore, also there are No cinderella teams that go in and beat the dream team for The United states With jordan And larry and magic and all. That, now, again this is not the dream team in, baseball but it's pretty darn. Good and This italian team didn't just beat The United, states they had him down eight to. Nothing only in this sport can this, happened which makes it so. Beautiful and Here's Bennie, pascatino who could be out of The american, team but he goes out and hits three home runs for The italian. Team it's so so good that baseball is offering up a story like. This and THEN i watched That venezuelan game the other. NIGHT i don't know Where i've been a. Lota how about the talent on that, team and we're surprised that they Beat. Japan japan is, great but there is no surprise when a team with that kind of talent beats another really good team in this.

00:13:30
Speaker 1: Tournament venezuela out Slugging, Japan italy race Past Puerto. Rico Tim if it was up to, you, though when is the best time of the year to play The World Baseball? Classic BECAUSE i Want Major League baseball players in The, Olympics but that's in the middle of the. Season when's the best time to play THE.

00:13:47
Speaker 3: Wbc, well there's no great, time but this is the best. Time i'm convinced of. That let's go to the end Of. July guys have played almost one hundred games at that, point some of them are on the disabled, list most of them are dragging in the. Heat this, way we get to play a lot of places indoors before the fatigue has taken over your. Body you're in spring, training and even though you're trying to get your body, READY i think this is the best, time if not the only, time to do THE. Wbc, now The olympics are a different. Animal we'll see how that. Goes But i'll take a fresh guy from the winter rather than a guy who's played one hundred games at a incredibly high, level and then, say all, right let's switch. Gears you got to go play for someone else now and leave your. TEAM i don't think that's a better idea than.

00:14:40
Speaker 1: THIS i will say this, though whenever it's, played THE wbc is phenomenal for the sport that you AND i.

00:14:45
Speaker 2: Love it's been so much.

00:14:46
Speaker 1: Fun it's going to be a great semi final tonight in the, final of, course should be a good one as. Well another good one is your podcast with your Son Jeff Tim is this a great game or what you? Are new to the fouls territory now, Work welcome to the. Family your latest episode revisited an interview with ESPN's Scott Van. Pelt tell us a little bit more about the POT i love this.

00:15:08
Speaker 3: Well it's my, Son jeff AND. I he's thirty two years. Old he's a radio guy In, philadelphia does music. Talk he's not a big baseball. Guy but that's good because he knows everything about everything else pop, culture, music you, know, technology everything else that poor pop up. Here he doesn't know anything other than, baseball at basketball and sitcoms from the. Sixties so we are a pretty good team when it comes to. That And, lana, sorry we've got a different direction instead of having hot takes every day to see how controversial we could. Be we just try to laugh and we try to learn, here and we're always trying to present something that nobody else has thought, about even if it's on even the silly side once in a. While SO i think it's okay to laugh at our game, Anymore, Alan and we don't laugh in our country very much, anymore and we don't even laugh as much at baseball as we. Should we're trying to bring that. Back just an old guy and his. Son that's.

00:16:07
Speaker 2: All, WELL i tell you, what it's incredibly. REFRESHING i love.

00:16:10
Speaker 1: IT i have, subscribed and IF i were you guys listening and, WATCHING i would subscribe as.

00:16:14
Speaker 2: Well is this a great?

00:16:16
Speaker 3: Game or?

00:16:17
Speaker 1: What their next episode drops On tuesday on YouTube and of course wherever you get your. Podcast much more to come With Tim kirchin On Foul. Territory we'll be right back with The Inside dish right after.

00:16:28
Speaker 3: This, well.

00:16:36
Speaker 2: All, right we welcome you back To Inside.

00:16:38
Speaker 1: Dish of course it's typically With Ken, rosenthal but our great Friend Tim kirchen is a spot starting For ken And tim of, course among the best storytellers of our great game that there ever was any story or standout memory tim about players with birthdays? Today today Is march, Sixteenth So i'm going to give you a couple of, names And i'll let you choose a couple of. Stories Happy, birthday Adaimir Gerro, Junior Steven, Drew Brian, Wilson Curtis, Granderson Happy, Birthday Grandy Jose, Mota Abraham, Nuniez Brandon, league And Charles.

00:17:08
Speaker 3: Hudson you, know When Brandon league used to pitch for The Blue, jays he was in the same bullpen As David. Bush multiple times during that, Season David bush would pitch and relief and be followed By Brandon. League so we had The Bush league bullpen at The Blue jays throughout. There ALWAYS i always paid attention to those. Things Curtis, granderson of, course one of the great pros, ever really really good player in his. Day he's one of six players in history to hit ten to hit forty or more homers in a season with ten or more letters in his last. Name SO i gave him that list and he thought that was like the greatest thing. Ever he, SAID i can't wait to go tell my grandfather THAT i am part of this. List because he, says my grandfather loved stuff like. That Stephen drew was a really good player in his. Day BUT i always found this. Interesting when his older BROTHER. J. D drew was struggling in the big, leagues he used to call his little, brother who was a collegiate player at the, time and, Say i'm all fouled. UP i need you to help. Me So Stephen drew would help his older BROTHER. J. D drew in order to get better at the. Game it should be the other way, around where the collegiate kid calls his major league. Brother but that's Who Stephen drew. Was who else is on that? List, Oh Charlie, Hudson oh my. Gosh So Charlie hudson pitched in the eighty Three World series for The phillies And i'm covering In. Dallas i'm covering The rangers at The Dallas Morning. News And Charlie hudson came back to his high school to speak to the high school, kids having just pitched in The World, series and it was like The beatles had shown up to his high. School this poor guy couldn't take five steps without being besieged by. Kids Charlie hudson going back To. Dallas we love.

00:19:07
Speaker 1: That, Also happy thirty first birthday To Rowdy, tulez who wasn't on the, list but he is thirty one, today so happy birthday to. HIM a lot of great baseball players with A march sixteenth. Birthday you talked About Vladimir Gerro. Junior ACTUALLY i did at the top of this list thinking about previous runner runners Up ken Or Tim when you're talking.

00:19:29
Speaker 2: About The World, series what kind of.

00:19:31
Speaker 1: Challenge do you think awaits The Blue jays this, year having fallen just short LAST i mean fallen like this much short last season to The dodgers In game, Seven.

00:19:41
Speaker 3: Right this much short in part because Of bath running a lot of.

00:19:44
Speaker 2: Weeks, yes exactly.

00:19:45
Speaker 3: EARLY i think you could make a case The Blue jays are the best team in The American. League Now detroit is pretty. Good The, MARINERS i just saw them in spring. Training they're pitching is. Loaded BUT i Think toronto is better than it was last, year and something happened to. Them they got a, taste the fans got a, taste and NOW i think The Blue jays are for. Real they've added to their rotation and back to Vlad Guerrero junior for a second line of this needs to be said as many times as. Possible until the, postseason there were people out there who thought he was just some heavy, set lumbering first. Baseman we saw him. Run he can really run way better than people. THINK i always knew he was a good first basement because he's got great feet and great. Hands well we saw that in the. Postseason, also so when it comes to complete players in the game Of, Vladiermeer Guerrero junior is nearing the top of that list because of the things that he can do beyond just hit a ball as hard as any man on the face of the, earth he does a lot more. Stuff in, Fact Brian John, schneider the manager, there went to Vlag guerrero last year and, Said i've got three names here and three running. Speeds Manny, Machado Aaron, judge and you who do you think is the fastest? There And laddie, said, well it's not, me And John schneider, said yes it. Is you run better Than Manny, machado and you run better Than Aaron. Judge so it's a good lesson for all of. Us do not always pay attention to what the person looks. Like just watch him play and watch him, move and not many players move better Than Vla, guerrero certainly in the last. Year and he and the rest of that club are really really.

00:21:29
Speaker 1: Good, yeah and you talked about the clubhouse chemistry and an article FOR espn back In october of twenty twenty, five and they're looking to get back to The World series in two thousand and twenty. Six all, right let's take a quick. Break we're going to Grill tim right after this.

00:21:44
Speaker 4: Bet I'M jm account holders. Today how about in any sport parlay boost token you can score a bigger payout if your wager with that. Token hits tokens can be used on parlays and on same game. Parlays gambling, problem we're. Concerned there's help called one eight hundred.

00:21:58
Speaker 1: Gambler, Well, tim hopefully you like, barbecue because you're about to get. Grilled the first question is in regards to being the commissioner for a, day if you were in Mister manfred's position for a, day what would you.

00:22:18
Speaker 3: CHANGE i would get rid of the Ghost. Runner, Sorry, Elana i'm almost seventy years. Old when we were, kids we used to use the Ghost runner on when we would play five on, five six on six pickup because we didn't have enough players right, fields closed pitcher's, hand and a ghost runner on the. Basis, look the pitch clock has taken care of all the dead. Time can we please play until somebody actually wins a game without putting a runner on second? Base i'm. Sorry some of the greatest Games i've ever seen have been eighteen inning, games including four of them in the. Postseason there have been five eighteen inning games in the. Postseason i've seen four of, them and those games don't happen in the regular season anymore because we put a guy at Second it is, unnecessary and that would be the first THING i would change two.

00:23:09
Speaker 1: Of those with The dodgers being, involved and both of those Games Brad paisley saying the national, anthem he's no longer allowed.

00:23:16
Speaker 3: Right and the first Two Tim hudson started the first two eighteen inning. Game what are the chances of? That only in? Baseball can that?

00:23:25
Speaker 2: Happen only in?

00:23:27
Speaker 1: Baseball the next, question your favorite and least favorite ballpark to cover a game?

00:23:33
Speaker 3: In Well fenway is still my favorite because it opened in nineteen, twelve the week that The titanic sank my, Father god blessed him in one of the great Baseball he was a good player and a great baseball. Man gave his three boys a really good feel for the game and taught us how to play the. Game that's where he grew up watching. Games so that's WHERE I you know that the first GAME i can remember going to who was in the early, Sixties Felix mantia hit a home run At Fenway. Park those are the things that you don't forget when you're a dinky little. Kid So i'm always going back To fenway because of its, age its, tradition and its. History least favorite. LOOK i love the trop because the trop never gets rained out and everything. Else But i'm, sorry we just can't have a pop up hitting the. Roof it's just as too much and we need to do something about. That it's not LIKE i dislike the. PLACE i love going To, florida But i'm not a big roof, guy especially when a ball can hit.

00:24:36
Speaker 1: IT i had the opportunity In august of last season to be the color analyst for The nessen broadcast At fenway and to sit in that booth with something incredibly, Special SO i agree with you On fenway a very special. Place all, right last question for, You, tim most improved team heading into twenty and twenty, Six.

00:25:00
Speaker 3: That is a great. Question i'm gonna say that The orioles are going to be the most improved team. NOW i say it because they were so bad last year THAT i fully expect them to get significantly better this. Year and that doesn't mean they're gonna win The east Because toronto's, Better boston's, better And New york is. Better but this thought that The orioles fell and they're not going to get up this year of not buying. It shane bos is gonna help, them you. Know Trevor rodgers really gave them something at the top of that. Rotation they've added With Taylor, War they've added With Pete. Alonso they're going to score a lot more, runs And Gunner henderson's going to be great. Now they just got to get at the retchman back to where he should be as an elite catcher in the Big. League So i'm gonna say they're gonna take a really big jump in wins because last year it just didn't make any sense to me or anybody.

00:25:51
Speaker 1: Else Matt jackson holiday taking a step forward in his development will help The orioles as. Well Tim, kirchin we appreciate you very. Much thanks for being. Here, guys don't. Forget Foul territory is coming up at eleven Am eastern Aj. Pierzyinski he's live From Tigers, Camp Eric kratz And Scott. Broun they of course also. Host thank, You. Tim please subscribe To Is this A Great game Or? What on YouTube and wherever you listen to your. Podcast we're Back thursday at one Pm. Eastern talk to you. Then take care