Ohtani is undefeated, Mexico’s plan v. Team USA, Skubal’s choice

00:00:02
Speaker 1: Happy Monday People, Action, Action, Well, Baseball Classic. We're about to get into AJ's back and then he's got more coming up. KP at Braves Camp, a lot of good interviews coming up to We're looking forward to hearing from guys like Matt Olsen, Michael Harris, weal Weiss, KP. Do you get the fields when you're back at camp?

00:00:24
Speaker 2: Yeah, especially this place. I love coming here. There's something special about putting the Brave uniform on. But I just really really enjoyed my time here. There were so many great friends that I made when I was here, so this was like a perfect place for me to come back and see some of the guys when I watch them go out on the field. Though I definitely don't get the fields. I enjoy sitting in here and the air conditioning. The body I know wouldn't hold up for a spring training get alone an entire season.

00:00:49
Speaker 3: But it's good to come back and see some old friends.

00:00:53
Speaker 4: Yeah, it's nice to just talk shit here.

00:00:57
Speaker 1: Everything looks easier in this seat, even though you've experience it's the grind. Do you look good in the sweatshirt that's your new uniform, the ft sweatcher.

00:01:05
Speaker 3: Yeah, I'm happy to be playing for this team.

00:01:07
Speaker 1: Yeah, we love having you, all right, So we're looking forward to the day. But let's start with World Baseball Classic ashon because there's been a lot of it. Last time we were on, we really only had the pool in Japan going and then there have been a billion games since then. So we're gonna start with Team USA here, let's charge. Let's charge, and it's presented by Fox one. That's the app where you can find all of the World Baseball Classic games.

00:01:32
Speaker 4: More info on that coming up. All right, AJ just called the.

00:01:36
Speaker 1: First two games for Team USA blowout wins, and I want to spin it forward first, then tell me your experience, but I want to get your thoughts on, like, okay, now you saw it in my mind. They're warm ups. Are they gonna crush Mexico or are they gonna lose like last time?

00:01:49
Speaker 5: I think they'll be fine. I think KP knows us too as a player, especially early in camp, like they got too warm, Like I mean, whoever made this schedule? They they gave them the two warm up games kind of first tipped your cap, then gave them an off day, then set up their two supposedly hardest games in pool, which is Mexico and Italy. Here's what I saw. Their lineup is disgusting. I mean, let's get here. I mean they had cal Rawlely hitting six. They had Byron Buckson hitting eight, Bryce Sraang hitting ninth one game the first game, and in the next game they kind of made some adjustments. Pa hitting eight. I mean it's it's like, come on, guy, Will Smith. I mean it was like, come on, like this is this isn't fair. The only thing I worry about with this team is not the names of the pitchers. It's the work of the pitchers, right, because they're still being built up. And the one thing Mark de Rosas said, and I agree with this, is all his guys are on affiliated teams, obviously in Big League teams, and ninety nine percent of those guys have been All Stars. Are really good. They're held more restrictions than the other teams. So let's say they face a I don't know what the restrictions are for let's say a japan right, but they get the Japanese, the NPB guys and that whole thing. They're not on the same restrictions. Like Mark Russa said, certain guys can only pitch once and they need two days off. Nobody can go back to back. If I get somebody up, I have to bring them in. If this guy has to pitch every other day, this guy can only throw fifty pitches, this guy can throw sixty pitches. Right, So it doesn't matter what the rules of the WBC. They have to play by the rules of the MLB teams and other teams don't have to do that. Like I'll use Mexico as an example. They got some guys that don't play in the big leagues pitchers wise, they pitch in the Mexican League, they can pitch. They can pitch the WBC limits, right, So say the limit is ninety five or whatever in the Big league teams, like we only want them throwing seventy. There is no limit to that number. And so that's the only thing I worry about is and that's why Kershaw's on this team because he's the one guy that's not affiliated, so he can kind of do whatever he wants. Is they get caught somewhere when it gets to the quarterfinals Semis, because it's like boom, boom, boom, it's really fast in a row that they get caught with their pitching up lining up, I know they're going to bring in some reinforcements. They're going to bring in some new guys. Well scooball pitching in. I mean it lines up for him where he could pitch the final and he'd have another start, so he'd be another built inning built up. Will he do it? It'd be awesome if they make it. He does it. I don't know. That's the only thing I worry about that Their lineup is ridiculous. I mean, come on, Kae, like, can you imagine being a guy from Great Britain. I mean they brought in advance. The two guys who had a lot of success honestly against the US team are the guys who were throwing under hitting speed. As soon as they bring in a guy like ninety three to ninety nine, they whack, quack quack. It's the guy. It's the forty year old guys that are throwing eighty two that they can't hit because they've never seen it.

00:04:42
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, I think there's an ego thing too, and rightfully so, because these are some of the best players in our game. But does Mark Durosa as the manager have the freedom to actually ride the hot bat or the hot pitcher when it comes time to single elimination. Obviously, right now, it kind of almost feels like it's like the Fall League. You have your priority guys and then you have your secondary guys, and I think guys probably know going into it which one you are.

00:05:09
Speaker 3: But when it comes time to trying to win.

00:05:11
Speaker 2: A gold medal and you get out of this pool play, does he have the freedom to put the guys he feels like is the best option to win a game?

00:05:18
Speaker 3: And that's the challenge the US always has to face. And the same goes for like the bullpen.

00:05:22
Speaker 2: If it's hard to justify as a Major league where as a manager of Team USA, you have a right handed bullpen guy in there and you have a lefty coming up, but this is a team's best reliever. Does he have the freedom to go out there and match up left on left or right on right.

00:05:38
Speaker 3: You know, when it's time to win a game.

00:05:44
Speaker 1: All right, let's shout out seakeeek. They've got a lot of action going on right now. It's not just baseball, of course, any sport, concert, it's all of that. But just in the baseball world, you have spring training games, where we'll show you the code you're going to get yourself ten percent off or WBC going on right now KP. People will probably be looking at, say Miami and the matchups that are going to formulate, and go, oh damn that has sold out.

00:06:10
Speaker 4: Head to Sea Geek.

00:06:12
Speaker 2: Oh if I'm needing tickets, I'm going to seat Geek and I'm for sure going to Miami, and I want to see a Dominican Republic Venezuela matchup, two of the best Latin countries facing off in Miami.

00:06:25
Speaker 3: I can't imagine the environment that would be.

00:06:27
Speaker 4: That's Wednesday, so if you want to get tickets for that just coming.

00:06:30
Speaker 5: Up, and then next weekend is Japan versus dr Venezuela yep, and Korea versus Japan I mean versus Dominican.

00:06:37
Speaker 4: Or Venezuela, right, one of those two from.

00:06:38
Speaker 5: There, and then whoever wins those will get USA or Mexico Puerto Rico. The listen Sea Geek. I went. I'm telling you, I went twenty three to that Venezuela USA semi final. The Trade Turner Grand Slam one of the coolest games I've ever been to in my life, and that includes playing in a lot of big games. If you haven't been to a WBC game, especially when it gets to the knockout stage, go to Sea Geek, use the code territory ten and go to one of these games, if either in Houston or in Miami. But it is, the atmosphere is the it's winter Ball on blown up. It's the crazy, It's winter Ball on Profi drugs.

00:07:17
Speaker 4: Okay, like World Series right, it really is got it all.

00:07:21
Speaker 1: I'm telling you, if you have not gone, I'm the same I feel the same way. So ten percent off any tickets with promo code territory ten.

00:07:29
Speaker 4: Check it out.

00:07:30
Speaker 1: Make sure you click the link in the description and download the app and have the code automatically added to your account so you could use it later.

00:07:36
Speaker 4: Shout out to Sea Geek. Hey, it's mid March.

00:07:39
Speaker 1: You've got all baseball season to work with two in the regular season, but this is.

00:07:42
Speaker 4: A time for the app to shine.

00:07:46
Speaker 1: When it comes to Mexico, they went, I believe it was eleven to five last time.

00:07:50
Speaker 5: Again US end it up and they remember they were beating Japan until the ninth inning and they lost in like the semi finals. It would have been US Mexico in the finals.

00:07:59
Speaker 1: Yeah, you know who had the go ahead hit in that one against Mexico. It's your new boy.

00:08:04
Speaker 5: COMI see, I thought he had to hit against the USA too, didn't he in the left center field gap? Or is that Mexico?

00:08:10
Speaker 4: No? I think he might have had both.

00:08:13
Speaker 5: Just study you watched the broadcast. There was white Sox legend all over that field. But here's the thing with kp to what you said. I mean, we got long times with Mark Russa. We got talked to him for a long time. And the biggest thing he has is he's talked to these guys like he didn't want to call a guy and say you're not gonna like Bobby Whitt last time. He's like, you're not going to get to play, but you'll be on the team.

00:08:36
Speaker 4: Now.

00:08:36
Speaker 5: Kershaw was fine with beause Kirshaw doesn't care. But the rest of this guys. The biggest thing he kept saying is I got to honor these guys. I gotta honor him and I gotta get him at bat.

00:08:45
Speaker 4: This time he has this time he's.

00:08:46
Speaker 5: Saying, I gotta honor him. He's like, we picked this team so that we could have interchangeable like gold Schmith, right, he's probably the one guy that he's like, Okay, listen, Paul, you're a little bit older. But he's also only a first baseman. You might come in and get it, but he hasn't gotten a back yet. He's the one guy who hasn't gotten to start. He came in this thing the second game to get Price off his feet, right.

00:09:06
Speaker 1: But now all the games are going to be tough too. I mean, that's what I'm saying, might get to that's the whole tournament.

00:09:10
Speaker 5: Exactly, That's the whole thing. So he said, he kept saying that I got to honor these guys that got it. I mean, because if you look who who do you take out? And who doesn't deserve to play? Who gets platooned like nobody, like he said, but he said, he said, when the games get tougher, especially when they get to Miami with the bigger outfield, he's like PCA in the end of the game we're winning, is in. He's like, he's coming in wherever we put him left field. I mean, they have Roman Anthony and left field. But he's like maybe he's like PCA was taking fly balls and left and right so he could get used to it.

00:09:41
Speaker 4: Do you know what I just thought of?

00:09:42
Speaker 1: Okay, So let's say it's late in the game and they're playing a team that actually does have a good lefty out of the bullpen, and Harper's up, Like, are you going to bitch Harper for Goldie just because Goldie hits left as well? Like, that's what I'm saying, You're really gonna go call Harper.

00:09:54
Speaker 5: Out right, that's what Goldie knows though he knows right, So Goldie's okay with that heart. I mean, this team is ridiculous offensively, and if it was let's say it with this was the middle of July, right right, KP and you had schemes fully built schoobl Philly built Logan Webb was disgusting the other night. After the leadoff homer, so was Scooba after the leadoff homer. It's almost like they were like, we're in spring training mode. Here's a heater, Randy Ramirez, this kid hit the homer, and the kid for Drey Britain hit the homer the first pitch that game. He's the only guy who got to hit. Yeah, right, So then after that they're like, oh, that's right, this isn't spring training discounts and they were just like carve carve, carve, carf car game over it was. It was crazy, like the amount how they stepped up their game once they gave up that home run.

00:10:46
Speaker 1: Well, the thing for Mexico just to focus on this game for a moment is last time around, they had Patrick Sanderbal in their rotation, they had Julio Urias, remember that name. I mean, he's probably gone forever game, but he was really good. And then this time around there were some names that could have been part of a rotation that could have messed around. Taj Bradley, that's big time stuff. I mean, I know he's had inconsistency, but he dropped out late or Keatie dropped out late. That's a big league pitcher. Cody ponceays really good stuff. We haven't seen him the the big since he's come back here to pitch for the Blue Jays, but he withdrew. So they just are missing a lot of their pitching talent. And you can't keep going into the well if you're Mexico, like, oh, let's go deeper down and find someone else. So that's probably going to be the separator here, and why I don't think the US is going to have a problem this time around, because Mexico, I think, has beat him three times in a row.

00:11:41
Speaker 5: I want to say it is.

00:11:44
Speaker 4: Their offense is their offense is good. They've got guys.

00:11:46
Speaker 5: And by the way, is going to be electric Mexico fans in my mind, Houston. It was. First of all, let me say this, the first game Brazil was kind of like an atmosphere.

00:11:56
Speaker 4: Yeah.

00:11:56
Speaker 5: The next game against Great Britain, the second game we did Saturday night was unbelievable. There was everyone was dressed up in their USA stuff and then the Brits were dressed up and they're like the guy with the I showed the guy with the lion and he had the British like flag painted on his face, but he was like the lion and he had like a Briton flat. It was humble. It was super cool. Statues of Liberty people. Everyone was dressed up like former present. The guy had the shirt on that said Britain blue. A thirteen colony lead was great. I mean, there was so many funny things that were going and and I tweeted this out, KP, have you ever been to a Blackhawks game? No, I haven't, okay, So when they do the anthem at the Blackhawks game, everyone stands and sings it at the top of their voice. It's it's one of the coolest things as a fan to experience. They did they actually sang the national anthem as the fans when whoever African who was sanging it, but whoever sang it sang it, and the whole crowd and we have you know, you know, when you do a game, you stop, right. So they did God Save the Queen first, and it was just instrumental, and it was like and it was over, like in like it seemed like twenty seconds. It was over, and you know, the little they got, the little cheer, and then they did the Star Spangled banner and the whole crowd saying it, and it was like, whoa, people are actually really into this. Although I will say I have to admit this, and I as an American, I hate to say this, God Save the Queen is kind of a better anthem than ours, just because.

00:13:17
Speaker 4: A lot of people love the Canadian.

00:13:19
Speaker 5: And the Canadian anthem also is better. Can't switch it, I know, I know, I just wayno. And I had a big fight about this before the game. He says, what, dude, you're American. I'm like, I get that, but and I love love the Star Spangled Banner. But just if you actually listen to the words of like, oh Canada, even though it's Canada and it's and it's England and God Save the Queen, the words are like you're like, oh, like I would feel better America the beautiful maybe was the national anthem because it kind of hits a little because a lot of people don't know what Francis scott Key was saying when he wrote the Star Spangled.

00:13:51
Speaker 4: Banner lingo has changed exactly.

00:13:54
Speaker 5: That's kind of the thing. But listen, I love the starspanking, So nobody please say, oh, he hates America. No, but I'm saying the words are maybe more still hip today than Star Spangled ban That's fair.

00:14:07
Speaker 1: Okay, last layer here, you touched on it. But I want to go deeper on this, and we can start with KP. What are your thoughts on what Schoogle is going through?

00:14:16
Speaker 4: Gap? I had a feeling this was going to happen.

00:14:18
Speaker 1: He shows up, He's got Fomo right, He's fear of missing out for the rest of the tournament.

00:14:23
Speaker 4: He is having a blast.

00:14:24
Speaker 1: It's such a cool environment there, and there's speakers.

00:14:30
Speaker 4: You start to talk to the guys too. I think this quote stood out.

00:14:32
Speaker 1: There are people that make real sacrifices for me to go out and play a kid's game. That was a Schooble quote. Right, He's got a lot on his plate. Free agent year. He could be the highest paid starting pitcher ever, four hundred million dollar guy maybe whatever it is. Tiger's invested in fran Brabaldez and this could be their last big shot and he's probably gonna leave after that. There's also a scheduling issue, which I can get into in a moment. Ken Rosenthald documented it really well, where if he pitches in the title game, it puts in kind of a weird spot where he'd probably have to go eight days without a real start in spring training. Anyway, thoughts first on what he's going through and what would you do if you're him?

00:15:12
Speaker 2: Oh Man, I wish I was in his position, But I think it also speaks to where he has come from in his own individual journey to getting to the big leagues. You know a lot of these players were fortunate enough, maybe at a young age, to wear the USA uniform, you know, coming up and playing in the Pan Am Games or Junior qualifiers, Trek Scouble probably never thought he would be in this position to pitch for Team USA, and he's arguably the best pitcher in our sport, and it's it's probably really hard to imagine what those feelings are going to be like when you put the USA across your chest, when you get into that clubhouse, you're surrounded by the best American players in the game, and then you go out and experience the WBC and I've been locked in as a fan, and I'm very envious that I, you know, never got a chance to go to that tournament and play in it.

00:15:59
Speaker 3: But he's in a really.

00:16:01
Speaker 2: Tough situation because it just shows how much of a competitor he is, and you think about all the things he has to look forward to starting another opening day, potentially being the highest paid player pitcher, you know, in our sport a year from now. Those emotions and those feelings are real when he stepped on that mound, and he's in a really tough situation. I know the Tigers are in a tough situation, but when you hear him talking about it, and I'm sure, there's a lot of things that happened behind closed doors that maybe we don't know as fans. Maybe they are bringing in former military or current military members, and they kind of talk about what it means for these guys to represent them, you know, and going out and trying to win a gold medal, and it's really hard to fight those feelings. But if I'm him, I think you've got to know yourself better than anyone else at this point, and if he feels like it's the right decision not just to represent his country, but the right decision for himself to go out and pitch in this competitive environment, at this point in time, he knows how it's on fels, he knows how his body feels, he knows how to prepare himself for the regular season. I really hope that he's able to go out there and pitch one more time and he feels comfortable doing it.

00:17:12
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00:17:36
Speaker 5: Well, listen, Scott, I'm trying to stay in my playing slash fighting shape. So I need the seafood, I need the protein, and I need the veggies. And plus I want to look cool when people come over and say, wow, you made all this stuff, and I'll be like easy peasy a.

00:17:47
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00:18:04
Speaker 4: Free meals applied to.

00:18:05
Speaker 1: His discount on first box new subscribers only varies by plan. Because when dinner tastes this good, nothing hits like home cooking. The Tigers don't want him to do it. I don't know if they've really strongly publicly said did say he?

00:18:20
Speaker 5: But so I think I don't think Scott Morris is I mean, I don't know this but I can't imagine he's super happy about him going out there.

00:18:26
Speaker 4: There's no web. Do you know? Can I go over the schedule part just for a moment. This from Ken's article.

00:18:30
Speaker 5: Yeah you know they well they we uh Derossa explained it to us. Okay, So then so he said, if you look at when he pitched, the next one will be he pitched on the seventh, okay, which yeah, today's the ninth, right, so we pitched Saturday, the seventh. His next he could pitch the twelfth, which.

00:18:44
Speaker 4: Is his normal rest in spring.

00:18:46
Speaker 5: In spring training, and then he could come back for the seventeenth, which would be the finals. The problem is then that puts him online for nine days until opening.

00:18:53
Speaker 4: Day, right, That's what I was saying, eight days, nine days, whatever it is.

00:18:56
Speaker 5: And then but then Wayne and then Wayno explained it perfectly. He's like he could still do it. He just go and throw like a light one in between. But do the Tigers want him to do that?

00:19:04
Speaker 4: That?

00:19:05
Speaker 5: See? That to me is the real question is will the Tigers want him to do that? And listen, he first and foremost when he took the mound and everyone's standing USA, he walked out like we walked out to the bullpen. Everyone was cheering for him, and he got a USA chant and then he stood on the mound and everyone's standing the USA. That hits you no matter what you say, no matter what you say, this means that hits you differently. So then I think you see his quotes changed. Before the game is like one and done, and then after the game he's like, well, I don't know, like that was really cool. I'd kind of maybe I want to do that again.

00:19:37
Speaker 3: And then anyways, AJ, you would know better than me.

00:19:41
Speaker 2: But I mean, how difficult is that for a starting pitcher, especially early in the year. I mean once you almost feel like the couple extra days would kind of benefit him going in opening day. I know pictures are a creature of habit, but this scenario maybe not on nine days, but there are times throughout the year where there's an off day thrown in there, there's a raino.

00:20:01
Speaker 3: Guys get pushed all the time.

00:20:02
Speaker 2: I mean, it feels like if there was ever a time for him to have the extended period of rest, to be able to go into a controlled environment in spring training on a backfield against maybe his own hitters and you know, throw a three inning sim game. I feel like it's the perfect kind of scenario for him to kind of do this.

00:20:21
Speaker 5: I agree, And that's exactly what Adam wayn Wright said the other nine on Fox when we were talking about this is he said, a lot of times, as you know this two kp the starters, the big starters, the last start of spring is only like a couple innings, and a lot of times they do it on the backfield and they say, hey, you're gonna throw fifty pitches, three up downs, You're gonna go out fifteen no matter how how those fifteen go sit boom, come back out, or you're fifteen, sit, come back out, or you're fifteen. They don't just go out there and throw a hundred pit. Now, some guys do the usually the younger guys, but not the veteran guys. They already know their body and they're ready to go. So could he do it one hundred percent? Now? Will the Tigers let him do it? That's the bigger question.

00:20:58
Speaker 4: Look at the workload too.

00:21:00
Speaker 1: I mean, he went about two hundred and sixteen I think with the number innings last year, if you include the playoffs, is the guy who.

00:21:06
Speaker 5: In the year before too.

00:21:07
Speaker 1: Also pitched it's on the year before and in the past has had injuries. He's had his Tommy John already, right, Like, he's gone through a lot to get to this point. It wasn't like schemes is a little different. You're like, I mean, this is perfection. This dude was shining by the time he got to LSU, and then he's had no blips in the majors schools in his free agent year. If something goes wrong in the beginning of the year, everyone's going to play to this.

00:21:31
Speaker 5: I know.

00:21:31
Speaker 4: It's just how it works.

00:21:32
Speaker 5: That's why I don't think he's going to do it. As much as it would be awesome if he did, I don't think he's going to do it. I think he'll go back because he was still in Houston last I don't know if he's finally back in Lakeland. But as soon as he gets back to Lakeland, the travel guy for USA and the travel guy for the Tigers is going to say you know what, he's going to say, Ah, sorry, we can't get you a flight to Miami. And no, there's no rental cars and there's no gas in the state of Florida that you can drive they're out of private jets, they're out of everything. Wow, you're just stuck in Lakeland. If you need a ride, call me, I'll drive you down.

00:22:05
Speaker 3: Is it public knowledge? Is it public knowledge?

00:22:07
Speaker 2: Or do you guys know who those like reserve pictures are that would potentially take his place.

00:22:11
Speaker 5: Joe Ryan is one uh and he and he.

00:22:15
Speaker 3: Had the back thing.

00:22:16
Speaker 4: So it's mostly bullpen guys, but Joe.

00:22:18
Speaker 5: Ryan is the main starter. Matt Strom there's another pretty big name. And Dort listen, I'll give duros A credit. Mand Arboro is on the team now though he's not a reserve. He was there, he was in Houston, Yarborough.

00:22:29
Speaker 4: Oh yeah, yeah, he is on the team.

00:22:31
Speaker 5: I'll say this. I know we got a break here in a second, but Derossa listen, like love hate whatever it is with Durosa, I'll say this. He's really thought about this since the last one they lost in twenty three, and he's like, we want split neutral guys that can get righty's and lefties out. We want guys who maybe he can go more than one inning, although we don't want to have to use them more than one inning. He's like, we want guys like Ernie Clement. The reason Ernie Clement's on this team is because he can play any position, so it frees up some other stuff. I mean, he's really thought about this. He's like, we talked about moving Bragman a second so we could play Gunner at third, but then we have Bryce Raang who's a stud. So he's listen, he's thought about I mean, they've this wasn't like just throw together a roster. I mean, he's really dug into this, and he only wanted people that wanted to be there. He didn't want to have to call him bag anybody. Everyone that's on this team kind of wanted to almost ask to be on the team. So they've thought about this a lot. It's not just thrown together.

00:23:25
Speaker 1: Now, the US lost last time and it's like why, I mean the US is only one once, right, yeah, in the tournament's history, and they're like, why why is the US not more competitive than this? And they're trying to change that. So the drama continues this evening. To me, this is where we've gotten through the warm up phase for Team USA. So let's show the schedule, USA going up against Mexico, then No Evidaly, and then we'll go from there to show you what's happening. But there are other games going on this evening too. We're gonna talk more about the WBC in general. Later on we'll talk about Otanian Company Advancing and the other pools.

00:24:01
Speaker 4: But that's the schedule, and.

00:24:03
Speaker 1: We're showing you a schedule also because it's all happening on the Fox one app. This episode's brought to you by Fox One. Stream all your Fox favorites together in one place. MLB regular season, postseason, NFL college football, WBC going on right now. You get it all live. Start your seven day free trial today. Offer subject to change. Go to Fox one for complete terms and conditions. Fox one streaming now.

00:24:29
Speaker 4: In the week.

00:24:30
Speaker 1: Let's dive into more on the World Baseball Classic. We talked Team USA and now let's get into everything else, and yes, you can catch all the action on Fox one. Japan is the first team that knew that they were going to advance and head over to the States and playing the quarters. Korea also now advancing. That was the fresh one where it was actually really.

00:24:52
Speaker 5: The run differential. They had to win by five runs and they did win by five runs. Australia just needed to score a run like in the bottom of the ninth. Thing is crazy. That's crazy.

00:25:01
Speaker 4: It is crazy, but it's awesome.

00:25:03
Speaker 5: But I can't wait. I'm excited. I told you on Fox You've got it. Saturday. I get Japan for the quarterfinals no matter what. So that place is going to be crazy. Whoever they I mean, it lines up Dominican or Venezuela more than likely, So it's going to be awesome.

00:25:17
Speaker 4: There's Yoshida who's had a big series or a big tournament. Cool picture so far, it is a very cool picture.

00:25:22
Speaker 1: Yeah, Japan won it last time around. I mean that lineup is really good. They actually had a tough test. They only beat Australia by a run.

00:25:33
Speaker 4: Yeahs hung around with them for a minute. But I feel like they're going to be able to win.

00:25:39
Speaker 5: It's I used this analogy the other day for some of these teams and KP tell me what you think. It's like a college football team. It's a top ten team named whatever one you want to name, playing a Samford or a Mercer or a mid major ish team. Right. Yeah, they can score on the opening touchdown, opening drive because they scheme up some funky plays that you know, the big team hasn't really focused on. But then over the time the depth just wears them down. And that's what happens when you get into some of these bullpens. They just don't have the depth of the Basically, it's about big five teams. I would say US, Japan, Korea, Dominican, Venezuela, and maybe Mexico Ish or the Big Six maybe, because even even if you look at Puerto Rico, they don't have the pitching depth that a lot of the other teams have. So eventually just they just get to them and they were and then they walk a couple guys, they get to some younger guys and then boom, someone hits a home run in the game's over. It's a It's a great tournament. I love it. It's so fun for the fans. But I wish some of the teams are other teams were better. It would be even more fun. Well, I mean, I don't.

00:26:46
Speaker 3: I don't think they can.

00:26:47
Speaker 2: I don't think they can loosen the rules anymore in terms of no, I know, I'm not no, I'm saying that for the teams you qualify for. So I think players have the ability to play for multiple different countries now as you've seen multiples that played for multiple countries, so you know the you know, baseball is just not the same in every country we go to. But I do love your analogy with you know, a top ten team playing a mid major. That's kind of why this tournament plays out early in the year. I do think you see the occasional upset because a lot of these teams will play down to their competition a little bit. But I think this we're getting to the point, especially with the USA game today, where you know, they knew eventually they could just turn it on and beat the first two teams they play. You play down to your competition a little bit. Your you're fresh out of spring training, your timing's not quite there. You do face the unique guy who is actually throwing under the comfortable hitting speed. For a lot of these guys, it works for a little bit of time, but eventually the good teams, the great teams, are going to wear down these smaller teams that just don't have the depth. But this is where the tournament gets really exciting. The players have more at bats under their belt, pitchers have more innings. Log everything starts to sharpen a little bit and the competition turns up a little bit and you start to see a team like USA play up to their competition with a team in Mexico today, and I think it can end up being a very one sided game. I think you knew Japan was going to be there. I think you knew Korea was going to be there. It's a shame with some of the insurance things and the health things that happened to some of the Puerto Rican players too, because you could put them in that category of a team that you expect to kind of be in that second round of this tournament. But it's really gonna come down about four or five teams. They have enough depth to kind of withstand. You know, the way this tournament is set up, how.

00:28:35
Speaker 1: Much circling in the lineup and avoiding should teams do with Otani?

00:28:42
Speaker 4: There are other good names in that lineup.

00:28:44
Speaker 5: I tell who wouldn't be wouldn't be Poland? Team Poland, would not be Tani.

00:28:51
Speaker 1: It's never gonna happen, or at least not right now. I mean I don't say never, not never, but well, I'll tell you.

00:28:57
Speaker 5: What team's never going to be in a Team New Jersey. So let's not poll in the country, so you're not.

00:29:02
Speaker 1: Taking a shot at me. I identify with many different states.

00:29:05
Speaker 5: Okay, I like to touching that one, but I like Florida. Who do you pitch around that? That's the problem with some of these lineups like USA, Who do you pitch around? Japan? Who do you pitch around? Dominican? Who do you pitch around? Venezuela? Who do you pitch around? Mexico's lineup? Who do you pitch around? For?

00:29:21
Speaker 4: Meo Tani? For Japan?

00:29:23
Speaker 5: I mean, you just don't let Otani be So he walks and he's still second, and then the next guy bunts him over and then the guy gets STACKI fired at one oven.

00:29:30
Speaker 1: Sometimes do you disagree because there's five or six other names that you feel good about.

00:29:35
Speaker 5: So, but like, I mean, the thing is, they have a lot of lefties, so if you could have a nasty lefty. That's why scooball makes so much sense in the finals, because they have so many lefties that you can if you can neutralize them with a lefty, because they have a ton of left handed hitters in that lineup, not the school. I mean, he's split neutral because the changeup.

00:29:56
Speaker 4: But anyways, but still yeah, it would help.

00:29:58
Speaker 5: So Mark, I know New Jersey is not a country, so don't say the Polish guy thinks New Jersey is a country. Okay, so well you have to me come on, you think I don't know you guys wish you guys wish New Jersey was a country, and it would really don't and we would make you guys secede from the Union if.

00:30:14
Speaker 4: It was a country. Of that. I love my country, I love Usa.

00:30:19
Speaker 1: But anyway, the last point I wanted to make was, yes, we didn't see any upsets yet, but I mean Japan is a good example. Like we were very close there for to three win for Team Japan, and then, like you mentioned at the top of this segment, Korea almost didn't advance. Not only did they have to beat Australia, they had to beat them by five runs. They won by five runs with a sackfly in the top of the ninth inning. Otherwise they would have beaten Australia six' two and gotten knocked.

00:30:51
Speaker 4: Out that's just the way it.

00:30:52
Speaker 1: Is you're not playing that many games and if everybody has the same number of, losses, Right japan was, good but then you Had Korea australia And chinese. Typeey Since chinese typey, UPSET i guess.

00:31:03
Speaker 4: That was the upset you.

00:31:04
Speaker 5: Mentioned it's been like the one upset that's the biggest, upset the biggest game of this whole. Tournament and you guys will laugh WHEN i say this is tomorrow or it might Be, no it might be. Today brazil Versus Great. Britain the winner doesn't have to qualify for the NEXT, Wbc so as long as you don't finish last like, check they're. Out so they have to. Qualify they're gonna lose The poland in the next. Qualifier hopefully If poland, can we can figure out how to Get poland in the. Qualifiers But Brazil, BRITAIN i think it's today at one o'clock On fox. One the winner doesn't have to. Requalify they're in the NEXT. Wbc so that even though it's, like why would anyton want to watch that, game it means a lot to those.

00:31:44
Speaker 2: Teams, hey do you guys consider these home, runs these walkoffs that create the mercy?

00:31:52
Speaker 3: Rule are they considered? Walkoffs?

00:31:54
Speaker 5: SEE i said no on the on the broadcast when who was A soto hit? One the other, NIGHT i asked that, question and but Then waino And ADAM i mean said, yes because it's technically a walk, off.

00:32:05
Speaker 4: It ends the, game but it's not.

00:32:06
Speaker 5: Really but it's not really it's like a mercy home or you should call it like the mercy. Homer but In Red cross, homers.

00:32:12
Speaker 4: It wins you the game. THEORETICALLY i, mean if they were already gonna win the, game.

00:32:17
Speaker 1: Theoretically it's, over, well then it could be a runoff for, walkoff but the game is not, Over like you could be up nine runs and some team could come back from nine runs in the ninth.

00:32:31
Speaker 4: Inning is it?

00:32:31
Speaker 1: Likely, No but the point is if you're up ten runs through, seven the game is actually. Over so you did walk it, off you you won the.

00:32:39
Speaker 5: GAME i. Disagree what do you, THINK? KP i don't.

00:32:42
Speaker 2: Know If i'd be celebrating LIKE i hit a walkoff, HOMER i. MAY i would probably feel good that the game's over and we knew we were going to win the. Game but you, know when you're up nine runs in the fifth or sixth, inning you know you're you're pretty certain your team's gonna. Win BUT i, mean, hey everyone's got a different. STYLE i mean the guys enjoy hitting these walk off homers as the home team in the seventh, inning go enjoy?

00:33:08
Speaker 3: Him.

00:33:09
Speaker 5: Yep and by the, way should they here's a question for, you. Gus should they implement the run roll in the regular season Of Major League baseball ten after seven so you don't have to see a position player?

00:33:23
Speaker 4: PITCH i don't think. SO i don't. KNOW i got to think more about. It why do you THINK i.

00:33:28
Speaker 5: Don't i'm just going out.

00:33:30
Speaker 3: THERE i say, YES i say. YES i think.

00:33:33
Speaker 5: Then guys on the bench don't get a bat.

00:33:35
Speaker 4: SOMETIMES i, MEAN i don't not worry about. That but does happen enough that it? MATTERS i, GUESS i guess it.

00:33:41
Speaker 1: Does the thing is you still see position players if it's a seven run, game you, know in the.

00:33:46
Speaker 4: Ninth so what's the, line?

00:33:48
Speaker 3: THOUGH i think you should just be able to waive the white.

00:33:52
Speaker 2: FLAG i, mean if you're going to go down that route of you, know not using a guy to your, bullpen you're you're clearly sending a message to the other team that we don't believe we can win this. Game And i'm gonna save my pitchers for. Tomorrow so let's allow everyone to get off the field and.

00:34:06
Speaker 3: Get home a little bit.

00:34:07
Speaker 2: Earlier And i'm all for it because as offensive player, too it's such a lose lose situation when you go up to home plate and you have to face a position, player you get a, hit you're supposed, to you hit a home. Run, yes ultimately it counts on your. Statistics does it feel the same way at the end of the year when you go into harbor free? Agency it counts just as everyone you, know all the other. Ones BUT i think at some, point you, know when a position player comes out of the bullpen or the dugout to, pitch it's no longer a good look for the. GAME i don't think the people that come to a game and watch this really enjoy. It and if the game is that lopsided at some point of the, game the people have either gotten their money's worth if your team's, winning or they're ready to go home anyways if your team's. Losing SO i think you should be able to wave the white.

00:34:52
Speaker 1: FLAG i think it makes our sport look a little bit amateur when we have the position player stuff going. On like you get a, fun cute viral moment every once in a, while but most of the.

00:35:03
Speaker 4: Time it's it's May.

00:35:05
Speaker 1: Well we started this conversation talking About Team japan And korea advancing from their pool and their head to The. States so if you'd like to watch them continue their, Journey fox one is the.

00:35:16
Speaker 4: SPOT aj will have free seven day Trials game.

00:35:19
Speaker 5: Seven are people, Complaining OH i don't have that? App we'll sign up for you get a free seven day.

00:35:23
Speaker 1: Trial exactly Good scan THAT qr code to get. Involved, also this is. BIG i want to make sure we hammer this the entire. Week OUR wbc postgame shows begin. Tonight we are going to give you postgame coverage of the rest of the games For TEAM usa and we are going to Do Dominican Republic venezuela postgame On. Wednesday that's going to be a good. One and then you can check all that out on THE ft YouTube. Channel so after those games like Tonight TEAM usa Against MEXICO a AND I i will be live Maybe kratz. Too job well done to The Atlanta braves and Former Brave Kevin.

00:36:18
Speaker 5: Polar how come we got no pictures? Though are? You are you like Anti?

00:36:21
Speaker 3: Pitcher, no non Anti.

00:36:25
Speaker 2: Pitture just you, know you guys should be thanking me we Got Austin riley on the. Show he has not been able to come. On every time he's, asked he hasn't done.

00:36:33
Speaker 3: IT i.

00:36:34
Speaker 5: Delivered, yeah but No, strider he hasn't been on, either and he's a.

00:36:37
Speaker 2: Picture well you know, WHAT i did not know that UNTIL i already put my, List Robert, SARE i promise you next, Time Spencer, STRIDER i will Get Spencer strider on the. Show when we want to Talk Atlanta braves And i'm on the show, NEXT i will get STILL.

00:36:55
Speaker 5: I want off of.

00:36:56
Speaker 4: Them oh, yeah.

00:36:59
Speaker 3: All, right we can arrange that.

00:37:01
Speaker 5: Too. Yeah by the, Way dero was talking about the other Day durosa THE usa thing about how some guys might not get to. Pitch they need to. Pitch so what are we gonna. Do we're gonna have Like David ross And Michael young And brian mccannon taking bats off of. Them And i'm, Like i'll take it a bat off of. Them sign me, Up, Coach i'll jump in. THERE i. Go as long as it's Not clevenger Or, Spire i'm, like any of those righty, Dudes i'll take my.

00:37:23
Speaker 4: Shot, yeah this, weekend that's your.

00:37:26
Speaker 3: CHANCE i feel LIKE i feel LIKE i.

00:37:28
Speaker 2: MISSED i feel like that my phone should have rang for. That recently, retired still in decent. Shape you need a guy to just come hang out, and you, know stand in a, bullpens let the guys tell them how good their stuff. IS i would have signed up for that job in a. Heartbeat give me A usa. Jersey, HEY i know you didn't get any work.

00:37:45
Speaker 3: IN i was doing that in the big. Leagues.

00:37:48
Speaker 2: Anyways they call me and be, like, hey Jack, lighters you need to get some work in.

00:37:52
Speaker 3: Today you're not, starting you haven't played in a.

00:37:55
Speaker 2: Week you want to come face. Them i'm, like, absolutely So i've done that before in my. Career it would have been an all for me to do it for tmsay So. Drow if you're listening and you get a chance to manage next, Year i'll stay in good. Shape you need a guy to just take at. Bats i'm your.

00:38:08
Speaker 4: Guy you can be their center field coach, too.

00:38:11
Speaker 3: RIGHT i don't have it all figured. OUT i don't have it all figured.

00:38:15
Speaker 2: OUT i just want TO i didn't crack any, CODES i didn't do. ANYTHING i JUST i just want to TAKE i just want to take our bats off their. Guys and need, work And i'll let them know how good they.

00:38:24
Speaker 4: ARE i love.

00:38:25
Speaker 1: It, hey you can listen TO kp a few times a week On Bluebird. Territory by the, Way New Blue jays. Show want to shout that, out but ALSO kp tomorrow From Ray's. Camp, yes we'll talk to The, rays and then On wednesday we have The Baltimore. Orioles that should be, Fun Twins. Camp, Thursday friday we visit The Red. Sox next Week, Tigers, Pirates Blue, Jays, phillies and then that's a wrap for The Foul Territory spring Training, tour which has been engineered By fast And.

00:38:57
Speaker 4: All, again one more reminder before we get out of.

00:38:59
Speaker 1: Here back, tonight we'll see you after THE USA Versus mexico. Game whatever happens when the final out is, recorded we'll be on pretty soon after. That we'll do that all week WITH us games and also with The Dominican republic Against. Venezuela that postgame show is On, wednesday all live on THE ft YouTube. Channel see you on well tonight