Top 10 Starting Rotations, Ken Rosenthal joins FT for USA pitching updates, ABS Challenge System HEATER

00:00:05
Speaker 1: FT senior insider Ken Rosenthalis here, okay, Ken, let's start with the WBC. We learned the news the other day about Trek Scooble making just one start for TSA and the WBC, and then you wrote a story last night about Paul Skean's and his involvement.

00:00:18
Speaker 2: What can you tell.

00:00:19
Speaker 3: Us he expects to make two starts? And as I wrote, he's in a different stage of his career than Schooble is.

00:00:27
Speaker 2: And I know fans are.

00:00:28
Speaker 3: Like, oh, you should pitch. I get it, and we all want to see the best guys play. But Schooble is entering his free agent year. He is with a team that has World Series aspirations. Sken's not in the same place. Four years of club control left. He's still on the minimum salary or roughly above it. And the pirates are going to be improved, I believe, But I don't know. They have World Series aspirations. So we're talking about two different people, two different scenarios. I was surprised Schooble was willing to play at all under these circumstances, and certainly the fact that he's gonna make one start, it's one one. They would have had Otherwise, schemes will be on the same schedule or the similar schedule to Logan Web, who also told reporters yesterday that he expects to make two starts now. The two are predicated, of course, on the US team advancing out of pool play, which everyone expects to happen. But it's not too automatic. It's too assuming they advance.

00:01:25
Speaker 4: Hen By the way, everyone's all up in arms on this. You know, Oh, I can't believe Schoobol would do this, But in reality, starters only get two starts in this tournament. Anyways, Am I wrong on that? Because I'm assuming schemes will throw again and again. I don't know this against either Mexico or Italy, which is their back end of their pool play. So if they advanced, then they would only have one start. Schemes will only have one more start lined up. It's not like they play thirty games in this thing. They play the four pool and then then they go quarterfinals, semis finals like boom boom boom. So it's not like they would get I don't understand why, Like School's gonna make his one start, He's gonna pitch his innings and then he's going back to his team, but at least he agreed to do it. I don't know why any of Ruin's up in arms. There's only two starts anyways.

00:02:04
Speaker 3: Aj, I think you're aware that everyone is always up in arms about everything in this day and age, and it's just the way it is now. Maybe Scooble will reconsider at some point, but I don't believe he will, and I don't know that he should. Honestly, his season is very important to him, his regular season. Not that it's not important to Skiens Logan Webb, of course it is, but he has different stakes at play here, and I'm gonna talk about the kindie eat. I'm talking about stakes, high stakes. So I certainly again was surprised he even agreed in the first place. Skeins kind of talked them into it. It sounds like, and the fact that he's making one start, people should be happy that he's gonna pitch one time and we'll be able to see him on that stage.

00:02:45
Speaker 5: Did Skins give any inkling of what game he's gonna pitch and then are they setting him up to basically be in the final?

00:02:56
Speaker 3: He did not, and I'm not sure they have that totally mapped out.

00:03:00
Speaker 2: Yeah.

00:03:00
Speaker 3: Actually, I'm pretty sure they do, but I didn't hear that, So I would think Eric, what you're saying is essentially what's going to happen, that they'll set him up to be the starter for the final, if indeed they get that far. And the real question now with the rotation is Joe Ryan. Joe Ryan of course left his starter, didn't even start the other day from Minnesota with lower back inflammation. Turns out it was just that. The question is will he be able to pitch at all?

00:03:29
Speaker 1: Okay, I still have a couple more for you here. Let me start with fan perspective on someone like Scooble. If I'm a fan, and I'm a diehard WBC fan, I want Team USA to win, right they lost last time around to Japan. Schooble and Skiings are best in the base. If I'm getting one Schoogle start Ken, I'd rather save him for like the semi finals or maybe even the finals. So I'm wondering, I mean, not that you necessarily know, but if you think in your opinion that the strategy could have been shifted that way.

00:03:57
Speaker 2: If the phone call is hey, you get one Schooble start.

00:03:59
Speaker 1: I'm like, cool, you know he can even stay in camp do his thing, and then show up for a couple of days because I know he wants to be at the finals. If they make it anyway and do the Semis or the finals, depending on how he's feeling, he should be able to give you maybe another inning or two at that point. The restrictions are different, So curious if you think, in your opinion, they should have tried to set that up. And the overall question here has to do with getting these stars pitching wise, especially for Team USA to pitch in this thing, because then I start to think, should we have made this a week later in March so you're even closer to the start of opening Day and almost ready to go full board.

00:04:33
Speaker 3: Anyway, Scott, these are fair questions, and I would say that with all of these pitchers and many of the position players, there is pressure coming from all sides on what they should do, their teams, their agents, and whoever else might be in the NIX with them. So there's a lot going on with these guys, always with the WBC, and I remember last time around, I was doing the games for Fox, and I believe I questioned one of Mark de Ros's pitching moves on the air. I don't exactly remember the circumstances, but I went in to him afterward and I said, Hey, what about this? And he said, dude, you have no idea. I got this guy on this restriction, that guy in that restriction. I can't use this guy two days in a row. All these different things were going on, which explained why he made the decision he made. My guess would be, and it's only a guess, is that you want Schooble or his people, and maybe the Tigers want Schooble in a lower stress environment. You want to pitch, fine, but we don't want to pitching in the final when there will be maximum stress. That would be my guest here. And again, the WBC is a great, great event. I love it. The last time was one of the great sporting events I have ever witnessed, no kidding. But at the same time, there are things that go on in players' careers. There are different considerations that take place, and fans can get as outraged as they want or not, but there's just more to it than meets the eye. In many cases, as I learned myself, covered it the last time.

00:06:11
Speaker 1: Let's look at some matchups coming up for tomorrow thanks to Sea Geek. So we're gonna pull up some pitching probables. Like I mentioned, Hey, here's what I want to focus on. We just started talking about them. So the Mets play the Astros on Thursday, we're gonna get to see Nolan McLain and Tatsuya am I. So right away, I'm circling that one as my favorite. And you can get the tickets for that one over at the Sea Geek app because I'm sure it's going to be a hotter ticket for this one. But aj we get to see Ami, who I think has a lot to prove. He also might pop up in the WBC, but I think he has a lot to prove because there were some teams that clearly doubted him. And then Nolan McLain has sky high expectations coming into this year and he's also prepping for the World Baseball Classic.

00:06:53
Speaker 4: Yeah, I love this matchup. Are you kidding me? For a spring training story? You get to see two guys that are expected to be big parts of their team rotation. Now, they might only throw an inning or two, but this is still fun. These are the matchups you look for. This is the matchups I always look for. If you want to go to a spring training game, Yes you want to see your team, but if you can find a good pitching matchup. And the best part is gott you can buy those tickets on siki that you can go down the line, like say you want an a my autograph. After they're done pitching, they usually walk by, they go out and do some work extra workout in the field. You can stand there, you can have your ball and you can say, you know, Nolan McClain, can you please sell my ball? Am I? Can you please sell my ball? So it's a great opportunity to get an autograph.

00:07:32
Speaker 1: Yeah, if you're looking for spring training tickets, this is the spot glass House pitching for the Dodgers out in Arizona. Chase Burns for the Reds up against Nick Povetta for the Padres in that matchup. These are Thursday matchups. Gossman's pitching for the J's Crochet for the Red Sox. See geek is the spot. Okay use code territory ten ten percent off tickets on sea geek. That's the code and with that promo code t E R R I T O R Y ten. Make sure you click the link in the description to download the app, and you have that code automatically added to your account so you can use it later. Thank you to see Geek. And remember when you're on the app, you get a good deal. That's the green dot. If they don't like the deal for you, it's red. It's like a personal assistant.

00:08:12
Speaker 3: On the app.

00:08:14
Speaker 4: Tell them tell him Ken, it's an exhibition. Tell him, don't tell him, fine, tell them.

00:08:18
Speaker 3: It's an exhibition exhibition.

00:08:22
Speaker 4: I know I love it. I think it's one of the I think I love it. No, I know I love it, and I think it's great. But you know who is happy that Schooble is pitching that one game? Ken?

00:08:33
Speaker 3: Who?

00:08:34
Speaker 4: Me and you because we get to cover his one game that he gets to pitch against Great Britain on Fox. So I'm super excited that he's pitching one of the games that I get to do. And then you get to call it too, So I'm super excited. So thank you Terrek for picking a game that I get to call. I'm selfish at this point.

00:08:51
Speaker 3: There you go, It's all that right, yep?

00:08:54
Speaker 4: And you and you Ken?

00:08:56
Speaker 2: Yeah? Ken?

00:08:57
Speaker 1: Will be there and Dash Chisholm is on Team Great and all right, I got one more for you, and I'm going to keep Aj on the screen for this one because he was at this camp Ken, I think replacements are going to start to be talked about.

00:09:08
Speaker 2: Plus they have that pool.

00:09:09
Speaker 1: I know, for example, Tatoyami is not initially on this Team Japan roster, but he might pitch if they end up in Florida, which I assume they would be for the Semis or for the finals, so that could be an X factor for them. I'm wondering if we could see a few big names pop up, like Logan Gilbert. We were at Mariners camp the other day. Aj, maybe you can help pileon to the question here. It sounded like he was interested and just didn't get a phone call. He'd look pretty damn good pitching in one of those big games.

00:09:37
Speaker 4: You think, yeah, he would. Does he get a chance? Though I don't know who's on the reserve roster. Ken might not better than me.

00:09:42
Speaker 3: I don't, but I do know this it could be relevant And in talking with some tam USA people yesterday, they're waiting to hear on Ryan, and my guess would be the Twins put the clamp down on Ryan and say, listen, Pal, he batiled out of that start, understandably back issue, but we want to be as careful as possible. We don't want to risk anything. Pablo Lopez is having Tommy John surgery and we cannot afford to lose you as well going into the season. Now. A pitcher can get hurt throwing a live VP and get hurt soft tossing for all we know. But there is that concernative teams, sometimes reasonable, sometimes not about the risk of injury.

00:10:24
Speaker 4: Ken, you mentioned Joe Ryan and the Twins. Because Pablo Lopez goes down the way he did sadly with Tommy John, does this make him more likely to be traded? I think it does, because I don't think the Twins want to sit on him, and God forbid, something happened to him like happening with Pablo. Do you think that's a possibility that they would be quicker to act on Joe Ryan to possibly get something back in return.

00:10:44
Speaker 3: AJ Based on the way their new control person, Tom Pollad is speaking, they're intending to compete this year. Now, whether that's realistic or not, that's another story. And I don't expect that they will compete even in the modestly talented Ale Central, but I certainly expect this enhances the chances of Ryan getting moved at the deadline, and those chances were always high to begin with. So here's a guy that, obviously, if he's healthy, can be a real difference maker at the deadline. The Twins could I'm sure, do quite well for him then, as they could have done quite well at last year's deadline. So that's the scenario that I envision. They're not going to give up on the season before it even starts. Teams rarely do that. Might it be the best thing for them to do? Yes, it might be, But you've got ticket buyers to consider, You've got all kinds of considerations that go beyond simply putting together the best possible roster or the best possible roster for the future.

00:11:41
Speaker 1: And I know a team that might be calling for his services at the trade deadline. Let's get to your column about the Atlanta Braves. So they sign up Chris Sale and get them for another year maybe two with that team option. But the real story right now is what's the plan with their starting rotation? Can you dive into your expectations. I think many Braves fans work expecting them to be more active for a starter. At the beginning of the off season. It appeared that way from public comments they said they felt fine. Now down two starters, they still feel fine.

00:12:11
Speaker 3: They do. But Scott, you're absolutely right, and what you just described was what I wrote about today. Now, Alexandthopolis, that president based operations goes into the off season insane. We would like to add a playoff caliber starter now for a variety of reasons, some of which I get into in the column. They didn't do that, And okay, they still have a pretty formidable group. You look right there, with Spencer Schwellenbach in the mix, it's even more formidable, right Sales, Schreider, Lopez Holmes. The problem is, even with Schwellenbach injured and Waldrup injured, it doesn't mean the rest of your rotation is, oh, this picture of health. It might be, but all of those starters, with the exception of Elder, perhaps have injury concerns surrounding them. Sales going to be thirty seven, Streyder, Yes, he looks it. Fastball's got life on it again. But I don't know that it's an injury concern as much as how much can you expect him out of him from an inning standpoint. Grant Holmes dealing with a tear in his elbow, he's pitching with it that could go at any time. And Ronaldo Lopez pitched once last year before ending his season after his first start because of shoulder inflammation. So it seems to me they're in a perilous place. And that's what I wrote about that Alexanthope was is playing with fire. Now you might say, well, why not sign Giolito, why not sign Zach Lttel? Fair question in my opinion, maybe the Braves don't see them, either of them as significant upgrades over Bryce Elder, who they are high on, and Joey Wentz, who also is out of options. They're high on him. But at the same time, the concern I have is they're one injury away from being desperate to sign one of those guys, and if, for instance, joe Ryan did become available right now, that would be the perfect team to go get him. In my opinion, they need one more and I know Bryce elders out of options, I know Joy Wentz is out of options. That complicates it. It jams up your roster. But if you're going to put your best foot forward and you can get somebody maybe better than one of those two, you go do it.

00:14:16
Speaker 5: Is it also hard to predict what Alex Anthropolois is gonna do because he is notorious at keeping everything close to the vest.

00:14:26
Speaker 3: Yeah, it is hard to predict and would have shock me if he did something big before opening the day. No, it would not surprise me. But generally speaking, and I touch on this in the column, he likes to operate early in the offseason. He's a guy who does things quickly, wants to jump the market rather than beat the market later. So the options right now do not appear to be numerous. Could he surprise us all with a guy that we're not even thinking about, not even on anyone's radar. I'd be surprised if that happened in spring training, But no, you can't rule it out. And also in fair I understand thop was. Then I made this point in the Calm, this is a model franchise. Until the last season, they'd gone to the postseason seven straight years under Anthop Was, so he warrants the benefit of the doubt. I still just think he's taken too bigger risk here.

00:15:15
Speaker 1: Yeah, it seems dicey, especially when you have names on the free agent market that you feel like could be a big help, and you might. I know, they're different, right, they have their pros and cons LATEL might be a little more durable based on Julido's and to last season. I don't know, but yeah, Brace fans are just like it's staring at us in the face, and your column just helps to show that they might not be playing in those waters, at least for now.

00:15:36
Speaker 2: But Ken, thank you for the time. Appreciated. As always, we'll chat with you later this week.

00:15:41
Speaker 3: Thanks guys.

00:15:43
Speaker 2: All right, we're back.

00:15:44
Speaker 1: And we have another channel to add to the mix here, So let's introduce a Marlin show to the FT Network. Yes, we keep growing, family getting bigger, and the show already has been out there part of a platform that covers the Marlins as well anyone in baseball, and it's called fish on First. They have been excellent reporting on this team for a long period of time, and now they'll be under the FT Network representing our Marlin's coverage. As you can see on the screen, there's a new co host for the shows and podcasts that they're doing under the FT Network, and that is aj Ramos, former All Star Closer for the Marlin.

00:16:23
Speaker 2: So we're excited about that one.

00:16:24
Speaker 1: We've had aj on here before, Kratz, but now we get to see oh, hold on, hold on, let me correct myself. We'd had Ramos on Foul Territory as a host before, and now we get a lot more Ramos on Marlin's shows.

00:16:39
Speaker 5: With fish On First, He's good, he's embedded down there. I loved when he was on too, because we got the show a video of me hitting a dinger off of him. Found out his arm was almost falling off when I did it. But hey, you know what, anytime, just like you know, you get drafted in front of somebody or behind somebody, you get to you just always have bragging rights. So there's always those bragging rights there time. Hopefully I've become a guest on the fish On First.

00:17:10
Speaker 1: All right, this is the good stuff. This is what I've been hyping for a long period of time. Kratz is already making the motion. Eric, you can help lead the way to start this one. We have seen some highs and lows already in the first what five days or so of the ABS Challenge system.

00:17:28
Speaker 2: It has been a wild ride.

00:17:31
Speaker 1: And we had one ump who went through the fan experience that you can anticipate to see quite often during this season. I'm going to butcher the name, and he's a minor league gump who is getting some time in a major league spring training game, Mitch Tresiak. And this isn't about him, right, I'm not saying like, oh, he's really good, he's really bad, whatever. He just he was off on some calls and they kept banging the good old ABS Challenge system and it became a thing craft where there were five consecutive calls from him that were overturned before the end of the third inning. Three of them happened in just over an inning's worth of baseball. And then finally he gets one right in the fourth inning on an ABS The call stood and the crowd cheered. The crowd engagement will be off the charts for the ABS Challenge system, and that is the component that I think has been underrated with this new rule.

00:18:27
Speaker 2: Is it going to help us get more calls?

00:18:29
Speaker 3: Right? Sure?

00:18:30
Speaker 1: Does it add more strategy to the game, yes, Does it keep fans more engaged? In the game, especially when you're at the ballpark, and it gives you another reason to boo or cheer. Yes, boo if your player messes up on a challenge, cheer if they get it right, and then you can have this back and forth fun with the umpire. I don't want to say I feel bad for the umps. It's part of their job, but it is going to add another wrinkle to their job.

00:18:52
Speaker 2: With fan engagement, the game is to be watched.

00:18:57
Speaker 5: You want people to engage in the game, aim and not on their phones. We live in the screen ager time of life right now, where it's like if something boring, oh, I don't even want to see I don't want to see this at bat, Like I just get enthralled in my phone. As soon as I watched it happen in Triple A games. I watched it happen in spring training games last year. As soon as there was a challenge. I saw people look up from their phones to see it. Now, the argument would be, while they're going and looking at another screen, Okay, well that's fine, but you're engaged in the game and this will engage. Unfortunately for Mitch, he didn't have a good day, but it's not like umpires are sitting down there in the offseason, you know, finding games where they can you know, figure out their strike zone. This is spring training for them too, And I think for him, it wasn't five consecutive pitches in a row. For anybody who hasn't watched the video yet, it was five consecutive challenges that the call was overturned. So it kind of just it's snowballed for my guy, Like it happens. We just we just talked to PCA. He's like, yeah, you know what, sometimes I'm just going to swing him. I'm still gonna miss. Like you have to learn the strikes and you have to learn hey, you know what he called and it was I felt bad for Mitch because the umpire because one was off, he called it a strike, one was on, he called it a ball. And he's like, man, where am I at? This is not going to cause him to not be a big league umpire. That is not how they evaluate the umpires from Triple A to the big league. So this is just it's a case that to me, I think this is a success for the ABS, and I think it engages fans, which is what we need for one hundred and sixty two games.

00:20:44
Speaker 4: I've watched a lot of spring training. I've started watching spring training games. I've been in spring training games, and you know what, every team is doing this, they're trying. I mean, I saw one last night. I forget what game it was. It was zero point one inches that they challenged and they were right right. It was point one one, not one inch point one, which is like this much. And all these teams are trying it out. And then I also saw a game where the Mariners they ran out of challenges and there were some close pitches and they couldn't challenge. So I love it. And the you know what, it's more fan engagement and umpires are gonna miss calls. They miss calls, and you know what, that's why we have this. But it's early in springlight, Cratzy said. But the fans are engaged in every pitch because they at any point they can see that little thing pop up on the screen. They see the umpire go like this, and a little thing pops up the screen and ten seconds later here comes the ball. Ball are striking. Then they cheer, they boo or they ooh and ah, and it's a good thing for the game. Let's keep fans engage, let's keep everybody engaged for the full nine innings. I think it's awesome and I love it. I'm not a full robo ump guy, but i am a full challenge guy like this because it's more strategy. Anytime you get more action, more strategy, I'm for it.

00:21:52
Speaker 1: And AJ playing to your point, Sometimes there is going to be a challenge where it just missed or it just made it, and someone might go, ah, no, that's not what this should be about. Well, you can't differentiate like it's either a ball or strike. Kratz has been adamant about this too. It's a ball or strike. Now, what you hopefully will often see is some egregious misses, which is what we saw and we're showing some of them here during what was a bad little stretch for the Sump, and you fix them. That's the whole point, so that you don't have people going nuts. They're still going to go nuts on some calls because you're not going to fix everything, but there are going to be some egregious misses that are very obvious for major league players, whether it's a catcher or a batter, and they'll be able to fix that. An update here about an hour ago aj from our friend Jesse Rodgers, who works for ESPN. He said early abs spring update, there have been three hundred to two challenges through five days of games, an average of four point sixty five per game, of fifty three percent overturn rate so far, and he says pitcher catcher Combo has a fifty four percent overturn rate. Hitters are at fifty one percent. So this is somewhat what we expected, and we'll get a lot more of a sample size going here. But we're getting close to five challenges per game and you're about fifty percent, right.

00:23:08
Speaker 4: Yeah, So that means jumpires are right almost fifty percent of the time too, So it's fifty to fifty.

00:23:13
Speaker 3: Now.

00:23:13
Speaker 4: I've seen a couple that are like two inches, but again, two inches is like this, It's not like the old days where they would get like six eight inches a foot off the plate with laden games and high and low and everything was a strike. I mean, the most egregious one I think I've seen so far as one point seven inches, which again is like this far off the plate, right, and it's probably I think it was like a big, nasty like breaking ball. That was like the catcher didn't catch it very well, umpire balled or I think he called it a strike and and the guy challenged and again it was an inch and a half off the plate. So this is gonna be cool. This is gonna be a good thing, and I'm all for it. I'm looking forward to to calling a game and saying, oh wait, stop, we got our first ABS challenge of the year, and then waiting and watching the crowd react and the players react.

00:24:01
Speaker 2: I'm pumped.

00:24:02
Speaker 1: Very cool, all right, So we'll keep you post on how that's looking in spring training and then also part of hot Corner. Here one quickie update. We didn't get to this the other day when we first heard the news. Sebastian Walcott is one of the best prospects in baseball, and it initially sounded like he'd be done for the year. Now he might not appear in a major league game this season. But we did learn the other day or I guess yesterday, that he had internal brace surgery, not Tommy John And this is a position player, by the way, and he should be able to hit in games late in the season in early August or in August. Return not early August. In August, return is on the table. Just wanted to throw that one out there, all right, let's end. We were in Rangers camp the other day, by the way, So if you want to see much more on the Rangers, including conversations with Skip Schumacher, Brandon Neimo, and more, then you just backtrack for our show from the weekend, or if you're listening podcast wise, we have a bunch of those posted on the podcast platforms. We're going to get into all of the nitty gritty details about why you should switch to Mint Mobile. But I brought a special guest in for this one to alert you that you might be paying way too.

00:25:09
Speaker 2: Much for your wireless bill.

00:25:11
Speaker 1: Eric Kratz, Can you give me the bullpen dugout phone please?

00:25:17
Speaker 3: Lulu, lu lu lu Lulu.

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Speaker 5: You want to pay fifteen bucks a month unlimited switch to mint Mobile.

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Speaker 1: You were the man unlimited talk, text and data at a fraction of what others charge.

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Speaker 2: Ready to stop paying more than you have to?

00:25:30
Speaker 1: New customers can make the switch today and for a limited time, get unlimited premium wireless for just fifteen bucks per month. Switch now at mintmobile dot com slash territory that's mintmobile dot com slash territory. Upfront payment of forty five dollars for three months, ninety for six months, or one eighty for twelve months. Plan required fifteen dollars a month equivalent taxes and fees extra initial plan term only over fifty gigabytes. May slow when network is busy. Capable device required, availability, speed and coverage varies see mintmobile dot com. We're trying to find ways to incorporate power rankings into our lexicon, aside from just the Hey, who are the best teams in our mind right now? CBS helping us out a little bit here Matt Snyder writing an article about top tens, So here's a few of them. We're going to start with his top ten starting rotations, so AJ we're going to look at what he throws out there and slice and dice however you want if you think there's teams missing or a team that shouldn't be in there. But also, I think the rankings are important here, so I'll read them and then we can have fun with this. And for him, qualifications very roughly, and I like the way he does this. It's not just like super nerdy numbers for everything. Projections looking back at last year. He wants an ace, He wants at least one, if not two, frontline starters, and he wants to see depth. You're not necessarily going to see that with every team on here, but those are the qualifications where he's trying to judge things. And I'm with you, right, you want to see to get through the season, but then you also want to make sure you have what it takes to last through October. So let's start with the Yankees. He has them at ten, the Blue Jays at nine, then the Pirates led by Schemes at eight, The Reds are at seven, and here are the Phillies at six, Mariners checking in with the five spot, Rangers at four. He has Schooble and Fromber with the Tigers at three, Red Sox and all of their depth at two, Dodgers at one.

00:27:33
Speaker 4: I got no problem with the Dodgers at one. They have, you know, ten starters like we talked about the last last year, Red Sox at two, okay, with Gray Crochet, Ranger Suarez, Brian Bayo. Okay. My thing is is I think the Mariners should be maybe three or four a little bit higher, and if the Phillies had Wheeler for the whole year. Even with Sanchez and Nola and then Painters he going to step into that. They can, they could maybe move into that top five. For me, The Rangers are the one here that's a little bit too high because the Graamvivaldi and Gore, Ken de Gram and Evaldi stay healthy, right, that's the big, big question mark. Can they stay healthy for real the whole year. And then when we were at Rangers camp the other day, we were like, who's the fifth We don't even know that. So to put them at four when you don't even know who the fifth guy is is a little high for me. But other than that, I don't mind this list. You know, the Reds again have to stay healthy to be a top ten team. The Cubs are sneaky good. By the way, Matthew Boyd Kate Horton tie on steal when he comes back showed a yeah.

00:28:38
Speaker 5: I mean, I don't disagree with what AJ's saying that Dodgers have to be up there. Even if you're gonna sit here and argue like pitcher for pitcher, like they have the depth. They have more cy youngs than any starting rotation in the game. To me, the team that I look at on here they did a lot this offseason. Did they do enough? We'll see when the rest of the power rankings come out.

00:29:00
Speaker 3: It's the Pirates.

00:29:01
Speaker 5: The Pirates have the opportunity to have the highest ceiling of any team on this Yes, I get the Phillies. If Wheeler comes back, they could have two cy young candidates in a rotation. To me, the Tigers, And because you have Trek Skoobell in your rotation, you say, okay, well who's the Okay Framber's behind him? What is justin Verlander? Casey Miies is going to be awesome? Flaherty's always up there. To me, the Pirates have potential, potential, just potential to be the best on this list. Because of the fact that you have Paul Skins in your rotation. You couple anybody with Paul Skins. All of a sudden, if Bubba Chandler or Braxton Ashcraft or Jared Jones becomes the guys that you think they're going to become, you have a chance to say that is an Elite one two, maybe an Elite one two three. Now, all of a sudden, you're shortening series when you have two guys going in a three game series that are legitimate number ones. And then you have Paul Skeins, who is an ace, probably the second best pitcher in the game, maybe the first best picture in the game. All of a sudden, that rotation just takes other leaps and bounds. So for the Pirates to move up any more than they are, they have to prove what they have to prove the potential that these young guys have been. You know, we've been reading so much about since they burst on the scene in Pro Bowl, in the minor leagues.

00:30:33
Speaker 1: That's a pretty hot take that you think the Pirates could be at the top of the list. There's potential they've got one or two in terms of best starters. I have a little bit of an issue with the depth.

00:30:45
Speaker 2: On that one.

00:30:46
Speaker 1: So the one part of the offseason that I didn't like for Pittsburgh was that they did have to trade guys they could have been part of this twenty twenty six roster, even if they weren't cracking the star arting rotation from the jump they traded away. I joke, but I know you like the guy and I think he could farewell in Boston. Johanno Viedo. They traded away Mike Burrows, who I think could be a very effective starter in the big leagues. Did they both have spots? I think they probably did, but it would have been a nice battle.

00:31:16
Speaker 3: You need depth.

00:31:17
Speaker 1: My one issue with Pittsburgh is they might get off to a nice hot start, but is there enough there when we get later on in the season. They actually are a team that will often give you a little sign of life in April and maybe that carries through May, June, July. But I didn't like that they had to trade those kinds of guys away. If I'm them, I'm looking at my higher ceiling but lower level talent, right. I mean, maybe that couldn't get the deals done. Maybe right, but a ball guys that weren't going to necessarily impact the twenty twenty five team or the twenty twenty six sorry team that they're hoping makes the playoffs for the first time in a decade.

00:31:53
Speaker 5: I hear it, and that's why I prefaced it by saying they have the highest ceiling, because those guys have they have to hit for the and it's this, this is why I'm not gonna pick the Pirates to finish as high as people think they're gonna finish. I think they're projected to finish above the Brewers in the division, Like it's so hard for all those guys to hit. My comment was, they have the potential to have the highest ceiling because they already have Paul Skeens. It's not like they're saying, oh, we don't know what Paul Skeens is. Paul Skeens is the most dominant start first two years of any big league pitcher. Like it's the most dominant two seasons that he's put together. So he's solidified. Who else is gonna step up? Who is gonna be that next guy? And you know, is it Bubba Chandler, Is Mitch Keller gonna take another step? Or is Mitch Keller gonna be just a massively solid three or four. If if Bubba Chandler says, Okay, I'm gonna throw one hundred with my ninety two mile hour change up splitter thing, I just think I think there's such a high ceiling for them that it's worth watching. Because we could also say at the end of the season or halfway through the season, pirates rotations back down to like twelve or thirteen, and that's only because it is being held up by Paul Skins. I don't think there is a group rotation lineup anywhere in the game that is so heavily held up by one guy, and Paul Skins. Paul Skins holds it up more than Aaron Judge for the Yankees lineup, more than Shoho Tani for the fact that what he does with the Dodgers, they're more well rounded, you know, more than any other group. It's Paul Skans and that rotation. And I think some of those other guys are going to do some legitimate things. They have athletic young pitchers.

00:33:50
Speaker 1: Bet MGM insights for us on the World Baseball Classic right now some line movement. We're looking at two teams in particular, Team USA from open to now plus one at the open. Now it's at minus one ten. Venezuela has jumped a little bit too. They were at plus fourteen now checking in with ten to one odds to win it all.

00:34:09
Speaker 2: And we're just focusing on two here.

00:34:11
Speaker 1: There are many more that we can talk about at some point, but thoughts online movement so far. AJ Let's start with Team USA. So they go from a plus money odds plus one forty.

00:34:22
Speaker 2: That's cool.

00:34:23
Speaker 1: Now at minus one ten, and we're learning a little bit about how it could be rough for them with the pitching decisions. Again, I don't know, do you think I don't really like the value there and that course to even money, but I know they're the favorite. But if I'm looking for value on who's going to win this thing, I'm going to look elsewhere.

00:34:41
Speaker 2: You know.

00:34:41
Speaker 1: If I want to go game by game and bet on Team USA, cool, but I don't think I'm looking at this like they're an easy favorite.

00:34:48
Speaker 4: What's Dominican? Do we do we have a Dominican? Because Venezuela to me is a good bet. I'm not sold on their pitching, but I like the Venezuelan hitters and I like their team, and they were in the semifinals last time, and they were a treat swing away from being in the finals. So I mean plus thousand is good, especially if you're from Venezuela and you think they have a good chance. But I mean I think that the USA is the clear favorite. But man again, Japan, they've won three of these things, right, they know what they're doing. So yeah, I mean, do I want USA to win. Yes, line movement is based on injuries and news that's coming out and teams that don't have guys and teams who get guys. So I mean I'd be more I'd be more willing to bet on a Venezuela and DR something like that than I would on the USA just because of the odds.

00:35:33
Speaker 1: I'll give you some more. Okay, Team Japan's at plus three point fifty. Dominican Republic is plus four hundred, and as I mentioned, that's the one because we were going over some line movement. Venezuela is now at plus one thousand, and after that it's a huge drop off. Then you've got Team Mexico and Team Puerto Rico both at twenty five to one odds to win this thing.

00:35:53
Speaker 2: Where's your money.

00:35:54
Speaker 4: At tr for me is the one four hundred plus four hundred because they're stacked pitching lineup. They are and they love it. Got you know this? They love it? Man? Did you get down there? There was the dr the Latin Maria. Not the USA doesn't love it, not that Japan doesn't love it. But you played in winter ball. This is winter ball with big leaguers.

00:36:13
Speaker 5: This is where I think the advantage is and I think what this is why Japan has won so many of these. I don't necessarily think physically statistically they have a better team. They're ready. There's dr guys that were playing winter ball so that they would be ready for WBC. AJ would tell you, I saw it all the time. Dudes come into their first live at bat and spring training and you're like, you're trying to like, wow, this looks super fast, and they're just like, whack first pitch. It's like, how are they doing this? Like Bobby I got done playing like a week and a half ago. So the guys who are closer to mid season form hitters wise, and also pitchers, but I think it's a little different for pitchers. Hitters wise, they're ready to go.

00:36:59
Speaker 3: If it takes.

00:36:59
Speaker 5: You winnings to get going a little bit because you haven't been playing, that's where you run into a little bit of a a little bit of a problem. A couple exhibition games it helps, but you got to hit the ground running. And if you're in mid season form because you played in winter ball or the Japanese guys they keep playing, they prepare for these these quote off season events. That's why they have the advantage.

00:37:23
Speaker 1: Yeah, gray value with Team Japan. For me, they won it last time around. They have a ton of talent, other reasons for prep like Kratz mentioned, and I don't think they'll have the same drama with the pitching. You're there or you're not. I guess it's a little less right. Roki Sazaki's not participating. I'm tatuya Amai is probably going to join the team later on. But then aside from that, they've got the full stack. I know Otani said he's not pitching. I still think he could in a final appear. It's his world. We're just living in it. I'm Amoto's there, showed dem Naga's there. There's a lot to like with their pitching staff, at talented pitchers who are not over in the major leagues yet. So I still think there's a lot of value there. I'm actually surprised there at plus three point fifty. All right, leading up to that, you'll be able to bet on WBC games and get yourself a chance to win a trip to Vegas, Yes, to watch the March matchups. It's part of a Court of Legends at Polagio in Vegas promotion that betmgm is running with the Cavender Twins, the former d one hoopers and influencers Haley and Hannah. They're going to host a big event out there. So for more information and how you can participate and opt into this promo where you place qualifying wagers but at least ten bucks plus one hundred odds on any sports betting market and you enter this leader board, go over to betmgm dot com or on the betmgm app. Also, don't forget to use code foul for that new player offer. If you knew the party on betmgm. Gambling problem or concern, there's help Call one eight hundred gambling.

00:39:01
Speaker 2: All right, A few things to do.

00:39:02
Speaker 1: Here on slappants Number one, let's look at the Foul Territory Spring training calendar engineered by Fast and All. Shout out to cubs PR for helping us out today, John, Joanna Jesse, You're awesome.

00:39:17
Speaker 2: Thank you for the great setup.

00:39:18
Speaker 1: Thank you Sloan Park for feeding aj all day and keeping him happy and not cranky. He was very very happy to eat, just like me. If you want to keep me happy, feed me all day. And I think Kratz is the same way. So thank you to the Cubs for hosting us and rolling out the VIP guest list for us too. We really appreciate that we spend money. We spend a lot of time to do this spring training tour. And then two more things. One Bob Nightingale's note that came out towards the back half of the show. Here Merril Kelly was going to be the opening day starter against the Dodgers for the Diamondbacks, he is sidelined with intercostal nerve irritation, not in the mix to be ready for the season opener.

00:39:56
Speaker 2: That is really tough news.

00:39:58
Speaker 1: So the Diamondbacks will get you more on that once we find it out. But krats, that's a team that can't afford too many of those. You want to talk about starter depth. They've got some good names, it doesn't go really deep down the line, and they need Kelly tough one there.

00:40:13
Speaker 5: It's good they got gown. But I've never heard of it. Intercostal nerve irritation. Intercostal is obviously people say, Okay, it's a oblique or whatever, but nerve, intercostal nerve irritation, it's tough.

00:40:26
Speaker 1: Sounds like something we'll have to ask our injury expert will carol about at some point. I'm sure he'll talk about it on Injury Territory. Congrats to Fish on first joining the FT Network and krats hats on.

00:40:36
Speaker 5: The way out obviously, and where we've clearly found out is AJ's favorite Chicago team is the Cubs and they got a nice spring training.

00:40:46
Speaker 2: Hat too, so they do.

00:40:48
Speaker 1: AJ loves the Bears, and now he loves the Cubs. We'll see you tomorrow as we keep rolling on the camp tour.