Fair Territory: MLB's hottest teams, Braves-Dodgers preview, Fan q's

00:00:01
Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the Thursday edition of Fair Territory. I'm Ken Rosenthal here with Alana Rizzo. Alana, good to see you this morning, and we have an interesting question to tackle on the first part of our show.

00:00:13
Speaker 2: We do.

00:00:14
Speaker 3: Good to be with you as always Ken, albeit a little bit earlier today on Fair Territory with Ken Rosenthal, who is the hottest team in baseball right now? Perhaps I'd answer that so would surprise somebody a couple of weeks ago.

00:00:27
Speaker 1: We do have a couple of candidates here, actually more than a couple even, but right now I would have to go with the Chicago Cubs. What is going on at Wrigley Field is absolutely ridiculous. It's fourteen straight at Wrigley, three straight walkoffs over the Reds, eight straight wins overall in eighteen of twenty one. And you saw last night again they're down in the nine six' FOUR pca hits a ball off his shoe tops the other way for two run game tying home where they went on another walk. Off so The cubs are one. Candidate i'll go with, them but we've got some other choices potentially as.

00:01:02
Speaker 3: Well we, do AND i think you know when you think of the next team that you're gonna Mention. Ken this has kind of been wired to wire. Right there hasn't really been another, team particularly in The Al, east that has given The New York yankees any sort.

00:01:15
Speaker 1: Of fits, Right And Tampa bay's playing really. Well we'll get to, them but The yankees are the elite team in The American league right. Now they've won fifteen of. Eighteen it's been a really impressive. Run and a lot of people are, anticipating of, course that once they Get rodin And gerrit, coleback they'll be even. Better i'm not so sure they can be, better and also you never know what you're going to get from injured pitchers when they. Return but certainly The yankees have proven to be to this point the class of the. League AND i don't want to take anything away from What Tampa bay is. Doing they've won six straight over The giants and they just finished off The Blue jays as. Well they're playing really well now that they're back at the, trap which seems to be a thing for. Them it was really uncomfortable for them At Steinberner, field no doubt about. It and now that they're back home in their real. HOME i am sure it's having a positive, effect and they're doing virtually everything right right. Now so THE Al east is looking. Interesting the rest of The American, LEAGUE i should say, This THE Ale east at the top is looking. Interesting the rest of The American, league including the rest of THE Ale, east not so.

00:02:27
Speaker 3: Much, yeah after the loss yesterday to The, rangers The New York yankees is just a half game lead over The Tampa Bay. Rays but of, course only three teams in THE Al can have a winning record above five, hundred The, yankees The, rays and The. Athletics i'm not certain many folks would have thought about. That, however there is a team in THE Al central that you have your eye on in terms of being hot as.

00:02:49
Speaker 4: Well who is.

00:02:49
Speaker 1: It i've been waiting for this team to get, going and it's The Kansas City. Royals now THE Al central is there for the, taking particularly now with The Trek schoogel. Injury The tigers have an number of other injuries as, well and The royals for the first part of the season just did not. Hit pasquintino Sal perez not hitting at, All Bobby witt was not hot at the, start and finally now they're coming around a little. Bit they've got an excellent, rotation a decent, bullpen even Without estevez who's been. Injured and it's, concerning of course That reagan's has these physical, issues but this is a team that you would think is going to be a little bit better than they've been in the. Past they didn't do much in the, offseason kind of supplemented their outfield With Lane thomas And Isaac. Collins BUT i still expect The royals to be at least in playoff, contention and they're finally showing it.

00:03:42
Speaker 3: Now Bobby Witt junior a big reason for. That of, course he was a candidate for A dude of The. Week we'll get there later on in the. Show but there's another team ken, that even despite the fact that they just lost their all star, outfielder is still, hot hot.

00:03:57
Speaker 4: Hot that's The Atlanta.

00:03:58
Speaker 1: Braves yes And. Atlanta, yes they just lost their first series of the season To. Seattle that was a good series For, seattle but The braves have been outstanding all season, long and even Without. Acuna, now as you, Mentioned, alana they should be. Okay And Matt olsen's having AN mvp type. Campaign Drake baldwin is having AN mvp type, campaign as The alby is the, Same Michael harris the. Second all these guys are playing at an elite. Level but the story with The braves is their. Rotation And i'll say it, AGAIN i was critical of them this off. SEASON i wondered where they were going to supplement the rotation with the injuries that they had To strider To schwelling back To Smiths. Shaver and yet here they are And Bryce elder has been an absolute. Revelation they are in a really good spot. Overall right, Now now are they going to sustain it with that? Rotation are they one injury away still from a potential. Problem, Yes but at the same, time give them. Credit they have done everything right so far this season and, Now, alana we will see them face The dodgers this weekend In.

00:05:06
Speaker 3: La more on, That, Ken i'd love to hear your. Perspective this is one of those series upcoming this weekend that could you could you, know be one that you kind of circle on the. Calendar two very good teams in The National. League, obviously The, dodgers the Reigning World series, champions The braves playing so well right, now what are you looking forward to with this.

00:05:22
Speaker 1: One i'm just looking forward to seeing how The dodgers respond to playing The, braves because The dodgers have been kind, OF i don't want to call it. Sleepwalking they've played a little bit better the last few, days but they haven't played to their full potential. Yet and this, series they are not going to Pitch otani Or. Yamamoto it's going to be the other three, starters san And rableski And, sasaki not in that. Order but we'll see how The dodgers fare against The, braves who have some of their bitter pictures going in this. Series It's, chrissale It's, strider and It's Bryce, Elder so that's What i'm looking forward to seeing just how they match. Up. Alana it's Early. May no one should get too excited about anything happening just. Yet and that includes the teams that, stink and that includes the teams that fire their managers. Prematurely but at the same, time at the same, time it's going to be interesting just to see these teams on the field with each. Other let's face, it The cubs are The cubs right. Now they're really. Hot The, PHILLIES i do expect to be in the mix. Eventually but this is with all due respect to The padres and all the other contenders of POTENTIAL nlcs preview this.

00:06:32
Speaker 2: Weekend let's talk love life ft. FAMILY i know it's an important part of everyone's, life but if you need help or if you, don't plute You gold is changing the game and it is turbo charging your love.

00:06:45
Speaker 1: Life that was beautifully.

00:06:46
Speaker 5: Delivered the new arousal boosting formula combines passion and performance into one tablet that dissolves under your tongue for super fast on. Set no more waiting for a pill to kick, in no more moments ruined by performance, anxiety the results you, want when you want.

00:07:01
Speaker 1: Them most dd.

00:07:03
Speaker 5: Meds only focus on blood, flow but Blue Choo gold goes further by combining two ingredients for blood flow with two more for mental arousal and. Connection so you're not just physically, ready you're actually in the. Mood and we've got a special deal for our listeners right. Now and you buy two months of Blue Choo, gold you get the third for free with promo code. Foul that's promo code. Foul visit blue you dot com for more details and important safety, information and we Thank blue Ch you for sponsoring the.

00:07:31
Speaker 3: Podcast so let's talk a little bit about The Houston, astros a team ken that keeps getting hit right in the. Mouth they've been really well, offensively kind of at the top five and many offensive categories that. Matter they're pitching has been, horrible but the injuries are also really problematic for this, team the latest Being Carlos.

00:07:51
Speaker 1: Korea The astros major league leading fourteen players on the injured list fourteen and now they've Lost. Korea panya is still. Out we all talked about their infield glod all springing into the early part of the. Season guess, what they don't have an infield glood anymore because they've Lost corea for the. Season and this is a team, that in my mind would have contended with The mariners for THE Al west title if they had stayed, healthy if they had any semblance of. Health but they're not there and the rotation is an absolute. Mess they're going to Bring Tatsuya ami back to the rotation next, week even though on his rehab assignment he hasn't been very. Good so it's just an unfortunate turn of events for The. Astros what can they. Do all they can do is keep, playing which is what they will intend to, do of, Course but at the same, time with so many players, OUT i believe it's four members of their opening day, lineup not Including, panya who was not in the opening day. Lineup it's just a hard way to go about. It and The astros right now are really compromised.

00:08:57
Speaker 3: Physically at, least nobody's really running away with the. Division just four games separates last from. First let's talk a little bit about The Los Angeles. Dodgers we were having a Conversation ken With Clint pisias And Katie wu On dodgers' territory about what are The dodgers going to do When Blake snell returns he's close to coming, back and who's going to be the odd man?

00:09:16
Speaker 4: Out and she And Justin, robleski what's the situation?

00:09:19
Speaker 3: Now they may not have to worry about, That, ken Because tyler glasnow leaving his outing yesterday early with some back.

00:09:25
Speaker 4: Issues what more can you tell?

00:09:27
Speaker 1: Us, well he said he had tall man back. Issues i've got short man back, issues so it's not exclusive to any SIZE i guess back. Issues but he does not expect to miss any. Starts he expects not to go on the injured. List now we know how The dodgers do. This they will slow play. Him they will probably put him on the injured list, anyway just to be. Safe it's an easy move for. Them but if they don't do, it and When snell comes, back it comes down To Emma chian Or Roki. Sasaki Justin robleski is leading The National league an. Er they're not going to remove him from the, rotation and, frankly they're not going to Remove sasaki. Either they want to commit to. Him he has been a little bit better his last two. Starts, actually his last start In Saint louis wasn't bad at. All he's showing, signs SO i would Expect shane would go to the bullpen unless they make the move With glass, now which is another classic. Case write a lot of these things working themselves, out and teams always finding ways to maneuver their roster because injuries do.

00:10:30
Speaker 3: Occur, Ken you'll never have enough, pitching regardless of how many pitchers you, sign there's never. Enough speaking of pitching injuries or just injuries in, general that are a little bit. Weird Matthew, BOYD i, mean this one is a bit of a freak. Injury The cubs are doing, great but it doesn't come without the loss of.

00:10:44
Speaker 1: Him, Right matthew boy was playing with his children when he tore his. Meniscus, now if it was any player But Matthew, boyd who is one of the most straight, laced, nicest honest people in the, GAME i would say this injury sounds, suspicious but it's not. Suspicious It's Matthew. BOYD i totally believe it happened this. Way but for The, cubs it's a big loss and they already were dealing with a thinning. Rotation Remember Kate horton out for the. Season Justin steele has had a setback in his, recovery so we don't know exactly when we're going to see. Him they've Got, Imanaga they've Got, Cabrera they've Got, Tyone they've Got Colin ray And Javier asade now can move to the, rotation but Without, boyd and we don't know how long he's going to be out. Yet it could be six, weeks could be. Longer they're in a perilously thin. State so The, cubs as hot as they, are this is a genuine concern for, them and already there is talk understandably so that they will need to go out and get a starting, pitcher at least one at the.

00:11:48
Speaker 3: Deadline, yeah it's tough for them obviously with the thinning rotation in the setback That Justin steele has suffered in terms of his return as.

00:11:57
Speaker 4: Well but The cubs are doing well right.

00:11:59
Speaker 3: Now as we just talked about in terms of the hottest team going In Major League. Baseball all, right, guys get those questions in For Ken rosenthal because we will be back right after this With grill And. Ken i'm not sure THAT i like the fact that you were. Grilled, also hopefully there's no scars on. That welcome To grill And. Ken everybody gets your questions in so we can Ask ken his thoughts on your. Topics maker one sixty, First cubs using all their luck In? May how many nail biting losses are they do? Now, Basically, ken do you believe in baseball luck and are The cubs using all of theirs In?

00:12:39
Speaker 1: May it's a great question a. LOT i do believe things tend to even out over one sixty. Two, however The cubs are clearly a good, team AND i love their defense in. Particular they're getting contributions pretty much one through nine in the. Lineup the pitching is going to be a. Question so they're, lucky maybe a little bit right. Now they're a little bit charmed At Wrigley, field but they're also. Good so, YES i can't imagine them staying this hot all year. Long they're not going to win every game At Wrigley field the way they have the past few, weeks but they're a pretty good, team all.

00:13:14
Speaker 3: Right Video Game nation twenty six has this question in regards to The, Astros, ken do you think The astros trade Your Don alvarez when we get closer to the trade? Deadline and what do you think his trade value.

00:13:27
Speaker 1: IS i can't imagine them trading Your Don. Alvarez he is one of their. CENTERPIECES i do expect that at the, deadline if they are unable to, recover then you'll See Christian walker Or Estoch parades. Go and we've been talking about those guys and one of them getting traded for quite some time now it hasn't. Happened and, YES i know they're, depleted but at the, deadline if they're out of it and it's going to be difficult to be out of it in The American league as we've. Seen then perhaps they make the move, Then so, yes The astros could be. SELLING i just can't imagine. It including your don.

00:14:03
Speaker 3: All, right great listener and viewer Of dodgers'. Territory she's also here on fair. Territory Elisheva jones wants to know is expansion team In vancouver a real. Possibility, actually we're going to get to her other question here in a. Moment what is your overall Opinion ken of THE abs so?

00:14:20
Speaker 4: Far elisheva with a couple of questions in the.

00:14:22
Speaker 1: CHAT i don't see how anybody can say it's anything but a. Success AND i Know i've written about how it's Put umpires in somewhat of a bad, spot and it. Has but overall it's working and it's working. Beautifully. Now the one NEGATIVE i will point out is the walk rate is. Up it's up a, lot and that is a. Concern obviously baseball is worried about balls in play for a. While, now, well now with THE abs strike, zone you're seeing this increased walk rate AND i don't know how healthy that. Is now part of it might be an, adjustment but part of it also is a pitcher is no longer getting certain stre that he might have with a big lead late in the, game all of these, things so that's going to be something that we have to. Watch but, overall it's hard to, say again anything but positives ABOUT. ABS i love.

00:15:14
Speaker 3: IT i think it's very, important And i'm sure you agree with this. Too you got to be sure about when you're using it early on in a, ballgame maybe not the most, sense if it's later in the, game if there's runners on in a key. Situation just be methodic about how you use your. Challenges back To Elisheva jones's question for a second is expansion. Team is an expansion team In vancouver a real? Possibility or maybe you don't know much about The vancouver, situation but where would you think the coolest expansion city could.

00:15:42
Speaker 1: BE i would Say vancouver is a long, shot AND i know they're. Trying but if you're The Seattle mariners AND i know the cities are relatively, close you're going to fight, that just As seattle is going to Fight. PORTLAND i would expect the same thing to me right, now IF i had to project and this is just an educated, guest nothing. More maybe it's not even. EDUCATED i would Say nashville is the team in The, east And Salt Lake city would be a. Favorite perhaps in The. West Salt lake has a strong. Bid it is not as proximate to some of these other. CITIES i Guess vegas it would, be but that to me would make more. Sense and it seems like they have their act, together not that these other cities. Don't but The mariners are going to. FIGHT i would Think vancouver And portland And Salt lake would be more of a compromise.

00:16:33
Speaker 3: OVERALL i Want nashville. KEN i had a conversation the other day With Brad. Paisley i'm name dropping. HERE i, Said, hey if a team goes why don't you buy a team In nashville and Then i'll be your sideline.

00:16:46
Speaker 4: Reporter and he said he would do.

00:16:48
Speaker 3: It he said that he needs to get a group of owners together, though to bring a team To, nashville and then maybe we can all go to a live concert after. That all?

00:16:56
Speaker 4: Right talking about The White.

00:16:57
Speaker 3: Sox joshi AND h THREE q wants to know do The White sox make the playoffs this? Year and are they as good as their record would, indicate given them being in the absolute bottom of the league the last few.

00:17:08
Speaker 4: Years they're making improvements ken.

00:17:11
Speaker 1: They, are and they're in a figiving, division THE Al, central so it's not out of the. QUESTION i don't see it happening just yet or this, year but they're really interesting And Colson montgomery as well As murakami And Miguel, vargas they've got some interesting players in their lineup. Now, NOW i had a scalt pointed out to me yesterday that he Thinks, murakami with his high strikeout, rate eventually teams are going to figure him out and he's going to struggle more than he. Has, okay but he's done pretty well so far and he's shown somewhat of an ability to make. Adjustments they're pitching, too is kind of. Interesting it's maybe not top of the, line but this is a better. Team it's a more competitive, team there's no doubt about. That credit To Will. Vennable and you see their rotation right. There Noah schultz rough start is lil, one but he has shown. Something SO i kind of like where they are considering all that they have done in recent. Years as far as the. LOSING i Like. Antonacci he's a guy that we saw in The World Baseball classic With Team. Italy he's come up now he's making a bit of an. Impact so they're an interesting, team which you can't say they were. Before they were interesting in these previous, seasons but not in a good. Way now they're kind of fun to.

00:18:26
Speaker 3: Watch AND Aj pierzinski keeps bringing up that The White slacks are the only team that have gotten To Jose soriano all season. Long leave it To aj to bring up that that. Fact all, right, guys thank you so much for your questions here On grill And. Ken we will be right back with Our dude And dork of The week after.

00:18:43
Speaker 1: This i'm the, dude so that's what you call, me.

00:18:52
Speaker 3: The dude, ABIDES i love, it all. Right we Appreciate Game changer very much for being a part of. This due to The week is powered By Game, Change, andrew So, ken we'll start with.

00:19:01
Speaker 4: You who's your due to The?

00:19:02
Speaker 1: Week The Troy tiger's manager A. J, hinch and he's by due to The, Week, alana because he is maybe the last honest man in. Baseball when from Ber valdez did what he did the other, night Hitting trevor's story what was pretty clearly an intentional. Act Aj, hinch unlike almost every other manager in this, situation did not excuse, it did not cop, out did not Defend valdez in any. Way, instead what he said was, this and you see it right. There we play a really good brand of baseball. Here that didn't feel like. It i'm not judging, intent BUT i know when you go out on the field in those, confrontations you usually feel like you're in the. Right it didn't feel good being out. There that is as well said as a manager can say it without completely burying his. Guy but he made it clearer that this was not. Acceptable so for all that Aj hinch due to the.

00:19:56
Speaker 3: Week, Yeah Joe madden has also said. Often he said it yesterday On Foul. Territory can you praise in public you critique in. Private that was the best WAY i think Aj hinch could have handled that. SITUATION i agree with, you all. Right My dude of The week is a bunch of. DUDES i was born and raised In, colorado AND i covered The Colorado rockies for five. Seasons And Mark rasum and his grounds crew At Course field are hands down the best grounds crew in the Game. Colorado it is not uncommon For colorado to get a Late april Early may. Snowstorm that's exactly what. Happens so The dodgers are The dodgers of The rockies and The mets were going to have to have a double. Header but you can see the time lapse there in terms of what course field look like basically around twelve forty five in the, afternoon and then what it was like right before game. Time So Mark, rasm good on, you sir for continuing to be the best in the. Game colorado has unbelievably unpredictable. Weather it could snow three feet and then be seventy degrees later on in the. Afternoon So, ras you are my dude of the, week.

00:21:02
Speaker 4: All, right.

00:21:02
Speaker 3: Guys due to the week is powered By Game, changer the number one youth sports app that helps you coach, smarter connect live and replay the. Action learn more AT gc dot. Com time now for our dork of the, Week, ken who do you have for your?

00:21:26
Speaker 1: Dork, well it's a pretty large, Collection, alana and it's basically the Entire american league outside of The yankees And. Rays the Entire american. League there are only two teams above five hundred in this. LEAGUE i just mentioned, them The yankees And. Rays cleveland and The a's are at five. Hundred so what is going on here and why aren't these teams any better? Now injuries are part of, it With detroit in, particular and of Course. Houston But seattle hasn't played to the capability though they just had a good series against The. Braves maybe they're coming Around Brandon donovan's coming. Back The orioles have, been despite their wins In miami the last two, nights a. Disappointment and of course The Red sox have already fired their. MANAGER i know they just Swept. DETROIT i want to see, more on and on and. On the entire league has been weak save for The yankees And. Rays so the Entire American league outside of those two. Teams dorks of The, Week, yeah.

00:22:24
Speaker 4: The junior circuit pretty.

00:22:25
Speaker 3: Weak can pretty week so far in twenty and twenty. Six, okay my dork of the week is from Bar, Valdez so the other side of the equation of Your dude of The week From bervaldez intentionally Hitting trevor's story with a four seam. Fastball he only has thrown one all. Season, ken that was the one all, season a four seam. Fastball he's thrown two four steam fastballs in the last two years, twice both times in the armpit of the. Opposition the reason that he is my dork of the week not only because it was, intentional but because he was getting lit up like A christmas tree by The Boston Red. Sox and if he didn't like, it pitch, better or cover your ball in the glove. Better if they are in fact relaying signs the legal way of relaying signs of a guy's on second base and he's telling the batter what's, coming so be. It you could tell when they had the benches clearing. Brawl AND i say that lightly that he couldn't wait to get out of the.

00:23:23
Speaker 4: Game.

00:23:23
Speaker 3: Ken he could not wait to get out of the game because he just didn't have it yesterday a couple of days, ago and then in the clubhouse through his interpreter says that he didn't think it was fair that he was. Injected he couldn't wait to be injected because he was absolutely getting lit. Up, obviously he gives up. Home you, know he was giving up the home. Runs he didn't like. It Trevor story got. Beamed Wilson contreras took exception to it from Ber, valdez who already has a narrative about. Him ken that he's not necessarily the best teammate in the. World spent the off season trying to convince teams otherwise that he actually is a.

00:23:57
Speaker 4: Good teammate and a good. Person so he is dork of the week.

00:24:02
Speaker 1: And he doesn't get the benefit of the doubt, alone and not after last season when he crossed Up salazar and did what he did with The. Astros so when a guy Like framaveldas pleads innocence and situation like, this after he has now two of these major, incidents people are not going to buy, it and people.

00:24:21
Speaker 4: Didn't one hundred percent. Correct, well, guys that's going to do it for.

00:24:24
Speaker 3: Us Foul territory is coming up at one Pm Eastern Karl, Ravich Baseball AMERICA'S Jj, cooper The, Athletics Charlotte. Varnes they're going to join the hosts over. There ken of, course is back On. Monday we appreciate you guys being with us.

00:24:39
Speaker 4: Today have a good.

00:24:40
Speaker 3: Weekend looking to take YOUR mlb action to the next level this. Season boosted odds are here to crank up every, pitch swing and home.

00:24:48
Speaker 4: Run.

00:24:48
Speaker 3: BET mgm is hooking you up with your very OWN Mlb Odds boost token to get things started all season. Long just add ANY mlb bet to your bet, slip activate Your Odds boost and lock it. In if your bet, hits you're catching out with an even bigger payout gambling problem called one eight hundred gambler or one eight hundred My reset