1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,400 Today's episode of Mound Visit is brought to you by Baseline Boosters. 2 00:00:04,400 --> 00:00:08,480 Feeling a bit flat when the action heats up? Baseline Boosters has the perfect 3 00:00:08,480 --> 00:00:12,560 pick-me-up, one little fan tab, and you'll be back on your feet ready to write out 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:16,720 all nine endings even for extras. No slumping in the stands for you will keep 5 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:21,300 your energy right where it needs to be. Use promo code MoundPop for 30% off 6 00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:24,840 because every fan deserves to stay in the game till the end. Swing by 7 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:29,340 BaselineBoosters.com, boost your fandom today. Thanks for listening to this 8 00:00:29,340 --> 00:00:33,080 episode. Let's jump right into it. 9 00:00:36,720 --> 00:00:41,920 Rescinded it. Today Steinbrenner, their owner, came out to the media and said 10 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:44,560 that they talked with some of the players and they made the collective 11 00:00:44,560 --> 00:00:48,880 decision to amend the policy. So they don't want it, they said quote, they don't 12 00:00:48,880 --> 00:00:53,040 want it to be like Duck Dynasty, but they're gonna let people have beards now. 13 00:00:53,040 --> 00:00:57,560 So who knows who's gonna actually have beards? I don't know what like Judge, the 14 00:00:57,560 --> 00:00:59,840 Coles, like the guys have been there for a while, I don't know what they're gonna 15 00:00:59,840 --> 00:01:05,440 do, but Devin Williams has to grow his beard. So Kenji, as our facial hair expert, 16 00:01:05,440 --> 00:01:09,480 where do you stand on the beard policy? Are you glad it's gone? 17 00:01:09,480 --> 00:01:14,520 What do you think? I thought it was kind of a cool tradition because 18 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:18,840 it's tradition, but when you see the pictures of the guys that have come in, 19 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:25,560 like when you just see Goldie freshly shaved and Devin Williams freshly shaved, 20 00:01:25,560 --> 00:01:32,200 it's just, it's just really ugly, you know, it's just really bad. And so I think 21 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:37,360 it's good for them. I guarantee you Devin Williams had a big factor in it. He's 22 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:40,680 like guys, guys, I'm the, I'm one of the best clothes in the league, but I can't 23 00:01:40,680 --> 00:01:45,560 do it. I look stupid. I look like an idiot. And I think, I think they're like you know 24 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:51,180 what? We invested a high draft capital in you or prospect in you. We 25 00:01:51,180 --> 00:01:56,440 need you. I think Goldie's like guys, I'm a former MVP. I don't want to be clean 26 00:01:56,440 --> 00:02:01,620 shaven. You know, I'm, I'm almost in my 40s. Gotta let me grow my hair out, my 27 00:02:01,620 --> 00:02:06,800 beard out. So definitely like they said that the players talked to them about it 28 00:02:06,800 --> 00:02:11,340 a little bit. So I think it's a good move for them. It'll be interesting to see 29 00:02:11,340 --> 00:02:15,200 them. But I don't know, a little bit of bushiness never hurt anybody in 30 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:19,840 baseball. Are you on record saying a little bush never hurt anybody? 31 00:02:19,840 --> 00:02:26,000 A little bush never hurt nobody. Kenji's on the record. A little bush never hurt 32 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:30,520 anybody. I think the funniest part of this whole saga to me is that it is 33 00:02:30,520 --> 00:02:37,800 Devin Williams that caused all of this like outroar or uproar for it because he 34 00:02:37,800 --> 00:02:41,560 looks good with a beard. Listen, like he looked good with a beard in Milwaukee 35 00:02:41,560 --> 00:02:45,440 and then he went to the Yankees and that those first videos that came out of him 36 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:49,880 throwing without a beard, you're like, Oh, what the hell's going on with Devin 37 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:54,000 Williams? Not intimidated at all. That guy looks like an alien. Like what did he do to 38 00:02:54,000 --> 00:02:59,360 his face? Yeah, he looks like a child. Like I, I'm big fans of John Boy media. I 39 00:02:59,360 --> 00:03:04,000 know Kenji's too. And John Boy himself came out and he was like, Devin Williams 40 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:07,160 is a first player that I've seen. They're a diehard Yankee fan. Devin Williams is the 41 00:03:07,160 --> 00:03:12,480 first player that he's seen without be clean shaven. And he's like, that looks 42 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:18,240 really bad. So I think it's good. Get with the times. It's a normal thing. 43 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:24,120 People have beards now. I mean, that's, that's how I feel. It was long overdue. I 44 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,160 don't know how they're going to like try to keep it clean cut or well maintained, 45 00:03:27,160 --> 00:03:33,160 whatever it is, but good for the Yankees. Uh, maybe that was part of why one Soto 46 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:37,120 left. Maybe they want to keep Devin Williams that way. Goldie does look bad. 47 00:03:37,120 --> 00:03:41,280 I'll give you his Goldie looks like a guy who's going to go work in ticket sales. 48 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:44,560 Like he's showing up for his ticket sales. Like you're a plumber, you know, 49 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:48,080 just looks off. You're like your plumber. Yeah. He's going to fix your pipes, 50 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:51,440 not, not bringing in runs for you. So it's a good thing that they did it. 51 00:03:51,440 --> 00:03:54,680 You have something on your mind tonight, my friend. Are you talking about fix 52 00:03:54,680 --> 00:04:00,360 plumbing pipes and bushes good and what is going on here? Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I 53 00:04:00,360 --> 00:04:05,360 guess so. I guess so. Okay. Well, that was the really only news where they 54 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,120 know every team gets into action tomorrow or the day you're, the day you're 55 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:13,360 listening to this. Uh, every team is in action from then on through October, 56 00:04:13,360 --> 00:04:17,920 which is fantastic. Um, but we're going to touch on some of the prospects and 57 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:21,280 young players that we're excited to see in camp, especially these first couple 58 00:04:21,280 --> 00:04:24,000 of weeks, you're going to get a lot of the starters coming out after two at 59 00:04:24,000 --> 00:04:27,200 bats, not much time in the field. So you're going to get a chance to see your, 60 00:04:27,200 --> 00:04:30,960 your organizations, the youngest prospects and kind of see how they 61 00:04:30,960 --> 00:04:35,040 interact with big league pitching for the first time. So, uh, I'll toss it. Me 62 00:04:35,040 --> 00:04:37,600 and Kenji are going to go back and forth. I'm actually going to start cause I 63 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:41,520 have five Kenji is four. We're going to go back and forth, alternate who we're 64 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:45,360 kind of interested to see. So any notes Kenji before we jump into this, any last 65 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:48,960 topics about the beard? No, the few followers we have, if you don't know who 66 00:04:48,960 --> 00:04:54,640 they are, they're, they're obviously worth looking into because if we know 67 00:04:54,640 --> 00:04:58,960 who they are, then probably should know who they are. These players? We don't 68 00:04:58,960 --> 00:05:02,480 know many people. I mean, Gabe does, Gabe knows a lot, but we don't know the 69 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:06,400 players, the prospects. Yeah. We're not, we're not big prospects guys, you know, 70 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:10,800 we haven't got into that extent. Maybe you are a little bit more, you are way 71 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,880 more than I am. I am. I mean, it's good to get to know these prospects, you know, 72 00:05:14,880 --> 00:05:18,800 I'm getting into that prospect world and it's interesting behind the scenes. 73 00:05:18,800 --> 00:05:23,520 Kenji is, is as diehard Royals fan as you're going to find. And so he is in the 74 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:27,200 weeds of the Royals prospects, but everybody else, he's probably not as aware 75 00:05:27,200 --> 00:05:30,800 of. So, I mean, you guys know I am a biased Orioles fan, so I am going to touch 76 00:05:30,800 --> 00:05:33,680 on two O's prospects, but we still got some other ones in there. Some 77 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,960 interesting ones. I guess the first one I'm going to start off with is Samuel 78 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:40,640 Basayo. So he's the catcher, he's 20 years old for the Orioles. He's kind of 79 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:44,240 log jammed because they have Kobe Mayo who's waiting to play first base and 80 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,320 first base has already stopped up at the big league level. 81 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:51,440 Rutchman, of course, they're, they're talks of an extension and he's even got a few 82 00:05:51,440 --> 00:05:55,680 more years left there. So Basayo is kind of log jam, but he continues to crush in 83 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:59,680 the minor leagues. He's up in camp. He looks fantastic. He's smashing balls off 84 00:05:59,680 --> 00:06:03,520 the batter's eye. He looks great next to everybody else. So he's going to be 85 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:08,080 an exceptional big leaguer. He's got a plus arm, really good defender, and of 86 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:12,800 course he can swing it. So I'm stoked to see Basayo in action. Again, Adley's 87 00:06:12,800 --> 00:06:17,520 kind of the number one guy in Baltimore, but I'm stoked to see what the other 88 00:06:17,520 --> 00:06:21,040 options are. I mean, let's be really honest with ourselves. If Rutchman comes 89 00:06:21,040 --> 00:06:24,240 out and has a year like he had in the second half of last year, then you're 90 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:27,120 looking at the Basayo guy like, hey man, when, when can you be up here? 91 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:32,240 So I'm interested to see how he plays because I think he knows he's log jam, 92 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:35,760 but he's also like, maybe I get a chance to play my way out of here. Maybe the 93 00:06:35,760 --> 00:06:39,520 O's are going to flip him for a young pitcher or something. Seattle, if you're 94 00:06:39,520 --> 00:06:44,960 listening, but I love the Basayo. He's a name to watch. If you play a dynasty 95 00:06:44,960 --> 00:06:50,400 fantasy leagues, get on Samuel Basayo. He's just, he's going to be an 96 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,480 exceptional big leaguer. You should pay attention to him. 97 00:06:54,720 --> 00:06:59,520 I'm curious about that. So I let's, let's put it in a, it's going to an 98 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:06,320 unrealistic realm. Okay. Here we go. Let's say Basayo Basayo Basayo Basayo. 99 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:12,240 Let's say he has a great minor league. Is he in AAA right now? Right. I'm 100 00:07:12,240 --> 00:07:16,240 guessing double. I would assume he would be, well, let's say he plays great this 101 00:07:16,240 --> 00:07:20,240 year, right? And next year they're like, we gotta bring him up. Like he, he's 102 00:07:20,240 --> 00:07:26,640 too good to be in the minors and it's a waste not to bring him up. How do you 103 00:07:26,640 --> 00:07:31,040 think that could work? Not this year, next year. So you got another year of 104 00:07:31,040 --> 00:07:38,000 all these guys who are up, right? How do you see him into the O's lineup and 105 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:42,480 what other differences do you position changes? Who would you trade? Like what 106 00:07:42,480 --> 00:07:47,280 would you do to fit him in the lineup? If he's hitting good, if Adley is, you 107 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:54,240 know, hitting what 270, you know, walking like he used to not an out, not, not a 108 00:07:54,240 --> 00:07:57,600 problem defensively the way he was in the second half. If he's, if he's all 109 00:07:57,600 --> 00:08:01,760 right and he's got that catcher position locked, how would you fit him in that 110 00:08:01,760 --> 00:08:07,520 lineup? I don't know where he fits. That's the problem. I don't know where he 111 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,920 fits. You trade him for a pitcher. You trade him for a pitcher. Would you DH 112 00:08:11,920 --> 00:08:17,120 Kobe Mayo or? I guess you could. I mean, you have O'Hern coming off the books 113 00:08:17,120 --> 00:08:22,720 next year, but Mountcastle has two more years left. Mayo of course is waiting. So 114 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,120 there is still a log jam at first. Sam Basayo can still play first. Like I have 115 00:08:27,120 --> 00:08:31,680 no doubt he could be exceptional there, but Rutchman is the cornerstone. When 116 00:08:31,680 --> 00:08:35,760 Rutchman goes, the O's go. So if Rutchman is playing good, he's the guy. He's 117 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,240 staying there. He's the number one overall pick for a reason. He's the dude. 118 00:08:39,360 --> 00:08:44,480 But again, Westberg in the outfield? Westberg in the outfield? No way. No way. 119 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:50,880 I think they really like Westberg, Henderson, Holiday, Mayo is like the 120 00:08:50,880 --> 00:08:57,520 future, like around the horn. Would you DH him that early and just like, you know, 121 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:03,760 give two games a week to Basayo and the rest of the four or five games a week to 122 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,120 Adley? I could see it. I mean, I know that they've talked, they signed Gary 123 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,760 Sanchez this year to be their backup and he's going to be really good against 124 00:09:09,760 --> 00:09:14,320 lefties, but I could conceivably see them do something like that to get Adley off 125 00:09:14,320 --> 00:09:17,680 his legs. I mean, maybe even could split it three, four games a week. Adley 126 00:09:17,680 --> 00:09:22,240 DHs the rest of the time and Basayo gets some days off and DHs occasionally too. 127 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,160 I would like to see it. I think Basayo is going to be a great big leaguer, but again, 128 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:31,280 if they could trade him for one of the higher end young arms in the game, I would take it in a 129 00:09:31,280 --> 00:09:36,560 heartbeat. So it's a great resource to have having a great young player who's kind of log jammed. 130 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,120 So I'm a- Good problem to have. 131 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:44,160 Yes. It's a great problem to have. All right. All right. I'll go with mine. 132 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:52,320 It's pretty obvious. It's our best prospect in Kansas City. It's Jack Caglione. He's a big 133 00:09:52,320 --> 00:09:58,480 swing and miss guy. He's definitely not going to pitch, at least for now. They've told him 134 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:04,320 strictly, just worry about getting his hitting mechanics fixed. Like I said, his swing and miss 135 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:12,880 stuff is a bit of a problem, but there's no denying the talent that he has. He's huge. Bobby commented 136 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:19,680 on how it's hard not to notice how big of a player he is and how the way the ball comes off the bat 137 00:10:19,680 --> 00:10:26,400 when he swings. And so that's great to hear from Bobby Wood Jr. Who's obviously the best player 138 00:10:26,400 --> 00:10:32,560 in baseball besides Shohei Otani. I don't think I'm crazy for saying that, but I'm pretty excited 139 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:38,240 to watch him. I'm excited. I didn't get to watch him today because of the blackout, which was really 140 00:10:38,240 --> 00:10:45,680 unfortunate because I was really excited. But I can't wait to see him progress to get his mechanics 141 00:10:45,680 --> 00:10:52,000 figured out and one day help the Kansas City Royals win a World Series because we need some really 142 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:59,840 young youth that can play baseball to come up and help this team because we're kind of stuck, 143 00:10:59,840 --> 00:11:05,440 I think, at the moment. Where do you see him fitting in and when would you like to see him up? 144 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:08,720 Because I don't think it'll be this year. Maybe next year he comes up. I think next year he'll 145 00:11:08,720 --> 00:11:13,040 come up. And where? Because they have Vinny at first and they kind of have their outfielders. 146 00:11:13,040 --> 00:11:15,520 They've been playing him in right field. They've been playing him in right field, 147 00:11:15,520 --> 00:11:20,240 which is good because Renfro is getting old. So he would fit great in there. 148 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:30,400 And if he can pitch, if he can be great too, but if not, having him in the right field in the 149 00:11:30,400 --> 00:11:35,600 middle of our order of our lineup, which is what we need, we need Pop in the middle of our lineup 150 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:43,520 after Salvi. So next year if he's able to go, I would love it. And it would make my dreams come 151 00:11:43,520 --> 00:11:49,920 true to see that team skyrocket. I mean, he was great in college at Florida. Being in the College 152 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:53,680 World Series, he gets to watch. I don't watch much college baseball, but I do watch the College World 153 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:59,280 Series and watching Kat Glione do what he did with Florida was impressive. He can pitch mid to upper 154 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:04,800 90s. He can smash homers over the wall. He's a freak talent. I mean, it's kind of like the Otani 155 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:09,040 thing. Like when he came over to America, they were like, are they going to let him pitch and hit or 156 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:15,120 what are they going to do? So having Kat Glione go just to solely hitting and sticking him in right, 157 00:12:15,120 --> 00:12:19,440 hopefully let him use some of that athleticism. I think he's good. It'll be exciting to see when 158 00:12:19,440 --> 00:12:27,040 he comes up. And he started today, right? Yeah, he did. Yes, he did. He got in today, at least. 159 00:12:27,040 --> 00:12:32,480 I think he got in something. Okay. That's an interesting one. I'll pivot now. I'm going to 160 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:36,880 go back to my O's. This is the last one. Don't worry, everybody. I'm going to our first round 161 00:12:36,880 --> 00:12:43,520 pick last year, Vance Honeycutt at North Carolina. He's got a lot of raw talent, 162 00:12:44,560 --> 00:12:48,880 but he has a lot of swing and miss too. He struck out at a really high clip in college and in the 163 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:54,080 minor leagues to start his career. But everybody said on draft day, they said, be careful if 164 00:12:54,080 --> 00:12:58,400 Honeycutt goes to the O's because the O's just kind of have this way. We can un-tap some potential, 165 00:12:58,400 --> 00:13:05,120 I guess. Honeycutt, excited to see what his hit tool looks like, what his power looks like, 166 00:13:05,120 --> 00:13:11,200 how he plays in center field. I think he could be the outfielder of the future. They have Bradfield 167 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:15,280 who's from Vanderbilt and he's kind of the Cedric Mullen's replacement in waiting. 168 00:13:16,560 --> 00:13:19,520 We'll see what Honeycutt can bring. And I'm excited to see him because we 169 00:13:19,520 --> 00:13:24,640 spent a first round pick on him. May as well see what he's about. Your potential outfield in a 170 00:13:24,640 --> 00:13:33,520 couple of years could look like Kerstad, Honeycutt and Fields. Kouser. You got Kouser. Man, you got 171 00:13:33,520 --> 00:13:42,240 too many players. Kouser. The Kouser and Kerstad are going to be playing next year. Yeah. And then 172 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:47,440 you got Honeycutt and what was the other guy? Bradfield, Enrique Bradfield. Field. I don't 173 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:52,960 know where you got Bradfield from. Oh, this is where you got Field. Okay. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yeah. 174 00:13:52,960 --> 00:13:59,760 Enrique Bradfield, he's good. He's a wicked stolen base guy. He's freak speed, like 80 green speed. 175 00:13:59,760 --> 00:14:05,440 You need that. So he'll be nice. But I like Mullens right now. Mullens is a free agent after this year. 176 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:10,480 I don't think they'll resign him. So that's the deal with Honeycutt. I'm excited to see him play. 177 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:18,080 Cool. Cool. All right. I put Sasaki down. I think it kind of goes for both of us. This is a game. 178 00:14:18,080 --> 00:14:24,480 I'm curious to see what he looks like. We kind of touched about him and I mentioned that his 179 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:31,680 fastball is pretty flat. That's what I've heard from my sources. My sources, you know, because 180 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:40,080 I have sources. Yeah. But I'm curious to see how he does. I think he's fine from his injury that 181 00:14:40,080 --> 00:14:46,560 he had last year. But yeah, that fastball, I'm really curious. We've mentioned it before. If he 182 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:53,600 develops a fastball or a sinker that moves a little bit, I think it's going to help him take his game 183 00:14:53,600 --> 00:14:59,040 to the next level. But just seeing him with the Dodgers, he obviously looks pretty happy. Apparently 184 00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:04,720 he just got married. So good for him. Good for Rokey. Just excited to see how he fits into that 185 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:11,200 team, his role, how they're going to manage his use. Because I don't imagine him pitching the 186 00:15:11,200 --> 00:15:16,800 entire year. I don't imagine Otani pitching the entire year. I don't imagine Glass now pitching 187 00:15:16,800 --> 00:15:21,280 the whole year. And they can afford to do that. So it'll be exciting to see how they fit him in. 188 00:15:22,080 --> 00:15:26,320 Will they ever use him in the bullpen just to get him started off? I don't know. But excited to see 189 00:15:27,120 --> 00:15:31,520 how he helps his team win a World Series. Yeah. I mean, I'm stuck to watch him play. 190 00:15:31,520 --> 00:15:37,120 He's the most anticipated Japanese pitcher, even more so than Yoshinobu Yamamoto, I would say. 191 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,640 Way more. Yeah, way more. Yeah. So I think Yamamoto's better. 192 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:45,360 So we'll see what Sasaki brings. I mean, you've been on him about his fastball being flat. So 193 00:15:45,360 --> 00:15:49,840 you're not sure if he'll be successful initially. But he's with the best organization for 194 00:15:49,840 --> 00:15:55,680 development. I have no concerns that he's going to be great long-term. Good for Sasaki. Stoked 195 00:15:55,680 --> 00:15:59,520 to see him play. Yeah. I'm excited to see him play. He's scrawny though. What was it? 641. 196 00:15:59,520 --> 00:16:06,880 180. 641. How much do you, you are what? Six foot? I've got 40 pounds on him. 220 pounds. I got, 197 00:16:06,880 --> 00:16:11,600 I got 40 pounds on the scrawny little guy. Do you throw 100? No, I can't. I wish I could. 198 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:16,160 I wouldn't be here doing this with you if I could throw 100. That's a great point. That is a great 199 00:16:16,160 --> 00:16:23,360 point. Yeah. Yamamoto's 5'10 and he throws harder than both of us. Crazy. Some people are just 200 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:27,280 blessed by God with freak talent. They are indeed. And he's also great looking. But anyway, who you 201 00:16:27,280 --> 00:16:31,200 got, who you got as your third? My next one. So I'm going to touch, I'm going to go pitcher here. 202 00:16:31,200 --> 00:16:36,080 I'm going to go Andrew Painter from the Philadelphia Phillies organization. He had some injury problems 203 00:16:36,080 --> 00:16:41,600 last year, but he's got amazing 70 grade stuff. I'm really stoked to see him play. The O's actually 204 00:16:41,600 --> 00:16:47,520 play the Phillies on Sunday. So I'm optimistic Painter could get in the game on Sunday. I think 205 00:16:47,520 --> 00:16:51,840 he's got all the tools to be successful at the big league level. He throws really hard. He's got plus 206 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:57,760 stuff. He's got a really good slider, really good fastball, high VLO. So I'm stoked to see Painter 207 00:16:57,760 --> 00:17:02,720 play. Brady would be thrilled if he heard I was talking about one of his Phillies guys. I think 208 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:07,040 there's a reason that he is one of, if not the best pitching prospect in the game right now. 209 00:17:07,040 --> 00:17:12,400 He's got all the tools to be successful. Job is higher than him, but Painter is like right below 210 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:16,960 him. So Painter and Job, you can kind of flip them back and forth. I'm going to touch on one more 211 00:17:16,960 --> 00:17:24,160 pitcher later, not Job, but Job also does deserve plenty of respect and excitement because he's going 212 00:17:24,160 --> 00:17:31,520 to be a great pitcher too. But Andrew Painter, watch out for him. Andrew Painter. Alrighty. I put down 213 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:39,600 Christian Campbell. He's become more fascinating with the signing of Alex Bregman because he was 214 00:17:39,600 --> 00:17:47,200 projected to start at second base the beginning of this year before Bregman was signed. It fit 215 00:17:47,200 --> 00:17:52,480 perfectly their need. They don't probably don't really want to start the old guy. I can't remember 216 00:17:52,480 --> 00:17:57,200 who else they have. Was it? I don't remember who was going to start a second base over him. 217 00:17:57,200 --> 00:18:03,360 Doesn't matter. He deserves it. I've heard a lot of good things about him. People rave about him. 218 00:18:03,360 --> 00:18:09,360 So I'm excited to see he plays multiple positions. I still think he's going to find a way to play 219 00:18:09,360 --> 00:18:12,480 every week. I don't, he's probably not going to get a starting job anymore because there's just no 220 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:19,920 room, but he's going to play at least a couple of times a week, I believe. And I'm excited to see 221 00:18:21,040 --> 00:18:27,200 the hype of him come to life because it seemed like he's got all the tools he needs to become a 222 00:18:27,200 --> 00:18:33,680 really good MLB player. Boston is just so rich right now. They are. And they even traded away 223 00:18:33,680 --> 00:18:38,880 a couple other guys to the White Sox for it. Kyle Teal, right? Was it? Yeah, Kyle Teal, who is also 224 00:18:38,880 --> 00:18:44,720 like honorable mention Kyle Teal. I hope you have a great career in Chicago. I don't know why they 225 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:48,800 traded him. I feel like you could have tried to trade it to your other prospects. You got two 226 00:18:48,800 --> 00:18:53,600 infield prospects, right? You should have traded one of those, I feel like, because maybe they value 227 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,600 the one. Connor Wong, really? Connor Wong is who you want to keep going with? She's just, 228 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,080 yeah. If Kyle Teal was that good of a prospect, I would have done everything in my power to keep 229 00:19:02,080 --> 00:19:07,200 him and get rid of an outfield prospect because their outfield is full. They got three starters. 230 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:10,880 They got Roman Anthony who plays the outfield and they got two middle infield prospects. 231 00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:14,960 And if you played it right, you could have figured it out because Sedani 232 00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:20,240 Raffaella plays shortstop and centerfield. Could have slid him down there if you were 233 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:25,200 trading your shortstop. So I don't know. I wish they would have kept Kyle Teal. I think the Red 234 00:19:25,200 --> 00:19:31,440 Sox regret not keeping him, but I mean, crochet is pretty nice. But that's not the point. Who else 235 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:35,840 you got for your prospects? The number one overall pick last year, Travis Bazzana, 236 00:19:36,480 --> 00:19:42,240 second baseman for the Cleveland Guardians organization. You don't see second baseman 237 00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:48,320 taken at the top of a draft very often because he's like 5'10". He's not over 200 pounds, 238 00:19:48,320 --> 00:19:53,200 but he has an insane hit tool. I think it was a 70 or 80 grade hit tool. He's got a lot of pop 239 00:19:54,000 --> 00:19:59,120 and he's got a really good glove. So anytime you take a guy 1-1, you're excited to see him play 240 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:03,680 against competitive big league pitching. And I think he's going to see that at some regard 241 00:20:03,680 --> 00:20:08,560 in spring training. So I'm excited to see kind of how he handles it. He's from Australia. So 242 00:20:08,560 --> 00:20:14,880 shout out Aussies. But he was a great player in college, number one pick for a reason. He's got 243 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:20,320 all the tools to be successful, but second baseman short, number one overall pick, just kind of a 244 00:20:20,320 --> 00:20:25,040 fascinating story coming from Australia. I want to see what he can do for Cleveland. You think 245 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:30,240 he'll get pulled up this year? I don't think so. I don't think Cleveland's in the business of rushing 246 00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:36,800 prospects. I mean, I bet they'll be there next year. I mean, I'm sure trading Jimenez was because 247 00:20:36,800 --> 00:20:42,080 they had him in the upbringing, right? And they also wanted to dump that crazy contract, but 248 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:50,160 yeah, it's exciting to see. Because Cleveland needs it. They need a bat. So they sure do. 249 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:57,760 Okay. I'll just talk about mine. There's two guys. It's the two catcher prospects for the Royals. 250 00:20:58,400 --> 00:21:06,080 We got two of them, Blake Mitchell and Carter Jensen. Oh, Royals prospects. You know, I don't 251 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:11,280 know if they'll get pulled up this year. I don't think they will. I'm hoping next year they'll 252 00:21:11,280 --> 00:21:16,080 both be up. One of them being the starting catcher and another one finding a role. Because I don't 253 00:21:16,080 --> 00:21:21,600 know how much longer Salvi can go, but I want Salvi to stay as a DH until he actually sucks. 254 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:27,760 So I'm hoping that maybe next year they'll switch him to DH, bring one of these two up, 255 00:21:28,240 --> 00:21:34,320 that they're ready. And the Royals can kind of start this youth movement with good vets. 256 00:21:34,800 --> 00:21:40,400 When I think the Royals won the World Series, they had a good structure. They had a good locker 257 00:21:40,400 --> 00:21:44,800 room with vets who knew what they were doing and a bunch of young guys who were buying into the 258 00:21:44,800 --> 00:21:52,000 system. And it worked together and they had that awesome run. And hopefully, hopefully we can have 259 00:21:52,000 --> 00:21:56,400 a run that's longer than one year. And I think the three guys I brought up today are going to be 260 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:03,120 a big contributor. And we have some other pitchers who I'm excited about. But yeah, 261 00:22:03,120 --> 00:22:08,320 just those two. Keep an eye out. Royals are going to be, they're going to be better than the O's 262 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:14,560 soon. So just be aware. Okay. They got a lot of good young talent. I'm all for the Royals. 263 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:19,360 When the Royals are good, they always play the O's tough. So I have a lot of respect for the Royals. 264 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:27,120 Hey, okay. All right. Well, moving on then, I'm going to talk over Kenji the rest of the episode. 265 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:30,640 Thank you, Kenji, for joining us. We're now going to cut your microphone. 266 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:37,680 Noah Schultz. Again, there's a lot of recency bias here because three of the guys I'm mentioning 267 00:22:37,680 --> 00:22:43,440 have been, were drafted last year. But Noah Schultz fits the white socks kind of a hard 268 00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:50,000 throwing funky left-hander archetype. Like the Chris Ailes and the Garret Crochet. Like this is 269 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:56,880 the next one of those. He throws really hard. He's got a funky, what's the word, deceptive delivery 270 00:22:57,440 --> 00:23:02,480 and with plus stuff. So look out for Chicago. They're going to keep him under, I think in the 271 00:23:02,480 --> 00:23:06,480 minors for at least a year or two. But when he comes up, he's going to be really good. I'm excited 272 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:11,600 to see how his stuff plays against minor leaguers or even some big leaguers in the spring. White 273 00:23:11,600 --> 00:23:18,320 socks, if they'd play their cards right, can have a really, really solid young core. Trade Luis Robert 274 00:23:18,320 --> 00:23:24,800 if you're listening. But Noah Schultz is a really interesting guy. I loved him coming out of college. 275 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:29,120 I was, I didn't, he wasn't going to fall to the O's, but I was hoping that maybe he fell a little 276 00:23:29,120 --> 00:23:35,600 bit. White socks get their guy. He's a great player. I'm excited to see him play. So any other notes, 277 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:42,000 Ken? It's amazing how great of prospects the white sacks have had in the past couple. 278 00:23:42,960 --> 00:23:46,560 I mean, probably the last 10 years, you'd go back and look at the players that were drafted by them 279 00:23:47,280 --> 00:23:51,600 and you're just mind blown that they suck. The pirates too, the pirates have drafted really good 280 00:23:51,600 --> 00:23:57,920 pitchers, right? Cause they're cold from there. Who else? Joe Musgrove. Joe Musgrove. There's like 281 00:23:57,920 --> 00:24:03,600 three or four like aces today that not aces, but like top tier pitchers that were drafted by the 282 00:24:03,600 --> 00:24:09,680 pirates. Yeah. Glass now. That's right guys. Glass now. Yeah. It's, it's, it's amazed with me that 283 00:24:09,680 --> 00:24:15,840 these teams can draft, right? But they just, they're just crappy organizations. Tell your team if 284 00:24:15,840 --> 00:24:21,760 you're bad at your job, don't stay in baseball if you don't want to play. Yeah, I agree. I agree. 285 00:24:21,760 --> 00:24:25,920 White socks are an interesting spot, but again, they play the cards where they're going to be good. 286 00:24:25,920 --> 00:24:31,040 Yeah. They'll be good in a couple of years time. It's going to be a fun spring. Excited to have 287 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:36,560 games going. I know I'll be watching for you. Yeah. We're going to end it with a random question. Sure. 288 00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:45,840 Okay. Who, uh, besides the white socks, besides the kind of Bush is best, what shape of Bush? 289 00:24:46,560 --> 00:24:50,480 Wow. Who's going to be the worst team? Who's going to have the worst record behind the white 290 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:54,480 socks? Cause I think it's pretty obvious. It's going to be the white socks behind the white 291 00:24:54,480 --> 00:24:58,400 socks. Who's going to be the worst or I guess who's going to be the 29th best team this year. 292 00:24:58,400 --> 00:25:08,000 Miami. They're going to trade out Kintaro at some point. They better. And after that, after him, 293 00:25:08,000 --> 00:25:12,240 I have no clue what they have. I don't know, buddy. Otto Lopez had a good year. Xavier Edwards had a 294 00:25:12,240 --> 00:25:17,440 good year. But Miami it's, uh, they traded away their best players, but I don't really know what 295 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:24,080 they got in return besides like your O's guys who you are kind of being stowers aren't like crazy 296 00:25:24,080 --> 00:25:28,000 sad about having them gone. Cause you said that they're, their ceiling was kind of limited. I 297 00:25:28,000 --> 00:25:33,200 think is what you said, right? Yeah. Especially more. I just like stowers, I stowers is a, 298 00:25:33,200 --> 00:25:37,760 as a two outcome hitter. He's got a lot of strikeout in his game. Norby is going to be a good big 299 00:25:37,760 --> 00:25:44,320 leaguer, I think, but he just had no room to play. So I think Miami's screwed. They just don't have 300 00:25:44,320 --> 00:25:48,320 anything. I don't know. I mean, they're pitchers. They got some young guy. I think Max Meyer is 301 00:25:48,320 --> 00:25:53,600 pretty good, but yeah, I'm worried for the, for the Miami Marlins, which sucks. Cause 302 00:25:53,600 --> 00:25:56,800 would that be your answer to Marlins or would you go with like Rockies or something? 303 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:00,800 I would say the Marlins. Yeah. I like the Rockies baths. That's what, that's what, 304 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,400 that's what makes me more optimistic than the Marlins is cause I like the Rockies 305 00:26:05,280 --> 00:26:10,640 who they can have in that lineup. Yeah. Toe. Toeglia has a good year. I mean, wow, 306 00:26:10,640 --> 00:26:14,560 we're going to get into some Rockies discourse. Toeglia has a good year. Ryan McMahon has a good 307 00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:21,280 year. Like Zeke Tovar. Yeah. Who knows? They got some guys. I can't say that about Miami, 308 00:26:21,920 --> 00:26:24,880 but they don't got pitching. That's one thing they ain't got. They ain't got, they don't, 309 00:26:24,880 --> 00:26:29,760 they never have pitching. They never have pitching. Golly, get them out of there. Yeah. But I think, 310 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:34,480 I think we're good. All right. Yeah. Well, those are the guys we're excited to watch in spring 311 00:26:34,480 --> 00:26:39,440 training. Again, games, uh, everybody plays tomorrow through the rest of the spring. Enjoy 312 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,360 watching the games on in the background, take a nap, listen to the ambience of having baseball back. 313 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:50,000 Wish you were in that sunny Arizona or sunny Florida weather. I know I'm wishing I was there. 314 00:26:50,000 --> 00:26:55,040 I love watching the games. It's been lovely. So Kenji, any final notes? Listen to people off. 315 00:26:56,960 --> 00:27:02,160 Hearing the bat, the crack of the bat in spring training is a great sound because it is quiet 316 00:27:02,800 --> 00:27:05,360 and you can hear how firm it is and oof. 317 00:27:05,360 --> 00:27:18,240 Oof. Benji loves it firm, baby. Thanks for listening everybody.