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Inside The New York Yankees W/ Greg Joyce · Yankees Pod

• 0:23
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, welcome back to Yankees Pod.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: Today we have a very, very, very special guest.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_01: He is the beat writer for New York Post for the Yankees.
• 0:36
  SPEAKER_01: He's my favorite columnist, Greg Joyce.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER_01: Greg, how are you doing today, man?
• 0:41
  SPEAKER_00: Good, Jimmy.
• 0:42
  SPEAKER_00: How you doing?
• 0:43
  SPEAKER_01: Good, good.
• 0:44
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so kind of great uh past couple days.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: Aaron Judge with the walk-off.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_01: And then yesterday, Anthony Volpe with a walk uh with a huge hint as well.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_01: What is it like in the clubhouse after those types of games?
• 1:00
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think there's uh a little bit of relief, but also just guys kind of you know excited that they feel like this is, you know, they hope that this is the start of them kind of coming climbing back out of the rut that they've been in a little bit over the last couple of weeks.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, you know, when you especially when you put back-to-back games like that together, uh, it kind of just gets the whole room going, you know, with some different guys contributing, obviously Judge doing it on Sunday and and Volpe coming up big yesterday with you know that that rally start by Paul Goldschmidt with that infield single that broken bat, I think, and and Jazz getting the double.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER_00: So a little bit of everybody there to kind of get them going, uh, and what they hope is kind of uh you know, getting back on a hot streak here.
• 1:39
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, absolutely.
• 1:40
  SPEAKER_01: No, is uh Aaron Judge's people don't call him clutch, but his fourth home run uh in uh his fourth walk-off home run since 2022, that is tied for the most in baseball.
• 1:53
  SPEAKER_01: And then Anthony Volpe, that was his first big hit in the ninth inning or later.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_01: So absolutely great.
• 2:00
  SPEAKER_01: Um what was he like in the clubhouse yesterday?
• 2:03
  SPEAKER_01: I I saw you were uh writing about it a little bit, just the vibes of Volpe yesterday.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think he's he's stayed pretty consistent uh you know, since he's been back up of just wanting to contribute and help the team win.
• 2:16
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, that's what he's even the last couple of years, that's what he's always been.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: That's always been his kind of number one thing is just trying to be, you know, help help the team win, even when he hasn't been going good, trying to do something to kind of help them.
• 2:28
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, it's a different spot now.
• 2:29
  SPEAKER_00: Like the last three years, the short shop job was his and it didn't have any real threats behind him to take the job.
• 2:35
  SPEAKER_00: And now it's now he's having to, you know, kind of the first time since he the spring training of 23 when he was fighting with Oswald Peraza like to get the job.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: This is the first time that he's kind of had to, you know, fight to keep like get his job back now, uh, with Jose Caballero playing well and taking it from him.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: But obviously yesterday was a day when both of those guys are in the lineup and both you know had a key key hand in the win.
• 2:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I think it's I think it's meaningful for Volpe.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER_00: Uh he he's well liked in that club out, so he has a lot of fans in there.
• 3:04
  SPEAKER_00: You know, guys, especially you know how he's handled this whole last couple weeks, you know, the rehab from the injury to the dealing with you know losing his job, getting sent down and coming back up and uh you know not making a stink of it.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: Like I think guys respect that even more.
• 3:19
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and so when he's the guy that that comes through in the big spot yesterday, uh, you know, he has a lot of teammates in there that are happy for him to kind of see him deliver there.
• 3:27
  SPEAKER_00: And now it's about just kind of proving that he can do that uh more often here moving forward.
• 3:32
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and I I really like what Boone did yesterday.
• 3:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um Fulpe at short, Caballero at third, especially with you know, Ryan McMahon struggling a little bit.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_01: Do you expect to see more of that combination in the upcoming weeks?
• 3:46
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I wouldn't be surprised, especially because I think they uh, you know, in this stretch here, whatever it is, like 10 next 10 games, I think they face a steady dose of left-handed starters.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I think anytime a lefty's on the mound, I wouldn't be surprised if that's the combination.
• 4:00
  SPEAKER_00: Um Boone had also mentioned the the possibility of getting Caballero some action in the outfield during the series.
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, whether that's you know getting Aaron Judge a DH day or or getting somebody off their feet like Grisham or something like that.
• 4:13
  SPEAKER_00: Uh we'll see how they make it happen.
• 4:15
  SPEAKER_00: But um, you know, there's certainly ways to to keep both guys in the lineup.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um and I I think it's you know, especially when they face lefties, uh, you know, they have the chance to get Ryan McMahon out of there or somebody else, you know, in that lineup with a lineup heavy with lefties, um, you know, Cavier and Volpe both being right-handed bats, especially if Volpe continues to put together the kind of a bat that he has so far.
• 4:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think that's a a move that they can make more often here moving forward.
• 4:42
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome, awesome.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, uh you talked to Aaron Boone about Max Fried.
• 4:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um, I'm just happy that Max Fried looks like he's gonna play again this year.
• 4:52
  SPEAKER_01: Does what are your thoughts?
• 4:53
  SPEAKER_01: Uh what's the update on Max Fried and how everything's going?
• 4:57
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it was a little bit of a weird one.
• 4:59
  SPEAKER_00: Like, you know, it's been about 10 days, I think, since he was diagnosed.
• 5:02
  SPEAKER_00: So I asked yesterday like, is Max doing anything yet?
• 5:05
  SPEAKER_00: And um yesterday was the first day he played catch.
• 5:08
  SPEAKER_00: So usually that's a a good sign.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think it was a good sign of the fact that that Freed seems to be, you know, feeling better, uh, you know, making some progress there.
• 5:17
  SPEAKER_00: But it's not, you know, Aaron Boone also cautions like it's don't read into this as the start of his ramp up.
• 5:23
  SPEAKER_00: Um so it's it sounds like it's just kind of light catch at this point to to keep his arm moving more than anything else.
• 5:29
  SPEAKER_00: I think it I don't think it's any kind of intense throwing, which is you know where he felt the initial issue.
• 5:35
  SPEAKER_00: Um so I guess that it's really not starting the clock yet on Freed's comeback, but I think it is a good sign that he's at least getting his arm moving so that you know once he I think he's gonna undergo some more imaging at some point to you know see whether he's showed enough healing that he can actually start ramping up, you know, long tossing, you know, having some more intensity behind his throes, and then everything that goes with that with both ends, facing caters and all that.
• 5:57
  SPEAKER_00: So still seems like it's gonna be you know at least over a month before he comes back.
• 6:02
  SPEAKER_00: Um but the fact that he's at least getting his arm moving here and and feels well enough to be playing at least light catch for whatever that is, like it seems like a good sign as opposed to just still being completely shut down from even moving his arm at all.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I'd be happy with him back in September, honestly.
• 6:18
  SPEAKER_01: Like the Yankees, their depth at starting pitching has just been unbelievable.
• 6:23
  SPEAKER_01: I think they're third in majors uh in ERA, and by war comparison, I think they're the best uh starting rotation in baseball.
• 6:33
  SPEAKER_01: Um, and then we hear this bombshell from Bob Nightingale on Saturday that the Yankees are one of the teams interested in Tariq Scoobyl.
• 6:45
  SPEAKER_01: Have you heard anything about that?
• 6:48
  SPEAKER_01: Or was that just something that Bob was throwing out there?
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, and I I think I'll, you know, if Scuba's actually available at the deadline, I would think you know, all 29 teams should be interested.
• 6:57
  SPEAKER_00: Well, maybe not you know, the teams that are totally out of it, but I I would think any contending team that has a shot to go to the playoffs should be in on him.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's gonna, I would think if if he actually gets traded, it's gonna take a haul.
• 7:08
  SPEAKER_00: And a lot of these, you know, I don't know how how the Yankees are able to stack up against some teams that have maybe, you know, maybe some teams have more loaded farm systems.
• 7:18
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, it I would expect it to take like top top prospects, maybe even some guys from the major league roster, even though it is only for a half season, but you're talking about a guy that's one back-to-back, AL Cy Young.
• 7:30
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see.
• 7:31
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, that's the the strength of the team right now.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER_00: So you would think that they have some more pressing needs to to address at the at the deadline, like the bullpen and and maybe another bat.
• 7:39
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I mean, we've seen deadlines where they uh you know add to strength at the deadline, uh, just because that's how the the marketplace kind of dictates it.
• 7:48
  SPEAKER_00: But um, yeah, I would think if Scoop was actually available, you know, there for the taking of the deadline, there's gonna be, you know, every playoff team would be in on him, I would think, and that just drives up the bidding.
• 8:00
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see what happens there.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_01: No, it's just fun to speculate, and you know, I just I had to ask the question.
• 8:06
  SPEAKER_01: I know it's a crazy question to ask when you have like one of the best rotations in baseball, but if you can add Tariq Scoobyl to your team, you gotta try and do it.
• 8:14
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the bullpen you just talked about, um it seems to be the glaring need for an upgrade right now, if there is one.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, maybe another bad as well.
• 8:29
  SPEAKER_01: Uh my issue isn't really with the actual players on the bullpen, it's just with the usage.
• 8:37
  SPEAKER_01: The usage has been crazy for some of these guys.
• 8:40
  SPEAKER_01: Like, I think th we have three of the top 10 uh players in usage in the bullpen right now.
• 8:48
  SPEAKER_01: Um so what can the Yankees do kind of to relieve, you know, we have um, why am I blanking on our lefty?
• 8:58
  SPEAKER_01: Um Brent Hedrick.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER_01: Brent Hedrick is is thrown like 30 times this year, and he's been amazing, but like him, Tim Hill has a rubber arm, but like after a while, you're like, oh man, how and how sustainable is this?
• 9:13
  SPEAKER_01: So if you could just talk about the bullpen for a second, and do you think they need an upgrade?
• 9:18
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I was gonna say it's definitely not, doesn't seem sustainable at all.
• 9:21
  SPEAKER_00: Like it seems like Brent Hedrick is pitching him almost every day.
• 9:25
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and it's I think it's uh just about half of the Yankees games he's pitched in, which is kind of crazy.
• 9:31
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, he's pitched well.
• 9:32
  SPEAKER_00: You've seen a little bit more lately.
• 9:34
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I mean he was good yesterday, but the I think the couple times before that you start to see him, you know, give up a little bit more.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: Um and yeah, but but the at the end of the day, like it they can't keep going to the same three guys day after day after day.
• 9:46
  SPEAKER_00: They have played in a lot of these tight, close games where you want to use your your best high leverage guys.
• 9:52
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but also you're gonna have to spread the wealth around a little bit.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: And I think that's you know why we've seen like them s continue to use Camila Duvall in some high leverage spots, like even though it hasn't gone well at times, like that's a guy that a lot as long as he's on their roster, like they need him to they need to get him right and have him be a guy that they can throw in the seventh, eighth innings with a lead because uh you can't keep going to the same well every day with Hedrick and Hill and and Fernando Cruz.
• 10:19
  SPEAKER_00: Like they've all pitched well, but it's uh at some point if you overuse them in trying to you know build that bridge of David Bednar, it's gonna backfire.
• 10:26
  SPEAKER_00: So they need some different guys to step up.
• 10:28
  SPEAKER_00: Like yesterday they tried to use Burr to get through the eighth inning, which uh you know I thought maybe that meant that Cruz wasn't available.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER_00: Boone said he was, but it was like Byrd with the matchups and obviously didn't didn't end well with the Bobby Witt Homer uh to give the Royals their lead there.
• 10:44
  SPEAKER_00: But I think there's gonna be some days where they kind of have to see if they can steal an inning with certain you know other guys so they're not just continually leaning on the same guys every single day.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER_00: And uh but I do think it's gonna be an uh area they address uh by the deadline.
• 10:58
  SPEAKER_00: And I mean they do that every year, but especially this year, like I would you know it seems like they're they're gonna need to bring in like a legitimate high-led high-leverage guy.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and then maybe eventually, you know, post-deadline, they're if they get the rotation fully healthy, maybe they can move one of their starters to the bullpen, and maybe by August they're ready to pull the you know, make that move with Carlos O'Grange as well to convert him into a reliever you know, after he builds up a steady dose of uh of innings as a starter.
• 11:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I think the bullpen uh now versus what it looks like in August or September is gonna be pretty different.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER_00: Uh but in the meantime, like you don't see a lot of early season trades to be able to get uh you know in path guys.
• 11:39
  SPEAKER_00: So they're gonna have to try to figure it out with the guys that they have in there right now.
• 11:43
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, it's it's a matter of like trying to win today and then like you know, resting these guys' arms for the full 162.
• 11:51
  SPEAKER_01: And no disrespect to Ryan Yarborough or Paul Blackburn, but it just seems like there are guys like Giovanni Cruz was great.
• 12:00
  SPEAKER_01: He came up, he was giving a couple innings, and I know you're really close to the team, so I don't want to like have you say anything ridiculous about these players, but like I don't really feel like there's a need for Ryan Yarborough and Paul Blackburn on this team because like I know they're supposed to be long relief guys, but their stuff doesn't really match some of the guys in uh triple A, like like like a Carlos Grande, who can come up.
• 12:25
  SPEAKER_01: Um, so that that's just been a little bit frustrating that we have an extra, you know, and it's hard for Aaron Boone, too.
• 12:31
  SPEAKER_01: Like, as much as I I I crush him sometimes, but he has like kind of two less guys to go to in the bullpen because he has these two long relievers that we're just like waiting to use on a day that a starter doesn't play well.
• 12:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, it kind of ties your hands a little bit.
• 12:46
  SPEAKER_00: Like, like sometimes you I mean, I think Yarbo were last pitch like 10 days ago or something like that.
• 12:51
  SPEAKER_00: It's almost like he's like the safety valve of like if uh you know, because they still have two guys, like obviously, you know, coming into the season, those guys were important when you're still trying to get Rodon back and Cole back, and you're not sure like what that rotation depth is gonna look like, and it's important to have you know options there.
• 13:08
  SPEAKER_00: But uh I think now as they get more healthy, like, but obviously, you know, they brought Rodon back, not fully built up.
• 13:14
  SPEAKER_00: You know, when they brought Cole back, you're not 100% sure where you're gonna get.
• 13:16
  SPEAKER_00: So like you know, if Cole had only gone like if Cole's pitch count got crazy the other day and he only goes three innings, like that's a spot where they use Yarbrough.
• 13:25
  SPEAKER_00: So it's like it it's almost like it's in case of emergency, but then the rotation's been so good where they haven't had to use a lot of those guys.
• 13:32
  SPEAKER_00: So it's kind of a catch-22 of like it's nice to have, but they've you know, they've been able to not use it too much.
• 13:39
  SPEAKER_00: So, you know, I I have questions about whether those guys will, you know, last the full season in the bullpen.
• 13:45
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see.
• 13:46
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, they do have a lot of starting pitching depth, like we've seen Elmer Rodriguez come up for a couple spot starts and uh you know not show his best stuff like with the command, but he's been serviceable and obviously have Le Granje there too.
• 13:58
  SPEAKER_00: Um so we'll see.
• 13:59
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's it's you know, Blackburn's done a little bit less in terms of length.
• 14:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like they've they've kind of started to use him in some more leveraged spots where I think they maybe see something.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 14:09
  SPEAKER_00: It's if Yarbrough is another lefty.
• 14:11
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, they don't have Hedrick or Hill every day, like Boons keeps saying, like he's not afraid to use Yarbrough in a leveraged spot if they don't have either of those lefties.
• 14:19
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see.
• 14:20
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's you know it's nice to have that safety valve, but also at a certain point, like you're you're kind of short-handed there a little bit too, because you're saving them maybe for some longer spots where that doesn't always come up, and that's a good thing.
• 14:33
  SPEAKER_00: But then it's like you know, it's a little bit of a wonky construction uh in terms of the bullpen.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and then you have Brent Hendrick pitching every single day.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, it's easy to sit here and you know nitpick the team.
• 14:46
  SPEAKER_01: You know, it's always a good thing when the bullpen is your biggest issue.
• 14:52
  SPEAKER_01: And so, like that is uh having said that, there are only three really guys hitting right now.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, uh obviously Aaron Judge had a little bit of a struggle, but you know, you can count on Aaron Judge and you can count on Bellinger and you can count on Ben Rice, who's been absolutely incredible this year.
• 15:08
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, but there is that hole missing in Jan Carlos Stanton and even in Jason Dominguez.
• 15:15
  SPEAKER_01: Um, do you have any updates on either of those guys?
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, so Stanton's supposed to get some more testing today.
• 15:20
  SPEAKER_00: Uh he he went through some, I think it was last week, uh, maybe it was a week before now, maybe it was two weeks ago.
• 15:26
  SPEAKER_00: He he went through another round of testing that he felt he said he felt better than the images showed, but the the MRI said that he still had a little bit of a strain in there that was lingering.
• 15:34
  SPEAKER_00: So uh he was supposed to he's supposed to get more tests today, and if the the MRI shows enough healing, he could you know advance in his running program, which they say you know, once he starts doing that, it could be fairly quick before he gets back because he's been hitting pretty much every day, you know, since he's been on the I.
• 15:50
  SPEAKER_00: L because that's not affected by the calf.
• 15:52
  SPEAKER_00: And he's not obviously not playing the field, so it's not like he has to build up, you know, and on a rehab assignment with that.
• 15:59
  SPEAKER_00: Um he's a he's a guy that usually hasn't has been able to avoid rehab assignments when he comes back from the I.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: L.
• 16:05
  SPEAKER_00: So once he starts is able to start moving around like on the field uh and doing that kind of running progression, like it might not be long before he's back, but he needs to get that final clearance with the MRI.
• 16:15
  SPEAKER_00: So we'll see what happens today.
• 16:17
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and then Jason Dominguez, uh, I think he just started his hitting progression last week.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: So it sounds like if you know it that's gone well in the early days.
• 16:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um he could could potentially be starting a rehab assignment, I think, by next week.
• 16:31
  SPEAKER_00: Um so he's only missed, I think it's gonna be it'll it'll end up being like a couple weeks, maybe up to a month by the time he's he's ready to come back, I think.
• 16:39
  SPEAKER_00: So it shouldn't have to be that long of a rehab assignment.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but we'd think that he might be back around the same time as Stanton, depending on the MRI today.
• 16:48
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but obviously, yeah, when they get those guys back, gives them a lot more options in terms of what they were they're able to do with the lineup every day.
• 16:55
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, that it's huge.
• 16:56
  SPEAKER_01: And and you know, and it's it's interesting that like like yesterday they had Volpe and Caballero kind of doing their thing when, you know, it it's hard not to take a shot at Austin Wells when Austin Wells, especially against lefty uh pitchers, has been, you know, abysmal.
• 17:14
  SPEAKER_01: And you know, you you throw in JC Ascara.
• 17:17
  SPEAKER_01: It's still interesting to me that they have two lefty catchers, but it is what it is right now.
• 17:22
  SPEAKER_01: Um so that yeah, they just have to kind of just find guys that can service the bottom of the lineup because, you know, I really do think that at the end of the day, Trent Gristram will get it going a little bit.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_01: But yeah, the bottom of the lineup concerns me, third base concerns me, catcher concerns me a little bit.
• 17:40
  SPEAKER_01: Um what if you want to, if you like we call them the run-it-back Yankees, but if there is a huge difference, but is there a difference between last year's team and this year's team that you see, or is it kind of the same regime under Aaron Boone?
• 17:57
  SPEAKER_00: I think the biggest difference, I mean, like like Cam Schlitzer didn't come up until July last year, and he was good, but he wasn't the guy that he is now.
• 18:04
  SPEAKER_00: Like when he takes the ball every five, he's going to nine, and like you anytime he takes the ball, you're like, he you know, this guy could give you seven shutout innings and strike out eight, nine guys.
• 18:13
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I think having that every five days, uh, you know, when you have a rotation that you know did include Max Reed, now does now is Garrett Cole back, now is Rodon back.
• 18:22
  SPEAKER_00: Like, I think that's just like a different kind of spark than they had last year.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and then also Ben Rice, like Rice was good last year.
• 18:30
  SPEAKER_00: He hit in some bad luck, but it feels like this year he's getting rewarded a lot more.
• 18:33
  SPEAKER_00: He's he's cooled off a little bit over the last couple weeks, but like he's still anytime, anytime he's up with the plate, um, I think you feel good about your chances there.
• 18:42
  SPEAKER_00: So I do think they just like, but you know, they have those two guys obviously playing at a at a really high level.
• 18:47
  SPEAKER_00: And then I think the biggest difference overall is just like the depth that they have that uh seems to be revealing itself a little bit more.
• 18:54
  SPEAKER_00: Like they might, you know, they've been able to be, you know, kind of more aggressive with some roster moves just because they do have better options.
• 19:02
  SPEAKER_00: Like when they had Luis Heel struggling uh you know last month, like instead of just waiting for Carlos Rodon to come back two turns later, they they sent heel to triple A and had Elmar Rodriguez come up to make those two spot starts.
• 19:14
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, the decision with Volpe to send him down, you know, until Caballero got hurt.
• 19:19
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, last year they probably don't make that decision because, you know, at least before they had Caballero because the the shortstop options behind Volpe weren't very good.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_00: So I think it's just you know a lot of a lot more pieces that they have at their disposal now where they can kind of be more aggressive.
• 19:34
  SPEAKER_00: Like they can, you know, like yesterday they can have Ryan McMahon on the bench because they can have Caballero slide over to third and uh and you know, just a better they have a lot more weapons there to be able to kind of pull and and if guys aren't hitting, you know, either have him on have him on the bench or send him to triple A.
• 19:53
  SPEAKER_00: Um, you know, it's not everywhere, but it seems like a lot more uh options for them to use to be able to kind of play the hot hand and and go with the guys they're hitting well.
• 20:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, it does it does seem like there is more of a sense of urgency for sure.
• 20:07
  SPEAKER_01: And I think the Yankee fans, uh I think we're just like kind of relieved with that, that we're not seeing the same thing every single day.
• 20:15
  SPEAKER_01: So shout out to Brian Catman, who's been doing a really good job pressing the right buttons and you know, like, okay, maybe the move doesn't work, but at least they're trying to make it work instead of just kind of like resting on their laurels a little bit.
• 20:31
  SPEAKER_01: Quick question because you're inside the clubhouse.
• 20:35
  SPEAKER_01: Do these players see Yankees Twitter?
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_01: Are they on their phones?
• 20:42
  SPEAKER_01: Maybe some of them are, some of them aren't, but like do some of these guys see the tweets that are going out?
• 20:48
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, what are your thoughts on that?
• 20:50
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know.
• 20:51
  SPEAKER_00: I think most guys at this point maybe try to avoid it.
• 20:54
  SPEAKER_00: Uh, I know, like, I know John Carlos Stan has mentioned it before, and I think he kind of tells you like tells some version of it every spring of like uh, you know, I think it's basically like if you want to find out how good you are, or if you want to know how how good you are, you can go, you know, search your name on Twitter during good stretches and find that.
• 21:12
  SPEAKER_00: And if you want to know how if you want to learn how bad you are, you can you're searching your name and on you know when things are going poorly and find that.
• 21:19
  SPEAKER_00: So like instead of riding that roller coaster, it is just like completely avoided altogether.
• 21:24
  SPEAKER_00: So I think most guys uh at least try to.
• 21:27
  SPEAKER_00: Um I think you know, guys' families and friends are more aware of like when they're getting criticized on social media, stuff like that, and maybe send it like a lot of guys will say like that they didn't hear stuff or or whatever until the you know a friend a family or friend tells them.
• 21:41
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I think for the most part they try to avoid it just for the you know kind of sanity of of trying to stay even keel over the course of a long season.
• 21:49
  SPEAKER_00: But um I think some of that gets that, you know, at least they hear it, uh, but I think they try to uh tune it out as best they can.
• 21:59
  SPEAKER_01: Fair enough.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: Fair enough.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, no, I just I didn't know if you had a story about a guy.
• 22:03
  SPEAKER_01: Like I know some of these players have burner accounts.
• 22:06
  SPEAKER_01: Like our judge probably doesn't look at anything.
• 22:09
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, everybody in the world talks about him, but I'd be interested to see, you know, some of these, you know, relievers or whatever, if they're looking or not.
• 22:17
  SPEAKER_01: What's one thing that fans don't see that you are uh privy to see um when you are in the clubhouse?
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_01: Like, is there some someone that sticks out or is just anybody that kind of just sticks out like, oh, you didn't know that this guy was funny or something like that?
• 22:38
  SPEAKER_00: Trying to think that's a good question.
• 22:39
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I think Will Warren has like a real dry sense of humor.
• 22:44
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and he's a guy that's kind of like, you know, kind of grown into his own a little bit more now that you know he made 33 starts last year and wasn't always, you know, he was pitching every five days, was huge.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_00: The results weren't always there, and now he's taking that next step this year, but he's you know, he can be self-depreciating, but also like you have some good one-liners and uh he's a pretty good quote.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: Uh I'm trying to think who else.
• 23:07
  SPEAKER_00: Um I don't know.
• 23:09
  SPEAKER_00: I think that the biggest thing is like you walk in there on a given day and and this is what they they want it to be, and I know it grinds some fans like during the bad bad stretches, but like you walk in there on a given day and you wouldn't know whether they've won 10th straight or lost 10th straight, which is kind of what Judge and Boone want want the clubhouse to be uh because it is such a long, long grind of a season.
• 23:32
  SPEAKER_00: Uh and so I I think that's kind of one of their strengths is that they're able to kind of uh like every day is kind of its its own entity and uh not too much carryover from the day before, whether it's an awful loss or or a uh you know thrilling win, like the last couple two have been.
• 23:48
  SPEAKER_00: So uh they keep it pretty fresh in there and and guys kind of trying to stay even keel over the course of a long season.
• 23:55
  SPEAKER_01: Cool, cool, cool.
• 23:56
  SPEAKER_01: And don't sleep on uh Dan Fioritos, the first base coach.
• 24:00
  SPEAKER_01: Don't sleep on that guy's sense of humor either.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, I went to school with him.
• 24:04
  SPEAKER_01: Um tell him I said what up, but he he's just an absolutely hilarious guy, really, really good guy, too.
• 24:11
  SPEAKER_01: And I honestly I expect him one day to be a major league manager, just like uh have have you got to talk to him at all?
• 24:19
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, he's a good one.
• 24:20
  SPEAKER_00: I had I had talked to him back uh when he was at double A managing when Bolby was there a couple years back.
• 24:26
  SPEAKER_00: Um, and I know a lot of the guys who have come through the minor leagues with him love him, and uh I think it's been the same since he got up here.
• 24:32
  SPEAKER_00: So I think he's been in a you know really strong edition for them.
• 24:34
  SPEAKER_00: And base running's been a lot better this year, so I think he has a hand in that.
• 24:38
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I know guys who have come up in the minors with him love him.
• 24:42
  SPEAKER_00: So uh seems like he's been a good uh good addition.
• 24:45
  SPEAKER_01: Yeah, and you know, shout out to him.
• 24:47
  SPEAKER_01: Like right when he got named the first base coach, social media was absolutely gone.
• 24:52
  SPEAKER_01: So he knows what he knows what he's doing.
• 24:54
  SPEAKER_01: Uh he just got and I've been waiting.
• 24:56
  SPEAKER_01: I'm like, I'm not gonna text him, I'm not gonna text him.
• 24:59
  SPEAKER_01: I haven't texted him since he got the the job, so I'm gonna try to stay away from him, but tell him I said hi.
• 25:05
  SPEAKER_01: Um last question.
• 25:08
  SPEAKER_01: Presented by Torch Pix.
• 25:10
  SPEAKER_01: Uh, go download Torch Pix when you get a chance to uh fire, fire, fire.
• 25:16
  SPEAKER_01: Uh last question.
• 25:18
  SPEAKER_01: Do you think this team's uh on pace to win 96 games, but do you think this team has a chance, especially in um kind of a weak American league, to make it back to the World Series and to compete for a World Series?
• 25:34
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, I think so.
• 25:35
  SPEAKER_00: You know, especially like you said, like the American League doesn't, at least at this point, doesn't look like there's a ton of you know major, major threats to them.
• 25:42
  SPEAKER_00: Obviously, they gotta figure out the Rays.
• 25:44
  SPEAKER_00: The Rays have had their number early on uh and it's pitched them especially tough uh you know, still leading the division.
• 25:50
  SPEAKER_00: We'll see, we'll see how, you know, if if they're able to kind of sustain that through the long long haul.
• 25:56
  SPEAKER_00: But uh yeah, I think they have as good of a chance as anybody in the American League uh to get back to the World Series just about doing it.
• 26:04
  SPEAKER_00: But like when you look at their rotation, like that's the kind of stuff you and obviously everybody is has to stay healthy, but that's the kind of rotation you can dream on for a playoff series if you're able to kind of roll out like a Schlitler, Cole, Freed, Rodon, or even you know, weather's warren, those guys have pitched well enough to stay in at this point too.
• 26:22
  SPEAKER_00: So uh obviously a long way to go before then.
• 26:24
  SPEAKER_00: But if you're able to, you know, pitching a lot of time wins a day in the playoffs, and it's a pretty good group to go go into October with if they're able to get everybody there healthy.
• 26:34
  SPEAKER_01: Awesome.
• 26:35
  SPEAKER_01: Um, yeah, I I I dude, the American League is just weak.
• 26:40
  SPEAKER_01: It's I mean, the Rays are the second best team.
• 26:42
  SPEAKER_01: I mean, you could say they're the best team right now because they have the best record, but other than that, like the Blue Jays are bad right now.
• 26:49
  SPEAKER_01: The Red Sox look like crap.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_01: So, I mean, I think they're I really do believe that the American League is theirs to win this year.
• 26:56
  SPEAKER_01: And uh, yeah, thank you again for coming on.
• 26:59
  SPEAKER_01: Uh the people's favorite beat writer, Greg Joyce.
• 27:03
  SPEAKER_01: Appreciate you coming on and spending some time with us.
• 27:06
  SPEAKER_00: Yeah, thanks for having me.