Latest / Chirping Zebras / LOU MERLONI | Chirping Zebras Podcast | Ep 96
Transcript
- Josh Dolan: I believe that is a zebra on the ice bill. How did he get on the ice? They still can't get him off the ice. is crazy. Here comes all the zebras. It's a zoo out there. You can't do that. Doesn't matter. Get in the box. Welcome everyone to Tripping Cougar. Maybe we'll all embrace the zebra side. Welcome everyone to Chirping Zebra's episode 96. Mark Riley alongside Gino Binda Jr. and Josh Dolan coming to you from Harmon Golf. We're back at Harmon Golf. Yes, thanks for having us. This is awesome. I got my Harmon Golf shirt on. You got the Harmon Golf hat on. And we're so thankful for Harmon Golf and Greg down here and the job they do. it's just an incredible place. You got to check it out. We want to thank our sponsors right off the hop. The referees creed she won't stop shop for all your referring needs and also want to thank Damon Financial Services. Damon for over 24 years. Damon Financial has helped families and business owners grow and protect their wealth with clear trusted strategies from retirement planning and investments to tax efficient solutions. They deliver no nonsense advice and focused on your goals. Call 508-321-2101 today to schedule your appointment. and your meeting with Damon Financial, visit them at damonfinancial.com. Also want to thank Townsend Hockey, who's been with us for a little while. And also want to remind you to like and subscribe on the YouTube, find us on the social medias, the Instagram, the Facebook, and of course. The TikTok, who did it the last two episodes? Me. All right. Josh How'd you do, all right? I think I did. Nailed the line. It's a line. It is a tough line. It's tough. knowing it's coming. know when it's gonna hit. You gotta be ready. Gotta be paying attention. And you do it in a way that not too many people can do. I need my red mic. You know what I mean? It's kinda like... Not as easy as it looks. It's kinda like a full ride. know your lines in full ride. They weren't easy to deliver. Timing. Timing is everything, right? Well, Don Gavin last week was just hilarious. the godfather of Boston comedy. ⁓ he was great. And of course, we're happy to have you back after your short hiatus. Short hiatus, Christmas break hiatus. the hiatus. I almost said hiatus. I don't know why. That's a town on the Cape. I don't know what the hell I'm doing here. ⁓ But today's guest, Lou Marloni, sweet Lou, pride of Framingham, ⁓ just. Awesome talking baseball. I mean hockey's our sport. Yes, but baseball. I love baseball like yeah, baseball is awesome football football baseball. Those are the other two sports. I really pay attention to all like yeah, it's awesome. No, you know baseball player we've had on right? Because we had Tim Cheetah. Yes, we had Tim Cheetah MLB ump long time MLB ump. But yeah, first first Major League ball player we've had on yeah and and of course from Nesson. And you know, you kind of... It's almost like we got a connection over in Nesson. Yeah. We've had a few. Arnold, Jaffe. Yep. We're still working on Barry Peterson and Brick. We have Brick here. Sofia, we're still trying on. Yeah. But... I hope she didn't see that episode. But yeah, Lou is great. if you like baseball, if you're like... I mean, he had a home run. Like the home runs he's hit, off of the pitchers. Right. Yeah. Johnson. Just incredible. Like just, you know, and your first at bat at Fenway Park as a Boston kid. Pretty cool. Smacking a three-rounder. don't think I was doing that. That was a pretty cool story to hear. Yeah. And I forgot about the one off Randy Johnson. remember that one. Because he's a guy that you root for because he's, you the The Boston guy, yeah. You gotta love the local guy. without further ado, we're gonna... jump to our discussion with Lou Maloney. Lou Maloney, welcome to the Zebras. We're so happy to have you. Appreciate it. I never really got along with Umps. I always did. Referees. I had good relationship with them, I like to think. I like to think, for the most part. Well, you're the first baseball player we've had on. we did have Tim Sheeter on. Yes. Long time MLB Ump. he seemed like he was easy to get along with. He's a great guy. I think most of them are. You know, I think in my experience, I've always But I don't know, like I had some umpires come up to me in games like, hey, what's the deal with this guy? Like a rookie maybe? Yeah, right. You know, I'm at second base and a base umpire is like, hey, what's the deal with so-and-so? ⁓ my God, good guy, why? I'm not sure I like him. You know, because maybe something happened when he was hitting early in his career and they just want to find out like about these people, like individually. So I've always had great relationships, maybe middle of the infield, always had an umpire right behind me. ⁓ But yeah, they definitely... They're definitely trying to figure guys out, especially early in their careers. Well, we did that. I did that in pros all the time, right? Like if a kid come being a shit disturbed, he's not a captain, right? And you grab the captain, you have a good relationship with the captain, you know them by the first name, you're like, hey, go tell 16 to cut the crap. Or, you know, the next thing you know, 16's coming out, tap you on the shit. Hey, sorry about that. I didn't mean to give you any lip. And I'm like, see? Keep your mouth And that's what it is too. It's like, you know, the guy in question, actually, you know who it was. was Brian Daubeck, who was like my boy. And I love Dabra. I'm like, ⁓ great guys. He's always bitching about the zone. You know what mean? My zone the other day. And it's not just, that's the thing you guys probably know, it's not just one umpire and one crew. You know, next thing you know. And I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. He's a good guy. I'll never forget that. ⁓ But they're always trying to figure guys out. So that's one thing. I do lot of youth sports now with my kid. I'm like, okay, how to talk to umpires. You know what I mean? It's some ball outside and they're screaming at the umpire. Do you think he's gonna give that to you next time up? Or is that as far as you're gonna go? Yep, sounds good. Now they got so much video that a guy comes up to the next day at bat. And the umpire, I've had that before too. Would you take a look at it? Because you rung me up on a pitch the day at bat before. Yeah, I did, it was off. All right, my bad. I'm like, that's cool. No one's perfect. And that's how it should human nature, right? Yeah, it's not personal. It's just like, I messed up. Yeah, I owe you. And that was like, I played too before instant replay. So when like, you know, I hit a ball in the dirt, guy makes a great play, I'm running the first base, I know I hit that bag and the guy rings me up. I can't challenge it. You know, now in baseball you can challenge it and I can get that hit. And I remember there's not this, you just feel like the guy stole something from you. And the emotional, especially at a big league level, in a big game at Fenway Park, you're sort of like, I can't do anything about this. Like we can't change it. No one part has ever changed their mind. You know what I mean? So. Do I let this guy have it? I just go back to the dugout. Like, I'm out. What can you do? Right? It's not going to make it any better. You know, maybe down the road in a month or two, maybe you get one. We always, baseball always feel like things even out. Yeah. Yeah. 162 games. I was going to say, you play a lot. And it's sports in general, right? It's like, if you're playing, your team should be one or two calls better than the other team. Because like, they're going to get one or two going the other way. One or two are going to come back this way. Yeah. Like, you know, it's just in any type of sport. Yeah. Very rarely. I know people, you know, Red Sox fans will watch a Red Sox game and they'll think that the guys out to get them. You know what mean? Meanwhile, the other fan base is thinking the same thing. You know, I'm like home plate umpire is bad. Just be consistent bad. know, just be both sides or whatever it is. get that in college like so like all the conference over there, this crew with us when we go over that conference and I go, that's just poor fishing. I don't think they go, oh, the Reds playing today, let me put my arm up extra. No, it's just. And I don't know how you guys feel about it too, but like. When I played, I felt like it was more. There were more veterans. Now the game is so young. But the veterans would get calls. There'd be pitchers. Everybody always joked about Glavin. He would get six inches off the outside corner. But the thing was, he just kept hitting it. You know what I mean? There's a reason why he was getting it. He would hit the corner, then keep going, but he just kept hitting it. And the guy was a Hall of Famer, and the umpire would give it to him. He's like, the guy's a Hall of Famer, and he's shown that he can keep doing this. So you know, you're a veteran, you used to get some calls here and there. The veteran hitter used to get some calls here and there. Now I feel like the game is so young. But sometimes I don't, I think they just call it straight. Like you said, relationships too, right? I think a lot of the time is these young players, even the young young umps aren't having that relationship that you probably have with, you know, talking to them. Everybody's on their phones and texting and this and that. Like these relationships, bet you guys aren't going out socializing as much anymore. That's where you got made some relationships with these options, players and things like that. there's a lot of, a lot of factors involved here. I think too, like it's always, I think at some point you gotta take a step back and realize how hard the job is. You know what I mean? Like it's, like baseball seems like a very slow sport, right? Until you think about it, home plate umpire watching some guy throw a 97 that has one pitch that goes like this, one pitch that goes this way, one pitch that goes this way, a curve ball that goes up and down. and he's making the call and he doesn't know what's coming. Right? The catcher knows what's coming. So he sees a ball that starts up, he knows it's a curve ball, whatever. These guys don't know what's coming. know, play at first base is bang bang. We can slow it up and make it look obviously bad, but it's still a difficult call. You know, that's why I've heard some people in baseball talk about, you know, they got these pitch comms for the catchers and they just sort of communicate, like put one in an umpire's ear. So if you know what's coming, I think your zone will be better. You know what mean? So the ump would know what the pitcher's throwing. The pitcher's gonna throw a curveball. Alright, I'm not gonna give up on it. Like when I see the ball up, I'm not gonna be like, ball! And all of you're like, shit, I missed it. You know? But there's other problems there because then I think, I do believe some umpires will, there's so much technology, they'll tip. They'll tip. They'll know, they'll all of sudden be like this, teams will start scouting umpires. You know, this guy, when he knows a curve ball's coming, he's getting lower. Or when he knows a fast ball's coming, he's standing up taller. know, like, so it's difficult, but. That's interesting. That's how, like, you're stealing signs almost through the umpire. Well, that's, they would, they do it through the catcher, receiving balls. They would do it with the umpires, but the game is so fast now. Guys throwing a hundred, everyone's throwing a hundred. Yeah. And everything is moving left, right, up and down. And this guy's back there trying to figure out if across the plate or not. So, you know, we're good at it. They're good at it. Robo, ⁓ robot umps. Yeah. I hate it. I don't want it. love the human element of the game and it would ruin it. Yeah. It would absolutely ruin it. I don't want it. ⁓ they're going to come with this challenge system next year. They're going to use that where a team gets a couple and they've experimented with it. I, started spring training cause some ball parks had it in there on, at their stadium and it was good. It was quick. You know, it's like ball, he thinks it's a strike to catch it. We'll go like this umpire. boom gets a tap, it was a strike. know, like it's pretty quick. You get two challenges a game. The robot omp's, interesting thing is that, remember was Nick Pavetta I think last year did a rehab start and in AAA they always messed with it. So one day a week they did just straight robot omp's. You know, where they just called the plate and Pavetta wasn't getting anything. And I think pitchers don't want any part of it. Cause they're gonna get a little bit off. They should, they a little bit off, a little bit down, a little bit up. And if it's just the dish, Like just the strike zone. Swing the bat. Yeah, I don't think pitchers will like it. Plus it's, you know, I'm at the plate, judge is at the plate, what's his strike zone, what's my strike zone. So there's, don't like the robot. The challenge system I think will be good. Now the challenge system now, when they're doing it, is it like the live or is it that animated like tennis does? the ball is out here. Yeah, it'll be animated. Like how accurate do you believe in that? Yeah, it's, and they actually put it up on the screen in some of the games, so the fans kind of. get involved a little bit like they say, ⁓ cross the plate and next thing you know, strike. It doesn't take too long, but you're right. how accurate is everything? But it's, ⁓ I think that'll be good. It just gives them a couple. Well, it gives them like reassurance almost than anything. like how like to me, umpires will hate it. Like I'm looking at even like the betting world, right? Like, ⁓ hey, we need like even when football, hey, we need that first down. Hey, put the robot out there. Put the first down marker out there. Boom, there it is. Right? And it's just like, put the robot in. Yeah, put the in. I don't know. I wouldn't think, guys, I wouldn't think, umpires already, you know, with the challenge system as it is, and ABS, it's like, it's just, don't know, setting them up to look bad. You know what I mean? Like you're starting to, some people are like, well, they're already bad, you know, whatever. But it's like, it's, ⁓ I umpire it's like constantly like you're making a call in a split second on a ball that takes less than a second to get there. Yeah, yeah. And it's like oh he missed four of them today. You're like that's pretty good. a positive. of how many pitches? right. 250, 300? Yeah. you gotta like to stay laser focused for like baseball's long. Yeah. Three, four hours. You know sometimes it's tough. Yeah. They're tough, but I can still get on them sometimes though, it's still fun. ⁓ I get on the referees all the time myself, He's getting thrown out of the game when he's on the bench. I gotta stop I keep saying he's getting tossed. I got tossed a couple times when I was coaching. When I'm on the bench, I'm fine. I think it's when I'm in the stands I tend to just yell out because when I see something wrong, like, no! I want to correct the wrong immediately, but you can't straight yourself. The thing is too, that you... Yeah, like if it's... You know, he just sort of looked at the play and saw it differently than you did. That's one thing. But it's maybe like a rule thing. You're like, you're just wrong. Like, it's not acceptable. I refuse to accept this. It's not the rule. like, for instance, right, like this weekend, it was an older guy reffing with a younger girl, right? And like, we're playing one of the teams in New Hampshire and the play was off sides, clearly. For us, we got the advantage, right? And you see the guy put his whistle to his mouth. like, ⁓ he's got to help the girl. Boom, puts it right down. Now the coach calls him over, was like, hey. This young girl's out here, you're out here for a reason. You gotta make sure games call correctly. Blow it dead. And he continued to do that all game long. And it just drove me nuts. And by the end of it, I just had enough. I deal with that to my kid, to youth baseball. And I'll coach first, and something will happen. And I'm like, well, that's just flat out not the rule. You know what I mean? And the guy's like, no, no, no. I'm like, what rule? Is this a Little League rule, MLB rule? And then we get to a certain level where it is MLB rules. And I'm like, you know, the first baseman can't just falling to the ground and try to tag the guy getting picked off. Like he's got to give him the base a little bit, you know? There's just certain rules. that's, know, safe out, Yeah, you might've missed it. Who cares? It's youth, go get them. But when a rule, you're like... Yeah, you gotta be buttoned up on those. I hate when they, it drives me nuts when those things get missed. Yeah, there's just so many goddamn rules. sometimes I'm in the booth and something happens and I'm like, fuck. I think I've ever seen that before. You know what I mean? Like there's... Two or three times a year, I'll be like, what the hell was that? know, like, is, wait a minute, wait, if this guy, this guy, there's just too many rules. Now, now, I know like, Gino and I, when you work refereeing at a high level, and then now you're watching it at a lower level and you see these mistakes, you're coaching first base in a little league game. How hard or easy is it for you not to be like, what the fuck? You know, I think my wife will tell me that just with my own son. Yeah, And if somebody else makes a mistake, I'm like, ⁓ you know, I'm trying. Yeah, you know, and I'll say something about my kid and she'll be like, ⁓ you know, everyone else is, I'm like, I know, I'm just a parent. Right, right. But I think I just, I really try to just, when I go to like a game, I just really try to tone it down. Yeah, You know what I mean? I'd almost be like, you know what, my son's playing, I'm just going to enjoy watching him play. Good, bad, you always try to go into it with that. Same with all the other kids. I just see too many people worked up in youth sports. I'm like, bro, it's like youth sports, man. What the hell are we doing? Do we really need this argument? There's a brawl going on? Calm down. the? There's a fight in the stands going around right now? It's just, because everybody just thinks that's their kid's ticket. Yeah, yeah, and it's not. You know what I mean? Yeah. God, no. Do you realize what we're talking about here? Yeah, right. Is there someone in this state, how many kids in this state are gonna actually play? One percent. Major League Baseball, NHL, you name it. Why don't we all just sort tone it down and just enjoy our kids running around competing and playing sports. Being an athlete, right? But it's intense. I even know personally like... Like I've yelled out a couple of times, but like just take the face off outside and why is it inside, right? It's just that, it has nothing to do with it. But it's not a malicious yell, but I'm still yelling and it's loud and it's a rink and then someone's yelling down there and then the coach is yelling. But for like a 10 year old kid, that's like, ⁓ my God, scariest thing ever. They'll figure it we're all assholes. You know what I mean? So it's like, it's just part of it. I think in hockey culture, yelling. is more part of that culture where baseball, my daughter played softball. So it's kind of like quieter. You know, like you yell at a softball game or a baseball game. Everyone knows. It's little bit different too now. Yeah. Oh, yeah. mean, my daughter was a pitcher. I was a dick. So I'd go and warm her up, you know, and she could fire the ball like windmill and at seven years old. like, but her strike zone was always tiny because she could throw it. And so she'd hit the mitt and I'd go, that was perfect. Won't be a strike during the mitting, but it was perfect. And they'd all be like, you talking to me? No, I'm talking to my daughter. Knowing you're not helping her in any way. Couldn't help it. I was like, this is freaking stupid. But I think that might be the difference between them is like you yell. Everyone at the field knows. Oh yeah. That's the dickhead. In a rink, you've got multiple people yelling and it's like, yeah, they're a dick, but you know, that's kind of a different culture. as a broadcaster, especially when like the Red Sox sucked, you watch stuff and you see guys boot balls, like how do you not freak out? you know what I mean? Well I still think it's like... People, it was funny, because the players will always tell the guys that just left the game, don't forget how hard the game is. You're like, I'll never, my career, how could I possibly forget it? I sucked, you know what I mean? But it's like, you know, was, but I wasn't this great hitter, I wasn't this great fielder, I just survived, right? Because I could play the game, so. You were sweet Luke, on! But it's still like, your job is, I still knew what it was supposed to look like. I played with some great players, and I knew what greatness looked like, and I knew what you're supposed to be doing. at all times kind of thing. And so the best way to put it is you talk about the play, you never try to make it personal. know what That guy would probably would like to do it differently. You'd probably rather come and get that ball rather than sit back in that ball or be aggressive on the old one pitch or the one-oh pitch. So it's not fun. The Red Sox defensively, that's the problem. The last three years have been awful. Making errors and everything else and then they'll make a great play. So it was kind of like weird last year because they would make great plays and couldn't make some routine ones at times. So I think you always try to, number one, you never forget how hard it is, but you have to get past that and actually talk about the play and maybe what should have happened. But you don't make it personal. You just talk about the play, the ground ball or whatever. So I like it when other teams make errors. There's nothing that can be like, well, Volpe just can't play shortstop. Got him the Yankees, know, whatever. Yeah, so it's... You're around it. When I'm back into it now and I'm traveling with the team, you're around it and you do see the work they put in and you do see how hard it is and how hard the guys are the ball these days. And you're like, I know it's a tough play, but he has a big league. He knows he should make that. Like he knows that he should have made that. Look, put the camera on him. He's not happy. Right. You know, he's disappointed and he knows he should have made the play. So that's always a tough part of it. When it's negative, you of, Jesus, and I get no bad week. You're like, start winning. Right. You know? So broadcasting, how'd you make the transition from playing into broadcasting? I think like, I went right into kind of like sports radio. Yep. And then started doing like 30 games a year, like back in 2013. So it was, I got to see it from a different side. ⁓ But I felt like I was still like a sports radio guy doing games. Yep. And I think the guys are still like, Like Tony Maz. Yeah, yeah. They're just like. you're on that station where that guy was ripping me or your partner was ripping me or you were ripping me, whatever. So it's still like a, like, yeah, like, get the hell out of here. So like the last couple of years, I got out that radio kind of mindset mold of the business and it's like, okay, this is just what I do, you know? So, but getting into it was, I loved it. It felt like getting out of the radio, doing 30 games a year was like awesome. And she got the department, like, eventually this is what I want to do. I would love to just. do these games and just talk baseball and not free agency salary caps and all these other sports. So there was an opening obviously the station made some changes and I had an opening here at Nesson. So now I get to do the games and it's great. You travel with the team you're always around to spring training. it's like you feel like you're part of the team. part of it but I don't never try to feel like I'm part of it. Right. But I'm always around. Right. You know and I kind of can see how hard these guys work or You get to know the players better, I think, when you watch that much. It's hard to watch one game and see what a guy did wrong. But when you watch it for a week or 10 days, you're starting to see what adjustments he's trying to make and things like that. I love it. It's great. Wow, that's cool to see those little adjustments and seeing how guys work through things. like, I mean, baseball, it's streaky. You go into slumps and you get how guys come out of them and all that kind Every great hitter sucks for like two or three, you know. Yeah, like the older veteran hitters turned like a bad slump in the 30 at bats. Right. Some of younger players turned into 80, 90, You know, because they got older guys maybe have some things in the past where they get out of it quicker. So it's, it's been fun. It's nice when they win. Who, who was the best player you played with over the years? In Boston, it was like, you know, mean, Pedro Martinez is the greatest pitcher I've ever seen. He's the best. So 98 was his first year here. It was my first year in the big league. So it was like just... How dominating was he? mean, it was like just blows your mind when you look back and see how good he was. The funny thing was that tail end of his career when he was more like 92, 93, you know what I mean? And he still really good because he was just a smart pitcher. You're like, imagine that at 97 right now, right? 98. You know what I mean? And that's what he was for those like first three or four years where it was you're in middle of a steroid era where the average, you know, ERA is like four and a half and this guy's popping one nines. You know what mean? Like he was just that much better than everybody else. And the best part was playing second or short behind him. When you could just see he and Tech kind of like just going through a lineup and why they were throwing this, why they were throwing that, attacking different guys. That was, he was the best pitcher I've ever seen. And like position players, was, know, Manny, the hitter, Nomar all around it short. Like it was some pretty cool. Maybe one of the natural hitters we've probably ever seen. He's one the greatest right-handed hitters I've ever seen in my life. Unreal. Worked his ass off in the cage. Now, I read he would swing and miss a pitch on purpose so that the pitcher would throw the pitch again. And he knew he was going to crush it. Yeah. He'd do that. He'd also just set you up. There's so many bats where people are like, ⁓ he's just quit. Like, he would take three pitches down the middle and the bat would be over. Right. And people are like, what the hell was that? And sometimes he would just guess. know, like he would sit there and like, fastball down the middle, he'd take it. Fastball down the middle, he'd take it. 0-2 curveball, he hit it 450 feet. Because he was just sitting on the curveball the whole time. Not all the time, but he was amazing. Like, was, if there was a guy on second or third, he was not going to win. know, today's game, the RBI's don't mean anything. You're like, well, there's some dudes just better than others at ice. And he was just one of the greatest hitters. I've ever seen. Nomar all around. I mean, for like five, six, seven years in first seven years in Boston, it was just off the charts. was the man. Yeah, off the charts. So I think you get to play with like the older guys, right? Like I play with David Cohn, Brett Saber, Ricky Henderson, like Dennis Atkinson. Like guys, know, when I was younger, I'm playing with them. All of them kind of tail into their careers. Yeah. Still just like, wow, like that was pretty cool. And did you ever face Pedro? I did. I went 0 for 3. hit a ball in left center and Johnny Damon ⁓ dove and robbed me, the bastard. But I was playing with Cleveland, it was 0-4, my first year out. And Eric Wedge was my manager and we were about to go into Boston and he's just like, which game do you want? And it turned out, actually I think I played all of them because I think somebody had gotten hurt, but he's like, which game do you want? I'm like, who's throwing? And he was like, Wakey, D-Lo, and Pedro. And I was like, Pedro. And he's like, what? know, cause I'm like, wait, I'm like, you know, why'd you, I play with this guy for like six years. He's the greatest pitcher I've ever seen in my life. Like what you gonna do? Strike me out three times? Who gives a shit? He strikes everybody. You know, he gets everybody out. So it was, that was cool. So I got to face him just once, just at one time. It was great. That's awesome. Yeah. Who's the best shit talker? The best shit talker. Yeah. Who had the best chirps? There was, uh, funny guy. Like the funniest team I ever played with in my life was Carlos Barriaga. Really? Like that was you and Ricky Henderson. Like he was just funny. Not necessarily a chirper. I think Trott Nixon would be pretty good at it. You know, because he would, every once in a while you'd get him a little red ass and he'd fire some shit off at the pitcher. he'd take him long to kind of get pissed off, but when he got pissed off like it would, he would chirp at a guy pretty good. He was good. Pedro was always, the nights he didn't pitch... He would just sit in the top step and start like chirping guys left and right like Posada. He just chirp Posada. He used to call him Dumbo. That is kind of like bigger years. Yeah. Yeah. Hey Dumbo. Dumbo. He would just say hey Dumbo. You know he stick his ears out at him. That's why they never liked each other. You know I think they respected each other. Yeah. But they had some battles. But yeah. Petey when he wasn't pitching a few times starters. I'm awake one time. We were in Tampa Bay. And Wake was pitching and Pedro wasn't pitching. When he was not pitching, he's always chirping and there was nobody in the trop. Right. It gets quiet as hell. And he's out there pitching. You can hear Pedro. He's screaming and hitting or chirping somebody and screwing around with them. I don't know. But Wake, one time, was like, hey, will you shut the fuck up? I'm on the mound. That's all I can hear is you like screaming. know, and he was he can be pretty loud if we were in a quiet place. That's awesome. His compete level, too, was just. Pedro's. Yeah, there's just that second and I mean he just wanted to win. Yeah, I see like the some old videos and stuff. You just it kind of brings you that that look in his face. Yeah, on a day he was pitching like you know when you're in a clubhouse and he's pitching and you just look over there and he just had this look in his face and it was just like and you see some of the old games they show and that's it once in a while him in the mound. see that look again. Yeah, and it's like. His dude. That's the Tom Brady look. Yeah. Yeah. It was just like, it's his day. Yep. So like when guys are chirping like that, like how often can you see like one of those bench clearers happening? like coming from like a hockey world, like you can kind of see when like a fight's going to break out. But because I've never, like I played baseball as a kid, but I was always in the outfield kind of like I am in this episode right now. I'm just, but like. Because everyone's so far apart like can is there like a lot of like chirping going on before that happens or is it more like Communicated through the pitches. Yeah, it's usually like something on the field, right? Like somebody gets taken out in second base or something whatever but Controlled by a pitcher, you know, I mean we so those some of those early years like we had Pedro was on the team So everyone's a while. He would just drop a dude You know, a lot of us were protecting players, but other times it just didn't like the way the guy was leaning over the plate, whatever. But we used to get in fights with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, or the Rays at the time, all the time. Like they were, they sucked. Like when they first came to the Rays, they were always in last. And we used to fight with, they used to get in these fights with them like every single year. Like it just made no sense, you know, cause we were, you know, we were either in second place or we were making for, trying to get, making the playoffs and. Next thing you there's like a brawl and guys would hit somebody, they'd drill Nomar, they'd drill Manny. So it was just chaos. Like Pedro one time hit that, it drilled Gerald Williams down in Tampa, that bench clearing brawl, whatever. Most of it's from pitchers. know, like guys getting hit, us not liking it, whatever it Retaliation. Retaliation. then, know, so Pedro would drop some dude, somebody would drop one of us, Pedro would drill another guy. You know, it just kept like escalating. Not really like chirping from the dugout. Yeah. Although that might have got guys fired up a little bit, but. ⁓ And that was back in the day when like you could do that and not get thrown out. Yeah. Now it's right now it's like you you brush them on back and there's a warning and the whole thing. But back then it was like, are you going to hit two? I'll hit two. And well, the base. Honestly, I think it's better like back then, like if somebody got dropped and you felt like it was intentional. The next inning the pitcher would just drop one of your guys and drill him, hopefully, like in the hip, know, not in the lad or something like that. ⁓ And it's over. You know what I mean? It's over. Now, throws a ball behind a guy, misses him, he gets tossed, and there's warnings. So now nobody can hit anybody else. You know what I mean? And it's sort of like it never gets resolved. You know what mean? That's why I always say, let the game police itself. Some guys lose their mind, drill a guy in the head, that's not acceptable. It's like when you just, people just expect it. You know what I mean? Especially the people playing the game. It's part of the code. Yeah, like somebody gets drilled and you're up third, not me, that was one of beautiful things, it never me. Everyone wants to hit me. You know what I mean? I'm gonna put him on the base and make him earn it. A little bleeding single somewhere. if you're... You drill somebody and you're up third and the first two guys get out. You know what mean? They probably wouldn't drill the lead off guy, although some guys don't give a shit. two outs, nobody on, here hold this for me. know, put it in your ribs, go to first. And the guy would get drilled and be like, God damn it, it hurt but I get it. And go. Not all the time, but go. Now. Guy gets thrown behind you and everyone's screaming and yelling and... You ever see like, guy getting hit? Going in the locker room after was getting, getting pissed at the pitcher for hitting the guy earlier and say, now I had to take bullets for you. Any incidents like that? I've never really run into that. The only time I had seen it was like retaliate. was no retaliation. ⁓ know? ⁓ I think I was actually like one year I old five. was in Anaheim and Vladdy senior was on our team, Guerrero. Yeah. And he got drilled. I think it was some history there too, because I was just, O-5 was a new guy in that team in April. He got drilled, I think once or twice. And we didn't retaliate. And Mike Sosha didn't really ever believe in kind of retaliation. And maybe one time after the game, like we had a meeting, whatever, and Vlad, he was pissed. You know what I mean? Because the pitchers wanted to drill a guy. But the manager comes up and says, you're not doing it. You know what mean? And it was sort of like, so I've seen that before. That was just one incident there. But in the minor leagues sometimes too, it's like, dude. someone's getting dropped left and right. Like, what are we doing? Well, so-and-so doesn't want me to hit them. It's like, I don't really give a shit what so-and-so does. We're in the minor leagues. Like, take care of this. You know what mean? Like, sometimes, you know, but that's the only time. I've never really seen, like, hit or go after a pitcher. Right. Because a lot of times pitchers are like, dude, I want to. Yeah, right. I just can't to it. They won't let me, you know? I don't know what that means, but I've seen that before. When a brawl happens in baseball, because like hockey, you got line brawls. You know, or if like you two start fighting I'm gonna grab Josh and we may go but we might not. Yeah. And in baseball they just all go out. Yeah. How often do you like grab someone and tag them? Is it just like the two main combatants? Yeah, it's like it is what it is. A lot of people call it, know, like everybody goes out there and they just just to be out there. Right. You know what I mean? And usually they get separated pretty quick. Yep. Like the one I was talking to the Tampa and the Gerald Williams one, like I was actually at third and he drilled them and yeah you gotta protect Pedro. And I was at third and when he hit him, Gerald started walking and I started like creeping towards Pedro a little bit. And I remember like Gerald, once Pedro like took his eyes off him and looked for a ball from the umpire, Gerald charged. So I took off and I like ended up putting my shoulder in his like basically his hip like a tackle. Just as I hit him, Tech hit both of us from behind. So that was like a melee. Unfortunately, I was in the bottom of that pile. I ended up in the hospital that night. No shit. Because someone came in and dropped a knee in the back of my head. And I came out and I was like throwing up in the dugout. was a mess, concussion. Wow. But like I've seen, we had one fight, I think it was with the Orioles or maybe Tampa where it ended up in like in front of the left field in front of the green monster. Like it just kept coming. But the crazy one was probably the whole Zimmer thing. Yeah. That was wild. There was some punches thrown and there was some, look personal. That was insane because I also had a team like Nixon and Kapler and like, know, guys that were just like nuts. Looking to go get somebody. And that hatred was real with the Yankees. Yeah, it was because it was, I mean, I still felt like there was respect. They were very good team. I think they knew we were good team back in that day, at that time. it was like it was just they were so good. You knew you had to go through them. But the difference is, it's like not so much now, maybe it's starting, who knows. But there was like a young core in the Yankees that started like 97, 96, like when they were winning. There's a young Cor with the Red Sox, you know, with, and then you bring Pedro into the mix and here comes Manny and like, here's Nomar and Trot. And it was just Veritek. So it was like, you had just played against the same guys for like five or six years. know what I mean? Four or five years. And it just came to a head, 03, I was on that team. So you just hated them because they knocked you out and they were good. And it was just the same dudes. And I thought 04 kind of, you know, finally kind of. gave him a little bit of a head and then they finally won. The Zimmer thing, like, it was terrible. Terrible. But he did charge at him. I mean, you you're going to charge at someone, you got to expect something to happen. No? I mean, I might sound like a dick right now, but if someone runs at me, I'm either going to close right, throw him aside, he like Steven Seagal'd him. He just kind of used his momentum. Right? Yeah. Everybody loves him like literally like everybody everybody even the guy we everybody loves him But even like some of the guys are like well, I mean he's Pedro Martinez Mm-hmm. He's our pitcher and I don't care how old Jim is and this is one of reasons why we love him is because he actually thought of going after Pedro Martinez Like this is actually the reason why we love him look at this freaking psycho he wants to kill him right but if Pedro just sort of stayed there and let him just punch him in the face like Maybe breaks a jaw. Yeah, whatever Pedro's out. Yeah, so the whole thing was just bad because nobody wanted to happen But at the same point people like we're not gonna just let him tackle Pedro. Yeah, so Pedro, you know just redirected him Yeah, but I'll say this like really everybody felt bad for him and I'll never forget it the next day He was like emotional and was embarrassed Like he was so like, you know, I'm sorry. I know what get into me and I remember to a man Like if he said anything to a on our team, to a man, were like, Zim, you don't understand. that's what, first off, are you okay? Yeah, right. Okay, and that's actually why we love you. Like you took a run at him. Like, it's fucking hysterical. Yeah. You know what mean? So true. So, yeah. And I think it was bad That was great. He kind of bounced on the, on the turret. That was ugly, was awful. I hate seeing it. Yeah. But it was like. It was one of those ones where you see it you're like. If he's okay, I'm laughing my balls off. You know what I mean? Yeah, if everything's all right. It's like when your friend walks in a door or something, you're like, okay, it's all right. know? Yeah, but he was a guy that honestly, when you played the Yankees, he was still playing the Yankees. Like, Zim would be at the cage and everybody would kind of walk up to him and like, what's up, Zim? You know what I mean? Like, he was just a man. Yeah. That's cool. I didn't realize that about him. That's cool to know. Yeah, he's That's awesome. But he loved him when he was here. Yeah. When he was here, was... mean, everyone loved him. Yeah. Yeah. Who, ⁓ manager-wise, who'd you like playing for? Jimmy Williams was my first. Okay. ⁓ He was awesome. Like, I loved that guy. Like, he was a great teacher of the game, great temperament. ⁓ Grady Little. Was there Grady? Grady was our bench coach. He was awesome. He was just sterile. And, you know, obviously Grady with the whole 03 thing with Pedro not pulling him, but I still loved Grady Little. Right. He's still one of my favorite guys in the world, you know? Like, he just... His contract was up and he was going to do it his way. He was going to leave what he viewed as the best pitcher. wasn't going listen to people saying you got to pull him after the third time, know, pull him after 95 pitch, whatever. He was going to run with the guy. It didn't work. But I love Grady a little. I had some good ones, know, social. I really liked I was only with him for a couple months. But Eric Wedge was one of my favorites, I've known Wedgie. I knew him. He was living out here. So I've known him for before I played with the Indians, but he was great. ⁓ Some good ones. I was lucky even in minor leagues like DiMarlo Hale. He's with Toronto right now, the bench goes, been a game forever. He's one of the best guys to learn from coming up through the monitors. So I got lucky. Yeah, it good. Good group. With that whole situation with Pedro not taking him out, is Pedro like, it's Pedro. Pedro's not going to go, yeah, take me out. Yeah. I mean, hindsight's 20-20. Never leave it up to the pitcher. Right. like hindsight's 20-20, but it's fucking Pedro. Yeah. You know, like you can see. It was a gigantic mistake. ⁓ But I don't think I'm telling Pedro. No, I remember being in there and because when he came off the mound, he gave me one of these. Yeah. Yeah. Everyone thought it was done. That was him being like, that's it. Right. He doesn't thank before the game's over. Right. You know what mean? So kind of thought he was done. And at the time, leading up to that, we had guys like Timlin, Embry and Williamson that were just dominating. Lights out like they were just putting up zeros and we were just like we're good We got these three to finish it off less So he went back out and I forget like he he was like ⁓ two one two on everybody He just couldn't put him away, you know, and then he went out and talked to him I thought he was taking him out right and he came off the mind. He left him in and I'm like, ⁓ boy, you know ⁓ How we doing, know, like so it was just one of those moments, but he yeah, you never gonna leave it up to him He's always gonna say he's good. But Guys in that pen would just dominant at the time. That sucked. Like that sucked. And to the point, I've seen grown men crying, dug out in clubhouses, especially Wakey, who was probably gonna be the series MVP if we win that ball game. And he gives it up and it's like, really? You're the only reason why we're here with how he pitched. But that was, I don't forget, because the next year I was in Cleveland. And that off season when Aaron Boone blew his knee out playing basketball, Yankees released him. Well he was rehabbing, the Indians signed him. So I was in Cleveland. So he gets signed and he's not gonna play, he's still rehabbing his knee kind of thing. It more for the following year type. So he came to the clubhouse saying hi to everybody, he had just signed, he came over and I'm like, Booney, it's too early. Yeah, you're gonna wait for me, dude. It was like June. I'm like, it's still too soon. I love Booney. Booney's the best. But it was kind of like, man, my family hates you. know? I'm like, the whole Boston nation hates you. But he's a good dude. It's kind of like Albie. When he got traded to Philly, and Hartnell was the guy who knocked him out for a year and a half. And next thing you know they're teammates. It's just like, you know, that awkwardness. Too soon. Yeah, too soon. But you know how is. You've got teammates, get, you're like, yeah. You've got to forgive. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, Marashie and Bennett. That was the same thing. Now what was it like being over in Japan? It was, I loved the experience. Were you tall over there? I was probably average height. Really? Yeah. I figured you'd be pretty tall. it was probably average height. think there were still some big dudes out there that I was surprised with. ⁓ I was there for like six months. I actually came back like a trade deadline. Because was like, that was the year John Valentine blew his knee out and they were trying different dudes and they had a hole and they're like, you want to come back? And at the time I was like, yeah. But I loved it. I was in like Okinawa for spring training for like two months. I was in Yokohama and it was just, loved the food, the games were sick. They were packed, everyone's chanting. They really in it. They love baseball. But the baseball was just different. Yeah, I was gonna say, how different was that? It was just different. It was like Mr. Baseball, the movie with Tom Selleck. That was it. We had ties. I'd be at third base and the interpreter's screaming at me and I'm like, what? And he's like, look for the bunt. I'm like, there's nobody out and this base is loaded. Like who the fuck's bunting now? And so they don't bunt. And I'm like, what was up with that? He's like, Luzon, I'm telling you, they're gonna bunt. I'm like, bass is loaded, nobody out. I'm like, if they do, I'll catch it and flip it underhand to the catcher and the guy's out. And then I'll look at the hitter like, you're an idiot. A week later, I'm at third base, bass is loaded, Luzon. I'm like, I know, bunt. I'm in there, the guy squares, bunts it to me, I pick it up, I throw it to the catcher, out. I'm like. I think I put my hands up like this and looked at my interpret and I'm like, what are we doing? And they're like, good play. And I'm like, okay. I'm like, okay. But it was, um, I was like, I was like, all right, you know, but, it was, it was hard. You're an American. know you're a dead fastball hitter. So I was over there getting pitched. Like I was Barry Bonds, like one old curve balls, two old sliders. I'm like, what the splits everywhere. And I was like, dude, I'm a fastball hitter. I can't hit any of shit. know, and it was, it was actually some pretty good pitching. But I came back like first of August and I was a dead red fastball hitter. And all of a sudden I started like seeing these curve balls all, and I was like just hitting the shit out of them. hit like 320 when I came back for two months because I was hitting breaking balls. they're like, well, what happened to you? And I'm like, it's all I saw for like four months, like six months, all I saw were curve ball, curve ball, curve ball. And to be honest with you, I'm like some of those guys are better than that whole shit I just hit. They hit some good stuff. There was some good pitching over there, especially off speed. It was a blast though. Yeah. It was just... And the language wasn't... Oh, I've never learned it. was like... no. In a million years. was... How many kids are framing him? It was like... Japanese. It was like artwork, you know? And I'm like, I don't know what any of this means. Men use had pictures. I had an awesome interpreter who played baseball at Cal. Oh, all right. And so he was more American really than Japanese. So he was the best. He was always kind of like we'd go out and... Yokohama had a base there. So if I needed just some like American shit, I would just go to the base. You know what mean? And get some stuff or like there was like an American like bar. You walk in there playing like Michael Jackson, Bruce Springsteen, pool table. You can buy a burger. All Americans that were in Yokohama would be there. So it was like, everyone's why you just need that. ⁓ But yeah, language is, you learn a few words here and there. That's about it. And is it bus rides? Cause it's... Train. Train. Yeah, we used take the train. school. Yeah, yeah. The bullet train though. ⁓ yeah. Shit, we'd be there in freaking 10 minutes. You know, it was sick. But a lot of trains. Jumping on trains. It was pretty cool. Like I said, would never... Six months in Japan. Like, you know what mean? It was just, it was great. was pretty cool. Cool experience. Yeah, was great. It's awesome. Yeah, that's... Well, I suppose, because you were mentioning, it's like playing hockey in Europe. Yeah. You know, I would think it's similar in that you go over to a foreign country and it's a completely different experience. The games, the hockey, the whole thing, you know? And I'm guessing that that's kind of the same thing. Yeah, you're thrown in it. Yeah. Because there's really nowhere else internationally that you go play baseball in Yeah, like now Korea's bigger now, but like Japan, like I played winter ball one year in Venezuela. We're that now. I don't know if doing it anymore now. Maybe now the league takes off. Who the knows? Maybe you can go play now. don't know. But I was only there for like a month and it's just all Spanish speaking. But still I feel like Spanish speaking by the time I left there I could comprehend and respond. Japanese, forget about it. buddy of mine reffed in Russia for a season. Actually he did half the season maybe but yeah he said that was difficult. Yeah. Very difficult. The life experience though, know? Like six months in Japan, Okinawa, Mr. Miyagi was from. Karate Kid, you we talked about Okinawa, I loved that movie. But it was cool. It was pretty cool. Yeah, it was cool. Good time. My father was in World War II. he, South Pacific, destroy escort. So Japan, he was actually escorted to Missouri into Tokyo Bay when they signed the surrender. So like... I've kind of always wanted to go to Japan just to, I don't know, to see that. Yeah. You know, I don't know. Long flight. I definitely won't be playing baseball over It was a long flight, but first class gets you a little bed. So funny you say that because I probably shouldn't tell the story. It my grandmother, God rest her soul. She's greatest ever. Italian grandmother. She comes over with my mom and we go to Hiroshima. Monument, everything, museum. And she's just like, she's at the age where she feels like she can just say whatever the hell she wants. Oh yeah. So we're in the museum and she's like, Jesus, she's like, you would think this is all our fault. I was like, excuse me? She said, well, we tried to warn them. We did. know, we did. Oh my God. We tried. And I'm like, Graham, let's talk about this outside. Right. Let's let's bring this conversation outside the museum here. You know, said, well, you know, we did. We tried to warn them. You know what mean? This all could have been avoided. And I'm like, we got to go. time to go wrap it up my mom we gotta go get grandma out of here it was god rest her soul we did drop pamphlets yeah yeah we dropped the pamphlets yeah I was like I'm like that was not the time we gotta get out of here you know like but like I said you're getting the older grandmother at the age where they feel like they can Speaking in mind, but still it was like no. When I went to Pearl Harbor, I had run Pearl Harbor and it was interesting because there was a lot of Japanese people there. Yes, I noticed that. Taking pictures and different things and it's just kind of like, you know, I wonder what they're thinking. It was like the whole experience, like I said, Hiroshima, Nagasaki, all of it. Like Tokyo, I in Tokyo, beautiful city. Like I loved... the living experience there and the people were fantastic. They love baseball, right. It was just like they loved it and it was I was lucky because we had this Bobby Rose who was like his fifth year in Japan. You know, and he was like an all-star and he could speak Japanese like he just knew what to expect how to act but you know what to what's coming next type of thing so he really helped with the transition as well so it was a great time. I'm surprised because that. The crossover with Japanese players has been kind of limited. know? Yeah, it's picking up now. It's picking up though. Yeah. Power. They're starting to understand the power. You know what mean? Like when I was there, you could start seeing it. Like there was some guys there like Matsui was there with the Yankees, whatever. But it was always a game where it was like bunt, contact, move the runner. Guys don't to throw hard, need to locate. Now you're starting to see Sasaki and Otani throwing 99. You know what mean? Now you're starting to guys hitting. 40 home runs. That's why always bring Americans over because they're looking for these power guys to pop 30, 40 homers or throw hard because you but now the game is starting to translate. It's more powerful. That's why you're seeing lately the guys that are coming over like have success because it's a little bit changing. Yeah, it is. There's just some, I mean, there's some elite talent over there. It's the question of when they can come over, but it's a lot more power in their game. It's coming. It's good players. 2026 Red Sox. What are we looking? Yet to be determined, I would say, like right now. think when the offseason started, no Bregman, was like, you gotta get two bats. Yeah, you need two bats. You gotta get two. So they added Contreras. I know it wasn't probably what everybody wanted, like Alonso, that just give me 45. Yeah, right. It was like a bank on. It's just that Contreras is, you know, he's gonna pop you 20, better defensively at first base. You got a first baseman. Yeah, finally. Yeah, you got a first baseman. I mean, you know, open cost is the guy who just can't stay healthy. Right. Now if you can bring Bregman back, you know, with a full season of Roman Anthony, like your lineup will be good. Really? You will be one of the top probably five, at least 10 offenses in baseball. It's a question of like who takes off and who falls back. Pitching I think will be good. I think you're gonna be a good team. You'll be a playoff team again. They should be. Yeah. They should be a get there, it's all about health. They were beat up at the end. Yeah. Offensively, Gianlino was great for them. He didn't pitch. Roman was out. Yeah, was gonna say Anthony was out there. How good is he gonna be? He's unbelievable. Yeah. The thing with him is like how quick the adjustments happen. It's not normal. know, I think in the minors two years ago, they're like, you got to learn hit lefties better. So we went out and hit lefties better than righties. You know, like 320 against lefties, 300 against righties. they're like, huh, that happened quick. And then it was just a constant, like he came up to the big leagues in his hands, we're like kind of more up here in his face. And they started talking to him like, know, there's lot more power up here. So rather than here and some movement, just keep start him here. And that kind of an adjustment can be tough for a young kid who doesn't have many at bats. And within like a couple days, like he was just doing this all the time and that's when he took off. he just, everything they throw at him, he just sort of like, okay, and goes and does it. Like the sky's the limit. ⁓ You know, every one of the issues in the monitors were like, he hits the ball hard, but it's a lot of ground. Like lot of hundred and seven hundred ten exit velocity ground balls the second, you know, learn how to get the ball in the air a little bit. So the first what month he was like one home run, two home runs. And then right before he got hurt, he had like what five or six, seven home runs in like a two, three week span. Yeah. And you're like, oh boy, somebody learned how to get the ball in the air. He's he's he's he's a different cat. Yeah. You know, like he's in an elite superstar category prospect. Other ones, big leaguers, they'll be good players. this kid's different, like he's special. Like he signed early, good move on his part off. Yeah. He was great for the Red Sox. I loved the deal. Like I thought that was awesome. I thought it was good for both parties. Yeah, great for the Red Sox. I remember actually talking to his dad, who's hysterical, and he was just like, he's 21, 22 years old, he's got $160 million. You know what I Yeah, like you put that in perspective right now. Yes, he's also confident and good enough to be like, you know what, I'm going to hold out. you know, because when I'm a free agent, I'm going to make by then $600 million. You know what I mean? But there's just a reasonable part about this kid, you know, like he's just like, I'm going to get there. But right now I'm pretty happy. You know what I mean? Like, so I think that's good. Think about that. It's right? 21, 22 years old, you're just 160s coming. The guarantee too, it's not an NFL where they can get you out of it and it's all about this and signing bonus. Nope. It's yours. So he's well worth it. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, well worth it. Now, they gonna move Jarrod Duran, you think? I don't know. I don't think so. I like the kid. think you ⁓ need that extra injuries and everything else, right? You need that swing guy and you need someone that's a major league. You're not gonna bring up a kid. You just hit on it. He's in his fourth year in this league. Right. So Trevor Storys in his, I don't know, ninth year, right? Whatever. Other than that, your catchers are either rookies or third-year players. Right. You know, second baseman, we don't know who that's going to be. Maybe it's Marcelo, who's in basically year one, year two. Romans are still year two, year one. Seydan and Abreu's year three. And it's sort of like, Jaren's kind of, I think fifth year, but like really four years of service. He's starting to be like, okay, like he's a big leaguer. You know what I mean? Like you need more than one or two guys. You know, that's why Bregman's important. Contreras will help. You just need some older guys that have been through it. You know? I hope the young guys kind go through certain things and what to expect. Plus I think Durand's a good player. They should hold his value very high and not feel like, want to trade him for prospects. No. You want to trade him for a number one, number two pitcher? OK. Let's do it. Now we're talking. I don't think that deal's out there. No. So he's on a team. He's a good player. Like last year was a down year. Right. And I think that's kind of like his floor. Right. You know what I mean? So he's a good player. I don't think you want to be in the business of getting rid of good players. I don't want to. Not anymore anyway. no. mean, he's not Mookie Betts. But he's a really good player. Yeah. mean, Roman Anthony will probably end up on L.A. in a couple of years. Hopefully not. Hopefully not for the next seven. I hope not. Believe me, I hope not. Hopefully by then the Dodgers will be worried about all the deferral money and they're like, we can't afford it. We're done. That's true. That's probably not though. No. They'll figure it out. It's tough when so many great players have left here. Yeah. You know, and not necessarily by choice. That's what kind of I mean, no more was one of them. Yeah. Right. But no more. think without making that trade, I don't think we win the World Series. Yeah, I don't know. They're all been about his health. ⁓ He was healthy or not. Yes. Really, it was funny because they forget what Netflix thing they did about the Red Sox and that. ⁓ yeah. I was talking to them like, yeah, every time they kept doing all the interviews and stuff, they kept wanting us to say we wouldn't win it without no money. He was really good. Oh no, he was healthy. think we pretty pretty sure we still would have won it. Yeah, you would help this win. But health wise he was he won, right? But they have lost a lot. I don't know you guys feel about it. was like anybody's kind of tradable as long as you get something back in return that you like. Yeah, you know, and that's probably the biggest problem. You trade Mookie, you know, you have Connor Wong still on the team. Right. You know, right. Like Devers, we'll see. Like Kyle Harrison, I think it'd be a good pitcher for them. We'll see what he becomes. But. You trade away a lot of dudes. If you bring back somebody who really helps you for the next five or six years, it's easier to forgive. It's like the Joe Thornton trade. Yeah. Yeah. I can tell you exactly where I was when I found out Nomar got traded. No, seriously. It's kind of like President gets shot, Space Shuttle blows up, Nomar got traded. And I know exactly where I was down in my ⁓ cottage down in Lakeville. Is it because people told you you looked like Nomar? No, no one has. ⁓ I've been told that. Yeah, Sergey Fedorov. Yeah, Fedorov. I see Fedorov. Not Nomar. I'll take it. Nomar is a good looking dude. And I can say that with the utmost confidence. One thing I wanted to ask you, because grew up Framingham, Boston Red Sox fan, you end up playing for the Sox. But not only that, your first at Bat at Fenway, you fucking launch a three run home. What's that like? Like we all dream of playing with them on the back half. We're like, fucking boom. You know, that's how I think we win the Stanley Cup playing street hockey. And you fucking live that dream. I know, it's insane. Like seriously, it feels like, well, actually it's probably almost close to 30 years ago. When I got called up, I actually went to Kansas City. That was my first game. We were on the road, Kansas City, Minnesota. My first game that night was against Jose Rosado, left in a pitcher for the Royals. You come up to the big leagues, you don't know anybody. They're like, this guy's got this. You're like, fuck. Until I see it, I don't know what hell that means. What does curveball really look like? Is fastball what it feels like? And then I got my first hit in Minnesota, the next series, but I had like a whole week before I knew I was coming back to Fenway, which meant the town of Framingham knew I had a whole week. You know, like everybody was there. Everybody was there. It was, it was, how about this? So it was my parents' 33rd wedding anniversary, May 15th. never forget. Yeah. Yeah. It was like their wedding anniversary. I'll never forget their wedding anniversary, May 15th. It was 1998. And I remember being like, well, my first game at Fenway, I'm going to bring you guys to the game in limo. So I got a limo. and they all came to the game from Framingham. I actually had my sister drop me off at the field. Because I'm taking a limo home with you back to the house where I was living, in that neighborhood, whatever. So she dropped me off and I remember driving in like, she's like, you all right? I'm like, yeah, I'm good. I said, I just wanted to double. I just wanted to double off the wall. Like slide in, call time out, brush the dirt off, take a moment. You know what I mean? Look around, you know? And first at bat, the guy pitching for the Royals was Jose Rosado. The guy I faced at my first big league game, like six days later. Right? was like, yeah, six days later. So was like, I was the only guy I've ever seen twice or I've ever seen before. So first at bat, three, one, two guys on. Just fastball up, hit a homer. Round of firsts like, holy shit. You know, like I get the silent treatment when I got in the dugout until Big Mo Von came and jumped on me. And I was like, honestly, you're sitting there. You're like, did that just happen? Like, what the hell? I don't forget. Because after the game was like, we were back to Framingham. We were in this Italian club, Columbus Hall. And there was going to be like some aunts and uncles and cousins there, you know, like 30 people, whatever. It turned out to be like 200. Cause of hitting the home run. You get back there, was like packed. Channel five was there, Steve Burton's in the house. It was, it was insane. But at one point that night, I'm like, listen, I gotta go to bed. got it. Like I didn't retire tonight. You know what I mean? Like, Hey, let the kid play one game at a Homer and you're done. You'll have to show up tomorrow. I'm like, I got to gain them all. got to go. But it was, uh, yeah, it was pretty cool. That's funny. That's awesome. I mean, like I always joke and say I want to be famous enough to take BP at Fenway. That's the only reason why. That and flying a jet. That's the only reason. Because that to me is like, you you grow up. It's like who doesn't want to take a bat at bat at Fenway? Yeah, hit one over the monster, hit the monster, whatever it takes. know, or dribble one to third. I just want to swing the fucking bat at Fenway Park. That's all. know, you to do it. And blast one. Yeah, it was cool. That's crazy. I forgot you played with Mo Von. Yeah, my first year. Mo's the best. Mo is awesome. Like, just loved watching him play. I had known him for a while, coming up through the minors, because he used to do all these hitting camps around the area. And so me and a bunch of other guys, we made me into minors at the time. It was a Mo Von hitting camp. And we used to be instructors. You know what mean? Coming up through the minors. Be a good little winter job for us. Make some money, hang out at night. Portland, Maine, maybe have a couple beers, whatever. Have a good Great little area, Yeah, so was, so I'd known him for a while. And I got first big league camp, so it was like little bit of comfort knowing like, because Mo was like one of the greatest leaders. didn't Yeah. He was a dude. You know what I mean? Like he doesn't, I don't think he gets enough respect kind of like with his time here in Boston, like who he was. Like he was an absolute monster. He was a beast, I loved it. First year having him around, he was, he's such a good guy and still is. Good man. Great hitter. He's, I would think the hockey equivalent would be Joe Thornton. You know, he was, I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. You looked at me like, no. No, no, no, he was, yeah. Because I don't think people appreciated what Joe Thornton did here. No, they didn't. No, you're right. You know what I mean? he was afterthought. You mentioned the name, like, oh yeah, he played here. It's like, what are you kidding me? Daily cop, All-Stuff. Yeah. They talk more about the trade. they talk about the trade. Well, it's like, he leaves, he goes to Anaheim and it sort of doesn't really work. know, so it's sort of like, but Joe kept going on and on and on. Now, so in radio, talked all sports. right. Who's your, we asked this, this actually, I think was a Cedric Maxwell thing when he was on. Who's your Mount Rushmore of Boston sports? I know it's not an easy question. Brady. Okay. Or... Like it. Bird. And you're going like, Pedro. I gonna say. the Pedro one. think you Poppy there. Yeah. See, I remember talking about like Mount Rushmore and it's like... Charlotte Mount Rushmore. People can always get pissed at you about like generations. Right. Like Ted Williams should be on. I'm like, fine, he might be on yours. Right. You watched him. Right, right. You know what mean? I'm not that fucking older than you. What are talking about? I'm two years older No, you. But you know what I mean? People get all baked out of shit. They're like, well, he was the best crap while in that area. I never got to see him. I'll you what, the captain of it for me is Bird because I just grew up. was 14, whatever it was, 85, 86. It's Bird, period. You know what I mean? it's like that's just what now obviously Brady forever. Bobby Orr, I might even put Ray Bork. but to my generation. But I think that's, baseball would be hard. You can go wherever you want to go. Everybody can have different ones. Depending on how old you are, guess if you asked them 17 year old, they'd probably tell you something different. Yeah. right. You're right. 100%. Yeah. We, Paul Pierce. mean, he's another one. We always talk about like, well, all right. I think the greatest players, the goats could play in any era. I agree. And that's, know, so who's a baseball? Who do you think could play in any era? I mean, I would think Pedro could pitch in any era. I mean, he's someone that I think Ted Williams would be able to hit no matter when he played. think it'd be more of like an older guy that could still, you know, because I think Pedro throwing 98, you know, whatever, he had. ⁓ But yeah, Ted. Yeah. You know what mean? It was like, well, they weren't throwing that hard. It's like, OK, well, if they were, it's all relative. You figure it out. You know, it was like When I first came up to the big leagues, were like, know, actually through the minor leagues, they're like, you know, the average fastball in the big leagues right now is 89 miles an hour. And I was like, you know, an A-ball when I first got drafted back in what, 93. And I was like, yeah, you know, whatever, but they can locate and they got good break and stuff and everything else. You have guys in the old nineties and the power guys, maybe mid nineties, but for the most part it's around 90, you know? And I'm like, all right. By the time I got to the big leagues, it was like 93, you know? And now I think it's 95. So I sit there and I say how the hell do you hit a guy throwing 98 that's got a sinker, force hammer and a cutter, like three different fastballs. And you know, it's like some guys would struggle and they couldn't hit power but when you come up through college all the way through the minors facing it, it's just like you coming up through the minors and college facing 92, 93. Where some guys are like how the hell do hit 93? You know, so I just think those guys, guy like Ted Williams would be like okay. No big deal. I'll figure it out. That makes sense. know? The other ones, like football would be hard because maybe they would just be bigger. I don't know in today's world. But like a lineman would be like a safety. You know, like a linebacker now. Like the size and the speed. I think how they treated quarterbacks. That's the biggest argument when people say, Brady didn't play when, you know... Bradshaw and Marino they on Montana Montana would get fucking bundled every game right and therein lies that different maybe not 20 do that how many how many years the Brady play 22 22 or 23 so it's like maybe doesn't play that long right because he just gets his ass kicked right But he got his ass kicked early on yeah a good amount mm-hmm you know but not like you know you didn't have 20 years ago. There's no such thing as playability Yeah, learning how to fall. What was playability 20 years ago? Playability? I don't know. It was by accident. It was a video you watched. It was a category, the playability category. No, that's a, it is tough though to figure out who, you know, what, so a guy like Wakefield, right? How difficult is it to hit a knuckleball going? 60 yeah, like you know I I would rather that than 95 but that's because I'm you know, I'm football player right like you just How hard is it to hit a pitch like that that he threw? is amazing. Did you have a face him other than like I did? I think I got a hit off him in Cleveland that series I faced all those guys but it was just like There were so many hitters that were just like, you know if I you know, my certain stance, maybe I'll change a little something differently just because it's like it's so unique, not like you want to be a softball hitter, but you're still like, it's just, it moves so much, like where you think it is. That's why like Mirabelli was back there, was great about it. ⁓ But he didn't really know where it was going. Like, you know, some days it would go down to the left, down to the right, you know, just down or sometimes it kind of rise up. it just- Weather's a big factor too in knuckleball, right? Everything. When he had a good one, that was the thing. Like you say you'd rather face him. And I think, you know, guys are like, ⁓ yeah, cause he doesn't throw hard. But it's an embarrassing at bat. know what I mean? Guys would be up there and some of the swings, he would just embarrass dudes. It would be right here and all of the guy would go to swing and it would go, like it would just take off. And then he would throw his little 82, 83 in the outside corner for a fastball, know, and freeze the guy. It looked 120. And the guy would be like, are you shitting me? You just froze me with that? know? I love watching that. Yeah, he was so good. awesome. I loved watching him. And just like... Like you said, it was an art. Yeah, we like an art form. Yeah, you know like I I try throwing a little wiffle ball and I still can't figure it out, you know, yeah, like it's just Almost like you're pushing it. I don't know. Can you throw a knuckleball? Yeah, I used to throw them better like wiffle ball. He tried to know now But it was like, you he's up there just throwing out. I remember people You know, I don't know if was Pedro somebody always be somebody everybody wants to be like man You got some balls, you know, the balls you have of throwing like Frank Thomas, this like 68 mile an hour floater, you know what mean? And making him look bad, you know, like they're sitting there looking at this big dude and they're like, how do I, told me, like, how do I get this guy out and wake? He's like, here, hit this, you know what I mean? It's moving all over the place and they couldn't, they couldn't touch it. So like speaking of like figuring out how to throw a whiffle ball or like the guys that played in different errors, like I know like the hockey guys we know, like Kevin Miller, think could have gone to college for, was it soccer? I think it was soccer or like, we know other guys that could have like gone pro, like playing baseball or soccer or football or whatever, but they chose hockey. Is there guys in baseball that like they could have gone towards hockey or gone to another one that you played with that they were just like, it didn't really matter what sport they were playing. Cause there's some guys with size, like I remember I worked down the hall. from EI for like 10 years at AAF. And I remember one day, Kurt Schilling was walking down the hall and I was walking behind him and I thought it was LB. And he turned around and asked me where the bathroom is. I was like, holy shit, you got some size. But like, I feel like if he played hockey, he would have been dangerous out there with just his size. Like were there guys that? I think hockey's a different animal. Glavin played hockey. Yeah, Glavin was a good hockey player. But it's like, lot of baseball guys, it's like California, Arizona, Texas, Florida. You know what mean? They're probably not like, put on a pair of skates. Yeah. Like obviously like some golfers would be pretty good, but like football guys, were just some guys in NFL, like, know, whether it'd be like Deon or Jordan, Brian Jordan. Yeah. Bo Jackson. There was definitely some like bigger guys that you just sort of looked at and you're like, like Jared Durant. He could play somewhere in the defensive backfield. You know what mean? It's just, he could, these guys jacked and he's lightning fast, you know, but I don't think he ever. Yeah, like, right, but it's like, like in the NBA you look at someone like LeBron and you look at some of those big dudes and you're like, yeah, that guy could probably play in the NFL somewhere, it's a tight end. know, baseball was like. LeBron could not. No, he couldn't, he's a pussy. He would one hit from some linebacker. Yes! I've said it a bunch of times. For football. LeBron. Before his Royds. Wow. Alright. He definitely did Royd. Stop it. But I think he's a pussy. I don't think he would get... That's probably why he played basketball. Mike thinks I say it just to piss him off. ⁓ But LeBron's a pussy. I don't care. I don't think he can play. Bo Jackson? I think if he figured out how to skate he would have been a 50 goal scorer in the NHL. was that. fucking good of an athlete. He was a freak, yeah. He was just... I think you'd find more like a professional... Well baseball too is a sport that like ⁓ You don't have to be in shape, let's be honest. Especially pictures. Usually the pictures have legs and ass, they're just big. know, shoulder strength, like that. They're doing their exercise and everything, but it's not a prerequisite. dudes that don't look all that impressive throwing the shit out of the ball. Yeah, yeah. Wells. Yeah. Rich Garces. Waffle. Love Waffle. He was my favorite. You know, but he's like, some of those guys too are probably a little more athletic than you think. Right. You know what mean? It's like, like, Vance Wilfork. Yeah. I David Wells. You're just like, greatest body in the world, but he gets your ass out. You know? The no hitter story. Did you ever face Randy Johnson? I did. hit a homer up him. No Get the fuck out. That's right. of the most intimidating pitches I think I've ever seen. That's right. That's awesome. I don't have like a homer and log book. I got a pamphlet. But that guy, you should remember. Yeah. He's in I can tell you right now. I was in San Diego, Qualcomm. He was in Arizona. ⁓ three early in the year ⁓ three as I was traded there and traded back to Boston and at the end of all three But in San Diego, I got to face him. And he had a home run at Qualcomm. And I ran my ass off around the bases because he's a scary son of bitch. Yeah, right. He's nasty. Yeah. You have hit him down going around the bases. If he threw a slider, I would have spun. I think it was one for three with two strikeouts because he's slider, slider, strikeout, strikeout, fastball, homer. I was just canceling. I'm like, yeah, what am going to do? Guy's like, releasing the ball in my pocket. By the time he released the ball, I'm like this. Yeah, he was insane. Yeah, he was. That was fun. That was when I got my book. Yeah, but that's okay. I just enjoy that you you can say you hit one first at bat at Fenway Yeah, as a Boston kid. Yeah, and fucking Randy Johnson. Yeah, I don't your book doesn't have to be any thicker ⁓ and you know a Minor league home run. This one was probably the first special one was ⁓ I was in double a with the Red Sox Spring training and like the Sox were playing like the Yankees or Orioles or something in a big league game. So Clemens came up down to throw against us in a minor league game. And they're like, Rogers throwing. Like Clements? Yeah, I'm a double A. Boston, know, 86. Holy shit, this is gonna be awesome. And I hit a home run up. in a spring training game. And I was like, this is the best thing ever. Another one I ran really fast around the bases. Oh, that was awesome. So Clemens and Johnson. Minor leagues. but that's still Clemens. I got a triple off Clemens at Fenway. I hit a triple off him. All right. But but it wasn't like Clemens was coming up with you. He came down to pitch. was a Major League. Like in spring, like they were I think they might have been playing with the Yankees and he didn't want to face that lineup. He didn't want that line to see him. So, you're not going to throw in the big leagues. Yeah, go throw. Down in the minor leagues. And I he pitched for like the double A, triple A team. I faced him down. I got to face him there. So that was pretty cool. That's awesome. Yeah, the rocket. And you did get through, you had mentioned, because we're a referee podcast, you did get thrown out of one game? A-ball. Port St. Lucie. Phil Welke, the prick. That was a good man. It was like... It was just we were in a ball. It was like my first year in pro ball and he was key came up He's one was he came up to the minor leagues with me, right? Yeah, a ball and a double a triple a big leagues. Oh, that's awesome Yeah, him and his brother Tim was up there too, and he's a great guy But it was I it was and you know It was was a hit and run the guy threw a slider down away and I reached for it catcher came up through the second Called everybody out right interference on me, which it was but I was just like Bill What do you want me to do? You know, like I got a hit and run. I gotta go out. I'm gonna take it. I'm get Well, I don't know what to tell you. We just went back and forth and finally I just, I I was young, lost it, tossed me. First time I'd been thrown out, Bill Wolfke. Yeah, then I saw him later, I'm like, know you're the first, he's like, I remember that. I'm like, yeah, it's the only time I've been thrown out, it's you. How do you feel about that? know? No, he's a good guy. It's funny, like even you as like a player getting tossed, right? Even referees, like we don't toss everybody like every game, but you do remember a lot of them because they don't happen all the time, right? Like you think it's every game or something like that, but it's not. Honestly, like he is, no. He's an umpire. He's an A-ball. Right. So it's probably his first or second year umpire. Right. So at that point, I might've been the only guy he's ever tossed. I don't know. You didn't even toss somebody either, right? Like, yeah. I had no idea, but it was, I'll never forget it. Did you have a favorite ump? See, a lot of those guys that are coming up. ⁓ I liked, I'm trying to think of some of the guys that I had. Like, Wokies, like I said, I came up with him. Still got Greg Gibson I came up with too, but I never thought he was a great umpire. I just really liked him. ⁓ You got like Joe West. Joe, yeah, Joe was there with me. I liked Joe. Joe was like, I kind of liked him because he'd always kind of give you that little smirk. There were definitely times you were like, Jesus, Joe, like, you even want to be here? Yeah, right. You know what mean? Like, you'd be at first base and it'd be a play and you'd be like... Does that mean he's out? So I'm like, okay. But a lot of those, I'm trying to think, there's a couple of guys that I really liked. I liked them so much I can't remember their names right now. Getting all too many concussions. But I got along with them pretty well. Like a lot of times. I said, a lot times maybe at second base shooting the shit with them. You know? Well, I just thought of this because you're staying at second base. You see how... Like guys joke around from other teams, right? Like the Yankees red sox back in the day. There was really no, hey, how's it going? Like they fucking hated each other, right? Yeah, if anything it was like a little pat in the leg. Yeah. You know, like Gina, Posada, Bernie, all these guys. know, Jambi, whatever. He just went back, what's up DJ? Hey Lou. You know, but it wasn't like... Yeah, it is now. Like they're hugging each other and shit. before the game out in center field. Yeah. Like there's some of it. You know what mean? But I feel like a lot of guys took care of that BP. You know what mean? Like in batting practice, behind the cage, they'd come up and talk to them. when was game they were still some of it. Don't get me wrong. But it's just a little different. A little bit different now. I feel like guys move around more often too. Yeah. A little bit. Yeah, I think you're right. Free agency. Well, they work out more together in the offseason. That's a bigger thing. It used to be a thing back then, but I feel like now... Everyone's at a facility and there's 15 teams represented. know, by two guys, you know, they see each other. There's trainers everyone wants to go to. see that hockey too around there. yeah. A lot of guys want come together. 30 players. Right. 10 different organizations. So you become pretty friendly with those guys. So who do you want to make a World Series prediction? fucking January? I'll say this. I wish I could, but like... Kyle Tucker's still out there. I was gonna say, yeah. Bichette, Robert Valdez, Ranger Suarez, Bregman, like, there's still some dudes. I'd like to get Bichette. I would love for them to get Bichette. Bo would be great. I'd play with his dad. With Bregman or instead, like, they gotta get one of them. would be like the perfect, I just don't know if you're have a payroll of $310 million to get them both. I played with Dante for a year. I love him. I've known him, watched him come up and everything else. Plus he's 28. It's just that, you know, it just goes on forever. Like the season's wicked long, ⁓ right? 162 games. Is it too long? Probably, but you know, money's involved. ⁓ no, I know. So once you get 162, you're never going backwards. Right, right. ⁓ But the off seasons get longer. You know, like, it's January, man. And like, seven of the top, whatever, 10, 12 free agents are still out there. It's like... It's wild how long they sit. Yeah. Like every other sport, I mean, shit, the NFL, it's usually done before it even opens. Right. Right? Like the tampering period, all this stuff. And I just think because there's no salary cap. So it's like an open market. Right. So a team doesn't necessarily have a budget. know, agents feel that way. And they're like, yeah, they say they're not going to spend any more, but... they're gonna go after this player and they're gonna miss them, they're come back at you and they're gonna actually give you that eighth year. So it's like the agents just keep waiting for teams to get desperate to miss out on a guy and then come back to you and. We've seen it in the past, it happens. That's what I feel like. They wait for one shoe to drop and then everybody else kind of fits in. It's like, all right, well, yeah, like you said, missed out on him, let's go get him. I feel like that's what the Red Sox are doing right now. They're just sitting, here's our number, and boom, if we don't get him, we're getting him. If we don't get him, we're gonna get him. They have a plane, which is good. The perfect example is Polgarts. I thought he was gonna come back, like say six years, something like this. And they might have been like a seven year offer out there, right? You know, like, I think he'd come back for six, turn down seven to stay here. And then all of sudden the Padres who offered like Trey Turner 10, 11 years, because he was their guy, Turner ends up signing with Philly. So all of a sudden the Padres turn around and they're like, all right, we'll give you 11 million, 11 years. And Xander's like, okay. So like, that's an example of like, all right, do I want six or seven? What am I looking for? And all of sudden the team missed out on a player that they wanted, had a big hole. And now they turn around and they offer it to him. So that's why agents are like, hey, let this thing play out. If Bregman signs somewhere else, the Red Sox ball will give you more money, because then they got to get you. That's just how it works now, which I don't know, it just takes too long. agree. I love Bogats. Only a Ruben Major League Baseball player. He's fantastic. So, know, right? So, you know, know, right? know, know, you know, you know, So, you So, right? So, So, So, you know, right? So, right? So, right? know, you know, know, So, know, right? Yeah, it's a legacy, but it's not a lifetime achievement. But it's like Drake just came so far out of nowhere. Yeah. Right, the national, you know, I felt like that, it's just Stafford is having an MVP-like year. Obviously his team is, the guys around him are better, we know that, but ⁓ I just feel like he's been around the league forever and he's having a great season. It's him or a kid that's in his second year. Right. And they just sort of look at it like... I would say this, that's what I think. I think Drake should be it, I Stafford will win it. I think he's a Patriots fan, like I know everyone's pissed off about it. But I'm just psyched that the guy's one of the finalists. know what I mean? Like enough. I know, listen, greedy, get it, but fuck. They got it right. So that's awesome that did right. Yeah, it's frustrating because I think when you look at it, he has played better. His team won in their division. he could have had 40 touchdowns and be through two yard passes. Yeah, a lot of one yard touchdowns. And he threw, yeah, his deep field accuracy numbers were off the charts. crazy. He's done things that no one's done. Well, that's the thing that's crazy about him is usually when you're like, oh, this guy had 71, 72 % completion percentage, he's all dink and dunks. But when you're also the best deep ball passer. you know what mean? It's like. It's like being a three-point shooter and leading the NBA in field goals. You know, in field goal percentage. You're like, what the hell? Like, is he that good? You know, that he can do both. And that's kind of where he was. It's, like I said, maybe he wins it, but if he doesn't, think we're be bullshit. But I'll just be psyched that you hit. He didn't take five draft picks to find one. You know? 15 years. I think it's just us and Boston are just... We're angry about everything. We just want something bigger. I have a Twitter account, trust me, I'm well aware. Holy shit. Wow. Get off the internet. Just the other day, I swear to God, yesterday, yesterday, I was just looking, I was at dinner and I was just bitching, right? I had my freaking gas bill and I'm like, holy shit, Massachusetts, what the Christ? I got $200 worth of gas at $650. So I bitched about it. I said something about whatever. on twitter and some guy came back at me started shredding me for like you know yeah whatever you just carry the water of John Henry and I'm like what the fuck is that gonna do with my gas bill you know the Red Sox are cheap Henry should sell Breslow you won't get anybody but you keep bitching about your gas bill like seriously I think I tweeted back and I'm talking about my gas bill dumbass. Like, not new to the Red I really should tone it down and walk away sometimes, but like it's just pure anger over anything. Yeah. Red Sox and they equate you, guess, with the Red Sox. I'm like, know. Well, ⁓ OK. Yeah. I work in Nesson. I call the games. Yeah. I'm not in freaking board meetings, you know, I'm deciding who to sign. decisions, yeah. was a gasp bell. The guy shredding me, the reds, everybody else, I'm like, Christ. That's what happens when the guys that call the radio have access to you. So like being a player in Boston and being in the media, do you find it harder to be a player like with the Boston media or being in the Boston media? It's funny because I got, know, I think the players, I can never imagine playing with social media or cell phones. Like you can't go anywhere. You know what I mean? Like, right. Someone putting a phone in your face, like you can't. Whatever, if you happen to stay out one night a little bit late, next thing you know someone's got a video like, oh he's out and so and so time night and everything else. And then every troll in the universe, know, is like tweeting at you and DM, whatever. Can't go to strip club anymore in Duluth. You can't do shit, right? You would have had a tough time with the top but it's funny, like in the media, especially with what I do, like I can't say a goddamn positive thing about anything, you know, or just turns into, oh, you're in bed with the team. I like this is a trade. ⁓ yeah, whatever, you know, like Homer. You're a Homer, you're this, you're that. And you're like, all right, I'll just, I won't say anything. Yeah, cause I kind of felt that I was a Bruins beat reporter for even though I got a D in English in high school for EEI for one season. And I felt like everyone who was a hockey writer, it was only negative stuff. And I was like, I feel like defending the players. a little bit, like I just felt like it was like you had to be negative. And if you do, they put you in a category. Yeah. So it's is it's a weird. It really is a weird dynamic. It was like I remember years ago. You know, I did sports radio, right? And that's where you wake up. You know, what's the negative angle? Because we've got to get interest. We've got to get phone calls. If it's too positive, nobody gives a shit. Everything's going great. Whatever. You know, the craziest Red Sox time was September 2011. The whole chicken and beer. that was like, it's only, it's like one month of just baseball talk, right? Cause everybody wanted to bitch about what was going on. And I remember one point, like everybody was starting to do the podcasts, right? And the big thing was like the fan base, a couple of them that opened up right away were like, too negative on the radio. You know, we're to have one just that's positive, actually positive. It's okay to be positive. And so I'm like, all right, good luck with that. And now all those same ones are negative. All those same ones rip everything cause they realize it positive in themselves. So we need to go the other route. We need to kind of rip everything and that gets interaction, right? That's when it gets nasty and everything. So it's like, if you're on that side and you're like, know, Jared Durant is a good player. Holy shit. Like honestly, I see someone write a positive tweet. I want to be like, good luck. You know, the popcorn. I can't wait to see the... Everyone's just like, ⁓ what do mean? They're going to be good. I think they're going be a good team. Good. What you mean? Like it's just, yeah, they attack. What do you mean by good? They're to make the playoffs. They're no better. They're this, they're that. They're cheap fucks. Sell the team. You're like, yeah, OK. Whatever. right. God forbid you mention your gas bill. Yeah. Yeah, I know. Now you mention the gas bill and everybody goes off on you. Throw one out there about grocery bills. Yeah, no shit. Tomorrow. See what happens. I can't believe eggs cost. ⁓ my god. It's awesome. all the political people will be jumping down your throat. I tell you, that's one thing I kind of... They'd learn like a radio like don't stay away from that man. It's just no win. No. Yeah. You get own thoughts and beliefs, but it's like it's no there's no win. You piss everybody off. That's like comedy. I don't I don't do any political humor because you divide the room like immediately. Yeah. After room is going to be pissed at you. Yeah. And that's not exactly what you're looking for in comedy. So I don't do the best out of Bill Burr. He he shits on all sides on all angles. Yeah. Just he point he knows how to push all those buttons. And then Bill. makes it your fault somehow. You're like, how the hell? There's just no, there's no way to go there. No, there's no You're not gonna convince anybody. No. Everyone still does. Like, my brother-in-law works for the Patriots. He's like a writer. He does like the pre post game with Paul Perillo. Mike Dussault, I don't know if you know him, but like, he said the same thing about his position. He's he's media for the Pats. Yeah, he's screwed. Yeah, so like the players look at him as media, so they don't really, they don't really like, they're kind of like, oh, I don't know, but like, I work for the team. Like the team tells me what to say half the time, right? And then they say it they get shredded. Yeah, right. Because it's too positive. Yeah, right. It's that tough. But they, they, they, they got... They're critical on the team with their breakdowns and gameplay. Yeah. Like on that kind of stuff. like more positive and like anything like controversial, they can't even go there. Yeah. I mean, it's like, you know, they're not playing well. They're not playing well. Like hitting the scoring position or the starter suck, can't get through the fifth inning. The bullpen's giving it up. Like you talk about that. Yeah, exactly. But that's controversial. That's not today, though. That's not like what these people. not a lot of people talk about, know? It just turns into other shit that's like, Jesus, time to walk away. Like, this doesn't even make sense anymore. Get the hell out of here. And it's tough because you are Finesse, who is owned by the Red Sox. Yeah, right. So it's kind of like there's that fine line where you can't really, sometimes you can't give you real opinion. Yeah. Because you're representing the team that you're criticizing. It's funny because one time someone's like, you know, when you ever like rip Reslo or John Henry and Sam Kennedy tell John Henry to sell the team. You know, and you're like, first off, I don't think you should, but let's just say I did. And let's just say I talked about it. And let's just say I got fired. You're going to come and hang out with me on the couch? What? Like we're to be buddies now? Yeah, right. Are you going to be like, hey, good job. way to go, to go. you got balls. You got balls. You know, it's like, idiots. Like you really, I tell you what, why don't you do this? Why don't you do it? What do you work? You know, once you walk into your boss, give him the double bird, tell him to fuck off and see how it goes. And then I'll be like, dude, you get balls, he's psycho. know, it's like, do you do with Saturdays? people, some of them are just idiots. So you try to be fair, know, like, I'll always try to be fair. Like if they're not playing well, they're not playing well. The deadline last year was a fucking disaster. You know, the trade deadline. Now, but the thing is, is like at the trade deadline, did you want Dustin May or Joe Ryan? I'm like, I want Joe Ryan. But I have seen enough in a two month span, Dustin May could throw 10 starts together. So it's like, listen, I would have rather had Dustin, Joe Ryan, right? But let's just see what Dustin May can do. Well, five, six starts in, he wasn't throwing well, and he got hurt. So now when the season's over, you can look back and say, yeah, it wasn't fucking good. You know what I mean? It was a disaster. But they want you to say it's a disaster day one. And I'm like, well, let's just see. It might work out. Like the right side's off season. It's like December. I'm going to the winter meetings. We don't do shit. And like off season's a disaster. And I'm like, eight of the top 10 free agents are still out there. Let's just see. If they don't sign anybody, and I'm down in Fort Myers, we'll be talking about how they didn't sign anybody. And that's not good. We could have that last year, and then they signed Bregman. they're like, oh, we're just kidding. So it's like, I don't know, we'll just wait and see We'll get another couple months to go. Hopefully they'll get somebody. Well, we appreciate it. Eddie's time was awesome. It's been great. baseball talk. on the Hockey Podcast. What's Red Swatch report? February what? 10th? 11th? 11th think is pitches and I think it's like a week early because they got the WBC. So they come a little earlier because then they're to take off for like two weeks during camp. Team USA. That's cool. So it's a little bit early. think I'll probably be down in Fort Myers like the 9th something like that. The 8th, 9th. So weather will be better for you. Giddy up. It's my little break, two, three week break. Yeah. I'm get some sun. Jesus. Walk around. This weather. Yeah. Yeah, you know? This weather's brutal. It's tough, tough month. Yeah. Appreciate it, guys. Yes, thank you very much. Awesome. Another season. Good times. Listening to you on the TV. You got it. You got Lou Maloney right here, trapping zebras. Sweet Lou, I mean, what a complete beautician. Just awesome. What great episode. Yeah, lot of good stuff in there. Yeah. And even though I was sitting across the room and working in the ⁓ same hallway as Lou for like the past 10 years, I feel like that was the most we ever talked. Well, you were in right field. was in The coach stuck you in right field. I put you in right field. We put all the kids out there that can't catch. I mean, he was great. He was great on the radio. He great as the, you know, color guy for the Red Sox. You know, just the Boston guy through and through. It's awesome. Great stuff. All right. Well, that's going to do it. We want to thank our sponsors, the Referees Crease, Damon Financial LLC, Townsend Hockey. Want to remind you to like and subscribe on the YouTube. Smash that like and subscribe button. Also find us on the social medias, the Instagram, the Facebook, and of course, the TikTok. Well done, Gino. And also I want to thank AOA Studios. for coming out as they always do and they do such a great job and you know up in Beverly if you need anything check out AOA Studios because they are absolute rock stars. and growing. This podcast wouldn't be where it is today so I want to thank them and also want to thank Harmon Golf in Rockland if you I mean this place has a gym they have golf course they have a golf simulator. Great food, great bar. the has it all. So definitely come check out Harmon Golf and ⁓ they do a great job here. so for Gino Bender Jr. for Josh Dolan, I'm Mark Riley saying so long. We'll see you next time on the chirping zebras.