A's Cast - A's Cast Live - September 7

0:00This message is brought to you by Apple Card. With Apple Card, you earn unlimited daily cashback on everyday purchases, like groceries, merch, or tickets to the game. Plus, it can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted. No matter your team, no matter where you shop, Apple Card is here to help you tackle game day. Apply in the wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to Credit Approval. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City Branch, terms and more at applecard.com. This is A's Cast Live, your comprehensive look at the athletics. He's going on, drive to left field and he's doing, he did, for home runs, for Nick Curz. He has six for six. Swinging a drive, deep to left, the A's take the lead in grand fashion. And 29 other MLB clubs. Stretch of the pitch, the cow, swinging a drive, deep to right field. There it is, number 60, the modern day, BamBito.

1:02Join us as we take you inside the baseball universe from humidors to walk off dingers. That's swung into high, deep, drive to right, Smith is back. He will not even watch it in the A's winning on a walk off by Nick Curz. We have you covered. Spend your afternoon with us, only on A's Cast Live. Here's Chris Townsend. Happy Labor Day everybody from the ballpark in West Sacramento as the athletics are back home to start a three game set against the Toronto Blue Jays. And then the Seattle Mariners come back to town. But I got to tell you this series actually got real interesting way the A's are playing and the fact that the Blue Jays are back to 500. They still have a chance Cleveland lost earlier today. So they are just a half game back of the last wildcard spot. Chris Townsend alongside my guy Cody Lias and all the sudden with a win today, they're tied for the last spot in the American League for the wildcard.

2:08When you think about a disappointing season, but they still got a shot. And this is what's great about what's happening here. We've talked about it all the time. The September spoilers. They got a chance at least today to keep the Toronto Blue Jays down. And if you want to take it a step further, they got a chance to hurt Dylan Cease's opportunity to win the American League. So yes, we are still playing for something. And I look forward tonight. I don't know a little bit of a late start here on a Labor Day, but seven o'clock tonight. We tee it up. Let's get it going. I still want to know why we're playing at seven o'clock on Labor Day, but that's fine. That is a great question. That's a great question. What's the other questions above our pay grade? Scott Bluett has been phenomenal. I mean, 16 games, 250 90 R.A. He has been phenomenal. He is going to join us and then Ben Schulman, who is one of the voices of the Toronto Blue Jays. I got a... they're still in it. So we'll talk about that. And then just what is the reaction to this year? And the home runs and lack of power, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who after this year only has...

3:13Wait for it. 14 years left. On spring training, everyone's just getting ready. Oh, it's early. I mean, yeah. 14 years. That's like putting your kid in kindergarten and going all the way through college. That's how much they got left with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Are they all jacked up on about this contract? $500 million. So we have a lot to get into. Pussy hasn't hit a home run at home. It is so hard to believe that's true. Last postseason was the last time you hit a home run. He has not hit a home run at the Roger Center, if you're old school, you say skydome. All year? That's not good. All year. That's your home ballpark indoors. Great weather. You're ready to ride. He hasn't hit a home run all year. That's crazy. That's not good. Divide a layer. As my good friend Rick Berry would say, the basketball hall of Famer, that's crazy. Yeah, it's a... I'm going to pull it up. Let's pull it up. Vlad, he stats.

4:16That's unbelievable. He's in $259 on the season with eight home runs. What's he hitting at home? I'm going to do that right now. Your star player hasn't hit a home run at home. Vlad, he had a home in 2026, is hitting $249. No home runs, $18 RBI in a $632 OPS. He, he, he, he. I mean, it's crazy. He's got $18 home runs at home. I mean, he's got $18 RBI's at home. Yeah. So we're out with him. $500 million, 14 years left. So get ready for that. So we'll have, we'll have a little blue J-Tot. Our favorite Canadians all the time. Who's our, who's it? We're going to do tomorrow on AceCast live. Well, just AceCast on NBC. Our, our Mount Rushmore of Canadian baseball players. I mean, right out of the gate, Fergie Jenkins, Hall of Famer.

5:16Absolutely. Larry Walker Hall of Famer. Who is the other Hall of Famer I brought up? Um, who's there's the other Canadian Hall of Famer? Well, I mean, there's a, I mean, there's other guys like Joey Vados Canadian. He was like, not all famed yet. Is there only two Canadian Hall of Famers right now? Fergie and, uh, Larry Walker. I think it those are the two I'm thinking of. Joey Vados got to be on there. And do we go former A Matt Stairs? Matt Stairs is a good one. He's had pretty good career, not just with the Ace, but overall. And also it, we're playing to the fan base. Joey is a baseball guy. I use more of a beer league softball guy. We're going Matt Stairs. Yeah. Oh, uh, another former, right? John, John Axeard, Canadian. Not making our Mount Rushmore of Canadian players. I think Fergie Jenkins, Larry Walker, Joey Vado. And Trevor from the producer of our NBC, uh, NBC sports California, sent over a list of guys. Denzel Clark, Josh Nailer, you're not on it. Uh, let's see where it is. The big way back. See where it is.

6:16Uh, Vladimir Grotto Jr. Not with his 18 RBIs at home this year. Jason Bay. Teret, no. Russell Martin. No. Justin Morno on an MVP. Is he Canadian? Yeah, I guess. I didn't realize who's Canadian, but I guess he is. He was a great outfield. And then at the concussion problems, I'm still going Matt Stairs. I'm playing to the audience. Yep, he was born in New Westminster British Columbia. My all-time Canadians. My all-time Canadians. I gave him to you earlier. John Candy. John Candy. Martin Short. Martin Short. Jim Carrey. We got to have a third. How's Jim Carrey and John Candy? They got it. Martin Short, which is brilliant. Yeah. Oh, Dan Acroid is Canadian. Dan Acroid. There you go. There's my, that's my Mount Rushmore at Canadian. The one that I've never heard of. Half of these guys. And then one on the side will put Wayne Gretsky. And then I was just saying, what about, uh, Gretsky gets his own. Gretsky, Lemieux. You going great as hockey players all time?

7:17Gretsky, Lemieux. I'll throw a Conor McGave out there. What's, what's Gordy How? He might be on there. It's Gordy How? You don't even know Gordy How is, Miscoy, and, no, I know he is. How could you not put Gordy, but Gordy How is bigger than, than, Mario Lemieux. Well, those are the three. And then I'd probably go Conor McDavid. Best current player right now. Well, Sidney Crosby. Good Canadian. Multiple time Stanley Cup champion. Art Ross winner. Multiple time gold, uh, gold medal winner. I was going to say, what, who are your Canadian, heartstrum of wrestlers? Oh, I know his breadhard. Breadhard. Jim the Anven of Night Heart. Oh, he was, he was Canadian. Yeah. Did not know that. Who else. You can put Owen on their bread's brother. The late tragic, tragic, that was. A. There's a lot of good Christian Jericho. Okay. I mean, what's too hard to do? I mean, what's too hard on there, Brett's dad. Edge. I didn't realize he's running out of steam. I didn't realize Roddy Piper was...

8:17Routy, Routy, Bry Piper. Piper's Canadian. He's not Scottish. In the kil't? See, you ruined it for me. I hate when you do that. It's like, I want to believe that the wrestlers that I grew up watching, like, that's who they are. I mean, seriously, Routy, Rout Piper's pit is one of the greatest talk shows and if you're young, you have no idea. Routy Piper used to have Piper's pit. He wore a kil't, and he'd have his own talk show. And he'd either get beaten up or he'd beat the person he brought up in the show. He wasn't Scottish. He's Canadian. You just ruined it for him. Trish Rattis is Canadian. There's a lot of good wrestlers here at Canadian. But I'd go, my number will be Brett Hart. It's like when you told me Razor Ramon wasn't from Cuba. Hola, chico. Hey, yo, hit me. What do you mean he's not? He's not from Cuba. And then he held on that persona for forever. It's a Lucy Goosey show.

9:18It's Labor Day. It's Labor Day. It's not what, you know what? When's our first guest? Scott Blurzowski coming at 515. I want to bring this up because it happened if you weren't watching over the weekend because you're probably watching football, great football weekend. There's a lot of good calls. Notedame, a terrific start. Our Spartans won Friday. LSU, a terrific start to the season. Arizona State. San Jose, nobody cares. San Jose State, who they played well against SC and then the big talk about after the game was nobody was there. And that SC was playing a lot of young guys. But that's what SC is. SC then goes blows out Fresno State. And my mighty San Jose State Spartans on a short week go back and beat Eastern Michigan. That's revenge from the Idaho Potato Bowl game that we watched. That was a big win. Also, Ole Miss got their first win without Lane Kiffin. UCLA came in and killed Cal and you told me JKS was going to win the Highs Men. Okay, so check this out. Saturday night, my daughter wants to come home.

10:21So my one daughter is already at home from Cal. My other daughter, whose cheerleader, she wants to come home. So she wants me to come get her after the game. I'm in San Francisco doing our game. And I go, okay, I will. So after our game, I drive over to Cal across the Bay Bridge. I show up. It's tied. You want to talk about the black cat entering the building. I show up. It's tied. Right? Like, my daughter sends me a ticket. But at this point, you want to talk about Lucy Goosey security. Go to Memorial Stadium, Cal Berkeley. You very Lucy Goosey. The guy just looks at me, wands me and goes, just go, didn't even care if I had a ticket. Okay, so I walk in. Oh, you'll love this. So I walk in because I walk into the in zone where I can see the cheerleaders, right? I walk in. A guy sees me and looks over and goes,

11:21hey, town, and I go, what's up, man? And I come here and I come to people go, hey, that's Chris Townsend. And then the one guy goes, Chris Townsend sucks, man, the A's. Yeah, I got a Chris Townsend sucks at the Cal. Hey, there's a Cal. I get it. He's in the building. Okay, so I show up. It's tied. Final was. Was it a 45, 24? I mean, JKS through a couple bad picks. Never bad. It was a blowout. An absolute blowout. But I want to get into what Shuddy Babet said. I thought it was a really good point and I'm not trying to be negative. I'm trying to be positive. What do you call being positive through a negative situation? I'm a year college guy. A beat. I mean, you're a beat no matter what. I mean, so it'll be positive when you're, if you look at our run differential, it's horrific. Correct. It's more than baseball. Minus 188, our run differential last year was horrible. So Shuddy Babet asked a question, a very astute question.

12:22And as you know, I'm one of the only hosts that actually listens to the people that talk. Because most hosts don't listen. No, not at all. So he says to, I think it was Kristen Dallas, whatever was on the change up, he says, what can all of our hurt guys learn from sitting and watching a lot of baseball because most of you guys probably have never sat and their life because they're the best players. And so I was like, yeah, that's a really good point. And then it got me thinking, have you noticed that this band of misfits, the island of misfits toys, this group of a's, they're playing right now, how competitive they've been, winter loose, they've been winning some games. They're just coming off a four game winning streak, but how like yesterday they lost, it was too nothing. They have not been out there getting their ass kicked. When you have a minus 188 run differential,

13:22you're in 14 to two, 10 to one, 11 to three games, we've been getting hammered this year. We got hammered last year. A lot of it right here at the ballpark. Have you noticed this core, this young group is not, even in games here. Like when we lost to the Orioles, we made comebacks, we had chance, kept it close. There is something to be said about taking a shooty-babbitt's question, and I'm not trying to be negative. I'm just like, can our guys who are watching be watching our guys not going out and getting blown out in games and being competitive, either winning or playing tight close games? I think there's something to that for sure. And then we went back and looked, and I think we based off of August 22nd. The A's are eight and seven of the plus run differential since then, and it's been a lot of the guys that are in the lineup today, like Henry Bolte and Jeff McNeil, Gell-Off. That's how Clark just came back recently. But Cortez, Muncie, Donnie baseball, Donovan Walton,

14:25Alika Williams, Jonah Heim, Serv doll, Brian Serv, and I mean, we've had a lot of these guys who were the guys running around the roster in the season started that are playing well since towards the end of August. And it's good to see that these are some guys that are playing for jobs, not for just here, but also for next season. Because a lot of these guys weren't supposed to be here. All right, I'm looking at a Toronto Blue Jays Hawaiian shirt right now. A Toronto Blue Jays Hawaiian shirt. Well, it's Nathan Lucas, and he is from Sacramento. I love it. I love it. How do you not like the Jays? I got nothing against you guys. I was rooting for you in the World Series last year. We're talking to you. I met a Toronto Blue Jays fan outside the ballpark today that drove from Canada all the way to Sacramento. Oh, wow. That's got to take four days. Yeah. Probably. You guys drive through the terrain of Canada to get here. They might not be snowing there yet. No. I don't know. I don't know what it's like. Toronto's right, right, right. Buffalo was just below Toronto.

15:26I know. But I'm just, oh, they went from Toronto. Oh, they went through the continental United States. I didn't ask him his route. But I mean, probably easier than driving across Canada and going down the Pacific Northwest. It's interesting, though. It's a lot. Like a look it up. How long does it drive from Toronto to Sacramento? How long would it take to do that drive? Figuring you're not driving all night long, you stop, you set me in a, you're not like, you're not like road trip Mike and you don't sleep and you just go forever, which is really unhealthy. The question is how long is it, I mean, the flight has to be how long from here to Toronto? Six and I have seven, really. Like that. It's, it's, it's East Coast. It's just above Buffalo. It's further to go to Boston. Yeah, yeah. And the thing about Buffalo is Western upper Western. It's just Buffalo's over by Cooperstown, New York. So the Niagara Falls right there, I mean, you get, Maine further, Maine, New Hampshire, New England.

16:29Apple Maps has it as, I mean, this is without stopping one day and 12 hours, but it's 2,500 miles. So a couple days, how many miles you driving day? Google Maps has it at 38 hours from Toronto to West Sacramento. Well, road trip of the boy Chad from down in Arizona, they air all to Lambo Field for the Notre Dame game. So you could, you could go the, you could go, well, well, well, Dallas, Braden ladies and gentlemen, you could go from, you could go Toronto, you go to Lambo Field, catch some football. We have football tonight. We got Florida State there. I guess tonight there having a weather delay between SMU and Florida State. We got, we got Edna football on Wednesday and Thursday, right? We got cheat. We got a Patriots sea hoxable rematch on Wednesday and then Niners Rams on Netflix on Thursday. Well, we Friday for them, but Thursday for us. It's still hard to believe the sea hox when the Super Bowl.

17:31I know, Sam Darnold. Sam Darnold, USC great, Jets great, Sam Darnold. Once again, when I talk about whoever is going to be running our organization, can I just bring up a point about how we got to go get, you got to find some, we got to get somebody who can wheel and deal and get some pitching. Yeah. Quarterback who won the Super Bowl last year was who? Sam Darnold. Who drafted him? Jets. So the sea hox didn't draft him. Panthers in the or the Niners. Who was the MVP of the Super Bowl last year for the Los Angeles Rams? Oh, Matthew Stafford. Who drafted him? The Troy Lions. So you have this, the quarterback who won the Super Bowl and the quarterback who won the MVP were both with teams that didn't draft him. Yeah. This whole draft and develop thing in sports is, I'm just saying, especially in our sport now, when you go and you look how

18:32teams are put together, if you think it's about drafting and developing your kid in yourself, it's nice. You want to draft players. We got a bunch of draft to players that's great. But when it comes to pitching, you've got to find it. You got to trade for it. You got to go overseas. There's a lot of things you got to do to get your pitching. In 2028, I mean, JT again, it was to me sad news to have JT again going the IEL. Now, Friday, when we did the Marquette show, he was late. We were waiting for him and he came back like, yeah, we're trying to make a decision on JT again. The elbow and pinchment, it's not like a Tommy John thing. It's more an upper elbow. It's like a pinching. But the thing is, it's like JT again is never, and when I cringe, when I hear people go, ah, just two more starts. Shoot, he tried to play that with me. And I think our radio broadcast did that too. Ah, it's just two more starts. It does mean something.

19:33Because we have nobody on the roster who's ever pitched in a full season the entire season to go in 2028. Luis Severino doesn't count because he has a player option. Well, I'm not, I'm not betting he's going to be here in 2028. We do not have one player right now. 2026, who you can say, who can go full season for us right now in 2028? Yeah, there is a one. Okay, so let's say we have a short and season because of a lockout. What happens? We've already experienced this. We come out of a lockout. You got to start signing people, rapidly signing people because you see, who's ever coming in here to build this, doesn't have a lot of time to build a legit pitching staff of 13 people plus for 2028. 2026, 2028. That is a reality. The person who is coming in to run our organization has to be special and has to make a lot of right decisions

20:34because he's not going to have a lot of time. 2020, we're going to snap our fingers and 2028 is going to be here. So the fact that we have guys, we're talking about Jacob Lopez is pitching the most he's ever pitched. You know, I can't hold Gage jump to that because this is his first year. But you need pitchers who you believe can give you 107, I don't even do 200 any 170 innings or more. We've got to find multiple human beings who can go over 170 innings. And nobody on our roster, who has a potential to be here in 2028 has done that. Yeah, it's, if you're the one guy you could look at, but he's not, we mentioned to say that I mentioned to you the day it was would be Rooker because he posted all that shit, he's not playing. There's literally nobody else that could do it. Rookers coming off, Rookers coming off a year where he has had multiple injuries and he's getting into his 30s. He's in his 30s. Sorry, I'm talking to PR, they're, they're, we're coordinating about scub blu, it's still. All right, forgot about that.

21:36I think it's, it's an interesting point though. When you talk about what we got to find for 2028, what we have to build, and then also what can our guys who are sitting right now, what can they learn? What are they observing? What are you watching? Because you're seeing a Brown to baseball where I guarantee you the Mariner fans are looking at, looking at the, you know, they probably give pull outs of what the lineups are and they're like, Alika Williams, Henry Bolte, Donovan Walton. Zach, we're losing three out of four to, who? These guys we got right now, the lineup we're gonna have today, they are fighting and they are playing tough. Why? Why are they not getting blown out? Because we've seen the last couple of years straight blowouts over and over and over and over again. These guys are holding their own, pitching obviously. But also, I mean, we've been out hit in this ballpark for two straight years. Yeah, the numbers aren't great.

22:37We've gone over it a lot this season. And the one nice thing about tonight though, if you wanna look at just tonight, Jacob Lop has actually pitches, got a well here. There's an area under four, and the last, over the last two years here. So that's something to look at. The battle of the, you have Jacob Lop has, who's been one of the best pitchers since July 10th. Against Dylan Seese, who's one of the contenders for the American League of Saiyung Awards. It's gotta be him or Cam Schliitler. And right now, if I had to handicap it, I would say Schliitler is in the lead. I agree with Adam Motovino, who we brought on the show last week. Innings means a lot to me. I haven't checked it, but I do believe, Schliitler is like 12 or 13 more innings, which is the equivalent of two starts ahead of Dylan Seese. I mean, both of them have had really good years, but the bottom line is that, you got a chance, if you put it on this guy today,

23:37you're hurting his chance for the American League of Saiyung. Look at the numbers here since July 10th. It shows you really how good. It puts it in perspective, how good. Jacob Lopez has been. Dylan Seese, Jacob Lopez, since July 10th. The ERA of 2.2, the 2.2, A ERA for Lopez, Seese, 1.71. Jacob Lopez has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last 10 starts. That's what's awesome. I may expectacular. Dylan Seese has 156 and a third. Cam Schliitler has 171 and 2.3, so it's 15.1 innings more. Schliitler has and Dylan Seese. So it'll be essentially be two plus starts, unless Seese doesn't always go past five innings. So it could be three starts, because he strikes him when he guys out, and he's not walking as many guys this year as he did before, but yeah, it's about two and a half starts, or so, for Schliitler over what Seese has done.

24:39And the only reason why you can say that is, because Seese is about a six inning guy. Yeah. He used to even less, because he was always walking, guys, but he cut down on the walks. And he's striking guys out. I mean, right now, how many strikes he is? He leads, and the American link, he is number two with 220 one strikeouts, only Gavin Williams of the Guardians has more strikeouts. And that just, he did that yesterday. Yeah, he had a good game against, and Schliitler is a two-ten. So wait, what's Gavin versus Seese? 228 to 221. Yeah, so if he comes out tonight, strikes out a bunch of guys. Now he takes the lead. One thing about Seese is he only got 10 home runs and three of them went on the road. So he's really good on the road. He's like eight and one on the road. Welcome to the ballpark in West Sacramento. I believe you said it perfectly. This is where the, this is where the Sion canis ends. This is where the AL Sion campaign for Dylan Seese dies right here in West Sacramento. He'll look back some day. And the last, did you ever win the Sion? And he was like, I was so close. Well, what happened?

25:40It died in West Sacramento. He's eight and one with a 154 ERA and 76 innings pitch with a 101 strikeouts on the road. And three. Hey, good for him, by the way, he signed the big $200 million contract and he's lived up. We talk about so many of the guys who don't live up to the contract. He's lived up to the contract. For sure. Good on him. And for a team that, you know, they just got rid of Kevin Gossman to try deadline. Broadin Jose Sorano, I believe he's pitching tomorrow. A guy that I once said earlier in his year that he would win the American like Sion, but, well, hot take Tuesday. It's fine. It was your original hot day. It was it was the same day that you had your South Stewart one. Okay, I thought my South, my South Stewart was money in the bank. And it is because I said he'd be an all star. Was he? I'd say be rookie of the year. He most likely will be working the year. He is by far the favorite. I also said he'd be top 10 in by MVP votes. He could be. He could be. I mean, he should be the races. Oh, no, if you look at places, they have down to just my take to be correct is, is based on the writers.

26:43Yeah. Good luck. And all you hot take artists on Twitter, talk show boy Michael, if I get that right, you didn't even know who South Stewart was. As you know, if I get South Stewart being all star rookie of the year and top 10 MVP balloting, you guys are going to have to. I better have a bouquet of flowers here. You're going to be kissing his ass. Yeah, you better be. By the way, I think Scott will it's going to come up after we come back from break. And I already bring you enough coffee, so you're welcome. You give me more coffee? I did. Hey, Andrew, can you show me the bag? Andrew, grab the bag real quick. I want to promote this coffee because it's some of the best coffee I've ever had. Go ahead, give it out. Oh, it's a Montana's family coffee and tea. Is that what it's called? Montana's coffee. That's the official name of the company. So it's MFB Mike's favorite blend, Montanos. Michael freaking bear ball.

27:46Montanos is out of Petaluma. Montana's. Mount Tanos, right? Montana's. Montana's. Montana's. Montana's. Tanos. Why is it Tanos? That's them like Thanos. Mount Tanos. Man, Tanos. What do it's their website? You can order their coffee. I'm just telling you, I'm addicted to this coffee right now. MFCT.com. MFCT.com. It is a, it is a smooth, creamy and rich blend. It's medium and dark. And I'm not a dark guy because if you're a dark guy, it basically means you're into burnt coffee. And usually it's smokers. I've heard like dark coffee. I don't like dark, dark roast. I can agree that both my parents smoke and they drink dark coffee. Yeah, but this is delicious. Montana's. It's good stuff. Family owned. You can get it. By the way, it's the MFB Mike's favorite blend. Get it.

28:46I guarantee it won't disappoint. We'll be doing a coffee tasting at some point. I cannot wait for the coffee tasting. I've done it. I mean, I used to line taste all the time. I'm really, I'm really, I'm, I'm, I'm excited. All right, gotta go. All right, Scott Bluett next right here on Dayscats Live. This message is brought to you by Apple Card. With Apple Card, you earn unlimited daily cashback on everyday purchases like groceries, merch or tickets to the game. Plus, it can be used anywhere. Mastercard is accepted. No matter your team, no matter where you shop, Apple Card is here to help you tackle game day. Apply in the wallet app on your iPhone today. Subject to credit approval. Apple Card is issued by Goldman Sachs Bank USA Salt Lake City branch terms and more at Applecard.com. Streaming from West Sacramento, A's Cash Live continues with Chris Townsend. By the way, we got to say happy birthday to A's Hall of Fame or Joe Rudy, 80 years old

29:54today. He's not going to be with us on Saturday at the Hall of Fame branch or the Hall of Fame ceremony, but three time world series champion one of the greatest players in our franchise's history. Happy birthday, Joe. Joe Rudy, 80 years old. Which is so crazy. We just talked to him a few days ago on A's Cash Live and but you'll hear some of that this week on A's Cash Dynamics, he sports California for Hall of Fame week. So you'll hear Joe Rudy. Yeah, we just talked to him the other day. So it looks great. They soak golfing every day. Joe golf live in the life. In Florida with the grandkids and a lot of them are getting older. But he's an unbelievable man and I got to think out of all of the old three world series guys, we've got it. We probably have had him more than anybody else. Yeah, I would say him and then probably roll in fingers probably next. Yeah, and we're getting to a point to where there's not many left. So we have to cherish these guys who they were greatness. And I thought it was really interesting in the last interview because I had to ask them

30:57because it's something that always got brought up, which is so different in modern times. Guys play for the World Series now for the ring to be a champion for legacy and all that. Back then, they were also playing for the money because they needed the money. The World Series check was basically almost matching what they made in a season. And I thought to myself, how different would it be if the modern day player was actually trying to win the World Series also because he needed the money? How different would the effort be out here on a daily basis if there wasn't generational wealth being thrown around? Like he said, we made sure guys got to bet. Like they police themselves because you weren't going to screw up this paycheck for me. What makes me think of? Go ahead. Well, is this a conversation that you've had with Steve Sparks before about how players and the post-cision? And we had a Ray Fossil.

31:57Like Ronald Acunia Jr. what he did in Philadelphia yesterday, actually the last two days. Now today, Jesus Zardo shoved against him. Shut up. But Ronald Acunia Jr. who has always been over the top. And I'm not, you know, guys bat flip and doing all that. I mean, I've just gotten so used to it, I don't care. But the major stutter step he did around third yesterday and then doing his own curtain call. At what point is is, I mean, it's cringy. Cringy, just a kid say. It's cringy, right? It's cringy. Would you agree? And I just wonder his own teammates just go, dude, what are you doing? Why would you want to piss these guys off when we're going to have to play these guys in the playoffs? Yeah. It's a good point, right? Because every coach you've ever heard, especially in football, says do not give them Bolton board. Do not. There is a belief that you do not want to give the other team added reason to want to

33:02beat you. My football coaches say it all the time. Do not. Everybody knows this. Don't give them Bolton board material. Why would you want that you're probably going to have to play the Phillies in the post-season, right? Yeah. Why would you want to piss them off even more? Phillies are wet. No. Well, it's a win today. They three games back into division. Three or four games back. I can run what I was out going into today. But yeah, that's a team you're probably going to see in the post-season. The Phillies right now are four games behind the Braves. There are 81 and 63 Braves or 85 and 59. Yeah. You don't, I mean, clearly it bothered the Phillies. Do you want to give the Phillies a, now some people may say that doesn't matter. You're right. But if I'm a fellow Braves player, I don't like to. Why would you give them more ammunition against us later on when the game's really matter? Yeah. You really need to do your own curtain call, the big stutter staff, like really? How does that help us? I get how, what you're doing, how does that help us the group?

34:02And what scares me is you know this is, there's been so many issues with him. Remember, was it last year, two years ago, when he was hurt and something happened and he was tweeting from their complex in Atlanta about, well, that would have been me. I would have been more like it's just like, time out of player who's got all the talent in the world and just never gets it. Yeah, it's, I heard about the curtain. I was listening to Emily Noir. Did you not watch it? I didn't, I didn't heard about it this morning. Oh, well, now I'm going to have to look for it. This is yesterday. Yeah. It's current, it's total cringe. Like, it's the big thing around third, stop before third base. Chatchatchatchatch, then come around and then do his own curtain call to, and I'm like, you do realize you're going to play these guys in the playoffs. Let's see, I'm on there. But the thing that you also would wonder is you know that it's been a problem for years and you know he's been talked to about it and you wonder the leadership inside the club house. It's just like, it's not good.

35:03I mean, if you're in Atlanta brave, you got to be saying, why are you doing this? Yeah. You're team eight. You got to be looking. I'm going, who is, who, who are we benefiting here? Other than you doing your, your, your other than you being a clown, how, how are you helping us? Sorry, I'm so recording with PR. Well, we're running out of time. I know, I'm trying to figure if not, we'll just bring Ben Shulman out who's already here. Because Scott blew it, by the way, 16 games with the athletics, 1 and 0 with a 2.590 play. What, what, what's happening? Why? Yeah. His, we talked to Mark Katsue about it, the gyro slider, which is a slider that just basically drops, it looks more like a, it doesn't have the same, has reverse spin of a split finger, but the way it just drops, like his stuff has been nasty. They're saying to, to bring Ben on right now, then they'll try to get him up after. All right. All right. Ben, we're ready for you. Let's do Ben Shulman.

36:04Who calls games for the Toronto Blue Jays? We've had them on the program before, but we've never had, we've never had him live on the program. I should say in person, how are you? I'm doing great. Great. First we got to turn you on. Is he on? All right. How are you? I'm doing fantastic. Very happy to be here. How are you doing? It's great to have you. You know, it's funny. I mean, I'm going to see these people. I ran into a guy who drove all the way from Toronto to here to San Fram. Really? He's like, California, I'm coming to see my Jays. He must have planned that out multiple days ago. That is not an easy, that's, that's an year, 24 hour drive. I'm pretty sure. Oh, that's a, that's a, that's a, that's a, like a three day. Yeah. Yeah. That's not a straight shot. No. That's going to be brutal. It's a sea of a lot of the country, if you do that, but that's impressive. Well, that's what's cool about when you guys come to town because, you know, we have Canadians show up from all over because that's one of the great things about the Toronto Blue Jays is that the entire country supports.

37:07Yes. Yeah, it really, it really is a national team, you know, I think in hockey, everyone's very fractured. In basketball, it's there, but the team has not been allowed around as long. So I think they're still cultivating that. But the Blue Jays are really from Vancouver all the way to Halifax or wherever you want to go Eastern most. It is, it is really the country's team. And there are some pockets, there are a couple Tigers fans near the border near Detroit or a couple Mariners fans near the border, you know, the state of Washington. But for the most part, it's everyone's team and it's really fun. I mean, if they're Canadians that now make their homes around here, they probably circle this game on their calendar and they make their way over from a desu or wherever they might be because this is their one opportunity to see the team as well. Oh, you see when Toronto goes to Seattle. Yes. Blue Jays fans take over the stadium. Yes. That is as good as it gets. I think Detroit and Cleveland are very, very good, but Seattle, especially because those fans being out in British Columbia for the most part or fans from Alberta who are going

38:10there as well, there's so far from Toronto that's their better access by far. And so for a lot of people, that is their one weekend a year to go see the Blue Jays. And I think it's pretty hard as a Mariners fan to get tickets that weekend because half maybe even more than that of the tickets end up getting sold to traveling Blue Jays fans across the border. All right. I always harp on bad starts. I hate in our game. I hate it. This is early. It's early. Oh, well, last time I checked the games early, count just as much as they do now. And you guys might be one of the great examples. You battled back to 72 and 72. If you didn't have that bad start, you'd be up there with the raise, the Yankees, it'd be a different deal. But you still got fight left. What's this battle back been like? It's been, you know, I think for me personally, a little unexpected. I won't lie. It was, it was kind of reaching a point where they were playing okay, but they got to the deadline and the writing was on the wall. They had to give up a little bit more than they were going to bring in.

39:11They did walk the tight rope. They brought in a couple of guys. I love the pitching game. You know, they got Jose Soriano. They got a lot of control and Spencer Erigetti. So they brought, they brought in some guys. But, you know, Jeff Hoffman being a big part of their bullpen and Kevin Gossman at the front of their rotation, you would have expected them to kind of peter out at that point in the year. They had a really tough road trip. And instead, all of the new life that was brought in, you'll see it at the top of the order today with Brett Baidman being a big part of it. Just really kickstarted this team. They've been pitching like crazy or, oh, we're real live here. I got to watch out for batting practice. Yeah, I saw, yeah, every once in a while, while you're my eyes and ears right now. Yeah, we get some strays. I got you. But a lot of new energy. Yeah, that is it. My hand. You know what? I feel surprisingly comfortable. But they brought in a lot of guys, I think, eight, you know, some young new guys who are always going to bring energy like a Brett Baidman. And then you bring in guys like Josh Smith, who you would have seen with the Rangers, who got something to fight for. Maybe he's an established player, but he's trying to prove that this year is an off year for him and not the trend. And so they brought in a lot of hunger, I think.

40:14It helped kickstart some of the stuff going on with them. They did get a little healthier. They've been brutally heard, which you guys know, I mean, it's probably. I know where is bad right now. That's how bad the A's are heard. But the blue jays got Alejandro Kirk back and just as much as everything did not fall in line early in the year, everything feels like it has fallen in line. And they played really well here at the end of the year. So many guys sign big, free agent contracts in the first years. Yeah, not Dylan C's. No, talk about how he's lived up to the deal right out of a gate. No, he has been amazing. I mean, he had his first start as a blue Jake. That's the A's. And he was great in that start, but he was kind of typical Dylan C's. He went five and a third, I think, punched out 12. And it's just that was what you were getting over the last couple of years for the most part, but he has really evolved this year. He's found a way to mix his pitches more. He's relying more upon his change up, more upon his two seam fastball, a little bit more with the curveball, I think as well. There may be not as much recently. And the funny thing is he's had some of the least velocity of his career. If you go look at the last 10 starts, he's had a lot of them and he'll probably do it

41:18today, although it's hot. Maybe he'll have good velocity, but a lot of them, he comes out throwing 93 or 94. And you're saying, is this guy hurt what's wrong? And then he goes seven innings. And that's kind of what he's done now. He's turned from a guy who might put on one of the most dominant five innings you'll see ever into a guy that actually consistently goes seven or eight innings has a one hit shut out this year. Took a no hitter into the ninth inning in San Francisco. And is really putting together the best season of what's already a decorated career for him. He was really cool to see him start the all star game and hard to imagine that was his first all star appearance. But I don't know if he'll win the Saiyung. Camp Schletler's got N.R.A. bordering on two and it's going to be hard to catch that. But in almost any other year, I actually think Dylan sees probably runs away with the Saiyung award. But he's just amazing. If the innings, I mean, that's the one thing Camp Schletter has over him is in. I know. And he had one 15 day I else then. He missed two starts in that time.

42:18I wonder what it would be had he made those two starts. I still think Schletler Schletler says good going deep into games is anyone in the A.L. And that's the tough thing. If you're going to give a cease vote, you're probably a person who likes strikeouts because he sees even with fewer innings has more strikeouts than Schletler does. Yeah, it's it's that that may be the one thing at the end. We'll see like he could go out today. I mean, you could catch up in innings. You never know what's going to happen. This is the last start. But that may be the one thing that they're going to look at the end, but you never know. You know, we're a long way away from Toronto. I don't know if you know that we are. And even all the way out here in Northern California, I look at the Vladimir Guerrero contract and I cringe. And it scares me. This is exactly what the CBA fight is going to be like as owners don't want to give these contracts anymore. We're talking 14 more years after this. I was taught I was like putting your kid in kindergarten and getting him all the way through college.

43:19That's how much is left on this contract to give people an idea. This is year one, correct? This is year one of the 14 year deal. Yes. No home runs at home. 18 RBI's at home. Are people really worried? I think people are more frustrated than worried. And I guess the distinction there because it's it's not that big of a difference. But I think people, fans around the team from what we've heard about it from coaches and executives and whatever, they're expecting more so they're frustrated with it. But I don't think people think that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is worse than the six years he showed before or that he will never produce to that level again. I think that they're trying to figure out how a slump has turned into a full season essentially because if this was year two, if they had given him a big extension of two years or one year, I think there'd be more long-term worry. But he put together six impressive seasons. Some of them MVP Calibur, some of them are not MVP Calibur and they're more just very

44:22good years. But six seasons where I think they really liked what they were signing up for long-term, even if the numbers would say, sure, it's a first baseman do you want to pay him that much. I think he's not paying a pay, quote-on, quote, paying a premium because of what he means to the franchise, the fact that he is good at being a face of the franchise. He never gets in trouble. He's very media savvy, friendly to fans, all that stuff. And very consistent, plays 150 to 160 games every single year. So I think they're not saying what this could mean for the whole contract right now. I don't think that's where a lot of people are at, but they're worried that they feel like a lot of fans feel like they're going to pay for this contract on the back end. The last six or seven years probably aren't going to be great. And you were really banking on the year where he's 27, 28, 29, 30, like you got to cash in. So I think when I've talked to my friends or family or people who are fans around the team, their concern is less about him being this version of lad going forward, but more

45:26this is a big year and potentially that year is a little bit lost. And less, they squeak in and he goes on a huge run because the funny thing is he did not have one of his best years last year, but no one cares if you play well in the playoffs, which I think is right. They should, but he went on quite a run in the playoffs to wipe away how people felt last year. Now, still a better year than this year, I'll acknowledge, but if they can squeak in, maybe he can change some narratives a little bit. All right, we need your help. And we're going to end on this. We're going to do our Mount Rushmore of Canadian baseball players. Oh, that is fun. I'm not Canadian. Sure you are. Sure. So clearly what you're going to say carries far more weight than me. Okay. But we're going to do this tomorrow on our NBC pregame show. Okay. So Ben Schoelman, Canadian born and raised. You're born and raised in Toronto. Born and raised. Oh, yeah. All right. They grew up just north of Toronto for the folks right in Toronto. They would, they would check me, but live there now. So pretty. Really? I grew up in the suburbs just just north of Toronto, but well, your dad's big money.

46:30I'm born and raised in Toronto. The ish ish. All right. So I need your top four Canadians, top four Canadian baseball players. We did entertainers like Jim Carrey's got to be on there. At a candy. Yeah. Martin Shore. It's a lot of different ones. You can see a lot of Canadians. Okay. There's baseball players. A couple ones I think are 100% have to be there. Fergie Jenkins, Hall of Fame pitcher. First, first Canadian Hall of Famer Larry Walker. I think at him. So I think you have to put those ones in there. Now you can get a little bit more interesting. Like how do you feel about? I'm not locking these in yet, but you have Votto, who of course, one MVP. We had him. He's going to be in the Hall of Fame. Yeah. So I, you probably got to put him in, right? You have you have Justin. I don't know. Before it gets squirreled. So Justin more, no one in MVP. Russell Martin, a really good player for a long time and had big moments with the blue jays. How much does that matter? Think a's. Who did you have in for the a's? Who is a beer leagues off ball player?

47:31Who Matt Stairs, of course, who is, you know, one of the great power hitters in Canadian baseball history is definitely on there. And one of the rare Canadians to play for the ex-boast and the blue jays, which I think means something north of the border as well. I think stairs could definitely be there. Jason Bay had some big moments for Canada and won a rookie of the year. That is hard. It's really hard for me to make a pick. Like I. Stairs in more know and Martin and a lot of these guys are on a very more no one the one the MVP. That's my MVP. That's my audience knows who Matt Stairs is. That's my dilemma. That is your dilemma. And I'm trying to think is there anyone else that would appeal to an a's audience? But I don't think there's another Canadian. So we're not meant to. Everybody mentioned we're looking at. So we're not whether there's not there's not someone we're missing. Not that I can think of. I mean, there's been some really, really good players that that could be in in the mix. But I don't I mean, Eric Kanye was a fantastic closer. You know, it's it's I can't do Denzel Clark.

48:32Love the kid, but I think room to grow, you know, time. The neither brother. No, I think we're room to grow. But yeah, we're talking about guys with MVP awards and stuff like that and stuff like that. So I mean, I think if if I was. Forced, I think I probably go more know just because he won the MVP. Right. And I know, you know, being a kid when he did that, that was a huge deal. I mean, that meant a lot to I think a lot of Canadian kids playing baseball that the MVP could be from Canada. But Matt Stairs, fantastic player. I actually, I'm one of the one of the least like to take by any of my friends of all time is I think Matt Stairs, one of the great pinch hitters in the history of baseball. And I think like if you're one of the great kick returners in the history of football, if you're kind of the best at something, you should get considerate. There should be a spot for you. Maybe you're not a Hall of Famer, but they should say this guy, pinch hit better than anyone else. And there should be like a monument to the five great pinch hitters in the, you know,

49:32the best pinch runs like the Dave Roberts stolen base. I'm sure it's somewhere in Cooperstown right now. Some run him in stolen baseball time. There should be there should be big pinch hit home run recognition there. So while I'm not going with stairs on this one, I have a ton of respect for his career. He handed the Mount Rushmore of Canadian baseball players or the, or the, or the mountain of Wayne Gretzky, which one is going to be bigger? You know what? Is it still Wayne just dominates everything? He's a big deal. He's a big deal. No doubt. I drink beers of Wayne Gretzky. A couple of things. Nice. The guy in the interview them. Then later in the tap room, give you a little story. So Wayne Gretzky every year, the celebrity. I mean, it's a regular golf tournament. The AT&T. Yeah. It's the pros playing with the slabs and the business people. But this is a tournament where the winner for years got over a million dollars. It's been one of the biggest tournaments on the tour for years. So I've covered it for years. So I would do interviews that the celebrities before. And so I did the Wayne Gretzky and all the different.

50:33And then so later that night, we're there in the famous tap room. Where normally when you go there, it's just real quiet. But during that time, it's crazy. And I'm getting drinks and I'm taking drinks and pulling them back over to my brother. And my brother is arm and arm with Wayne Gretzky. Like they're like the two most lost buddies of all time. And it's been a long day. Everybody's been drinking for a while. And I remember just looking at gone and I didn't have it. We didn't have at that point phones with cameras. Right. I would have been the first. That's how you get arm and arm with Wayne Gretzky. Once phones with cameras come out, that's a harder way. Brother and Wayne Gretzky liked. Oh my God, they're like the best buddies. That is awesome. That's cool. I mean, yes, he's he's definitely a big deal. No doubt. And in Toronto, we got our first overall pick. Gavin McKenna is about to we got the first overall pick. He's about to make his debut. So I fight. He's the kid from Penn State. Yeah. So that's that's the big news around we want to do with our sharks. But sharks are not a bad spot. I'll trade.

51:33Celebrity. I'll trade. I'll trade McKenna for celebrini right now. If you want him. So it's a great time to be starting. He was celebrating. He was born here, right? Well, he played for team Canada. He was born in Vancouver. Yeah, be grew up in San Jose. He made his choice. And unfortunately that did not net him a gold medal this time. But he did make his choice. He's dead. He's been one of the guys for the warriors for many, many years. So he's been in northern California for years. Fair. He's our guy now. Well, we'll see you in place for next time. Well, hey, you know what? Thank you for coming on. I always agree. Is it great for when you guys come out to California? Yeah, it's awesome. I mean, we, uh, it has been hot, but we actually just got rock by storm. So it's never a bad time. No, we've got snow on our day. Not snow, rain and a little bit of hail. So hopefully everyone's alright. Because once you guys get snow, it's there for a long time. Yeah, thankfully, I think we'll be in the clear for, for about a month, two months, maybe, but always nice. When does it stop snowing? So thankfully, we're worse in Toronto because we're so southern within Canada.

52:33We're just worse with cold than snow. We probably start December where it's like really sticking to the ground. It'll snow before them, but where it's staying. And then it'll probably be gone. Like by the time I'm back from spring training, I get lucky. I get to skate on winter a little bit, but mid March ish. And it could still snow in April. It could. It probably wouldn't stick to the ground, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't snow. It still could probably snow. Do you ever get to that point where you're like, I can't take this anymore. Rarely, because I actually like the colds. But last year, right before I left for spring training, I slipped on ice and had to go on crutches. And I was like, do I want to live here forever? And then I remember, I do. I do. I love it. It's my favorite place in the world. You can't wait to get to Florida. Was it Dut Eden or something? Dut Eden, but yes, I do. I don't mind the February March Dunneedin trip. I'll tell you that. By the way, your dad went to Kansas City. Yes. And then he said, I'm out of here. I'm going home. He, you know what? They, they hit about 100 degrees every day. I think in Cleveland and Kansas City, I'm not sure he would have made it had he come

53:36here. He might have been in some trouble. So because you know, they got no, he's got nothing up here to protect him. But your dad's right to the brain. Dan is one of the greats of all time. And for everybody we tell him like, not only baseball, you've seen him, you've seen him, whether it's college basketball, but you've seen him do some type of game. Yeah. Well, I would, I would venture to his last time he was in Sacramento. He might have been doing a Kings game, which he has not done the NBA in a number of years now. He used to be out here a lot because he was, he was kind of the West Coast NBA guy for ESPN. So he'd get like San Antonio Sacramento, Chris Weber, Tim Duncan or games like that. Of course you give the guy from Canada, the West Coast NBA games. Of course. Yeah. And college basketball. Yes. Yeah, it's easy trial. A lot of direct flights from Toronto. Thanks for coming on. Appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good call. Enjoy the series. Where do you go? You guys go back after this. Back home. Back home. Back home. Day off home against Baltimore who's right in the race with them. Well, it's actually a group of, I know you're going to look at and go, who are these guys? These veterans slash young guys who are playing right now are actually playing better than

54:39what our hurt guys are playing. So we're calling them the September spoilers. You can use that on your broadcast. I do like that. The blue jays they traded guys started to play better. So you never know. Maybe it's not always about the names on the marquee sometimes. Have a great call. Enjoy the couple days here. Beautiful weather in Sacramento. That's going to do it for us. I'll send it to Johnny and Ken Corack, the two Hall of Famers next. I'll be back in a half hour with Steve Sacks for Acecast on NBC. When it comes to knocking it out of the park, nobody beats Folsom Lake Ford. Folsom Lake Ford is an eight time triple crown award winner. Ford Motor Company's highest honor for being the best in customer satisfaction and sales, service and finance. Step up to the plate for our biggest selection of new Ford models, including the legendary F-150 on sale now. Shop Folsom Lake Ford, your truck headquarters in the Folsom automaw. Folsom Lake Ford dot com. This has been a presentation of the athletics.

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