Braves Color Analyst Joe Simpson

0:00This is a 680, the fan podcast to hear more live and local sports content like this tune into 680 AM or 93 7 FM or download the fan app. And let's go to the loud security systems newsmaker line. Bring on. Braves Hall of Fame broadcaster Joe Simpson. Joe, how was dinner tonight? It was outstanding, Buck. I know you know all about crab daddy's here in sync time and it was absolutely terrific. All right. So we get to see another Braves team open the season here and a couple of sleep. So encourage Braves country. What did you see in spring training that has you excited about the season? And I'm not talking about the pitching, but I'm talking about how much it was very obvious and apparent right away, Buck, how much we've missed Austin Riley. How much we've missed a healthy Michael Harris getting a cune on the field and the way he played in the world baseball classic.

1:06Those things are all very good signs to me. We've got to have those guys on the field. And once we get Kim on the field at shortstop and we kind of get things settled in the DH left field situation, then I'm not worried about the offense. And I was especially happy for Eli white. I am a big fan of his. I think he does a lot of things to help the Braves win. He's getting more opportunities and he's taking advantage of it. I hope he can carry that right on in to the regular season because I think he's a heck of a player. Great point, Joe. I'm with you there and speaking of mist. We've missed here in your voice. So thank you so much for being with us here tonight. Can't wait to hear you every night on our airwaves now moving forward. And I just I'm curious opening night Friday evening, the Braves and the Royals for you. Do you know how many opening nights this is for you is between your broadcasting and your plane days?

2:06Oh God Kelly is too many to try to add at my age, but that's pretty amazing. I'm wonderful. I'm wonderful. And I just have to imagine it doesn't matter how many opening nights still has to feel pretty special for you. Oh, what it is. I mean, this is my 35th with the Braves alone. Wow. We're so lucky. I'm looking before the 40th is a broadcaster. So makes about 52. 53 somewhere in that range. So over. Yeah, good. But this is just crazy. And I'm just so fortunate. So blessed. I spoke yesterday. I had a lunch and with the Brunswick, Georgia, Koana's club. And we started talking about that. And that's when it kind of really hit me because there were like 60 year old men coming up to me going, when I remember listening to you and I was a kid.

3:14I've been a few that have accumulated, but does it take away or diminish the excitement of opening day. They're all unique. They're all fun. And get this. Listen to this. One year when I was playing for the Mariners, we were the only game is connected Yankees and Giants tonight. We were the only game in the big leagues. And on opening night against the blue jays while I was playing with turret with Seattle, I had a home run in a triple. So in my way of thinking, it was, this is going to be the only opportunity I have in my career to lead the American league and homers. We were the only game. And lo and behold, John Mayberry hit two homers. No, you were right there, though. You were right there, buddy. That's exactly right. And you never forget it. Now, Buck, back to your original question.

4:16We all have our concerns annually. Everybody does about pitching. And this here's no different. And largely because. The potential of four starting pitchers out of your five man rotation in spring training. That's reason for concern. That's cause for concern. Who's going to step up? Who's going to be the guy that kind of helps stem the tide until we get some of these guys back? That was a huge blow to lose Spencer strider for whatever time it's going to take for his oblique to mend. So starting pitching is going to be what we keep our eyeballs on. Now, having said that, man, oh man, I really like our bullpen. Don't you? Don't you think it's going to be strong? Yeah, lights out. Yeah, I'm glad to see us. We've got two closers now. Yeah, yeah, we've got some veteran arms down there too.

5:19I think these guys know what it's like to go through a full season. I don't know how Walt will use them. We're not up to date yet on how Walt uses his bullpen will find out pretty quick, I think. But there are some good arms in our bullpen that might help cover up some endings that maybe the starting staff doesn't have here at the beginning of the season. Let's hope so. Yeah. Actually, we're going to put a heavy load on Chris sale. We're happy that he's still in the fold and going to be for next couple of years after this. But some of these other guys like Bryce elder, it's it's time for Bryce to take the reins and start filling some holes here for us. He's got to do that. This kid did your quintess if they move him into the starting rotation. It's a lot to ask of a kid, but we'll see what happens. Hey, remember back in 91, maybe 90 when the young guns all came up.

6:20The Pete Smith, the Avery's the GLABBEN was in his second year. He lost 17 or 18 games a year before. Small certainly was part of that. Absolutely. We've got some young guns. Can't wait to see more of them. We've got some guys that are they're knocking on the door. And I saw some of them in spring training. Owen Murphy. He probably will start in double A. I'm guessing. Owen Murphy's got a heck of an arm. J.R. Richie that everybody's heard everyone talk about. He's terrific. And a guy that I can't think of his first name. Bowman. The big six eight guy. I saw him pitch against the Orioles starting lineup one day in spring training. Love them. He doesn't throw 99. He's in the 92 to 93 range. But man, he's got a real hard sinker. You're going to see him soon too. We've got some of those young guns that are knocking on the door that I can't wait to see.

7:22Caminetti's another Joe. What about Walt Weiss' leadership style? What do you expect in to see? I think he's going to be a lot like Brian Smithger. I think he will be somewhat subtle in his style. And then when the time comes, just like you saw Brian Smithger on the field of times go absolutely eight nuts. You might see Walt do the same thing because he's so reserved. He's under control. He's got his emotions under control. But Walt is the wealth of information. Walt knows how the game is supposed to be played. And let's give him a chance to prove it to all the brave country. I think he's going to do a great job. And I couldn't I can't tell you how excited I was that he got the job. Same. I'm with you. I've thought of you so many times this off season, Joe. And you mentioned Eli White being happy for him. It's hard not to root for a guy like him. And I thought the same thing about a guy who they picked up this off season.

8:23And I thought I know fans don't maybe know a ton about him yet, but they will in Yastrimski. And I figure, oh my gosh, Joe has to have a good Carl story in there. I mean, have you had a chance now to go down and talk to his grandson? What has that been like for you? I guess to get to know him a little bit and also think about your playing days against his family. You're 100% right, Kelly. And I have to be honest with you. I didn't think he was this good. I didn't know. Let me correct that. I didn't know he was this good. Sure. Yeah. He had a great year last year between the Giants and the Royals. He had a great spring training hit another home run yesterday. I went up to him at the batting cage at the beginning of spring training and I said, I'm going to say something to you that you've probably never heard before. I played against your grandfather. If he only had a dollar for every time that happened. He said, yeah, you're right. I've never heard.

9:24I know that I have a great one on one story, Kelly, but I can tell you this having played against him a lot. And he was in his later slatter stages of his career. He was some kind of competitor. My gosh, he was a tough out and a tough guy to play against. But hey, anything that Mike and come up with that conjure up his grandfather is going to be a plus. Trust me. Certainly. Joe, do you think Anthopolis was smart to wait to spend pro far money a little later in the year on a veteran picture? Let's look at this for a second buck in this fashion. decision came back down from MLB. They couldn't spend that money. They didn't know if he was gonna be a suspended for the year or b, if he was gonna be entitled to any of his pay.

10:25So they had to wait till that decision came down before they could even consider spending any of that money. Now then, all the restraints are off. He suspended for the year. He's not gonna get paid for the year. In my way of thinking, he shouldn't get paid next year. This out of void, null and void is contract the rest of the way. That brings up a lot of money in my mind. Now then, that's easier for me to say because I don't know if they're gonna have to pay him next year. But I wouldn't if I could help it. As far as I'm concerned, he's already blown that opportunity. So you've got at least 17 million to spend when you consider his contract this year, plus the three million that that contract was gonna push the braves over the tax limit. Now, back to your question. Should he have spent the money before now? I don't think he could.

11:27On the other side, I'm ready to spend. Now, who do you spend it on? Who's left? Yeah, the market place, the summer should have a few more alternatives than just Geolito right now. Yeah, Lucas Geolito is probably at the top of the list of anybody that's available right now in terms of experience, success, good arm. And the only red flag would be health. Is he healthy? Can he stay healthy? And do you spend the money and take a chance on a guy when you're in, I'm not gonna say dire straits, but you're certainly in need of some starting pitching. And I thought it was smart to see who was gonna come out of spring training with an opportunity to sign because a lot of guys get cut right before opening day and you wait and see who might come at a cheaper price, let's say, but we all were brazed fans deep and hard and we're wanting some more starting pitching. So let's just see what happens.

12:28And the offense can certainly help them put up a lot of runs this season, you know, I mean, I feel like we're due after last year, Joe, and you mentioned the health, you've already talked about Austin Riley a little bit. I think the last one we've even taken some calls tonight, people really want to see Michael Harris bounce back in a big way this year, anything from what you talk to him about the spring or watch from him this spring that leads you to believe that he indeed can do that for this team. There were two guys that stood out to me, Kelly, when I saw them and by the case and talked to them. And Michael was one, he had a big smile in his face. Naturally, the one thing that we want to see happen for Michael is get off to a good start. He's been a slow starter, especially last year. The year before is more injury related, but last year was just a horrible start. Let's see him get off to a good start in that first home stand. Let's see him get, you know, seven, eight hits and hit a long ball or something to give him the confidence to get off to a good start. The other guy was Ozzy Albi's.

13:29Ozzy had a bad year last year by Ozzy Albi's standards. He's had his own share of injuries. Most noticeable would be hands and wrist. That's a horrible thing for a hitter, of course. But Ozzy was jacked. Ozzy was in such great shape and is in great shape. He worked very hard, obviously, this off season to be in the best shape he possibly could be in. And I'm just hopeful that he can return to his normal numbers. What a boost that would be for the team. Now then, I mentioned those two guys, Kim, coming back from his finger injury. That's going to be kind of testy for him, but we saw what he could do in September. He was a really good piece for the team at shortstop, provided more offense than we had seen at shortstop since the departure of Dan Svisswanson. So I'm excited about that return. I'm hopeful about the return of Sean Murphy.

14:31I'm not, I'll admit, I don't know where he is right now today on his recovery process from his hip surgery. But I keep thinking about how much this guy played and what horrible painting must have been in to have that kind of a hip injury that required surgery there at the end of the year. I'm just keeping my fingers crossed for Sean Murphy too. Well, Joe, from the sound of it, you're in midseason form, looking forward to seeing you up here soon. I'm fired up, but I am. I'm fired up and I'm ready to have the royals come to town and get their butt kicked. That's what I love it. Hey, we appreciate your time, Joe. Hey, good talking to you guys. Love you both. Joe Simpson joined us on the loud security systems newsmaker line. Now he's going back to have dessert. This is a 680, the fan podcast to hear more live and local sports content like this tune into 680 AM or 93 7 FM or download the fan app.