Hour 2: What Needs to Change?

0:00College football is back. So, Hilton called to me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality. Need a room to match your lucky number? We got you. Want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky jersey? Oho, that smells lucky. Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition. Even a marching bandwreck up call it 555 and 55 seconds. Hit it! When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day, it matters where you stay. Hilton, for this day. This is the Michael K. Show podcast. I gotta get more K. Listen live, we're DZ1 on the ESPN New York app and your smart speaker. Welcome back to the show so you ain't get swept up by the tap of a race and other season and the division series. And this season actually won game less than last season. They lost in four games to the Toronto Blue Jays. Now they lose in three games to the race and the thing that's so disheartening, if you're a Yankee fan, it was all right in front of you.

1:06If you got past the race, you can't tell me you wouldn't get past the Guardians or the White Socks. That side of the bracket is so easy. Tap of a base going to the, they're gonna go to the postseason. They're gonna go to the World Series I should say. Because I don't see the Guardians or the the White Socks beating Tampa Bay. Tampa Bay is a good team. And for those that called up before the series said they've overachieved all year, you got it wrong. They're good. They're not overachieving. They're a good team. And as I said yesterday, you can't look at them as a little engine that could because they have players that are undervalued in the market but are outstanding. Some of the best players in baseball. They're a big hammer and arrow. Rasmus. Brian Baker, who they got from the Orioles. They couldn't use a closure like that. The kid who hit the home run yesterday, Victor makes a junior who was released last year.

2:08Released. They got away. Like the Billy Joel song. They got away. has been a really good player for a long time. Jonathan O'Ronda is a really good player. Richie Palacios is a hard-nosed kid from Brooklyn who's done a great job at second base. They're a good team. And I love the nonsense while the last thing Major League baseball wants is the raise and the brewers to meet in the World Series, which is a distinct possibility. Why? You think they're gonna come off the cap that they want? They're still gonna talk about payroll disparity. The thing that they're gonna say is, yeah, but Tampa Bay is not gonna be able to keep their stars. Like Kansas City won a championship. They couldn't keep their stars. You think in three years under the present system

3:08they'll be able to keep Junior Caminero? No, no, trade them. But what makes them a really smart organization, they trade them for something good. They get rid of somebody a year early. They don't care about the shouts from baseball people or their fans. They know what they're doing. They'll get rid of somebody a year early. But that's not gonna stop Major League. But you think Major League baseball is gonna be embarrassed to say about, small market teams can't compete. They'll say they'll change it to can't compete consistently. That's what they'll say. It'll be a great World Series Tampa Bay against Milwaukee. And if you watch that Milwaukee San Diego series, it was amazing. Each game was a nail-biter, a home run by a home run by Machado taken away by a leaping Mitchell phenomenal. Now, one thing I wanted to say about yesterday, I do not at all blame those fans in left field at all.

4:11If you have a wall and you have fans sitting in the first row of seats, and the ball is coming at you from 340 feet away, they didn't blatantly reach over. They're trying to make a catch. You mean that they could actually tell that they were gonna interfere with the ball? Those guys did nothing wrong. They did what any human being would do. The ball's coming right at them. They reached their hand out. But it does show you how times they have changed. 30 years ago tomorrow, Jeffrey Mayer reached over in right field, a kid so he wasn't doing it on purpose, trying to catch the ball. And Derek Jr. got a home run out of it. Tony Tarrasco went nuts. Richie Garcia was the right field on fire, and it was clearly fan interference. So you wonder if there was replay back there with that had been taken away, and I think most certainly it would have. But things went right for the Yankees back then. And yesterday, things went wrong.

5:14I give credit to Anthony Volpey, man. I really do. To come up from the minor leagues, playing a new position. And playing the way he played, when most people were impacted in, this wasn't just a kid that failed and got sent down. This was a kid who was the starting shorts off for the New York Yankees for three years, who was the starting shorts off for a team that went to the World Series, and he lost his gig. Could have put his tail between his legs. Didn't have to work hard. He went down there, learned second base, has become a proficient second baseman. And also, that was a huge moment. That would have tied the game. I think the Umpire is probably got it right. And the fact that they allowed the runner to score also showed that they got it right. And they put Volpey at second. So yeah, they took the home run away, but that didn't mean that they couldn't get a hit after Volpey to drive him in. Well, you know what happened next? Spencer Jones, who had a big double in the fourth inning, he ended up striking out. But the kids did great yesterday.

6:16They did great. Spencer Jones walked twice and an RBI double. Volpey, two for four, run scored and an RBI. George Lombard, two for three, with a walk and a run scored. The kids did great. Ben Rice was Ben Rice drove in a run. The one thing that's funny is the narrative that was taking place yesterday. And I can't sit and hide behind something that didn't work out. But I thought they had to change something. I mean, we had a call yesterday saying that Trent Grisham should lead off. And I thought, yeah, I could see that because he does take a lot of pitches. He has not hit at all from the lead off position. Hasn't been at all this year. But you know, a little change of pace. But those people that are making it out to me, you know what, if you didn't lead off Trent Grisham, and you kept Ben Rice in the lead off position, he would have been up with a runner on and two outs in the ninth inning. Really, everything would have gone the same way

7:18if Ben Rice was leading off rather than a second. Come on, that's a little much. So it's a perfect second guess. You could pull all the stats at, you know, this year he's been awful from the lead off spot. But he also does take pitches. He was terrible yesterday. He's been terrible all year. Grisham was 0 for 5 yesterday, three strikeouts. But I can't get on boom because I would have done the same thing. I liked the moves that he made. I liked the fact that Kyle Byerl started at third. I was a little unsure about the Volpe over chism because I thought you'd lose chism. And I think you did. But Volpe came through. So everybody's screaming from the make changes, makes changes and now we're gonna say, well, Ben Rice would have been up with the season on the line rather than Trent Grisham was struck out. Do we really honestly believe that every single thing that happened in the game would have happened in the exact same way and that there would have been a runner at second base. And two outs and Ben Rice would have been up if they had led him off and had Grisham lower in the order. I just don't believe that's the way the world works.

8:20That's not always sports works. 1-800-919-3776, go to Roger and the Bronx. Roger. All right, Mike, I'm gonna keep this short. Playing it simple. House down, runner. Catchment. Boom. Same thing. You know what? I'm gonna do that again for boom. I know that's your buddy. I know that's your power. Nine years now, players have come and gone. Players have come and gone. The philosophy is not working. The way he does it is not working. The regular season, okay, Ben, no problem. You want to bring that up? Okay. Not working in the playoffs, big boy. It ain't working. So again, for boom. Take care. I love the way you intelligently broke it down in such an area-dip manner. We need more of those phone calls. We really do, because that resonated with me. Good one, Roger. It's funny, the players have changed. The manager remains the same.

9:23But does he get the players? Is he putting the roster together? So does in the front office get some blame too? It's all on boom. You can make the case, and it is nine years as the manager. This might have been his best year managing. With all the injuries they have, again, not an excuse, but it's a fact. Judge playing in 66 games this year, stand not playing since April 25th. Max Fried on the IEL twice, Belinger on the IEL for a month, not starting the season with Rodon or Cole. And he got them to 93 wins. I think he did a really good job in the regular season. He's probably gonna get some manager of the year votes. He won't win it. That's gonna be cash or venable. But listen, they pay off on what you do in the post season. So you keep saying the players change, boomed in, changed the players. And he's managing just the way the organization wants in the manage.

10:24Because the organization thought that Joe Gerardia had lost touch with the players. That he wasn't as touchy-feely with the players. So they brought in a guy that they felt understood the numbers was all in on the numbers. And would have better relationships with the players. So he's managing just the way they want in the manage. And you know what Brian Cashman said yesterday before the game? He said we think Boone's a really good manager. So we'll see. We'll see, but very, very classy phone call. As I said, area date, well put, well thought out. Tom and Huntington, Tom. Michael. Hello, Tom. Hey, Michael, I ask you how you do all of it. From the sound of your voice, this show, you've been, I think you're gonna, you gotta relax a little bit. You're gonna have a stroke if you don't. I will not, I'll fine. Anyway, we had this discussion last year

11:26when they were eliminated last year. As far as Cashman and Boone go, I agree with you. I mean, I don't see them going anywhere. But I think what has to change is their philosophy. I mean, as far as offense goes, yes, they have the disaster of defensive game in the second game, but this home run or bust mentality that they have, I think it's ruining them. The Yankees strike out 25% of the time. I mean, they average nine strikeouts a game this season. They don't put the ball in play or adapt their approach at the plate, you know, when the situation calls for it. The team batting average of season, 235. That's 28th in the majors. It is only 30 teams. I mean, it's no surprise that they really haven't won in 17 years. I mean, you said it, said it once, you said it a hundred times. The Yankees hit home runs, that's how they win. I mean, hitting a home run in regular season is difficult enough to do it in the postseason against elite pitching, even more difficult.

12:26I just think that they'd have to put the ball in play and that's what these other teams have done. I mean, they just torture the Yankees. They put the ball in play, they force them to make a play and the Yankees do the total opposite. They had freeing from their heels, regardless of the situation. I don't understand it, but that's my two cents. Well, Tom, I don't have the answer, but as I said, I've been saying since the beginning of the show, something has to change. What it is, I don't know, I'm not smart enough, but something has to change. Either the type of player you're getting, the philosophy that you're teaching, something has to change. You can't keep doing this and expecting, okay, we'll run into one. You haven't run into one in 17 years. You've been to one World Series. And I know a lot of people in the organization felt they should have been in the World Series in 2017, but they came up against team that cheated. But the funny part is you think you should have been

13:27in the World Series that year, right? But you ended fire in the manager. So maybe they would have been in the World Series that year. Maybe they would have won the World Series that year, maybe. But you didn't. And it's one World Series appearance in 17 years and no championships with a $4 billion expenditure on payroll and so much more outside of payroll. In support staff and facilities and things like that. Again, they have the best of the best. There's nothing done on the cheap with the New York Yankees. Nothing. The facility they had down in Tampa is the envy of so many, so many organizations. Top flight, they spent top money on all the newest things. So $4 billion in payroll, I don't even know how much on the other stuff and still not one championship in 17 years, it's almost inconceivable. That's why I say, I don't know what the changes should be, but there have to be changes in the way you evaluate

14:28and the players that you acquire, there has to be. Because when Rodan says it's high stakes games and it seems like we don't perform in those moments, wow, how damning is that? Why don't you perform in those moments? Anthony and you, Anthony. Hello, Anthony. Hello. Hello. Okay. How you doing there? How you doing? Am I can you hear me? Yes, I can. One second. No, no, no, we don't have one second. We have so many people I want to talk. Be ready, man. You're waiting on hold. Be ready. One second here. What is this is a line at the DMV? We're running a show here. Let's go to Eric and Queen's Eric. Yeah, Mike, how are you doing? How are you? Gonna make a point about, gonna make a point about it. I don't think it's bone. I don't think it's cashman.

15:31I pretty much think the mentality of the new Yankees with how, you know, not to criticize some about being his dad, nobody will be his dad, but if he was just half his dad in terms of how they would get on the play as when they don't perform, I think that that really go a long way. I think the fact that there's no discipline, that there's no accountability, that's what's really has changed. The Yankees and you have a guy like Chisholm that does what he does. And there's no repercussions behind it. No discipline behind it. I think so lead us to problem and we don't have any more accountability in these guys get paid so much money. So I'm going to hang up and let you tell me what you think about it. Well, I mean, the, I mean, you know, George used to own through the back pages. So what do you want? How on Twitter? Bashing the players and we all remember the, the, the second act in George's career. But a lot of fans that are listening to the show,

16:34you didn't like all the firing of the managers and stuff like that. Now the Yankees are an organization that takes pride in the consistency. And the, and the stability 12 years of Tory 10 years of Gerardi nine years now of Boone. I mean, George Stimer, we have three managers in a year. They've had three managers. Let's see in 12, 22, 31 years, three managers and 31 years. Let's go to Anthony in Jersey City Anthony. Hey, Michael, how's it going? Good. How you doing? You know, every year, I'm doing good. You know, actually, I'm just still in kind of apathetic at this point. You know, every year I call in and I advocate for mass changes. And I just have accepted that they're likely never going to happen. Unless Brian Cashman says it's going to happen unless he decides that he's had enough of being the person who builds this organization. And for me, that caller is right in the sense that I feel like how has

17:35built a culture of complacency, where he Cashman and Boone, they do enough to not get fired, but not enough to get disciplined in any other way. And it's frustrating. I don't feel like spending my money on a product that is run like this. This is 17 years, Michael, I was 18 years old, a freshman in college. The last time the Yankees won a world series, I am now 35 years old with a two year old daughter. This is unacceptable. It is embarrassing. And the thing that always gets lost or not talked about enough is you see that they have not just lost in the playoffs. They don't just get humiliated in the playoffs. They lose to their feeded rivals every single year. And we as fans, I think the reason that people get so upset with you, as you being the voice of the Yankees, we don't have a voice. We don't have anyone of significance to go to the media and advocate for what we

18:39have been asking for, which is get rid of Cashman. He is the problem. He is the one who chooses the manager. He is the one who does the front office with all his players and development stuff. It's ridiculous. And yeah, I just think that nothing is going to change. And I'm just apathetic toward it. And it's unfortunate because I love the Yankees. I love that, you know, that they compete every single year. I appreciate it. But the bottom line is that they just, the Cashman has to go. It's enough of this guy already. I mean, the player that he has brought in lately had been horrible. Look at third base alone. Josh Donaldson. He could trust Donaldson. He had just Donaldson Ryan McMahon. Did you like you? You know, all these guys, we got all airing Hakes. He had a horrible trade deadline last year. I mean, when is there going to be accountability for this guy? When is how are we going to look them in the face and say, you have acquired

19:40let's say, can really bad players that were supposed to be really instrumental to this team? And it just is never going to happen. And that's what it comes down to this. And it comes down to this. If there are no changes, right? Then they're content with the way things are going. I mean, there's your answer, right? So I mean, you say you don't have a voice. Everybody has a voice. Everybody has a megaphone now on social media. The 48,000 people out in the stands yesterday, they had a voice. They certainly voted with their voice when they chanted fire boon at the end of the game. But it all comes down to the Steinbeard family. And what's acceptable? Boons got in contract extensions without winning a world series. Brian's contract is up this year.

20:40But I think the flying the ointment that fans have to realize and Joel Sherman brought it up yesterday on the show. There's a lockout coming. So let's just say that they were of the opinion that they want to change the manager. All right. So you change the manager and I'm not sure that's the answer. In fact, I don't know if it is. I don't think it is. I think better players are the answer. But let's say you decide, well, boon's going to be the sacrificial lamb. And then you do a big search for manager. And by November 15th, you hire the manager. That gives you two weeks for that manager. To talk with all of the players, go visit them like a new manager will do. And then baseball stops on December 1st. And you cannot have any interaction with a player. Any until that lockout is lifted where there's a new CBA. So the next time that a manager might talk to his team, a new manager,

21:46would be maybe in June. Let's hopefully that there is no loss of gains, but it certainly looks like it's trending that way. So when you greet them in Tampa Bay or in Tampa and you have three weeks to get ready for the, for the season, you're going to get to know your play. It's just a recipe for disaster. And I think that's the reason why the Diamondbacks kept Tori level. What are you going to bring somebody in new that doesn't even know the team and doesn't know the players and that doesn't have time to get to know them. So it adds a completely different feel to the entire situation of those demanding change. I think change at this time is going to be very difficult and it's going to be very, very gutsy to do it. And and the fans that want change in everything, they want a new GM, they want a new manager. Okay. And I know it's not fair because it's not your job. Who's going to be the new GM? So you can have a long drawn out process to find out that.

22:46And then the GM is going to have a long drawn out process to get a new manager. So you might not even get the manager to last in December when you can't even talk to the players. There's a lot of complications in this for to expect how Stimer to sit there with all these levers behind his desk and say, okay, this is going to go this is going to go. Well, who's replacing them and what's the timeframe and what's the timeline and how are they going to get to know the players? It's awfully tough this year to make changes. Offly tough. I'm not sure that they're warranted or not. So Anthony just said we get angry because we don't have a voice. Well, I don't just because I have a radio show. Right. Doesn't mean that I have to parrot what the masses think because I don't think like you think. And the funny part is all the other play by play guys and majorly baseball, right? They don't have this forum like I do. You wouldn't expect to play by play guy during a game.

23:47This is how they have to fire the manager or this. That's not the play by play guys job. The only reason that I enter into that is quote unquote the voice of the Yankees because I have this forum on the radio. But that doesn't make me your parrot just because the angry fans desperately want change and they want me to agree with them. I'm sorry. I'm not giving that to you. I give you what I feel and I feel what I said at the beginning of the show. It's unacceptable. They have not won a championship in 17 years and something has to change philosophically. The players you acquire, the things you value, the things you put emphasis on. Obviously they're not working. They're not that has to change. And maybe how brings in Brian and go. It has to change because they've got really smart people working behind the scenes. It's not just Brian. They have so many smart people in that front office. You got to change what you put in port on. You got to change what you accentuate because this is not working. And that's not me being hyperbolic. It's very clear.

24:47You haven't won a championship with $4 billion in payroll expenditure in 17 years. That means it's not working. If I'm a house timer, I don't want to keep throwing good money after bad. Why should I have a $330 million payroll unless I'm going to win a championship? That's why I always fight back with people and say, well, how's cheap? He's not cheap. If he was cheap, he'd tell Brian, you know, I'll bring it down to $250. I think we could still get in the playoffs and lose them the second round. He didn't do that. He's trying to win a championship. He doesn't want to have a payroll at $330, but he does it because he wants to win a championship. And for those that say he doesn't care, you don't know the guy. He does care, but he's also a very steady guy. Doesn't like institutional change and riling up people. He's not that's not him. That was his dad just because you're somebody's son doesn't mean you're the same person. So for those of you that are waiting for a George explosion from how, how's a different person than his father?

25:50And he's happy being the way he is. And he does care about winning. And he does throw his remote control across the room when the Yankees are playing. They're playing poorly for those that say he doesn't care. Again, you're, you're operating out of the ignorance of not knowing. You don't know the guy. You've never met the guy and he keeps such a low profile. You don't even know what he feels, but you have now applied that narrative to him that he doesn't care. All he cares about is making money. By the way, it's not criminal to want to make money on the business that you own. Not criminal. They're all. It's quite understandable. But he could make a lot more money if he told Brian, let's bring that down to 250, baby. That'll be $80 more million in my pocket and we'll still make the playoffs. And he's probably right. But no, he's not content with that. He wants to win a championship. So it's not him being cheap. And he does believe in Brian. And he's known Brian for 40 years since he was a kid. So I don't think I don't think Brian's going anywhere. And honestly, I don't think Boone's going anywhere.

26:51Much to the dismay of everybody that wants it to happen. And you're all allowed to be upset. It isn't good. What's happening? It's not good being swept out of the playoffs in the division round by the Tampa Bay race. It's not good. It's not good that they're celebrating at Yankee Stadium at having champagne celebrations in Yankee Stadium. It's not good. It's not good that one of the the Tampa Bay Ray players is mocking the late John Sterling's call of Yankees win. It's not good. It's not good. That's why I say something that has to change. But I think it's more philosophically of the players that you value and the players that you pursue. It's not working. So the formula has to change. I think how sees that he probably deciding how he wants to go about it. Listening to the Michael Casey on ESPN New York and watching us on the YouTube channel. Presented by the Parisman firm.

27:51I do want to tell you and I told you this in the in the open. The people that have been consuming this show in whichever way you consume it. 880 ESPN ESPN New York app. ESPN New York YouTube channel over the last couple of weeks. You have been turning out in absolutely eye opening record numbers. Incredible. Like we can't even believe the numbers. We keep checking the numbers and say, well, this can't be right. It's right because people have an appetite for this. But we're going to continue to talk Yankees. We're going to talk Metz and Nick's and Jets and the Giants, all of that. Every day here from one to three. So just because the Yankees are done doesn't mean that you should be done tune in. We're always going to have hot takes great, great guests. And we're going to give you a reasoned rational view on what we think is happening in the world. And if you disagree, you're more than welcome to join as a co host with the phone call. The case show right here on ESPN New York.

28:53As you know, managing maintenance repair and operations is never easy. But for the ones who always rise to the challenge, Granger has your back. From professional grade products, you can count on to fast, dependable delivery. They're there to help you keep things running smoothly. Plus, their technical product specialists are here to help answer your toughest questions. And because Granger knows safety is always a priority, they're committed to being your partner and protecting both your people and your facilities. Call 1-800-GRANJURE. Click Granger.com or just stop by. College football is back. So Hilton called to me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality. Need a room to match your lucky number? We got you. Want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky jersey? Oh, that smells lucky. Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition. Even a marching bandwicker call at 555 and 55 seconds. Hit it! When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day, it matters where you stay. Hilton, for this day.

29:54This episode is brought to you by Nordstrom. For 125 years, Nordstrom has been part of your story. The stylist who found the perfect outfit for your big interview. The first pair of walking shoes for your one-year-old. The tomato soup you shared with your sister at the cafe. These are the moments that make Nordstrom. Nordstrom. Bigger small. We're here for all of it. Celebrating 125 years with new moments still add. Discover it all in Nordstrom stores and at Nordstrom.com. Welcome back to the show everybody. Attention, soccer fans. New York City FC is back at City Field. On Saturday, October 17th, New York City FC takes on Los Angeles FC. And across conference clash, you won't want to miss. Kickoff is set for 7.30 pm. New York City FC is giving you the chance to win tickets and experience all of the action live.

30:56Enter now at espnnewyork.com or through the espn New York app. Just click the contest tab and submit your entry. Don't miss your chance to see these two clubs go head to head. As New York City FC defense home turf in Queens, the push for the playoffs is on tickets. Available now at ticketmaster.com slash NYC FC. Michael K with you until three o'clock that time Don, Han and Rosenberg. Take over. Let's go back to the phone calls here on the K show. Let's go to Joey in the Bronx. Joey. Hey, Michael. It's actually Jerry. J.E.R.R. I'm sorry. Jerry, how you doing? That's a pretty good Michael. How are you? Good. Thanks. Well, the reason I'm calling is why do you do these people satisfaction? You have a wonderful show. You are great on the pregame during the playoffs. I enjoy your work. I listen to you every single day. Thank you. More than any of us go radio person that I that I can mention. I mean, I listen to the rules.

31:57But you're outstanding. Don't let these people offer your offense. It's just unbelievable. This stupid is the only word I could use. Now, getting back to the Yankees, Boone and Cashman aren't going anywhere. When you say philosophy and something has to change, you got to be a little bit more specific. I mean, I know you're not calling for them to lose their job. But something needs to be done. Reclamation projects at third base, Grisham 22 million dollars. I mean, I just don't understand the philosophy and what they're doing. I mean, it's hard to understand. You know, I mean, if you could be a little bit more specific, would you jump into change? As I said, I can't be specific because I'm not quite sure what they're doing wrong, but they're doing something wrong. Because when you don't win in 17 years, you're doing something wrong. And I would respectfully disagree. Man, wasn't looked at as a Reclamation project. They thought they were getting a goal, glove type third baseman

32:58who would be able to hit about 20 home runs. It didn't turn out to be that way. And you know, on this show, this very show last off season, I said the Yankees were crazy to offer the qualifying offer to train Grisham. And boy, they were not happy with that. They felt that, you know what? He's a really good player. Boba Blah, look, and he had a really good year the year before. But I don't think he was worth 22 million dollars. If you wanted him back so bad, you should have offered him. Here's two years, 20 million instead, 22 million dollars for that guy. And it turned out to be a sunk cost. He was a terrible player this year. Terrible. I don't know jumping on it because he was over five. But he wasn't good this year. And the regression that he had in the field in 2025. It regressed even more in 2026. He just wasn't good. And I want to jump on an individual. It wasn't all on Trent Grisham. But yeah, I criticized the things that I could see and say,

33:59you know, I'm not going to second guess them if I didn't first guess them. So I'm not second guessing batting Trent Grisham lead off yesterday. Because I thought they had to do something and that was something at least Ben Rice could see pitches because he does work the count. But I could I could stand firm. You can go go check the old podcast. I thought that giving the qualifying offer to Grisham was just a terrible move. And it turned out I was right and something's I'm wrong on. Something's I'm wrong. Let's go to Thomas and how Thomas. Hey, Mike, how you doing? Good. How you doing Thomas? Good. Good. So let's focus on the problem at hand. I mean, your version of team that has a $200 million difference in payroll. It boon and cash when they're not going anywhere, we all know that. And you can't knock them for the things that they have accomplished over the years. As much as they want to, you know, they're think they need to be removed. But it's not going to happen. But the like you said, the Yankees have the best of everything training facilities, clubhouse,

35:00accommodation staff support, so on. I think the problem is they're too heavily rely on analytics the wrong way. So like Tampa relies heavily on analytics. To unlock player potential and performance increase their production. The Yankees use analytics in my view for to acquire high performing players. But then what do they do after that? Look at Gallo, Grisham, McMahon, Chisholm. They acquired them high performing players. They come here. They lose sight that the Yankees don't focus on fundamentals. I think that's one of the key vulnerabilities. They make too many mental errors. I mean, quoting George Simebrinner, he can't put up with mental errors. He can put up with strikeouts, but you can't put up with mental errors, especially in high scenario, high situation scenarios like they were just in. And like you mentioned earlier, undervalued in the market, but outstanding. That's Tampa Bay. Yeah. Their players are undervalued, but they're outstanding. They don't make mental mistakes. And Volpe is a good example of this. I mean, he lost track between last year and this year.

36:02They sent him down to the minor. He came back. I liked what I saw. I think his time down in the minors. He focused on his fundamentals. Maybe he's getting more attention to that down there than he is in the big office. But that's the way I look at it. Well, I mean, you said a lot there and a lot of it makes sense. It's hard to teach players fundamentals on the big league level. There's a game every single day. And you have you have, you know, six weeks of spring training. A major league baseball should should already know as fundamental. So either that should happen in the minor leagues or not. And but I don't think this is exactly what you said. But there's no more analytical team than Tampa Bay. So I don't think the Yankees should move away from analytics. It's just a fancy word for information. But I think that the things that they value in their numbers might not be the right things. That's why I said it at the beginning of the show. There has to be some kind of recalibration because you're not getting the right players. And the thing with analytics where they don't believe in hot. They don't believe in cold. They can't really put a number on guts or heart.

37:07I think that that's frustrating. But you can't say, okay, this guy on the spreadsheet. It's perfect. He's going to fit right in. Yeah, but you know what? He's a little bit crazy. And I don't think he's going to be disciplined out. We'll take care of it all with the talent. You can't teach the talent. We can teach everything else. Sometimes you can't teach the other stuff. Sometimes you can't corral a guy into being what a Yankees should be. More attention to that should be paid. I mean, you guys just chisened because the the models retired of them. They couldn't they couldn't manage him. And I'm not an anti-jazz chiseled guy. I think he's a delightful guy with a world of talent. But I'm not sure if it's a perfect fit here. On a team that should be buttoned up. Everything should go according to the plan. That's that's what you want the player. And even if there's a little less talent. The heart and the guts and the doing it the right way. I think makes up for that. Hey, getting the right mattress helps you sleep at night.

38:08Getting the right price helps to sleep even better. My PC rich and son they don't just sell you mattress. There expertise a four step fitting process to make sure you new bed fits you perfectly. During their 117th birthday sale, save up to $500 on select mattresses. The right fit the right price plus free delivery is what they do. PC, Richard and son free delivery mattress is 399 enough. Excludes Manhattan see stores for. College football is back. So Hilton called to me the superstition concierge to make your fan rituals a reality. Need a room to match your lucky number. We got you want to make sure our team doesn't wash your lucky Jersey. Oh, that smells lucky. Hilton's unmatched hospitality can keep up with any superstition. Even a marching band wake up call it 555 and 55 seconds. Hit it. When you need a team that will do whatever it takes on game day, it matters where you stay. Hilton for the stay. This episode is brought to you by Nordstrom.

39:08For 125 years Nordstrom has been part of your story. The stylist who found the perfect outfit for your big interview. The first pair of walking shoes for your one year old. The tomato soup you shared with your sister at the cafe. These are the moments that make Nordstrom Nordstrom bigger small. We're here for all of it celebrating 125 years with new moments still add. Discover it all in Nordstrom stores and at Nordstrom dot com. This episode is brought to you by Born in Roma fragrances by Valentino beauty. The iconic fragrance duo. Donna born in Roma Ode to Parfum is a feminine fragrance featuring juicy black current central Jasmine Woody cashmur and warm vanilla. It's masculine counterpart. Wombo born in Roma Ode toilette has notes of fresh violet leaf, aromatic sage, green vet of her spicy ginger and mineral salt shop at Macy's dot com. Thanks for listening to the Michael K show podcast.

40:09He's been here a long time. He's going to be here even longer. Catch the show on demand whenever you want. Just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcasts. It's time now for the big blue report. Much of my king's a why and they play the commanders this Sunday. One in land over Maryland. It's been reported by Adam Schefter and others at Jane Daniels will in fact start for Washington. The giant said some injuries yesterday Malik neighbors. Ney was sore. He did not practice Isaiah likely as a knee and a groin issue and cam Scataboo shoulder. Both of them were limited. I get nervous with all the injuries with with neighbors. He's hurting all the time. The knee. He still doesn't trust it. You want him to be the player that he was before that injury, which was otherworldly. So you hope that you know this is just a normal progression coming back from such a serious surgery. But giants and the commanders this Sunday at one from Maryland. That was a big blue report brought by King's a wine King's a wine

41:11best slider and football Jeff pass in our good buddy reporting that Major League baseball has proposed cutting the regular season schedule from 162 games to 154 games in a bargaining session with the MLB PA today also part of its proposal higher seeds and playoffs get to choose their opponents and division series expand to seven games. So it seems like the owners are doing stuff that you know the public on the outside. I like that. I like that. There shouldn't be as many games and they're trying to put the players in a bad light if they don't take it. But all of this is contingent at this point on the players accepting a cap and I just don't think it's going to happen without without an unbelievable fight and a lot a lot of lost time sports today 730 Islanders host the black hawks that will be a UBS arena 8 p.m. ALDS game for between the white socks and the guardians coverage begins at 730 that'll be right here on 880 ESPN coming up at 3 Don

42:11Han and Rosenberg Joe and Rockville Center Joe talk to me. Hello Joe Michael. How are you long time less of a big fan show. Thank you man. What's up Michael when when the Yankees higher to already initially everybody we all want to die mainly when they're having a boom we still want to die mainly right now. Mellies out there you know the police are about they want to Alex Korra the fan base the whole rhetoric of the summer switches if we bring them to the top of the game. The time alley into course the team the city gets behind our Mally we wanted to get the ring if we hire him. Things change I think he's the missing piece let's get Mally the ring. What do you think Michael well I mean you know how I feel about maddenly Joe if you listen to the show but Brian has passed him by twice so I mean Brian's the one doing the hiring I don't think that's happening I don't think that maddenly fits the mold of what they want in a manager and Brian once was quoted saying I'm not going to hire down maddenly and then have to fire him at some point I don't think that's a good philosophy going into something

43:12with a negative. Well why think you're going to have to fire him. They 65 years old maybe manages for five years and I'm not advocating for boon to lose his job but if that did happen I don't think a guy that Brian passed over twice as a guy that they're going to hire I just don't think so. Steve a new fairfield Steve. Michael how are you good Steve what's up. Just two thoughts you know we talk about I'm not only people been through an interaction with the James person by and I don't think they're going anywhere however you talk about a new philosophy when you want a new philosophy do you not bring in someone who has a different philosophy I mean that's like asking down Coriola we want a roomable and I'm not saying I'm not going for their oyster but I mean sometimes it takes a different vision but together the also. Let me start with that and I'll let you finish your other point then the giants do that with Tom column.

44:15They made him change the way he coach made him change the way he interacted with players and it resulted in two subrules they were ready to fire him so if House time or it goes to Brian and goes this has to change what we value in a player has to change yeah a smart guy like Brian and the smart guys working with them they could change their their world view. I think it's a lot bigger than my mind like they wanted to stop the requires something such a hard and whatever I mean I'm talking about a whole your shaking about whole organization style so everything just a whole different philosophy but whatever my second point was you know there's a it's a close it's cliche but I don't think we've accepted just being good I just think we're not special every year and there's a difference and we don't have the cliche and talk about is grinders and it's easy to reference the 90's and he's of course and it's a you know of course I was a special team but there's two particular situations we're definitely will remember

45:16I'm sure you're on the call of a deal you know ten pitch a back and that's the that's why being held that's a winning player and I got like a do you think it's a lot of against royals they're not and how well you're able to lock in and just it's just a difference but I don't know if it's easy to find those players because it's a DNA of a player but I just think that's the act 15 years those type of players are stuff of the big spots. I mean I agree with you Steve I mean those type players you want but I sit back and wonder sometimes maybe you know I made I made a comment I think in 2000 on the radio with John and I said you're going to look back on these days as the good old days and boy was I press it unfortunately because those might have been once in our generation type of days and to get players like Paul O'Neill to get players like L. Duke A to get players like brochures grinders like that Tino it's hard to do and maybe they have taken off that

46:22accentuation of trying to find those players because I think that they believe that talent wins all because who's who's got more natural talent at second base in jazz but it hasn't worked out hasn't worked out so that's why I say there has to be a change in philosophy in terms of what you're pursuing the player that you're looking to get but for them getting Paul O'Neill I mean that might be a once in a lifetime trade that Gene Michael pulled off and it was a gutsy trade because Roberto Kelly was really well regarded the Yankees gave up a lot to get Paul who knew that Paul for nine years would be on a Hall of Fame track. But they made great moves back then and Brian made great moves to everybody say he he doesn't deserve to be part of the you know the three championships in in 98 90 he made the trade for brochures he made the trade for David justice he made those

47:22trades he brought those people in the little accents to go at the core for so he deserves a lot of credit for those teams and he built the entire O-9 team bringing the free agents that he did so he's got to change the players that he looks to and says that's that player I want Matt and Portland Matt Yeah Mike the starters man I love you Duke and look I believe I honestly believe that you know the philosophy you guys are talking about it really comes down to what the we upgrade place our players are amazing and I think that the last couple of callers that you had in I think they kind of hit it on the head and is down to fundamentals but it's not just the fundamentals of defense it's when we hit and I'm going to be honest think about think back to to Boston when Boston used to beat up on us why was it because they made contact when you look at all of our players are plays of great even jazz he's great but the problem

48:25is we over swing we're always swinging and our helmets is flying off our head if we play contact and you you close to everybody like spread the word Ross or he's great but teach them just just to put the bat on the ball when we're swinging we're swinging under the ball over the ball the pitch and it's different from back in the days back in the days there wasn't so much movement the pitch is getting through it's hard now to throw a lot harder so if you're just swinging and you got nothing else but a thought like you know a guest pitch okay he's going to throw this and you miss it you look like drink with some swing and at that last pitch you know at the end of the game yesterday why don't we just see this is what the race did this is what the roadside was to do they see the pitch as it comes and then they swing they're a contact it is that's what when I say there has to be change in philosophy maybe it's that but they still believe in home runs

49:25and you know I remember something that C.C. sabatheus said sometime this year he said it'd be so easy to pitch now because nobody has a two strike approach one guy in the team really has a two strike approach and that's the other guys at two strikes is still swinging for home runs I don't know I don't know what the end that's why I put myself at your mercy I don't know what the answer is but I know what the question is how do you keep doing the same thing if you haven't won a championship in 17 years in the words ability Joe life is a series of allosing goodbyes I'm afraid it's time for goodbye again see everybody talk to you more one. Thanks for listening to the Michael K show podcast you know what check yourself you're more from Michael K weekdays at one on the ESPN New York app and your smart speakers. This episode is brought to you by born in Roma fragrances by Valentino beauty the iconic fragrance duo Donna born in Roma Ode to Parfume is a feminine fragrance featuring juicy black current central Jasmine Woody

50:27cashmurren and warm vanilla its masculine counterpart. Womow born in Roma Ode toilette has notes of fresh violet leaf, aromatic sage green vetiver spicy ginger and mineral salt shop at Macy's calm.