Hour 2: Aaron Boone

This is the Michael K show podcast I got to get more K listen live week days at one on the ESPN New York app and your smart speaker back to the show tonight Aaron Boone has the Tampa to begin spring training with the Yankees this ninth season as manager the Yankees as they look to snare their 28th world championship and he is nice enough to join us now I'm sure he's all packed and ready to go to the airport Aaron how you doing man I'm Michael how are you I'm doing great how do you feel about this team nice easy questions start off I feel really good were excited you know obviously we've got a lot of people that you know I felt so very good about at the end of the last season you know so I've kind of said out loud out a lot that you know it was one of my most difficult seasons to get over the end was tough because I do feel like we were kind of peaking at the right time we were healthy at the right time I felt like we had a team that could go get it done and to get bounced Blue Jays who were kind of our kryptonite last year was was difficult but I feel good that we have a chance to get back to there and hopefully flip the script on it but that being said too it's it's February 2nd and when we got a lot of work to do just to get back to that point and to put ourselves in a position to take our shot again hopefully hopefully an October baseball and I remember you said this public but you also said it privately so you weren't whitewashing it you really felt great about that team moving into the postseason it was a tough season you lost against the Red Sox and then you lost against the Blue Jays so what do you think went wrong Aaron in that postseason look I think it was a case of a series playing a really good team that caught us you know we had a hard time you know we gave up a ton of runs in that series you know they kind of just had our number and beat us I mean simple as that you know but but you know I felt like the moves that we made you know at the at the all or at the trading deadline really kind of finished off our roster in a really strong way because I think for the first half of the season while we're good you know I felt like we needed to do some things that kind of finished off and complemented our roster and I felt like I felt like we were able to do that and and just felt like we're in a really good place there at the end of the season and for it to not happen you know is is one of those things that makes it difficult to get over now one of the big differences for the 2020-16 from last year is that you're going to have one of the great right-handed pitchers of this era Garrett Cole back and you know we're looking maybe at June 1st I'm not sure is there any trepidation on your part Aaron are you getting back vintage Cole do you have any idea can you even establish that or you just cross your fingers because he's coming up in a serious surgery sure I mean tough to say I mean the the one thing we're you know we've seen over the last you know decades is you know most guys do do pretty well and coming back from Tommy John I will say that you know Garrett's rehab has gone well it's gone according to plan he said all his benchmarks and then some so we're very optimistic and then you couple that with you know Garrett's greatness and and really he's known nothing other than being you know an ace in the league so you know there may be some some bumps as he's coming back and getting built up and you know getting back to full strength and that may happen over time we'll see you know it's it's impossible to predict that all I know is you know the rehab process itself has has gone pretty well for Garrett we Jack Curry and I had on Matt Blake your pitching coach on the hot stuff show on yes and you know he admitted that there are some guys with heavy innings workloads last year yeah are you going to handle those guys differently is there is there some trepidation that while I hope that that doesn't manifest itself this year guys like free guys like Slitler guys like Warren they pitched innings they never pitched before yeah hopefully hopefully that's something that is a good thing in that it's it's given them a benchmark of having as the guy coming back from injury it's zero winning sort 30 innings in a prior year right and then all of a sudden you're asking them to go pitch 150 180 those are the ones that you get a little concerned about sometimes look it's not an exact science obviously so you know I do feel like we've you know the the front office has done a really good job of creating some depth and hopefully over time you know hopefully like you know Carlos Rudon being down the first you know few weeks of the season hopefully is something that serves him well in the long haul that does limit that innings a little bit and and I think with with some of the depth that we've built up hopefully not only create some competition but but also you know put us in a position to with handle you know whatever's going to come come as as a season unfolds from a pitching standpoint one of the great bright spots for you Aaron last year was Cam Slitler when he came up I mean he was dominant he was dominant in that game that ultra high pressurized game against the Red Sox how do you think his stuff plays out over hopefully 32 starts yeah I'm excited and hopefully it is 32 starts look I think you know obviously that game gets a lot of attention understandably so but but you know you look at his body of work even you know kind of dominated in AA and AAA last year before getting the call and came up to the big leagues and I don't know how many was it eight eight nine ten seven eight nine ten start something like that down the stretch force and he pitched really well and in in those outings as well so he was really really consistent with his body of work last year you know tapping it off with with you know kind of a historic performance against the Red Sox there in the in the playoffs and you know we're excited of of what he can be moving forward we we love his makeup we love his competitiveness and he's one of those you know many guys that have had a good winter he's down in Tampa has been now for for about a month and you know that's one of the good things that's really happened over the last few years is the number of our guys that are into in Tampa going into Himes you know for weeks and even in some cases months ahead of time on a daily basis you know I think I think Aaron being down there Aaron Judges being down there has has kind of fostered a really good culture and environment where guys love to come in and it allows our you know coaches player development guys that are in and around it to have their hands on guys and and make sure guys are you know especially from a pitching standpoint you know hitting their their marks in the offseason there was a picture today I don't know if you saw it Aaron of maybe twelve or fourteen of your guys led by Aaron Judge at the the NHL stadium series game at Raymond James what does that mean to you in terms of that team being so together and and judge being such an important part I'm not saying I'm not saying that a manager you know designs that but it must be really good for you to have a guy that's almost like the same mind as you that that the team is around well it's something that is really really important to Aaron and I that we have the the strongest possible group in in room that we can possibly have you know it's and it's not a given every year you know and I try try to make sure I address that early on is you can't take for granted that we're getting we're gonna be a tight knit together strong group you got to work at that you got to invest in that just like you do in your in your game and that starts in spring training and Aaron is just so amazing at pulling guys together there's a humility to him there's obviously a reverence that guys have for him and he takes a lot of pride in making sure that everyone feels a part of it everyone feels like they can be themselves and you know it's a credit to to who he is as a person and the kind of leader and and and just what it means to him and and I have not seen that picture you're talking about now that you've said it I can't wait to go go look for it and check it out but it fires me up and and a ton of our guys are down there and and a lot of it has to do with with Aaron being there let's talk about your bullpen you mentioned I thought Brian had an excellent trade deadline last year and he changed the bullpen on the fly so there's no Devon Williams is no Luke Weaver but Bednar goes out the season very well do you feel that this bullpen could be a strength for this team I think it could be I think there's I think there are questions we were excited about how Camilo devolved finished the season with us I thought he was strong the ball really well towards the end of the year and into the playoffs and he's another one of those guys that's had a really good winner obviously what Fernando Cruz was for his last year Timmy Hill and what he continues to be and then we're really excited about like the Brent Hendrix of the world the Gary Dela Santos is that we know are going to play a good role the Blackburn Yarbrough and what they can bring in in different kind of roles down there and then hopefully with with some of the depth that we've we've acquired or have in the mix that you know eventually you're in a position to where maybe someone that's pitching well out of the rotation has to kind of collapse in the pen and gives you another weapon in that regard and then we have we we feel like we have you know three or four you know prospects that are really at the higher levels that are knocking on the door that have a chance to not only impact us potentially from a rotation standpoint but maybe in their first crack at it maybe maybe in a relief situation at some point of the year so I like our depth you're always that that that you know is always going to be tested and and found out about so hopefully we have a couple of guys that verge into some real leverage spots for us in the bullpen so I think there's some unknowns down there but but we're excited about too any concern Aaron that your team is too left handed now I will say this of your left handed batters they were fourth last year an OPS plus against left handed pitching fourth and all a baseball yeah so they can handle left handed pitching but you like to I know you you like to balance your lineup are they good left handed you know I always I always want another righty which which you know a few years ago we were saying it the other way you know we're too right handed and we needed some lefty so you know obviously bringing Rosario back early in the offseason you know was a little bit under the radar but I know for me personally was something that was very important for me I just feel like he he fits our roster and and balances us so well and and hopefully you know plays up just because he's going to be in some situations where he's we're netting him some really good left handed matchups throughout the year you know I still think there's a possibility that we bring somebody in that kind of from a utility standpoint that adds to the mix whether that's in the infield outfield you know having Caballero now for a full year so I do feel like we have some really good right handed options that are either you know starters or or you know part-timers that that have a chance to play really significant roles you know especially because we are very left handed obviously I'm not going to belabor this interview by saying how important it was to bring back Belinger but by bringing back Belinger and then with Grisham accepting the qualifying offer your outfield is set so Aaron does that turn Jason Dominguez into a scrant wixberry player oh I don't know I mean I would say the same way I started it's February 2nd like you know I think Jason you know for all the talk last year you know gained a lot of really good experience last year yet 430 played appearances he did a lot of things really well he continues to improve defensively I think he's gonna be a really good player in this league and you know a lot can happen between now and opening day so you never know how it all shakes out but I still have very high hopes for Jason coming off of what was a productive 22-year-old season for him really getting this first crack at that full-time you know in the big leagues and Jason by the way is part of that picture as well at the hockey game last night I want to know because you're so good at communicating with your players that's awesome have you in fact called up Jason and laid out what could happen with him or is that gonna be a conversation have once you get down there I have not I have not spoken to him since you know since we brought back Bally or whatever so you know we'll get down there and and you know competitions always a good thing and you know hopefully having a lot of really good players and options brings out the best and a lot of different people and and then you let the chips fall where they may looks like Ben Rice is your first baseman he had such a good year last year and his the underlying numbers are actually better than the numbers that we saw which were excellent as well is he your every day first baseman or would you feel more comfortable if you had a righty that could play first base every now and then no I expect him I've been need to be the everyday first baseman we think he's we think he's gonna be you know a premier slugger in the middle line up in this league I think he started to show that last year we think he has the ability to handle left-handed pitching you know that doesn't mean he won't get a day off here and there against a lefty depending on what exactly your roster looks like we'll keep them catching in the mix to some degree but right now I see him as you know that third catcher the where he just kind of protects you late in the game if you if you make a you know make a move that you know he kind of has the ability to cover but we haven't focusing a lot on first base right now with the idea that you know he's gonna be that guy in the middle of the order that we we were counting on big things from Ben Rice it's so weird the way baseball happens Aaron you've lived that your whole life but when when Austin Wells came up he was a supposed to be a great offensive player struggled defensive he's been a revelation defensively but he really struggled offensive we although if you look at his numbers it's not as bad as we think can he be better offensively is this the level that he's found yeah I expect him to be better because you know look I think if you saw your catcher and he's hit 20 homers a year and and like you said providing the defense that he has I think he kind of signed up for that that being said I I'm still expecting a lot more at Austin and I've talked to him about this like I've you know I said I look you're what you've shown you've had some success offensively at the big league level but you know you know hopefully finding that next level of consistency where he can be that real offensive threat that that I think he's capable of being and hopefully you know he starts to realize that potential this year. Um Ryan McMahon was startling how good he was defensively but he did struggle offensively Aaron is there more there offensively with your third basement? I think there is a great athlete real power real ability control his own you know we've got to cut down on some of this wing and miss he's made some adjustments this offseason you know with kind of narrowing his stance and approach a little bit that hopefully unlock him a little bit he's another guy that I feel like was in a pretty good place at the very end of the year and you look at his bats and the playoffs I thought they're really good and really competitive even against some tough lefties so I'm hoping more there's more in there because I think the talent is very real but you know he's also you know struggled to find that next level of kind of all-star level consistency and hopefully we can unlock some of that. Let's talk Volpy you've always been on his side and you know if you look at his season it's kind of odd like before he heard his shoulder it looked like the the hitter everybody expected him to be when he was coming out of the minors then he heard his shoulder and we don't know how much the shoulder affected what he did is there more there is there more there offensively Aaron. Oh you know similar to Austin like I mean these are two guys that we feel like have a chance to be really good offensive players in this league so that hasn't happened to this point you know there's been a lot of success there's been a lot of valleys too you know so you know getting to a certain level you know as a big league players about you know shrinking up some of those valleys and and we got to hopefully get there I absolutely think it's in there but you know time will tell we got to go we got to go prove it and and and hopefully this is the year that that it does pop for him to where he finds that next level of of offensive consistency that he's flashed but hasn't but hasn't held throughout the year. Are you worried or maybe even looking forward to having make a decision if Cobb I errors you're starting shortstop in April as Anthony comes back from surgery and at the end of April Cobb I errors hitting 345 giving the job back to Volpe. We talked last night he said 350 so I dropped it because 350 sounds like 315 I wanted to make sure I articulated it well. Okay look if you know sign me up for that problem you know sign me up for for that level of production and you know one of the reasons we brought Cobb aero and was because of you know what we feel of him defensively obviously what he brings on the base pass he's got that ability to play short like legit so you know if he kicks in the door and you know creates a level of competition then so be it. I was reading a story in the athletic today about you know the new strike zone challenge system that they're you know with this system it takes away the high fastball that that pitch has been called the strike it will not be called the strike anymore. Do you have any trepidation about this do you think that this takes away the value that you have with your catchers being so good at framing? A little bit but that's still going to come into play because you're still talking about just a couple of challenges a game if you if you hold on to them so I still think the skill is very important and and as as you know some people in our front office have studied it over the last couple years like from from the triple h standpoint and how it's been implemented and what's the behavior and you know what's the value of the catcher and things like that that value is still very much there so it's just going to be obviously a little bit different. Now you mentioned earlier in the interview we're talking about Aaron Boone the Yankee Manager here on the show that you know you admitted that the Blue Jays were your kryptonite last year. How do you correct that? I mean they're a different team they don't have Boba Shet they added some things. You can't just build the team and a process to beat one team but obviously they could be in your way so is that something that you've addressed? You know hopefully you know hopefully we're better at preparing for them hopefully we're better at playing hopefully it times up better you know like you know frankly they're the two series we played there within a month of each other you know it was a rough time for us as a club where we were kind of not whole struggling to find our way and we we got you know beat up by them I think we handled them at home in the two series we had or at least one the two series and then obviously got beat up so it looked it's a new year we're confident we're gonna have a really good club and we also know that the East is always tough and it seems like the Toronto's in Boston and Baltimore should be I think in a really bounce back in a big way and Tampa's always always really good too so I think the division is really challenging and really tough and we're gonna have to be our best to win this thing but I also I'll take our chances with our guys so I don't know how much you let outside outside noise get into your brain what you hear it I mean you're a human being you hear it you have you have a phone and you have a computer and you have an X whatever and it doesn't seem like you fancy all that thrilled about this team I mean what do you say to fans that say well they're just running it back well how is that good enough they haven't won a championship in so long what do you say yeah well I think we're we're better because the the people that we added that weren't with our team the whole whole year last year are key parts of this club that I think make us a lot better but it's no guarantees like this is a proven proven game proven sport and the reality is we got to go out there and you know and look at the end of the year you whether you win 95 games 100 games you're always gonna pick parts of the schedule out that didn't go your way or you didn't play your best against you know it seems like every year it's different you know last year obviously there's a blue jays other years you know I hear the we play down to our competent we didn't beat those bad teams enough or you didn't beat the good team you win 100 games I know what happens is you lose a lot of games too so I think we have a club capable of competing for for for the American League East a very tough American League East but again it's February 2nd and we have a long a long way to go to prove that we're that caliber team and this is a new year and we have to go prove that all over again now you have a great life and you have a great family and all that and as your ninth year as a Yankee manager but how much does it not you that you have not yet been the last team standing in your time as Yankee manager that's that's really the one and only huge thing that does not me when it comes to this so it does working like heck to to fix that and to change that but but I understand it's attached to me do you marvel at what the Dodgers continue to do like just keep adding on and almost like that you know they're like just rubbing it in people's face I mean you win a championship when you bring in Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz yeah I know that's far away for you if you meet them in the World Series you you have to feel good about things but I mean do you look from a foreign go wow yeah I mean it is remarkable you know I also Marlotte you know how how well they've built their organization and from in every facet you know they've done a really good job from player development to drafting to international to you know the structure they have to obviously the financial might that they have so you know you got tipper cap to what they've been able to do and obviously winning back-to-back championships is I don't care what you spend is no easy task so you know hopefully we're in a position to be one of those last two and if it's them hopefully hopefully we have that chance to knock them off all right final thing as you head down the Tampa this is a long road I mean this this is the most arduous regular season of any sport and your intention all the time is to be the last team standing but there's the long road that you look at as you head down the Tampa does it just where you out and go oh here we go or do you know no yeah look for it's all it's all I know it's even since I was like little little kid and doing it with my dad as like as a kid like he go down the spring training and it's time to start lay in the foundation and and build and hopefully what turns into an amazing home and by the end but it's you know it's who we are and certainly who I am and I can't wait to get going on it good luck have a safe trip down there I will see you down there sometime in March and I appreciate you giving us some time so you could talk to Yankee fans a bit thanks Michael see about it you got it that's Aaron Boone Yankee manager nice enough of him to give us some time so you heard what he had to say how he feels about his team thoughts hopes dreams 1 800 911 3 7 7 6 that's the number so he feels good about things and of course he's going to say that but I truly believe that he does I do believe that he he feels good you know I don't think he's a guy that's shining away from they are running back last year's team he loved last year's team he did and and you heard at the beginning interview he felt okay we stumbled against the blue jays and the blue jays are different they might be just as good but they certainly are different they have to they have to solve the blue jays in some way because the blue jays are in their way the red socks will improve their pitching there in their way Baltimore has gotten much better also in their way and as he also said you can't discount the Tampa Bay rays who are very sneaky with the way they do business and I don't mean sneaky in the various way they're just so good at playing the margin so the east is going to be a beast and then you see what comes out of the west in the central 1 800 911 3 7 7 6 let's talk about it the K show right here on ESPN New York thanks for listening to the Michael K show podcast he'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 welcome back to the show everybody thank you so much on social media for all of the birthday wishes jody little get together for me yesterday and I um I was so pleased that Dave Rothenberg and his lovely wife showed up that was very very sweet of them also kind of illuminating that not one other person on the air at ESPN showed up not one they all had to excuse is whatever the case may be now you know one of the big bosses showed up that was kind of nice Steve Policina was great to see him but the only guy on air that showed up was Dave I guess the guy I love Rick didn't want to go and Don didn't want to go and Peter and Alan yeah Bart Bart actually asked to beat yes didn't show up Chris Carlton didn't go so at least you know it's good to know on your birthday you know you find out the real deal so that was the real deal so Dave Rothenberg so Amy worked the room beautifully was it was terrific really was he was just a gentleman and a scholar and his wife was great Sherry good to see them but yeah illuminating the other people not one not one not one one eight hundred nine one nine three seven seven six let's go to the phones everybody let's go to Jeff and Florida Jeff Michael happy baby back day belated it's my birthday today oh thank you my friend I appreciate it I've been listening to the years I love that you're the worst the Yankees and you're so insightful and you know I wish I didn't have to be critical of the Yankees I wish I could call and say I'm so enthusiastic I love the changes they've made etc etc but you know it really is running it back now Aaron has to say that as you mentioned he has to say what he says I have no criticism of him he can only manage the personality's given but the thought that this sticking with Volpy the Mingus is not other word he was for Mars but he's not the only pitching is not good why do you say the relief pitching is not good David bad nor is excellent I don't know I don't trust him the way I trusted waky really isn't that you trust David you trust in Devin Williams actually okay I've improved that's not a better Williams that's not I'm saying right yeah I'm thrilled that the mess wanted Devin Williams and he's over there and he's not in the box but it's it's funny though Jeff you keep saying you're upset that they ran it back they won 94 games last year only the Bruges won that many the same they won more games than even the American League so they run it back and the team that they're starting the season with is much different and much better than the team they started last season with the same that they ended it with and you say you don't understand Volpy well he's a homegrown player and you know Kyle Tucker got 60 million dollars a year from the Dodgers and I'm not saying that Anthony Volpy scratches the surface of what Kyle Tucker is take a look at their home runs in RBI's from last year remarkably similar they're not gonna give up on a guy that quickly all they want from him is to be the goal glove first baseman he was in the first year and anything that they could get out of him better offensively than what he's given them they'd be happy and if it doesn't work out this year then maybe George Lombard's next maybe DAX kill be his next whatever the case may be but you don't understand why they bring them back he's a homegrown player does make a lot of money and and all the fans that are upset they're running it back once again beating this into the ground they scored the most runs in the majors last year they did they had the most home runs in the majors what's so bad about running it back and you say Jason Dominguez isn't out of his world he's not playing there's no spot for him on the steam by bringing back Grisham and by bringing back Belinger he's he's a non-person they're not gonna not gonna keep him on the bench he doesn't hit well right-handed if he was a good right-handed hitter then I could see him being on the bench so he's either trade bait or he's gonna start the season of AAA he still has options same thing with Spencer Jones I don't what did you want what did you want I want Boba Shit what why Boba Shit I like him he's right-handed you know he doesn't strike out that much but where would you put him on this team there's no guarantee he could play third base well for the meds you know nowhere near the defender that McMahon is you're not gonna put him at second base they like they like jazz chism and he can't play short he's not a good shortstop so all the people that you want it they've got good pitching they weren't gonna sign for Amber Valdez nobody has signed him yet and they did make a pitch for Freddie Peralta to lengthen their rotation but they think they're okay I don't you know me you started up by saying well I I hate to be negative but you but you are do the ink when you look at the American League just look at the American League don't look at the National League because right now the National League has the top of the National League's better than the top of the American League when you look at the American League who was so much better than the Yankees that you just don't think that they could get through it who what team what team Seattle Cleveland Houston is Toronto insurmountable the Red Sox the Red Sox look at the Red Sox infield and tell me you feel good about that I know in Red Sox fans don't feel good about it I'm just not quite sure what you're aggravated about but the the thing that you have to navigate is to get out of the American League tell me they can't get out of the American League tell me they can Henry and South Carolina Henry Michael I feel bad I've been trying to remember the phrase that you say for birthday wishes that I don't want a budget can you tell me what it is may you live as long as you want but never after want as long as you live there is I couldn't get it right while I wish you that today my friend thank you for taking my call well thank you so much and to bounce off of what you're saying I'm on I'm on this page right now 98 99 in 2000 2001 are my favorite teams of any sports team so continuity is embodied okay it's totally it works for me and we go back and forth on this the free agent class did not present anybody that would really make any sense for the way the team works right now and by the way this is not the same that we started with last year at all much you don't have to figure out a way to make DJ limit you work we don't have to start work as strong and for four months and hope that that's okay and you don't have to have a third or Pablo Ray is or any of these people hopefully work while we figure out the rest of the pieces I think we're starting at a better place the Dodgers have proven that if you have starting pitching depth that can come back midway through the season if they're ready for the postseason and I can carry you forward that's exactly what they did last year and that's what I'm hoping happens this year and by the way one last thing I appreciate what you said about your Steve Tish piece at the beginning of the show you know the caller said it took some bravery to say what you said but it's sad that it took bravery that's all I'm gonna say thank you thank you Henry and I'll tell you why I don't even accept compliments on that I don't think it took bravery at all I'm sitting on the radio I have a forum and I'm saying you know what's disgusting that people associated with Jeffrey Epstein and the things that he did and was actually you know plug guilty to I don't think I'm going out on a limb it's disgusting that anybody would have anything to do with them after he did what he did now before you could say well you know what they maybe people didn't know I think most people knew and they associated with them disgusting children trafficking children for your friends and for yourself and your wrong that's not bravery on my part that's just spitting truth and everybody and anybody out there that thinks that that is in fact controversial what I said don't listen to me anymore I don't want you to listen to me anymore if what Jeffrey Epstein did is defensible in your mind and turn the radio off this is not the place for you so no I do not accept congratulations on saying something that to me is so so blatant and so out there for any normal self-standing human being no you shouldn't be having relationships with 11 12 and 13 year olds and you should be associating with somebody that was indicted for it it's not hard I don't feel like I'm going out on a limb I think that most of my listeners would agree it's an absolute disgrace the names that you see that associated with them on a daily basis and dealt with them for favors they should all be ashamed themselves and if there is something beyond this life they're gonna very I'm gonna have a very hot time if there's something beyond this but they obviously don't think there is because you can't slip that under God's nose I think God's gonna see exactly what you did so if there is an afterlife you're gonna burn in eternity and you should but just this a guard against that if you don't believe that there's something after this then they should all pay a big price in this life just saying they should all pay a very big price in this life and it's not I don't think of myself as brave for saying it last call for football fandall was giving you a daily profit boost every single day leading up to the big game today's 30% profit boost is on passing yards over under and alternate passing yards drake May versus the Seahawks defense how many yards do you think he's gonna throw for you think Sam Donald will continue to impress well all you have to do is opt in each day and place an eligible bet to use that day's profit boost so whether you're locking in early lines riding your favorite props or taking one last swing before the final whistle fandall is giving everyone something extra to cheer for during football's final week play your game with fandall will be official sportsbook partner of Super Bowl 60 21 plus and physically present in New York often required bonus issue this normal drawable profit boost tokens restrictions apply including any token expiration and max wage amount see terms at sportsbook dot fandall dot com front with a gambling prom call 1877 eight open wire text open why 467 369 thanks for listening to the Michael K show podcast he's been here a long time he's gonna be here even longer catch the show on demand whenever you want just subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast so night rider 169 actually put the stat head baseball page on my ex account between Anthony Volpian Cal Tucker now Cal Tucker is a much better player than Anthony he is so his war last year is 4.6 Anthony's 1.6 Cal played 136 games Anthony paid 153 um Cal Tucker 22 home runs Anthony 19 Cal Tucker 73 RBI's Anthony 72 the batting average is obviously much in favor of Tucker 266 to 12 on base percent is 377 to 272 so Anthony had a really bad year nobody's trying to put lipstick on a pig but when you look at home runs an RBI is pretty close that's what so startling 22 to 1973 to 72 would you ever thought that I didn't tell somebody brought it to my attention um Anthony and Hilton head Anthony happy birthday to you thank you very much happy birthday to you please not the whole song please really oh come on that was great that was into that you were very good though but thank you all right well Mike I love you I just want to wish you a happy birthday of the story I want to share with you about the day I fell in love with you on the radio okay tell me it was it was the day that yogi bearer died and you told the story about he used to play cards with Phil Rosito and it got me it got me hard you couldn't keep it together on the radio and I couldn't keep it together in the car and it was in that moment where I knew you were my guy thank you for all you do and happy birthday thank you Anthony it's funny you brought that up because I've told that story a couple of times and I'm gonna tell it right now every time I tell it I can't keep it together I just can't I can't keep it together it's such a beautiful example of friendship and that's what Anthony's talking about like yogi would come Phil was at the end living in an assisted facility assisted living facility and yogi would come every day and play cards with him every day and would hold his hand as he fell asleep that's that's friendship that that's that's absolutely true love let's go to Joe on the Bronx Joe. Hey how's it going Michael just want to wish you happy birthday. Thank you man. Alright two quick things one I think it'll be a great great thing to bring back ultimate if you could accept a smaller role you know pinch hitting against lefties and defensive replacement at first and then second something about jazz obviously you know and I know that home runs King but the things I would do for jazz to cut down his home runs by let's say ten and just focus on getting on base maybe up is on base percentage by like 30 points who'd be such a better player you'd be literally the perfect lead off hitter because he's he's amazing on the base pass. Yeah it's funny you bring that up Joe because the Yankees think they have the perfect lead off hitter in Grisham I mean he has a 350 on base percentage and he had 34 home runs I mean wiki Henderson is not alive anymore so that type of lead off hitter doesn't exist they don't want you as to lose 10 home runs they want him to probably get 40 rather than 30 yeah you'd like him to make more contact you'd like him to be a little bit more disciplined at times but they don't want to change him to the point that he would drop 10 home runs to be a 20 home run guy you know how rare it is to have a 30 30 guy second base he's also a really good defender who'll have occasional lapses and judgment but he's got a good glove at second base he was a little little shaky a third but still had a plus or out above average and his defensive rating was pretty decent but you could see he struggled he doesn't struggle that much at second base so yeah would you like his on base percentage higher but not not at the expense of 10 home runs there's just no way you just don't want that Yankees met fans I don't know how you're going to deal with it I don't know how you're going to deal with it in terms of the angst you look at the Yankees have Aaron judge playing in the WBC every bat every throw from the outfield you're gonna hold your breath and the met's announced today that one sodo is going to play for the Dominican Republic in the world baseball classic every at bat every throw every run to first base you're going to hold your breath both New York teams because of their stars playing in an exhibition series their seasons on the line if either one of those guys get hurt playing in a game not for the team your seasons over I keep reading like well the Yankees aren't good without judge no kidding and the met's wouldn't be good without sodo no kidding when you lose your best player you're not going to be as good and the Yankees have to hold their breath and the met's have to hold their breath for probably two weeks until they get those guys safely back in Tampa and Port St. Lucie I love the WBC I just don't love the risk just don't love the risk it's too much of a risk for my best players to be playing essentially exhibition games well done howton Rosenberg coming up in just a moment lot for them to discuss we'll be back again tomorrow at one so join us at that time thank you for all the birthday wishes in the words of Billy Joel life is a series of allos and goodbyes I'm afraid it's time for goodbye and see you buddy 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