¶ Podcast Introduction & Guest Introductions
Welcome everybody to another episode of the Ride Home Rants podcast . This is , as always , your host , mike Bono . I have a great episode for us today . We're going to be talking about all things the MLB and baseball , with the start of the season quickly around the corner here in spring training in full swing right now . I have a panel of guests here .
I'm going to let them introduce themselves for you Now . Guys , I do need your name and the answer to these two questions . And is it ? Do you like tomatoes , and what time do you get up normally during the weekend ? Tony , we're going to start with you sports leader for Keon Sports .
I do like tomatoes In the morning . I get up whenever my alarm wakes me up , which is 7.30 . On Fridays and Mondays , 8.15 .
Okay , we'll mix it up throughout the week . Not bad , drew . What about you ?
What's up ? Guys uh drew here . Um , do I like tomatoes by themselves ? No , but I do like ketchup . I like and I like sauce . So I don't know if that makes me like tomatoes or not , but if you just give me a tomato , I'm probably not gonna eat it . And what time do I get up ?
During the week I I got to be at school by 8 , but I get there a little bit early , so I'm up about 6.30 .
Okay , Decent time All right . Last but not least , TJ . What about you , hey ?
guys TJ Lett , third grade teacher , but my one-year-old . The only time I get to work out is in the morning , so sometimes it's a 5 am workout , sometimes it's a 6 am workout , but I'm almost exclusively out of bed at 4.30 am , so that's 7.30 . Hurts the soul . But tomatoes aren't the enemy , you know . They're okay on sandwiches . I won't take them off .
They're good when you mix them with other things . I'm not gonna just go and just bite into a tomato like an apple , but I don't mind them yeah I think I'm .
I'm with y'all on that one . I'm not gonna . I'm not biting into one , but I'm italian , I love sauce , so that's in there . I can't and I put them on burgers and whatnot . So , yeah , they're all right . I can't . Can't complain about them too much . Being a paisan , if I complain about tomatoes they might kick me out the club for the sauce and everything .
Watch your back now , yeah .
I know they're coming for me . I got to start saying a couple Hail Marys and we'll be all right here . We'll get through it . But all right , we're going to talk all things MLB and we're just going to jump right into it . Tony , who's your favorite to win the World Series this year ?
I got to say I know everybody's going to say because of the moves they've made . Everyone's going to say the Dodgers . And I'm tempted to agree . But as we've seen with baseball the past few years , yeah , even though the Dodgers didn't win at all last year , money can't always buy you a world series .
So I know that it's probably going to be sacrilege saying this as a guardians fan , I'm gonna go with the seattle mariners to not only make their first world series but win it . Go with the mariners it's a bold statement .
Cotton , let's see how it pays out for him there . That that's a . That's a bold stance , but drew , what about you ?
yeah , like tony said , in baseball , you know , these top heavy teams have so much money , it's hard to compete . You see what the Mets did this offseason . The Yankees are always rolling , the Dodgers are at the top . I'm a Guardians fan as well and I think I don't think I know they're knocking on the doorstep .
They play really well together , do I think they'll win it ? Probably not , so I'll go with my second favorite team , the New York Mets .
Mets huh .
Meet the Mets .
TJ , can you save us here , our resident baseball expert here on the the Dodgers will be in the World Series , but if it's good for baseball , they won't run multiples in a row but they'll win five of the next ten . I'm a really big fan of Baltimore .
I think that they had a shot last year and those three-game series are so mentally draining those three-game series , because they're over before you know it and you know they got knocked out in that third game . So I think that uh , baltimore will break their way through . They got a lot of young guys there .
I know they lost um corbin burns , but they're bringing , they'll have enough behind it to make it through this year . So I think Baltimore will surprise people with just the depth and making it through the playoffs , even though they don't have , or they've had , a couple of years of experience with those guys . So those young guys are going to step up .
Yeah , I lean Dodgers , mainly just because of the moves they've made . I don't think they'll go back to back . They're definitely going to be in it . But yeah , I'd have to give Baltimore the edge in that one too as well . Everything in me wants the Pirates to just be relevant for once . As a Pirates fan . Paul Skeens can't do it by himself .
The man throws junk in heat and just is phenomenal . So he'll probably be a dodger in a couple years here , knowing how the pirates work , um . But I just , like you know , make the playoffs . That's kind of where I'm at right now . Let's let's get a wild card or something and just be relevant again .
But yeah , I'd have to either say it's either gonna , it's probably gonna be la in baltimore uh , this year would be my pick and get baltimore the edge and tony , let's stay with you . But what is the ceiling for the guardians this year ?
honestly , just like it was last year , pitching in good vibes pitching in good vibes all right , they surprised me last year . I remember saying at this point last season they'd probably be lucky to win 74 , 75 games . They surprised me in 190 . So you know , as long as the pitching can hold up like they did last year .
And it helped that the offense actually produced as well , because in order to go far like they did , you need a good offense as well as pitch yeah , I could see that drew .
What about you ? Like what was the question ? Again , you kind of broke up on my end when you're answering your ask .
Oh , no , worries . Uh , what's the ceiling for the guardians this year ?
uh , well , the ceiling
¶ World Series Predictions
is , if you're going based off last year , is ALCS pushing the doorstep for the world series ? Um , you know you , you look look at the team that they have there . There was there's not a lot of magic in Cleveland . There's a . There's a hell hole at by the lake with the Browns , but I don't know what it is .
You go a mile down the road and it's like there's some magic in Cleveland . They really do a good job of winning games when they really shouldn't be winning games . If you recall that last year ALCS , when they beat the Yankees I know the only beat them one time , but at one time they did beat them Holy crap , it was like you never would even imagine .
They did it not once , but twice . You know those home runs like that . So there's something . There's something there that they're a special . Now I know that that kind of runs out and money talks and talent talks , so that's something . They don't have to compete with the Yankees and daughters and Mets .
But if you're a , if you're a guardians player , if you're on the guardian staff , you're looking at each other saying why can't we do what we did last year ?
yet again , yeah , I don't think they lost much .
Yeah , they really did . They lost that second baseman , but they got some guys back .
Yeah , I think they filled in the right spots . I think they can get over that CLS hump . Possibly You'd hope , you really hope , you'd really hope . But TJ , what about you ?
Yeah , the ceiling is to me the same as it was , as where they made it last year . I don't think they have World Series aspirations in them this year because I think now they have a target on their back . I think a lot of teams took them lightly last year , especially going into the playoffs , especially all of the AL Central .
They took the AL Central very lightly and we snuck up and took some teams down . I just think the Tigers are going to be really competitive this year . I think Kansas City's going to be really competitive this year . I think Boston's going to be really competitive this year in a way where we may not .
You know , if we make it to the playoffs we'll be a wild wildcard team and if we get into the playoffs we're going to run into a buzzsaw . We might be matched up with Baltimore , we might be matched up with Boston , where we're going to have a little bit more trouble .
But the key here for the guardians this year is that we're going to be healthy , make it to the deadline If we cause . We did that last year . We were relevant in June . Once we were relevant in June , people started to believe the team started to believe they're like you know what . Let's make sure it's not a fluke get to June and then they start .
Then you get to the deadline and all of a sudden you're still first place . Team is like , okay , we can see , we can see the playoffs in sight . So if they can get to the deadline , I think , or if they can get to June and be as relevant as they were last year or as dominant as they were last year , it might change some things .
I just think that now they have a target on their back and more teams will take them seriously . So it'll be a little bit of a tougher road .
Yeah , I mean , I think once you have that success , people do kind of take you a little bit more seriously . But I think at the end of the day , everyone just always has that mindset .
They go it's Cleveland , you know , like it's Cleveland's pro sports , like it's just something about them makes other teams kind of slack off when they go up there and they don't take them as seriously as they should , especially the baseball team , the Browns . I mean I would like you to do a whole show about the Browns and their bad luck . It's by myself , so .
But yeah , I mean , I don't know , part of me wants to see the guardians relevant , mainly because I love the movies , major league , um , with Charlie Sheen , and you know that that just makes me want to see them be relevant . Uh , with that . But it is what it is . It's Cleveland pro sports , uh , but TJ , uh , stay with you here .
And which team do you think has the most approved this year , this year ?
I believe the Mets have the most to prove . You have the signing of Juan Soto . They somehow returned Pete Alonso by leaving him dangling out there . They are very lucky there . They I believe they returned Mania , correct , I believe . So , yeah , okay . So they returned some guys and they have some guys off of injury now .
So they returned some guys and they have some guys off of injury now . They were a second half team last year and a lot of people wrote them out and they kind of got their swagger back in that second half .
¶ Cleveland Guardians' Season Outlook
So now it's like OK , it's our . We are not a small market . People have high expectations for us . We kind of know the skill level that we're at . It's basically just them saying , okay , we have to find some way to get to facing the Dodgers and the CS Again , to go and let's have that rematch .
But if you go and sign and you spend $700 million on one player and you didn't really lose a whole lot after that , you have to now , you know , put your money where your mouth is really and go and and make it happen . So I think the Mets have the biggest , you know , the most to lose here .
Yeah , Soto was definitely huge for the Mets , but let's ask our resident Mets fan here and drew . But who do you think ?
which team has the most proof of this year ? Is it your Mets or Well ? I think everything TJ said is absolutely correct . I think the Mets have all the pressures on . If I had to pick a team that has a little bit more pressure , one percent more , it's the team down the road , the new york yankees . Man they have .
They've spent so much money , they've spent , they've done so many moves and what ? What is there to show for it ? Uh , when's the last thing they want ? They want a world series , really . Is it , derrick cheater ? I mean , we're talking what ? 2009 ?
2009 , yeah or 09 09 10 .
Yeah , I think it's every year you see this team in the headlines , you see this , the team , the bead they have , judge . They have the Bronx bombers , all this stuff and they they haven't got it done . And that is for a team like the Mets , you know they do have . They have a lot to prove , but they're kind of starting now . The Yankees have .
It's been a long year , long time for this thing to really figure it out and they haven't done it . And I think if you are a yankees fan , you're starting a little fed up . When is it going to be our turn type deal , you know ? And it hasn't been there and I don't think it's going to be there moving forward .
There's so many good teams there really are I think a lot of the league , especially in the AL , have decided like hey , why don't we do what the Yankees have been doing for years and open our pocketbooks and spend some money and get some top talent .
Everyone , except for the Pirates , apparently have decided that we need to break out the checkbook and sign some players .
Look at the AL East itself . You have Baltimore , who's really good . You have Toronto , who's not the best , but they have some players out there . Boston's always going to be Boston . You've got teams that are going to compete with you in that AL East that are not chumps anymore .
They're not pushovers . No , it's not just New York and Boston running that division , it's not . People are ready and I think the Yankees have just relied on that . Let's just spend some money and we'll be in the World Series , and that's what's always worked . And now it's not and they don't know what to do .
I don't think , because I don't think I've ever seen in a long time , almost coming up on two decades , where the Yankees really haven't been that relevant when it comes to the postseason . And yeah , I'd have to agree with you . I was going to go Yankees on this one and I hate the Yankees . I root for the Red Sox because I hate the Yankees that much .
That's pretty much where it's at . But Tony , what about you ? Who has the most to prove this year ?
I'm going to have to say I have two teams that have the most approved this year . The first I'm going to have to say is Toronto , because they've had a lot of I like Toronto . They've had a lot of young talent that's come through . You have Bo Bichette , vladdy Jr . They've got some young talent but they've haven't won and haven't been able to advance .
They made the playoffs with 89 wins , from 21 to 23 , having 89-92-91 wins , but they haven't put it together and they think I mean , how long is Vladdy going to stay ? I mean , how long is Vladdy going to stay ? How long do you think Vladdy's going to stay before he goes somewhere else ?
Before he goes to an LA , goes to a New York , goes to a team that can contend , because Toronto's the only MLB team in Canada and they've got a fan base that does show up to games . But you've got to , although it's nice to win 90-some-odd games a year , you've got to have results .
I mean , I know the AL East isn't obviously the easiest division , but that means you've got to make things happen . And this second one is going to kind of be a strange answer . But at this point , this team , really you can't fall off the bottom , in this case the Chicago White Sox . Point this team .
really you can't fall off the bottom , in this case the chicago white socks because you can't , you can't have a .
You really , you really , you can't have another 121 loss season , that that just can't happen . You gotta , at some point you've gotta trend up . Am I saying that they're gonna win the central ? No . Am I saying they're gonna be 500 ? No . Am I saying they're even gonna not finish last ? No .
But you gotta that last season was just an aberration , that that was one of the worst seasons I've ever experienced as a baseball fan I'm not a fan of the White Sox by any stretch .
but I had to kind of feel sad because that's just yeah , when you see pictures of the stadium completely empty on like a Friday , saturday night game and there's five people in the stands , it's like , okay , what do we got to do ? That's bad for baseball , that's bad for , that's bad . Yeah , that's just bad for the sport in general .
Because , you know , there's so many people that were screaming after the season to sell the team , move the team . The White Sox aren't going to make it in Chicago because of this . We already have a team in Chicago . That's actually , you know , putting up wins . We don't need to .
And , yeah , when that's happening , I mean , I I think if they don't lose 100 games this year , it's a win for them . They're moving in the right direction because because , yeah , you lose 121 games . How the pirates don't even lose 121 games a year and they try to lose like it's . I don't know . I've been shitting on the Pirates this entire time .
I'm a huge Pirates fan , but I'm hoping somebody from Pittsburgh listens to this show and maybe listens a little bit Like , hey , let's spend some money , let's be relevant , because back in , oh , what was it ?
I think it was 11 or 12 when the Pirates made , when they had AJ J Burnett and that , when they were in the wildcard game , did you , everybody , anybody see what the town of Pittsburgh did for that team when they were there ? Like well ?
just listen to the games and just listen to it .
Listen , listen to that . It's unbelievable .
It's the Quato .
The Quato call is it's the best atmosphere for pro sports is
¶ Teams With Most to Prove This Season
Pittsburgh and I love Pittsburgh sports and I love the Pirates and it's just I want to see them when they had the bat signal up on one of the buildings and green lights when Burnett was pitching and like it's . That's the kind of atmosphere you want for baseball . That is good for the sport and it's good for everybody .
That's the kind of atmosphere you want for baseball . That is good for the sport and it's good for everybody around in the in the town of Pittsburgh and yeah .
And I and I , I love LA , I love the Dodgers in a sense of like listen , they're forcing everybody else's hand . But sometimes you have first pitch and those $10,000 seats in the playoffs behind home plate are empty , waiting for the celebrities and the season ticket holders coming to sit down there . You're not going to see that at small market teams .
Those people are up . You have kids , you have everybody moving .
It's a blue collar men , women that are just there and just want to root on their team , and that is 100% Pittsburgh . We spoke a little bit about teams moving and I want to get y'all's thoughts on this , and TJ will stay with you . What are your thoughts on the A's moving to Vegas ? I think that .
Maybe it's going to fall on deaf ears , but this is a tone setter for owners . Hopefully you know hey , a city cares for a team , people , the fans . That city cares for a team that you invest in and if you don't , the fans will stop . The fans will say hey , listen , it's not worth my time because it's not worth the owner's time .
The a's ownership gave up and said you know what ? We're just going to be the last place team and be okay with it . And fans don't like being insulted and they turn their back . They came out and showed it where they had that one fan uh rebellion , where they sold out the stadium .
Where they had that one fan rebellion , where they sold out the stadium just because and they sold it out in that last year saying hey , we are all here , we have all these baseball fans . Please give us something to come to the stadium to see . Don't give us AAA and AA guys that you brought up just because we have nine players on the field .
Give us something to cheer for . And I think that moving the team was a Band-Aid on a bullet hole and then to double down on it . The owners really spit in the face of the fans because now the A's are spending money , now they're signing people , now they're extending contracts and it's like , listen , that was all your fans were asking for .
So I think that there was maybe a little bit of backhand . You know shadiness where it's like , hey , we just want to get out of Oakland , let's find a way out . Vegas is a great spot for , you know , people coming in tourism . But you know and being a Cleveland fan , we know what it's like to not spend money and unfortunately it's really really frustrating .
But you know , owners need to kind of step up and say , listen , this is your investment , your fans are your demand , you know . So give us what we need to do and we'll keep coming . We will give the owners millions and millions of dollars as long as you give us a product to watch .
Yeah , I couldn't have said that better myself . I think they're just trying to get everybody out of that Northern California area and move them all to Vegas , started with the Raiders , and you know it's happening now Got hockey teams . You know they're bringing pro sports to Vegas . But Drew , what about you ? What do you think about the A's move ?
Yeah , it seems like Vegas is the place to be right now , but no , I think TJ hit it right on the head . Man , it's a shame because you have a franchise that's been in Oakland for so long and you see these new not new cities but , like the Golden Knights or , like you said , the Raiders , are going to Vegas . That's a cool place to be .
They're having success and you know what ? The Raiders aren't good . The golden Knights are okay , but they sell out stadiums , people . And if you're a fan of the Oakland A's and you live in Raleigh , north Carolina , you're going to say , all right , let's go to Oak , let's go to Vegas and watch them . They get a , they get a trip out of it .
You know what I mean . I don't think you're going to see that too much in Oakland . It's . You know , vegas is Vegas , oakland , oakland . Vegas is better . It comes down to the situation .
Yeah , Alienating a fan base here , hope there's a life in Oakland .
But like you , but say it happened to the Guardians , say Cleveland . Can you imagine what would happen in Cleveland ? It would be . I think every fan would just lay in the stadium until they said , no , we're not going to do this anymore . So I do feel bad for the small markets , but it seems like in 2025 , it's a new thing to do .
It's just like the transfer portal Everyone's moving around and trying to get to a better spot . I think he's the only thing trying to do as well .
Yeah , tony , what are your thoughts ? Oh man , I .
I don't like the move at all . I still think they should be in Oakland for a variety of reasons . I'm
¶ Oakland A's Move to Las Vegas
not going to ever call them just the athletics . I'm going to call them the Oakland because they should still be in Oakland . I like seeing their postseason games , especially when they beat Detroit bottom of the ninth in 2012 . I really think in 2020 , if they were able to have fans , that stadium when they played against the White Sox would have been rocking .
Yeah , it's just a major slap in the face and John Fisher just doesn't care . It's just a slap in the face to the people who support Oakland . Oakland won a World Series Like the city's lost three franchises in five years . Yes , the Warriors are still in the Bay Area , but they're in San Francisco . They're on the other side .
You've got the Raiders who are in Vegas . Even the people in Vegas don't want the move . People in Vegas don't want them there . I in Vegas don't want them there . I mean , I know Vegas is eventually going to get a franchise rightfully so but it just seems really , really , really short-sighted .
And for those of you who are A's fans and those of you who are Oakland and the Bay Area , my heart goes out to you . My heart really , truly does go out to you , and John Fisher is one of the worst owners in baseball and it's a real slap in the face that they're actually spending money now that they're up and sat from that .
Yes , they're still in NorCal , but you're playing in a AAA ball . You're not going to get that passion , that noise , that Section 116 , that soccer-type atmosphere that you're going to get up in Sacramento like you would have in Oakland .
Yeah , I mean , I fear the day that I think baseball and a lot of pro sports are going to this . I fear the day that there's going to be no more small market teams .
It's going to be all large market New York's , your LA's , your Chicago's , your Boston's , miami's You're going to see all of these big market where , okay , people want to come to these destinations to see a game and there's going to be no more Cleveland , no more Oakland , no more Pittsburgh , none of that , and it's .
It's just going to be bad for sports in general . You need these low market teams because you get a different aspect of the game . These guys aren't making the top of the Juan Soto type money , but they're playing their damn hearts out and fans can see that and fans want to see that .
They want to see the guys that are going to go out there and bust their ass for nine innings and and put a good product on the field . They might lose the game , but they're , you know they're . They're out there and it's yeah . I think that's yeah . That's where it's heading .
That's just what I see happening and I don't want to see it happen , but I think that's where it's where it's heading .
Fans love the underdog story , right ? Absolutely . They want the David versus Goliath . They want that team to take down . They want the small team to take down the big team . That's why you have , I mean , LA , new York , boston , whatever you want to call it they have the biggest enemies , they have the biggest because they just want to see them fall .
They want to see them get there and then they want to see them fall . You know , that's just the adage . Where it's they , you got to have it , you have to have it , and that's the so for me . I think of the comparison , right ? Ask everybody in the league , ask every fan , really ask every manager do you want Juan Soto or do you want Jose Ramirez ?
On a day-to-day basis , on an everyday basis , right , and every team will be like I have a guy that steals base , steals 40 bases , hits 40 home runs and hits 40 doubles . But I have the guy that hits 45 home runs with a shuffle that you know can sometimes play some defense .
It's like listen , one guy will sell tickets , one guy will win me a game yep yeah or even
if Detroit knocked off Cleveland in game five , I would vote for Detroit .
It's still fine it's still with that series . You're looking at that series like , okay , these two teams are two just grinders going at each other , so yeah yeah , I'd love to watch those games and you know just the teams that you know are just gonna .
It might be a one to nothing victory , but you know these guys are out there grinding and you know it's in . It's a good game to watch . Um , but drew , let's go to you for this one . Uh , will the yankees or the mets go further this ?
year oh , that's a hot topic in this Yankees or the Mets , you know what . And I got a shirt upstairs . My mom's a big Yankees fan and , um , when I was , I know right , and we when she went to New York . When , uh , this is going back I heard her friends go to New York , she brought me back a subway series shirt that I still have .
I thought it was really a pretty cool shirt . Anyways , I think you might see a subways yeah , I think you might see a subway series this year . I really do , both teams are really good . Um , I'm gonna go with my mets , though , when at all in that situation .
So , uh , I say the mets are gonna go a little bit further I had a feeling that's where you're going . That's why I wanted to get to you first on this one Tony , what about you ?
I'm going to say that I think that I'm going to go on a limb and I'm going to say the Mets . I'm going to say the Mets , yeah meet the Mets .
I'm just trying to hype Drew up right now , tony , it's not that I hate the Yankees I do , but that's not the point .
I think the Mets will go further , because I think that they can potentially win the NL East . I mean , they rode that momentum , with the power of God and Grimace on their side , to a six-game series . And the Mets , even though they are based in New York , are an underdog franchise and seen as the little brother of the Yankees .
And the Yankees , I mean Garrett Cole is out for the 2025 . John Carlos Stanton's injured . This is not the same Yankee team of years past . This isn't the same Yankees team that's going to scare the crap out of you . Yeah , I think they'll probably make playoffs , but I don't see them making a deep run , especially now that Garrett Cole's out for the year .
Yeah , you lose one of your aces . Pitching Stanton's hurt Judge isn't really doing much . I don't know . Tj , let's go to you before so I can collect myself before this one .
Hot take Yankees do not make the playoffs . We have Baltimore , who is solid . I think that , whether it's Boston or Toronto , one of them has to step up this year . And we always discount the Rays and the Rays have always been just kind of there , just kind of there taking a playoff spot from somebody . But the injury to Cole is massive .
They're going to do everything they can to try to fix it . And let's not forget , luis Gil is out for a little bit . He is not starting the season right now , and that's two major pitchers that they had high hopes For going into the season . Judge does not have the protection that he once had . Rizzo is still on the Free agent list , I believe .
I mean that lineup . What is that lineup going to look like ? So I mean , you might have a lot of young guys , you might have some guys that come in and do a couple of good things , but they just don't have the protection .
And when you don't have a lineup that has good protection for your , for your top guys , you have to rely on your pitching staff and defense . They do not play defense well and their pitching staff is hurt . I think they're going to dig themselves a hole too early in the season .
Um , to come back , and I think the american league is too good , I think the al central is gonna stick around and just kind of be around . That 80 . You're gonna have three teams that between 85 and 95 wins . I think that , um , you know , the mariners had a terrible year but I think they're gonna come back this year .
I think that there's just other teams in the ale that aren't gonna allow the yankees to sneak into a wild card team . So I think the mets are gonna at least make the playoffs . So , um , I will say the mets get further , further .
I will add this Outside of Judge and Stanton , nobody in that Yankee line scares me . I'm just going to be completely , I'm just going to be .
No , I've been screaming for somebody to sign Rizzo . I mean , you've got a guy like that that's on the free agent market , it's just .
I know a certain Something's up with him .
Yeah .
They have some insider information .
Something's
¶ Yankees vs. Mets: Who Goes Further?
gotta be wrong , that's the only thing I can think of how do you not sign Rizzo ? Somebody's gonna sign him . I mean , somebody's gonna sign him , but why hasn't he been signed yet ?
Even like a Guardians , where they say , hey , we'll take Carlos Santana You're telling me Rizzo's at least even , or maybe a little bit above Carlos Santana when it comes to hey , I would like a veteran at the corner , somebody that will play every day , maybe somebody that could a good contact , a lefty swing .
Yeah , come on . Yeah , I think , yeah , pittsburgh . What are you doing ? What's wrong ?
How could you just ?
What could go wrong ?
Yeah right .
Okay , you're in Pittsburgh . What do you lose ? Let's sign Rizzo , let's get him on a one-year deal , and if it doesn't , work out oh , we screwed up , sorry .
Or sign with the White Sox . Somebody's got to get over to him .
There's a line over there . Go sit and write it . Hey guys , we're running down near the end of the episode here . I do want to get this last question in here , cause I think it's going to be a good one , and that's do you think there needs to be a salary cap in baseball and TJ ? I want to start with you .
Salary cap no . Salary floor yes , I want . I think that these athletes put their bodies through so much and we don't even know the travel , the every single day and you know , you don't know if you're going to have a 3 year career or a 10 year career . So these players deserve money and we need to get these fans . We need to get fans out to the ballpark .
So there needs to be a little bit more promoting when it comes to that . Make the game accessible for kids . I'm fully believe on the . You know , if you're 12 and under , get in free . Just get kids in the park . But a salary floor yes , Because you have your Oaklands , you have your whoever . It is small markets , I get it . No-transcript .
I'm going to invest in my product , so give me a floor . I'm okay with no cap , but give me a floor .
I like that . I never thought of it that way . That's a good point . But , Drew , what about you ?
Yeah , that's a really good point , tj . I say yes through SB's salary cap . Added in three sports MLB , nfl , nba . Nfl is one of my most supported . I watch and pay attention to and it's so interesting how these GM's maneuver what they can do with money and all that , and it's cool to see how they do that .
And MLB sent them to a 100 million dollar contract for a 10 year , and you know what I mean . Like there's no strategy to it . I see the strategy in the nfl , which I like , and I think if you brought that to the mlb it'd be a whole different game .
The yankees and the guardians would be on the same level floor and that's something you would never see , ever . You know what I . So I think it would be cooler to see a salary cap in the MLB .
Okay , tony .
I think we should see a salary floor . I agree with TJ and I want minor leaguers to be paid more as well , because not all minor leaguers are going to make it to the show .
Good point Even if you don't make it to the show , you should be able to earn a living , a livable wage , if you're going to be 28 , 29 , 30 , a double A , triple A , maybe , you know , maybe that little extra pay might motivate you in case you do get that call at 30 , 31 , 32 years old .
But if you're not , if you don't pay them , then they've got to make ends meet by doing odd jobs and stuff like that . They should be paid a fair , livable wage , especially for what they do playing ball in the summer , trying to make it to the show .
Yeah , I agree with that that the minor leaguers need paid , Mainly because they're putting a better product on the field , because they're trying to get to the show . Let's pay them . Tj , I think you just kind of floored the end of the show here with your salary floor idea because I wasn't even thinking of that . That wasn't even a thought in my mind .
That could be a thing . Let's tell teams you have to spend this much money in salary , at least this much money on your players . I think it would force teams to , like you said , pay these guys and let's put a good product on the field .
Rizzo's not in free agency . If you had to spend money because it's like , hey , here's the dollars that we have , who's the best available ? Let's go put a bid on the best available and then , okay , find the next best available .
You know and if they don't come to you , you know like , you have to spend that money . You have to spend that amount of money . I don't care if it's 100 million , whatever , 200 , whatever it is , you have to spend that amount of money . I don't care if it's a hundred million , whatever , 200 , whatever it is , you have to spend this amount of money .
You spend one more power to you . If you can't but get them to a certain point , like I , yeah , reserves available , okay , okay ,
¶ Salary Cap Debate in Baseball
give them 50 , 60 million . You know , make them an offer . I mean , I don't know any human being in their right mind that's like , oh , $50 million , no , no , thank you .
No , I'm good .
I'm cool . I don't know anybody who would turn that down . But yeah , that's a great way and I think that's a great cliffhanger to leave everybody left with here . Because that is going to do it for this week's episode of the ride home rants podcast . I want to thank all my guests Tony , drew and TJ for joining get to talk all things MLB and baseball .
I look forward to seeing how the season plays out and how everything happens and hopefully we can have our predictions come true . But , as always , if you enjoyed the show , be a friend , tell a friend . If you didn't show , be a friend , tell a friend . If you didn't tell them . Anyways , they might like it just because you didn't .
That's going to do it for me and I will see y'all next week .