#1 The Day After the Home Opener

[00:00:02] Speaker A: Was it just me or was that game last night especially awesome? [00:00:07] Speaker B: Did it not feel big? [00:00:08] Speaker A: Like it felt bigger than just any win? I get it. Team Zone seven, they needed a win. It was the home opener. [00:00:15] Speaker B: But the energy was unbelievable. [00:00:16] Speaker A: You guys were awesome. The ballpark was awesome. Drew us was rocking. I don't know. I don't have too much caffeine, which is highly possible, but man, the energy was great. And what an awesome game that was last night. Really nice win, man. Spencer Schwalinbach is turning into something very special. I didn't want to say this on the broadcast because it's probably an overreaction just two starts into this, but I'm telling you what, the Braves have something really special in this kid, and I think there's a really good chance we're going to see him pitching in the All Star Game at home this year, which is going to be awesome. And to think about Chris Sale hopefully joining him as well. I get it. That's way early to be talking about it. I thought about it yesterday. I didn't say it because it's too early. But man, this dude is. Man, he is just fun, fun to watch. Do we not all need little bit more Fred McGriff in our life? How fun was he yesterday, the Crime Dog? And what was interesting about him in that third inning, he was only supposed to join us for the top of the third. And that inning went quick because Shreli was pitching so well. And so BG kind of made the decision like, hey, we're going to bring Fred back for the bottom of the third. Of course, he was more than happy to do it. He was great. And he got us those three runs and got us on the board, which also made me happy because I think we all believe that the Braves are going to win yesterday and Frenchie was ready to take full credit for the win. And so the fact that Fred McGriff was there, we can give him the credit instead of Frenchie works out even better. So he was awesome. I faced him a lot over the course of my career. Always liked competing against him. But getting to know him now a little bit better has been a pleasure. Now that he pops in the booth once in a while here with the Braves, but what a great guy. Gosh, he knows the game really well and really fun to talk hitting with. The one thing about Fred McGriff that I've always believed and I said multiple times publicly, he should have been in the hall of Fame a long time ago and he's there now. So it probably doesn't matter, but I always felt like he was, let's say a victim but essentially because he played right through the middle of the PED era and he was never a guy who was accused of anything and shouldn't be. [00:02:18] Speaker B: Fell a little bit short maybe of. [00:02:19] Speaker A: His contemporaries when you put up some of those numbers. And I think that worked against him and it shouldn't. I thought it was completely unfair, but doesn't matter. He's in the hall of Fame and we love Fred McGriff and that was super fun yesterday. He was awesome and the timing was right and I could listen to those guys talk hitting all day long. Tonight AJ Smith Shawver is going, if you saw that, already had it on Sunday Night Baseball when we were in San Diego, obviously we didn't have that game on tv. We went and actually watched the game in the stands with our crew which was a really good time. [00:02:48] Speaker B: I guess it was, was that Saturday. [00:02:49] Speaker A: Whatever day that was. Either way, really fun to watch. AJ Smith Shawver, he's got that new. [00:02:55] Speaker B: What he's calling a cutter. [00:02:56] Speaker A: It's kind of more of a slider for me and I think the algorithm pops it up as a slider. But that is a new pitch and that'll be important for him. We'll keep an eye on it tonight. He did a really nice job of using that back door to left handed hitters. Jackson Merrill had a couple of at bats in there which cool to see how he located that pitch because it pairs so well with that really good split. He struggled a little bit throwing that pitch to right handed hitters and locating it. So we'll see how often he uses it. [00:03:21] Speaker B: But that's kind of the new tool. [00:03:22] Speaker A: For AJ Smith Shawvers. He makes his second start of the season. You know I just realized we didn't go to the game on Sunday, we went to the game on Saturday so we didn't see him pitch. We watched shwelly pitch and then we were back in LA watching that one on tv. [00:03:36] Speaker B: Not that that matters. [00:03:37] Speaker A: The offense yesterday, amazing. [00:03:39] Speaker B: Good to see finally big hits with runners in scoring position. [00:03:42] Speaker A: I there was some real frustration for everybody involved. I thought that little bit of a reaction that we saw from Austin Rielly was pretty telling about maybe some of that pressure that he was feeling and just the release being able to come through in a big spot could not have been more happy for him. They get Cal Quantrill tonight, right hander who also has a really good split very similar to AJ Key there of course will be to make sure that you don't chase that pitch. But something I wanted to talk about too. I'm really enjoying Drake Baldwin. You've probably heard us talk about it a bunch already in the broadcast and even though the numbers aren't there, I have zero concerns. He puts together these really high quality at bats. They are fun to watch. Here's the thing though, to keep in mind with a guy like that, think about Joey Votto, Alex Bregman. The guys that knew the strike zone know the strike zone really well and they're really patient. The one thing you're susceptible to is you're going to get rung up a little bit more. There's going to be more called strikes, whether they're bat calls and pitches that are just off the plate or those ones that are right on the corner that you don't offer at. So that's the one thing that comes along with it. But I wouldn't change the thing. These are really good at bats. It is coming soon here for Drake Baldwin. Somebody asked us would we be wearing suit and tie again tonight since the Braves won? [00:04:53] Speaker B: No, that is. No. [00:04:54] Speaker A: It's 91 degrees right now according to my car. It was fun. We do it for opening day, but it gets hot, I get sweaty, I got makeup on. You feel kind of gross. It was a fun, awesome broadcast, but we're going to be a little bit more comfortable tonight. [00:05:08] Speaker B: We're really lucky here. [00:05:09] Speaker A: Peter Millard takes very good care of us and so do the Atlanta Braves. And so they have given us a ton of polos and quarter ships and things to wear and they're really nice and we're grateful to them for that. [00:05:20] Speaker B: BG is kind of in charge of wardrobe. [00:05:22] Speaker A: He lets us know what we're wearing that day. And I've already messed it up once as I wore the wrong quarter zip to one of the games. I think in we were in San Diego, one of those. I can't remember which one or la. But anyway, we keep track of who makes the most errors and I am currently leading one to nothing. Frenchie's back tonight. No, Ryan Klesko in the pregame. It was just opening day for him. Frenchie will not be here tomorrow. [00:05:45] Speaker B: Why? Because he worked two days. [00:05:47] Speaker A: He needs a vacation. So he'll be on vacation. But man, those three men boosts are super fun. [00:05:52] Speaker B: We will do about maybe a dozen. [00:05:54] Speaker A: Or so I think this year and I think I'm on with him for, I don't know, maybe three or four. Glav will be on with him for the rest. But that was a good time last night, man. The energy again was awesome. Appreciate all you guys. Appreciate the interaction on social media as well. And yeah, 6:00, Braves live. [00:06:10] Speaker B: And then 7:15. [00:06:11] Speaker A: Actually it might be 6:30. I should probably know that before I say it. Either way, I know this. First pitch. 7:15 tonight, Braves, Marlins. Let's win a series.