00:00Again, the presentation, I knock Major League Baseball a lot for their marketing, their presentation of games.
00:08They killed it with the WBC.
00:10The way that they, you know, I don't know if they forced the players to do it, but the players
00:16bought in and were like, this is important to me.
00:18Yeah.
00:18Derek Jeter was like, anybody that says it's more important than the World Series has never played in the World
00:24Series.
00:25I'm like, well, I mean, like there are a lot of dudes that have played in the World Series that
00:27are saying that.
00:28Or even won one, but like before the game, you know, you could see that those four were ecstatic about
00:35being, you know, with Burkhart and A-Rod and Ortiz.
00:38They were so excited about what was about to play out in front of them last night.
00:43And then I loved, I just loved when they did the announcements and they opened the foul pole doors and
00:52let the teams come in that way with their flags in front of them.
00:55So I thought that was really cool.
00:56I really appreciate it.
00:59It was an absolute blast.
01:01So nice work there.
01:02And right now it's time for some baseball nuggets.
01:11Baseball Nuggets brought to you by me.
01:13Don't forget that the G-Bag Nation is going to be at Pool Works in North Richland Hills giving away
01:18those Tolo bucket hats today.
01:19So if you want to get yourself a bucket hat, are you a bucket hat season guy?
01:23Yes.
01:24They're so cool.
01:25Like it's the perfect time to load up on them too, because you see, pull up your weather app right
01:31now.
01:31What's the high going to be on Friday?
01:33It's going to be almost a hundred.
01:35Like, dude, it's going to be crazy.
01:39I had a bucket hat in like high school and I've never, like, even when we go out to Oxnard,
01:49I see everybody wearing them.
01:51I'm like, I don't know if I can pull off the bucket hat.
01:53I feel like you can.
01:54Okay.
01:55I don't know why.
01:55I can just envision it right now.
01:57All right.
01:57I have no rhyme or reason.
01:59I just feel like, because there's definitely certain hats that don't fit certain head shapes.
02:04But I feel like the bucket hat would be very complimentary to your appearance.
02:09Well, either way, I'll tell you this.
02:10The Tolo bucket hat is the one you want to have.
02:13I need one.
02:13Everybody wants something that says Tolo on it.
02:16And here's what I always suggest.
02:18Add go at the end.
02:19Just Tolo go.
02:21And that way the people out there know what life's like.
02:25Yeah.
02:26They know that you got it good.
02:27Yeah.
02:27There's a possibility.
02:29Wolchuk, on his little break this week, Tolo going every day during the KNC Masterpiece.
02:34From the 817, G-Bag's giving them away today, right?
02:37Yes.
02:38North Richland Hills at Poolwork.
02:40So make sure you get out there for the G-Bag Nation.
02:42I did hear Broaddus will be back today.
02:45So I'm looking forward to saying hello to him this afternoon.
02:48The World Baseball Classic, we'll get back into some of that in just a moment.
02:52But some interesting news on the baseball front.
02:54Dodgers pitcher Shohei Otani set for his first spring pitching appearance in spring training.
03:01That will be today against the San Francisco Giants.
03:06Shohei is one of the most electric players we've ever seen.
03:11And I'm trying to, any opportunity I get to see him play, I'm just taking advantage of it.
03:17And, like, I remember we got to see him, Kevin and I got to see him first.
03:23His first pitching appearance against the Rangers in spring training.
03:27We were the first people to go out there.
03:29And I was like, he's not that good.
03:31He, you know, I didn't think he had that much break on his curveball.
03:34And then all of a sudden I was like, oh, yeah, it's spring training.
03:37But, yeah, he, it was, it was a moment.
03:41We were at the stadium a couple years ago when he was with the Angels still.
03:45It was a moment.
03:46You had to be there for it.
03:47So watching Shohei is always fun.
03:50I'm excited to see what potential he has for this season coming back up too
03:54because he's going to get at it now.
03:56Garrett Cole also set for his first spring outing since surgery.
04:00So I like that we're getting some pitchers back that I think need to be back,
04:05need to be ready for the season because they're a huge part of the game.
04:08And if you like, I loved watching this team, the Rangers last year pitching.
04:12It was art.
04:13And Garrett Cole is an artist whenever he's on.
04:17Yeah.
04:17I still say to this day that the Houston Astros iteration of Garrett Cole
04:23is one of the most terrifying athletes I've ever watched
04:26because he was just so business.
04:28Like never showed any emotion on his face.
04:32He had the beautiful flow and the facial hair before he left to New York.
04:36There was an aura about him that you just knew.
04:39He's about to go out there and dominate.
04:41You knew, especially in his postseason appearances, you're like,
04:44this dude is going to do things that you have not seen many people do before.
04:48So seeing him get healthy, hopefully stay healthy,
04:52even though I can't stand the team that he plays for.
04:55Baseball is a better place when he is healthy.
04:58I've always been a huge fan of his personally.
05:01So, and he's also just a really good dude.
05:03Also, I got to interact with him a couple times at the old ballpark.
05:06And he rules.
05:09Baseball's better with him.
05:10Spring training for the Rangers, by the way.
05:14Six games left.
05:16Six games remain.
05:18They take on, they get back at it today.
05:20They were off yesterday.
05:21They get back at it today against the Royals.
05:23Then they got the Brewers, Giants, Diamondbacks, Royals, Royals.
05:26And then they open things on the road Thursday, March 26.
05:30So that's next week, dude.
05:32Next week.
05:33It's absurd.
05:34We will be talking about opening day right here on 105.3 The Fan.
05:37And then you're going to have Rangers baseball season in your face all year long.
05:41Or all season long right here on The Fan.
05:44And I love it.
05:45I absolutely love Rangers baseball season.
05:47And always have.
05:48I'm very blessed to be able to work here at The Fan where we are the home of the Texas
05:53Rangers.
05:54Because it's like one of those things of like, I grew up being a Cowboys fan and a Rangers fan.
05:58Mavs fan also.
06:00Stars.
06:00But I got two of my favorite teams that I just, I get to be part of, of that.
06:06Although, it would be awesome if they paid me.
06:08They paid me, you know.
06:09I would totally accept that check.
06:10But I've never gotten a nickel from the Rangers or the Cowboys.
06:14See, the main reason, like, the money would be cool.
06:16But, like, I just want to get a ring whenever they win.
06:18That would be dope.
06:19You know, like, get one of the staff rings.
06:21Yes.
06:21That's the main reason I want to be on payroll.
06:23Like, hey, Jerry, if you ever figure it out,
06:25I think we should get a ring for all the, all the tough questions we've had to ask.
06:30And all the seasons we've had to sit through and question what the hell is actually going on.
06:34You know, that would be, that would be a nice little consolation prize, if you ask me.
06:38Big money was on the line during the finale last night.
06:42Courtesy of the nine figures from Netflix that they said we're going to shell out for this thing.
06:46Now, obviously, we talked about this a little yesterday regarding, like, they expected Japan to be in it.
06:51And that Japan, like, would be filing cash into their pockets.
06:55And then Japan was like, we probably shouldn't have Netflix anymore.
06:58But between the U.S. and Venezuela last night, we'll receive, they're going to,
07:04each player on the winning team is going to receive $100,000 in prize money.
07:09And that's pretty awesome right there.
07:11Adding the payouts for all 20 teams that participated in the tournament.
07:15They have more than doubled since the last World Baseball Classic.
07:19Payments players reflect only half the total prize money given to each participating team.
07:24The other half goes to the respective baseball federations.
07:27So, like, that's an awesome thing is they're like, what I love about this and what they're saying is
07:32they want this money that goes to these groups to help make baseball a bigger deal in their countries.
07:41So, the prize money is predetermined before the tournament, agreed to by the league and the union,
07:46based on a percentage of projected revenues.
07:48After the prize money and tournament money's expenses are accounted for,
07:52net revenues from the World Baseball Classic split into three equal parts.
07:56One third goes to MLB.
07:57Another third goes to the Players Union.
07:59And then where players choose how to best allocate those funds.
08:02And the final third is distributed to the World Baseball Softball Confederation,
08:07the top leagues in two other countries, Korea Baseball Organization and Nippon Professional Baseball of Japan.
08:14They spread out that money all over the place so that everybody can get into baseball a little more around
08:19the world.
08:20And again, I know some people are like, USA or nothing.
08:23I get it.
08:24But organizations like MLB, NFL, NBA, hockey, they are.
08:30They do draw from all over the world, players from everywhere.
08:33The ratings, the numbers you're seeing in Japan are so huge and significant, especially with the World Series.
08:40Canada, U.S. and Japan put up big numbers for the World Series this year.
08:47So, every organization understands if we can get more interest and development in those countries,
08:54we'll be able to take advantage of them.
08:56And then lastly, they're trying to move second base.
09:02What?
09:03Baseball is trying to move second base on us.
09:05To encourage more action on the bases, the International League second base will be placed entirely within the perimeter of
09:13the infield diamond during the second half.
09:16And they're working on this with AAA as well.
09:18They're having some conversations about doing this.
09:21Test robots, ABS, we've already seen that.
09:23Yeah.
09:23Now they're saying, we want to move second base approximately 9 inches.
09:28Double the change achieved by increasing the size of the bases from 15 inches to 18 inches.
09:34So, now we have even more space there.
09:35Yeah.
09:36But they're working to do this because they feel like from first to third, they'll be able to make a
09:40shorter route.
09:41And they'll be able to have more action on the bases.
09:44Which also, for a guy like Bobby Witt Jr., means that he'll have a shorter route from first to home.
09:49Yes.
09:49So, they're like, we're going to make these changes.
09:52I don't know that I'll ever notice it.
09:54I don't know that I'll ever notice how much of a difference this is.
09:57I feel like you will, honestly.
10:00Because think of how many bang-bang plays you see at second now.
10:05You know, whether it's the catcher popping up and throwing down to second.
10:08Whether it's somebody turning and throwing to second.
10:10And you immediately get the hands over the ears to get a replay.
10:14Think about how many times we've gotten that.
10:16And it's just, oh, did a spike come off the bag?
10:20Did it not?
10:21And it's so close.
10:22And it's, oh, the call stands.
10:23You know, or maybe there is a brief second where they come off the bag.
10:27And they're like, yep, that's enough to overturn it.
10:29Half of those are probably going to go away.
10:31Because a 9-inch difference, when you're talking about guys running at full speed.
10:36That's going to make quite a difference.
10:38And hey, like you said, from first to third.
10:41It's already hard enough to get to third base.
10:43Let's make it a little bit easier on people.
10:45Why not?
10:469 inches is that big of a deal, huh?
10:48Yeah.
10:48It's always been important.
10:50It's always been a big deal.
Comments