00:00So let's bring in a super friend to the show.
00:01He is Anthony Castervince from MLB.com.
00:05And he's on the Wise Heart Right.
00:07We make it right.
00:07Call Kyle Right.
00:09Hotline, Anthony, it was awesome to see you at the Springsteen concert a couple weeks ago.
00:14You and your brother looking fine and like you're ready to play nine innings every night.
00:19First, let me ask you, did you enjoy the concert before we get into baseball?
00:23I always enjoy a Bruce Springsteen concert, as you know.
00:26And that was my 62nd.
00:30And they just somehow.
00:32Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.
00:33I don't know how he does it.
00:34You have seen him 52 times?
00:38No, I haven't seen him 52 times.
00:39I've seen him 62 times.
00:4162.
00:4262.
00:44Anthony, seriously.
00:45Aaron Judge.
00:47Yeah.
00:47Wow.
00:48Really?
00:50Bonds are bust, baby.
00:51Bonds are bust.
00:52All right.
00:52So how did this.
00:53Going back to 1999.
00:55All right, when you walked out of the arena, did you think that was the last time you were
00:59going to see him live?
01:01Well, I stopped worrying about that, you know, like it'll happen when it happens.
01:06He still looks lively.
01:08He still has new music going out.
01:10He still has every intention of getting the E Street Band together for short little stints,
01:14I think.
01:15You know, like more frequent but shorter tours, I think is the idea.
01:19So I'm going to worry about it.
01:21I know I saw him on the beach at Asbury Park in 2024, and I felt like if that was
01:25the last
01:25time I ever seen him, we could find it'll never get better than that.
01:28Wow.
01:29So I'm good.
01:30I'm good.
01:30I'm in a good mental spot, Bruce.
01:33All right.
01:33No one cares about us talking about Bruce Springsteen.
01:35Let's talk about the Guardians here.
01:36I don't, but we could spend the whole segment doing that, but that's okay.
01:39I could.
01:39Yeah, I got thoughts.
01:40I could go.
01:41We could probably go an hour on Springsteen.
01:43But you know what?
01:44They would boot us into the other studio.
01:45That'll be on our podcast.
01:46One, two, one, two, three, four.
01:49That's the name of the podcast.
01:50Oh, really?
01:50That's not a bad idea.
01:51I don't mind that.
01:53We could do it.
01:53Okay.
01:54Maybe that's born today.
01:56Maybe born to run, as a matter of fact.
01:57Listen, tell me your thoughts on the Guardians right now as we kind of get almost to the
02:03middle of the season.
02:04I think they're a great surprise.
02:06I'm still wondering.
02:07Like, I'm looking at Tarek Skubel trade ideas that are kind of floating out there, and I'm
02:12wondering how the AL Central is going to shake out.
02:13Just give me your kind of a report card on the Guardians and where we're at right now.
02:19I mean, they have to get an A-plus, right?
02:21Just relative to, I mean, you see what can happen when a team gets off to a slow start.
02:26The Tigers, you know, are, what, almost, I think they're more than 10 games under 500.
02:32And that's somewhat of a shock to the system, although I didn't really love their offense
02:36going into the season.
02:37That's definitely come to fruition.
02:38And, you know, you lose an honor like Tarek Skubel for an extended period of time.
02:41It's going to affect you.
02:42But the AL stinks.
02:45And so, I don't know, they can't really be thinking about Tarek Skubel trade conversation
02:49just yet, because right now we're just in a, it's just a matter of course that you have
02:54a couple strong weeks and you're right back in it.
02:56You know, the Guardians have outplayed my expectations.
03:00I think we spoke before the season that, you know, they're going to be, I think Travis
03:05Pazana and Trace DeLauder was my thought, was they were really going to dictate what
03:09kind of season this is.
03:10And that's unfair to them because they're rookies.
03:13But lo and behold, here they are.
03:14And, you know, DeLauder's definitely cooled off from the hot start.
03:17But, you know, him and Pazana have been huge for them.
03:20And the offense has been, for the most part, kind of fun to watch.
03:24It's the same old story where they don't slug the ball, but, you know, they're doing a good
03:27job just getting on base, stealing bases and scoring a decent number of runs given their
03:32complexion in their lineup.
03:34You know, I just, I do worry though, like we get in the second half, you know, they're
03:38a little thin organizationally on the starting pitching front, thinner than they've been
03:41in some time.
03:42And, you know, does that catch up to them?
03:44Parker Messick is a rookie.
03:45You know, you're relying on him a bunch.
03:47I mentioned DeLauder and Pazana, you're relying on them a bunch and they're rookies.
03:50And DeLauder, you know, he just hasn't played a full season professionally because he's
03:54had so many injuries.
03:55So long story short, it ain't over till it's over.
03:58You know, they've definitely looked like the strongest team in the division.
04:02But, you know, the Tigers aren't done, I don't think, completely.
04:05I think they're going to try to, you know, get back in this thing in the next couple
04:08of weeks.
04:09But I got to give a lot of credit to that organization with the Guardians.
04:12You know, I think you're seeing the benefit of they've done a much better job in the first
04:17round in recent drafts.
04:19And that's helping them out this year when you have Gavin Williams front in your rotation
04:22and DeLauder and Pazana do what they've done.
04:25And Ralphie Velasquez is still coming.
04:27He's another bat that we could see here before long.
04:30So they're in a much better place offensively than they've been in some time.
04:34You brought up Parker Messick, Anthony.
04:35How impressive has he been for this ball club?
04:39Yeah, he's great.
04:40You know, it just does the value of strike throwing, you know.
04:43And I think, you know, as he matures, he'll figure out how to pitch deeper into games more
04:47consistently.
04:48And that would help them a lot, you know, help the bullpen.
04:51But, yeah, I mean, very impressive.
04:53You know, he was kind of somewhat undersold.
04:57And he's just been a godsend for that rotation, you know, shoring things up.
05:01He started to see it down the stretch last season.
05:04You know, that rotation really locked into gear, and he was a big part of that.
05:07So he got off to a great start this year.
05:09And, you know, for a rookie, you always wonder, like, the adjustments,
05:14does the league adjust to you, et cetera, and just the innings,
05:16does those pile up for the first time in his career?
05:18But I saw him at the Futures game last year, and you knew that just having the
05:23command he has can elevate you quickly, and it's elevated him, you know,
05:27faster than expected.
05:28Not just getting here.
05:29I'm talking about just, you know, the value he's providing.
05:33So I heard this morning, and I was kind of taken aback by it,
05:37that the Guardians are, like, the only team that have used their five guys
05:40in their rotation consistently throughout the entire start of the season
05:44and not having to deviate from that.
05:46And then Cantillo had some problems yesterday, you know, seven earned runs.
05:50I didn't expect to see Edge's pitch yesterday, but, I mean, you know what?
05:54He ate up an inning.
05:55It didn't matter how many runs he gave up.
05:57Just your thoughts on Guardians' rotation and Cantillo in particular.
06:03Yeah, and that's what I'm a little concerned about as we do, you know,
06:07when we get in the second half and get later in the season.
06:09You hope it's not a reverse of last year.
06:11You know, last year the rotation was kind of iffy most of the season,
06:14and truly, I mean, the last two months, the last six weeks or whatever it was,
06:18was just extraordinary.
06:20And they were able to make that gargantuan comeback as a result.
06:23You know, I worry about the reverse this year where do they have the depth
06:26because, you know, that thing you said is true until it's not.
06:31Yeah, right.
06:31About the durability they've had and relying on five guys.
06:34Like, that just doesn't happen in our game much anymore.
06:37And so, yeah, I mean, is there a wave of injuries coming
06:40or just something like Cantillo where, you know,
06:43I don't know what you do with him at this point
06:45because there's not necessarily an obvious lever to pull there.
06:49He might be better suited to the bullpen right now
06:51or just let his stuff play up and let him get back to the mindset
06:54of being in the zone because we saw it last year when he's in the zone.
06:57You know, people can't keep up with him.
06:59So, you know, and maybe just stick into his strengths,
07:03but maybe the way to do that is put him in the bullpen for a stretch again.
07:05I'm not sure, but my son just graduated kindergarten,
07:08so he has a lot to say.
07:10Congratulations.
07:11You're hearing him in the back.
07:13But, yeah, that's just the worry.
07:15It's just the overall depth of the organization.
07:16You know, is it there?
07:17Maybe that's – I really feel like this season could be similar to 2016
07:22where, I mean, they've got bullets to spend in their farm system.
07:26It's really strong right now, particularly on the position player side.
07:30They have depth there.
07:32As I said earlier, I mean, the American League, land of opportunity.
07:36This could be a great opportunity to not just have a team that makes the playoffs,
07:39which we're used to, but to actually, you know, get to the World Series.
07:43And, you know, is this a summer where they use some bullets at the trade deadline?
07:48And maybe, you know, maybe it happens to be on the starting pitching front
07:51or maybe it's a high-leverage reliever or a long reliever, whatever it is.
07:55But, you know, they should be able to go out and get something of value
07:58because, you know, they have the bullets to do that.
08:03Anthony Kastrovic joining us on the hotline.
08:05You can hear him as a part of MLB's morning lineup as well.
08:09Always a good listen to catch up on the previous days.
08:13Baseball, what happened in baseball, a couple play-by-play inside of there as well.
08:17Always wonderful to hear that one and get you ready to go for the day as well.
08:20What do you think is going on with Stephen Kwan and how concerned should Guardians fans be?
08:27Yeah, I mean, it's gone on long enough that it's a legit concern.
08:30We're talking about a full calendar year, you know.
08:32It's not just the first half thing.
08:34It's the second half of last year as well.
08:36And you never know, like, what a guy's dealing with physically
08:38or, you know, lingering from last year's issues or what.
08:41But there's also maybe some approach thing where, you know,
08:44maybe just mentally you just have to focus on singles and walks right now, you know,
08:48and let the extra base power come when it comes.
08:51Just get on base, you know.
08:52You just have to get on base.
08:54And if he's getting on base at a, you know, a high level,
08:59like 350, 360, 370 on base and providing the defense he provides,
09:03that's a really good player.
09:04But, you know, he's had stretches where he hits some home runs,
09:09and I don't know if that plays into his thinking or what.
09:12And, again, I don't know physically where he's at,
09:14but it's certainly a concern just given the length of time.
09:17All right, Yankees, they got two out of three from last week.
09:22Let's see what they can do against the Yankees.
09:24It seems to me, though, like they picked a pretty good time to have to play them
09:28against a Yankees team without Aaron Judge.
09:32Yeah, a completely different lineup without Aaron Judge.
09:34You know, they played pretty well without him last year.
09:37You know, he had an injury in the second half last year.
09:40But, yeah, by and large, I mean, the numbers are ridiculous
09:43when you look at the Yankees with Judge versus without Judge.
09:46You know, incredible player, Hall of Famer,
09:48but he unfortunately has had his share of injuries in his career as well.
09:51And this is a setback for them and, you know,
09:55prevents them from being that truly elite version of themselves.
09:58So what better time to kick some Yankee butt?
10:01How about our boy A.B.?
10:02Is he going to be in trouble at the end of the year
10:04if the Yankees can't, you know, be where they want them to be?
10:07Aaron Boone, I'm talking about.
10:09I know, yeah.
10:10You always want to.
10:10I mean, it's weird to me because, and I love Aaron Boone as a person.
10:13And I do feel like the World Series got away from them
10:18and got away from him individually in 2024.
10:22That game one, I don't think it was very well managed.
10:24And they haven't, you know, you know,
10:26that was as close as they've come in that era.
10:28And you think about Joe Girardi was fired in 2017.
10:31He had a better postseason record than Aaron Boone.
10:33Yeah.
10:35So it's always a conversation in the Bronx.
10:37They have a real good relationship there, you know,
10:40him and Cashman and that whole group.
10:41There's a lot of consistency there in general.
10:43But, yeah, I mean, it's always going to be a conversation
10:45when that team doesn't perform to its capabilities,
10:48which is really a long time now.
10:50They haven't won a World Series since 2009, which is, you know.
10:52Oh, I feel so bad for them.
10:54Their drought is brutal.
10:56Their fan base will tell you,
10:57especially because they refer to Cashman and Boone
10:59as Supreme Court justices at this point.
11:02That's right.
11:03That's right.
11:03Oh, my.
11:04Who would have thought the Knicks would have the chance
11:06to win the championship before the Yankees?
11:09Yeah, how about that?
11:10How about that?
11:11So, yeah, I mean,
11:12it's obviously a different conversation there than here.
11:14But they've been loyal to him.
11:15You know, I thought maybe he might be on the hot seat last year,
11:19but obviously it didn't happen.
11:20So, again, it's just a symbiotic relationship, you know,
11:26front office and manager.
11:27That's so important in today's game.
11:29It's not always the manager filling out the lineups.
11:32And, you know, it's a cohesive group.
11:34So teams will pin it on the manager when they feel like they need to.
11:39The Red Sox already did it.
11:40The Phillies already did it this year.
11:42But more and more, you know,
11:44that relationship is harder to sever because they work so closely together.
11:48All right, Anthony, other than touring with Bruce Springsteen,
11:50what else do you have going on?
11:51I know you've got the MLB morning lineup.
11:54So where else can the folks make sure that they can see our hometown hero on MLB.com?
11:59That's you.
12:00I'll just try to be a YouTube sensation.
12:03You know, we have the morning lineup is on YouTube,
12:04as well as all the podcast platforms.
12:06We have a series on YouTube called Going Deep,
12:09where, as the name implies, I go deep on various MLB topics.
12:14That's really fun to put together.
12:16And that's about it.
12:17Also, you can find my daughter, Lily,
12:19on the PGA Tours social media accounts from yesterday
12:22because Rory McIlroy gave her a ball at the memorial yesterday.
12:26Oh, that's awesome.
12:27Man.
12:28Oh, man.
12:29Good job.
12:30That's really cool.
12:31Did you go?
12:32Yeah.
12:33How was it?
12:33Yeah, we were all there.
12:34And Dan was there on the weekend, too.
12:36It was great.
12:37It was hot, but it was great.
12:39But, yeah, it's a great event.
12:40And, yeah, my daughter, they have the same birthday.
12:43She's eight, and she has the same birthday as Rory McIlroy.
12:45So that's her guy.
12:46And, yeah, he was nice enough to, between the ninth and tenth holes,
12:49come over and give her a ball.
12:50So that was really cool.
12:50That's outstanding.
12:51Did he know it was her birthday or no?
12:54You know, she yelled it out to him two holes earlier.
12:56I don't know if she's very meek and petite.
12:59So I don't know if he actually heard her, but she did yell it out.
13:00We have the same birthday, Rory.
13:02So, yeah, so my wife caught it on video,
13:05and then a friend of mine worked for the PGA Tour,
13:07and I sent it to him.
13:09And then he's like, oh, can we blast this on social media?
13:11Oh, cool.
13:12So now she's, you know, I hope she doesn't get a big head.
13:15She's a big star now.
13:16Oh, never a bigger star than her dad.
13:18Thank you, Anthony.
13:20See you.
13:21Thanks, guys.
13:21Thank you, Anthony.
13:22All right.
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