Get some facts and come back and Seebee. Get some facts and come back
and Seebee. Don't pull out salaries or other things. Get some facts and
come back and Seebee. You can't handle the true now told our players you
need a bit more like a dog. We don't need a bunch of cats
in here. Looking in the mirror, I look good. I got my
extra bands on, I got my other shoes. Be a doll. We
don't need no meals. We don't need no cats. We need more dolls.
Were not a detain Oh you're not that detained. We weren't good.
There's no sense of asking me things about the game. I'm telling you.
We laid an egg. So I'm not gonna break it down for you.
He sucks. He sucked. He laid an egg. That's all I have
to say. Guys, I'm sorry. I'm not gonna break it down for
you. Nothing went well for us. It's on us. We have to
figure it out. Emily went ahow final hour of the program and excited to
have Jim Leeland. At the bottom of the hour at eight thirty five,
we will talk with the skipper and the acknowledgment of number ten being put up
on the wall at Comerica Park, where is some of the greatest who ever
played for the Tigers. He had a great line yesterday he said about when
he was originally brought into the Tigers organization as a player, but never made
it to the Tigers till until two thousand and six. And now he's having
his number retired. It's got to be a humbling experience for him, but
also just the love affair fans have with him. So we'll talk to him
about that and a whole lot more coming up at eight thirty five. He's
a good man. He's probably the best joke teller I've ever heard. I
miss his company at Comerica Park and on on the road as well, and
I missed our golf games in Lakeland. Very fortunate to to create a friendship
with Jim Leland, and I'm excited to have him on at eight thirty five
here on Exus and Bros. Ben is our producer. Sometimes he gets a
little lonely, so join him on the Meyer hotline eight six six eight three
eight forty eight forty three. You can also text us text us at Sports
Radio to twenty one thousand. Ben'll read those texts and we'll get your thoughts,
and we'll have some comments of our own. I know we've got somebody
on the line, Ben, who's called into the Meyer hotline here on a
Wednesday morning. Yeah, we got Freddy on the line. Freddy, how
are you my friend? Good morning, the chef, good morning. One
of those guys that asked, I'm one of those guys that absolutely loves Jim
Leland and definitely miss him, miss him and into dugouts and just it's just
it's just too much to say. And you know, kind of you know,
kind of ironic now on a kind of on the sad note, the
year he makes the Hall of Fame, he was part of one of those
one of those big moves in the playoffs, because this is kind of the
point of my phone call, was he brought up a kid from the miners
in the playoffs, kid named Tim Wakefield in a big moment. I believe
he pitched Game one. And the year this Jim Lina makes the Hall of
Fame, Tim Wakefield passes away. Just kind of ironic. I know it's
a sad I know it's a sad moment. But I know you remember that,
I know you remember that when they called him up and and uh,
just knuckleballer coming up and pitching in a game one of a playoff series,
a big, big series, I believe versus Atlanta just incredible, just just
you know, I mean, Major League Baseball playoffs are just absolutely incredible.
And that was a big, big moment. But I have a couple of
comments about the Tigers. I you know, a couple of comments that you
were talking about this morning. First of all, you were talking about the
kid that refused the ring. First, Nick immediately thought of, yes,
the first kid. The first guy I thought about was, imagine if Rick
Mahorn, Remember when Rick Mahorn won the championship in eighty nine and then the
Timberwolves picked him up. Yeah, and during the parade, I believe in
he took his ring. He didn't say nothing, So that that came to
mind. And then uh, dual running back, this guy came to mind
for me. Shop is work done to have a bay in Atlanta? Great
running back? Good ones? Right yeah. Yeah. So but on the
Tigers, you know, I heard the callers say, hey, if you
get if you get to that playoffs, I don't know, I don't know
what he said. You don't may not have a chance or something. Listen,
pitching wins in the playoffs. I mean, we just talked about Wakefield
bringing him up with you know, he the moment he had, Jeff.
I mean, we can go back Jack Morris, and we'll go back to
a lot of examples, but pitching wins in the playoffs. And if this
pitching stands for real and we get to the playoffs, it's because they're for
real. I wouldn't want to face I wouldn't want to face School Bowl rees
and uh Flaherty and whoever whoever's hot at that time. And how do we
not know a guy like Jackson Joe doesn't get called up late in the season
if he's having a great year and he's that guy. I remember in two
thousand and two for the California Angels, I believe they were California Angels at
the time, they brought up a kid number fifty seven. His name excase
me. He close for the Tigers. I can't think of his name right
now, but he was absolutely incredible in those playoffs in the World Series.
He won them that World Series. Yeah, in two thousand and two,
they called him up late in the season and he was their guy that won
in that World Series. I mean, he wasn't the only guy, but
he was. He was huge for them in the in the bullpen. So
I wouldn't If the Tigers can get there, they have the pitching to win
a playoff series. They really do, so I would. I wouldn't count
them all if they got there, and there's no way I wouldn't do it.
So that's kind of what I thought about when I heard the phone call.
I'm like, no, man, if they if they got the pitching
here, I think they can do in the playoffs. It's a good call.
Touchdown a lot of really good things. Is always thanks Freddy, have
a great day. They were known as Anaheim back then, not not not
California. But who cares? That's splitting hairs. Yes they I do.
That's why I said, I said school ball Flaherty Olsen, you would not
feel good about that. I would. The question I think some people might
have. I'm not saying that that that Scott had this and the phone call,
but the question they might have is could they win it all? Winning
a series is one thing. Winning the best two out of three is one
thing. Could you win a best of seven series? I know it depends
on who you're up against. But look, you're asking an awful lot of
those pitchers to be dialed in every start when you have the offensive deficiencies this
team has. But like you said, and I would concur with you,
I don't think you sit there and go, ah, we have no shot
whatsoever. I sure wouldn't sacrifice the future, though I would not sacrifice the
opportunity to keep this thing on the tracks. If you already think it is
on the tracks. Now that's debatable. It is whether or not we think
this team is close or this team has the personnel within its system to maintain
success over an extended period of time in this division. And I know we
bring this up a lot, but it's worth bringing up because it's not a
real strong division in this division. If you should be able to contend for
an extended period of time, if you have those right building blocks, how
has Cleveland done it? I mean, to Freddie's point, how has Cleveland
done it? Cleveland's done it with pitching and a superstar in Jose Ramirez,
and he is he's a superstar. He's a phenomenal player. And you know,
some really nice fill in pieces. But they've also to their credit,
they've also known when to get out when certain guys have run their course.
This is a tricky, tricky part of managing sports, not just baseball,
but sports in general. When do I say enough is enough? When am
I done with Todd Gurley? When am I done with certain players that we
don't feel can play up to that potential anymore? I used Cleveland as example.
Corey Klueber, I use Cleveland as example. Mike Clevinger moving on.
Well, that's that's why they're supposed to get paid big bucks. They're supposed
to be able to see and understand that stuff. I do want to get
to the CJ. Stroud comments, and we will do that when we come
back. And then Jim Leland at eight thirty five on a Wednesday morning on
Exus and bro stay with us. We're teeing off our tenth year at the
Meyer LPGA Classic for simply give. Get ready for the best who are yet
to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf, food and family fun. Join
us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country Club for fabulous food, discoveryland
for kids, and of course, elite women golfers from around the world,
competing to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets now at Meyer LPGA Classic
dot com eighteen after the hour on extras and Bros Baseball lifer Jim Leland will
join us at the bottom of the hour. Why why is he a lifetime
baseball guy? What is it about the sport? And it's not like he
needs some money. It's not like he wants to go to certain places.
He's been everywhere. The gold, gold medalist, right the World Series champion,
He's a Hall of Famer. Amazing accomplishments for a man who's given so
much to the game of baseball, Why does he keep doing it? So
just one of the questions among many that we'll have with Jim Leland at the
bottom of the hour. I've teased this for a little bit, now I
want to get to it. CJ. Stroud Rookie of the Year, rightfully,
so hell of a player as Houston is the favorite in the AFC South
and a team that some people truly believe with some of their additions, are
on the cusp of being a challenger in the AFC overall. Okay, with
teams like Kansas City and Baltimore for example, I read to you what he
said about Aaron Rodgers and how he wonders if Aaron Rodgers was as good to
his teammates as a guy like Tom Brady because he's Rogers only got the one
ring. I say, only you win the ring. It changes everything,
doesn't it. Here's what CJ. Stroud he said. I'm a student of
the game and that's all I watch. I watch nobody else except for Stafford.
He said. I'll watch Mahomes at times because Mahomes does stuff I like.
But you can't touch that Stafford. He'll beat you with the same thing
every time. I'm a fan of his, not of Rogers, but of
Stafford. During the interview on this podcast, Stroud said this about Stafford too,
because, as I mentioned, Rogers has the one ring. He said,
if you give Matthew Stafford a chance like Aaron Rodgers had, I guarantee
you he might have had more rings. I'd say he would have had like
three or four rings. Okay, Well, I like Matthew Stafford too.
I think Aaron Rodgers is an unbelievable talent. I think c J. Stroud
has an incredible future. And I don't mean to sound nitpicky here piece says,
I get if you give me Matthew Stafford a chance like Aaron Rodgers,
that I guarantee you he might have had more rings. You can't have a
guarantee and might. At the same time, I don't know how he figures
he'd have three or four. That's a really tough thing to project. But
I do understand, appreciate respect how much he has for Stafford's game. I'm
not going to sit here and say Lions fans should wish they had him back
because Jared gossipin pretty damn good. I'm not going to sit here and suggest
that Detroit Lions fans owe him an apology either they don't. Many were wrong
about him, but that doesn't mean you have to apologize. But I would
say when you have a young talent like this who's inspired by one of your
own, because he must have been inspired at least for the most part in
his collegiate days, by watching him play for the Lions. He wasn't watching
him play at Georgia. I don't think. I think he's watching him play
for Detroit and then obviously with the Rams over the last few seasons. It
does say something about those of us who were supporting him while he was here,
despite his constantly being ridiculed because they weren't winning enough. It does say
something about the talent that was recognized by many of us who covered him here.
I really admit there are certain things that Stafford did while here in Detroit
that made me like him more than just his on field performance. You can
consider that a fault, and you'd probably be right. It can be difficult,
I think, in sports to separate the emotional part of things and the
statistical and you know, tangent things that you can prove while Stafford was here.
I like the fact that he reached out the community. I like the
fact that he partnered with Mitch Album for a football field in Detroit and helped
West Bloomfield firefighters who may have lost loved ones or families of West Bloomfield firefighters
or firefighters in general. I liked that he did things under the radar and
he wasn't looking for a me moment. On top of that, I like
the way he handled himself in the media and with the fans, And I
really like the way he performed. Doesn't mean he wasn't to blame for a
lot of things. Because he was, but he's still the best quarterback the
franchise has had. Just because you don't win doesn't mean you're not the best,
right. I mean, if you'd rather have Bobby Lane, it's a
hell of a player. I'll take Matthew Stafford. But to have a guy
like CJ. Stroud, who most of us who follow this sport, and
I think a lot a lot of people were surprised at how well he adjusted
and how good he was. But I think I think his opinion carries a
lot of weight. Obviously, one guy mattered that much to him, influenced
him enough. It's not the reason he was named the Rookie of the Year.
Okay, let's not go that far. But he is, don't kidd
yourself. He's a guy who studied the former Lions quarterback and was impacted by
that player's arm angle throws when so many people criticized him. You remember rich
Gannon, Right, how can you throw a sidearm? Now it's the coolest
thing and everybody does it. From two a tongue of Aloa to Patrick Mahomes,
they're all doing it and everybody thinks it's really cool and amazing. It's
always amazed me how certain athletes, based on their track record, they do
something and it's ridiculed. A winner does something and it's praised, or does
the same thing and it's praised. I used to say that about Brett farv
all the time. Brett Favre throws a touchdown pass and the end of the
game, takes his helmet off, runs down the field, hugs the guy
in the end zone, and it's one big love affair on a national broadcast
because the passion that he displays, somebody else does it and it's not viewed
as that. Instead, it's viewed act like you've been there before. I've
noticed that a little bit. When Stefford used to wear his hat backwards at
the podium, people were blown away. How can you it's so disrespectful.
I see some of the world's best tennis players where their hats back while playing
the game, not in a press conference, while playing the game itself.
On the other side, Jim Leland, he'll join us. We will talk
about the latest and greatest accomplishment that he will receive. It'll take place in
early August before a game against the Kansas City Royals at Comerica Park, when
number ten goes on the outfield wall. We'll get his thoughts on that and
more when Jim Leland joins us on Exis and Bros. Right after this.
Rocks Best plays at Soaring Eagle Casino in Resorts Sunday two twenty third Motley Crew
on Friday August ninety Loved Live, Don't miss Leonard skinnerd and z z Ta,
all part of the Soaring Eagle Summer up to our concert series. Tickets
for all shows on zelm now at the Fox office and etics dot com,
which at the entire lineup at Soaring Eagle Casino dot com. We're teeing off
our tenth year at the Meyer LPGA Classic for simply gives. Get ready for
the best too, are yet to help neighbors in need while enjoying golf,
food and family fun. Join us June thirteenth through the sixteenth at Blakefield Country
Club for fabulous food, discoveryland for kids, and of course, elite women
golfers from around the world competing to help feed our neighbors. Get your tickets
now at Meyer LPGA Classics dot com. What's up, Michigan. You're listening
to my good friend Shep the huge show is coming up later today at three
right here on the Michigan Sports Network thirty five after the hour, Welcome back
on Exus and Bros. Throughout the Great state of Michigan. We're on and
Plint and Cadillac, Ron and Grand Rapids and Grayling and Gaylord, Midland,
Saginaw, Bay City, Potoski, Charlotte Boyd, Traverse City. That's where
you can hear us throughout the Great State of Michigan. And that's where we
pick it up with our good friend Jim Leland, who's a Hall of Famer.
He's a three time Manager of the Year, He's won a World Series,
three pennants. He's the best joke teller I've ever heard. He's also
a hell of a golfer. And he will have his number ten retired in
August at Comerica Park, and rightfully so when he joins us here on Exus
and Bro Skip, great to have you. How are you, Matt,
How you doing, Buddy? I'm doing fantastic. Hey, when you hear
this news, who comes to mind who influenced your life and your baseball career?
Well, my dad, I think first of all my dad and mom
really, but my dad most of all. I mean as a kid,
like a lot of dads have you out in the backyard. You know,
we had a lot of fun playing catch, and you know, he was
a big baseball fan, a little bit of a player himself, not professional,
but semi pro. And I know that he'd be really proud of this,
as my mother would be. I think I thought of my parents right
off the bat. Yeah, you're a baseball lifer. You've accomplished an unbelievable
amount in your career. Why are you still doing it? Well? I
love it and I still love it. I mean, I you know,
I don't go certainly at the pace that you used to have to go at
when you're managing or playing whatever, but I still like it. I got
back from Area a few days ago. I'm going out to Toledo next week
to see her top a club, and you know, just hopefully he's going
to make a little contribution, as Scott calls you and ask you about some
players. I go to spring training, as you know, for the whole
month to watch all the games, and I love it. I watched the
Tigers every night. Another great win last night, very close game, and
you know, it's just it's still I still get a rush with watching it
and participating a little bit, but certainly, you know, not at the
pace you used to have to go at it. Yeah. I was always
amazed in talking to you or listening to you, either it be in spring
training or during games, about how much baseball you know and what you look
for. And I know this is a challenging question, but I'm going to
ask it anyway. When you watch young players, what do you look for
to try and differentiate them from anybody else. Well, I look at how
they handle the ups and downs, probably more than anything else. Obviously,
their skills are out there in front of you, whether they control or run,
or they got getting power that you haven't seen yet, which usually comes
late for young players. But the other thing I look for the toughness in
a player. And you can tell that by getting to know the player.
That's why I spent so much time talking to players individually in the outfield before
games and stuff. You could you get an idea, Plus you get an
idea who can slow the game down and who can't. Who speeds it up
in a big moment, who slows it down in the big moment. You
can tell a lot of times while their personalities, you can tell why they're
demeanor, and I think all those things are important. I think the other
thing is I was very fortunate. It was normally you know, I don't
mean it's a Samrang, but I was normally pretty good at being patient,
because you have to be patient. The Tigers are going through some of that
stuff right now. I just sent Cardos it down. You know, I
sent a lot of good players down that came back to be really good major
league players. He'll be back. If he's a real deal, he'll be
back. And there's no doubt in my mind he's the real deal. So
you've got to have patience. You got to have understanding, You got to
know one to pull the trigger. I think, like AJ said, and
I certainly agree with that, it's hard to fix things sometimes at the major
league level. And even though it's you know, it's a little discouraging for
the player itself, in the long run, it usually turns out best.
I you had a great line the other day. You said, I signed
with the Tigers in nineteen sixty three. I didn't get to Detroit until two
thousand and six, which is kind of funny but obviously true. Anytime you
do, or are associated with some type of presentation or awards ceremony or out
there meeting with people, you feel the love. I mean, you get
the biggest ovations of anybody. How does how does that make you feel?
Number one? And number two? Is that surprising at all to you that
people have just gravitated towards you and stayed with you for so long, knowing
the great memories you've given them, Well, it surprising a little bit,
to be honest with you. But I always looked at I think the one
thing I appreciate that I'll never forget is those people that came out to the
park. They worked hard all day, and my job was to work hard
for them all night. I mean, they're out there supporting their families all
day long. I think we developed a relationship. I was one of them.
I worked in a factory, I worked at a post office. I've
seen the real life, so to speak, and I always I always marveled
at how they worked hard all day and try to get some supper for the
kids and rush out to the ballpark to see the game. That's amazing to
me. But not to mention spending their money. So I always felt like
it was our responsibility as a team, you know, to make sure we
were work and hard for them each and every time they gave me to the
ballpark. And I think for the most part we did that, and I
think we all developed a relationship. I don't think the fans will ever know
how much their excitement and enthusiasm meant to our ball clubs when I was there.
They may have think it went unnoticed, but a dim they were a
source of energy for those teams when I was in Detroit. That was unbelievable
and I'm so appreciative of that. Yeah, he's the Hall of Famer.
Jim Leland Joiner is here on Exis and Bros. You had mentioned you've worked
in a factory, post office, things of that nature. What of the
jobs that you grew up doing prepared you best and which characteristics served you best
to make you such a great manager? Well, I don't know that as
a great manager, but I well, you're a Hall of Foy man.
You're a Hall of Fame man. You may downplay it, but you're a
Hall of Fame manager. Come on, I understand, but you know,
I just think you know, my dad was one of sixteen children. I'll
never forget this. I had so many different aunts and uncles, and it
was amazing to me for some reason, as a younger person, I noticed
all those different personalities and what made them work, and which one got irritable,
which one didn't, which one had a sense of humor, which one
didn't. I kind of, I don't know, that just kind of fell
on me, to be honest with you. But I think you know,
like you know, work in construction and working in the post office, working
in a factory, you got to know how people felt about a lot of
things, and you know you heard, you know, you heard things about
their tough times, you heard things about their great time. It's the real
world out there, and I always felt that I've realistically been part of that.
How do you treat today's young players maybe differently than you treated the players
you managed? Oh, I wouldn't treat them any different because I always treated
them in the West I could. I always felt that I was fair.
I think I think that's so misleading when they talk about the young players different.
I don't think it's differ at all. People are people, and I
always felt like my job as a manager and our coach's staff was to get
the best version of the player, and how you get the best out of
Ends might not have been the same way you get the best out of Maglio.
So you had to figure all those things out. But our job was
to get the best version of the player, make him the best player he
could be, which ultimately went into the team concept that made us the best
team we could be. So, you know, I don't think it's any
different. I believe in my heart to this day that young people are looking
for discipline. They may not show it. They may be a little macho,
you know, they may be a little vacy the time, but I
believe, deep down inside, I think they're looking for leadership. I think
there's so many famous stories about how you established your way of how it was
going to be with a certain team. Why did you think that was so
vital, especially early on, whether it will be you in Pittsburgh, Florida,
Detroit, Colorado, wherever it may be. Well, I think I
emphasized that we're not going to do things my way. That was always my
line. I know that Sparky's line was this my way or the highway,
which was fine. It worked out pretty good. He's a Hall of Fame
manager. My line was, we're not going to do things my way,
We're going to do things the right way. And you know that's that's just
the way I thought about it, and that's the way I approached it.
What does this Tigers team? It's so hard in a baseball season skip to
try engage whether or not you believe or don't believe in a team. I'm
talking to fans now and I talk to him every day, and it's a
roller coaster, just like it's an emotional roller coaster for you guys when you
when you coached and played, What would you encourage Tigers fans to watch,
not just this month, but maybe the rest of the year about this team
on whether or not they truly want to buy in. Well, I would
hope that the fans buy in. And I'm not one of those guys.
I understand the patience line and all that, and I know fans get tired
of that. I totally get that. But the one thing that I will
say about the Tigers right now, the Tigers, in my opinion, are
well on their way because and this is the reason I say this, I'm
a big believer in pitching, and the Tigers have some of the best young
pitching in all of baseball. When you're sending the school and Celerity and Olsen
and Miz out there, Tiger fans could be encouraged because that's, you know,
the fifth guy they've floated around with a little bit. But that's each
time that one of those guys goes out there, you've got a chance to
win the game. I totally believe that. And I know if the offense
is going to get a little there's got to get a little better. There's
no question about that. I see you've seen a little bit right, a
green up and down a little bit. I think he now has eleven home
runs or maybe twelve, you know, so that might take a little bit
of time. But I think Tiger fans more than ever should be encouraged because
they have the number one ingredient that it begins with and it ends with,
and that's starting pitching, in my opinion, So I think they have a
lot to look forward to it. And we have more pitching comer too,
So it's you know, it's pretty good, to be honest with you,
and you know the offense you're going to go through some growing page with young
hitters. That's just the way it is. It's a totally that's the one
part of the game that's different. It happened when I managed towards the end,
but for years it didn't happen. When you got to three and one
count, three and two count, you were going to get a fastball the
hitter. You very rarely ever see a fastball three one, three two anymore.
I left the guys just so overpowering. That's the one thing that's why
it's made it so difficult to hit. Plus, a lot of guys are
using their pitches a little shorter, so you're seeing different pitches. But in
the case of the Tigers that's starting pitching, there's seven innings in about four
of those guys potentially every time they go out, and that's a very very
good start. How many at bats does it take for a young hitter to
try to adjust to the major league level because so many people are up and
down on as you mentioned Torklesen, Cole Keith and young players. I keep
stressing fifteen hundred. How far off am I on that? Well, I
think you're pretty close. I think we were set about twelve hundred, and
I would never doubt ear he was pretty good so he said about twelve hundred,
and I think, like you said, the power comes a little bit
later. Like I mentioned earlier in the show, the power comes a little
bit later. And you know, but it's really a grind, and there's
nothing wrong with players getting sent back down and then I'm actually coming back up.
I mean, in Tarcles's case, Turckleson had thirty one home runs in
the big leagues last year. That's pretty good. I mean, you've got
to have some ability to do that. So is he out of whack right
now? Evidently? I really don't know the you know, what the deal
is with the you know, his batting stance or his hands or his feet.
I don't know all that, but you know, it does take some
time. But I think it all goes back to what I mentioned earlier in
the show. It's about toughness, and the tough guys come back and they
come back pretty good. I had Jeff King and Jay Bell and Denny Nagel.
I have about a bunch of them that came back to really be good,
big big players. Jim Leland with it's just a couple of more.
When you and I were in Lakeland last year, you had a putt off
the first hole from about eighty feet you're in the fair way. You took
a putter out rather than chipping it on, and I asked you, I
said, skip, you're not going to chip that. And you told me
something that Arnold Palmer told you. Do you still live by that and tell
our audience what that was? Oh? Yeah, I definitely still live about
it. Arnie. I played with Arnie a couple of times, fortunately,
and he told me that. He said, anytime you can get that putter
in your hand, get the putter in your hand. Plus, I'm not
a good chipper, so I use the putter a lot. I guess they
call it a Texas wedge or something whatever they call it. But yeah,
I'll never forget playing with Armie. One time we were walking. It was
the whole golf experience, and I played really good on the front for me.
When I say good for me, I shot a forty one on the
front of the Laurel Valley. I was so tickled. I part number ten
and then I start to fall apart and Nie can see that I'm getting upset,
and he come over and put his arm around me, said Jim,
just to enjoy this experience. You're not good enough to get mad, and
I've never gotten mad again on a golf course. It was the best advice
I ever got. You know, I had the same advice. I had
the same advice by a pro I was playing with at Warwick Hills and I
used to get really upset and he said, you can't let that happen.
I said, I know, but you know I must have opened the club
a little bit. And he says, no, no, I'm not referring
to the shot. I'm referring to your attitude. You're not good enough to
get that angry. And that changed my entire outlook. It changed my entire
Routelok, Yeah, I agree. I played golf with good friends now,
and that's who you play with. You know, I think it's more important
who you played with, who's in your four shore or whatever able part of
golf. And you know I can't hit it very fire anymore of us still
enjoy it? All right? If you could have one foursome, the best
foursome ever, I don't care what they do now, and I don't care
how good of a golfer they would be. It's about the company and stuff.
Who would they be who would be in your foursome, uh, Gina
Mott, Don Zimmer, and Tony LaRusso wow, that's impressive. So a
quick story about Don Zimmer. One of the first assignments I ever had.
I was at Yankee Stadium and Don Zimmer was a coach then, and he
was across the way and it was a rain delay, and I was in
the Tigers dugout, the visiting dugout, and I see Don Zimmer over there,
and I went up to Don Zimmer and I said, mister Zimmer,
great to meet you. Just want to tell you my dad and I used
to have debates about great hitters all the time, and I would bring up,
you know, the various hitters in my generation. My dad would mention
Williams and May's and Demagio and Mantle. He'd say, Son, you don't
know what the hell a good hitter is. These are the good hitters.
Don Zimmer looked at me, spit because he was dipping. He's spit and
he goes sounds like a smart man, and that was it. That was
about the extent of conversation. Yeah, he was one of my all time
favorites. I talked to him every day. We lost him a few years
back, but yeah, he was one of the baseball studies for so many
years and a great guy, a lot of fun, you know, just
a great competitor and was certainly was instrumental in those Yankee championships with Joe Torre.
Yeah. Well, you were inspirament and instrumental in so many people's fondness
for the game of baseball here in Detroit. It's it's an honor to talk
to you as always. Really appreciate it and appreciate everything you've done for me.
Thanks for the time. Congratulations on the number being retired. It should
be retired. It's well deserved. You're up there with the all time greats.
Have a great rest of your weekend. Okay, and thanks for the
time. Today's skip, Matt, thank you very much. You bet Jim
Leland joining us here on XUS and bro what a man, what a great
dude. And I can be on it. I'm telling you right now,
best joke teller I've ever heard. I mean, one of the things I
miss more than anything. Do I miss calling games? Absolutely? Do I
miss being at the ballpark for sure? Do I miss being in the clubhouse,
yes, But the chance to just visit before a game with guys like
that and just talk baseball sometimes. Like Hen and I disagreed on a couple
of things. The chemistry thing he just mentioned. The pitching. I think
it's really important to be able to score runs too. But you know,
I know, pitching does win. I mean, Freddy said it earlier today
in our conversations. Freddie said, hey, you know what, you know,
you get a chance to win in a series, absolutely, and Jim
just said the same thing. Those guys are going to give you a chance
to win games every single time they're on the bump. That's what you need
from your starting pitching, and Detroit's getting that. The offense is got to
come though. He truly believes that Spencer Torkolsen went right, can hit forty
homers in the league. He told me that a year ago and thirty one.
You got to have some ability to do it. You don't just that's
not a mistake. You might turn turn into a few here or there,
but you're hitting thirty one homers. No, no, no, that's not
by mistake. That is not luck. Okay. I don't know who the
player is yet. I don't know if he's last year or earlier this year.
You don't know it either, so that's why it's tough to be patient.
But you have to be patient. Really enjoyed that conversation with Jim Leland.
Hope you did too,