When Legends Strike: The Summer of Baseball's Highs and Lows

The Yankees are experiencing a frustrating summer slump with defensive issues and pitching injuries, losing their division lead as Clayton Kershaw makes MLB history by becoming just the 20th pitcher to record 3,000 career strikeouts. Toronto Blue Jays and Miami Marlins are the hot teams heading into the All-Star break, with the former taking the lead in the AL East and the latter climbing out of the division basement.

• Yankees playing poorly with sloppy defense, lazy at-bats, and bullpen struggles
• Clark Schmidt likely needs Tommy John surgery after a strong season
• Clayton Kershaw joins the elite 3000 strikeout club as only the 20th player in history
• Kershaw is one of only three players to achieve this milestone with one team
• Blue Jays take over AL East lead after sweeping Yankees and winning 9 of 10
• George Springer delivering clutch hits including grand slams in key moments
• Marlins winning 7 of 10 games and moving up from the bottom of their division
• All-Star game and draft coming up in Atlanta on July 15th
• RIP Dave Parker "The Cobra" - 7-time All-Star and Pirates legend

Chapters

• 0:00 Yankees' Summer Struggles
• 1:34 Clayton Kershaw Joins 3000 Club
• 3:19 Blue Jays and Marlins Heating Up
• 5:04 All-Star Break and Draft Preview
• 7:15 Remembering Dave Parker

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

How we doing baseball fans. The Yankees are taking the summer plunge. Kershaw's making history, the Martins and the Blue Jays are the hottest team in baseball. The all-star break and the draft is right around the corner. So grab you some peanuts and Cracker Jacks. Let's talk some baseball. All right, let's go ahead and talk about the Yankees. They're playing terrible baseball this summer Sloppy defense, lazy at bats, boone's making excuses, the bullpen can't find a stripe.

Speaker 1: 0:28

We lost the lead in the East. Clark Schmidt is out now for the season, probably going to need Tommy John surgery, and he's been so good man. I hate to see him injured like that. That's probably the worst thing that's happened this summer. When you put it all together, it's making me so frustrated I don't even think I'm going to watch any games this week. You know I'm just going to save until after the All-Star break. That means I'm going to miss the series against Seattle.

Speaker 1: 0:52

And you got Kyle Riley coming in with 35 home runs. You got Judgey with 33. And much respect to Judge, man. He's a bright spot, believe that Historic type of player, and I'm proud of him, man. But yeah, all right, maybe I'm going to watch the series, but I'm telling you, if they get sloppy, I'm changing the channel. If they don't bring me joy, that's it. I don't have to watch them, right? I mean that's the rule, right? Hey, it's tough to be a Yankee fan. Just because we got the most rings don't mean it's easy. You know what I'm saying.

Speaker 1: 1:33

But let's talk about something else. All right, how about Clayton Kershaw joining the 3000 club? He's one of only 20 players in all of baseball history to ever throw 3000 strikeouts. That's crazy. And he's one of only three players to do it with the same ball club. He's been a Dodger the whole time. He joins Walter Johnson of the Senators and Bob Gibson of the Cardinals. That's big history right there. And there's only four lefties that have thrown 3,000 strikeouts Steve Carlton, randy Johnson and my man, cece Sabathia. Pretty crazy, if you think about it, that's definitely an elite club. Listen, I'm no Dodger fan. I'll save that for my friend Harry Russell, but I'm a baseball fan and that's a big deal.

Speaker 1: 2:12

And it was pretty cool how he got it on a called third strike to end the inning, so he was able to walk off the field to a standing ovation. Something like 53,000 fans, including his family, were all standing up and cheering for him with their arms in the air, hugging and high-fiving each other. When they showed his family, his kids and everything, it just gave me chills. They were so full of pride and joy. You got to love a moment like that. It's nothing like baseball.

Speaker 1: 2:37

And like I say, if you think about all the players who've ever played this game, for only 20 pitches to ever throw for 3,000 strikeouts, that's a big deal you got to ask yourself who's next? Well, I did some research and there's two guys Chris Sims, with the Atlanta Braves. He's got 2,500. And then my man, gary Cole, has 2,250. They both happen to be on the IL though, so can they come back and throw another 750 strikeouts? 500 strikeouts.

Speaker 1: 3:08

I don't know about you. I'm not going anywhere. I'll stick around and see who's next to join the club, if anybody that may be it. I'll stick around and see who's next to join the club, if anybody that may be it. I may not be a Dodger fan, but I'm an Antonio Knowles fan. Key West's native son is in the Dodgers organization with the Tulsa Drillers, their double-A club, and he's dealing as they're closing. It's just a matter of time before they call him up, and with all the injuries to the Dodger lineup. I don't know what they're waiting on, but I know when he gets that call, key West is going to have a lot to celebrate.

Speaker 1: 3:38

Talking about pride and joy, let's go, antonio. I'm going to go ahead and tip my cap to the Toronto Blue Jays. They took over the lead in the East, they swept the Yankees, they won something like nine out of ten games. They're stacking wins like it's nobody's business. And George Springer, he's doing George Springer things, hitting grand slams and big home runs in key moments, which is what they were hoping for when they went and got him last year. And Guerrero, you gotta love him. The kid plays ball, just consistently does his thing. I gotta give a shout out to the Blue Jay fans because whenever the Yankees are in town, the other teams sell out. But in Toronto they were sold out and they was wearing red and they wasn't cheering for the Yankees. So much respect to the fans in Toronto. Where you at Billy Wardlow, much respect, man. But let's see how we finish.

Speaker 1: 4:28

And how about those Marlins? They playing ball, they won seven out of 10 and they're not at the bottom of the division anymore, they're right in the middle. You know, I'm not saying they're going to win it all. They got to get past the Phillies, right, but they're playing ball and giving the fans something to cheer for, and it's a much better view from the middle than it is from the bottom. Believe that. But now you got to wonder what are they going to do with their ace? Sandy Alcazar? Right, because even though he's struggling a little bit right now, his upside makes him a hot commodity With the trade deadline at the end of July. You got to think he's probably going to go somewhere. We'd welcome him in New York, but I don't think we need another banged up pitcher right now. This isn't the time for us to get a pitcher like that, but I'm sure he could do some teams some good. Who knows, maybe the Marlins will keep him and make a run for it.

Speaker 1: 5:17

The All-Star game and break is coming up. The game's on Tuesday, the 15th and Atlanta's hosting, so it's going to be a big party. The game itself is usually pretty boring, but I'm definitely going to watch a home run derby. I don't know who's all in it yet. I think only three or four guys have announced. Count Raleigh's in it for sure. He's making his first all-star appearance. You know I'm on the roof for the know. I mean, unless a Yankee joins at the last minute. You got the Braves Ronald Acuna's in it. He's going to get a lot of cheers and a lot of hype from the crowd. So that'll be fun and probably the only bright spot for the Nationals. James Wood that kid's like Aaron Judge, kind of big. Now hold on.

Speaker 1: 5:56

I almost forgot to give Jacob DeGrom a shout out. That's why I'm rocking his Stetson hat-a-hat. He's an all-star again, coming off Tommy John surgery. I think he's going to win comeback player of the year. He's having a great season with the Rangers again. He's looking good. He's got nine wins already. He'll probably get his 10th before the All-Star break. So hats off to Jacob DeGrom. You see what I did there Hats off, ha, let's go hats.

Speaker 1: 6:20

Also happening in Atlanta is the draft. Who's going to be the first pick? Will it be Cade Anderson of the LSU Tigers? He just showcased his stuff in the College World Series. It could be my boy, jamie Arnold. He's definitely going to go in the top 10. A lot of people say Liam Doyle from Tennessee will go. There's a couple of high school kids too that are in the mix Ethan Holiday. I'm pulling for one of the college kids over a high school kid to be the first pick, but at the end of the day it's going to be awesome and real exciting for those families and for us baseball fans. It's a whole new group of players to cheer for. So we'll see how it shakes out. I think the Nationals has the first pick and they just fired their coach and the GM, so that's going to be interesting to see what happens. If there's any GMs out there listening, go with Jamie Arnold. He's a safe bet and a good guy. Believe that.

Speaker 1: 7:10

On a more serious note, I got to say rest in peace to Dave Parker the Cobra. On a more serious note, I got to say rest in peace to Dave Parker the Cobra. He was a superstar player with the Pittsburgh Pirates when I was a kid in the 70s and 80s and sadly he passed away before the upcoming Hall of Fame induction that's set for the end of July. Parker was a seven-time All-Star Gold Glove winner, batting champion, mvp and World Series champion. Do yourself a favor and watch some of the highlight reels from Dave Parker. They don't make them like that anymore. What an athlete and superstar. Rest easy, sir, we'll wrap this episode right there. Let's go baseball.