Frank The Tank
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00:00Baseball season's here, and you know, we're getting ready to hit the heart of summer,
00:06and who better join us than John Heyman of MLB Network, you know, let's go for a walk
00:12and talk about how the season's going and what we can come up to see over the next couple
00:16of months.
00:17All right, looking forward to it, Frank, great to be here.
00:19Beautiful.
00:20All right, let's go.
00:21Frank, Frank, Frank.
00:26Frank Waltz, Frank Waltz, it's time for Frank Waltz.
00:31We're in the heart of Midtown.
00:33Yes.
00:34You're a New Jersey guy, though.
00:36I have to say, the New Jersey Transit, I'm a little disappointed because they're pretty,
00:42compared to the subway, and here you hear the subway, not that terrible, but I understand
00:47you missed the Mets' home opener or something because they were late, right?
00:51I actually think New York City's subway is pretty reliable.
00:54Not, eh, depends which one.
01:00You know, I've got to do the NW, that's not so great.
01:04NRW, but some of them are reliable.
01:07I'm kind of with you.
01:07I mean, the 7's always, it's slow, but it's pretty much reliable.
01:13I mean.
01:14Have you ever gotten the Express?
01:16I've gotten it three times.
01:17It doesn't run very well.
01:19They claim it is an Express, but I don't see it.
01:20It's not an Express.
01:21It skips three stops.
01:23And Express only hits the major stops.
01:28Not every stop, and that is a long line.
01:31It's a 40-minute train ride from Hudson Yards.
01:36All right.
01:37Well, you're in New Jersey, so you travel a long way to go to the Mets' games.
01:40Yes, I do.
01:40You are a real fan.
01:41Now, the season's now, we're now at where we can actually get a picture of the season.
01:49After Memorial Day, we're into June, and we're starting to see the stories develop.
01:56Absolutely.
01:57The story line's developed.
01:57And they're good, right?
01:58You've got to be happy with the way things are going.
02:00Yeah, I can't complain about the Mets.
02:02Yeah, I mean, there were a couple of rough moments.
02:04I mean, there are moments where every game where I feel like something bad's going to happen,
02:09but I mean, that's just my natural pessimism from scar tissue of nearly 40 years of frustration
02:19since 86.
02:20Yeah, and I understand in 86, you missed the ending due to your parents making you go to bed.
02:26Well, very sad.
02:29Something you'll never forget.
02:32But things are going great.
02:34You know, I get it.
02:35You know, a few weeks ago, there were some rough moments,
02:38and I love the Jeff McPheeble line.
02:42That was one of my favorites.
02:44You know, you're good.
02:45You're funny.
02:46We've got to get you unblocked.
02:47I mean, I'm okay blocking people, but you should not be blocked by anybody.
02:52You are a true fan.
02:54I mean, he's actually having a decent year.
02:57He's been hitting lately, so I've got to be happy about that.
03:02Soto looks like he's finally settled in after, like, I mean, the Yankee press,
03:09and I'm going to start calling that Yankee press.
03:11I mean, they talk about the mainstream media,
03:16and they have all these different media things.
03:20It's the Yankee press.
03:22I mean, everything you say seems to be honest with the Yankees.
03:26It's good for the Yankees.
03:28I mean, you go to a Yankee game, it feels like they actually basically think that they invented baseball.
03:36They invented America.
03:37That's what the Yankees actually do.
03:40Well, you know, every team has, you know, the MLB.com writer and, you know, the website writer for the TV station,
03:51for the RSN, and there are, you know, people who cover the team who are kind of working for the team.
03:59But, you know, they obviously have a big presence with the Yankees because, you know,
04:02they're the big, quote-unquote, biggest team.
04:05But I'm with you.
04:06That narrative that he wanted to be a Yankee, I don't buy it.
04:10If he wanted to be a Yankee, he would have been a Yankee.
04:13I think he was kind of undecided.
04:16He couldn't quite figure it out.
04:17And he talked to his family.
04:19I think his family liked the idea of the Mets.
04:21They were very impressed by Steve Cohen and Alex Cohen and the whole situation.
04:28And it probably didn't hurt that they were getting a luxury box.
04:31And they talked it over, and he went with the Mets.
04:33I do think he was kind of undecided.
04:35It probably was like just a little thing that put him over the top, and it was ridiculous.
04:44But it looks like he's settled in, and I think the key moment happened in L.A.
04:50When the Mets had that game in L.A., and for the first time,
04:53it looked like he was actually playing along with the team.
04:56So he was doing the bottle flip.
04:59Yes.
04:59And that was like, seeing that was like, okay, now it looks like he's finally, like,
05:05really part of this team.
05:07Well, I think he's getting to be more himself.
05:09He did a little bit of shuffling.
05:11He did a little bit of a jig walking back in L.A.
05:14I was out there for the post, and we talked about that at that time.
05:18I wrote something about it, that he was looking more like himself.
05:21I do think he is an introvert.
05:23I think he's a quiet guy, and it's going to take him a little while to settle into the clubhouse.
05:29And, you know, it feels like it's not been that bad compared to some other guys.
05:35Carlos Beltran, who's a terrific talent and was a great Met, ultimately.
05:40Same thing, started slow.
05:41You know, there were a number of guys, Yankees and Mets, Giambi, Alex Rodriguez, who, you know,
05:48put too much pressure on themselves at the beginning.
05:50I think David Stern said it correctly, that, you know, it was the contract.
05:54I mean, this is an all-time contract, right?
05:56$765 million.
05:58That's, you know, ultimately, his contract is worth like $300 million more than Ohtani's contract.
06:05So it was a lot of pressure, and he did put it on himself.
06:09I think he's out of it now, but you never know, of course.
06:13You know what helps is Francisco Lindor.
06:18I mean, he's the captain, but he hasn't been officially named captain yet.
06:23It's got to happen.
06:25It's got to happen.
06:26He's not named the captain.
06:28I love the idea.
06:29I've written about it.
06:30I've suggested it.
06:31We had Steve Cohen on the podcast for The Post with Joel Sherman, and it didn't feel like
06:37Cohen was embracing the idea.
06:39He wasn't like, no, no, no, that's not going to happen.
06:42But he kind of said, you know, most teams don't have a captain, and, you know, he kind
06:48of suggested it might take a little while to do that.
06:52So I'm not sure that's going to happen so quickly.
06:55I'm with you.
06:56I think Lindor is fantastic.
06:58You know, some people will look at him and say, oh, he's smiling all the time.
07:01It's a little like Gary Carter or Steve Garvey or Adrian Gonzalez, like it's not real.
07:06But in his case, I think it's real.
07:08I think he's a real guy, just like you're a real guy.
07:11I mean, he's the captain not being named captain, and I got a sneaky suspicion.
07:19When David Wright gets his number retired, you might have an announcement that weekend.
07:23You think so?
07:25It seems natural.
07:27I don't know.
07:27I don't know.
07:28It seems natural.
07:29I don't know.
07:30Well, if you hear about it, give me that scoop.
07:32You know, I'd love that.
07:33But I'm not feeling that.
07:35I am with you.
07:37I would make him the captain.
07:38I think he's terrific.
07:40He's been there a long time.
07:41I don't know whether it's because, I mean, Nimmo's obviously been there a long time, and
07:44he has a great personality as well.
07:46But, I mean, Lindor is going to be in the Hall of Fame.
07:48And he's got a 10-year deal with the Mets, and he's got a great personality.
07:53I'm with you.
07:54I think they're making a little mistake there if they don't make him the captain.
07:59Now, we're talking about the early part of the season is, there's been some disappointed
08:06teams.
08:08And one of them is a direct rival of the Mets.
08:12Oh, the Braves.
08:13Yes.
08:14You've got to be pretty pleased about that, Frank.
08:16I'm actually stunned.
08:18I keep expecting him to turn it around.
08:20Yeah.
08:20But I just don't know.
08:22Now they're even starting to talk of whispers of them selling.
08:27Yeah.
08:28I mean, they're 10-under as we do this.
08:30So, I mean, anything is possible.
08:34You know, they made some mistakes in the offseason, which they rarely do.
08:38I mean, first of all, they didn't spend.
08:40They let Max Fried go.
08:41They let Griffin Canning go.
08:43How about Griffin Canning?
08:43That is...
08:44How about him?
08:45He's my neighbor.
08:47We live in the same building.
08:48Oh, wow.
08:48He lives right below me.
08:50He's a terrific guy.
08:51He's been shockingly good, you know?
08:55The Mets pitching lab.
08:56I mean, Jeremy Hefner.
08:58I mean, he's looking like the top pitching coach in baseball right now.
09:03The fact that he takes these guys who are, like, media...
09:06Griffin Canning was terrible last year.
09:10And he's having such a good year at the Mets.
09:12I mean, that's got to speak to what Hefner is doing.
09:17Absolutely.
09:17I mean, he gave up the most runs in the American League last year.
09:21It was released by...
09:22Basically released non-tendered by the Braves.
09:25And, I mean, that is a great thing that the Mets got this really excellent, very dependable pitcher from the Braves.
09:33He's basically...
09:34He could be an all-star the way he's pitched.
09:36But I'm with you on Hefner.
09:38I think he's kind of the team MVP at this point.
09:40I think he's been really just fantastic.
09:43He's great at his job.
09:44Now, the Mets have...
09:46Things going well.
09:49Now, we're going to have the trade deadline come up.
09:52And I don't know if they should probably move it to maybe mid-August, since they don't do the non-waiver moves anymore.
09:59But who could become available?
10:02What are some of the big names that might be on the market for the trade deadline this year?
10:06Well, I think the two key teams probably are the Orioles and the Diamondbacks.
10:12And I think the Orioles are likely to sell.
10:14Not settled for sure.
10:15But they're 13 games under.
10:17And if they do sell, they've got some good players.
10:20They shouldn't be 13 under, right?
10:22O'Hearn is a terrific hitter.
10:24Lefty bat.
10:25A lot of teams would be interested in him.
10:27They've got pitching.
10:27They've got Eflin.
10:29Sagano.
10:29They've got a closer.
10:31Bautista.
10:31The other one's the Diamondbacks, who I expected to be a playoff team.
10:34And they're right now under .500.
10:36Which is, to me, shocking.
10:38They have a lot of free agents between Gallon and Kelly.
10:42Oh, that kills.
10:43That hurts.
10:43That was, like, that's a stage.
10:48That's a killer.
10:49That's a killer.
10:50That was her big off-season pickup.
10:53Big off-season signing.
10:55And now he's going to be out probably until 2027.
11:00Yeah, that's a killer.
11:01Now, their offense is very good.
11:03And they remember a couple years ago when they only won 84 games.
11:06And made it all the way to the World Series.
11:08So, I think that they're not that likely to sell, despite all of the issues.
11:13Montgomery out for the year.
11:15Obviously, Erod having a very poor season.
11:18Burns, that's the big one, as you mentioned.
11:21But, you know, they may think they can sneak in.
11:24Oh, the National League is tough.
11:25I mean, the National League is tough.
11:27You don't have to worry about this, because the Mets, they're in.
11:29I mean, there's no question they're going to be a playoff team.
11:31But, National League, very, very tough.
11:33It's very deep at the top.
11:35I mean, the day you look at some of the teams, they're just, like, non-competitive.
11:38Like, the Rockies.
11:40It's brutal.
11:41I mean, it's not fair that the 62 Mets had that record for, what, 60-something, 62 years.
11:48Most losses, 120 losses.
11:50White Sox finally get to 121.
11:52And the White Sox are going to only hold that record for one year.
11:55I've never seen a team like the Rockies.
11:58I really haven't.
11:59What gets to the Rockies is, I was watching it when they played the Mets in Colorado.
12:06Nobody booed.
12:07The fans are still showing up.
12:11The owner made the same thing.
12:13He goes, well, it's, people come to see the sunsets and watch baseball in the backyard anyway.
12:18Yeah, we're bad.
12:19But, you know, you know what we can do about this year.
12:22And it's not like they've been, like, the Pirates and Bob Nutting, who had good players and just didn't sign them.
12:30The Rockies just can't draft.
12:34They get good players, but they don't get enough good players.
12:37Their pitching is impossible in Forest Field, so they don't, that's always been an issue.
12:44But they've just, Chris Bryant's signing was so, just didn't work.
12:50I mean, Bryant's broken down.
12:52He might even have to retire.
12:55I mean, and they have no prospects, nothing.
12:59Yeah, I mean, they, all their signings have been rough.
13:02McMahon is not even doing well.
13:04Maybe they'll consider trading him.
13:06I'm not sure.
13:07Yeah.
13:07Well, you know, they're, it's nice for the environment.
13:10Freeland has not been good.
13:12Sensatella has not been good.
13:13None of their signings have worked.
13:15But you're absolutely right about the fans.
13:16Their fans, they're very nice and loyal, but they don't have the passion that you have, Frank.
13:21They do not have that passion.
13:23They are the opposite of you.
13:24They're still getting 30,000 plus to these games somehow.
13:28I don't know, these fans are wanting to see the other players.
13:30I don't know.
13:31The Pirates fans have kind of revolted at this point, right?
13:33Yeah, they should revolt.
13:35I don't want to tell it.
13:38I get the saddest that Paul's keen sitting at home.
13:41One more day to free agency.
13:46One more day to free agency.
13:48Yeah, I mean, that's the issue.
13:50When you're that good and you're the number one pick, you're not going to be on a good team at the beginning.
13:55You know, what's sad is, it's almost like he's in the minors.
13:59He's in the majors, but he's in the minors.
14:02He might win the Selle Younger Sheehy.
14:03He might be the best pitcher in baseball, but he might as well be in the minors.
14:07Because eventually, the Pirates are going to go, okay, we're not going to sign you.
14:11We're going to trade you.
14:13Bring in a haul.
14:14Right.
14:15And then start the whole process again.
14:16And the fans are just, the fans know they're renting him.
14:20Because the Pirates just don't, don't even, like, I mean, the Pirates are smart.
14:26They lock him up for 20 years.
14:28They finally opened the bank vault.
14:30You know, when they opened the, when they opened the bank vault in Pittsburgh.
14:33Cobwebs, right?
14:34Yeah, yeah.
14:34You can see dust and cobwebs on the money there in Pittsburgh.
14:39I mean, I mean, you know what they call him?
14:42His name is Bob Nutting.
14:43They say, do nothing, spend nothing.
14:45I like it.
14:46We're nutting.
14:46I had not heard that.
14:47But, yeah, I mean, they definitely make a profit.
14:50They should not be doing this.
14:52I mean, you've got to surround him.
14:54If you're not going to surround him, you've got to, I think it'd be better to trade him
14:58if you don't.
14:59But, I mean, if, to me, they do make money, they should surround him with better players
15:05and try to win.
15:05For him to have a losing record, be the best pitcher in the league.
15:08Now, we've seen this before.
15:10I mean, DeGrom had trouble winning games a couple times, right, when he won the Cy Young.
15:13But, not to this degree, where he actually has a losing record.
15:19That's bad.
15:20I mean, his ERA's under two and the team's score is under two.
15:24Exactly.
15:25That's how it happens.
15:26It's not easy.
15:27I mean, they, you know, they have these kind of cheap signings and it hasn't worked.
15:32They haven't picked the right guys.
15:33I mean, we've got some owners and people talk about baseball is unfair.
15:38You know what?
15:38You've got owners who don't even care.
15:41Don't, I mean, the guy in, Fisher, I mean, that mess.
15:47Yeah, it's a mess.
15:48At least, I mean, they're going to be in Las Vegas and hopefully he'll do something when
15:52they get there.
15:53But, I agree.
15:54And they're going to break ground on the stadium.
15:58Get that stadium built.
16:00I wish they could find a way to play in the AAA stadium in Vegas now.
16:05Yeah, it would be better if they transitioned.
16:09Put them in Vegas now.
16:10That stadium in Vegas is only 10 years old.
16:13That minor league stadium.
16:14Or it's even less than 10 years old.
16:16Right.
16:16It only opened like 2018.
16:18Yeah, I'm with you.
16:19Better than being in Sacramento.
16:20I mean, yeah, it's going to be hot.
16:22It's an outdoor stadium.
16:24You know what?
16:25Play nine games.
16:26Put them in Vegas.
16:27Put them in a situation where at least they're playing in a semi-acceptable stadium.
16:35That stadium is not for a minor league stadium.
16:40It looks like a band box.
16:42I've never been in Sacramento.
16:43But, yeah, it's not good.
16:45They're in two.
16:45I think baseball is doing great.
16:47The attendance is up.
16:48The ratings are up.
16:49People are excited.
16:51Enthused.
16:51Maybe not quite as enthused as you are, but generally enthused.
16:55But to be in two minor league parks, that's the one negative that's going right now.
16:58In Tampa, I mean, they're going to have to play almost all of the summer on the road.
17:02I mean, people are looking at them.
17:04They're five over or something like that.
17:06They're going to be in trouble.
17:07Yeah, it's all home games.
17:08They love home games.
17:09But, you know, at least it's a nice stadium.
17:11Yes, very nice.
17:12It's spring training.
17:13And it's in their city.
17:15It's in their, basically, right?
17:17Tampa Bay.
17:17The best thing that's going to happen for them is maybe they'll get a new owner, but
17:21build a stadium in Tampa proper.
17:24You'll fix that whole issue.
17:25That would be good.
17:26I'm with you on that.
17:27The one issue there would be, I think, the football team, and I'm not a football expert,
17:31I think they're looking to get a new stadium, too.
17:34And, you know, they're popular in the NFL.
17:36But I'm with you.
17:37Tampa would be better.
17:38You could draw off of I-4 from that whole corridor going all the way to Orlando.
17:43So I'm with you.
17:45That's where it should be.
17:46Well, the St. Pete, the issue of St. Pete is that one bridge that goes into St. Pete
17:50is 45 minutes at a night game.
17:55You're not going to want to take that on a weeknight every week.
17:58Yeah, I mean, this is a little bit of a traffic situation.
18:01Nothing worse than we're used to here in New York.
18:03But, you know, they're in Florida.
18:06They can't handle it.
18:07It's not at the Marlins, a team that just...
18:09Oh, my God.
18:10Don't get me started.
18:11That ownership.
18:12Shame on the Marlins.
18:15Shame on you.
18:17They're trying to replicate what they did with the Rays, which is to not spend money and
18:21still be able to win.
18:22Yeah, well, you got to draft well.
18:23You don't do that.
18:24No.
18:25And then what you do is you get rid of the players before they even, like, oh, we had
18:29a good two months.
18:31Okay, we're going to trade them.
18:32And you get nothing in return.
18:34Right.
18:34I mean, there's stuff with Sandy Alcantara.
18:37It might be.
18:38You see, it's so bad.
18:39Yeah.
18:39He did have one good outing recently.
18:42You know, I'm sure they're hopeful.
18:44You know, they traded Luzardo.
18:45Probably not perfect timing on that one.
18:48And they keep trading for guys who are, like, 18, 19 years old.
18:52You know, they're, like, playing for, like, 20, 30 or something like that.
18:56It doesn't feel like they're getting guys who are in AAA or anything like...
19:00Anything's going to happen for them anytime soon.
19:02Now, before we wrap up, I want to get your opinion on this.
19:06We got the reinstatement of Pete Rose.
19:12Yeah.
19:12And Joe Jackson.
19:15And eventually, the steroid guys.
19:19Yeah.
19:20Is this Hall of Fame, like, block going to break soon?
19:25I think it is.
19:26You know, Pete Rose is going to be on that ballot a couple years from now.
19:30But I don't think they're going to let him in.
19:34I really don't.
19:35I think he should be on the writer's ballot.
19:38I think he should have the same chance everybody else had.
19:41Yeah, I think that's...
19:41The fact that he's waited 30, 40 years and now he's not living.
19:45That's kind of a negative...
19:46I think they should do the...
19:47I think they should re-put him on the writer's ballot.
19:49I agree with that.
19:51Right.
19:51That's a better...
19:52That's...
19:52I mean, just because I'm a writer, I'm not saying this.
19:55But, I mean, to me, it's a better idea to give him a shot like everybody else had.
20:00A shot with the writers.
20:01And...
20:01Instead, they're going to, you know, potentially, they have the potential to stack that committee
20:05for guys who are not going to be in favor, just like they did with the steroid guys.
20:10And I'm not a steroid, pro-steroid guy, but that committee was stacked where
20:15Bonds got almost no support.
20:17And I think they might do the same thing here with Rose.
20:20To me, you end steroids discussion by forgiving the steroid guys.
20:25You put Bud Selig in the Hall of Fame.
20:28He tantamount gave them permission.
20:31He didn't...
20:32Everyone knew what was going on.
20:34Barry Bonds didn't start using steroids until 1999.
20:38After Maguire and Sosa.
20:41He was a Hall of Fame player before that.
20:43Roger Clemens was a Hall of Famer before he took one steroid.
20:47And they lumped him in and just throw him in and throw him out.
20:52There's probably already a couple of steroid guys in the Hall of Fame.
20:55Oh, sure.
20:56I'm sure there are.
20:57There's probably already.
20:57And I'm with you.
20:58I'm with you on Bonds.
20:59He already won three MVPs.
21:02Clemens was close.
21:04I mean, when he went to Toronto, it switched on a dime.
21:07I mean, he was basically a 500-pitcher.
21:09So, he went three Cy Youngs.
21:12I can't argue with you on any stat.
21:14I know you know them all.
21:16But he didn't...
21:17He only had like 10 years in.
21:19Yeah, it's arguable at that point.
21:23But to me, Bonds is a clear-cut case.
21:25He was clearly a Hall of Famer.
21:27And he waited to use them late in the game.
21:31I hope this isn't for us.
21:33It's like something here.
21:34But, yeah, I hope the Hall of Fame...
21:39I hope the Hall of Fame really just gets over themselves.
21:46We need to put the best players in.
21:48Not Harold Baines.
21:52I know that's a touch point.
21:54And a lot of people are against that.
21:56But, I'm with you on Pete Rose.
21:59Let's get him a fair vote with the writers.
22:02And Joe Jackson.
22:03Sure.
22:05I didn't...
22:05I'm pretty old.
22:07I missed most of his career.
22:09But I'd still like to see him get a fair shake as well.
22:12You know, the first Met game I ever went to...
22:16April 12, 1985.
22:18Mets won the game 1-0.
22:20Bruce Verrani pitched.
22:22Gary Carter hit a home run.
22:24And Pete Rose got three hits.
22:25Amazing.
22:27What inning was the home run?
22:29Like the fourth inning.
22:30Unbelievable.
22:31You're incredible.
22:34I don't know how you do it.
22:36You're like the mad dog.
22:39You know, it's unbelievable.
22:40This photo...
22:42You know, you've got a photographic memory.
22:44Amazing.
22:45I went...
22:46I tried to go opening day at 69 against Montreal.
22:50I remember Seaver was pitching.
22:51We were all excited.
22:52And we couldn't get in.
22:53It was...
22:54We didn't plan.
22:55And we went bowling instead.
22:56So, very sad.
22:57Very sad.
22:57Not as bad as the New Jersey Transit for you.
23:00But still a kind of a sad story.
23:02But thank you for joining us.
23:04This is...
23:05Look, I think we're going for a great summer this year.
23:07With the baseball.
23:08I'm with you.
23:09It's going to be a good one for the Mets.
23:11They look great.
23:11The pitching depth.
23:12Fantastic.
23:13The bullpen looks great.
23:14And the top three.
23:15I mean, Lindor.
23:17Soto.
23:18Alonzo.
23:18I mean, I understand the Dodgers have three whole famers at the top.
23:21But this is pretty close.
23:23And, you know, one National League executive told me the Mets were the best team that he's
23:28seen so far.
23:29And I'm kind of with him on that.
23:30Do you know how good the Mets mileage is in this looking right now?
23:37But thanks for joining us.
23:39Great to be here.
23:40Frank, you're the best.
23:41Appreciate it.
23:42Frank, Frank, Frank.
23:46Frank Waltz, Frank Waltz.
23:49It's time for Frank Waltz.
23:52Frank talks while Frank Waltz.
23:54It's time for Frank Waltz.