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Miami Marlins TV play by play voice - Kyle Sielaff - joins the show for an update on the Fish at the All-Star break.
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00:00Fan Duel Sports Network is your home for the Marlins and there are more ways to watch this
00:05season. Subscribe directly to Fan Duel Sports Network to stream or you can watch through your
00:11TV provider. Learn more at FanDuelSportsNetwork.com. Hello, Kyle. Hi, guys. How are you?
00:19You're going to watch the Home Run Derby tonight. We were talking about the Home Run Derby earlier.
00:23Admittedly, we're not all baseball fanatics, so we don't recognize many of the names on the list.
00:30Maybe just Jazz Chisholm at this point. But then people were texting in. They're like,
00:34no, don't sleep on this Home Run Derby. These are like legit hackers. So you're watching tonight?
00:41I am. I think I'm actually more interested this year in the Derby than I am the actual All-Star
00:46game. Because some of the kids that are going to hit in the Derby tonight are ridiculous with
00:53O'Neal Cruz and some of these guys. Obviously, Cal Rowley is a cool story. But there's a lot of
01:00flair. There's a lot of young kids with some flair, which I think is going to be really cool.
01:04And they can just, and the baseballs are always wound a little bit tighter for the Derby. So I'm
01:08sure they'll hit some 500 feet, which will be fun.
01:10Is it a, I don't want to say changing of the guard, but the Sotos, the Judges, the Bryce Harpers,
01:18the Matt, Mike Trouts, like the guys that I know.
01:20Matt Mervis. Were you about to say Matt Mervis? Go ahead. You can say it, Crowder.
01:22I wouldn't say no. Damn Matt Mervis. But is it that?
01:26He'd a rake, though, in the competition. He'd a rake.
01:27It's funny. You said the word young twice. Is it a kind of, should I move on from the names I
01:32already know in Major League Baseball?
01:34No, I wouldn't move on from those guys. But I think the game, for all of its warts and, you know,
01:40the blackout stuff you hear about, I think it is trending in the right direction. I think
01:44the game's in a really good place because I think you'll find even a lot of kids that
01:48play baseball these days wear these flashy oven mitts and the belts and the shoes and
01:53the spikes. And I think they get all that from the video games and watching these guys
01:56play. So, no, don't move on from those guys because even, you mentioned Soto and Judge,
02:01they're still the two best players in baseball, in my opinion. But when you think Eli De La Cruz
02:06and O'Neal Cruz and obviously Jazz, people saw him down there. The game is in just a
02:11healthy, I think, global place, too. I mean, look at Shohei. I mean, I've heard some ridiculous
02:15stories about the people that come from Japan with empty luggage and they buy out the Dodgers
02:18team store and fly back. Like, it happens every week to them. Like, it's insane. I think
02:22it's in as good of a spot as it's ever been, to be honest with you.
02:25I do that in Jacksonville for Mervis merchandise, but that's a good story.
02:29Yeah. Go there. A couple empty bags. Clean it out. Kyle thinks you're crazy.
02:36It was fun to watch for a couple of weeks. It just didn't work out.
02:39Will he ever – I'm sorry, Solon. I know you want to talk real baseball. Will Matt Mervis
02:44ever be in the big leagues again?
02:46It's hard to say. I mean, obviously, he was DFA'd and once that happens, you get pulled
02:52off the 40-man roster. He'd have to beat the daylights out of baseballs and, like, force his
02:58way back. It's going to be hard, I would imagine. You know, maybe he's got more of an opportunity
03:03with another team if somebody needs some left-handed power. It's just once you're off that 40-man
03:08and you've been on, it's hard within reason to get back on there. So, I don't know. We'll see.
03:14He honestly – he was a treat to be around. I thought it was a terrific flyer for the Marlins
03:17to take. He's still in the system. And if he makes a couple of adjustments
03:22or whatever, like, you never know. Like, look at Augustine Ramirez right now
03:26with the Marlins. If you can hit, you will find a spot in the big leagues
03:29and you'll play every darn day. So, I wouldn't rule it out, but it's obviously
03:33there's much more of an uphill, you know, climb to make now.
03:37Especially when you've been shadowbanned as well. Not only are you DFA'd, but you got
03:40shadowbanned. I don't know. I know you're with the organization, so I know you don't want
03:44to comment, but I kind of feel like he's been shadowbanned.
03:47Just wink at me if you agree.
03:49Yeah.
03:53Hey, Kyle, last week or two weeks ago when you came on with us, you said the best
03:57part about the Marlins run at the time. They had 1-8. They should have won nine
04:01in a row. Whatever. But the best part about it was that they finally have a core
04:05again. Like, a core of guys you can really be excited for. Then Kyle Stowers is the
04:11all-star after that. And what he did yesterday is ridiculous. For somebody like me who's
04:15just like a casual Marlins watcher and viewer. Like, how good can he be?
04:21It's a good question. I mean, I just saw before I hopped on with you guys, he's the
04:25best player in baseball OPS-wise since June 22nd. He couldn't hit water if he fell out
04:30of a boat after the trade last year. I mean, that's really impressive. I think Major League
04:35Baseball, amongst any other sport, is the hardest, like, mountaintop to climb. Like, trying to climb
04:40through four levels with hundreds of players in the system and get enough people to believe
04:45in you. Like, I think it's insane. How good can he be? I don't know. This is pretty darn
04:50good. Like, you know, he started the season and he was legitimately an all-star for six
04:55weeks. And then he fell off. And then, like, the narrative was like, well, the Marlins need
05:01a representative, so he's probably going to be the guy. Okay, fine. And then the last six
05:05weeks, and then in the last three weeks, he's been the best player in baseball. And
05:10he punctuates the whole thing yesterday with the three homers in Baltimore, which was unbelievable.
05:15So, how good can he be? I don't know. But to see the transformation he's made for a guy
05:20that looked like he would never amount to anything for the Marlins last summer is incredible
05:24to me. And he is the easiest guy in the world to root for. He is, he's like the sweetest
05:30kid in the world. It's unbelievable. Like, it's hard not to root for him.
05:33What do you think, at the halfway point here, is the biggest downside item in the first half
05:41of the Marlins season and the biggest upside item in the first half of the season? I'm
05:46getting, my guess, Sandy is the biggest downside surprise and Kyle Stowers is the biggest upside
05:51surprise. But maybe you see another. Yeah. I feel like the downside, you go specifically
05:56to, like, individual players. And obviously, you start with Sandy because I think it's even
06:00more perplexing now, you know, watching Uri, who basically has been his little brother
06:05and they just went through the whole Townie John thing together, fire seven shutout innings
06:09against good Baltimore offense yesterday. And Sandy still can't find it. And obviously,
06:15like, you can see the frustration. It's visible every fifth day he's pitching. And this guy won
06:20a Cy Young Award three years ago. He was, you know, come to find out hurt in 2023 when he started
06:25to take a step backward. Misses all the 24. Opening day was pretty good this year. Last month,
06:31it was pretty good in June. And then the last couple of starts, it just, it's disappeared on
06:36him again. So I, it's just so frustrating to watch. And even as a fan, like, I'm legitimately just a fan
06:41of the team more than anything with an awesome job. But like watching it, it's like, the stuff is
06:46there. Where are the results? You know, he keeps coming out after four or five innings. And there's
06:50just like bewildered look on his face when he's sitting in the dugout. So I think that's one of the
06:54downsides. I mean, honestly, as an upside guys, I, I think this is all contextual, but for a team
07:01that's 44 and 51, if I told you the Miami Marlins would be 44 and 51 in the fan base, and maybe I'm
07:08just totally off here. I have not seen the fan base on social media rally behind a 44 and 51 team like
07:16this in probably 12 to 13 years. And I think there's a lot to that. I think they're legitimately excited
07:22because it feels like they're actually building something and they're doing it in a way that
07:26might be sustainable here. And there's a bunch of young kids contributing. I see this team very
07:31much as, you know, the Yeliches, Ozuna's, Real Muto's when they were coming up in the early 2010s
07:36and Stanton a little bit before that. But like, and again, 44 and 51, I understand that that's seven
07:42games below 500. But I think if you asked any Marlins fan to start the season, they'd tell you
07:46they'd be 34 and 62. We thought it was going to be a historically bad team. Historically
07:52bad. They're third in the NL East. And I understand I'm, I'm with you. Cause I was looking at it
07:56today before you came on. And I'm like, we'd all signed up for seven games under 500 because
08:02I was going to, I was going to call the first half of the season a success. And I don't think
08:07there's many baseball franchises where you go, Oh, you end the first half of the season,
08:11seven games under 500. How exactly is that a success? And I think it's been a wild success
08:17as crazy as that sounds. I agree with you. And again, it's, it's in its own bucket. And
08:23with its own context of where this thing they hope is headed. Also, what if I told you on July 14th,
08:29the Marlins would be two games ahead of the Atlanta Braves in the standings and a better record than the
08:33Baltimore Orioles who combined have the best record in the American league over the last two years.
08:38I understand they have their own issues, but the point remains like the Marlins are better teams
08:42than those two teams this year with the team. Everybody expected to do absolutely nothing
08:46to your point, be historically bad. And I think subconsciously a big reason why people are
08:52starting to get so excited is because it doesn't just feel like a flash in the pan. I'll tell you
08:57what, here's another thing. The MLB draft is still going. All right. Is it? I don't know. It's 2 45 in the
09:01afternoon. I think this is the end of it today. I have not seen a fan base get more excited over the
09:06freaking MLB draft in 10 years. It's because they just took like 10 college kids, seven of which
09:12could probably legitimately be in the major leagues in the next like year and a half. And then like you
09:18have these guys performing well now, it's just, it's fun. And I'll say this too. And I know fans,
09:25some fans are going to be like, well, it doesn't matter because we can't get that close and personal
09:28with them. I say this, I can't stress it. I've never been around a group of guys that are like the
09:34kindest individuals in the world. They are so easy to root for every day. They show up to the
09:39ballpark. They're just so appreciative to be in the major leagues. It's like, they're almost like
09:43ignorant to the fact that they're really good at it. And, but they're just like, they're so happy
09:48to be there. Like they're so easy to root for and they keep winning. And like, it's been fun
09:52because they've been winning for two months. Like, I don't know. It's, I'm so happy for them,
09:56honestly. And we'll see where this whole thing goes. The schedule gets very tough,
10:00but to see the success they've had so far is genuinely like so cool to see as a fan.
10:06And to that point, the youth, do they run out of gas or is the youth more vibrant in the second
10:13half of the season? Cause sometimes it can get long for a young guy when he hasn't played this
10:17much baseball. I agree with you and we'll see truthfully. I mean, if you look at their August
10:21schedule, it's the Yankees, it's the Royals, it's the Padres, it's the Red Sox. I mean, it is like
10:27a litmus test of all litmus tests for a young team. I think you make a great point. A lot of
10:31these guys have never played a full season in the major leagues. That is a grind every 24 hours,
10:37day after day for seven months. Can you play 162 games over 185 days or whatever it is over seven
10:43months and not get tired? Your first time trying to do it? Probably not. Some of them will probably
10:48wear out, but that's also a great learning experience. They're going to figure out this year,
10:52like how to conduct themselves in a better manner moving forward to make sure their bodies are in a good
10:56place when it's 95 degrees out and it's August 3rd and you're really competing. Like, you know,
11:01that's all part of it. Like they're learning. So I think you make a good point. We'll see. I think
11:06some of them will probably, you know, get a little tired down the stretch, but it's just so cool to
11:11watch and play right now. If you're at the end, tell them, tell them beer and chicken wings. I was a
11:15professional athlete. No, don't tell them that. Well, now it's like beet juice and stuff. Like the nutrition is
11:20off the charts. You're right though. 20 years ago, it was like a hot dog and a beer and let's reload for
11:24tomorrow, gentlemen. Get ready to go. What's the, what's the best road city for eating in your
11:29opinion? Oh my goodness. Okay. Um, first one that immediately just came to mind is Chicago. I love
11:36Chicago. I was there last week. It's great. Now do you go deep dish or do you go tavern style pizza?
11:41I prefer tavern style pizza. Um, I'm just, I'm, I'm from New York. So I, I, my, my dad's side of the
11:47family's from Long Island. I grew up with, you know, New York pizza and, you know, thin crust and thinner.
11:52Um, obviously I like going back to New York. Chicago to me is just amazing. I love that city.
11:58Actually, you know, where we go in a couple of weeks coming out of the break after our homestand
12:02is Milwaukee. You've never been to Milwaukee in the summertime. Unbelievable. It's a, it's a mini
12:06Chicago, an hour and 20 minutes North of there. You can be on the lake in a boat in five minutes.
12:10You can go hiking, play golf, whatever you feel like doing.
12:14Got to be a little bratwurst.
12:16Whatever. I love it. I I'm a big fan of the Midwest. Uh, but Chicago is immediately the city that comes to
12:22mind for me. Juicy Lucy. You got to get a juicy Lucy and right. Yeah. Yeah. We were there last
12:29year, but Milwaukee, one of my favorite places in Milwaukee is called Elsa's great pork chop
12:34sandwich and great strawberry shortcake afterwards. Who's got the best ballpark food. Do you get to
12:39sample all the ballpark foods or you're too busy? I guess I'd have to go with like, who's got the
12:44press, the best press meal, which would be very touch and go. Um, Philadelphia is still right up
12:49there. New York's very good. You know, what really makes steaks do they, do they feed the
12:53press cheesesteaks in Philly? They do, but the best cheesesteaks in the world are in the visiting
12:56clubhouse. Really? It's unbelievable. It's crazy. Uh, and a lot of people swear by it. It's like the
13:01best cheesesteak in town. Obviously it's hard to get your hands on, but it's in a visitor's clubhouse
13:05at citizens bank park. Do they make them there or do they bring them in? They, they make them in
13:09there. You can order it. There's a big sheet of paper for the players and like staff and you know,
13:13the traveling party, put your name down after the game every night, you'll see like 40 cheesesteaks
13:17sitting there for everybody. Wow. If you Google it there, they have a competition. Every visiting
13:22team that goes in, there's been some real sickos that have taken down like 35 cheesesteaks in three
13:26days. That's amazing. Do you go, when you go to Philly, do you ever go to gyms or Pat's or Geno's?
13:37I mean, do you do them? I've done them. I'll be honest with you. I've done them. What I try to do
13:41now is I try to find little holes in the wall, you know, get on Yelp or something and, you know,
13:45try to find within walking distance, uh, just, uh, you know, one that, you know,
13:50might be a little one-off that people swear by. Um, but yeah, I try them all. I love going to the
13:54best cheesesteak in Philly though. Best cheesesteak gyms.
13:59Yes. Yes. I would say so. Among the majors, out of the majors. Yes. I would say gyms. I think
14:05that's fair. I love going to the Reading terminal market. There's a couple of very good cheesesteaks
14:08in there as well. And overwhelming experience when you're in Philadelphia, there's like 30 places
14:13to eat in there, but it's great. You told us, uh, last time that you were on peanut M&M's,
14:18your go-to snack during broadcasts or, or at least in the press box. What, what's the most,
14:24the most amount of peanut bags of peanut M&M's you've eaten during one broadcast?
14:29Well, I don't know. I try to eat them before the broadcast. Don't they say like,
14:32if you eat too much sugar before broadcast, your voice gets a little weird and like, you know,
14:35things get a little clogged up in your throat. So I try to be conscious of that. I've got to lay off
14:39though. Every year I put on like 15 pounds during baseball season. I'm trying desperately not to do that.
14:43You know, cause the widescreen and the camera situation now, it adds a lot of weight in a
14:47hurry. Um, so I'm doing my very best to like, you know, maybe just a few peanut M&M's here and
14:53there. I mean, there's a diet, the diet play there is to go regular M&M's and that way you're losing
14:58the peanuts. I guess there's been some bad days. I've, I've had some days this year where I need
15:03to speak to somebody. I, I fell off the wagon one night and just couldn't stop going back for him.
15:08But you know, what are you going to do?
15:11I eat Alfredo before broadcasting. I'm fine.
15:14Yeah. We don't care too much about the, uh, taking care of the, the voice and the, uh,
15:19the enunciation, the pronunciation and the, uh, the actual auditory sound. Um,
15:26we cough and hack and, uh, yeah, a whole different ball game.
15:30Whatever. Kyle Seloff. It is the halfway point of the season. We appreciate you
15:35joining us. FanDuel Sports Network is your home for the Marlins. There are more ways than ever
15:40to watch this season. Again, you can subscribe directly to FanDuel Sports Network if you want
15:45to stream it, or you can watch through your TV provider and you can learn more at FanDuelSportsNetwork.com.
15:52You have a prediction for the Home Run Derby tonight? Who wins?
15:55Hmm. O'Neal Cruz of the Pirates. All right. Hmm. Second time we've heard that today. Dr. Chuck
16:02Metzger told us, uh, O'Neal Cruz said he had the highest exit velocity of any home run.
16:06I mean, you can't take your eyes off of him. Even in batting practice, you can't,
16:10it just sounds different. It looks different. This guy's like six, eight, you know, he could
16:14be a middle linebacker. He could run routes. He could be a tight end. He's playing shortstop and
16:18centerfield in the major leagues. Like whatever he wanted to do in life, he could do it. And it just so
16:21happened. He decided to play centerfield for the Pirates. So he's my bet.
16:25I'll watch nothing. I'm Matt Mervis. Let me get back to you. I'm a big fan of PCA as well. I was
16:36in Chicago. I'm a big Pete Crow Armstrong guy. He's fun to watch too. Hey, make sure you guys come
16:41out to the ballpark soon. Please come by the broadcast booth and say hello. If you have a
16:44chance, uh, I will do so. I always get big time by Craig Minervini. He always, uh, he never has time
16:49for me. You know, in that concourse area and give him a wave and, uh, yeah. Yeah. If you can catch
16:55him before five 30 is autograph signing sessions usually start around five 30 every day leading up
17:00to the pregame show. See you Kyle. We appreciate it.
17:03You guys.