It’s one thing to intentionally walk a batter with a solid record against a certain pitcher. Another is to do it without anyone’s support.
In an interview this week with MLB on FOX analyst John Smoltz, the Hall of Fame infielder shared his thoughts on Gerrit Cole’s free pass to Rafael Devers, the Tigers’ surgery, his concern level with an Orioles team with a losing record in the second half, the Dodgers’ odds of winning it all around the clock and which wild card team has the best chance to lift the World Series trophy.
Kavner: We’ll start Red Sox–The Yankeesagain Gerrit Cole to walk on purpose Rafael Devers no one on base. How surprising was that and was there anyone who stood up to him, who would consider doing something like that?
Smoltz: Well, maybe not on bare bases. I understand that certain hitters will own certain bowls, and I’ve had my execution on them. I think it was amazing maybe even Aaron Boone. If the opportunity arises where you need to move him, you can go ahead. But I was surprised by the bare basics. It might change the dynamic of the game. Apparently it did, because that inning came from Gerrit Cole. Any time the hole has to admit openly, without saying a word about the person hitting, that is finally a statement without making a statement, that, “He is mine and I will not face it.” Unfortunately, it didn’t work out well, to say the least, for Gerrit Cole.
Kavner: The The Orioles had a losing record in July, a losing record in August. They are 6-7 in September. How worried are you about them?
Smoltz: You are very worried. I think some of the things you’re starting to see offensively may be more concerning than obvious, just that they don’t have an arsenal in the rotation because they’re not healthy. They’ve been a really good team for most of the year when healthy, but offensively, they showed signs of what happened last year at the wrong time. I don’t think that will continue offensively, but you have to worry a little bit about where they will take the innings, and can their bullpen hold up?
I think that’s the biggest challenge for them as they get closer to the postseason, wanting to punch that ticket. Of course, they want to win this division, but it is getting difficult to do that three games back, given the conditions of their rotation.
Kavner: Looking ahead to the AL wild-card picture, the Tigers, have been in the air since the beginning of last month and are now firmly in the mix. I Sailors they are still there. The Red Sox are loaded. Who do you think has the best chance of sneaking in?
Smoltz: A team that has all the depth possible and can shut down a lot of Seattle hitters, but they have yet to show consistency on offense. The Tigers pulled off a surprise here, because they carried the gauntlet in the process they went through. This is a blessing, because they are the teams that have to catch them anyway. They needed to beat Baltimore, they needed to beat Kansas City. They really need to beat Minnesota.
If you look at what they’re doing, I’m from there, and I said two months ago, “they’re not that far.” People in Detroit were like, “I don’t know.” I said, “I tell you, they’re not that far.” You may not have many household names yet, but they prove that they are not that far away. This will serve them well in important games in September that will protect your team, not only in the playoffs, but next year. I’m not a big fan of the carryover, “Oh, well, look what it does.” This is a different carryover. These are the test games if they count. If you’ve never been in it, and you’ve won 20 of the last 30 games, I don’t think that carries over into the next year like it does when you win games when it’s important.
Even after the stretch, if you don’t get into the final game, that will work out well for the Detroit Tigers. It’s amazing what they do.
Kavner: What surprised Detroiters the most about the Tigers?
Smoltz: I think it’s the pitch. I don’t know that many people can name anyone other than Tarik Skubal, and he’s top notch. He’s going to win this Cy Young. I think it’s the pitching that has come through and really strengthened their chances. They used to have big gatherings. They’ve had some 1-0, 2-1 type offensive games, and the back end of their bullpen looks legit.
When you start to find out about the players, and they start to make a name for themselves, the goal is to keep the name on the back of the jersey as an advantage and leverage, because when the name is popular, even if it becomes “uh oh” for another hitter, you have something.
You can always surprise someone for a week or two at a time, but when it becomes normal, that’s what teams try to build. They want an edge. Cleveland’s bullpen has a big edge in the bullpen. They have some guys that come in and you say, “Oh, shoot,” and that’s what teams try to build. They’re trying to find little arms that can turn into those, “Oh, shoot” guys.
Kavner: All very remarkable considerations Jack Flaherty now he’s a Dodger. He is once again the only healthy arm. Yashinobu Yamamoto he came back, but after Tyler Glasnow news, do you think they currently have enough to go all this way?
Smoltz: I think they can. It’s that argument that everyone makes every year, can you go in single-handedly with a split rotation and trust your barn? Yes. Is it a formula for success every time? It’s impossible. I think the teams that are better equipped for the playoffs have the best chances – and they can still be beaten. But think about what can happen when you only have 2.5 starters, like what the Texas Rangers did last year. They proved with a few hot guys, they can do it, but offensively, they fell short in the World Series.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have that ability to grind you to death, but they’ll need that more if they don’t have their rotation on track. So, yes, the long answer to the question is yes, they can win the World Series this way. But I’m sure that’s not what their managers had in mind when this time of year comes.
Kavner: It still seems like a long shot here, but if Shohei Ohtani ready in October, do you see a situation where you can take him out of the fold?
Smoltz: Not in this day and age, there is no way to put him in that position. You flirt with the highest adrenaline rush you can have. If you say to me that he can do this in early September and get his feet wet in that matter, I would say yes. But not under these circumstances, for what they are paying him next year.
Kavner: Which team currently hasn’t won their division that you think can make a run in October?
Smoltz: I still think the Kansas City Royals are dangerous. For that reason, the New York Mets are dangerous. I know they have a one game lead on the Atlanta Braves, but they are starting to put things together in a way that we haven’t seen at the beginning of the year.
San Diego is probably my front runner, though, because it has a big bullpen and a good cycle to boot. San Diego is scary, and their offense combined with their bullpen gives them a good chance to make a deep run. They’ve been there, and they were able to knock the Dodgers out of the playoffs, which really helps when you have a rivalry like these two in the division.
John Smoltzfirst-ballot Baseball Hall of Famer, eight-time All-Star and National League Cy Young Award winner, is a game analyst for FOX MLB. In addition to calling the network’s marquee regular-season games, Smoltz is in the All-Star Game and a full slate of postseason games including the Division Series, League Championship Series and World Series assignments.
Rowan Kavner is an MLB writer for FOX Sports. He previously covered the LA Dodgers, LA Clippers and Dallas Cowboys. An LSU grad, Rowan was born in California, raised in Texas, and returned to the West Coast in 2014. Follow him on Twitter at @RowanKavner.
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