What have you learned through the book tour and, That maybe you didn't know even when you were writing the book.

Rick, I think, and this might sound a bit humble braggish, which is unfortunate, but I'll just go with it.

I didn't realize how well this would connect with people much older than 12.

Certainly, I mean, you've looked at it.

The language is for young people.

A lot of references to school, a lot of references to older brothers and sisters and parents and grandparents.

So that's you know, that that's why 12 plus is a target audience, but just a number of people, you know, my age, your age and older, um, I said, wow, this is like, I'm actually getting something out of this book.

But what was it about that industry that made you want to look for different challenges?

Pediatrician.

He is a, uh, retired pediatrician and longtime parenting expert.

You know, he's been on the morning shows, you know, t- talking about parenting, and Harley loved baseball and softball, loves still, and coached his own kids.

And what he realized in dealing with young people and their challenges and, and, and triumphs is that he could use baseball and softball as a teaching tool to help young people with the rest of their lives.

So this was his baby, this book.

And then I came in.

We have the same literary agent, uh, serendipitously.

So that, you know, how about heroes and goats, Ken?

Um, how do you help those types of kids, or what do you think those types of kids should do so that, that they don't lose the confidence in themselves?

Well, I think-- So we cover that in a couple different chapters, Damon.

We have chapter three, Playing Time: The Right Attitude.

When life is unfair, speak up for yourself.

And that, like, like I said, like, when you're not getting the playing time you want, or if you're, if you're picked last, [clears throat] excuse me, just, just, uh, just finding the right attitude, and again, that mental strength, and maybe speaking up for yourself if, if, you know, which I, I know can be challenging for a young person.

But just there is a way to approach a, a coach, uh, to say, "Hey, Coach, is there anything I can be doing differently, you know, to get me more playing time?" Um, and then the other, looking at it through a different angle, we have chapter seven, Pinch Hitters and Pinch Runners: Include Others, Speak Up for Friends.

And that's looking at it from the perspective of the captain who picked the kid last.

What's an example of a lesson that didn't make the book, um, but you wish would've?

Um, but tell us how the idea came about and how it came to fruition.

Sure, Sean.

Thank you.

So yeah, I agree.

This is not your typical baseball book, which is why it appealed to me so much.

[laughs] I mean, going back to my retirement, I, I just, uh, I was kind of tired of that, uh, genre of, of writing.

So this book, uh, was co-written, uh, by a gentleman named Harley Rotbart.

Um, but did it strike you while you covered the game, the parallels that could be made between what you were watching and how that might apply to life and parenting and, and child rearing and all of that?

But you're much more esteemed because you're a professor and look at me.

Anyway, yeah, I agree with you.

The stakes are huge.

And yeah, I mean, I could talk about this issue for hours upon hours because there's so many nuances to it.

But the bottom line is, I think for this sport to not take a huge hit, like the moderates have to prevail on both sides.

There are moderates on both sides.

We're not hearing from the moderates right now.

But in a general sense, it's been an underperforming outfit here.

Um, you know, but there, this notion of relief as a no-win situation I thought was really interesting and a new perspective, but that, but it, in the book you talk about that being like, uh, how you can be, draw positive from that, right?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I mean, uh, and again, I'll read from the book, and I think you nailed the synopsis of it, but you know, "You may be called in for relief off the field, too.

One of the actors in the school play or one of the musicians in the school band gets sick, and you're the backup.

Even though you weren't the first choice for the play or the band, you should practice and prepare as if you have the starting role, so if the time comes and you're called in, you'll be ready.

Or many one of your classmates working with you on a group project can't do their share of the work, but the project is due soon.

Mm-hmm

Right

...

but I'm certainly, I certainly pay attention.

[laughs] And, uh, yeah, look, I think it's been documented about the clubhouse issues, and I, I think, uh, you know, Lindor and Soto are obviously the two dominant people in that clubhouse, and they are such different human beings.

And, uh, I think that's a real factor in terms of the, uh, there's just obviously, uh, some chemistry issues there.

But, you know, beyond that, uh, you have the new guys coming in who have really faltered, right? Bichette and Semien in, in particular.

And Peralta's been okay.

Where do you stand on that whole things in your time covering baseball?

Why is this team playing such bad baseball right now?

Well, I don't cover the sport full-time anymore, but I certainly pay attention.

Look, I think it's been documented about the clubhouse issues.

I think Lunder and Soto are obviously the two dominant people in that clubhouse, and they are such different human beings.

And I think that's a real factor in terms of the there's just obviously some chemistry issues there.

But, you know, beyond that, you have the new guys coming in who have really faltered.

Right.

Where do you stand on that whole thing in your time covering baseball?

I don't know.

I, bottom line is I think it, it's hard to defend it on principle.

And especially when, when, you know, the, the results like this.

I- I- I honestly, you know, the salary cap is the obviously the, the bigger battle, but I, I think the deferred payments will be relatively easy to figure out how to stop that.

Okay

... calls me, uh, "Wonderful news, honey.

We're pregnant.

Uh, you know, first child." I said, "That's amazing.

Where do you go with that?

Yeah, that's an interesting one.

And, uh, I have to admit, uh, Brian, that's one where I, I actually asked my son, who played Little League, 'cause the...

You know, Harley came up with the idea of equating, you know, the fake bunt with, with lying and, and my son confirmed that happens a lot at the youth level.

But the id- you know, a fake bunt is sort of a white lie, especially at the, at the youth level, right? You, you, you kind of flash bunt like you're gonna bunt and you're trying to fake out, uh, the defense and, and throw them off guard.

And the idea being it, it seems harmless, but, uh, you know, it, it's, it has a little...

It can cause a little bit of damage.

A League of Their Own

So talk about the sacrifice, lesson nineteen, as you have it in the book.

Sure, Brian.

This is one of our more literal lessons because, you know, just like in baseball, you, you give yourself up, right? You, you make an out to move your teammate over, to move your teammate closer to scoring position.

There are many times in life where you give up your i-immediate, uh, good, if you will, to help, to help someone else on your team.

Uh, you know, reading from the book, sometimes being generous and helping others may set you back, but you'll feel good about your sacrifice even though you may be out, out of the time you spent or the money or stuff you generously gave away.

Where do you go with that?

Yeah, that's an interesting one.

And, uh, I have to admit, uh, Brian, that's one where I, I actually asked my son, who played Little League, 'cause the... you know, Harley came up with the idea of equating, you know, the fake bunt with, with lying, and, and my son confirmed that happens a lot at the youth level.

What are you making of all this, uh, beef between the players, the, the union, and also the league?

Yeah, it's, it's serious obviously, and I think the, uh, the Kyle Tucker signing only turned up the temperature, you know, by the Dodgers.

And, uh, I think, you know, there's, there's clearly a, a desire within the ownership ranks for a, a salary cap, and there's some difference of opinion within the player ranks too about the best way to move forward.

I think there's certainly a sentiment within the player ranks that, uh, you know, the top 1% get, uh, you know, an over-- uh, a higher percentage, uh, than maybe they should, uh, compared relative to their, their peers.

So, uh, a lot of things to track on both sides, and, and yeah, the concern level should be quite high.

Mm.

How are you gonna react to that? You know, are you gonna put your head down and, and, and drag all day, or are you gonna, you know, keep your head up and say, "All right, well, I'm gonna prove to the coach that, uh, he was, he or she was wrong.

You know, I'm gonna-- when I, I get my chance, uh, coming to bat later or pinch running later, I'll show them that, you know, I'm the b- um, I, I can be the best pinch hitter, pinch runner, and, and maybe I should be in the starting lineup the next time." And the same deal when you try out for a school play, uh, and you know, and maybe you don't get the lead role, but you get your two lines.

They're playing all kinds of puzzle piece action right now after they traded away Caleb Durbin.

Yeah.

So I think if they had brought in...

I'm sorry, if they had brought back Edwin Diaz and done everything else, I think it would be an A+ off-season, and I think there would be universal acclaim and, and even excitement among the Mets there, the very Mets fans who were so upset that they traded Nimmo and let Pete go.

But I do think that bullpen just stands out to me.

Devin Williams, and if you...

You know, again, I'm no longer, uh, covering the game full-time, but I certainly still pay attention a lot.

Is there a way, is there, is there a, is there a part of you that saw some of that media, like, that players can't handle New York, which I don't 100% believe, and maybe you took it a little bit easier on players?

Yep.

Yeah.

So, you know, let's say Charlie, he comes to the, to the field, and he's, he's hitting last today, and that's, that's a punch in the gut, right? So how do you deal with that adversity? Uh, you know, you put your head down, and you...

Okay, well, uh, I'm just gonna get after it.

Look, I, you only hit- the leadoff batter only hits the leadoff once, right? [chuckles] Then, then we just go around and around.

So, so, uh, just do the work necessary.

And, uh, let's say, you know, now let's go to school.

Do you cover that as well?