Toeing The Slab with David Cone

David, Justin and James welcome in Shea Station’s Jerry Blevins to discuss the Mets big additions to their pitching staff. Jerry touches on Jacob deGrom’s exit and Justin Verlander’s arrival. David and Jerry dissect the ghost forkball (!) thrown by Kodai Senga and the pros and cons of a six man rotation. David, Justin and James go over how Sean Murphy improves the Braves pitching staff and think Chris Bassitt and Sean Manaea’ new contracts could end up looking like the steals of the off-season. Lastly, Justin poses the question: Should the Yankees sign Carlos Rodón or sign Carlos Correa and trade an infield prospect for a starting pitcher?

00:00 INTRO

00:55 Intro/Mets

02:30 The Opener

08:20 3-team trade between Braves, Brewers, and Athletics

13:29 Blue Jays sign Chris Bassitt

17:41 Padres sign Sean Manaea

19:45 Big deals across MLB

25:52 Jerry Blevins interview

1:00:38 Yankees talk

1:07:10 OUTRO

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David, Justin and James react to the news that Aaron Judge agreed to re-sign with the Yankees for nine years and $360 million. The crew feels this wraps up a masterful year of negotiating tactics by Judge and his advisors. They also give credit to the Yankees for bringing Judge back, but feel this is a moment where the organization has a chance to go even further and add another blue-chip talent like Carlos Rodon. The hosts also praise the Padres for, despite not coming away with Judge or Trea Turner, operating like a financial power within the game when they are in the bottom third in MLB in market size.

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David, James and Justin react to the news of the Mets pivoting from Jacob deGrom to Justin Verlander. The hosts discuss why deGrom was the right move to make for Texas, what it will now take for Aaron Judge to make a decision, and how the Phillies fully made sense for Trea Turner. MLB Network analyst and former Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd joined the crew from the Winter Meetings to discuss the big signings that have already transpired and what could happen next as it pertains to Judge and Carlos Rodon.

00:00 INTRO

00:55 Jacob deGrom/Justin Verlander

08:53 Aaron Judge

13:41 Hall of Fame

19:23 Dan O'Dowd interview

42:14 Phillies sign Trea Turner

46:01 Carlos Correa

46:44 Carlos Rodon

49:05 Clayton Kershaw

50:44 Show wrap up

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David, James and Justin discuss whether any big business could take place this week as teams prepare for the Winter Meetings. David thinks we should focus more on potential trades over the next several days rather than free agent signings. The crew discusses the White Sox signing of Mike Clevinger, and how that could end up being a steal for Chicago. As far as the starting pitchers at the top of the free agent class go, the hosts wonder whether Carlos Rodon signs before Justin Verlander and Jacob deGrom. The crew is split over whether they’d rather have Verlander or deGrom if money wasn’t an issue. They also discuss how the shortstop market is tied directly to Aaron Judge. More chatter on the HOF vote coming up this weekend, Astros playoff shares, Bo Jackson and James’ debut article in Baseball Prospectus!

00:00 INTRO

02:41 The Opener

05:50 Mike Clevinger signs with White Sox

10:12 Free Agency

12:38 Carlos Rodon

16:30 deGrom or Verlander?

20:19 Aaron Judge 21:45 Free agent shortstops

26:25 Hall of Fame

34:08 This week in pitching history

37:26 Three up! Three down!

44:39 OUTRO

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David Cone answers your questions in a special mailbag edition of Toeing the Slab! The guys also go into the Cy Young awards, the Yankees Justin Verlander, Cody Bellinger, and more!

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00:00 INTRO

03:23 The Opener

06:08 Cy Youngs

09:00 Justin Verlander

17:00 Cody Bellinger

22:59 Mailbag

47:01 This week in pitching history

49:06 Three up/three down

57:56 OUTRO

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David provides insight from a discussion he had with Houston Astros owner Jim Crane in regards to the team’s decision to move away from GM James Click. Both Coney and Justin wonder how much will it take for Justin Verlander to come pitch for your team in 2023. David believes the Yankees could be in play again. Justin believes the Mets would be better served with Verlander on a short-term deal over re-signing Jacob deGrom. Producer (and noted Aaron Judge stan) Dan Rourke joins the discussion as Aaron Judge’s free agency takes center stage. As the Giants are rumored to be in pursuit of the slugger, what would David tell Judge about signing with his hometown team? How could the Yankees address other areas with money in the event Judge signs elsewhere? What about if he stays? David and Justin also discuss the important Rule 5 and non-tender deadlines that team’s are making this week that could open the floodgates to off-season trades and signings.

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00:00 INTRO

01:39 The Opener

06:39 Astros part ways with GM

16:09 Justin Verlander

21:19 Qualifying offers

25:03 Teams that need to win now?

28:24 Aaron Judge

51:12 Three up three down!

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David, Justin and James wrap up the postseason by dissecting the big pitching decision by the Phillies in Game 6. James and Justin don’t think the Astros should be referred to as a dynasty just yet. Ok, onto the off-season! How will the upcoming rule changes affect free agency? The crew also touches on the Yankee press conference with Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman from last week. They think Edwin Diaz’s new contract must signify the start of a big off-season for the Mets. Also, an important look at rule changes that should be coming after 2023.

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00:00 INTRO

02:56 World Series wrap up

06:50 Are the 2017-2022 Astros a dynasty?

13:05 Yankees press conference

25:54 Edwin Diaz signs for $102M to return to Mets

31:59 Jacob deGrom

37:09 This week in pitching history

31:03 Three up/Three down

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David, Justin and James believe the more talented team in the Astros has found a grip on this World Series. David feels Justin Verlander delivered a master class in how to pitch around certain hitters in Game 5 on the way to picking up his first career World Series win. The crew also discusses Christian Javier’s role in a potential Game 7, and examines how Javier’s “invisa-ball” has become one of the best pound-for-pound pitches in MLB. The crew talks about the two numbers fans should watch for when Zack Wheeler starts Game 6 on Saturday.

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David, Justin and James begin by commenting on the SNY report that stated the Yankees clubhouse and organization felt crushed by the negativity from the fan base during the ALCS. Their message: don’t give them something to boo over. On to the World Series! Is there any additional strategy to having the Phillies start Aaron Nola in Game 1? How much do Nola and Justin Verlander have to prove in the opening game? We’ll see an all-time matchup in Verlander vs. Bryce Harper; who needs to set the tone for the series more? Will the Astros pitching staff go after Harper? Do the Astros have the bullpen personnel to get Philly’s big lefty bats out? Are two starters and four relievers enough for the Phils in this series? Length from Nola and Zack Wheeler will be paramount, win or lose. Plus, what an 11-0 postseason would mean for the Astros.

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00:00 INTRO

03:10 Yankees reported clubhouse drama (per Andy Martino)

13:10 WS preview beginning with the Phillies

16:42 Who is the best World Series starter?

21:14 Verlander vs Harper

23:13 A long layoff

25:42 Bryce Harper

31:15 Phillies bullpen

36:08 If Astros go 11-0, should they be considered one of the best ever?

40:32 World Series predictions

42:07 OUTRO

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David, Justin and James recap where the Yankees fell short in the ALCS, and how natural it feels to second-guess every single move in the wake of the team losing. The crew believes that while pitching decisions could have been questioned, the offense was the culprit. Justin wonders how the Astros make the postseason not look like a crapshoot. They all agree something was off with how the Yankees operated the shortstop position this year, which didn’t do Isiah Kiner-Falefa any favors. The off-season will be a domino effect with Aaron Judge’s free agency. In the NLCS, the crew discusses the Padres decision to leave Josh Hader in the bullpen and not face Bryce Harper in the eighth inning of Game 5. They also praise Dave Dombrowski and explain why all other organizations can take something away from his approach.

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