CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The baseball world was saddened Thursday to learn of the passing of longtime Milwaukee Brewers broadcaster Bob Uecker at age 90. Uecker holds a special place in the hearts of Cleveland fans for his role in the 1988 film "Major League" that followed a fictional version of the Indians to an American League pennant.
On Thursday's podcast, Paul Hoynes and Joe Noga reflect on the impact of Uecker's career and legacy. They also look at José Ramírez again topping the MLB Network rankings for third basemen, and break down the second day of international free agent signings for the Guardians.
Listen and read along with an AI-generated transcript of the podcast below.
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Read the automated transcript of today's podcast below. Because it's a computer-generated transcript, it may contain errors and misspellings.
Joe Noga 0:04Welcome back to the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast.I'm Joe noga. Joined by Paul Hoynes, hoinzie. Just as we're starting to record today, we got some sad news in the world of baseball. Really. Throughout all of Major League Baseball.Beloved character and you know, announcer.A.Ford C.Frick Award winner, a Hall of Fame guy and just a A legend in Milwaukee.Bob Uecker has passed away at the age of 90.Everybody, I I think in in baseball you know, has some sort of Bob Euchre story or or interaction with the guy and just what a what a great person he was and you know just.What he meant to not just the the Brewers, but to to baseball in general.And this is a guy who, when he was done with his playing career, went on to.So great things.In acting, it was.On television, I was on sitcoms.He was in.Movies, but here in Cleveland, sort of a special place in in our hearts for him because he was the guy who played Harry Doyle, the the announcer in the the fictional Major League movies which saw the the Indians go on to have success. Just a a sad day.Who's Bob uecker?What are your thoughts on that?
Paul Hoynes 1:31Yeah. Joe, just really, really a sad day.But you know, I just.I still, you know, love to watch Major League and listen to to a UK calls in that in that in that movie. And I think a lot of them were, you know, AB Lib, he just made them up.
Joe Noga 1:48Mm hmm mm hmm.
Paul Hoynes 1:49And you know, I remember reading a story about him that, you know, he'd be filming.Doing doing his scenes on certain days where none of the other actors had to be there.And but they all started showing up just to hear how he called the game.'Cause they were, he cracked them all up.You know, just a bit outside.
Joe Noga 2:11Yeah, I think everybody's.Everybody's got, like, their version of or their impersonation of Harry Doyle doing, you know, calling just a bit outside or, you know, his his sharp, witty remarks and and that, that that all came from you.He was just a special guy and I know in talking to, you know, Cleveland's version of Bob Euchre, Tom Hamilton, who's got a million stories and a million interactions with.Bob Uecker over the years.That, you know, this must be a a a tough day for him as well as his.He's getting ready to to have his own, you know, sort of Hall of Fame summer this year.I'm sure you know thoughts Will will will definitely drift to to Bob Uecker when he makes his speech in Cooperstown sometime later on this summer.Just you and I were talking. You know, one of the ways that sort of the public was introduced to Bob Uecker, beyond his baseball career.Was on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.He'd go and sit on the couch with Johnny Carson and.Very self deprecating about. You know his playing career, how he was, you know, just an average catcher, that kind of thing.But this was a guy who didn't take himself too seriously and was always fun to watch when he was when he was on TV or or making appearances on late night TV.
Paul Hoynes 3:35Yeah, he was on Carson a million times.And I remember, you know, hearing something or listening to Carson after.You know, when he was talking about Euchre and, you know, after his first couple appearances on the show, he, you know, he he he turned to Ed McMahon after Euchre left the set after the show ended. He goes, did this guy really play baseball and and, you know.Euchre was the guy that you know came up with the phrase.What's the best way to catch the catch a knuckleball?And he goes, you walk to the back, stop and wait till the stops rolling.
Joe Noga 4:07Maybe work the best, pick it up.
Paul Hoynes 4:10So you know, just like you had a million lines like that and like you said, Joe was so deadpan. He never smiled.He never laughed.He just kind of, you know, just had straight face.I think Ed. Ed, in Milwaukee, he's got a couple, not one, but two statues at the ballpark.
Joe Noga 4:28Right. Well, the one.
Paul Hoynes 4:29One in the stands, I think.One in the field or somewhere you know it's it's he like he is.He's like God in in.In Wisconsin.
Joe Noga 4:37Well, and and he was also, you know, a big part of those Miller Lite campaigns, the beer commercials, the the Taste Great, less filling commercials and then all that time but but also he, you know his one of his catch phrases was I must be in the front.Row when they were, they were escorting him, you know, out of the the ballpark or whatever.And that's, you know, think about it.He's getting escorted to the front row right now.You got to believe that.That if, if, if he's up there somewhere looking down on baseball and you know that's it's just outstanding, the career that he had and his life after baseball and the influence of the number of people that he touched certainly won't be forgotten.
Paul Hoynes 5:23Yeah. And, you know, just just a remarkable career.You're right, Joe. Just.You know, you just you you have to laugh when? When you, when you think about them, when when all those calls and just the way he lived his life and just you know sad day but you know a life that certainly deserves to be celebrated.
Joe Noga 5:46Yeah, it's Bob Uecker. Harry Doyle.Everybody should watch Major League tonight just to honor his his memories.So great.Let's move on.You know, news last night, Major League Baseball network again, as we've we've been sort of keeping track of Guardians players who are appearing on their top 10.Players right now list at their positions.Last night was one that's in the Guardians wheelhouse.I think third baseman and Jose Ramirez did not disappoint the MLB Network. The shredder metrics that they use to determine their top ten list put Jose Ramirez #1.And from the discussion between Brian Kenny and Mike Lowell in watching the broadcast, it was pretty obvious choice after the year that Jose Ramirez had.
Paul Hoynes 6:45Love what you wrote in your story last night, Joe.What? You know, the one guy said.I can't.I tried to.I tried to think of a thing that he doesn't do well and but but I can't.I can't think of 1.You know it.Just, you know, Ramirez's overall game is so strong and and he really put a lot of stuff together last season, you know, at age what, 3031?When he had 279.39 home runs, 39 double s.118 rbi's. You know, just like 4041 steals missed. Missed, you know, being the 41st, 4040 guy in Cleveland history by one home run when the last game of the season was rained out.So you know, there's nothing this guy can't do, Joe.
Joe Noga 7:34Yeah. And the other thing that the the the analysts talked about was his playoff performance and his post season performance and it it translated, you know, his game all season long was to show up and grind.But then when the playoffs hit, you know he's always delivered and he's always come up big for the guardians. And he did it again.This year, it's the third time in his career that he's been the number one third baseman on their MLB Network list.It's the.You know, second time in the last, what, two years? He was also in the number one in 2022.And eight times since they've been putting these lists together.In in the in the last 15 years, eight of those 15 years he's been in the top ten at third base. This is a consistency and you know, one of the things I liked hearing when they were talking about him and this is, you know, these are N.Media guys, these are.These are guys who have, you know, influence over.The other voters and and those kinds of things.They they talk about him being a future Hall of Famer and and that's something that we here in Cleveland obviously already know.But it's it's good to hear that. You know, people are starting to talk about Jose Ramirez now about that as as he's approaching the backside of his career.
Paul Hoynes 8:56Yeah. You know, I think it, you know, it was interesting during the ALCS when Aaron Boone was asked about Jose Ramirez, you know, he said I'm so sick of hearing people say he's underrated.You know, I'm so sick of that.I I want to scream every time I hear somebody say that on TV.He's not underrated.He's on a Hall of Fame path and to hear, you know, the manager of the Yankees say that.You know that rings home.That rings true.
Joe Noga 9:23Yeah.Just in in looking at the trajectory and looking at his career path a couple more seasons maybe of of the same level of production before any sort of age drop off or anything like that and it it'll be undeniable he won't be able to keep him out and.Even if you wanted to, and that was the other thing, you know, they talked to to Susan Slesser from the the Bay Area, who's seen Matt Chapman, and she had Matt Chapman ranked, you know, very highly I believe.Number one on her list.Of the top 10.But you know, she said.He's he's my favorite player to watch and and that's that's an exciting thing for Cleveland fans to hear is that, you know, they've got that guy that, you know, even even as far out on the West Coast. You know, those those writers and those people who are are.Wanna see what Jose Ramirez does next?And it's got to make you feel pretty good.
Paul Hoynes 10:19Yeah, Joe, I was.You know, somebody put a clip of.On X of Jose Tegan.BP at the Academy in the Dominican This this offseason and I don't know if it was just the the way the film was shot, but he looked thin to me.He looked like he'd lost some weight.I don't know if you've seen the same thing, but you know he and toward the end of last season, you know, he had dropped some weight.So I think that's a conscious effort. You know, as you get older, you got to work harder.You got to really be careful of your weight, that it doesn't affect you, so you can play every day and and that's the one thing about Ramirez.He's so durable, you know? Knock on wood.
Joe Noga 11:04Yeah. Even though he runs the bases like his hair is on fire, he still manages to, you know, to stay healthy to post.And you know, it's got to be difficult because there got to be mornings that he gets up after a game and and just doesn't want to do it, but.There's, you know, the example that he sets and you know, he sees everybody on this young team, looks at him and he knows it. And and he does things the right way.So you know outstanding for Ramirez again to be ranked.Number one on that list.Third time, obviously in his career.As far as you know, joining his teammates, obviously Kade Smith and Emmanuel Clase ranked in the top 10.They were second and 4th, respectively among relief pitchers, and we're still waiting on January 29th left fielders, we'd expect Steven Kwan to rank.Pretty pretty highly.Do you think Kwan, if you had to guess right now?You think quantum rate in the top five or the bottom five of that top ten list? If if you were picking that list right now?
Paul Hoynes 12:11You know, my heart, says the top five, Joe.But my brain is saying perhaps you know the bottom 5 just because you know he what? He played 120 games.But still, I mean, he was on AD L twice.I don't know if that affects the shredder or whatever. Those that thing is, but you know what? I think he definitely makes the top 10.
Joe Noga 12:37Yeah, I I think he's absolutely in the top 10.I would agree with that and I think close to close to top five, just what he can provide offensively. And again the goal glove defense.So I don't know.We'll see. And and I I have to dig up where he was if he was on the list last year, I'm sure he was. But, you know, we'll we'll find out at the end of this month.Where he ranks as well.All right, Speaking of.Outfielders who had outstanding gloves and could get on base and and cause a lot of havoc, Kenny Lofton.Long time Cleveland legendary outfielder had some interesting interactions with the California wildfires when he spoke to Kenny this week.You know, just take us through that conversation. And as it relates to the the wildfires and what Kenny was involved in.
Paul Hoynes 13:37Yeah, I called.I called Kenny about a different subject matter, but you know I had.I know he lives in.I know he lives in the LA area area, so I had to ask him about the fires.And he said he, you know, he lives in Venice Beach, which is, you know, has not been affected by the fires or his home has not been affected.The wind is blowing the other way thankfully, but you know he you know, he said he the devastation.So great around where he lives that he said I couldn't just sit at home anymore.I had to.I had to do something so, you know, he started.You know, visiting different shelters around the area dropping, you know, like clothes and other necessities off at these shelters. And because he said, you know, these people have lost everything.A lot of these people have lost everything they were told to evacuate their homes because of the fire.And then their homes were gone and the, you know, the, he said, they really they they had, they really didn't have anything.
Joe Noga 14:38Yeah.
Paul Hoynes 14:42They didn't have toothpaste.They didn't have toothbrushes.All the bare necessities of life, you know, and clothes. So you know, he was just trying to do his part.
Joe Noga 14:52Yeah, it's outstanding to to hear and not surprising the guy of of Kenny's character and and that he that he would, you know, reach out that way.But you know, I'm surprised we haven't heard.You know more of.At least from more people within the organization. I know there's there's a lot of players who are from that Southern California area, Austin Hedges, Shane Bieber.And Tanner Bibey I believe is out that way.Gavin Williams is from the Southern California area, so.A.Be curious to find out how those guys have gotten through him in, in terms of the fire and and where you know where they've ended up or any interactions there.So it's it'll be definitely a story line as we we get into spring training as those guys go to Arizona, you know how things are going on back home.
Paul Hoynes 15:50Yeah, I know a lot of those guys, you know, have homes in Arizona now.You know, Bieber has a home in Arizona, but I'm sure his parents still live, you know, in Southern California.You know, I think Bobby lives in Southern California.Eli Morgan, you know, lives in the Los Angeles area.Who was just traded this winter? So, you know, I'm curious too, Joe.I'm curious to find find out just if if they've been affected by this.
Joe Noga 16:16Yeah, it's it.It'll be something to to ask about and follow up on. All right. The other big piece of news over the last couple of days here we tracked yesterday the sort of the the Dominican side of the international signing period.And dominicans?And Colombians and some other young players that were were joining the Guardians organization.Day 2 sort of featured the Venezuelan side of things the Guardians signed.A bunch of young players, young talent and they got their their top target as well.
Paul Hoynes 16:51Yeah, they they officially announced the signing of Heiversen Lopez catcher from Venezuela.They signed him for 900 grand.This is a left-handed hitter Joe 5-10 about 180 lbs.Good hands has an above average arm. This is, you know, according to a Baseball America and some other scouting reports on him.Has some poolside power.And we'll see.You know, we'll see how these guys.Develop and I think the class they probably have signed about 2526 players, but Roki is Sasaki was not one of them, Joe.So I I don't know how much.
Joe Noga 17:35Yeah.
Paul Hoynes 17:38Other signing bonus pool is left they had a a pool of just under $7,000,000, but they've been busy and you know most of these deals as you know, Joe.Have been done.You know, two, maybe three years in advance. They've been following these players since they were 131415 years old.So The thing is, if they had signed Sasaki, they probably would have had to renegotiate or maybe not sign a bunch of these players as well.
Joe Noga 18:10Yeah, some of some of the younger guys that get dropped if if that was the case and you know that that sort of puts into question whether or not they had had even had any interest in Sasaki in the 1st place, which is something that you've been cur.About ever since I had seen, you know, rumors about the the Dodgers wanting to trade for some international sign pool bonus or money and and.You know, thinking well, you know, the Guardians could could maybe send a.An allocation of that over there, but who knows what what the front office had in mind or had planned for that that money, obviously.You know, you know an important phase of of the development of the the organization and the, the the programs down there in the Dominican is, you know, making sure that the the young talent keeps coming in and they can identify guys like like Jose Ramirez, who's the the.One in a million shot when it comes to.Finding that that player in those those situations so you know good first step for a lot of these young guys and and we'll keep an eye out for you know when Heiversen makes his heiversen Lopez makes his you know Pro debut and and starts starts moving up the.Ranks here, and maybe we'll see him as a prospect soon.
Paul Hoynes 19:33Yeah, Joe.So interesting.I got a e-mail from someone saying why don't they spend this money on a Major League roster? You know, why don't they?What? Why are they like, you know, signing 15 or 16 and 17 year old kids who really?They don't.It's, you know, they're it's a it's a gamble.You know, it's a it's a roll of the dice.But you know, like you, you mentioned Jose Ramirez.Well, that's how they got Jose Ramirez. He was an international free agent sign.You know, that's how they got Andres.You know, Andres, that's how the Mets found Andre Jimenez.Brian Rocchio, you know John Kenzie, Noel.That's how they find these guys. And The thing is, it's it's it's a, it's good business from the ball club standpoint. And I'm not just talking about the guardians, you know, the draft, the only Latin American country covered by the draft is Puerto Rico. So the the Dom.Venezuela, Colombia, Panama. You know, even the guys coming over from Cuba, you know, they don't have a price on them.So you can you can find a bargain. You can find a deal. I mean, they signed Bartolo Cologne way back when I think for three grand. And this is a guy that won over 200 games in the big leagues.So you know, it does pay off.It takes a while.It it's it's a long it's, you know, it's kind of you're playing the long game when you do this.But for organizations, it does pay off.
Joe Noga 21:09We're playing the long game here on the Cleveland Baseball Talk podcast.That's going to wrap up today's edition.We will check in with you for final time this week. On Friday, we'll talk to you then.