Hall of Fame sportscaster Jim Powell and co-host Tyler Flowers, a former Major League catcher, break down the complexities and excitement of the MLB playoff season. They honor Pete Rose's legacy and debate his Hall of Fame eligibility. Tyler shares insights on playoff matchups, including Cleveland's potential and top teams like the Dodgers and Braves. He also reflects on the changing culture of baseball and the role of fantasy football among MLB players. Packed with expert analysis and playoff insights, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at the game.

IN THIS EPISODE:

• [00:55] Jim and Tyler's tribute to Pete Rose after his passing at age 83.
• [02:26] Debate on Pete Rose’s eligibility for the Hall of Fame.
• [04:32] Breakdown of MLB playoff matchups and controversial moments.
• [09:52] Tyler Flowers on the changing respect for the game among current players.
• [11:12] Tyler identifies Cleveland as an underrated team in the playoffs.
• [14:58] Discussion on the key factors for playoff success: hot pitchers, batters, and relievers.
• [16:55] Impact of adrenaline and the unique energy of postseason baseball.
• [21:15] Tyler’s prediction on the Braves' chances and X-factors for their playoff success.
• [22:26] Flip the Switch- Fantasy Football in the culture of major league baseball players.
• [26:24] Final thoughts on MLB playoff excitement and the role of fantasy football in players' lives.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• The question of whether Pete Rose belongs in the Hall of Fame continues to stir debate, especially given the current integration of gambling into major sports.
• Tyler emphasizes the importance of two hot starters, three relievers, and three batters for any team to make a significant playoff run.
• Tyler believes Cleveland is the most overlooked team in the playoff picture, citing their team chemistry and leadership.
• Tyler reflects on the electrifying atmosphere of playoff baseball and how adrenaline pushes players to perform their best, overcoming the fatigue of a long season.

ABOUT THE GUEST: 

Cole Tyler Flowers (born January 24, 1986) is an American former professional baseball catcher. Flowers was drafted by the Braves in the 33rd round of the 2005 MLB draft. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox from 2009, when he made his MLB debut, to 2015 and for the Atlanta Braves from 2016 to 2020.

RESOURCE LINKS 

X: https://x.com/Jim_Powell

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jim-powell-38715a5/

Website: http://fansfirstpodcast.com/ 

Tyler Flowers Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tflowers25/?hl=en

[00:00:32] Jim Powell: Hello again. And welcome back to fans. [00:00:35] First, a sports podcast. I'm Jim Powell. I'm your host. And joining me today is our co host. [00:00:40] Tyler Flowers and, uh, Tyler, we're gonna get knee deep in this playoff picture now [00:00:45] that everything is set, finally. And, uh, we're gonna, uh, go through all the matchups [00:00:50] and all the teams and get, uh, about as deep as you can get.

[00:01:11] Jim Powell: I don't know what your thoughts are on Pete Rose, but what's [00:01:15] your reaction?

[00:01:16] Jim Powell: sad to hear

[00:01:31] Tyler Flowers: So A little bit of communication with him, but I didn't [00:01:35] really get to watch him first hand growing up or anything, but obviously the numbers are [00:01:40] remarkable and pretty much the best across the board as far as anyone that's ever played the game. [00:01:45] My brief experiences with him and hearing him speak to, uh, players, uh, that I [00:01:50] played with at that time when he was at camp was Super respectful, well [00:01:55] spoken, trying to help the game, help everyone develop, help everyone get better at the game [00:02:00] he apparently

[00:02:02] Jim Powell: Charlie Hustle passes away, [00:02:05] makes me feel a little old myself. Um, unfortunately, [00:02:10] you know, for the rest of time, when Pete Rose's name is brought up, people are going to [00:02:15] debate whether he should be in the Hall of Fame, should not be in the Hall of Fame. No, I've [00:02:20] never seen any allegations that he ever bet against his team, so his betting was pretty much just for his [00:02:25] own, his own team.

[00:02:51] Jim Powell: Um, you know, in my mind, I think it's a worthy discussion to have. What do you think? [00:02:55]

[00:03:25] Tyler Flowers: Um, So it's a little unfair for my generation to have a strong opinion about it. [00:03:30] Um, hopefully it does happen one day though, because the ball player he was on [00:03:35] the field was one of the best, if not the best ever. Uh, [00:03:40] the only unfortunate thing is if, obviously it's taken too long since he just passed, that he won't [00:03:45] be able to see it firsthand.

[00:03:52] Jim Powell: Well, I agree with you. I think that would be the [00:03:55] right thing to do. Baseball is sometimes very slow to move on such [00:04:00] matters, so I'm not overly optimistic that that's a pending call by MLB, [00:04:05] but hopefully down the road there'll be a bit of a groundswell, especially in light [00:04:10] of the ubiquitous gambling material everywhere you see.

[00:04:32] Jim Powell: The field is finally set. Uh, [00:04:35] craziness down the stretch. A lot of controversy, I would say, is the best [00:04:40] term I would use on, you know, the Braves and the Mets having to finish the season in playing a [00:04:45] double header. If I'm the Diamondbacks. I would have been very upset with that [00:04:50] because once the Mets won the first game, they were swinging like it was the last day of spring training in the [00:04:55] second game and really had virtually no chance to beat the Braves in that game, which ultimately [00:05:00] eliminated the Diamondbacks.

[00:05:03] Tyler Flowers: That had to be a very unique [00:05:05] situation. I don't know if that's really ever happened before, at least in my lifetime. Uh, but [00:05:10] I, I was imagining myself if I was in the Diamondbacks, I served their brilliant clubhouse. [00:05:15] Watching the game as a team. Talk about a swing of emotions, you know, you think the Braves are [00:05:20] locking up the first one, and then everything's flip flopping back and forth, and then you're the biggest [00:05:25] Mets fan on the planet for the second one, and then that didn't look great pretty much from beginning to end, [00:05:30] so.

[00:05:41] Jim Powell: No doubt about it. Um, and as they watch that game, I mean, [00:05:45] strikeout, strikeout, punch out, punch out, KKK.

[00:06:06] Jim Powell: Unfortunate the way it worked that in, in that regard, I wonder if [00:06:10] they'll take steps with major league baseball to make sure that they never have such a scenario again, if at all possible. [00:06:15]

[00:06:27] Tyler Flowers: So you'd like to see them maybe build in. [00:06:30] An additional day or something to be able to spread out some games, or I don't know, [00:06:35] maybe we can come up with something before that to not even have a chance to be in this situation. [00:06:40] But it had to be really interesting. I really felt myself feeling bad. I know a few of the DBAX [00:06:45] players still and, uh.

[00:06:58] Jim Powell: we've all been on that plane [00:07:00] on the flight back for after the final game of the season.

[00:07:19] Jim Powell: I, [00:07:20] which I understand why I don't blame them really. Um, and that flight had to [00:07:25] be like a million mile March. Oh

[00:07:55] Tyler Flowers: We ended up not being very good. But then you're playing teams, you know, at the end of the regular [00:08:00] season that those three games matter against them, whether they get in or someone else gets in and like [00:08:05] I was taught just by some of the veterans. I was around coming up like out of [00:08:10] respect for the game and respect for the teams.

[00:08:27] Jim Powell: You would know this far better than I, being so [00:08:30] close to the team and so close to Major League Baseball in your career.

[00:08:52] Jim Powell: Now?

[00:09:14] Tyler Flowers: If I ever did [00:09:15] that around them on a baseball field, and now it's the norm, um, I don't [00:09:20] think that directly correlates to like lack of respect for the game. I think it's just, you know, like the [00:09:25] evolution of man and the evolution of baseball. It's just kind of changing and shifting a little bit for our eyes.[00:09:30]

[00:09:50] Tyler Flowers: I guess it's

[00:10:01] Tyler Flowers: did have that one guy, uh, slide into third and he forgot his phone was in his [00:10:05] pocket.

[00:10:10] Jim Powell: how

[00:10:11] Jim Powell: is that? Right. That, that, that actually puts our whole [00:10:15] discussion into the nutshell in which it belongs. Um, speaking of, uh, going off in [00:10:20] another direction, let's talk about the playoffs.

[00:10:41] Jim Powell: San Diego, the Braves, the [00:10:45] Brewers, the Royals, the Tigers, and finally the Mets, the team that [00:10:50] ultimately, um, just barely snuck in. Uh, who [00:10:55] do you, first of all, what's your reaction to the Dodgers and Yankees and Phillies and Houston [00:11:00] being kind of the top four among the betting public? Um, and then who do you think [00:11:05] on down the list has been underrated here and, um, is being [00:11:10] overlooked?

[00:11:32] Tyler Flowers: And they still dealt with a lot of ups and [00:11:35] downs. Um, but I think his presence there and his personality, and we've seen it a lot [00:11:40] on TV when he was playing, you know, he's a little bit of a comedian, but he's a gamer. He wants to win. [00:11:45] So I think here in that initially, like they're, they're underrated right there.

[00:12:06] Tyler Flowers: Like, that's, you gotta be dialed in, um, and you gotta win a lot of [00:12:10] games against them in a row. That's, that's gonna be a big challenge. I think the Phillies might be a [00:12:15] little overhyped. You still gotta go with, their starting pitching is pretty strong. [00:12:20] Um, but you've seen a lot of teams be able to handle that starting pitching, [00:12:25] and I feel like their offense is a little more up and down, a little less consistent, uh, [00:12:30] than most of the teams in the postseason right now.

[00:12:48] Tyler Flowers: I see, uh, [00:12:50] Olsen and Ozuna kind of as our X factors on how the, what, what the outcome [00:12:55] of this first series is for us. And then, of course, we make it through that, and we got to play our [00:13:00] buddies, the Dodgers, right, right away. Um, I don't [00:13:05] really think Kansas City is going to be much of a factor. I kind of like their story throughout the whole season and the youth that [00:13:10] they've brought out there.

[00:13:31] Tyler Flowers: They sneak past that, then, you know, Cleveland could have a nice little [00:13:35] battle on their hands. But I think it's probably going to come down to the Daughters and the [00:13:40] Yankees.

[00:13:52] Jim Powell: But do you feel like the Orioles are a dark [00:13:55] horse team? Could they put it together and make a run? They could

[00:14:10] Tyler Flowers: You know, they had that terrible two week stretch of however many games they kept losing in a [00:14:15] row. And you look at their roster up and down, it's like, man, this, this kid's a player, this is a player, this is a [00:14:20] player. How does this keep happening over and over? I think ultimately their pitching, it's just [00:14:25] isn't enough depth to it to really be considered a strong contender to win the [00:14:30] whole thing this year.

[00:14:48] Jim Powell: Is it, uh, the, [00:14:50] What, what are, what are the factors that you look for in a team that say, [00:14:55] Hey, this team is, this team is good enough where they could make a run all the way?

[00:14:59] Jim Powell: You

[00:15:06] Tyler Flowers: And we've seen lately that sometimes that's almost a better situation without the [00:15:10] time off. But I've always said, if you can get two starters, hot, You can get three [00:15:15] relievers hot and three batters hot. You've got a great shot to make a run and at least get there. [00:15:20] But if you don't have two stars hot, it is hard to overcome some of these lineups.

[00:15:41] Tyler Flowers: You're seeing the guy with the sub two coming out there nowadays throwing 102 [00:15:45] with nasty sweepers and cutters. And you've got to find a way to [00:15:50] even combat some of the shadows. You know, that's one thing that's always bothered players in the [00:15:55] past is we, we have so many important games in the post [00:16:00] season, or even think about when we did the wild card games as a one game.

[00:16:16] Jim Powell: right? Small problem. Can't see the ball. Sorry, [00:16:20] coach. No, um, no, that's a great point.

[00:16:42] Tyler Flowers: Yeah. Yeah. Now 95 is like, [00:16:45] okay, I'm glad this guy's throwing, you know, like, that's like a nice [00:16:50] Sunday day game. The soft throwing starter is now 95. You know, I was [00:16:55] talking to one of my friends the other day, like, I think when I first got into the big leagues, you could see [00:17:00] maybe one guy per staff that could touch triple digits, but they never really [00:17:05] sat there, but they could touch.

[00:17:30] Tyler Flowers: Obviously, I couldn't do it.

[00:17:53] Jim Powell: You know, you may not think much of at the [00:17:55] time, but all of a sudden, when you're getting out there, really matching up with a tough opponent in a short playoff [00:18:00] series, every little thing is magnified.

[00:18:12] Tyler Flowers: You know, you have a couple bad plays. [00:18:15] Your season could be over just because of that. So it is a stressful environment. [00:18:20] Um, the electricity though, like in postseason, I've experienced it a [00:18:25] few times, it's just a whole different animal though. So it really kind of keeps [00:18:30] you locked in and energized. I think.

[00:18:51] Tyler Flowers: And uh, I think that's why, you know, you think about it, I mean, the best teams are in the [00:18:55] postseason over the course of a long season, right? But I think you also see [00:19:00] quality games Better quality games because of that environment and energy that [00:19:05] everyone brings, which creates that focus for the player on every pitch, every at bat, every [00:19:10] ground ball, every throw catch.

[00:19:18] Jim Powell: I saw, you know, Matt [00:19:20] Olson, there's been a lot of talk about the, the travel that some of these teams had to endure down the [00:19:25] stretch, uh, right through, you know, the, the last day of the season with the doubleheader on, on that [00:19:30] last Monday.

[00:19:50] Jim Powell: You forget about the, what little troublesome injuries you've had and [00:19:55] battled through and how tired you might be and how you haven't seen your family for X amount of time [00:20:00] and you, you still go out there and you, and you, in most cases, it seems like players play their best [00:20:05] baseball in the post season.

[00:20:24] Tyler Flowers: [00:20:25] That's what ends up happening. It's just happens to be, you know, 30 to 38 [00:20:30] year old adults getting that same experience that we used to get when we were. Much younger and [00:20:35] nervous about messing up or anything. You get that butterfly, but now we understand how to use [00:20:40] that and apply it to the game to help us perform even better.

[00:21:06] Jim Powell: Six, seven, eight years old.

[00:21:11] Jim Powell: So if you, if you have to be, if I try and pin you [00:21:15] down on who's going to go win the world series or which, I mean, we've already talked about the Yankees [00:21:20] and the Dodgers a little bit. Um, obviously the Braves have a, a really tough [00:21:25] road to go.

[00:21:32] Tyler Flowers: Yeah, yeah, there's no easy path. I mean, even the [00:21:35] ones that are sitting in position a, they have battles coming for them and [00:21:40] whatever, 4 or 5 days from now, um, and they're not going to be easy.

[00:22:03] Tyler Flowers: Yeah. And really [00:22:05] kind of introduce themselves to the rest of the world, you know, who really probably don't watch us all the [00:22:10] time other than, uh, Double Enter game, but it's it's going to be fun. This is [00:22:15] the most fun time of year to to watch baseball on TV. Well, yesterday [00:22:20] was pretty cool as well, but, uh, everything coming up right now is going to be exciting.[00:22:25]

[00:22:25] Jim Powell: mind, it's time to flip the switch on my co host, Tyler [00:22:30] Flowers.

[00:22:56] Jim Powell: And, uh, you know, it's, it's a, it's a great diversion [00:23:00] for those in baseball where you play day after day after day. And it seems like it's just rinse [00:23:05] and repeat every day. And then all of a sudden you've got fantasy football to talk about the draft and then [00:23:10] the aftermath trades and all that. Uh, how, how big of a factor is fantasy [00:23:15] football in the culture of major league baseball players?

[00:23:36] Tyler Flowers: It's a long road. It doesn't matter. It can be longer if you're maybe the [00:23:40] White Sox this season, probably wrong season, long days, I'm [00:23:45] sure. But you have to have those kinds of escapes and stuff. You know, I think that's why we still hear about people going [00:23:50] out there to golf on days off and stuff, but you gotta be able to escape.

[00:24:24] Tyler Flowers: And it [00:24:25] also continues that camaraderie and that family atmosphere that every team tries to create every season. [00:24:30]

[00:24:42] Jim Powell: Um, it's just not healthy to be fixated on one [00:24:45] thing and one thing only. So I know fantasy football is, is that great diversion that allows you to [00:24:50] clear your baseball side of the brain. At the same time, you're talking about something else and then you come right back to baseball. [00:24:55] It's not like you missed anything.

[00:25:17] Tyler Flowers: Like you said, it doesn't matter if you're a [00:25:20] professional athlete or not. You got to have some breaks and escapes. Right. Enjoy a little downtime [00:25:25] and not focusing on the one thing that you know, you have to focus on.

[00:25:41] Jim Powell: So, and by the way, I'll find you on call of duty one day [00:25:45] and we'll, uh, we'll see how that goes for you. Cause I'm not too bad. I like it.

[00:25:55] Jim Powell: since I was a kid. Same. Same. Yep.

[00:26:17] Jim Powell: And, um, again, as always, [00:26:20] thank you for your time and your insights. We really appreciate it. Of

[00:26:24] Jim Powell: [00:26:25] coming up here. Yes, sir. Well, thanks again for joining us for today's [00:26:30] episode of Fans First Sports Podcast. We had a great visit with Tyler Flowers, [00:26:35] gave you a chance to see the curtain get pulled back and see what it's like to be a major league player in a playoff [00:26:40] series or a playoff game or the travel that goes along with it, the pressures, and of course, [00:26:45] uh, the call of duty game back at the hotel when you're finally done for the day.[00:26:50]

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