Cody Bellinger for NL MVP? Orestes Destrade on Cubs’ Remarkable Run, Shohei Ohtani’s Future, Wander Franco

Longtime MLB analyst, broadcaster and insider Orestes Destrade returns to the Jack Vita Show, to weigh in on the Chicago Cubs' surprising and incredible run, the Tampa Bay Rays playing without Wander Franco, Shohei Ohtani's future, the best Japanese baseball players coming over to the United States to play in Major League Baseball, and more.

 

Orestes has contributed to the Jack Vita Show for three years now, and is always a welcomed guest. He was on-air talent at ESPN for five years, appearing on ESPN's award-winning baseball show, Baseball Tonight, and providing color commentary services for ESPN's broadcasts of the Little League World Series and World Baseball Classic. For the past 12 seasons, Orestes worked as a broadcaster, covering the Tampa Bay Rays for Fox Sports and Bally Sports. During that time, he co-hosted the Rays' pregame and postgame show, Rays Live. Orestes currently hosts a weekly sports radio program, called "The O Zone", in Florida markets.

 

Orestes played four Major League seasons and was a star in Japan. In 1990 he was named the Japan Series MVP, while playing for the Seibu Lions. He led the Pacific League in home runs three different times, and led the league twice in RBI. He received Best Nine Award honors three different times. Needless to say, Orestes is well-connected and in-tune with what's happening in Japanese baseball.

 

Over the past two years, Japanese stars Seiya Suzuki, Mastaka Yoshida and Kodai Senga have taken their talents over to America. What is Orestes' assessment of each player?

 

Orestes has a lot of thoughts on Shohei Ohtani's injury and future, including a potential dark horse team to keep an eye on during the Ohtani sweepstakes this winter. How will Ohtani's torn UCL impact his looming free agency and the dollar amount he will receive in his next contract? Will it better or worsen the chances that he re-signs with the Angels, or have little to no impact?

 

The Chicago Cubs have taken the league by storm. Entering play June 8, the Cubs were 26-36, ten games under .500 and 7.5 games back of a playoff spot. In the time since, the club is a remarkable 48-28, and now has a very good chance of making the playoffs for the first time in a full, 162-game season, since 2018. What has been the key to the Cubs' incredible turnaround? Is there a case to be made for Cody Bellinger to be the National League MVP?

 

Later on, Orestes and Jack throw the ball around the horn, and take a look at other news from around the league, including the Los Angeles Angels dumping a handful of players on waivers, the Cleveland Guardians being highly active at the waiver deadline, the Guardians' chances of catching the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central race, the latest on the Wander Franco saga, and much more!

 

Tune in to hear Orestes' weekly radio program, The O Zone!