On Mondays, I usually appear on Asheville’s WISE Sports Radio to talk about the latest in Major League Baseball with Pat Ryan. And I did that this week. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to record audio from my computer for some reason. So no clip of my segment.

I thought I had everything set up correctly, but my recording software wasn’t getting the audio stream. And by the time I realized it, I didn’t have enough time to figure out what the problem was, my phone rang and it was time to talk on the radio. Oops. Foiled by human error again. (Or maybe computer error, I still haven’t determined what happened.)

So you’ll just have to believe me when I say we had one of the best radio segments in the show’s history. Oh, yeah. Here’s what we discussed, in case anyone is interested:

• Super-agent Scott Boras complained about the number of MLB teams trying to win, saying the Atlanta Braves won the World Series because of it. Uh, nope. Boras is right that his clientele is affected by so few clubs trying to compete. Fewer teams are willing to spend money on players. But the Braves won because of smart baseball moves, adding impact hitters after losing Ronald Acuna Jr. and Marcell Ozuna for the season.

• The San Francisco Giants signed manager Gabe Kapler to a two-year contract extension. Why is he so successful now after striking out with the Philadelphia Phillies. Those who follow baseball know Kapler is a smart guy who follows analytics and values player development. Maybe he had to fail with the Phillies to learn better. But the Giants’ approach perfectly matches Kapler’s sensibilities, demonstrated by how he managed veterans, young players, and revival projects.

.@gabekapler is so happy to talk about @GretaVanFleet 😂 pic.twitter.com/c081m3qemg

— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) August 21, 2021

• My only knock against Kapler (for whom I’m a pushover because he’s a former Detroit Tiger and I really enjoyed his lifestyle and fitness writing before he joined the Dodgers) is that he loves Greta Van Fleet. But I can get over that. I blast “Highway Tune” while driving now and then.

• The Detroit Tigers jump-started their offseason and beat out the competition by signing pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez to a five-year, $77 million deal. Some Tigers fans scoffed at paying big money to a pitcher with a career 4.16 ERA. But Rodriguez’s 3.32 FIP (Fielding Independent Pitching) shows that he was hurt by the Boston Red Sox’s poor defense. That should improve in Detroit. And after seven years of losing and rebuilding, it’s time for the Tigers to show they’re serious about winning again.

MLB awards picks:

• AL Rookie of the Year – Randy Arozarena, Rays (.274 avg., .815 OPS, 20 home runs, 32 doubles, 69 RBI, 20 stolen bases)
• NL Rookie of the Year – Jonathan India, Reds (.269 avg., .835 OPS, 21 homers, 34 doubles, 69 RBI, 12 steals)

• AL Manager of the Year – Kevin Cash, Rays (Detroit’s A.J. Hinch should’ve been a finalist for this award)
• NL Manager of the Year – Gabe Kapler, Giants (107-55, beat out Dodgers and Padres in NL West)

• AL Cy Young Award – Robbie Ray, Blue Jays (13-7, 2.84 ERA, 248 strikeouts in 193.1 innings)
• NL Cy Young Award – Max Scherzer, Dodgers (15-4, 2.46 ERA, 236 Ks/179.1 innings; 7-0 1.98 ERA w/Dodgers)

• AL Most Valuable Player – Shohei Ohtani, Angels (46 home runs as a hitter, 3.18 ERA as a pitcher — a unicorn season)
• NL Most Valuable Player – Bryce Harper, Phillies (.309 avg., 1.044 OPS, 42 doubles, 35 home runs, 84 RBI, 13 steals)

You can stream The WISE Guys from 3 to 6 p.m. ET at wisesportsradio.com (courtesy of Mars Hill University) or the TuneIn app. Locally in the Asheville area, dial up 1310 or 970 AM and 102.9 FM. And thanks to Happy Hill Restaurant for sponsoring the MLB segment.