Dodgers Territory - Can the Dodgers Flip This Mythical Switch? Matt Moreno Joins!

Episode Date: September 4, 2025

The Dodgers face a sweep by the Pirates and Paul Skenes is on the mound. DT hosts Alanna Rizzo and Clint Pasillas discuss what's ahead for LA and the mythical "switch" that everyone is waiting on to be flipped. Can the Dodgers turn it on for the stretch run? And, with Tommy Edman and Max Muncy returning from injury soon, is the key the same as it's been all season... getting healthy? Matthew Moreno from Dodgerblue.com joins to discuss all things Dodgers with Alanna and Clint!Download the DraftKings Pick6 app and use code FOUL for new customers to play $5, and get $50 in Bonus Picks instantly.Get 20% off your first Slab Pack or card purchase by going to https://ArenaClub.com/FOUL and use code FOULCheck out DT merch at dodgersterritoryshop.com!Support Guidry's Guardian at guidrysguardian.orgFind Clint on YouTube at youtube.com/@alldodgers!Subscribe to Dodgers Territory on YouTube!Rate and review our podcast on Apple and Spotify!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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We're excited to have Matthew Moreno join us today on the program. Always good insight from him. He's at the park all the time. Thanks for being here, you guys. Rate us five stars. Like, subscribe all of the things. don't forget to support the show in style. Dodgers Territory Shop is open.

It is ready. You can click the store button on YouTube, support the show, or certainly just go to the website, dodgers territory shop.com. All right, let's get to it. Clint Pisces. Let's get into the big ticket. Let's do it.

All right. So the Dodgers are on the verge. I don't think it's going to happen. I'm just going to say. They are on the verge of being swept by the pirates. They face Paul Skeen's today. This is a young man that, is incredibly talented, throws gas,

and El-Sai Young frontrunner. How do the Dodgers get to Paul Skeens? He is getable. He is getable. So how do we get to Paul Skeens and avoid a sweep at the hands of the buckos? Yeah, I mean, what we need to see is we need to see this offense kind of wake up. We need to see them show up against a team that is under 500,

or sorry, that has a record under 500. And I'll ask that. Like, how does that keep happening? And this is the billion-dollar question for this multi-billion-dollar organization is how does it keep happening where the Dodgers are playing so poorly against teams with sub-500 records? Since the start of August, Dodgers are 4 and 11 against teams with a losing record. They are 11 and 4 against teams with a 500 or better record. And hopefully facing good competition, a good pitcher in Paul Skeens with all the fanfare that he brings. Maybe that helps them flip that mythical switch we keep hearing about because they need to put it all together.

You got about 20 games and change left in the regular season. And while I feel fine about the postseason, you feel fine about this team in the postseason, they feel fine about themselves. Still, I've said this last couple of days, the product we are seeing on the field is just, it's not inspiring. It's not inspiring a lot of confidence for this team heading into October. It doesn't need to be inspiring every single day. I don't think, again, it's from a lack of effort. You and I discussed this last night on Dodgers Territory post game after that game. And I said the following.

I said, this is a team that I would rather they have a winning record against teams with a record above 500 than a winning record against teams that are below 500. You're not going to be able to get up for every single series. While we would like this club to go 162 and O, that is not realistic, I have absolutely. no doubt that a switch will be flipped when it matters most. That being said, this is the hardest sport, in my opinion, to flip the proverbial switch. Miguel Rojas, when asked that question, Clint, about is there a switch to be flipped? He said, I know the record is not there for us, but we're still in first place, not playing the best baseball we can play. We're still in first place. And I think we're going to be pretty dangerous in the playoffs. Absolutely. That is

the key, right? When you get a couple of key components back, we will talk about that shortly, they're going to be up for the big games. The Dodgers are not the only ones that have struggled against teams with sub 500 records. If you just look at Nick Castellanos, I mean, this guy admitted, he's like, listen, I don't get up for every game in the regular season. I just don't. And it is very difficult to do so. I understand from a fan perspective, you want them to. It's just not a realistic expectation. Yeah, I love this from our friend Alden Gonzalez, VSPN. And he kind of did this about every ball club. But it's like, just when you think a team is good, it's bad, just when the team is bad, it's good. That is baseball in 2025. And, you know, you had a conversation with

Ken Rosenthal on Fair Territory earlier. You and I had this conversation as well. No teams want to win their divisions. No teams, there's no like standout ball clubs right now. There's teams with a lot of talent. Dodgers themselves have a but ton of talent. And again, I will say it. I feel good about this team. Two and a half game lead over the Padres right now in the NL West. A couple games

behind, they have the wild card lead, of course, if that gets to that. But they're just behind having that number two seed with the Phillies. But these are, all the games need to be important coming up for this ball club. They don't face the Padres anymore. The Padres are reeling, getting swept by the Orioles

at Petco Park where they have been great all season long. They are going to be without their starting shortstop for the rest of the regular season. They're going to be without their ace reliever, Jason Adam for the rest of the season. One team, we've got to kind of keep an eye on, though. Them Giants have been sneaky good. Yeah, I know.

They're sneaky good. Rafael Devers is now what they had hoped Raphael Devers would be when they acquired him from the Boston Red Sox. Yes, I still think that the Giants, it's a little too late. I think they miss the postseason because they're four games behind.

And I just don't, can you throw that back up there? I just don't think that the Mets are going to squander that four-game lead. The Padres are making the postseason. The Cubs are definitely making the post-season. Milwaukee's not going anywhere. Obviously, the Phillies have the largest, well, besides Milwaukee, I guess, the largest division lead. But the A.L. West is super close. The NL. West is super close.

The A.L. East is super close. Let me ask you this, though. Let's address something in the chat here. Laura, Laura, says 162-0, seriously. they're not even close. Pampered little millionaires can't get up for every game. Give me a break. All right, Laura, I don't know what you do for a living,

but I doubt very seriously that when you go to work every, let's just assume it's Monday through Friday, 8 to 5, I doubt very seriously. You are fired up and pumped up every single day. You go into work, whatever it is. I can't wait to be here today. There's not a day that you don't necessarily have a day where you haven't. I'm not even questioning your effort.

I'm just saying maybe the results aren't exactly there. Maybe you don't feel good that day or maybe there's something else going on in your world. I'm not making excuses, but to think that these guys are going to treat every day like it's game seven of the World Series is an unrealistic expectation. Alonzo Buenaventura says Dodgers players who's getting paid over hundreds of millions of dollars and these guys need to step up. There is a reason why you get over a hundred million of dollars to step up and start. I believe he means winning, not whining. But the problem is you cannot, it's an unrealistic expectation. You guys, they want to win as much as the next guy.

But you also have to play the long game. Okay, like beating the pirates in the beginning of September is not going to do anything for this team if they get bounced in the first round against a high-quality opponent. You don't know if other guy, I mean, listen, everybody at this point in the season is banged up. I don't care who it is. Everyone's playing hurt.

There's a difference between playing hurt and playing injured. We're going to get some key cogs back. It's going to be fine. Yes, I'm sure it's better. I'm sure your job does get done, but everybody in the Hall of Fame has failed 70% of the time. This game is a lot harder than people give it credit for. Yeah, I mean.

Thank you for coming to my TED Talk. I mean, shit, you talked about it last night, the whole idea of, covering the team as a reporter being a part of that grind. And it's not just 162 games over 180 days or whatever, barely seeing your family and all this kind of stuff. And another one of the things Miguel Rojas had mentioned is that the boys are challenging each other to lock it in for the next 25 days or so.

And then you've got to lock it in for the postseason or whatever. But you have spring training where you are working, and, you know, that's 30 days, 35, 40 days of spring training, and then into the postseason playing deep into October. I could understand the grind, the, just how much that goes into, how much just sacrifice that goes into your life, your personal life to make those millions of dollars.

Again, it doesn't mean it's necessarily an excuse any of us like or should like, but it's just, a reality. There are plenty of times where I go to work and I'm just like, I don't want to be here. No, but here's another. No, I get it. And the same. But here's another point. Oh, Donnie Boy has a good point. And this I will give us a little bit of, and I appreciate Laura's comment. Keep him coming. Like, I get it. You are 1,000% allowed to be frustrated. And that's why we love you and that's why you're a fan, right? You're totally, you're totally validated in that. But O'Donnie Boy has this to say.

It's not that they lose games. All teams lose games. It's how they're losing them. That I can, that I can get on board with. You cannot leave a village on base. You cannot against the Pittsburgh pirates against the starting pitcher who was clearly struggling, okay, clearly struggling. You could see it in the body language. He could not find his spot. He was struggling with command. He was struggling with location. You cannot let that guy off the hook. And they did that. First of all, one time, bases loaded nobody out. The second time bases loaded, I think there were two outs in the inning. Okay. If you cannot scratch, I mean, To lose three to nothing to the pirates is inexcusable because you were ineffective with runners in scoring position.

That I can get. That I can get. Yeah. And we'll say before our buddy Matthew Moreno joins us, we got to point out that we keep arguing. We keep talking about it. This is a season of ifs and wins. And they got some help coming back. I want to talk quickly about that in our draft king's player spotlight.

So we're going to throw it a wipe. Yeah, you got to make it more exciting there. But it's always exciting to talk about a player shine a spotlight on a player that, well, in this case, the player the Dodgers need pretty desperately. Today, I wanted to shine a spotlight on Tommy Edmund. Listen, we've talked, Riz, we've talked a lot about Max Muncie missing in this lineup, missing in the clubhouse, the eventual return and what it means for this ball club. But with Tommy Edmund, you could argue he's just as important. the Dodgers are 20 games over 500 when he is in the lineup for the people, us included, who are concerned about this ball club's defense, particularly in the outfield.

Tommy Edmund is playing exclusively, it's two games, but playing exclusively center field at AAA Oklahoma City right now. That tells you they are going to put him in center field, which fixes our issues in theory because Pahas moves the right, Teo moves the left, if they do it's smart. But once Edmund returns, this is looking. looking like a much better ball club. Yeah, I mean, you've said it all.

I mean, it's, it's exactly kind of situating everybody where they're supposed to be. I mean, if doc in the front office do the right thing, they move on, Andy Paw has to right, they slide Tay Oscar over to left, Edmund is in center field. I mean, that makes it a little bit more feasible, a little bit more palatable in terms of outfield defense. You slot everybody where they're supposed to be. Again, we're getting reinforcements back, guys. I get it.

The postseason starts in three weeks. I get it. I understand your frustration. You're allowed to do so. They don't need a pep talk. They don't need to be motivated. They are, I mean, they're going to be fine. They're going to be fine.

Tommy Edmund, Max Muncie will help that a lot. I want to thank you to Draft Kings for presenting this segment on Dodgers territory. Pick six from Draft Kings is the most fun way to play fantasy sports. Download the Draft Kings pick six app right now. Use code foul. That's code F-O-U-L from our FAL territory, guys. For new customers to get a special sign-up offer, better payouts. Bigger wins, only with Pick 6 from Draft Kings.

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Bonus awarded as non-withdrawable pick-six bonus picks that expire in 14 days. 82425 at 11.59 p.m. Eastern Time. Terms at pick6.draftkings.com slash promos. Hello, hello, I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new director of research, Jake Mbata. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing. At IBM research, what we always do is answer what is the future of computing, whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI,

coming up with quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together. It's our DNA to answer the question. of what is the future. Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff? Yes. Building actual physical machines.

Yeah, it's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before. Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right?

Yeah. My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point with quantum? By 2029, we'll build the first fault-tolerant quantum computer. That is one that can run a very, very large, large problem. To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com slash quantum. We want to welcome in our friend, the executive editor, over at dodgerblue.com. Sometimes you'll find him on Dodgerheads right here on YouTube.

Matthew Moreno, joining us now. Always appreciative of you taking the time. And again, we've kind of had a bit of, oh my goodness, pets heads are falling off. Matthew, we talked about it last night on our post game show. We're talking about it right now before this game against Paul Skeens.

And the Pirates, what are you seeing from this club? What gives you pause and what are you looking forward to? Yeah, I mean, a lot of what you guys just touched on is getting healthy. Obviously, Max Muncie coming back, Tommy Edmund coming back, will be huge for this. the team. Kika Hernandez is already back. Hessan Kim is back. He's in the lineup today, you know, making a start. So that's encouraging. What still sort of, I guess gives me pause and

what I would be worried about if you're following the Dodgers and want them to win the World Series like a lot of people certainly do is we haven't seen this team really put it together for any sort of extended stretch, I think. And sure, some of that I think is injuries, some of that, you know, the starting rotation has obviously been better recently than it was earlier in the year. So you can point to, you know, well, these are the reasons why the Dodgers haven't necessarily looked like themselves all season long. That being said, you know, we've seen this from this team in the past. Like, injuries aren't anything new, but there was still the kind of, you know, concerted effort, whether it's defensively or with situational at bats and things of that nature that I think has really

dropped off this year. And that's been surprising for me to see under, you know, a Dave Roberts lead team. because the Dodgers for the most part typically will do a lot of the small things pretty well. And then, you know, they kind of get healthy or, you know, last year they didn't in October and they still went on a crazy run. But they typically are, you know, sound fundamentally. And I think there's been a drop off this year that we're not accustomed to seeing with them. Yeah, I mean, fundamentals is one thing. This is a team that also kind of won on the back of its bullpen last year. And the bullpen has been very good at times, very sketchy at times.

obviously so far the Tanner Scott signing has left a little bit of that bile taste in some people's mouths. What's kind of your take there, bullpen-wise? Is this a big, like big concerns to you, biggest concern, or is it like defense or lineup? What is the biggest concern for you heading into October? I think the biggest concern for me is probably the offense. And I mean, that being said, you know, it theoretically can be solved pretty easily. with Max Muncie and Tommy Edmund returning. I know Edmund hasn't necessarily had the season that I think most would have expected

after the way he performed last year for the Dodgers. I think maybe playing through some of his right ankle trouble probably contributed to that. Max Muncie, I mean, we've seen, you know, he came back from his knee injury and hit the ground running right away and the Dodgers were better for it. And then unfortunately he had, you know,

now the oblique issue that he's recovering from. So that's the biggest concern for me. Right after that, though, is I think the bullpen, And you mentioned, you know, Tanner Scott, even somebody like Kirby Yates, he was coming off a really strong season last year. He's fallen short of expectations. That being said, I think you can sort of potentially piece things together. You know, Blake Trinan seems to be finding his legs a little bit after coming back from the 60-day injured list.

And so to me, he's probably, like he's a big linchpin, I think, for that group. If he can solidify the ninth inning, maybe even the eighth inning, sort of the fireman role, considering what we've seen from Tanner Scott and his sort of strong. throughout the year. Like that'll be huge. And I think, you know, your starting rotation obviously shrinks a little bit. Maybe somebody like Emmett Sheehan goes into the bullpen and can find some consistency there. Maybe Ben Casparius continues to sort of get his footing again after he was sort of yo-yoed out of, you know, the rotation and the bullpen because of different needs and stuff like that. So I think you can piece it together if, you know, maybe Tanner Scott is pitching the

seventh inning instead of the eighth or ninth, slightly more favorable matchups perhaps for him. Like, it works out, but you definitely do need him to improve for that to, for the bullpen to really stabilize. Matt, what is your opinion on flipping the switch? Can it be done and how difficult is it to do it? Yeah, I'm somebody who thinks that that does exist and beyond baseball. I think we've wrong. Wrong. You are wrong. It does not, I'm kidding. I'm kidding. Go ahead. I think, you know, especially when you have veterans, right, like who have been through this before, I think, you know, being in the clubhouse after the Dodgers win or lose this season, like they're, they're not lacking for confidence.

Like, or it's just the entire, not the entire team, it's just players posturing, which I don't believe is the case. So I do think there is something to that now, I think kind of the difference of where the level of play the Dodgers are at right now and where they need to get is a pretty significant gap that I don't know if flipping that proverbial switch will make up for it. I think typically you'll see teams, you know, playing a little. bit better and then kind of, you know, flipping the switch. I know it's not a popular opinion. I do believe that it can be done. I'm not guaranteeing that it happens. And it doesn't always work.

I think that's the important thing to also recognize is it's playing with fire a little bit. All right. I want to ask you a question before I get back to Clint really quickly. I want to incorporate our folks that are listening and watching us. Alexander Rose has an interesting point. I want your take on it. First, it's wait till the All-Star break. Then it's wait till the trade deadline. Then it's wait till guys come back from injuries. Waited spend all year. Only playoffs will confirm at this point. Does Alexander Rose have a point? He does. And I am somebody, you know, over on our shows, and the majority of our staff have really been stressing like patience. Like, hey, it is only June. It is only July. And I think there is merit to that. I think the reality is,

we also are in September. And it's fair, reasonable to say that the majority of us probably would have expected that the Dodgers would have started to trend upward a little bit more than they have recently. All of that being said, look, they went through just a year ago, the playoffs with, what, two and a half starting pitchers, as Clint said, leaned on the bullpen. You know, Dave Roberts making this one decision after another for, you know, X amount of games that I know going into October, if you told people that's how the Dodgers were going to win, my guess is a lot of fans would have said there's no way, just given the perception of day. Roberts unfortunately. So I get it. And I think it's fair to question, is this team going to be

able to replicate, you know, one, that run last year and put together a strong month of baseball? I don't necessarily know, because we have, as the comment said, it's been, you know, wait until this point, wait until this point, wait until this point. Well, rubber's going to have to meet the road at some point. So it is fair to question that. That being said, you know, nobody denies the talent that the doctors have on their roster. And ultimately, if Otani, Freeman, Betts, you know, Will Smith, it seems like he avoided a significant injury. If they go on crazy runs, so then, like, would anybody be like fully shocked that the Dodgers maybe did this? Not necessarily. I think surprised, but, you know, crazier things have happened.

I love Manny Man 5 Dodge in the chat, who I'm sure you know well over on Dodger Blue. Since this team doesn't even have a switch lately. And yeah, I can understand the frustrations. It's also frustrating. Matt, I want to know, how shocked are you that Michael F. Conforto? I don't know if that's his middle initial, but I'm going with it, that he has survived into the month of September on this roster. How much of a shock is that? Not shocked yet. I will be shocked if Max Muncie and Tommy Edmund come back and Conforto is still receiving regular at-bats making these starts. Like at that point, I'll kind of wonder like, hey, what's going on here?

I think his rope, the opportunities has been given have extended because of roster situation and injuries. But yeah, I mean, it is a curious decision. And I don't necessarily get it. I know, you know, we got into it a little bit on our show. I think what's honestly sort of damning and Conforto gets a lot of criticism and I understand it is, you know, Dave Roberts, I think, in my opinion, essentially benched to Oscar Hernandez on Sunday and alluded to a lot of like effort and kind of focus and at back quality stuff. Whereas, you know, Michael Conforto was in the lineup still. So the Dodgers are seeing that from him and not to Oscar Hernandez.

Like, I think that's a bigger issue than maybe Conforto continuing to start. I have a question for you in the catching situation when it comes to your and my Los Angeles Dodgers, Matthew. Both Will Smith, and thank goodness that the x-rays were negative. Will Smith and Dalton rushing got a little bit banged up recently in respective games. That makes me nervous, though. This team is two weird injuries away in a catching situation to be in real trouble. How do you feel about the catching situation if you have to not saying that they need to, But in the event that something happens to both Will Smith and Dalton rushing, who comes in and I would imagine, because they're the only ones that are on the 40 man right now.

So who comes in and is in a catching position heading into the postseason? Is this an area of concern or am I making it out to be one and it's actually not? I mean, I think it's a valid concern. I think some fluky things would have to happen. And if Will Smith were to, unfortunately, miss, you know, significant amount of time, I think the Dodgers are confident in Dalton rushing. And I think he would be okay. Like there is going to be a drop off.

Will Smith is having a very productive season. You know, he went through his own little slump like every player does, but it's been a strong year for him. So rushing wouldn't necessarily match that production, but I think he could be, he could hold his own well enough. He's, you know, he's gotten basically a full year of experience, which is helpful. He's not, you know, maybe a September call-up type thing. But yeah, I mean, if something, I did think that last night, you know, when rushing took that foul ball off his hand, you know, Max Muncie's not on the roster right now.

I know in the past he's been touted as the emergency catcher. So I assume. Well, Clint just wants Tiki to catch. That's that's what Clint's. It's time, baby. It's time. It was close. Yeah.

But yeah, you know, if they need to make a roster, I'm not 100% sure how to pronounce his last thing. He just was like he was acquired in the three team. I think Ben, something with an R. Yeah. I don't even want to try because I'll butcher it. But I mean, you're looking at something like that who's going to have to come up. And all the points we discussed about what the Dodgers need to go right in the playoffs, like it could be washed away.

But it's a reasonable concern. Yeah, there you go. Roortvet. I still mess it up. It's a reasonable concern. But I think some fluky things would have to happen for that to become like a real issue for them. I agree. I agree.

I'm just creating problems that aren't there. But I think Clint just want to keep. to catch and I'm like no no no no we've been waiting for it for at least what six seven eight years now it's about time to let kicka catch just get one more thing he can wear the little uh you know helmet he wears when he pitches as well um mad i want to double back to the uh the outfield the the conforto the te oscar kind of conversation we had we had dave on the show two weeks ago ish and to be fair i probably should have been a little more direct with him uh in the teoscar questions he's He had brought up at the time.

Like, I like the focus. He seems to, in so many words, get better when he's playing better competition. And you should, in theory, be playing better competition in the playoffs. Still, that doesn't necessarily fix the fact that he is not the best defensive outfielder in baseball. He might not be the best right fielder on this team if we're underselling it by a lot. Do you think this team, for lack of a better way of saying it, smartens up, and stashes him again in left field come October, or even Edmund coming back.

Yeah, I think I'm torn on this because I've been there when Dave has been asked this question several times, several different ways. And the most we've sort of gotten out of him is, you know, it's a good thought, I think, was how he worded it in terms of potentially moving to Oscar Hernandez to left field. But he has also continued to say it like, it's not something we're really thinking about doing

right now, you know, it's not front of mind type thing. I don't know. I think when Tommy Edmund comes back, that'll be most telling because I don't think the Dodgers will get to October, and that would be the first time that they move to Oscar Hernandez to left field. So if Edmund comes back, and as you guys mentioned, you know, he's been focusing on center field on his rehab assignment, if he plays center field for the Dodgers and Andy Paix goes to left field, and my assumption, my read on that is going to be, well, this is just what they're deciding. To Oscar Hernandez says, he's said two things. He's will. He's will. to play any position. He's also most comfortable in right field, which I know sounds a little ironic

considering some of the lapses we've seen there. But if, you know, maybe the Dodgers will just respect that and respect him and leave him there and put Pahas in left field. But if Edmund comes back and, you know, by the middle of September, the middle of this month, Pahas is playing right field, then, you know, I think we will have our answer there. Matt, before we let you go, this is the question of the day. Team, you are most nervous about facing in a five game series. I mean, I don't want to skirt the question, but really, like, not, there isn't necessarily one that jumps out. I guess if you want to say fill, I mean, Phillies, but that matchup isn't necessarily, like, we would have to see how the bracket obviously ends up. No, like, there's no bracket.

There's no bracket. You just say if you had, if the season ended today and you had to face a team tomorrow, five game series, who scares you the most? Or who are they, who are they less matched up with? That doesn't even make sense. Who are they the most poorly matched up with? I guess if you put it that way because of what we've also seen during the regular season, maybe the Brewers, but I know like they're dealing with some injuries now. And look, I'm not trying to skirt around.

I just think, like I said, the Dodgers, like they have so much talent, but you put them in a five-game series. If the Dodgers play 75 to 80% of their kind of capability, their potential, like I think that they're favored against every opponent. It wouldn't matter. Yeah, they just need to get better. They need to find that switch and flip it and everything will be better. And hopefully they start doing that today facing Paul Skeens.

Matthew, we appreciate the time. My man, always good talking Dodger baseball with you. Tell the people where to find you if they don't know how to find you. And then we'll get the hell out of here. Yeah, no, I appreciate it. Thank you guys for having me on. We published a bunch of daily content on Dodgerblue.com. Find us on YouTube, Instagram, can I say Twitter?

Do I need to call it X? Dodger Blue 1958. I'm sure I know a lot of the familiar people are in here that we see on our life show. So thank you for that. Yeah, we appreciate the time. Guys, we'll be back after a quick word from our friends at Fowl Territory. We're throwing a curveball at you this week for our arena club segment

as AJ has opened up a Pokemon slap pack. Did that how you say it? Pokemon. Is that book, man? Pokemon. Don't ask me to say what that card is, but what's doing with that card? I already sold it. Are you kidding me?

Back, baby. I bought it. And then I got more money. then I paid for the pack, so I sold it straight back. You bought it for $2.50. You sold it for $2.99. And you can go get yourself something that you maybe know how to pronounce. Yes, or know what it is.

I just did it because I saw certain people opening in Pokemon and they were making money. And guess what? I got lucky. Made money off of it too. Exactly. But of course, if you're into sports cards, that is something that you can find a ton of on the Arena Club marketplace. buy, sell, slab pack, trade. 20% off your first slab pack or card purchase can be had at arena club.com slash foul and use the code

F-O-U-L. That's arena club.com slash foul and use code F-O-UL. Hello, hello. I'm Malcolm Gladwell, host of Smart Talks with IBM. I recently spoke with IBM's new director of research, Jake Embatta. We discussed his vision for the future of quantum computing. At IBM research, what we always do is answer what is the future of computing, whether it's coming up with new algorithms, coming up with better AI, coming up with quantum, or coming up with just how do different accelerators go together. It's our DNA to answer the question of what is the future.

Isn't it a perfect problem for IBM because you kind of need to have a legacy of building stuff? Yes. Building actual physical machines. Yeah, it's why I came to IBM. I wanted the experience, the culture of building hard things that others have not done before. Where do you imagine we are in the timeline of this technology? There will come a point when it will mature, right? Yeah.

My cell phone is a mature technology at this point. How far are we from that point with Conton? By 2029, we'll build the first fault-tolerant quantum computer. That is one that can run a very, very large. large problem. To learn how IBM is building the future of computing, visit IBM.com slash quantum. I want to introduce you to Sunny. He is a three-year-old shepherd mix. He is awesome. Loves, loves, loves other dogs, loves kids, loves people. He's super calm. He loves to play, but he's also snugly, vaccinated, neutered, totally healthy. Loves to play fetch,

loves to play with water coming out of the garden hose. He is being, he's being, he's being fostered right now in Thousand Oaks. Thousand Oaks is, no, not, where is it? Yeah, he got Thousand Oaks. And he just needs an adopter. He's a good, good, good boy. Please reach out to Yudry's Guardian.org or just hit me up on my social channels.

I can get you more information about Sending. Does it come with the putting green? I mean, it looks like a cool little pudding green. Sure, sure. We can arrange that for you. No problem. You adopt him. I'll get you a pudding green.

Oh, there's all, everybody. Somebody clip that, clip that. Oh, God. Riz, we got Paul Skeens versus Blake Snell tonight, the marquee matchup between the Dodgers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. What do you like about this matchup? I mean, this feels like a postseason matchup, right? And I do feel very poorly for a future Dodger Paul Skeens because he's so good and his team is so bad. But he's a tremendous talent.

He'll be a lot of fun to watch. But I love Blake Snell. I mean, two-time Sigh-Young Award winner, Paul Skeen's very likely going to get the Sye Young Award in the National League. year last year went to Chris Dale, but he was rookie of the year last year. Paul Skeens was just a good matchup to you guys that obviously when at the top of their game are the best in the game. So I'm excited about that. Feels very postseasonish to me, but I would like to get a win against the Padres. Excuse me against the Pirates. I know it's not going to be easy against Skeens, but he is getable. He just pitched against the Red Sox and he is getable. Yeah, the Dodgers

need to get him. And they've been doing this in the series of late against the sub 500 teams. like I spoke about earlier in the show, they tend to win the final game. They've done that. I think the last two series against, well, last two series. I forgot exactly what it was. But anyways,

the point is, just go win some Miffin ball games. That's what they got to do. And it starts today. And then you got to go sweep the Orioles. And then you just keep it going from there. I don't care about a switch. It's about time you just start figuring out

how to play good, clean baseball against teams that should be beat. Yeah. I mean, and don't overlook the Orioles. They just flipped the Padres. I know the Padres are reeling, but the Orioles are still a Major League Baseball Club. So you guys, thanks for being here. We do appreciate all your comments.

I love that you don't agree with us as long as it's always respectful conversation. We're happy to have it. So thanks for being here. And Clint and I will be back on Monday with a brand new episode of Dodgers territory, hopefully talking about what? Five more wins at that point. So we'll see you guys then. Go, Dodgers. Let's do it.

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Thank you.