Locked On Cardinals - Daily Podcast On The St. Louis Cardinals - MLB SQUAD SHOW: Playoff Race Heats Up: Contenders, Pretenders, and Bubble Teams

Starting point is 00:00:01 There are contenders and there are pretenders, and believe me, we know who's who. Step up to the plate. It's the Locked-on MLB Squad Show, sponsored by game time. From the Dodgers to the Astros, the Mets to the Rangers, and everyone else in the league, with the experts of the Locked-on podcast network bringing you the most comprehensive breakdown of all the action around the horn. We're coming in Spikes Up, no hurt feelings allowed, so Squad Up. Squad up indeed and welcome to this locked on MLB squad show. The latest edition comes at you with J.D. Haffern from Lockdown Cardinals, Brett Chancy, Lockdown Astros,

Starting point is 00:00:43 Chuck Freeman, a lockdown brewers, and myself, your host. Jeff Carr, one half, locked on reds. I almost tripped over all of that. And also your Lockdown MLB channel manager. And we're glad to share alongside us here today because we're going to be talking about the bona fide contenders, the absolute pretenders and the possibly, you know, in between folks on the bubble there when it comes to the MLB playoffs on this MLB squad show that is brotty by GameTime, download that GameTime app today, create an account and use

Starting point is 00:01:13 the promo code Lockdown MLB to save $20 off your first purchase. That's Game Time. They get the lowest prices on the best tickets, guaranteed. All right, let's start with this because we have our man Chuck from Lockdown Brewers on here. Chuck, it feels like the Brewers have won 60 out of the last 50, seems like they're the team to beat in the National League, and that's on top of the Brewers. Like, is there anybody that you're worried about right now?

Starting point is 00:01:41 Boy, it's just been an incredible run. They are 41 and, I think 41 and 15 or so over that last span. It's the best 60 games stretch in Brewer's history. And I'm telling you, it's just been unbelievable. And no, right now, I mean, it's easy to say, hey, the Brewers can't lose another game. But I mean, the feeling in Milwaukee is like, man, they can beat anybody. And there's never been a feeling like that ever.

Starting point is 00:02:12 You know, there's always been pessimists and all the, you know, wait to the Dodgers or the Cubs are going to get hot or whoever, you know, or if we run in the St. Louis of the playoffs, which are not this year, thankfully. But I don't, right now, I just, the way the Brewers are playing, there is such a belief at a high with this team that, It's weird to say that, but I don't think they fear anybody. There's nobody right now because, I mean, they just went 6 and 0 against the Dodgers, 6 and 0 road trip.

Starting point is 00:02:42 This is what as high as the franchise has ever been in the regular season, ever. Shots fired, Judy. I know. I was like, I appreciate that dig. What I ever do to you, Chuck? Geez. Hey, you've taken shots at the MLB show. Wow.

Starting point is 00:02:59 The nightly show. But no, I think that there is just this crazy feeling from the outside looking in at the Brewers that it's not that they have this just studly bona fide star player that you have to worry about. It's that you don't know who you have to worry about. You just know you have to worry because in some given game, somebody's going to step up. If it's, if it's Christian Yelich, I mean, he is the closest that there is to a star in Milwaukee. And I think that he had the kind of career that you would say he is in that upper echelon, but you also have guys stepping up like Joey Ortiz or Isaac Collins or,

Starting point is 00:03:39 you know, you just insert an AI generated sounding name. And then all of a sudden that guy's hitting 300 and he's got like 20 bombs and 80. Andrew Vaughn. Andrew Vaughn. There he is. In Chicago, the White Sox were happy that they got rid of him.

Starting point is 00:03:57 Right. I mean, you know, I think too, you know, Chuck. you talk about the optimism. And I think this year in 2025, you have a lot of teams who in recent memory, the fan base is pessimistic about what they're going to do in the playoffs, the Brewers, the Blue Jays, the Mariners, teams that have all had high hopes going into a season, the Padres, we can throw them in there, where they look like the red hot, they're going to set the world on fire.

Starting point is 00:04:27 And I remember a couple of years ago, you know, Ben Verlander was picky. the Brewers and the Brewers are going to win the World Series. And then they just, it's like some of these teams have hit this, it's like this wall that's imaginary. But what the Brewers are doing this year to overtake the Dodgers with that, with that best record in the NL and in the league and get the 70 wins, I mean, that's huge. And for you to say there's actual optimism over pessimism,

Starting point is 00:04:55 the rest of the National League probably needs to be a little concerned because you guys seem to be legit this year. Well, here's the thing is, I feel like when teams are complacent against the Brewers, and this, you know, August is always the dog days in baseball, where, you know, it's a long haul for these guys, for all these guys. But the Brewers, like under Pat Murphy, they bring that college attitude. They have young guys on this team that are hungry. And if you make mistakes and you fumble the ball around and you throw away a wild pitch or a pickoff throw, the Brewers, I mean, the nickname, the T-shirts going around, Tom, they're the fighting woodpeckers.

Starting point is 00:05:31 That's what Murphy is named them. Because they just get at you. And they just, like a mosquito. And they just, like a gnat, they just, and you swat them and they come back. And they swat them and they come back. Yeah, Jeff, like you were saying, some no-nameers.

Starting point is 00:05:48 Andrew Vaughan comes over here. And I said this in my podcast this morning. I said, he's turned into Mickey Mantle. I mean, he's got seven home runs and 22 games. The guy was banished to the minor leagues with the worst team in baseball, the White Sox. So, I mean, I would like to think this is going to be sustainable, but the Brewers are putting guys like Isaac Collins, a rule five pick in the heart of the order, and he's producing. And he's now a rookie of the year candidate. And we never even talked about this guy in the offseason because nobody's, I mean, he wasn't even going to make the team.

Starting point is 00:06:20 So it's just been just a, I've never seen something like this in sports, this, this bunch of cast off. and all. Suddenly, you just can't lose. Can I ask something with, as well as things are going right now, and it seems like whoever you guys plug in, they immediately take off and do very well.

Starting point is 00:06:39 Are you nervous at all? Is there a thought that maybe, you know, they turn into a pumpkin at some point and that, you know, some of these guys that over the longevity of their career haven't produced that they're going to come back down a little bit?

Starting point is 00:06:51 Or do you think everybody stays the course just because of the aura that you guys have going on in that clubhouse? Well, I mean, I thought going after the All-Star break, they went in the lost, they had just swept the Dodgers before the All-Star break. And I go, okay, now they're going to go into Los Angeles, and that'll be like the litmus test. They go into L.A., and they sweep the Dodgers. And, I mean, you guys almost, I mean, you guys played really well against them this

Starting point is 00:07:14 way, this past week, J.D., I thought you guys could have swept them in that series. Not one game they blew you out. But, yeah, I just, and they just keep going in. They just keep going in and winning two or three or three or something. sweeping series. And it's just, it's incredible. I mean, they don't like just win two or three. They just put a, they've had a pair of nine game winning streets on the season.

Starting point is 00:07:39 They have a six game are going on right now. I mean, they've only lost two in a row twice this summer since like mid June. Two in a row. That's the most they've lost. And then they come back and they'll win five in a row. You know, they were floundering around the 500 mark around Memorial Day. So to be 26 over at this point, that's an amazing, amazing run. And yeah, you know, I think there's always a thought, well, you know, is this,

Starting point is 00:08:05 are things going to level out? But, man, every time I think that, this game goes out and not only wins like, you know, a game, but they'll just go out and get off to an early lead and it's a rocking share victory. I do think it's interesting because I remember us having this discussion on the squad show earlier this season, asking, you know, when do the Cubs stop looking down on the NL Central and they look at everybody else in the National League? And we thought that the Cubs were going to be there at the end of the season. And now it's clear that it's the Brewers.

Starting point is 00:08:39 And he just joined us. He is Justin Lata from Lockdown Guardians. Justin, why will the Brewers not fall victim to what the Cubs are doing? Why will they not? Well, they've got the culture. I don't know. I said earlier today, I said, they can't keep getting away with this. They keep getting away with it.

Starting point is 00:08:58 Every year, every year guys come out of that team. And like they lost Corbyn Burns. Okay, no big deal. You know, they haven't had Brandon Woodruff for a couple of years. Okay, no big deal. We have Freddie Peralta. Like, they traded Josh Hader. Okay, we have Devin Williams.

Starting point is 00:09:14 Okay, well, now you got other guys. Like, they just keep finding guys. Like, Chuck said, like, nobody was talking about Isaac Collins. Like, is he going to show up in the playoffs? Is he going to be a guy that turns into a pumpkin? Maybe. But they just keep finding ways. There's, now, the thing I do worry.

Starting point is 00:09:27 about is Jackson Churio. That's not a good injury. I don't like that. That scares me. Yeah, they don't think about him. It might be the only thing that holds in fact. Yeah, that's something that scares me long term. And there's a lot of infield there, infielder guys there that are kind of iffy on hitting. But again, they keep getting it every year. So I'm forced to believe they're going to keep getting away with it. They can't keep getting away with it. But they might. They might just do it. And I will say this. We focus really heavy on the National League where it feels like the Brewers of the team. to beat, but it's clear that there really isn't that team in the, in the American League,

Starting point is 00:10:02 that it's like that team is head and shoulders above everybody else because I don't know that I buy the Toronto Blue Jays. The best way to get down to the ballpark or get down to the football stadium with football heating up too is with game time. Steve and I use game time just about every time we go down to the ballpark because they've got great last minute deals on tickets everywhere in the stadium. Sometimes you can find some really good deals. Maybe the weather's not so great, but for whatever reason, you're down by the stadium. You're going to find some really good zone deals on some seats.

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Starting point is 00:11:07 Do apply. That's over on the GameTime app today. They get the last minute deals at the lowest prices, guarantee. Thank you for making Lockdown MLB part of your everyday routine. There is a podcast for your favorite team, whether it's the St. Louis Cardinals, the Houston Astros, the Cleveland Guardians, the Milwaukee Brewers, the Cincinnati Reds, or the Oakland athlete. sorry not Oakland Sacramento no we don't say Sacramento the A's boone's got you covered on the A's too there's everybody's got a podcast you got to check them out today make sure you subscribe and make us all part of your everyday routine all right so we talked a lot about you know it feels like the brewers

Starting point is 00:11:48 are looking down on everybody in the national league and the American league it's easy to say the blue jays because the blue jays have been on this heater they're at the top of the league right now but I feel like the American league is going to be that league that who ever ever just makes it in to the playoffs can go on a run. And Brett, man, like, I feel like Houston's got the pitching to do that. You know, I, you know, yes, we do, but they've, they've, they've heavily depended on, you know, Framber Valdez, Hunter Brown. They've had a couple hiccups, you know.

Starting point is 00:12:23 The pitching has sprung a leak a little bit lately. They haven't performed as much, but the bats have started heating up with the addition. of Hesu Sanchez and Carlos Correa, definitely invigorating some life into that lineup. But Luis Garcia struck out the side tonight in AAA Sugar Land. Erigetti just came back. You know, he struggled a little bit, but I anticipate he'll get right.

Starting point is 00:12:46 Getting him back, getting Javier back, getting Spencer Arigetti back. I think those three guys coming back alone are like their own trade deadline acquisitions. We just added another arm or right-hander out of Atlanta. you know, um, Delo Santos, who I think actually is not a bad pickup. And he had a sinker at one time in 2024. Who knows? Maybe there's something else that he can bring because his slider has a 38% swing and

Starting point is 00:13:15 misrate. So you love that. If the Astros pitching is healthy and is, is producing the way that it knows how to, we've got Yonr-Diaz heating up. Again, Carlos Creas, Sanchez, Al-Tuve. If Yordon comes back, we have 47 games, back. If he comes back the last 25 games of the season and just produces at the plate,

Starting point is 00:13:35 the Astros have a chance to be one of the favorites in the AL. But I'll be honest with you. I'm a little nervous about the Mariners. And I'm a little nervous about the Rangers. I really, I thought the Mariners would be there. But the Rangers have started. I mean, the Rangers pitching is phenomenal. Their starting pitching is phenomenal. But the AL is wide open. So you could be one of, You can be anywhere from, and I would go out on a limb and say even Kansas City, they're on the outside looking in. But Cleveland, Seattle, Boston, Texas, Detroit, Toronto, who is going to get hot at the right moment? Because once you make it in, that's when, that's the hard part.

Starting point is 00:14:15 And there's some guys that are going to be on the outside looking in hoping the Astros don't have too tough a road, 47 games. Let's see if they can get it done. the Mariners are to me there's nobody okay let's start with this there's everybody in the American league is a fry short of a happy meal in the American League but I think the Mariners are the most complete team they went out and got Josh Neeler and a Johanio Suarez Cal Raleigh depending on what happens with Aaron Judge this injury coming back like Cal Raleigh I think still should be the MVP doing it as a catcher they have a complete lineup right they have a

Starting point is 00:14:52 pretty much a complete lineup the pitching staff might be the best in baseball. They have a good bullpen. And I think those guys are hungry because they just haven't had it. So I think if anybody is complete in the American League, it's the Mariners. But like Brett said, it's about who gets hot when and who gets in. Like nobody saw what the Tigers could do last year because, like, yeah, you had Terrick scuba in the playoffs and you were like, okay, what are they going to do after that? And then they went on that run and it worked.

Starting point is 00:15:17 So anything can happen. But like if you're looking at it like on August 8th, I think the Mariners are the most complete team in the American League. it's just a matter of are they going to be hot at the right time they look good right now i think one of the team in the american league the boston red sucks you know i was talking about the brewers don't lose i think the red sucks at fenway man it just seems like they win every night at fenway and just some sort of crazy thing happens and you know they they win and they haven't god they're i think they've they've got a little bit of a winning streak at home but man they're they're coming on

Starting point is 00:15:52 strong and really good and brigman is healthy and man i think the reds socks in the east on the other hand you know the yankees who i thought was going to win that division man they haven't been the same since toronto swept them a couple of weeks ago in toronto yeah it's boon out like is this it for him or is he because i know stacey believes he's untouchable that's what it seems like over the year that there's been many excuses and reasons to get rid of them by now and just keeps coming back he has he wasn't the one that traded with those relievers that are failing. Moon didn't trade for all those guys. No, but, but I

Starting point is 00:16:29 think to, I think, look, the frustration in New York is clearly, I mean, they made it to the World Series last year, right? But when they got to the World Series, they only won one game. So really, and Yankees fans' minds, that was a failure. Making it to the World Series

Starting point is 00:16:45 was not enough. And they've been yearning for that World Series title, we all know since 2009. And when you got a guy like Aaron Judge, I mean, diehard Yankees fans have told me, Aaron Judge wins a World Series. He can't be a Yankee legend. I'm like, I think that's a little harsh, but there are some fans.

Starting point is 00:17:02 They have that banner as their standard. And so, again, I love what you said about the Mariners. That is what scares me the most about them. Their pitchers are really, really good. You know, please, Julio Rodriguez, don't become the player that we were dreading you becoming. He has had a little bit down to year, but gotten hot lately. Cal Riley, we would love for you to go into a slump in September.

Starting point is 00:17:28 I would not be heartbroken over that. But I just think this, I think the playoffs in general, Jeff, no matter of it's nationally or American League, is probably going to be the one of the most fun and competitive that we've seen. And there's going to be a surprise somewhere. And I know we're all hoping that our team is that surprise. Yeah, and I think it's surprising even right now that we really haven't even mentioned the Detroit Tigers. Like it kind of feels like they have just coasted a bunch here recently

Starting point is 00:17:59 and look kind of vulnerable. Like do we think that they're going to make it to the playoffs and then they're going to fizzle out super quick? I think, and I'll say this real quickly, I think the Tigers of all the teams we've mentioned have the biggest chance of tripping up. The Astros could be, you know, and there are a lot of Astros fans who feel like the Astros could be, because because they're just like, oh, I don't know if they're all going to be healthy and whatever, but yeah,

Starting point is 00:18:28 the tigers were so great. And then it was like, the bottom fell out. But you catch a hot streak, then, you know, beat anybody. The Blue Jays,

Starting point is 00:18:38 Jeff, I like what you said, like you normally buy the Blue Jays. The Blue Jays also have a high bus potential because their pitching rotation going to the playoffs is relying on, okay, we have Kevin Gossman.

Starting point is 00:18:48 He's great. Chris Bassett, I don't know how good he is anymore. By the way, I went to college with Chris Bassett. That's another, sorry for another day. and you got Max Scherzer and Shane Bieber who are like not the same versions of

Starting point is 00:19:00 itself that used to be but if they're going to go anywhere in the playoffs those guys have to be the version they used to be. I don't know how good their bullpen is because their offseason closer signing has been atrocious and their offense is finally coming around but I think they have a high bus potential as well and the tigers the tigers don't want anybody talking about them right now. They want to hide in a corner and just act like they're not there. They just want please don't talk about us.

Starting point is 00:19:21 Please just let us be and figure this out before anybody else shines the spotlight on us little bit more because Jack Flaherty has not been good. They've had an injury to Reese Olson, who's one of my favorite pitcher is also my fancy team. Thanks a lot, Reese. I know he just won't be hurt, but it's killing me. And their bullpen's not as good as it was a year ago.

Starting point is 00:19:37 And I don't know what happened to Riley Green, man. He has just become a shell himself in a matter of what, eight weeks? Like that's crazy. So yeah, the tigers for sure are definitely in scared, like deer in the headlights mode right now. One of you guys,

Starting point is 00:19:52 and I forget which one of you did, but mentioned the Texas rinket Rangers. Obviously, Brett, you're familiar with them out there in the West. That is a team that is starting to sneak up on people as well. Evaldi, DeGrom, getting Merrill Kelly. I know Patrick Corby has got his career back after horrible seasons in Washington. That's what a team that surprised me. And I've been kind of impressive.

Starting point is 00:20:15 They feel like one of those teams that if they do sneak in, they might clip some people because of just Evaldi and DeGrom as their one and two in a series. Yeah, exactly. And that's a feeling here in Texas. You know, I tell my, I tell my Yankees friends, look, the one thing the Rangers have on y'all is they actually beat us in the playoffs. And so at the end of the day, they've, like you said, they've got the pitching. Adolas Garcia, they're not depending on him. But they've got enough bats.

Starting point is 00:20:46 I mean, we, now I know what Adoles Garcia can do to the Astros because I've seen it year after year. I know it Corey Seeger and Marcus Simeon. So they definitely have what we call Astros killers in their lineup. So yes, you know, Rangers chill out a little bit. We don't need you to be too hot. You know, we got enough competition in Seattle. But yeah, it's, I mean, look, hats off to them, respect to them, because I really did not think in the end they were going to be there.

Starting point is 00:21:11 But, you know, here they are. Speaking of who's going to be there, there are some teams on the bubble that look legit. And there are some teams, they look really annoying right now. We'll tell you why in just a moment. This episode is brought to by prize picks, the daily fantasy platform that lets you turn your football predictions

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Starting point is 00:22:39 Price Picks run your game. If you can't watch us on YouTube, you can always listen to us on your favorite podcast app. All of your favorite Lockdown MLB shows are on every single podcast app you can think of. Check us out there today. All right, we talked about the bonafide championship contenders, but there are some teams that are on the bubble. So I guess we can kind of put the Rangers as a legitimate contender, even though they're on the bubble.

Starting point is 00:23:08 Looks like they could really make a good run at the playoffs. There's definitely some teams that, you know, maybe I ought to call Mike Schilt and see if they can get a nice winning, winning street going toward the end of August and April or into September. I'm mixing up my months there. But who on the bubble? do you trust the most? You mean to make a move in?

Starting point is 00:23:34 Yeah, I think, I think Jeff, I mean, a team on the bubble that could make a move here in the next couple of weeks. Yeah, move into a spot and hold it.

Starting point is 00:23:44 I think you guys, the Reds, I thought if you would have won that game yesterday, man, that would have been really interesting. If you had to won that game against the Cubs on Wednesday. You know,

Starting point is 00:23:56 but I think you guys are still going to, I think the Reds are going to, make their move. Abbott is amazing, man. Take that guy on my team anytime. And I mean, I love what you guys did at the deadline. I'm worried about that series. The Brewers are going in there next weekend, not this weekend, but the following weekend, we've got to go to Cincinnati. It's a tough three-game series, man. You guys, whether you were in the race or not, a team I don't want to face. The two teams I wouldn't want to face. You guys and J.D.'s Cardinals, you didn't want to face either one of those teams down the stretch here.

Starting point is 00:24:32 The Reds seem to be the only team. I think a legit one too. Like I agree with you, especially if you guys get Hunter Green and Nick Lidolo back. I know he's dealing with the blister issues on the ham, but to get somebody back for a pitching staff like a Hunter Green would be a monster addition to what you guys might be able to do over the final six weeks of the season.

Starting point is 00:24:54 Because you guys have put a nice little stable of starting pitchers together with. If you go Green, Lidolo, and then, of course, got Andrew Abbott, but also adding Lattel, which is a nice piece. Brian Singer, now like your fifth guy with Chase Burns and the smoke coming out of his right arm as a guy that if he needs a pitch, you can. You don't have to at this point with the depth he got. So, yeah, I think that's something, obviously your offense is something you might have to worry about, Jeff, because it's been a very up and down roller coaster for the Reds this year. So if you can catch a heater as far as the offense goes, I don't see why you couldn't jump in and maybe take over a spot for a say like the pie.

Starting point is 00:25:32 who I know they got this great ballpen, but I'm not totally sold on what they've got in the starting rotation. I mean, do you trust Dillon Cease after what you've seen this year? Pvette has been insane, but you Darvish, Esther Cortez, I mean, what are we looking at here? Is Michael King going to be something that becomes a person who can go without getting hurt again? So I feel like that's the issue that's going on with San Diego. I like a lot of their parts in the offensive side of things.

Starting point is 00:25:58 But you know how it is when it gets down to the player. It is pitching, pitching, pitching. And if you don't have it, like, you're going to get bounced real quick. And that's where I think if the Reds get healthy, they could probably swap with San Diego there. The Reds are Terry Frank Kona teams, I will say, always seem to perform better in the second half. That was the M.O here in Cleveland. And I could see the Reds having that very good second half run to them. I mean, they're already on it.

Starting point is 00:26:23 But even though they're only, you know, four and six in their last 10. But, yeah, you guys are absolutely right. The pitching is there, although I think Bernie Singer just walked somebody else while I recorded this. but they're pitching still pretty good. And that offense, like you said, it's dynamic. It does have a chance to be really hot. If you catch that Reds team in the middle of the hot stretch, like everybody in that offense could do something that can beat you.

Starting point is 00:26:46 And Terry Francones teams, like I said, their second half team. So it wouldn't shock me at all. I think it's wide open for them to get in because the Mets are really hurting right now. The Padres, yeah, it's a little bit up and down. The American League, I have no idea. Like, the Yankees seem like they're never going to protect the lead ever again. And the Mariners are just really, really darn good. And, you know, the nice thing for Cleveland is behind Cleveland, it's Texas.

Starting point is 00:27:10 And then after that, like, there's nobody. I don't think the Royals of the race are making that run. So, like, Cleveland and Texas both have shots, I think. Do you trust your guardians right now, Justin? I know you're as surprised as anybody that they have gone on this run because it was, what, two weeks ago where you're like, it looks like it might be over. You know, they went on that losing streak. And now here we are a game and a half out of a wild card spot after you sold people at the trade deadline.

Starting point is 00:27:36 Like, are you, are you the new Tigers? Are you the 20-25 Tigers? They're not. I have signed the Guardian's death certificate twice this season. The 10-game losing and the Emmanuel Claucet suspension. I have said that was the end of the season both times. And it has not been. Do I trust them?

Starting point is 00:27:53 No, because they beat a bunch of bad teams, which you have to do. But they didn't sleep the Mets. Did they catch the Mets? at a bad time, maybe. But they have a really terrible schedule. I mean, they're playing the White Sox. They're playing the Marlins, who I know are a little scrappy right now. They're not a pushover.

Starting point is 00:28:08 The White Sox are here. They play the Braves who are banged up. They've got a really good chance in front of them to make some noise. And I'll say this, too, about the selling thing. They only, all they do is trade Shane Bieber. Shane Bieber has not impacted this team. It says 2022. That was the last time that he was really good for them.

Starting point is 00:28:25 23 was turned half the year. 2024, we made two starts. So this team hasn't felt an impact from Shane Bieber, at least on the field in two years. So they gave up nothing at the deadline. The only real loss for them right now is Emmanuel Claisse, and they had no intention of doing that. But here we are. I don't know. I don't think the bullpen's going to hold up long term, but anything's possible at this point.

Starting point is 00:28:46 And the rotation is starting to come together, which is nice. The Guardians, at least as far as I know, are not planning on playing the Braves in a speedway. So that's a good thing. I recommend playing that in a ballpark, not at. a NASCAR Speedway. But I appreciate what you guys are saying because definitely, as much as the vibes are immaculate in Milwaukee right now, the vibes couldn't be any colder in the city of Cincinnati because there are so many people, especially after this latest loss of the pirates,

Starting point is 00:29:14 that are looking at this and they're like, this is the point. We're pointing at this day right here, August 7th, the loss against Paul Skeens and the Pirates, that this is the day that the Reds' playoffs died. And I disagree with them. But quite frankly, I feel like that guy sitting in the corner in a straight jacket going, they're going to make it. They're going to make it. It's because of the pitching.

Starting point is 00:29:37 You can't quit this team because of that pitching. Hunter Green is going to make a rehab start on Friday. And when he does that, they're going to get him up to around 80 pitches. And the idea is, I think if he is good to go after that, if he recovers well, then they will bring him up next week. And so he'll be back for the home stand. and then you can use Chase Burns as found money in whatever way they see fit there. I kind of want to see him move to the bullpen.

Starting point is 00:30:05 I think he's got that kind of talent to do that. But we'll have to see exactly how they play that because, yeah, Brady Singer just had a clunker of a start where it was clear that the moment he gave up a solo shot to Brian Reynolds in the first inning, it hit him. Oh, man, I'm playing Paul Skeens. I needed to be perfect. And then he walked the bases loaded, gave up a couple of base hits, and then the game was well out of reach at that point is when you play in Paul Skeens,

Starting point is 00:30:30 you better only be down by like one or two by the time he gets pulled out of the game. So then you can make that make up that ground. But it was the kind of wall that this Reds team has hit over the last few years that has me a little bit worried. What they do next will tell me everything that I need to know because I know they got the pitching in the right places. But are they going to lay down and let the pirates just run all over them for the next three days. If that's going to be the case, then I want to, I want to harness the positive energy

Starting point is 00:31:01 right now of you guys telling me that the Reds are going to be that bubble team to make the run. But I'm seeing the smoke. I'm, I'm not seeing the forest for the trees right now, guys, and I'm really squint really hard. Oh, you know, I think the fan base can't get down on losing the Paul Skeens. Not if you get swept by the pirates, I get it. But I mean, it's Paul Skeens. it's Paul Schatz. You guys just played a decent series against the Cups, except for the Wednesday game. Like, yes.

Starting point is 00:31:28 And, you know, I, and, you know, he had Abbott on the Hill. It wasn't great for him on Wednesday, but still, no,

Starting point is 00:31:35 I, I just, it's not the beginning. Losing the Paul Skis is not the beginning of the end to anybody. Man, I, the pirates are, the pirates are tough out,

Starting point is 00:31:44 kind of like Miami. I mean, Miami's facing a team like that, facing a team like the Cardinals, man, you don't want to face a, those teams. They're, I mean, they got some guys in those teams

Starting point is 00:31:54 who could play. And so, yeah, losing the Pirates is not a shame. You don't want to get swept by them, but losing a game here and there, don't, you can't call off the season because of that. So you what, Jeff, I don't know if I don't know if the Cincinnati Reds are going to get in, but I would be terrified if I was a fan of a

Starting point is 00:32:13 team that had to play the Reds in the playoffs. Because if you play a short series, who wants to face that pitching staff in a best two or three? I agree. Can you imagine in October, Chase Burns coming out of that bullpen in pitching two innings or three innings? Absolutely not. Like that's the Padres in the Mets lineups, both could go very ice cold quickly if the Reds have to play them in October. I'd be terrified if they get in.

Starting point is 00:32:37 I don't know if they'll get in, but I would not want to be facing them in the first round. They just got some decent pieces now. Like I know that it wasn't like a huge name, but, you know, solidifying the defense over in third with Key Brian Hayes. That was a great move. you know, Miguel Anduehard. That was a solid depth piece to add there, the Lattel move. You've got Nick Martinez still. He can do pretty much any time.

Starting point is 00:32:57 What, you need me on two days rest? He shows up, throw six settings if you need, whatever. He's just like that rubber arm that can do whatever he needs. You've got a lot of good pieces in place to do some good things. You just got to believe in it. And I can understand why the fan base is sketchy about it because they're used to being disappointed in stuff. But it just takes one, right? you have just one playoff win, you know, one series, and they'll all come flooding into GABP.

Starting point is 00:33:24 Well, that's the thing about all this. You know, we could be playing some great baseball or anybody can be playing well right now or poorly like the Mets are doing. But, man, you get the October and you have a bad couple of hours. Holy cow, the season gets, like we found out, the season gets flushed down the toilet really quickly. You know, you've got to hopefully avoid that first round that short series. But, I mean, like, I watch the Mets against Cleveland this week. And I look at the Mets and I'm like, man, you got all those stars in the lineup and Alonzo's having an MVP here. How are you sleepwalking in these games?

Starting point is 00:33:59 And the Mets go through these slides. You know, they have a seven-game winning streak, you know, two weeks ago. And they just go into a slide. And it's like, man, and I feel like some of these teams, I mean, do you ever guys ever get the impression that? Some of these teams feel like their fan base will say, like the Dodgers, who went through a little bit of a slide there. Oh, we can just turn it off and we'll turn it. it on when October comes. And that's hard to predict.

Starting point is 00:34:22 Yeah. No, and I feel like that's the best way to conclude this episode. Thank you so much for watching today's Lockdown MLB Squad. Sorry, Lockdown Central Squad when it comes to Major League, well, no, Brett was here. Oh, but the Astros used to be in the Central. So yes,

Starting point is 00:34:38 yes, Lockdown Central's right. Yeah, you're going to love all the movement of Major League Baseball. But every week, we will have an MLB Squad show out for you discussing the big stories of the league. Now, I encourage you to go check out Lockdown MLB game night. They got you covered every game, every night. They watch them all so that you don't have to. That's on Lockdown MLB. We're all part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day.

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