Locked On Mariners - Daily Podcast On the Seattle Mariners - STUNNER: Why Neither Shohei Ohtani, nor Aaron Judge are the MVP Favorites in the AL or NL

Episode Date: April 15, 2025

There have been plenty of surprises to start the season and the storylines are starting to form. Who has had the best start to the season and who needs to turn things around? The experts from the Locked On Podcast Network bring you their way too early season MVPs and a top 5 Power Rankings! All that and more on this week’s MLB SQUAD Show!Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Amazon Fire TV Stick 4kDid you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required.UpworkVisit Upwork.com right now and post your job for free. With Upwork, you can find specialized freelancers in marketing, development, design, and more—experts ready to help you take your business to the next level. PrizePicksDownload the app and use code lockedonnfl to win $50 instantly when you play $5. You don't even need to win to receive your $50 bonus, it's guaranteed! Prizepicks. Run Your Game.Click Here: https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/LOCKEDONMLBSupply HouseJoin the TradeMaster program today at SupplyHouse.com/TM and start ordering plumbing, HVAC, and electrical supplies with just a few clicks. Plus, use promo code S-H-5 for 5% off your first order. That’s SupplyHouse.com!Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONCOLLEGE at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year.GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA.FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Who are the way too early AL and NLMVPs? Some of the names might surprise you on today's Locked-on MLB Squad Show. 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 breakdowns of all the action around the horn. We're coming in Spikes Up. No hurt feelings allowed. So squad up.

Welcome into the show that covers the big news of the week with the experts from the Locktown MLB channel. I am your host, J.D. Hapner from Locktown Cardinals. Multiple hosts from our Lockdown MLB Network are here to give you daily analysis of your favorite team from your favorite sport. Let's roll through the names, boys and girls. We got Jeff from Locked on Reds. You got Jeremiah from Locked on Marlins, H-Down from the Astros, Boone from the A's, Stace from the Yankees. Chuck coming in from Milwaukee and the Brewers. from Cleveland with the Guardians and I guess the Rob Manfredish type of guy,

Sully representing all of the league as our locked up MLB host. Today's episode brought to you by game. We can blame him. Create an account. Use the code locked at MLB for $20 off your first purchase. Later on in this show, we will be unleashing our power rankings. We're going to roll through the top five. Let's give you some of the players who have been the biggest disappointments

underachievers so far this season. but we'll start on a positive no. We'll begin today's show with the guys who are getting it done. Now, coming into Monday, there have been a lot of players that have been off the good starts. You know, it's always amusing to me how, you know, we characterize things at the beginning of the season. You know, if a player or a team is doing well, then it's a trend. And they could be the surprise stars of the summer.

But if they're struggling, we say, well, hold on, hold on. It's early. It's early. Don't work. It happens every year. So why not give some kudos? if you will, to these early season heroes that we've seen so far by handing out our way too early MVPs in the NL and the AL, the overachievers, if you will. It's easy to say, Otani or Judge, and I know this panel's not going to take the easy pickings, right? Because we've got some teams

that many didn't think would be where they are right now, like the Giants and the angels leading their respective divisions. The Marlins are over 500. The Blue Jays, nine and eight. So maybe some guys on these teams. We'll get some votes. But what do we think? Way too early MVP's. Who we got so far? Who wants to lead things off here tonight? Well, I'd like to start off with George Springer out of Toronto. George Springer, you know, he is former Houston Astro, and we still love George Springer to this day. And he's really had a rough couple of years hitting 375 right now, hitting over Judge, hitting over Tatis. I mean, all these other guys, Willa Ryu, he just looks really good at the plate. And this is the kind of year that I think the Blue Jays for years have

wanted him to have or he's kind of falling off. So good for him because he's maybe the spark plug they need, take some of that pressure off of Vladdy with that big deal he just signed. I've been right now because I think we've seen the angels over the years. They lost Otani. Trout's been, you know, suffering his injuries. But don't worry because the person who leads the league in war in the American League is, and this is the first time I'm saying his name out loud here, Kyrin Paris. Is it Kyran? Yeah, there you go.

Just like we all thought. Just like we all. Who is leading the league in war? He is leading the league in slugging. Folks, show hey who, Trout who? This is the angels are going to, I think, are on a lock to win their second world series title in their team history. And for a franchise that's had superstars.

and Reggie Jackson controlled by mind control in the naked gun. There's been a lot of things that have happened in Angel Baseball, but nothing like Kyrin Paris. Hey, the All-Star game, the World Series will always have Paris, and this is it. And I think this is no fluke. Clearly, he's going to lead the league in war this year, and it's not even close.

Well, since we're talking American League, I figure we've got to throw the hat in for the National League, and it's clearly a starting pitcher that's going to win the MVP and the Sy Young Award, and that is Hunter Green, because nobody's been better than Hunter Green has, at least through, you know, the first four weeks of the season. So that's okay. Three weeks of the season. I think I'm counting ahead. But, hey, he's looked really good, and he just shut down a very dangerous pirates lineup that I think OPS Plus is above 60.

I think it's above 60. So I love seeing that. I'm going to say Pete Alonzo in the National League is having just an amazing year. Not only Z-batting like 333, but look at all the big moments from opening day. Even the other night to play in Oakland, and he gets a ninth inning home run to kind of extend the line. They were playing who? They were playing who? Got to drop one in the jar.

City that doesn't exist anymore. Middle League ballpark they're in. But I think Alonzo's been great so far. And I don't want to talk. I don't want to root for a guy in New York. but I got to give it to him. Alonzo's coming up. I mean, he's not going to hit 333 this year.

And I don't know if he's going to continue this trend, but he's hitting home runs, hitting gappers. Even the other night, he roped one in the gap, cleared the bases. So he's having a fantastic year for the Mets so far. Let's talk about.

National League. I'm going to go with Corbyn Carroll, Arizona two years ago. One of the best players in all baseball as a rookie. Had a real disappointing year last year and has come back like a stud so far this year, 1.1, 2, 3 OPS. He's hit five bombs, 10 ribbies, 14 runs, 21 hits. I mean, he's doing what he's supposed to do. He's doing what he was supposed to do two years. Last year, he didn't come through.

But he's coming on big, and I like where Corby and Carol is right now. Not even talking about the best team in the N.O.N.O. West, or the best player. Young Hoo Lee, obviously the reason why the Giants have broken out this year. We got Rob to seeing him a year ago. And I think it just proves everybody needs to hire their former best player to be the GM, right? That's obviously the move you have to make. So, you know, Barry Larkin, you know, this is Sandy Reds. Yeah, yeah, Barry Larkin's sitting up in the booth there. Am I allowed to bring up someone from my own team?

Is that allowed? Of course, I did. Don't be ashamed because your team's good. Okay, because I'd like to bring up Paul Goldschmidt of all people because he is. No, no, no, never mind. You're not allowed to speak to them. Does Janie? You want that, is you want to take back on that one?

He is batting 367, just like Judge, and his OPS is 909, and he just seems to hit every game. It's amazing. He got his 451st career double on Monday night. Homer was first 50s. Yankees this year, too. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Yeah.

You know, Jeff, the other contender in the National League for the Cy Young, I say it would be Spencer Schwellenbach for the Braves. The man is naples. absolute force. You know, he had his coming out party a little bit last year, but I think this season is where he establishes himself as an ace. As a Marlins podcaster and fan, I'm not looking forward to facing him in the division for the next foreseeable futures, five, seven years. But he's looking really good. And if a pitcher was to win an MVP, I think it would happen in the National League and it would come down to Hunter Green or Schwellenbach. Love him both.

I hope it sticks. But I think Atlanta's only allowed to have. one Spencer though. Like I think they have to choose Strider or Schwellen back. He's coming back Wednesday too. Too many Spencers. Too many Spencers. A couple of guys on the team with the same name, Jeremiah, you got two Jesuses on your team. A couple of Hesuces, how they pronounce it, but when I'm playing MLB the show, I'm like, there are Jesus all over the field on this squad in Miami. They got a lot. Hazu Sanchez, hopefully coming back this week. Hey, and eight and seven, they got series with the Diamondbacks and Phillies.

I'll take it right now. Marlon Sieber, catch it. Go get it. You know, good times. I don't want to pick a layup, but I'm going to Fernando Tatis Jr. I just find him to be extremely exciting.

And obviously, the start the Padres have, he's just stood out as he's clearly one of the best players. Is he cheating again? I don't know. I don't know. I'm not in the locker room watching him pee.

I don't know what's going to happen with him. But so far so good for him with the pie. No one else is in the locker room watching the TV either. I don't know the rules these days. I don't know. If you get busted once, you have to have a guy like watching and making sure that you're not doing anything, you know, I don't know. I don't know. Now that we've given a little bit of love to some of the positive things going on around the league.

Up next, we're to discuss the other side of the coin. We're going to point out some of the biggest disappointments and the underachievers so far this season on the lockdown MLB squad show. The NBA playoffs are almost here, and Fandall is giving new customers an incredible way to get in on the action. Because right now, when you join Fandall and you place your first five down the bet, you're going to get $250 in bonus bets if your bet wins. Now, one of the great things about Fandall is that it actually makes betting so easy. It really does, whether it's picking your favorite team to win, whatever game they're playing, or whether you're diving into the player props with the NBA, you've got, you know, three-pointers, steals, or so many things to choose from. many ways to bet your favorite player props.

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A lot of great NBA action is set to be. be played. So don't miss out. Head to fandle.com and claim you $250 in bonus bets today. Once again, that's at fandle.com and claim your $250 in bonus bets today. So we've patted the guys on the back who have done well so far this season. Now we got to, we got to be the bad people. We got to call out some of the guys who weren't exactly living up to expectations so far this season. And you can either go position player. You can go pitcher. You can pick two of each if you one, two. I'm going to start things off. We brought up the Spencers over in Atlanta. And the guy that is not having such a great start has been Chris Sale. You've got the NL Sae Young

Award winner at 0 and 2 with the 6.63 ERA, been a rough start for him. And of course, for the Atlanta Braves altogether so far this season. Your guys' thoughts on the slow start for Chris Sale. Is this something he's going to come out of at some point? Or are you guys genuinely concerned with what you've seen from him so far? He'll cut his way out of it. see what you did there, Stace, and I like it. Should I trade it on this? He's 36. And when the Red Sox traded him away a few years ago for a VHS copy of Weekend at Bernie's

and a flat sprite, I actually praised him because I thought sale was done. And then he won a Cy Young Award to everyone's amazement. and now he's pitching like you would expect a 36-year-old with a lot of injury issues to have pitched. And so the answer to this is no. I think that maybe last year was a fluke. Like the last blip on an EKG machine? Yeah, and of a wonderful career.

The guys had a terrific. I mean, the guys pitched for 15 years, had three or four years where he could have won the Cy Young Award, you know, pitched the last out of the World Series a few years ago. granted, there were some shenanigans with that Red Sox team, but he did get the final out. And that was, it's a wonderful career. But, you know, who went to prize picks and had him going winning the Cy Young Award last year? You know, nobody.

Nobody. And so I think last year may have been a fluke. And, you know, a last gas of a tremendous, a tremendous career. Ty is turned 36, Ellie. Am I cooked? Am I done, too? To touch on those pitchers, we had, you mentioned Chris Sale, and, you know, it's in the back half of his career. The clock's going to strike midnight on everyone eventually.

And somebody that I'm not necessarily completely out on, but their signs of concern is Jacob de Grom for the Rangers. I mean, he comes back from the injury. the velocity isn't what we're used to seeing. And he's giving up a ton of base hits through his first three starts. The control hasn't been there. The ERA is still fine. It's in the mid-fours. But that's not the Jacob de Grom.

I grew up watching. So I'm keeping on tabs with him because as also an owner of DeGrom on my fantasy team, I'd like to see some improvement. But, you know, age is a factor in. Age is a factor. I would say, we're Paul Goldschman, right? days because he just keeps on chugging along, doesn't he? I mean, who knew that signing a first basement that old would actually work out okay

for the Yankees so far in the first 16 games? I'm going to bring up multiple Minnesota twins because the America League Central is wide open and you look up and as anyone told Carlos Correa that these games count? I mean, he is slashing 164, 233, 255 slugging. You know, Jose Miranda's off to a horrible start. Harrison Bader's off to a horrible start. Byron Bucksner is off to a horrible start. And Hoyt Wilhelm, who is the great Hall of Fame,

the first Hall of Fame reliever, has, he died a few years. He died about 20 years ago and is tied with the Minnesota staff with saves this year. Zero. They haven't recorded a save yet. I know it's early, but holy Jeff Reardon, at one point, you've got to, you've got to record. court a save. And

there is, and Justin, don't take this a wrong way. There is no big powerhouse in the American League Central. And for a three playoff teams. Three playoffs a year ago, okay? Hey, okay, but what's, where's, which one's going to win

100 this year? What's the last one? Yeah. Exactly. There's no powerhouse. There are good teams, but not a powerhouse. And if Minnesota continues to stumble out of the gate, there may be a big old fire sale there, but who would want to buy any of these players? So, yeah, I mean, Carlos Correa, I'll just have the fact that he's batting 164. That's right now a reason to get rid of the

Universal DH because how could a pitcher hit worse than Carlos Correa right now? Yeah, you know, I'm sitting here looking at my Astros lineup and there's a lot of disappointments right now, but Christian Walker's had a very frustrating start to the year where you go old, you pay the guy $60 million for three years. You just got over the debacle of signing Jose Abraeu and seeing him fall off the baseball planet. But, you know, Christian Walker comes in and, you know, he says he's been pressing and, you know,

he has connected a few times. He finally got a few walks over the weekend against the Angels where they actually won, two of three. But I think- Always a sign of a turnaround. Yeah, hey, Christian Walker and I think Yiner D. are my two biggest disappointments because we really are counting on yiner to be that catcher that he was last year third in baseball with with you know runners and scoring positions so it's too early but

these guys are two guys that really got to help yorda alvarez carry this offense and even he's not doing his job very well right now someone tell me how the texas rangers are nine and seven jake burger has been terrible jack peterson's been terrible marcus semyon's been terrible We just talked about Jacob de Grom's struggles. I know they have a negative run differential, but they're nine and seven. I know we're talking about the worst teams, but these are three guys that I thought were going to be great.

I picked the Texas Rangers win the N-O-West, or A-O-S. I did. But I don't know how they're nine and seven right now. Those three guys have been awful. Jacob de Grom has been good. I don't understand how the Rangers are above 500 right now. I'm going with Brett Rooker. Brett Rooker's been a little bit of a disappointment so far,

hitting 188. He struck out 21 times. It does have four bombs. OPS 639. But yeah, he had a bad spring as well. And coming into the year, thought he'd be turning it around. He had a rough start to the year last year. You got it going late June, July, August.

I'm hoping that same thing happens this year. But we definitely need Brett Rooker to anchor that middle of the lineup. I would say a guy who's struggling for, and it's been doing it for a long time. And he bounced back a little bit last year. And he's the most expensive player in Brewer history. It's Christian Yell. She hasn't been good since 2019.

He's batting 143. coming off the back surgery and he just can't get going. He looks terrible at the plate. He's in weak rounders, a second base. And, you know, when you're a small market like Milwaukee, you've got to hit on guys like that. And coming out of 2019,

people were thinking, this guy is one of the best players, me included, one of the best players in Milwaukee Brewer history. And it's turning out, he's going the other way. And I don't know if there's a knee surgery had a few years ago. He's got the back. He's just coming off now. He's struggling.

143, batting third in the lineup. and he is just killing the Brewers offensively at the plate. You said it. I didn't say it there, Chuck. I won't hear early on the yellage demise. But also shout out, looking at the negative war on pitcher, shout out to Connor Thomas. I thought he hosted Lockdown Phillies. Apparently, he's a left-handed relief pitcher for the Brewers.

And in two games, he gave up 12 earned runs. Wow. Am I reading that correct? Well, you got to give, you got to let's give a shout out to the Lockdown Podcast Network. that we've gone from wanting to get media credentials to now you can actually pitch in a major league game. Shout out to Lockdown Phillies, our buddy Connor Thomas. I just saw that name and I'm like, what? That's awesome.

It's been a patchwork there for the for the Brewers bullpen and pitching staff. But hey, call it on Lockdown hosts. He's a Rule 5 pick. You know how that works. You've got to stay on the team the whole year, but he might not make it to the key picture like that. My disappointing player from my team is Cody Bellinger. He's batting 196 right now. His OPS plus is 60.

And compare that to Aaron Judge, who's currently 254, which is insane. And of course, that'll decrease a bit. But just to keep that into perspective, when he hit the 62 home runs, his OPS plus was 211, if I remember correctly. And right now, this isn't a disappointment. It's actually a shock. Ben Rice, 202 OPS plus. And he's batting 300. And his OPS is 1097.

Where is he going to play? He's the third catcher. So when Stanton comes back, I think J.C. Ascara's fairy tale major league, you know, story might end because how do you send down Ben Rice after he's been hitting so well? We'll welcome him to the lockdown podcast. Wait, do you know that's how she inserted her one? negative in her two positives.

I noticed how he did that. Some subliminal messaging there from the evening. I've been hosting it locked on for almost eight years now. I know what I'm doing. Yeah, she slipped in the new USA baseball captain, Aaron. She did. She did. That was smooth.

I saw that. I saw that. Any other disappointments that are standing out to you guys? What about Otani? He only has, he has five home run. Sure, but he only has four. No, what is it? four RBIs and five home.

It's something weird. Like his numbers are, you know, they're like pedestrian for Shohei Otani. They're not like show. They should get rid of them. Yes. They should.

Yes. Give them to the Marlins. We'll take them. I think so far one of our biggest disappointments in Houston is the fact that it's no longer Minutemade Park. It's Dikin Park. It's the only. Dikin cooling systems.

It's a Japanese. It's a Japanese cooling company. They're, their U.S. headquarters are right outside of Houston, and now it's Dyken Park. But they put really cool baseballs in the back of the train now. There's 25 of them to commemorate the 25 years of the stadium. But, man, we miss Minutemade Park.

They're opting off the sign today. That stadium is 25 already? Wow. Bring back Enron. I was about to say, it's the second most embarrassing name in Astros history. I have an Enron program with Bejillo Bagwell and Wagner and Mark McGuire's autograph right in the middle of it. They got rid of the hill.

I missed the hill too in Centerfield. I missed Howell's Hill, yes. I missed the hill, and I missed this the, at Marlins Park, I missed the statue that was a dance in Marlins. Yes. Now we have like, no fun, no fun jeter got rid of that. Yeah. It's a Norwegian cruise line now. It's like half the size and it shoots fireworks, fireworks.

Because that's what you want from your boat is shooting fireworks from it. Right. Right. That looked like emergency flares. And then like Titanic was sinking, yeah. Yeah. The radical pirate techniques. Close roof nights and everyone's like, is that even safe?

Like, why are we shooting fireworks in? I don't know. Don't worry about it. Don't worry about it. It's fine. What's next? Everything's fine. All right.

Well, make sure you guys are leaving comments down below on YouTube. Make sure you're letting us know what are some of the names, some of the overachievers, underachievers that you guys may have. come up with that we didn't mention. Let us know. Coming up next, though, we're going to go into our power rankings. It's time to unleash them. They're coming up next on this locked on MLB squad show. Basketball and hockey playoffs are heating up, but there's no better way to turn your sports knowledge into real rewards than with prize picks, the easiest and most exciting way to play Dallas Daily Fantasy. Now, with prize picks, you simply pick more or less on at least two

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you listen to your podcast. All right. The gang is here. It's time for our top five power rankings where we go from five down to one. These are the teams that we consider the best five teams in Major League Baseball. Obviously, win-loss record is going to be a big deal here. But perhaps we'll see some surprises from the guys who feel that maybe the win-loss record is an inaccurate depiction of how good or better a team has been so far since it is early in the season. Best records at this moment belong to the Padres, Giants, Mets, Dodgers, Cubs, and Tigers when it comes to winning percentage. All of those guys have double-digit wins. So where would you like to start as our number five team? Because looking at that, just grouping

right there, I feel like the Tigers would be number five for me. But, you know, if anybody wants to argue with that, I'm willing to listen. Tigers are the best team in the America League right now? Yep. They sure are. And you were just in the ALE Central. They're eight and two in their last 10. I think the Cubs are.

Cubs to me have the best lineup from top to bottom. And I'm surprised how their pitching is held up. But for me, number five right now would be the Cubs just because of the lineup. Tucker has been such a difference for that team. And if their pitching can hold up, yeah. there is a bad news for them with Justin Steele's injury. I know Jeff and I are really bummed about that. Horrible.

With Milwaukee, I know we're all really bummed to hear it. You don't like to hear injuries, but part of us is all going, yes. I am going to worry, Cubs are going to start pulling away here. They got to that slow start in the bullpen has had some issues. It's also those two games in Japan to start the season. But man, they're on a roll right now and they're winning again tonight in San Diego. And they've won in San Diego. They've won in Los Angeles, yeah.

And they got right in Sacramento. The only question I have with the Cubs is it comes down to like the bullpen, the back half of that bullpen. You have the closer. Ryan Presley is just, it feels like he's one or two blown saves away from being booted from that role. You have Porter Hodge, who's really talented, but it's kind of unproven in that role. I think in a division like the Central, you need an elite back.

half of the pen. Every time I hear the name Porter Hodge, I think he should walk in with a banjo or something. Like he sounds like a bluegrass artist. He doesn't sound like a relief pitcher. I thought he lived next door to Paddington. I thought. That's what I thought. Paddington, yes. No, but with the, you know, with the Cubs mentioning Kyle Tucker, I think that's key. If you look, I mean, they've got the largest run differential in the league, you know, plus 43 runs. And it has to do with their offense. And, you know, Kyle Tucker is that guy. that when he gets going, I mean, we saw it firsthand here in Houston.

And so that can sustain you. And if those pitchers can gain some consistency and confidence, I mean, if you can out hit the other team a lot of times early on, that'll, that'll do it for you. Is he adding another year or another $10 million per home run? Like, it feels like every Cubs fan kind of looks at that. Just like, let's go. And oh, my gosh, we still haven't signed him yet. I know Booney had enough of Kyle Tucker after that series.

Keep in mind that run differential, 25 runs was against the A's. Yeah. Half of that was Tucker alone. Booney coming in with the honesty. Hold on. Back down coming in. Thank you, 16 and nothing. Baseball.

ATHs, thank you. I'll say, I'm going to throw something on and not just because I'm kissing up to Jeff here, but the Reds went on that stretch where they're losing a bunch of one-nothing games in three to two games, and they're starting to write the ship, and the pitching is still pretty good. And I don't think there's a powerhouse in either Central Division. The Cubs showing up notwithstanding. And I like the Reds pitching. And I don't think Terry Francona came back from the beach to do a reclamation project

or to do a rebuilding project is what I meant to say. It would not surprise me. They have two or three pitchers in that rotation that, I mean, Hunter Green right now is off to great. Lidolo is off to a great start. and if they're hitting can match the pitching, I think they're going to win a bunch of games, especially when they start playing more games like Pittsburgh and shortly after St. Louis has their fire sale.

I think that I'm not ready for the top five yet. I don't think they're quite there just because the... Top five, they're number one. And I get it. Like they're the only team to have beaten the Giants up until the Yankees got that one win against them. But I just, I'm not, I'm not, putting them there in the top five just yet. I'm feeling like top 10 is is a good argument.

Top five might be kind of tough. But speaking of the Giants, where do we rate them? Because they weren't supposed to be very good this year. And they kind of are or are they? Right now they are. Teams that we mentioned with the double digit wins. I still have the giants outside of the top five of those six teams just because I'm not ready to buy in just yet. like congratulations but i need to see more out of it i'm not all that excited about their lineup but i've never really been that excited about a giant's team and they go off and win three world championship so it's it's hard to argue with how they run the ship there and uh you know with posey taking over things like you know they're off to a good start i'm happy for him but i'm not

quite there yet we're talking about the hot start from young ho lee i mean he's leading the NL and doubles OPS. His OPS Plus is over 200 right now. And then I look at the rotation. I see Logan Webb. Logan Webb's an ace on a lot of other staffs. I like the Giants. I'm willing to put them as high as two.

I believe in them as a team. I think they're here to stay. I think Padres one, Giants two. Man, throw the whole NL West in there in the top five. Sorry, Paul, Rock. Yeah, the whole NL West. Not you guys. Not you guys.

There is. Unfortunately, walking up the Colorado. 31 straight, for the Colorado Rockies a franchise record here as a recording. I'll go back to my corner now, everyone.

I heard the NLF. Oh, hey. Almost in the second. Some awful genie magic Paul appears to talk. He heard. I'm not. Sorry,

Paul's like beetle juice. He's like one of those fragles from fraggle rock that a guy gets up in the house and they're like, oh, no. I just wanted him to come in like sideways. I think the power rankings, you just go with how the teams are doing right now. Right. So I don't even have the Dodgers in the top five, even though the records up there because they're four and six in their last 10 where the Padres, the Giants, the Cubs, the Mets and the Tigers have all done really well in the last 10 games. And, you know, if you're doing the rankings week by week, that's usually kind of how you do it. So that's my top five.

The Guardians did win five in a row. I'm just going to say. It was a slow start. They did win five in a wrong. We really are. We think that's a really nice thing. That's a really nice thing. All I've learned today in this show is that solely hates the Midwest.

That's all I take away. No, I'm being honest. That should make AL Central and AL Central teams excited. to say, hey, let's go for it. Did we come up with a segment for every squad show? Who does Sully hate this week? This week hits the Midwest. And by the way, I love, I get comments like that.

Like, I remember one year I had the, the, I didn't think the Phillies were going to do well going in a series against Miami. And the Phillies won the series. And I got a bunch of reasons, why do you hate the Phillies so much? I'm, you know, I know they're not your precious Marlins. I'm going like, I'm a Marlin fan. you know i mean who's not i know right hey i don't go down that well outside of miami i'm joking um hey we have what do you guys think the one bit from england doing it for a while i mean let's

get let's get down to it who who is the number one team are we are we rolling podres as uh number one right now i think podre you got to give bob a year his his his i mean they're seven and three their last 10 13 and three i mean I mean, they're doing it, you know? I mean, now we all know they'll get to the NLDS and lose, but I mean, you know, they're playing great right now. They're fun. A child, you and Huffalo's the other day.

I mean, so they got to be, they got to be trying at least in San Diego this year. Well, those are things in perspective of the Padres. Five and one, the last six games, three against the A's, three against the Rockies as well. Self-warthing is coming in big time from Boone. thing, though. When you're a good team. Everybody right back down to Earth, man. Take care of business.

I get a Stacy. You're right. But when they're a good team, they beat everyone, right? So if they're 13 and three, even with all those games against, like, you know, that's the sign of a good team. You have to beat everyone. You can't be one of those good teams. You can't beat a bad team. And they want all their home games, haven't they?

Well, they played, no, they played at home against the A's. Have they played, have they lost a home game yet, then? I don't believe they have. I think they're trying to know. It's Sacramento. And Sacramento. I see. The Padres lost a home game this year.

Yeah. I see Boney's kid hitting a home run. I see Boney's kid hitting a home run and I see Boney's getting a home run and saying Booney and him saying, look, look kid, that was like their shortstop. It wasn't even a good pitcher. Ngo Rojas through that pitch.

That was not. Yeah, we're not worried about this. All right. Well, I guess we're going to wrap it up here with the Padres as our consensus number one team for now. but like stay said, things change. Week to week, who you're playing, who's hot, who's not.

That's how it all works out when it comes to the power rankings. I'm sure we'll have another set of those for you guys coming up next week. All right, well, we want to thank you guys for being a part of our locked on MLB squad show. Be sure to make your favorite teams locked on show and locked on MLB part of your daily routine. We'll be bringing your daily content all season long, no matter how good or bad things get for your team. So look for the locked on MLB squad show in your feed. each week. It's part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.

Go Stroze. Go Expos. Thoughts and praise to anybody.