PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - BREAKING: D-backs DFA Closer Paul Sewald After Adding Zack Littell

Episode Date: August 10, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks have DESIGNATED CLOSER PAUL SEWALD FOR ASSIGNMENT per John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7. We break down why the D-backs made the move, how the addition of Zack Littell impacted Sewald’s future in Arizona, and why this could be another sign that Mike Hazen is PLAYING TO WIN in 2026. The move comes on the heels of the D-backs winning the season series over the Los Angeles Dodgers and putting themselves right back in the NL West DIVISION RACE. We discuss what the latest roster shakeup means for Arizona’s bullpen and their chances of making a serious push down the stretch. Plus, Michael Soroka is BACK and ready to rejoin the rotation! We preview his upcoming start against the Colorado Rockies, answer all of your Mailbag Monday questions, and dive into everything else happening around the D-backs! Five debates. One ballot. Rank your G.O.A.T.s and rep your city: https://gophnx.com/the-goat-debate/ JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4 An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/ Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX15 at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order! Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We have breaking news that the Arizona Diamondbacks have designated closer Paul Seawald for assignment. We have more on the move and how the signing of Zach Liddell impacted the Diamondbacks getting rid of the guy that got them to this point of this season. Don't you go anywhere. We are starting right now. To you all, welcome in to another edition of the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast live from Studio K, presented by our friends at Circle K. Hurry up and get in here. We got breaking news to talk. about and this is a wild thing that has finally happened, a thing that a lot of Diamondbacks

fans are probably going to be pretty happy about. And that is the news that the Diamondbacks have designated closer slash reliever Paul Seawald for assignment. We have so much more on this. And we are thrilled to have you guys here with us this morning. Welcome in to another edition of the PHNX D-BAC show. My name is Derek Monti, occasionally known as the mayor of this joint. I got my guy, my dog, your dog, the D-Backs dog, and not Paul C-Wall. dog. It's Damon Dog, aka Damon Farrell on the ones and twos. Damon, big news this morning coming from John Gambadoro over at 98.7, Arizona Sports, that the Diamondbacks have designated reliever Paul Seawald for a Simon. And I mean, I know that

this is, again, a move that a lot of Diamondbacks fans have been clamoring for after Paul Seawald blew a few saves recently and has had a stretch of being pretty bad, and for the most part has had the entire season of being fairly unreliable and fairly bad overall. However, he somehow was able to get 24 saves and 27 opportunities as the closer for this team before being removed from that closer roll. And, I mean, he had a 6.23 ERA and a 2-and-5 record in 45 appearances. You know, I think that on one hand, it's a move that makes sense because the Diamondbacks have to do, especially at this point, with the record they have in the race that they're in, not only for the wild card, but you could say that they are now in for the National League West race.

This team has to get better. They have to make moves. And Paul Seawald being moved out of that closer role doesn't leave much room for him elsewhere. But before we dive into this more, of course, this is the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast, and we are brought to you by our friends at GameTime. Go download the GameTime app, create an account, and use that code of PHNX for $20 off your first purchase terms do apply. And again, it's taking a step back here to Paul Seawald. His recent collapse has been especially brutal, right?

13 earn runs and seven home runs in 11 and 2 thirds innings over roughly the last two months. Right. But again, I think some of you are bringing this news up or bringing this information up or point of view. I don't know, however you want to look at it. But, you know, there has been so much that this man has done for this organization. And again, we do not get to the World Series without Paul Seawald being added to the roster back in 2023. And to be fair, we don't get to this point of the season without Paul Seawald giving this team 24 saves. I don't know how he did it. I still don't know. understand how his best ERA was coming into a game with only a one-run lead, but that was the case for Seawald, right? Again, with the fact that he was so unreliable, even though he did come in recently and had a good, you know, relief appearance, it just, it doesn't leave much for Mike and Torrey to do here with him in the bullpen if he's not part of that close a role. I feel like, as I have discussed before, that there was the likelihood that the Diamondbacks were planning, at least the front office was planning on replacing Paul Seawald once they got a reliever of AJ Puck's caliber back into the bullpen. Unfortunately, that never came.

And it feels like Brandon Garcia is the guy that they feel comfortable with in that role, even though Tori doesn't want to like officially designate him as that. He does want to go with kind of a closer by committee once again, which is the situation that the Diamondbacks found themselves in when they acquired Paul Seawall. So we'll see if it works this time. But it's safe to say that Paul Seawald was not working as a closer lately. And the news from over the weekend, according to Nick Picorro, that the Diamondbacks have signed pitcher Zach Lattel, who we discussed on Thursday's episode, and I was very high on. I very much wanted this team to go after and sign, has been signed by the Diamondbacks.

And what's interesting is not only does he give the Diamondbacks starting depth, but it would appear that perhaps the signing of Lattel gives the Diamondbacks a long reliever that they can put into the bullpen. He did post a 3.73 ERA in his time there over 2024 through 2025, but this season has been a bit of a struggle for him. It's the reason why the Nationals designated him for assignment. in 23 games and 14 starts overall. He had a 4.97 ERA, a 1.34 whip, a 14.6% strikeout rate, and a 7.3% walk rate.

But as a reliever, he did have appearances as a reliever. And nine appearances as a reliever for the Nationals. He did have a 3.180RA, a 3.84 FIP, and a 4.15 expected FIP. So again, here, the signing of Lattel does give the Diamondbacks some depth. It gives them the ability to perhaps have that extra starter available, even though, you know, again, he probably won't be used in that role most likely. But this does give them another, you know, veteran pitching arm that could step into the rotation for the time being if Mitch Bratt, for instance, doesn't work out as a starter over his next few appearances. But again, this is this is where we're at.

The Diamondbacks are getting pitchers back. They are getting players back. They are adding new players. And overall here, when you look at the trade deadline and you see that the Diamondbacks did now add Zach Liddell and, you know, Nolan's Star Wars character, Lars Neupar, you've got to feel a little bit better about the additions, along with the lack of giving up much more than two pretty damn good pitching prospects

that were in their organization. And we also know that pitching prospects in their organization don't, tend to work out very often. So at the very least, you know, this team is making moves to get better. And that's what all of these moves are, including the move to designate Paul C. Wall for assignment. I'm conflicted because once again, I don't pick who I get to be friends with in the clubhouse or anything like that. You're at the willpower of whoever wants to be friends with you.

Yeah, I don't know. Maybe he was trying to just influence me in a positive way. So I would make sure or try to do everything I could to make sure this. didn't happen. Smart play by Seawald if he saw the writing on the wall. Yeah. And he was like, you know what? I'm going to get in good favor with the chubby podcast guy. The podcast guy, I'm going to make sure that I'm cool with him now so that when I do get DFA'd, he goes on and says, you know, guys, Paul Seawald had had a lot of really good moments as a diamond back. That's, yeah, that's actually thinking like five steps ahead. That's actually very, I'm just saying if that's what he was

thinking, incredible play by Paul Seawald. That's, that's actually. being said, Derek, I know that a lot of people want to want to celebrate and all that. I understand that. I think that, you know, when it comes to, for example, like the Paven Smith DFA, you know, no one wanted Pave and Smith to not be the team's primary first baseman more than this guy right here. I was, I mean, I was hammering that that table all off season long. That's still the position they didn't fill. For sure. But it's like I, you just couldn't keep trotting him out there all the time. and yet when he gets DFA'd, it's still sad. It's a guy that's been a part of the team for a while.

Paul Seawald has had some great moments, as you said, with the Diamondbacks. I know people want to, you know, I think kind of wash away 20, 23 because of that game one bomb that he gives up that ends up maybe costing you the World Series. Paul Sewell's so good and he was bad at the same time. I've never seen a reliever that was like that. No, he's very, very hot and cold. And, you know, it was time to move on. he had a you know good moments like we talked about i think that the the 24 save ops is in or the 24 saves and 27 ops is fairly impressive but it was time clearly the writing was on the wall he he can't get outs right now and if you are trotting him out there you're going to be hurting your team in the process Derek i got his splits right in front of me here first half to second half are you ready for this first half of this season 37 games oh yeah okay yeah a 180 batting average against a 424 ERA, giving up a 636 OPS against him.

The second half of the season, eight games pitched. He has a 19.80 ERA. He has given up 19.19.8 OERA. His batting average against is 444. His OPS against is 1578. And that's good for five innings pitch. an ERA, like I said, of 19.80. So he, I mean, he's basically gone from semi-serviceable.

One of the worst closers probably in baseball still, but, you know, a guy that isn't debilitatingly bad to, oh, my God, he can't pitch at a major league level right now. Yeah. And this team, as you talked about, is in the midst of a playoff race. They have to make hard decisions. I think a lot of people, including myself, think that this organization shows a little bit too much,

loyalty from time to time. That's their MO. That's what they, they're always going to do that. Sure. This one felt like they just had no other choice, but to be like, we have to get rid of Paul Seawald. He's, he's so bad right now that it's just going to be the end of the season if you keep trotting him out there. And we need that spot for a guy that like Zach Lattel is going to be our long reliever. We don't really have someone like that on the roster with Dre Jameson injured. And I think that this move just makes a lot of sense because of that. A hundred percent. And I'm not acting like the Zach Lattel. signing is the move we all needed. Like, that's going to be the thing that gets us straight. No, but Lattel just gives them depth. It makes it so that if another injury occurs, if there's a

setback, if anything, they do have somebody with experience that can step into that role. But they're, I mean, what Mark said is very true. Like his, I believe it was his chase rate or whiff rate on his fastball is just as bad as that gallons. He's a breaking pitcher. His breaking run value is by far his best trait. He is in the 87th percentile for breaking run value, but outside of that, a lot of his baseball sabbat stage page looks pretty, pretty blue. And that goes for last season, too. That's not something that's just necessarily this year. But he's good and not walking guys. And maybe he finds himself in a new role here as a reliever for the Diamondbacks, which is something that he's done in the past. Again, this is more about depth. But in order to

create that roster spot, Paul Seawald is the move. and it's more about having designated bullpen arms to do the different things that this team needs them to do. Plus they need a fresh start, right? They need a fresh arm there in the bullpen as well. So if they do decide to put Lattel in the pen, then it does feel like he will provide that. He'll provide that for this pen at this point. But overall, good news here for the Diamondbacks. And I say that not because I want to sit here and celebrate policy while being designated for assignment.

I mean it because it just shows that Mike Hazen is playing to win right now. It shows that this team, like Damon said, is not making the sentimental decisions. They're not leaving guys on the roster simply because, hey, you got us, you helped us in 23 and we're glad you're here. No, they need to move on and they need to try to evolve this roster and make it better. The arms that we were expecting to come back are actually coming back. Damon, believe it or not, Paul Seawald, DFA'd, but tonight on the mound, but tonight on the mountain, Michael Soroka starts for the Diamondbacks. You said you'll believe it when you see it when these guys come back.

Guess what? You get to see it tonight with your own eyes. He will start tonight versus the Rockies. And let's not forget what Soroka did this year for the Diamondbacks, right? Like Soroka was outstanding so far this season for the debacks. And, you know, that is a big arm, a big consistent starting pitcher to get back who had a 3.07 ERA and 15 starts and an 8 and 3 record. Yeah, I mean, Michael Soroka has been the second best pitcher on this team all season long. It's really not even close.

There's a two-man triumvirate at the top. Obviously, Erod, I think, given that he's done it the entire season and been the most consistent pitcher is almost on an island by himself. But no one is even remotely close to number two other than Michael Soroka, right? Like Merrill Kelly has been off and on. I guess fought has been so good recently that you could probably throw him in that mix as well, because they've both missed a good amount of time. Thoughts been incredible. Of course, yeah.

But Soroka's been great this year. As you kind of said after two starts, he might be the signing of the off season. And it was actually a good take, even though it was like a crazy early amount of time to have said that. But sometimes, you know, when you shoot 100 darts at the dartboard, you hit a bullseye every once in a while. And I mean, yeah, it's going to be great to have him back because this team just needed good, reliable starting. pitching back in the fold. And that's what Michael Soroka is providing. I want to throw some numbers at you really fast because one of the things that you and I did

joke about, I don't even know if joke about, but what we discussed in regards to Sroka is, could we get anything close to what he was when he started his career with the Atlanta Braves? Right. Can we possibly get like even his worst season with the Braves, he had a 3.95 ERA. But his best season when he was an all-star, when he was a. rookie of the year candidate and a Cy Young candidate, he posted a 2.68

ERA and went 13 and 4 in 29 starts. He is 8 and 3 with a 3.070 this season. And the one thing that I find to be amazing is his FIP is better this season. It's 2.92 versus 3.45 that all-star

season. His whip is better. It's 10. It's 1085 versus 11-11. And the most remarkable stat is he has giving up literally the exact same home runs per nine percentage at, you know, a factor here, 0.7 home runs per nine this year. And that was the same thing he was doing seven years ago in 2019 when he was an all-star. It's remarkable. I mean, his strikeouts per walk numbers are up. Everything, all of his numbers are better except his ERA overall. And it feels like he's on

track to possibly win even more games than that season. Well, not now, now that he's had the setback. But he absolutely could have won more games than he did back in 2019. So this is just outstanding to have this caliber of guy back. Plus, you've got to feel pretty good about, again, the depth that the Diamondbacks are now getting back as well with Lattel signing, Zach Gallen nearing getting back. I don't know how people feel about that. But also what Cole Drake and Mitch Brad have shown as far as what they can do as starters in major. Major League Baseball. Things are trending in a great direction. Not to mention the fact, Damon, that Eduardo Rodriguez absolutely owns the Los Angeles Dodgers and we beat them for the

season series for the first time since 2018 after getting swept in that opening series in L.A. The Diamondbacks have now gone seven and three in the last 10 games played against the Dodgers and they take the season series seven games to six. More importantly, E.R.R. in four starts against the Dodgers dominated, dominated them. He said he wanted to beat them, and that's exactly what he's done. He gave up five earned runs in four starts against the Dodgers this year. A 1.88 ERA, a 1.13 whip, and that's in 24 innings pitch, Damon. Pretty good.

Yeah, he owns the Dodgers. I mean, from his no trade clause a couple years back, now, I mean, it's impossible to say otherwise, unfortunately. I'll tell you. It's everything about him is great. And again, the Diamondbacks should have swept the series, as most people probably would say, especially considering what happened in the ninth inning of game two, where they had the winning run 90 feet away with no outs and still couldn't score the winning run. I don't think you have any idea how upset I was.

I mean, I was like probably, if I'm dialing it up to like a 10 total, I was probably at like an 8.2. at that moment in time when that happened. And the whole, like, next hour and a half was just, and you have a guy 90 feet away. I bet that I was miserable to be with you. Oh, for sure. A good thing there's, like, two other guys who are probably just about as big of D-BACs fans as I am.

My buddy, Sean, who's getting into the D-Backs this year was there. So he cared. My buddy Michael is a big D-Backs fan. And then there's a couple other guys that are more, they don't care as much, but they, are D-Backs fans. So there was like a crew of like a handful of us, Derek, that it really mattered to. And then about the other half were like, all right, guys, you guys are kind of ruining the

entire night when you can't stop talking about not getting that run in from third. Yeah. But we couldn't get the run in from third. It just sucked because Gabby actually put a good swing on the baseball. And like, obviously that almost ended up being a double play if it wasn't for heads up base running by Corby in that circumstance. But like Gabby's AB was just more unfortunate. You feel like you should probably win with the swing like that.

Absolutely. Cattel's at bat was just not good, dude. But at least he made up with it for it with the two-run, home run the next day. Lead off the game. Yeah. I mean, you know, obviously it hasn't been the best stretch for Citell recently. But I feel like we're like going to get to a place where we start saying, I know that it hasn't been his best.

but he's really tearing the cover off the baseball right now. And hopefully that just happens during this playoff push at the end of the year. That would be the great, great time for Ketel to come back online right now. Definitely. And I honestly, I believe in it. I know I've been saying that all season long in regards to Jerry Corvin's struggles recently and Ketel now. But I just think that, you know, we got to go down with our three guys there.

It's, you know, it's those are the guys that have been put up on this mantle as the big three. their task with carrying the offense. Gabby has been such a revelation this year. Yeah. Nolan Aronado has been really consistent. I mean, Gabby had, Gabi had just as big of a hit in yesterday's game as Catalded, even though it wasn't home run.

And he continues to do that all season long. Yeah. You had Kevin Ginkle closing the game out. I know you love that. And overall, you know, they lost that middle game, but they held the Dodgers here total to eight runs over three games. I think that's the most. impressive part about what this team was able to do against the Dodgers.

The offense didn't deliver and should have delivered more. But at the very least, the pitching staff gave this team an absolute chance to win. And now you just feel like this pitching staff is getting better. It's a lot better. Getting, you know, arms back. And again, adding depth. It just feels like this team might, in fact, be a wagon again, Damon. I'm feeling pretty good right now about where we're at.

So hypothetically, I think that this is based off of, I guess, how Soroka comes back here from injury, because he has had a lot of time off. You would, if we're in the postseason, you're going Erod fought Soroka, right? Like that's the three-man rotation. Unfortunately, Merrill Kelly, a guy who's been nails in the postseason for the Diamondbacks is probably going to be the odd man looking out there, I would assume. Yeah. I mean. But that's a decent three. I mean, I feel a lot better about that three than I have about any trio of pitchers that we've had all season long.

So, I mean, could be a lot worse. I think, again, it's a pretty formidable trio, if you ask me, and you feel like even if you have to get deeper, Brandon Fought's been incredible, you know. And, I mean, it feels like, I don't know, man. I mean, I think that you have to determine how things line up going down the stretch and who you're going to need in certain matchups should you make the playoffs and what happens beyond then. But that's a good problem to have at this point. Deciding which of your good starting pitchers that you're going to use in the postseason

is pretty good, especially considering we don't know what we're going to get out of Corbyn Burns when he returns. It's not necessarily a lock that he's going to be after returning from a layoff like this, you know, his normal self right when he returns. Honestly, though, that's, that is the, where the conversation lands at, where it's like, do you let Corbyn Burns off of like maybe two ramp-up starts pitch a game of that magnitude? Yeah, it's pretty, it's a risky decision. But honestly, when you're in the postseason, I mean, you're, you're, you're shooting for the stars, right?

Like, you're not, we're not sitting here going, well, you know, if we can go 500 and then really kick it on in a, for a month and then we'll make playoffs. It's like, no, it's do or die. And I almost want to go out with my team's highest paid player who is a Cy Young winner and give him the opportunity to like go lights out in the postseason. That's where the conversation goes to, I guess, like would, because it's got to be Erod with right now how he's pitching. It's got to be fought.

And then I think you would maybe have that decision there between Burns and Soroka, but I don't know. I don't want to get ahead of ourselves here. Just thought it was an interesting debate. He didn't even do anything egregious, but I agree with Coach Figgie. Let's put Killer X in timeout. He's bumming me out. We are here on a day where Paul Seawald is DFA.

I don't know how he's not doing backflips. We're talking about beating the Dodgers. He said he's happy about Seawald being DFA, but he's not acting like a man that would be what you would call happy. What is happiness to you, Killer X? That's my, that's my designation here because it's like, are you happy about Seawald being DFA? You said you're celebrating.

This team just beat the Dodgers. we're in a playoff spot. We're playing good baseball right now. I don't know what there is to be so angry about all the time. Are things perfect? No, we're talking about them. But relax a little bit, my man. This is what I was saying in the chat earlier, Derek,

where it's like he's just been on such weirdo shit recently. It's not even good trolling. It's like, in order to be a good troll, it has to like, people have to sit there and go, you know what? He has a point that he's making. But I don't, I can't say that you can honestly say, now that there's any point being made.

It's just yelling at the clouds. It's old man screams in the clouds. Yeah. Chill out. Yeah. We're in a playoff spot. Yeah. My goodness.

Yeah, we got a lot of baseball still to play. So guess what? We are going to talk about the playoffs. You just know this between now and that. You just know this collapse is coming. Yeah. You're talking about a hypothetical collapse that hasn't happened yet when we're in the midst of actually playing tangible baseball.

games that the team is winning against its biggest rival? What? See, he's getting, he's getting what he wants. Like, that's why I said. Just, just, ban him. Just get him out of the chat. And then we all win. Then we all win.

Then we all win. We do. I'm going to go ahead, go to a break on the other side of this break. I'm going to be back, but Killer X won't be. Don't you go anywhere. You're watching the pH next Diamondback show. Well, if you are ever involved in an accident or serious injury, the lawyer you hired does matter and you must do your research.

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is coming in with the right energy. He says, give us the division. We're done worrying about the wild card. We want the NOS, maybe. Let's get it. And who's to say not, right? I mean, the Dodgers are reeling right now. They do this every season. They do this at the midpoint of every year. They always look like

they're beatable and they start losing games and then they go and add Terrick Scouble at the trade deadline and things will be fine. However, they haven't been very good since adding Terrick Scubal. But you know who has been very good? Jake McCarthy, and it makes me sick, and it should make all of you sick. And it makes Damon sick, I know.

But we are taking on Jake McCarthy and the Colorado Rockies. Let's take a look at how the Diamondbacks match up with that particular NL West rival here because, again, they're not a very good baseball team, but their offense, very good. And I know it's the Coors Field effect, that's fine. But still having the fourth best OPS and all of baseball is nothing to sneeze at. They have a 46 and 72 record.

They have a minus 110 run differential this season. And they are four and six in their last 10 games. But Jake McCarthy has been out of this world lately. The team has that 746 OPS, which is fourth best in baseball. Like I said, they pitching, though, atrocious. pitching is really bad overall. They have a 5.48 team team pitching ERA overall,

which is 30th in Major League Baseball. Their starting ERA is 5.93, which is also 30th and is worse than their whole ERA. And their relief ERA bad but not the worst in baseball. It's 4.96, which is 28th. They have minus 7 outs above average, which is tied for 19th in baseball.

and right now the Diamondbacks have a season series lead over them, five games to two, coming into this particular series. And I know what you're going to say. Should we just say it? Should we just get it out of the way now? This is the exact kind of series that the Diamondbacks lose after beating the Dodgers. It is, though.

I know it is. I was saying that to you earlier. I said that too earlier. You want to tell me that. Here's where I can be a little bit, I can get in on the negative gimmick a little bit. bit is it's like I I definitely think that this is the type of scenario where that you have to be careful because this this feels like when the debacks you're riding high you're like this is

incredible we're the best team ever and then all of a sudden you lose a series to the rockies that you just have no business losing it's fair but it should be a sweep I'm with kellen kellen I agree with you this needs to be a sweep and I think it's a time for the diamondbacks to really assert their dominance here a little bit you know they've they've kind of done that against the Giants who they still have games against this year, and they have some games left against this Rockies team. But it does suck to see Jake being so good for the Rockies, and that goes far past the course field effect. Jacob McCarthy has a 306 batting average this year with a 518 slug and an 860 OPS. He's got 67 RBI. He has 20 stolen bases. He has 25 doubles and

seven triples, Damon. And the other night on Saturday for the Rockies, he did. something that no baseball player in MLB history has ever done in one baseball game. He had four hits, four runs scored, two home runs, two stolen bases, and a lead-off home run. Yeah, I mean, I don't even know what to say about some of the statistics I've been hearing recently about Jake McCarthy. I think there was one that was like, here's all the outfielders in baseball who have hit over 300 with an over 800 OPS this year, and the list is just Jake McArthur. Carthy. And you're like, what an absolute joke. What sucks is that we, we believed in

Alec Thomas over him, which I think that, you know, like, I'll put my hand up. I was right there along with that crew. Yeah. And so, like, you know, I'm, I'm not saying I'm making the decisions, but I'll, I'll put some, I'll take some blame there. You know, I like to take credit when I'm right. So I'll take, I'll take blame when I'm wrong. That was a bad one. It's, that one's tough to, to swallow these days. Jake McCarthy's 306 batting average. Damon is tied for the fourth best batting average in baseball with Nick Gonzalez. Give me a break.

He's behind. Yordaun Alvarez, Luis Araz, Otto Lopez. Jesus. But you know who's eighth? Gabby Moreno. Gabby Moreno has the eighth best batting average. Talk to me, Derek. Talk to me nice.

I'm just saying we got Gabby. And I credit to Katie for pointing out that we did say that Gabby was going to have a breakout year. We kind of said he had to. I wasn't going to go crazy and say he was going to lead the team in home runs again, but I did say he was going to have a breakout year and look at what's happening. Breakout season for Gabby, but also a breakout season for Jake. And it makes you sick that it's not happening here with the Diamondbacks. I will also, once again, say that I have a hard time believing that anybody would have the same success they're finding elsewhere here.

I just don't. I just feel like factors contribute to it. And one of those factors for Jake has been the change of scenery and going to, Colorado where they seemingly embraced him from day one. So I love it for Jake. I just hope he has a terrible series for the next three games. That's all I hope. That's all I hope.

But also his stat cast's underlying numbers aren't particularly impressive. He doesn't have a very good hard hit rate. He doesn't have a good exit velocity average. And again, that's what Damon's always talking about with the course field effect. I appreciate you get him nest with the Friedman right there. Yeah. And let's not get too ahead of ourselves.

Guys, he's actually not very. He actually does not hit the ball hard, but he does get a lot of hits. Let's take a look at the probable pitchers for this series. Again, some good matchups for the Diamondbacks in this particular series, especially the way that Mitch Bratt pitched in his last outing. You got Michael Soroka going up against Gabrielle Hughes, who has a 4.25 ERA and has not won a game for the Rockies.

And it is the return, the return of the Mike. Michael Soroka is back with his 3.5. E.07 ERA and his 79 strikeouts. He has an 8 and 3 record. Then in game two, the Rockies have Tomoyuki Shigano with his impressive 11 and 5 record and a 4.51 ERA going up against young Mitch Bratt. And he has a 3.9 ERA now after his impressive start last time out. He is one and one. Last but not least, we got the mainstay holding it down in the finale. Merrill Kelly, who now has a sub 5ERA, 4.880 for Merrill. 8 and 9 record 80 strikeouts going up against Ryan Feltoner, who was 4 and 6 this year with a 5.71 ERA and 59 strikeouts. Overall, you feel pretty good here about the way things line up for the Diamondbacks. And, you know, once Mitch Bratt is, and no offense to Mitch Bratt, but once Mitch Bratt is no longer a part of the rotation,

once that Mitch Bratt spot is Corbyn Burns, it really is hard to deny the potential the Diamondbacks could have to win almost any series the way that the pitching matchups line up. Between Michael Soroka, Eduardo Rodriguez, and Corbyn's, if he is what we know him to be, then this team absolutely could be dangerous, connected, once again, all of that stuff. Talk to me nice, Derek. I'm just, I'm just saying things.

I'm just saying things like wagon and yoffs and terms that we feel like... It feels like 23, brother. It feels like terms we haven't used it 84 years, but we're going to take a quick break. and on the other side of this break, we are going to do what we do on this program every single Monday and we'll do until the day I die. Don't you go anywhere? It's Mailbag Monday and we're getting to it next. This is the PHNXD Back Show. Pure Edibles was founded right here in Arizona and Flagstaff and they are available in dispensaries statewide and they are full-fledged candy company making a delicious line of candies. They do have gummies in a full line of amazing flavors and effects, but they also have whatever your heart desires

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Oh, boy. Well, it's been quite a week, Damon. When I think back to last Monday where we had the trade deadline come and go, the disappointment, the ups, the downs, beating Casey Mize in his first start as a Padre, and everything that's happened in between now. It's been a world win of a week. But you know a year it is on this podcast, and you know that every year on this podcast is our year.

Every year on the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast is the year of the snake. Every single month on this podcast is Black History Month. Every single month on this podcast is Women's History Month. And every single month on the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast is Black Women's History Month. Every single week is Shark Week. Every single day is Earth Day because we recycle. But on Monday, we go the mailbag. Damon, kick it off.

Let's go. My mailbox. Always something interesting in my mailbox. I've got to get to everything in my mailbox. And then what's... I got to pick that guy up at the airport after this show. I just realized that. So I'm glad I listened to his voice and remembered that.

What do we got in the mailbag today, Damon? First question is from Travis Moore, our leadoff hitters, says, what is Jordan Lawler's role when he gets back? back, is he starting five games a week? Good question. I would say overall, I do feel like there is a reckoning coming for the outfield. There has to be. And when I say reckoning, I mean, we already have this move today where Paul Seawalt was

DFAed. And it feels inevitable that there are other players that are in danger of being designated for assignment. I know Jorge Barrosa is a name that comes to people's minds immediately. And that could very well be the case. But Damon, I still can't help but think it's going to be Max Ketka. Kepler because Jorge Barrosa's role as a bench player and a guy that comes in to pinch run late in games and come in defensively late in games seems still like a role that the Diamondbacks are going to want to fill and it feels like a role that Barrosa feels better than Kepler. I know people don't like that and I don't even like saying it myself. I just feel like it's the truth. I feel like Max Kepler's ineligibility for the postseason kind of dooms him here where as great as he's been and as much as I would like to keep him this team because not only is he very handsome, but he does a great job, made some amazing

catches and had some great games for this team. He has won the Diamondbacks game, so his purpose has been fulfilled during the regular season. However, when this outfield starts to get crowded, it feels like Jordan Lawler is going to go back to being the five days a week starter in center field, and I imagine that Ryan Waldschmidt moves over to left field and Corbyn stays isn't right. That feels like the outfield that we were going to get all season long once Walsh Schmidt was called up. Does Newbar throw a wrench into that conversation? Newbar does a little bit. I think that, again, it's going to be based on matchups and lineups. Plus, Tori doesn't like to play someone every day. And you have the DH spot that whoever's not playing can also

fulfill that DH spot. Yeah. And I think, I don't think it's crazy to have four outfielders that play consistently. You know what I mean? That's not like a wild amount that's like undueable to rotate. You You know, if you have five all of a sudden, it's really, really difficult to find A-Bs. And no offense to Kepler, like I said, I love Mad Max, but I think that overall you want to get guys that are going to be helping you win games in the postseason getting at bats at this point and not a guy who you have to essentially part ways with when 162 is played. Yeah, I hear that, I hear that conversation. I guess that for me, it would, it boils down to can you, do you feel like you can release Barrosa or DFA Barossa and get him back? Who's claiming Jorge Barrosa? And if you have intel out there that like no other team really wants him,

he's not that valuable, then I think that, you know, you could probably try to get him back in your minor league system and then call him up when the rosters expand so that, you know, he's not really taking like A-Bs. He is just playing that defensive replacement slash, you know,

base runner type of role. So I guess that would be my ideal scenario, but I don't know if the die-in-backs would know that if any other team might pick him up or not, which does change the math there. Right. And that's that that does play a factor for sure. You're not wrong about that.

But it also feels like, again, the days are starting to dwindle, right? And I just don't know if, and especially people are bringing up Lourdes coming back. Yeah, I forgot about Lourdes if I'm being completely honest with you. But as of, as of I think the last update, he's still doing low intensity stuff in regards to rehabbing his strained right adductor, which is, you know, giving him, giving him some problems. So I don't know. I mean, perhaps Lordus, I mean, perhaps Lordus isn't back this year. I don't know if that's the case for sure, but it does feel like we have heard more about Tommy Troy, who has gotten live at bats and has been, you know, working his way back. So it does feel like Tommy Troy might be another

guy that factors into the outfield. But again, Lordus, I'm having, I'm having my doubts about seeing Lordus, especially with these other updates and, you know, this other roster talk that we're discussing. I just hope Jordan Lawler can come back and be at 100% stay healthy for the rest of the year. And, you know, you finally show this team what he can do as a center fielder. What else we got there, Damon? Yeah, our next question here is from Michael Rokickey, who asks is, says Corby and

since June 1st is hitting 199, 296, 403 for a 699 OPS, nine bombs, 26 RBI, bat-bip of 227. Is this cause for concern or is he poised to break out? Get this off my screen. I don't want to look at it anymore. It's disgusting. I don't know. I think that it's cause for concern from the perspective that Corbyn is in a slump. But I do think that slums happen.

I think they happen to every player. and I think really at the end of the day, based on information I've heard about Corbyn, he tries too hard to fix everything. You know, sometimes as a hitter, you have to go out there and not be in your own head. And I feel like based on feedbacks I've received about Corbyn, he thinks that if he has a bad game, it's 100% on him. and that he needs to start looking at things he did wrong, which is good because Corbyn,

and that's what makes Carol who he is. Corbyn Carroll is that the quality of player he is because he strives to get better every single day. Based on everything we've heard about him, that is the one main takeaway I have about Corbyn Carroll is this is a man that strives to be a better version of himself every single day. And while many people say that they do,

the words come out of their mind. mouth, they don't show it in the way that you can actually see Corbyn making those attempts to get better every day. However, when you're a baseball player, sometimes over-tinkering and worrying about your stance and worrying about your swing mechanics and overthinking everything can be as big of a factor in your lack of success as having a problem with your swing. This wasn't like last year or was it previous year where Corbyn had the flattest swing in baseball. It wasn't like previous times where changes to his batting stance might have impacted things.

This just feels like Corbyn is slumping and overthinking it, and then it's a weird death cycle where it's impacting his production. I think that if Carol can just have confidence in himself, that he is a great baseball player and that he can go out there and swing the bat at things that are given to him, the way that Gabby, is swinging the bat. I think it's going to all turn around for him. And I do see that coming.

The one benefit that we have about this team right now is they have been as good as they have been over this stretch from June till now without Corbyn Carroll or Catelle Marte playing good baseball. And both of those guys are way too good at this game for them to continue to be in the slump for long. So as we said about Catell, hell is coming. Hell is coming.

if Corbyn Carroll and Cotel Marte both suddenly get hot like we know they can, watch your back MLB because this team is going to be outrageous if that happens. It's something like I feel like we've been waiting for all season long and really hasn't come. Yeah. Could it maybe not come? Possibly, but it doesn't feel like that's likely. That's kind of what I was trying to say earlier too. It's like I feel like we've been saying this all year in regards to definitely.

could tell who hasn't had the strongest year definitely jerry as well who i think we all expected he's been putting it together better he has and he's been playing better but i think that like you know our expectations were very high after last year rightfully so true um and then corbin had a great start to the year but he's since really really cooled off and so we've been saying that for the better portion of you know the second half of games that's been played so far now but i just as i said earlier like i'm prepared to go down with the ship that is our source star players. And if that's how we lose, if that's how this season ends, I think that's just got to be the way that it is, right? Because who else are you going to rely upon other than

Corbyn Carole, Catelle Marte, and to a lesser extent, Geraldo Ferdomo? And I, and that's, you know, I'm just going to continue to hold the faith, continue believing that they're going to show up when we need them most because I just don't think we have really any other option here. Corbin, as in different snooze said earlier, he's a guy who pretty much has like a, it feels like a slump like this every season, like of his whole career pretty much, where you can go through and say,

man, he really had a rough month or two there. And so maybe that's just the player he is. He ebbs and flows a little bit. He's either MVP caliber, which we've seen a lot of, or, you know, he has a little bit of rougher stretches. But even in those rougher stretches, he still has a damn near 700 OPS. Could be a lot worse.

It's just not the player that we're accustomed to seeing when he's firing all cylinders. And I just think that, yeah, Corbin, you know, we just got to keep holding out. Ted Lassow, believe sign that I'm going to put right here next to the final four pennant. We'll make you one. And, yeah, it's just, I feel like we just got to continue to believe in our guys. And hopefully, Cattel and Corbin are the two. players that were looking back and saying, man, they didn't have it this season. The team was good enough to get us to this point.

And then they really turned it on and showed us why they're the star players on this team when it mattered most. Ernesto's getting me fired up in the chat. Ernesto says, Corbin's worst month in his career is actually July, his best, August. Yeah. Also, we got, let's see, Coolbro says, guys, let's get the Tori glaze on. The team has been playing so hot with inconsistent star power. you're damn right cool bro Tori Levalo

NL manager of the year why not I see like I don't think he's gonna win it but he should absolutely be on the short list I know we were talking a little bit about it last my last post game show that we did or my last show on Thursday but it's no joke

I don't understand why the Tory discourse is getting loud right now because it just doesn't feel like the right time for it again like I'm I'm all for holding people accountable when they deserve it but it feels like Tori's had a great season and I just don't get why people are like, and he cost us the game when he made Tim Tauwa Bunt, and you're like, you know what cost us the game?

You're three and four hitters, not getting the guy in from third, the fastest player in baseball in from third base. A thousand percent. So that's kind of where I go to. But, yeah, I mean, I think Tori's had a fantastic season when you consider the lack of production from Catell and Corvin in particular. Brandon says, who do we think will win NL manager? I mean, there's some good candidates.

Probably Pat Murphy, right? I think Pat Murphy. I mean, Pat Murphy still seems like a solid candidate. I think obviously what's going on with Philadelphia and Don Mattingly has been a pretty positive situation. Definitely. But I think the Phillies are frauds. And we're going to talk about them here shortly. Let's see what else we got in the mailbag, Damon, what we got? Yeah, our next question here is from a different scene.

My back. It's from Jarmi. And he says, wait, that's the best team in baseball. baseball numerous field air shaky starting pitching strikeouts double plays pickoffs those guys are the best season series losing two eight can't get a hit clowns those guys bonus can we have a serious conversation about an ftd emoji yeah and f the dodgers emoji which i i'm i'm i'm with jason on that that's a strong one yeah that's a strong one and he's also right they were shook those clowns look shook you know why because this is the team the team that the first team to sweep them this year was the arizona

the Diamondbacks. The team to send them into the current death spiral that they are in in the month of July is the Arizona Diamondbacks. What happened after that? They had an 0 and 7 stretch. And I mean, outside of one lousy misplayed inning by the Diamondbacks, it should be an 0 and 9 stretch where they lost nine games in a row. Are they fallible?

Yes. Are those just guys in different laundry, as Erod would say? You're goddamn right. are. Can they be beat? We just prove that they can be. Best team in baseball. Fah. As a matter fact, the best thing that the Dodgers could do this year is take a year off. That's the best thing they could probably do. Going out and adding Terrick Scoobble just ruined 2027. So maybe, just maybe if they're, uh, they get knocked out early like we did one other time back in 2023, maybe

we'll, maybe the negotiations will be a little bit nicer. I don't know. I don't know. All the entire players association is on the Dodgers side. But yeah, you're right. Jason, you're not wrong. You're never wrong, but in this case, you're not wrong. There are a bunch of bums over there and we can beat them. Let's go ahead

and take a quick break. And on the other side of this break, we're going to do more of this. We're going to answer more mailback Monday questions. Don't you guys go anywhere? You're watching the P.H.N. X. Diamondback show. Well, there are plenty of amazing real estate and Arizona, but one is at the top, and that is Kim Caballero from Kim Caballero real estate. Previously, Kim Caballero has been working in the Arizona business realm for over 25 years, and now she is helping Arizona families with both buying and selling.

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of how the debacks own. There you go. There you go. Well, let's get on to Mailback Monday. Damon, what else do we got? Our next question here is from True Ruggnar. Ruggnar says, if there's anybody we trust with the keys to the wagon, who is it and why is it Ryan Waldschmidt? bonus question can we have an evil michael band from chase field i feel like his attendance still makes for very stressful games and the few we've won with him there oh man yeah evil michael is i mean we might just like to start calling him that um yeah that might have to be the case but overall here yeah that's that's something that is something here when it comes to um just who we want to trust the keys to the wagon to but he might be right right ryan waltzmitt

seems like a fine guy to do so. And I also think that I like the way that Ryan, I don't know. I like everything about him. I like the way that he holds himself. I like the way that he's quickly become just a part of this team. It doesn't even feel like Walt Schmidt is like a guy that isn't or is new, you know? And maybe it's just because you and I have coveted him since spring training.

And we couldn't wait for him to get here. But, you know, that walkoff on Friday really did. I think cement him as part of this franchise's history. And obviously we have a lot of time left with him, but those are those moments, right? Those are those moments like Alec Thomas planning the flag in Philadelphia and other things where you just, you have a moment that endears you to the fans so much

that you kind of are now a franchise favorite. And I think Walt Schmidt has done that. I don't know about trusting the keys to the franchise or keys to the wagon overall. I still feel like Corbin is in charge of the wagon and is going to be for quite a while. But Michael is here in the chat, and we want to tell you that Michael,

you are and should be banned from this chat. Port Sports asking evil Michael. It's our friend Michael Rokickey here in the chat who tends to cause the Diamondbacks to lose games. However, he was also there with an unlucky shirt on, if I'm not mistaken, like he wore his unlucky shirt and was an unlucky person and brought. both of those things to the Diamondbacks game and somehow it made the Diamondbacks explode for five

home runs if I'm not mistaken and they were all hit to the section that I was sitting in. So I'm conflicted on evil Michael being at the baseball games, Damon. What do you think about Ragnar saying quiet evil Michael? No, that's good. That's good. That feels right. Hush, evil Michael. You're just spewing your bad luck out.

All right. Well, else we got. Our next question is from Brian Bobbitt. and Brighton, Bobbitt. I do this every time. Sorry, Brighton. You're a great guy and a great listener of the show. Says Tinfoil Hat Time.

There was an article that said MLB owners were pumped that the Dodgers acquired Scoobel. Did they let him get intentionally to further their agenda for the lockout? I want to think things like this don't happen, David, but we live in a terrible evil world right now. We do. Yeah. Don't we where people just will actually cut off their hand. to own me. And that I still don't get.

They all come out their own hand to own me. This is the type of collusion that 100% could happen realistically in 2026. I mean, the Diamondbacks gave up their fifth best prospect. And that's all it took from the Dodgers to get Terrick Scoobble. I have my doubts. It wasn't good enough to get Casey Mize, apparently, was it? So I don't know what's going on.

But I don't like it. And it does feel like based on everything we, have heard, I have my doubts. But ironically enough, there was one person who instilled faith in me, who instilled hope in me, Damon, and this was at Friday's game in the clubhouse of the Arizona Diamondbacks. And it was Paul Seewald, of all people, who told us based on what he thought, he thinks there's still going to be some sort of season next year. He hoped. I don't know. I don't know. How sad. Yeah, it feels sad. It feels sad. felt bad to even say it, but I felt like I had to say it. But it does feel like, again, an agenda

is being pushed. It feels like this battle that is going to occur over the new CBA is going to be so divided and they are going to be so like, they just aren't going to negotiate. Like, they're just going to be so staunch in their stances in regards to where they're at. I think the most important thing that they have to get done is a floor. Salary floor needs to be instilled. It needs to be installed. It needs to be something to make the teams that don't spend, spend more, so that they keep those star players that teams like the Diamondbacks, or excuse me, not us, the Dodgers,

the Yankees, the Mets, the Phillies, all of those teams come in and steal. Even this trade deadline felt kind of gross with who was making trades with each other and what things were going on. but it was because the teams were essentially giving up so much as far as prospect packages in a trade that they didn't care who they traded with. They just wanted to get what they felt like was the best players that they could in return, especially for expiring contracts. But, I mean, it also felt like, yeah, when the Dodgers got Derek Scoobald,

it felt like everybody collectively in baseball said, there goes 2027, like as if that wasn't already in jeopardy before that. Right, but I don't know, man. I think that we are in trouble, and I hope that there's some sort of remedy that comes sooner than later. We are going to just review movies on this podcast once that happens. So look forward to my thoughts on The Odyssey, Spider-Man, and anything else that comes out this summer once we hit 2027.

What else we got, Damon? Let's get one more in and then let's get out of here. Yeah, our last question is from Mighty Schuman, who says, of the Phillies, Padres and DeBacks, who isn't making the postseason this year, Derek. I know, I know, I know you want me to say the Padres. I know nobody here wants me to say the Diamondbacks except maybe Killer X. But I'm not going to say either of those teams, Damon. I'm going to say it's the Phillies.

I'm going to say the Phillies are going to get gassed before the end of the season. The Phillies have a difficult strength of schedule. Also, some of the loser teams that they're going to play haven't been playing so bad. See the New York Mets. So I think that if it was up to me, I think it's the Phillies that don't make it. it. I think they fade. I think the Diamondbacks and Padres duke it out and both end up with a wildcard spot. That's what I think happens. I'll also go as far as to say that the Dodgers aren't not going to finish with the top two records in baseball and they are going to end up playing

whichever wildcard team ends up in the third spot. And let it be the Arizona Diamondbacks. I dare you. I double dog dare you. All right. We got two more super chats from Cool Cool bro. Cool bro says the power of friendship will prevail. Hell, yeah, it will. The power of friendship is so important to this organization that the only trade we made at the deadline was to go get Nolan Aronado's best friend. What does that say? You think we're the only ones that believe in the power of friendship?

Yeah, right. Mike Hazen knows how powerful the power of friendship is. Last but not least, cool bro says, pH and X wrestling show when the lockout happens. All right, now we're talking. now we're talking we're going to put Derek to use in some way let's hope but until then uh we'll watch a lot of baseball and hopefully see this time and backs make the mother eff and yoffs when that time comes around and be an even better version of themselves like corbin carroll is every day when that time comes around uh we thank you guys so much for your time today we'll be back with another 12 p.m.

show tomorrow the rare the rare tuesday 12 p.m. show we got three of those 12 p.m. shows for you this week. So make sure to stop by tomorrow at that time. Until then, of course, you can follow us on social media. I'm at Cap underscore Cave Man with a K. Damon is at Damon Dog with the DAWG, but of course, as always, we're all Damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our show is at PHNX underscore Dbacks, but as always all roads lead to at PHNX underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. In other news, Derek, as well, in regards to the PHNX wrestling show, Kevin Thomas will be making his return as the producer of the P H&X wrestling show as I leave and never speak to Derek live on air ever again.

If that's what this show turns into. Yeah. I can't be on it. You need to find, you need to have someone that can actually talk a little bit of all with you. You're going to watch raw. You're going to watch Smackdown. You're going to watch NST.

LFG. Oh, no, I'm not. You're going to watch AEW Dynamite. You're going to watch AEW collision. Where am I finding this time? We're going to get you in on TNA, total. nonstop action, you are even going to watch episodes of Dark Side of the Ring with me and find out about how messed up all of these guys truly are at the end of the day.

Yeah, you're going to make me watch reruns of YouTube clips of the greatest Undertaker moments. We're watching the hell of the cell match between Taker and Mankind so many times, so many times. Cool, bro also said, shout out the coyotes on Saturday. Yeah, well, to the coyotes on Saturday, what did the coyotes do on Saturday? Or is that just the animal coyotes? What are we talking about? I don't know. But that's what he said. He paid for a super chat.

Give me my coyotes back. Bringing me this team back. I'm sick of these other hockey teams wanting me to come be their friends. Anyway, we love you guys. Thank you so much for your time. It's your most valuable commodity. So we cannot thank you enough for sharing some of it with us. We'll see you back here tomorrow for a 12 p.m.

show where we will cover tonight's game and preview the rest of this series. Talk a little bit more about what's going on in the Diamondbacks world and especially talk more about how these moves overall are going to, going to impact this team as they head into the final, what, 50 days of the season. So, of course, until then, love you. Thank you again for your time. We'll see you back here. Behave yourselves and remember kids. Baseball is fun, but it's so much more fun when you get your starting pitchers back healthy.