PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Can the Diamondbacks SURVIVE Dodgers & Padres to Punch Their Postseason Ticket?

Episode Date: September 22, 2025

JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4Despite all the ups and downs of the 2025 season, the Arizona Diamondbacks enter the final stretch of the year just one game back of a Wild Card spot. With a massive series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers on deck, we break down what Arizona needs to do to keep their postseason hopes alive. We also look back at the D-backs’ crucial series win over the Phillies, the adjustments that sparked their turnaround, and what it all means heading into the most important week of the season. Plus, we dive into your Mailbag Monday questions and hope we DON’T have to figure out what we are going to watch next week instead of D-backs baseball.An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsportsMERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-lockerALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of PhoenixPHNX 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/APS:  Find instant rebates, discounts and special offers on smart thermostats, energy-efficient appliances and more at https://marketplace.aps.com/default/heating-cooling/smart-thermostatsBranded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order!Zen Leaf: Visit our friends at Zen Leaf (http://zen-leaf.store/phnx) for 50% off using promo code ZENPHNXSpencer’s Appliances: Visit Spencerstv.com and use code PHNX5 for 5% off appliances OR use code PHNX10 for 10% off TVs, audio and mattressesChicken N’ Pickle: Family friendly fun awaits! Visit chickennpickle.com to plan your visit today!Phoenix Raceway: Tickets, hospitality and upgrades are still available for the NASCAR Championship Series October 31st through November 2nd! Visit the link HERE to get yours now!Visit Mountain America Credit Union to learn more about their MyStyle Checking Accounts!bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets!Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 20% off your first order!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 35% 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!Monarch Money: Use Monarch Money to get control of your overall finances with 50% off your first year at https://www.monarchmoney.com/phnxAll Pro Shade Concepts: Call 623-204-1476 or visit https://allproshadeconcepts.com/ now to schedule your free estimate!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.#dbacks #diamondbacks #arizonadiamondbacks #mlb #zacgallen#corbincarroll #ketelmarte #mlbtheshow #mlbtraderumors #tradedeadline #traderumors #allstargame  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You might say you're ready to defend the pool, but are you really ready to defend the pool? Are you really ready to chase down to Oscar Hernandez and tackle him from behind? Well, we might need you out there because the Diamondbacks and the Dodgers take on each other here at Chase Field with a chance for the Dodgers to clinch the NL West. We're talking about it in 30 seconds,

and I'm going to scream a lot. Don't you go anywhere. To another edition of the PHNX Diamondback podcast, live. from Studio K. Presented by our friends at Circle K. My name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX,

and I'm thrilled to have you guys here discussing the final week of regular season baseball for the Arizona Dynamics. And I guess the rest of Major League Baseball as well. This show, of course, is brought to you by our friends at Bet365. Go use that code of PHNX 365 and you sign up and get yourself some bonus bets. The following a few easy steps over at game time. Use our code. PH and X.

You'll get $20 off. They're already low. Last minute ticket tables. I am not alone because I am defending the pool this week. The Diamondbacks are defending the pool this week, and we can't do it alone. We need the one, the only Damon Dogg. He is on the ones and twos today. And he's already riled up.

He's already ready to post bail. He's ready to do whatever it takes is basically what he means. It means everything, Derek. It absolutely means everything. It absolutely means everything. This is my personal championship this week. This is what it all about. It's all about. It comes down to this. Of course, thank you guys who are part of our supporters club already. If you have not joined, you can do so on our main page over on YouTube.com. I think you do have to actually go to the website. Unfortunately, this technology is not available in app form just yet. But once you do, you can get all of those wonderful emojis and drop them in the chat. We always love to see that. And of course, we always love to see you guys here, especially after the Diamondbacks win yet another series, this time beating the Phillies. two out of three yesterday.

Yes, obviously we did our quick emergency podcast on Sunday with how excited we were about it. Also, during that emergency podcast, I got to miss the Cardinals ruining my Sunday. So thanks to the Diamondbacks for not only beating the Phillies by a score of 9 to 2, but for distracting me while the end of that game took place. And I didn't have to see what happened in real time. And I'm still very angry about that. But luckily, the Diamondbacks brought me some joy. and they did that by improving their record to 79 and 77.

Great to see you here, Baxter. Great to see you here, Groundhog Mama. She said, love the emergency podcast yesterday. You guys are diehards. Once again, roped me into that. So that's all you guys. It's another reason why you should be a diehard over here at PHNX because when you are, you can just tell me when you want me to work.

And I will jump to it and do a show for you guys. But, Damon, I think one thing that the Diamondbacks have earned is once again to see Little Geraldo Pardomo. head his way up Mount 500, if you wouldn't mind. That never gets old. The debacks are better than 500 since August 1st, by the way. And August 1st, I don't know if you remember, is essentially the day after the trade deadline. So after this team lost Merrill Kelly, after this team had already lost Josh Naylor,

a Heuanyos-Wares, Shelby Miller, Jordan Montgomery, and, for you. Of course, Randall Gritchick, our favorite Gritchick. Well, not true. Their second favorite Gritchick. His son is our favorite Gritching. The Diamondbacks are 28 and 19 since that day, since August 1st. The D-BACs have gone 15 and 8, and that has involved wins against the Brewers in Milwaukee, the Dodgers in L.A., at home versus the Rangers, at home versus the Red Sox in San Francisco

versus the Giants in Minnesota against the twins versus the Giants here at home and now versus the Phillies. The D-backs have won seven straight home series dating back to August. eighth, which is now tied for the second longest streak in franchise history, which is kind of wild. I don't know if that's more of an indication of how good the Diamondbacks have been over the stretch at home or how bad historically they've been at home, because I feel like that's something that should be much longer than seven games. I believe the record is a eight game home streak. And can they finish strong? Can they finish their season strong and make it eight and help defend against the Dodgers jumping in our pool? Well, let's hope so. But they did.

of course have a really good effort in this series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Let's take a look at the count presented by our friends at Desert Financial Credit Union. The Diamondbacks outscored, what's up, RA? Great to see those neon cactus lights in the chat because they deserve it for this win. The Diamondbacks won this series, two games. They take two out of three from the Phillies. They outscore the Phillies in this series, 15 to 13. The Diamondbacks had four home runs to the Phillies three.

The Diamondbacks were eight for 32. with runners in scoring position after going 0 for 6 in that first game. They went four for 13 in their final two games, which is once again baseball being crazy. Meanwhile, the Phillies went four for 30 for 133 batting average, the Diamondbacks batting average with runners in scoring position, 250. The most surprising stat here, probably the starting pitching ERA here. The Phillies got rocked in a couple of these games. Their starters did not last very long. Not a single Philly had a quality start in this series. And they had an eight point. at 1-0 starting pitching ERA.

Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks posted a 2.50 starting pitching a, ERA and had some tremendous starts all across the board here in all three games. But relief pitching ERA is still something left to be desired. This is part of the reason why Jake Woodford was designated for assignment. Diamondbacks have a seven starting pitching ERA there, or excuse me, relief pitching area to the Phillies 2.31 relief pitching ERA. So not a great series for the Bulls. but a great series for the Diamondbacks overall and a great series for the starting

pitching as you see there at 2.50 ERA an indicator that these guys were really good. Eduardo Rodriguez's six scoreless innings was his fifth game this season with six or more shutout frames and a lot of those have been recently I told you guys on yesterday's show but over his last five starts Erod is posed as a 1.84 ERA and it's against some of the most formidable opponents the Diamondbacks have faced all season long including the Giants twice. And I feel like that's a difficult task there considering, I believe, his worst outing, the bad outing he had was the first one. So making those adjustments and having a good outing in the second appearance against them in the span of basically a week, excuse me, LG3,

is something that he should be applauded for. But since August 27th, the Diamondbacks are now first in Major League Baseball with 15 quality starts. They might be tied, but they are first. They are our first or share a part of that lead for first with 15 quality starts. Considering the calamity that was there starting pitching this season and considering what they have lost this year, kudos. Kudos to Brian Kaplan. Kudos to this team. Kudos to the individual players, right?

I mean, I think that they've all had their individual motivations for getting back on track. I think Zach Gallen might have, you know, again, a lot of it I think might have been working with sexy man Jimmy McCann. I think a lot of it also might have been, Zach Gallen, quite frankly, having a quick realization of his worth when finding out at the trade deadline, you know, that no team was really making an offer

significant enough for the team to move him, right? At least it has to be a more significant offer than the idea of either keeping Zach Gallen for one more season based on a qualifying offer or receiving that compensatory draft pick based on Gallin turning down the qualifying offer, right? So that had to weigh on Zatlin, a bit for the fact that he was unable to, and he discussed it. He sound bummed out about it. He said

he was sad that he did not provide enough work to this team throughout the first half for them to be able to provide, you know, trade for him and move him. And instead, Zach Allen just locked in and has been incredible for this team since that stretch, as has most of the starting pitching. So, and, and Emil Krasmont, again, another guy he was used yesterday in the ninth inning that deserves a ton of credit for being called upon to be that fifth starter when the diamondbacks had no idea what they were going to do there and he somehow stepped up and was as good as he was for this team. But speaking of being good, Corby and Carroll, incredibly good. Obviously, we talked about it on the emergency podcast, but he became the first player in franchise history to have 30 home runs

and 30 stolen bases. He is the 10th player in Major League Baseball history to reach 30 plus doubles, 15 or more triples, and 30 or more homers in a season. And currently, his 79 extra base hits is fourth most in Major League Baseball behind Otani, Judge, and just one behind Cal Rally, who has 80 extra base hits. Can we give it up for Corbyn as the all-around pest player we might have ever had on this baseball team? I mean, just as far as all of the metrics, everything that a baseball player can be asked to do. It feels like Corbyn Carroll has done it well. And even in areas that were weaknesses for

him, like his arm strength from the outfield and his power have improved substantially this year, substantially. So he is a guy that deserves all the credit. And I think I saw our guy, Archie Bradley, on a short Instagram video, just say that he has become a pillar, quickly become a pillar of the Diamondbacks organization and franchise, just of this team's history. Right. So just incredibly good to see him contributing in the way he did this series. Also, Catele-Marte is back. And we discussed this on Friday. I think we have a little peek at the video.

Cotel-Marte had some adjustments that he made that he did not want us to share with his hands that may have brought him this success that we're seeing. Here's what Cotel-Marte had to say after Friday's game. I'm feeling great. I was trying to make adjusting at the home play. And then I was just working a little bit on my hand, and then I figured out what's going on in the past. It's a foot feeling much better at this point.

Yeah, I feel good. Yesterday I was watching a lot, all my video, I think, from last year, and then I think I figured out what's going on. What did you pick up? It's something about my hand. Okay. Private. Yeah.

I don't need to know, yeah. I don't want that exactly. I don't want any pitch it to know. We're going to look so good with those eyebrow slits, Derek. I don't think I've ever really paid attention to how many he has. Three. I thought it was just one? No, it's three.

It's three, right? Two and one, one and the other? Oh, yeah. Oh, man. I'm going to have some explaining to do. You're totally going to look super cool walking around as a middle-aged man with a family and eyebrow slits. I'm going to have some explaining to do in the drop-off line at high school for my daughter.

You might have to go just like full, like lean into your Hispanic heritage. I can do that. Like again, uh, Blaze offered me to hop in the barber's chair for the D-BAC's team barber and ask for the Catele Marte. So I'm thinking that you go going haircut and eyebrow slits will help the whole overall look. Or people will just be like, wow. I'm thinking for sure you go. Midlife crisis is hitting him hard. Fade.

Eyebrow slits and then E-Rod style shave the stash off of the beer and just go beard. No. That's such a... That's a bad look for me. In fact, that's why I only go mustache. That's why I typically only go mustache instead of mustacheless beard. The beard is irrelevant here when it comes to my overall look. It's really the mustache.

That's the important part. So also, we have to maybe do some playoff stashes. Maybe. That might have to be in our near future. But Cotel Marte incredibly back in this series, 462 batting average, 4 RBI, one home run, one double. He was three for four. on Friday there with a home run and RBI, two for four on Sunday with a double and two RBI.

So it's just great to see Cotell Marte be back and they need him. They need him now more than they need him ever because the Diamondbacks once again are somehow inexplicably in the wildcard hunt here on September 22nd, 2025. If we could, Damon, let's take a look at the wild card standings here and see exactly where the Diamondbacks are. are currently at.

Here we go. Diamondbacks, one game back from these two teams that were, like two, once again, two teams ruining our chances of getting in the playoffs. And that aren't very much ahead of us, David, two teams that if we tie with both of them, we do not make it in the playoffs. And we are very familiar with that feeling from one season ago. and man it would really like a lot of things with this diamond back year it would really hurt to get this close and then fall like short of the playoffs just because you tie with the reds oh my god man who do currently hold the tie breaker over the diamond back so here we was this the destiny the entire time just to make it hurt the most yeah because exactly exactly uh that's that would be the biggest uh i guess metaphor for this season is to come oh so close yet again and

Meanwhile, these bums from Chicago, the Cubs, who we need just to sober up a little bit and go out there and play some baseball, they have the number one spot in the wildcard hunt. They are 88 and 66. They have clinched that spot. So no matter how many games, these bums lose, they will still be in the playoffs. They currently have an eight-game lead on the final spot. Padres sit at 83 and 71. The Diamondbacks do battle with them with the final series of the year. And hopefully, just hopefully, they literally have no.

nothing to play for at all by the time we get to that point. But what sits ahead of the Diamondbacks here at 80 and 76 are the Reds and the Mets. And the Diamondbacks sit one game out there at 79 and 77. They have a tough task, tough task because the Dodgers are playing for a lot. And the Padres could still be playing for a lot at the end of the season. But like I said, this season, the Diamondbacks have handled their business against those teams going 15 and 8 lately against some of the best teams in baseball. They would just need to focus on these six games

because both of these series for the debacks are playoff series. And that's not being dramatic. I mean, the odds are already stacked against them. The Reds have the pirates and the brewers left on their schedule. The Mets face the Cubs who we just need to sober up and play some baseball and the Marlins. I get it. You're excited.

You haven't been in the postseason since 2020. Can you play some baseball? Can you finish strong? You want to keep that number one spot, don't you? We also don't want the Padres to play for anything, right? So it's like the Dodge, oh, God, I just need the Cubs. Yeah. I need the Cubs to win like two games and make the Padres have nothing to play for in that final series. And part of it is that the Diamondbacks do have success against the Dodgers and the Padres find a way to win. Then they also still have something else to play for in the final series of the years. So don't love how. all of this works out and again there's not much the diamondbacks can control outside of playing their best baseball and it is going to be against the dodgers toughest pitchers pretty much in their

lineup we're going to talk about that on the other side of this break don't you go anywhere you're watching the phnx diamond back show well of course i have all of this stuff here with me and all of this kind of wonderful stuff is the kind of things you can find at rally house which is your go-to spot to shop for all of your favorite local Arizona sports team gear with thousands of products to shop from you just will find everything you need it doesn't matter what you're looking for if you're looking to up your game on game day on the way out you know you got to don't have enough team gear got to stop on your way it is the place to find the matching outfit coordinated socks a hat that is amazing that you've never seen before coolers for your tailgate uh baby diapers it doesn't matter whatever you need they have it and they have

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as winners. Download the app and use code PHNX 365 when you sign up. Of course, new customers get $200 in bonus bets when you bet $5. Win or lose. All you got to do is sign up. Use that code of PHNX365. Deposit $10 in place a bet for $5 and more to get $200 in bonus bets. If your bet wins or loses, bonus bets can be used on the spread,

totals, players, props, futures, and more. Whatever the moment, it is never ordinary. A bet 365 must be 21 or over and physically located in Arizona. If you are someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call one hundred next step. Text next step to 533442 or visit problem gambling.azzo. Well, Damon, let me change hats again. Because when we talk about protecting the pool around here,

we mean it. We get our sun hat on, even though the roof will be closed. we got our baseball bat that is kind of a prop baseball bat so I won't hurt myself and we get ready to ensure that regardless of the outcome of this series that we do not let the Los Angeles Dodgers in our pool and celebrate the NL West Division we can't let this happen this was a huge controversy when it happened before the last time when it did happen I believe there were mounted police officers out there in right field and if that's what it takes

then I'm for it. I'm for whatever enforcement is necessary Damon, including sending Damon out there. Now, I was going to say horses, police officers and horses are one Damon dock. Yeah. You pick your fight. You pick your fight. What do you want? Do you want to deal with

one Damon dog? We're going to have some issues with production. This show was probably going to have to go on much later than one hour after the final out. But regardless of the outcome, if Damon is out there anywhere near that pool, then I can guarantee you that no Dodgers will enter it. But this means we have to rally the troops

and form a human wall. That means you have to get down to chase field and make sure you cheer on the Diamondbacks because you know the Dodger contingent is going to be there and be loud. So we have to be equally loud in the final series of the year. That also includes Zach Gallen's final home game

as an Arizona Diamondback, at least regular season, depending on how all of this shakes up. we could see them in some postseason games here, but again, this could be the last time we sees that gallon at Chase in a Diamondbacks uniform. So got to make it out there for that. Let's take a look at this Dodgers team at a glance. They've had a weird season, but they still managed to be very, very good. They are six and four in their last 10 games. Overall, they're 88 and 68 with a plus 126 run differential. Their OPS is 769. They have been tremendously good all year long offensively. That is good for second in Major League Baseball. Their starting pitching ERA is also very good. It is 3.81, which is sixth in Major League Baseball. They have like eight, nine starting pitchers.

It's insane. Their relief pitching ERA, not nearly as good. 4.28, there's their weakness right there. Their bullpen is 20th in all baseball, and that can be at least one weakness that Diamondbacks might be able to exploit in these games because they do face some very tough starters. Out above average, they have eight,

which is 13th. So their defense is pretty good. But again, the big test here is going to be how the starting pitching matches up against the Dodgers. Let's take a look at the probable pitchers for this series because it's a lot.

The Diamondbacks take on Shohei Otani in his prison orange uniform. I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened. Is that a prison orange unit? Damon, I expect better out of you. What did I? What did I do?

I went on the internet. I looked up Shohei Otani headshot and it gave me this. I don't know what to do. I think you looked up Shohei Otani mugshot is what you looked up. Am I right? Is that what you looked up? Did you do that? Is that what you did instead?

Shohei Otani looks like, you know, Scooby-Doo just pulled the mask off of his face and he said I would have gotten away with it too if it wasn't for you meddling kids. All right. Well, Brandon Fott takes on Show Hey, Otani in game one. Otani has not had very many starts this year. He is one and one with a 3.29 ERA. Meanwhile, Brandon fought 13 wins this year.

He's 13 and 8 with a 5.02 ERA, and he was excellent his last time out. So I'm very encouraged about his last outing. And hopefully Brandon Fott can somehow find a way to come close to replicating it here in game one against the Dodgers. Games two and three feature Diamondbacks. Best starters. I mean, I don't even know how you could really. qualify that because I mean all of these guys have been pitching well at times. Ryan Nelson has been good pitching well all year. He is seven and three this year with a 3.34 ERA. He matches up with Blake

Snell who is incredibly good. He is five and four this year with a 2.44 ERA. And then in game three, Zach Gallo goes up against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. His gallon 13 and 14 this year with a 4.70 ERA. Meanwhile, Yamamoto 11 and 8, 2.580. 14 losses is diabolical, man. 14 losses. Every time I see the amount of losses, Zach Gowan has, I'm just crazy. He's like the anti-Ryan Nelson, right? Like, Zach Gallon is involved in all of his decisions. Yeah.

Ryan Nelson, I think, has seven straight no decisions, which is criminal. Might be as criminal as that Otani mugshot that Damon just posted. Overall, these guys are the Dodgers, right? And they are who they are. But we have a bunch of guys that just don't really care about that right now. hearing some of the words from guys like Philip Abner and some of the young guys who really just are playing baseball in a way

of treating those guys like those are just dudes over there wearing different laundry. It's pretty cool. I know there's some, I guess, some newness to it. You know, like sometimes when you don't know any better,

you can have that attitude. And I feel like there is no fear right now from this team. So it's a great time for them to be playing this level of baseball against their most, like I said earlier, their most formidable opponents. And they have a big series here. I cannot wait to see what happens. And I am, I won't lie.

I'm nervous. I think that, again, if the Diamondbacks don't have a good showing on Tuesday in game one, we're going to feel the pressure really fast, especially considering the Reds will be taking on the pirates. And I'm not encouraged by that. So I'm going to give a call to Paul Skeins. And I don't know who else. Maybe we'll get Brent Strz.

on the phone, see if we can get those guys motivated to at least play their best baseball of the year against the Reds. Anyway, this is going to be fun. Can't wait to be out there. Like I said, Diamondbacks need you guys out there. They need you strong and in numbers. So make sure to show up at the yard for this series. This is the final one of the year.

Also, don't miss out on the sales going on at the yard. I already have purchased too many items this year. I'm at my max. I'm at my cap. so I need you guys to go grab all of that great like 70% off merch that they have going on right now. But anyway, we're going to do,

we're going to move on from this because the more I dwell on this Dodgers series, the anger I get, Damon, I like, I mean this. There was nothing I was going to do to stop it. But in 2017, and I know I've told this story before, I was in the Dodgers Clubhouse. I believe that was the year.

They all run together now. I was in the Dodgers Clubhouse. Derek's about to say, He had so much fun in there, guys. Hold up. Honestly, no, I didn't. This is the day that I found out that getting sprayed in the face with champagne actually hurts a lot and that the people that wear ski goggles aren't doing it just for looks. It's the smartest apparel you can wear when getting sprayed with champagne.

I guarantee you that. But I was present. It was when they jumped in the pool and I was present for the decision to be made. and I watched it in horror as it unfolded because it started just with one guy. I don't think it was Adrian Gonzalez. I think it was Matt Kemp was like the one that started it and he went to like Adrian Gonzalez

and then it spread to other guys right in front of me. And I was like I literally was on Damon. I was like, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, there is no pool in right field, forget it. And like, but I will say this, as much as people think that things like that were done with malicious intent, and this isn't going to help Damon's opinion on me as far as my connection with the Dodgers.

But I will say that when they started doing it, what I saw were like little kids that were just excited to go celebrate their thing and not necessarily the act of disrespect that I think that people claim it to be. However, now that that is out there and now that that was such a controversial act of, right, disrespect towards the Diamondback, celebrating their NL West, you know, clinching the NL. less than our pool. Yeah. That now it's unforgivable, right? Like, so now it can't happen without at least two police horses fighting the Dodgers is what

I need. I need at least Damon dog out there. Uh, and maybe Jesse Jr. riding shotgun along with a police horse or two, just making sure that nobody. Well, I just don't want shoes in the pool. Derek, did you see that viral video of that mom form tackling that guy the other day that was going crazy? Yes.

That's going to be me versus whoever, whatever Dodger first decides to try to cannonball into the pool. Yeah. I'm just going to, you're going to see a guy just sprint across the screen and just form tackle, lay this Dodgers player out. I mean, it's unacceptable. It's really what it is and you're right. Like, I don't think the Dodgers players are all that bad of people except for Shohei Otani, who obviously is a criminal, as we all know. But the rest of them seem like decent. The rest of them seem like decent guys.

you know, I do think that like they wouldn't sit there and be like, we're going to disrespect the D-backs by jumping in their pool. But it is inherently disrespectful to the fans of this franchise and whether they like it or not. So we're going to be upset about it if they do. And hopefully we just get the sweep and we don't have to. There goes. And Padres handled their business, right? So then they have, oh, I don't know.

Again, then they have something to play for. I'm conflicted no matter which way. So anyway, we're going to take a quick break. and on the other side of this break, we're going to do what we do here on Monday, every single Monday, and it is the last one of these for the regular season. It doesn't mean Mailbag Monday is going away.

It just means it's the last regular season, Mailbag Monday. We're doing that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere you're watching the PHA next time in Back Show. Well, I might need to chill out. I might be overreacting to the whole Dodgers jumping in the pool thing. And, of course, a great way to chill out is with our friends at Pure Edibles because they offer an amazing collaboration that, as Damon said,

was literally created just for, me. I mean, I know I know everybody else can enjoy it. I know it was meant for the greater society, but I feel like the people at Pure Edibles and the fine folks in Mother Road brewery got together and was like, guys, we got to do something special for Derek. And what did they do? They created, they collaborated and created the Noble Road Tower Station IPA, all in one based on the greatest IPA in all the land Tower Station IPA. This new offering captures the crisp citrus and piney hops of Arizona's favorite IPA, but with a smooth THC twist all-in-one device, plus it has a cool little car from the can on the outside of the package. No pouring, no waiting, just good tasting high

whenever you want it. Go find yourself some pure edible products from one of our 130 dispensaries across Arizona, and go find yourself one of those amazing tower station all in one from Noble Road at one of those wonderful dispensaries as well. Right there on screen, Derek. Look at it. You can see the car. Look at that beautiful little car. I love it. I love it. Oh. Also, I love being in my home.

I really do. I like, I enjoy doing this show from home. I do love our new office, but still nothing beats being at home. And the reason why I have that home is our friends at Desert Financial Credit Union. They got me started on my home ownership journey when I knew nothing about interest rates or finances or money or buying a home. And they got me situated. And thanks to them, I am. still in my wonderful home. And I'm very thankful for it, especially considering high rental

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All right. What's happening, guys? Well, it looks like everybody's pouring in now. Everybody's late to class. You guys missed me screaming about the Dodgers and you missed me screaming about the pool. We did a pop quiz also in the beginning of class. So that goes in as a zero for all of you guys. Michael Dixon and Candice all have some makeup work to do.

but of course we are here now on this great time that we do the thing we do here every Monday. And you know what we do every Monday because every year on the show is obviously the year of the snake. Every year on this show is our year. Every month on this show is Hispanic Heritage Month. Every week on this show, obviously Shark Week. Every day is Earth Day because Damon and I recycle. But Mondays are special because on Monday we go to the mailbag. Damon, let's go to the mailbag.

I'm trying to get to everything in my mailbox. And then once in a while, there's a letter that makes me go out. All right, Damon. What else? What do we got in the mailbag today? Yeah, we got our first question from, you know who it is. Travis Moore. Our lead off hitter?

The lead off hitter of all leadoff hitters. Number one, what is specifically, what specifically is Erod doing differently now that sparked this turnaround in his production? Number two, I finally just moved to Minnesota a few days ago and have a massive interview this morning. Am I going to get the job? No need to actually answer the second. question. Oh, we're going to answer the second question for sure. All right. Let's start with

question one. What specifically is Erod doing differently now that sparked this turnaround? I feel like Erod's fastball is much better. I feel like his command of that fastball is to the point where much like Ryan Nelson, he can rely on it. He can basically use that to set the tone. And then his breaking stuff, especially when his change up is working, seems to be working well. I know we're going to address this because we have like three questions, I believe, that are similar. And about what exactly caused this turnaround. What caused the Diamondbacks to have this success, what caused the pitching staff to turn things around?

With Erod specifically, I feel like, and this might be a broader answer as well, and this might be attributed to Brian Kaplan, I just feel like he's not pitching for strikeouts as often. And I feel like that is the case across the board with every member of this pitching staff right now. But Erod specifically has been having some success with going out there and not really,

putting himself in a whole lot of trouble, also being able to get double plays behind him to get out. I mean, he's just been having a tremendous amount of success when it comes to, again, having outings where he's given up more hits than you'd like to see, but putting up zeros on the board or one on the board, like he had the five run outing against the Giants, where I believe a lot of that was a lack of his fastball command and being able to get ahead in the count early on. So, yeah, I mean, it's it's mostly about establishing you know his fastball and then pitching throwing a breaking ball that is getting you know a lot of ground balls a lot of lot out so again it just feels like um that that again might be something that's across the board but erod specifically his strikeout numbers haven't been

blowing you away but everything else has about how many quality starts he's had the performance and mostly putting up uh zero one runs allowing this team to have a chance to win. The second answer to the question is, is that I want you to remember, and this might just be a little catchphrase we say at the end of the show, but I mean this. You're a commodity, and I want you all to remember that when you go out there, when you have yourself a job interview, when people are evaluating you, remember, you should be evaluating them as well for the opportunity. I think that one mistake I've made in life at times is, you know, taking an opportunity regardless of what I thought that it was going to, you know,

actually be for a future for me, right? And so after I had a number of years working in the corporate world and getting promotions and working my way up, I just found that regardless of how high I was going to, you know, work up in a company, a big, big bank like I was working in, that I, you know, really just wanted to find something that suited my particular talents. And those particular talents are being a gas bag and being able to sit here on a microphone and talk for an hour straight. Also, I was sick of making collection calls when I was doing that at one point in my career and having people tell me that I had a voice for radio.

I was like, great, can we talk about setting you up for a payment plan? Right. So, again, make sure the opportunity suits you and make sure it's the right opportunity for you as well. but I wish you the best of luck, and I think Damon and I both know, our leadoff hitter is consistent. So what more do you want an employee than consistency, right? Travis Moore, you're hired as far as I'm concerned. And if I know anything about Travis Moore,

I know that if you have like a meeting, a presentation, anything, and you need a guy to just start it off with a bang, that's your man. Yeah. Katie Mae brings up a great point going, taking a step backwards to that first question for Erod. Is it because Gabby is back? I can't remember if he has improved when he came back.

He has improved. I think also, again, there's a James McCann unspoken impact that's hard to say, even if he's not catching. I do know that James McCann has been working together with Gabby on things. And there's just not, there's no price you can put on the experience that someone like McCann has had in his career. And what that experience can do for specifically a young, talented team like the Diamondbacks. I know it is something I've probably talked about entirely too much, but McCann, just looking at Zach Gallen and reminding him of who he was, seemed to be something that was very important in Zach Gallen's resurgence here. Not to mention the fact that McCann has been catching him. So I do think that there is a catching impact on all of these guys as well.

And I know I've heard different things about calling games versus letting pitchers call games, but I really feel like the entire pitching staff has shared some sort of opinion about liking the catchers calling these baseball games. And I know that that was something that I heard Gabby wasn't doing early on. He was letting the pitchers call the game. So perhaps that change is something that has impacted, you know, the pitching staff overall for the positive. So, but hey, you know, Scott Mack is right. You need savvy vets. Even if they're not doing well, you just have to have savvy vets available that share that experience with the young guys and also tell them when to calm the hell down when they're panicking. So I, I, I,

I feel like overall this has been McCann, sexy man McCann, has had a huge impact on this team. All right, well else we got, Damon. Next question we got here comes from Michael Rokekeke, who asks, what do you think changed from before the deadline and after? Was it the vibes, people's numbers regressing to the mean? It's just wild that a team that was eight under on August 1st is a game out last week this season. Yeah, no, you're right.

I think there was, I think we have another question, Damon, that's similar to this. Is it next? It could be, but I think overall, let me just, I'll all address it. I mean, there's a lot of things that have changed. And I gave my stupid fantasy football metaphor before, but I think the Diamondbacks have not been shy about giving someone a chance and putting them into big circumstances, regardless of how much success they've had, like we saw to Jake Woodford, having them not perform, and then moving on and calling up a different arm and giving someone else a chance.

They've done that so many times this season. they've set a franchise record for the number of players to get a save in a season. And I think they're closing in on a franchise record for the number of relief pitchers that they've used in a season, which has all been recently, believe it or not. It's all been over the last few years that they've set these records. But I do think that opportunity has been a big reason why this team, you know, has succeeded the way they have. No offense to, you know, for instance, Gino Suarez over there at third base.

I think Gino played great defense. But I think that Blaze has made a lot of plays that Gino wouldn't have made. And with the razor thin margins, the Diamondbacks have been experiencing with some of these wins, I feel like some of those athletic defensive plays that we've seen from Blaze Alexander,

both at third base and in the outfield, again, another play that he made that I doubt that Lordus Gurriel would have made, robbing that home run, the throw that he made in center field, like just some of these plays we've seen from guys. Nebiel Krizmat, coming up and pitching the way that he has, Like, not that he pitched better than Merrill Kelly because it's hard to replace a guy like Merrill Kelly,

but he came up and gave you an equivalent chance to win that Merrill Kelly was giving you at times in games. And so, like, the opportunity that some of these guys have received has really felt like it's a big part of the turnaround. But it would be, I would be wrong if I didn't say the thing that the players have credited the most has been Mike Hazen's speech that he gave them. This dates back to, I think, right after the trade deadline, but the Diamondbacks basically came into the room, and I think this was on, I want to say, in an away game, but it's back on like August 4th, and just apologize to the team and talk to the team about, you know,

like trading the guys away and everything that happened at the trade deadline and just talking to them about performing. And it feels like Blaze, you know, know, discussed that in our interview with him on Friday. And I've heard it time and time again from players about how that moment kind of motivated them and changed their point of view. And he specifically talked about the opportunity that those guys were being given, that these, you know, don't, don't come in next spring and be asking for opportunities or expecting opportunities. Those opportunities are being given out now. And if you don't perform, those opportunities are being given to someone else.

They have been doing that. And they, again, they haven't been shy. They've been like, a fantasy football owner with a crappy team that is just trying to do their best to waver wire their way through the season and not end up at the goddamn waffle house. And somehow this team has found a way to be even better than that. They found their way to be competitive throughout this month. And they have found their way to be one game out of the wild card race here with the final week of the season. So I really do think, though, that someone coming in and giving them the motivational speech.

And again, I know there's a lot of Tory haters in this chat. so I'm sure a lot of people would say, why didn't that come from Tori? And I feel like Tori does this on a daily basis to the point where it probably is easy to tune him out or just get used to hearing him say the same stuff. You know Tori, you know he's cliches. You know his troyisms, right? He's going to be talking about guys getting nicked up and flushing losses and all of that stuff. But when it comes from someone like Mike Hazen, I think it holds a different weight and I think it holds a different gravity for these guys. So it wasn't as much of a coming in. and knocking over the water cooler and telling them they all suck kind of motivational speech, as much as it was taking accountability for the direction this franchise is gone, and the fact that they had no choice but to trade those players that were key to this team's success away at the deadline. Also motivating the, you know, young guys by telling them what this opportunity means and that today is their day to go out there and, you know, and shine. And it feels like a lot of guys took that really well and it motivated them.

I think, you know, as far as like the Tori versus Mike thing, you're right about like that's Tori's day-to-day job, but also Tori wasn't the one that traded away the whole roster. So I think Mike has to face the music a little bit and get in front of the guys and say, hey, fellas, I know I turned, I just said that our season is over, but I don't actually believe that. And here's why. You know what I mean? Because on the surface, it looks like Mike Hazen gave up on the team. So I think he almost has to come out and explain to them why it's not like that.

and why they need to continue to play hard. That's well said. Well said. I think that they had the weight of the world on their shoulders that last week before the trade deadline because they literally felt like they were playing for their teammates to stay. And it's hard to overcome those losses and move on to the next day and have success when you're like, crap, we did it again.

We can't keep doing this. Oh, man. If we keep doing this, they're going to trade away gallon. They're going to trade away Merrill. They're going to trade away all of our guys. They're going to trade away Gino. And yeah, it was obviously. something that, you know, was too much on them. And I think Mike Hazen alleviated a lot of that

pressure by coming in and taking the responsibility. Did we answer all of Mike's question? I know it was I believe so. Yeah. I mean, here. I mean, this is the third one here. So we'll just move on. Gabby Gabby Durth says with the improvement in the pitching lately, wonder if there have been some adjustments that Capone has made. He was rightfully criticized earlier in the year deserve some credit now. I actually was thinking about this the other day. And I actually agree. I agree to and I think that there is, I guess, something to be accounted for that people were literally blaming Brian Kaplan for injuries. They were blaming the training staff for injuries. People can be unreasonable at times when things are happening and you don't have, it doesn't make any sense, especially considering the mountain of injuries that the Diamondbacks experienced this year and how significant they were. Right. It was, it wasn't just, injuries, it was all of our best players. And then it started to dig into our minor league system where that next line of defense, the Tommy Henry's, the Blake Walstons of the world,

also started to get injured. So it just felt devastating and it felt like it was something that was unfair. And it also felt like there were too many happening for it to just be chance. Right. You bring in a new pitching coach who specifically specializes in biomechanical, and player health, and this team was doing the opposite of that. They were going in the opposite direction, right? So I don't know. I do think at times Brian Kaplan was to blame for maybe things out of his control. Perhaps it's the changeover from some philosophies that were being taught and still held by guys

from last year from Brent Strom to now with Brian Kaplan. I mean, sometimes new coaching being implemented takes time for. for it to, you know, for it to resonate with you. Also, maybe he adapted throughout the year. Like I said, one thing that I've truly seen with this pitching staff has been less of an emphasis on on strikeouts. The swing and miss, the whiffs are still important, but just not the strikeouts.

And as much as just going out there and getting outs through, you know, fly balls and ground balls and making contact. And I feel like there is something about simplifying the game that might have helped here with. the pitching staff. But I honestly, I'm just speaking from observation, not nearly a place of knowledge like the way our guy, Jack Summers and Jesse over at Snake's territory, know this stuff, right? But I do think that there are certain things that this team has been doing. I think that they have been paying attention to scouting reports and pitching against, you know, the best pitchers and

base or the best hitters in baseball well. I have actually been kind of shocked at the fact that they've been attacking those pitchers lately, which also or those hitters, which seems to be a part of their success as well, not shining, shying away from it. Shout out to our guy, Steve Krause, who just joined our supporters club. Thank you so much, Steve. Woo! Appreciate it.

Let's go, Steve. Steve, let us know what type of emoji you potentially would love to see here in the pH and exports YouTube side of things. We all know. It's this guy. Right? Is this guy in there yet? We need Jesse Jr. in there. But yeah, I think that there obviously have been things that have adapted throughout the season. It's just, I feel like the lack of strikeouts has been something consistently across the board we've seen. And I think it's just maybe a lack of focusing on that as much as just getting dudes out, right? So also aggressively attacking the strike zone seems to have picked up. I mean, I was very frustrated this season at times watching these Diamondbacks hit pitchers. get ahead in the count, 02, and then just ball, ball, ball, ball, until, you know, next thing you know, it's a three, two count, and they were walking guys.

It was frustrating to not see them, continue to attack the zone and attack hitters. And I think that has changed a bit as we've seen the success with these pitchers. What else we got, Damon? Our next question here, and this will round out our break here, Derek, was from Oscar. asks, what do you all think was the turning point or that click moment that has the debacks back in contention and pushing for a possible wild card spot? Again, I do think it's that Mike Hazen speech. I think that really was that come together, come to, come to Jesus moment for this team.

I also think that beating certain teams started to give this team confidence and seeing guys like Blaze Alexander come in and give them the injection of life that he did. And even Jordan Lawler, like, I know Lawler struggled this year offensively, and he still has not been great, right? Like, he's had some really great moments. He had the walk-off hit. But Lawler still has a lot of progression to do as a hitter at a major league level. I think, though, that this team started to root for things that weren't the same thing that

they were rooting for, you know, in the past. I just, I feel like the mood changed. I feel like they were just really starting to get excited for each other's success and playing together as a team. And I think that's a big part of it. The fun has been there. And I know that they made it a shirt. I know they had everybody like they were at camp. Everybody wrote fun down and then they put it all on a shirt for everybody to take home. But I do feel like this team has been having a tremendous amount of fun. also credit where credit is due the changeover at third base really seemed to be a big moment for this team as well Sean Larkin has not been great over there but Sean Larkin is still a coach that is really well liked within the system and honestly accepted the role change well I've seen Sean Larkin out there every day working with the guys

defensively I mean almost more so than he ever was before he's been working with the guys in a very Tony Parrishcheca way, and it's been great to see. And that's allowed Bogar to focus. He also comes in and coaches as well. So, I mean, the Diamondbacks just have a bevy of knowledge and experience now, helping them, you know, get ready before games, get locked in, take those grounders. And just overall, I think the defense has improved, the base running has improved. And a lot of that is because of the change over there, Sean Larkin, just being, you know,

the infield coach. and Bogar are taken over at third base. Also, Candace says the celebration vest came back to. Here's the thing about the celebration vest. It's never gone away. It's always been in the clubhouse

sitting on the back of a chair in almost the same spot all the time. But I just have this sneaking suspicion that they have still used it for their own internal celebrations this entire time. They just don't bring it out on the field and want to brag and show up other teams. And that seems like a very Tori LaVolo thing.

Tori Lovallo doesn't even like to talk bad about the opposing team's defense after they win because he doesn't want to show up his opposing manager or the team, you know, sitting in that clubhouse across the hall. So I do think that the idea of not wanting to be, you know, braggadocious out there, the reason why they abandoned this beautiful snake as their home run celebration and the reason why they tucked the best away only to be seen. seen privately when they're spraying each other down with, you know, shaving cream and whatever else they can find is, is probably that desire to not be that, right? To not be that team that shows up their opposition.

Keep those celebrations private and enjoy them for sure. But I'm, I agree. I'm glad it's back. I think that there is some level of swag that every baseball team needs. I don't necessarily agree with the not celebrating, especially when like the home run celebration thing has become such a big thing in baseball. Look at what the Mariners are doing. They can't be beat.

And they have a golden trident that they bring out. They basically do like a Savannah Banana-style celebration dance. It's crazy. And I love it. And I'm here for it. It makes baseball better. And I think all teams should have something like that. So I think they should all jump in like a giant, you know,

like the celebratory dragon costumes they have in Japan. Like I would love to see them jump in one of those. and just scurry their way across the dugout really quickly. All right. Is that all we got for now, Damon? We got one more or is that it for now? That's different right now. I got to tell people about Big Brothers, Big Sisters,

and I'm not getting all this stuff over here. Get out of here, Lord. Get out of here, Gordon. I got to talk, LG3. Big Brothers, Big Sisters, of course, is a wonderful organization. We are very proud to be working together with them and supporting this great cause.

You can help young kids in the Valley and throughout the state get mentorship they need, simply by hitting that donate button right there you see on your screen. We always appreciate your super chats for this month of September. We ask for you to help us by donating to Big Brothers Big Sisters. Anything helps as we push for our All-City goal of $50,000 this month. Again, help us support the great work at Big Brothers, Big Sisters by hitting that donate button. They do some great work in our community.

You can also find out how to be a big over there at BBBS.org. Basically check that out as well. Candice says poor LG3 I feel bad I feel terrible he's already gone through a lot this year and I can't knock him down but Damon I know we have some more

mailbag Monday questions so let's get to those what do we got in the mailbag Our next question comes from Grant Demand 11 Grant Demand asks if they make an offer to Zach Gallin does that also mean they make an offer to sexy arms Jimmy McCann and then says

the veteran catcher seems critical to the current team of rookies and turning Zach's season around. I absolutely would. I mean, Derek will be doing protests down at Chase Field if James McCann doesn't get reassigned to this team. You have no idea how upset I will be. I will definitely be upset. Honestly, it's funny because to hear Tori Lavello credit Corbyn Burns

for the reason why this team picked up James McCann is kind of crazy, right? It goes to show how hard it is to be a general manager with his performance and the way he's contributed. I'm sure there's a lot of people that were confused why this guy was even available, right? And that can happen across baseball quite a bit. Sometimes a change of scenery or perhaps what you offer to a team is more valuable than it was to your previous team or maybe to another team. But Corbyn-Burn's endorsement of James McCann is a big reason why this team brought him on. also, again, that fantasy football waiver-wire mentality of being like, well, we got to find somebody, so we'll pick this guy up.

And if he puts up points for us, then he just earned himself a roster spot. Well, James McCann did more than put up points for this team, which he absolutely did. But they call him runs in baseball. I'm not sure if you knew that. What he did was enhance this pitching staff. And he did that starting with Zach Gallen and just going all the way up and down the roster. It feels like a lot of guys have talked about McCann's impact. And I feel like Tori Luello has credited McCann to be a big, you know,

just presence in the dugout. He's talked about him just being very vocal and what some of the baseball conversations are like in the dugout and that they are better than they've been all year long. Plus, like I said, at the same time as him being credited with being this veteran that's causing

these amazing conversations to take place in the dugout, he's also throwing sunflower seeds at Blaze Alexander and putting them in his hair when he's not looking. And that all, that all is what baseball is all about. I love everything about James, James's, Jimmy, what do I, Jimmy, sexy man, Jimmy McCann. What am I doing here? I love everything about

his vibe. And again, he's, he has been a God, God sent as Scott Mack says. Some of these guys have absolutely been that. And I think that that is the reason why, once again, if you want to ask for another turning point, it was just some of the players they added working out and being far better than we could have ever expected them to be. What else we got? Damon. Next question here is from Flea Ball and Flea Ball asks, are D-Backs over-thinking and over-obsessed with lefty-righty matchups pitching and batting. It feels like pinch hitting never works for us. I take someone that's been playing all day versus one that's been on the bench,

even if it's not the lefty-righty-ide-ideal matchup. I hate this sometimes in baseball because as much as I completely agree with the thought process of righty-lefty, like what it means. Basically, you know, how that ball, the breaking stuff specifically tails away from you versus towards you. And how important that actually is, how much harder that makes it to hit a baseball. It doesn't mean every pitcher does that,

nor does it mean that that is every batter's weakness. I think that there is something to be said about a guy being hot and being in a game and being ready to deliver in a big moment, especially someone with the experience like McCann has in one of those instances where they pinch it for him, than bringing in a guy cold off the bench. I think some of the reasons why the diamondbacks have

that lack of success from pinch hiters is it's very hard to pinch hit. It's especially hard to pinch it when you haven't been going to the back and hitting off of a machine, which is what I believe in Pavin Smith credited when he was deaching for being how he was able to stay warm without going out on the field

as he would just go kind of take batting practice back in the cages instead of just sitting on the bench waiting for his term to hit. So I don't know. Maybe there is a philosophy change there. But what I do know is that we are going to send it into overtime right now. So if you are watching over on your favorite app on Roku, wherever you're watching, any television app that you're watching us on, come on over to go phnx.com. We're going to keep the conversation going with our best questions. And they call it overtime. I call it extra innings. Whatever. We'll never see eye to eye on that. But what we do see eye to eye on is Mailbag Monday and the best questions being at the end, of course. at least the most significant questions. And Damon, I think we're ready to dig into those. What do we got? Yeah, our next question here comes from Gabriel Bold as Bronze,

who asks, I'm halfway through my Gilmer girls rewatch. What hour-long shows should I watch in case of no playoffs? I don't like this question. You don't like this question? Gabriel is very negative. I've noticed that. I want to apologize to everybody on Gabriel's behalf. and I do want to say that I understand the feeling on this.

I don't like this question either. I don't want to think about it. But since he asked, I do have to give some really good shows that you could watch right now. I don't know what you have and haven't been watching. So forgive me for this, but I feel like looking at some things. Now, forgive me.

I'm not endorsed by HBO, although at one time on Twitter they did follow me. They don't do that any longer. But I do enjoy. Still followed by Netflix. I am still followed by Netflix. And also the last week tonight. Last week tonight.

Great show. Make sure to check that out. That's a show you can watch if you haven't seen that. Also, right now I'm in love with Peacemaker. Peacemaker is great. John Cena does an excellent job. Jane Scud, who's also a huge Big Brother fan, does an amazing, is doing some amazing work with the DC Universe. I also really enjoyed Severance.

I can't endorse that show enough. It was weird. It was kooky. And I loved it. I think you will too. Stranger Things, that's wrapping up here soon. So if you've never seen Stranger Things, the boys,

and any Star Wars show except the Acolyte. Mandalorian, Andor, and or might be the most important show ever. Ever? In the history of shows, for sure. It might be the most important show anybody watches right now in this particular climate. That's all I will say.

Also, what we do in the shadows and only murders over there on Hulu, great shows. I love both of them. Righteous gemstones. That was also great. If you want to dig into the vault, once again, go to the old HBO shows from like 15 years ago. There are 86 episodes of The Sopranos. That will tide you over at least until the winter meetings. Six feet under, underrated show.

Love that show. It also will bring you great perspective in your own life that not only could, you know, something happened to us at any point, but how people will reflect upon you. Also, Carnival, Oz. Carnival, that's a short show. Love that one. Oz, The Wire, all that stuff. Just go look through old HBO shows.

If you see something that just intrigued you, chances are it'll be good. Eastbound and Down and Flight of the Concord's also very good shows. Those are very funny shows. And I love the boys over at Flight of the Concords, by the way. Anything that was funny on HBO was probably pretty good. Let's see. Candace says, I've never seen Stranger Things. That's crazy.

That's crazy. But sometimes that's fun, especially a show that now has. as many seasons put together as Stranger Things does and how long it took to get to this point, you can wait until it wraps up here this fall and then watch all of it. I love Broad City, by the way. Broad City was a great show. But yeah, as far as hour long shows go, there's plenty of stuff out there. Here's the show I'm going to tell you never to watch. Lost. Never watch Lost. I want to speak to ABC's manager and have my time back for the amount of time I put into watching. that show for it to end the way it did. So let me just tell you, never watch Lost. If you ever

consider it, just remember what I said. Maybe watch seasons one and two and then just leave it at that and never watch another season ever again. All right. Let's wrap this up, Damon. What else we got? Our last question, of course, we all know who it comes from, Zabe, who asked, if you could channel your inner Tyra Banks on America's Next Top Models, what would you do to Brandon Marsh's and Matt Strom's hair? I can't believe both of these disgusting individuals play for the same team. I can. First of all, yeah, I guess you can.

They fit so well into their team's culture. They really do. Yeah. Also, I hate everything I've learned about Brandon Marsh's beard. Brandon Marsh's beard might be the, like, the most disgusting thing to ever exist in humanity. I hate everything I've ever learned about Brandon Marsh, Derek. I'll take it a step further. That's fine. That's fine.

Yeah, I know too much about Brandon Martian's personal life, that's for sure. But I also know that his beard is disgusting and that from what I've been told, he only washes it once per month. So, like, what I imagine is that first we're going to need to get in there with some sort of circular saw to get it cut off of his face, right? And I have a feeling like he's not going to be a good looking man. potentially under there without the beard. He's going to be one of those like needs a beard kind of guys. So we can't get rid of the beard altogether. But for sure, like an intervention needs to happen here.

He needs to be told about the beard and about the wet hair. And like I can only imagine what kind of mold and mildew. There could be passably involved in this entire situation. Like it might be toxic. There might be, his beard might be the reason for the pandemic. That's all I'm saying. but not to be like dramatic right now to be dramatic not to make broad accusations based on nothing we wouldn't do that on this show would we but i will say would we no no what us oh my finger must

have slipped there anyway uh no but i i will say like again it would it would be great to see them get normal like adult facial hair and and and haircuts and see what they look like like That to me is a very satisfying genre of video online. And I put it right next to like pill pop or pimple popping, you know? Like it's that level of like, ew, it's so gross, quick. Do something about it to fix it. And then the person comes out with a good haircut and normal looking adult beard. And you're like, hey, you're not a mountain man anymore.

And your beard is no longer causing, you know, radiation to come off of it. Anyway, yeah, this is a great time to trash Brandon Marsh, at least after this series. I hope not to see Brandon Marsh or his wet hair any longer here for the rest of not only this season, but the both season, quite frankly. And yeah, Ganda says he's definitely not good looking with it. I don't know how men get trapped in that hole. I have a big beard and this is my personality thing. Don't get me wrong. I do not grow a great beard.

I grow a fine short beard. If I try to let this thing grow out of control, I look like Will Forte and The Last Man on Earth, which is basically like very similar to a person that does not have a home. And I can't grow a big beard. I respect people they can. I respect guys like Archie Bradley and such. I don't really think that you need to grow your beard to a point

where it becomes like an illogical problem for you, nor do I think that anybody thinks you look good with it. when it's that beard, big. So that's it. But let's see. Chris asked Derek, have you ever watched the figurine makeover videos?

Addictive. No, but I don't need any more addictive internet videos to watch. I have plenty of cat videos to watch and plenty of French bulldog videos to watch. So thank you very much. I appreciate the recommendation.

I also appreciate you guys being here. We thank you guys so much for your time. We have another post-game show to do tomorrow and an entire week of post-game shows. And I'll even take you, one step further. Should the Arizona Diamondbacks make it into the postseason? We will

or not in the postseason, but should those games matter this weekend is what I should be saying. We will be bringing you postgame shows as often as we absolutely need to, including perhaps next Friday or next Saturday and Sunday, depending on the weight of those games. So, I've got a lot of

post game shows to do, cannot wait to watch this team, play out these last six games and possibly win their way into the postseason. It's going to be lot of fun to watch. Hope you guys are here with us. Until then, you can follow us on Twitter. I'm a cap underscore K-man with a K. Damon is at Damon Dog with a DAW-G at the end. And of course, we are all damans dogs. Our show is at PH&X underscore D-Backs, but as always, all roads lead to at pH and X underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Damon, if I'm not mistaken, I think we got another new member, our guy, Shortbust. Yeah, he's an ASU guy, so I don't think he's in here, but still shout out short bus. We're going to count it as one of our D-Backs. Yeah, if it happens during our hour, we take it. Correct. And again, that's just one step closer to Jesse Jr. being a little emoji there. So again, love you guys. Thank you so much for your time.

We will see you tomorrow. Until then, have a wonderful evening. Enjoy the day off. Get yourselves rested up to cheer hard for this team for the next six days because that's what it's going to take to get into the playoffs. Until then, behave yourselves and remember kids. Baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when you are playing meaningful. games, the final week of the season.