PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Diamondbacks' SEASON on the BRINK After Marlins Meltdown, MUST-WIN Showdown with Giants Looms

Episode Date: June 30, 2025

📬 Arizona sports in your inbox! https://gophnx.com/newsletterThings could not have gone worse for the Diamondbacks in their series with the Marlins. The D-backs got swept in three games where they had a late lead and find themselves in a must-win situation against the San Francisco Giants. We have more on the bullpen being atrocious, Ketel Marte getting back on track, and Slade Caldwell and LuJames Groover being named to the NL All Star Futures Game. We also have answers to your Mailbag Monday questions.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-thermostatsChicken N’ Pickle: Family friendly fun awaits! Visit chickennpickle.com to plan your visit today!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!Vme: Download the Vme app and play today using code PHNX! Available on the App Store and Google Play. Vme – Anyone. Anything. Anytime. https://getvme.com/?vmereferral=PHNXGametime: 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. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Dbacks get fried by the fish. After this weekend's sweep, we are asking if the Diamondbacks are indeed cooked. All signs point to yes. Don't you go anywhere? You're watching the PHNX Diamondback show and we are starting in 30 seconds. I'm actually glad you used that music. It's very appropriate. The Arizona Diamondbacks might be on the brink of their season being over after getting

swept by the Marlins this weekend. Welcome in to the PHNX Diamondback show. I wish I had a peppier opening for you. I wish I was more joyous. I wish I was able to be just a little bit more cautiously optimistic, but those days may be gone. Those days may be in the past for sure. My name is Derek Montia,

occasionally known as your mayor of PH&X. We got our guy Damon Dog on the Ones Today. He is the dog in all of us, but even him and his good luck couldn't overcome what happened to the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend in their three-game sweep at the hands of the Marlins. I don't even want to say it the other way. but the marlins swept the diamondbacks and i don't think i don't know if things could have gone

worse these three games damon were some of the most heartbreaking extra heartbreaking like the diamond backs found new ways to make each one of these games heartbreaking against the miami marlins and they managed a way to lose all three games uh in this one there's there's a lot you could say uh to blame it on i think this was a weekend filled with poor defense behind the starting pitching. I don't think pitching was at its finest, but to be honest, I can't really hang this one on the starters. Arizona Diamondback starting pitching gave up six earned runs total in this three

game series, three in game one, two in game two, and then one in the finale there in five and the third innings by Eduardo Rodriguez. The Diamondback starting pitching ERA this weekend was 3.52. This one falls squarely on the shoulders of what the bullpen did after the starters exited the game. And again, it also falls on the shoulders of some really, really sloppy defense. The Arizona Diamondbacks have just not been playing the quality defense that we're used to. In some cases, once again, as you could see peppered throughout this weekend, it wasn't necessarily errors, even though there were a lot of errors.

it was just those plays that we are kind of used to them seeing and small mistakes leading to Marlins players that most of you have never heard of taking extra bases and advancing Marlins played the exact kind of baseball we're used to seeing the Diamondbacks play this weekend, quite frankly. And it's not like they beat the Diamondbacks handedly. They actually just found a way to eke out a win and steal one late from the Diamondbacks in all three of these games.

D-backs, I believe, if I'm not mistaken, held a lead late in every single one of these games. And yet the Marlins were able to go out there and, you know, obviously take this one away. We have the numbers for the series, which I guess we can look at, Damon. I don't really want to. Probably nobody wants to. But here are the numbers from the three games series presented by our friends at Desert Financial Credit Union. diamondbacks here get outscored 23 to 19 although it seems like it was way worse considering they got swept in this three game series diamondbacks actually had more home runs in the series than than the marlins five home runs for the debacks to four for the marlins

uh with runners in scoring position diamondbacks hit 280 they were seven for 25 the marlins hit two 60 23 they were 10 for 38 really right here is what it comes down to debacks were able to do damage against their starting pitching Diamondback starting pitching ERA the series 3.52 to the Marlins 7.05. And then the relievers, Marlins pretty much just gave up runs in that second game or the first game, excuse me, three runs allowed in that first game by the Marlins bullpen and four and two thirds innings pitched. They have a 3.55 ERA for the bullpen. Diamondbacks atrocious bullpen, ERA, 9.23. Five earned runs there allowed by Jalen Beeks in the loss.

on Sunday and just not a lot of good. Not a lot of good. We've talked about the importance of the stretch. We talked about how much the Diamondbacks needed to come out on this nine game, 10 game stretch, right? I guess if you wanted to throw, like we did throw that tail end of the Toronto series on there after the Diamondbacks had lost two of those games. But over this 10 game stretch, the Diamondbacks go five and five.

they are now once again Diamondbacks are just as mid of a team as you can imagine and that's really where they stand it's where they've stood all season they're currently one game below 500 people are asking if you're ever going to see the cactus light turned on again I might take the batteries out of it and go put it back in the Xbox controllers no promises no it's this is not a threat I'm just saying that's how unlikely it might be that we ever see that cactus light get turned on again

The Diamondbacks have a huge series this week against the San Francisco Giants, a four-game stretch. And, yeah, I mean, I don't know if I can withstand the positivity anymore. It's baseball, right? I don't know if I can keep doing the thing. I don't know. I'm not ready, as Stephen Bananas asked me in our Discord chat to declare a time of death. I'm not ready to do that. However, I think this is it.

There's no more. Let's wait and see. Let's see how they do after this stretch. This is a four game series with the Giants that not only is a must win where they have to take three out of four. It's almost a situation where they have to take four out of four. And even then, I still don't know if it's enough. But there's a lot of questions in our mailbag Monday today about Diamondbacks being buyers or sellers who they would trade for, who they would part ways with. A lot of questions out there still to be answered.

And we'll do our best to give you guys at least our thoughts on that. However, I do want to give my thought on the lone bright spot for the Diamondbacks bullpen right now, and that is Kyle Backus. Kyle Backus, as I tweeted out, is a certified G and a bona fide stud, and you can't teach that. He in eight games has a 1.23 ERA with a 0.818 whip. He has one ERA, one earn run allowed in seven and a third innings pitched, and quite frankly, has been the only time, the only bullpen arm right now. now that deserves any sort of praise. The inconsistency we've seen from other guys is just ridiculous. And the Diamondbacks keep having to basically make roster moves in order to try to bring,

you know, enough arms up for this team to, you know, be able to play these games and have competent pitching. And the Diamondbacks once again made, made some other roster moves. And, you know, they're trying to do everything they can. to get some bullpen arms in here but you know as as many of you have joked on social media it really does feel like at times mike he's and is just doing his best to grab a five dollar DVD out of the walmart discount bin at this point uh let's take a look at the updated and hell west uh standings here a also know real quick i wanted i wanted to i wanted to know what do you think

the funniest person that you've said is a bon a bonafide g or a a g and a bonafide stud sorry i screwed Oh, that's a good question. Probably Emmanuel Rivera. Yeah. Or like, did we ever do a Scott McGuff? Well, we did sexy time with Scott McGuff. It was time to turn out the lights because Scott McGuff was coming in to shut out, shut the game down. So that's very hilarious looking back on that.

I think that there's a lot of guys now. Think about how much we jumped around for Paul Sewell. How many calories did we burn for Paul Seawall, Damon? Way too many. Many. Way too many. Way too many. But again, if we have the standings here, I don't want to look at it, but here it is. Diamondbacks sit 11 games back in the division. That's a wrap. Diamondbacks sit five games back in the wild card. That is close to being a wrap. Diamondbacks are 41 and 42 one game under 500. The giants have not been doing especially well. They are 45 and 39. They've slipped a third in the division. They're a game and a half out of the wild card. No, no nationally. I mean, is it even the N-Hell West anymore? We don't even have two teams in the playoffs right now. Padres, they are at 45 and 38.

They are seven back in the division. Giants are seven and a half back in the division. Padres are one game back in the wild card. Giants there sit one and a half. And yeah, that's definitely why this series against the Giants is so huge. And again, it might be too little too late, even if they do perform well. I just don't know how they get there, right? Their offense is still cooking.

Team OPS, I believe, is third in baseball, right up there with the best teams in all baseball. Third behind the Dodgers and the New York Yankees. But is this it? Are they cooked? I know I said all signs point to yes, and it definitely feels like that. Baseball is weird because you even look at what happened to the Tigers last season, who were sellers at the trade deadline, and they managed to not only make the playoffs, but to make a splash.

I feel like they're not really looking beyond what this team could do in the playoffs. I've kind of been looking at that. I do think that there's another layer to this that you have to think when you're talking about investing in a team and making trades in order to bolster this year's squad. Now, I do think that Mike Hazen could make some trades at the deadline that just can benefit this team for the first half of next year. And I think maybe that could be the best route for this team to go. some of the names that have been being throwing out are young starting pitchers on some other teams, including the Yankees who are very interested in Gino Suarez, having some guys. And I know these are all mailbag Monday questions that we're going to get to here. But I don't know.

I mean, it gets to a point now where I really do feel like the Diamondbacks probably have to shift gears here if they have as bad of us showing against the Giants as they did here against the Marlins and really start taking some of those phone calls to. make some trades it's going to be a seller's market and of course you want to try to be one of the first ones out there making big deals and getting the most in return that you can get there's a lot of teams interested in a lot of diamondbacks players and unfortunately uh this series with the giants is basically in my eyes a playoff series for the diamondbacks i know that might be dramatic but uh yeah uh killer rex just wants me he which is funny because he talks about being some sort of sycophant but he just comes here to hear people want to either disagree or agree with his take on firing Tori. I'll actually agree that Tori did some terrible managing in this series against the Marlins. I also agree that there's only so much you can do with the pieces that are handed to you. And at times, you know, you feel like you're trying to build some sort of confidence in guys or at least let them show you that they can get the job done. There's also just mismanaging a baseball game and not having your. relievers be ready and not pulling the hook quickly on guys that are struggling. And I mean,

sometimes with baseball, a reliever that's one of your best relievers can struggle out there on any given day because baseball is baseball. You're throwing a ball into a box at a hundred miles an hour. And if you if you're off just a little bit, you might not be effective. Right. So we saw that in several of these games where late we didn't even have another bullpen arm getting warmed up in the pen and honestly it's it's inexcusable at times because these games means so much to this season i guess you know in in the long run there's there's managing that we don't necessarily see right there's managing that obviously doesn't uh there's managing you know a bullpen because you have 17 games in a row coming up into the all-star break without a day off and you have to make sure that you have

enough arms in all of these games for the bullpen to try to win you win you games but uh jalen beaks awful uh leaving jalen beaks in for as long as he was in there for maybe even worse than jalen beaks's performance so big thumb down thumbs down for tory in this series i just you know i just don't understand to be honest what killer x wants and people you know the tory haters like obviously tory suck this weekend at the same time does mike hazen not deserve of criticism for this bullpen that he's constructed. How many years has Mike Hazen been the GM here? How many times have we had a competent bullpen?

Well, and I mean, does that not warrant any sort of criticism? And is it an excuse to also bring up the fact that there are best, the best arms in the bullpen are currently missing due to injury? I mean, it wasn't a good bullpen before those guys went down to injury. That's true. I mean, yeah, AJ Puck and Justin Martinez were much better, but I don't know, you know, again, I don't know in regards to that how it's it's a combo where do you put blame you place blame on on everybody because people want to put blame on the medical staff is it the medical staff's actual fault I mean is none of us are intelligent enough to know right I mean like that's what I'm saying like is this just an anomaly that people get injured like it's just weird when you want to start placing blame on injuries and then from there placing blame on the GM for not going out and finding more pieces magically out of nowhere. to fill the bullpen and you want to blame the manager obviously for the way that he uses the only

pieces that he has in the bullpen right uh and yeah this there there those might be excuses but there's no excuse for for instance the way the game got let the way they let the game slip away right a reliever just has to come in for three batters and i feel like by the third batter if you're not seeing something out of a out of a out of a pitcher if he just went out out there and, you know, walk three straight guys, gave up three straight hits, allowed three straight base runners, really didn't give you much to believe in. Then, you know, I kind of understand, you know, you pulling him right away, right? But I don't understand you're not doing something, getting another arm up, whatever.

I will say Jalen Beeks had two strikeouts there that made him look like untouchable for a brief moment. And then he couldn't find the strike zone again, right? And so that's the reason why baseball can be as frustrating as it is. He had a terrible game. I blame it definitely on beaks. But yeah, again, not having a manager get up another arm in the bullpen when your guy is struggling. When bases are getting loaded, all of that stuff, it's not good. But I think that there really wasn't a sense of urgency.

And that's another thing you could definitely criticize Tori for to win these games, quite frankly. You know, I know a lot of people felt like if they didn't sweep the Marlins, that that wouldn't be good enough, let alone getting swept by the Marlins, right? So I think that after losing the first two games in the manner that this team did, Sunday would have been a pull out all the stops to try to win and they didn't.

They didn't. And now we sit at this point where it's very understandable for any person to say the Diamondback season at this point is over that they're cooked that, you know, go ahead and start switching your thought process over to being sellers by the trade deadline. I'm not

sure if the team is there yet. but again if you go out there and you drop the ball here against the giants in this four game series coming up at home then I I can't even defend the idea of you thinking that the team is still in it any longer at this point but we are going to preview that series with the giants on the other side of this break so don't you guys go anywhere

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time. We need that around this office for sure. Game time, by the way, is the place for you to go see the Arizona Diamondbacks here at home against the San Francisco Giants this week. And it is a great way for you to save on last minute tickets. If you completely forgot this series was happening or if you now realize how important this series literally is, you can save up to 60% off by buying tickets last minute for Diamondbacks versus Giants for other sports, for concerts, theater shows, and so much more. Game Time picks makes buying last minute tickets even easier. They show you where the best seats in the house are for the best deal. They quickly highlight those deals and allow you to not have to search through thousands of available tickets.

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Download GameTime app today. Last minute tickets, lowest price guaranteed. Damon, what time is it? Game time. It's game time. You hear that? You hear how sad his game time was? The team has lost, Damon.

The team has lost, Damon. You can't get swept by the Marlins. Yeah, well, you're right. You're right. I mean, that's it. You're right. I mean, the Marlins are playing good baseball. we joke that once again we caught them at the hottest time of the year but now what they've won six straight i believe and they the marlins are actually going from a team that absolutely was not in the wildcard hunt to possibly one that might be and that's just by sweeping the diamond bag so uh this four game series with the giants couldn't be more important we're going to be out there on july third and uh of course make sure join us pool party tickets still available for that let's take a look at this giants team we will be

watching at a glance here with their record being 45 and 39 this season. They have a plus 32 run differential. They are 4 and 6 in their last 10. So there's that. I believe they also got swept by the Marlins, if I'm not mistaken, or at least they lost that series of the Marlins. They have a 684 OPS, which is 24th in Major League Baseball. Big reason why they added Raphael Devers.

They're starting pitching ERA is 3.72, which is 11th in Major League Baseball, but their bullpen is something for us to envy. Can you imagine how many wins we would have if our bullpen ERA was 2.91? I don't even want to think about it. I can't I can't even do the math on that. I can't believe Tori Lavolo would do something like that. No, not at all. No, no, not at all. 2.91 is good for the best bullpen ER ERA in all baseball. They do have minus six outs above average, which is tied for 21st. This Giants team obviously, uh, a, number of reasons. I don't even need to list the reasons why this series is so important. The Giants are slightly ahead of the dimebacks here for the wildcard chase. So even if even if

the Diamondbacks don't end up doing anything significant, don't you want to help bring the Giants down? Don't you want to take them out of out of the wild card race to if anything is going to happen? Like there's a good chance for that. Plus the Diamondbacks also have a series with the Padres coming up, which that's going to end up being equally important. or who knows by that point we might already have called a time of death and waved the white flag on this season for sure but i think the one thing to consider here is that you know the diamondbacks are getting some decent starting pitching and they did in this series i don't know what the remedy is for the bullpen and it would seem that the diamondbacks are continuing to search for that that would obviously be the focus of them if they were some sort of buyer at the trade deadline but i don't even know what assets the diamondbacks would send away nor do I know at this point what would even fix this team I do think that there's almost a weird

way that the Diamondbacks could potentially pull off that Tigers move and we'll talk about it here in a little bit but let's take a look at the pitchers that we have to rely on to save our season in this four game series against the Giants we have Ryan Nelson going in game one against Logan Webb

Ace versus Ace basically facts facts we got Zach Gallen going in game two against Hayden Birdsong. He is 3 and 2 this year with a 4.13 ERA, 56 strikeouts. 120 strikeouts this year, by the way, for Logan Webb. That is impressive. Hayden Birdson going up against Zach Gallen.

Zach Gallant's 5.75 ERA, still the highest among all qualified major league starting pitchers, along with Brandon fought there in his 5.38. That's also one of the highest in Major League Baseball. Merrill Kelly is going in game three here against Landon Rup. And then Brandon Fott takes on old friend Robbie Ray, who is 8 and 3 this season with a 2.75 Yara 110 strikeouts for Robbie Ray. All Robbie Ray needed to do was leave Arizona. And he's a elite pitcher, Derek, elite.

He really is. He really is. We'll be seeing it with Zach Gowan next season. you know probably brandon fought like three four years from now that's just who we are we'll never escape it do you want to go get on the on the chat here and you want to get in on it with killer x like the two of you could tag to you're a bit just be super sad you know i'm doomsday but for me it's like

killer x thinks that you know the organization's pitching problems that they've had for two decades are all tori lovolo's fault because you know why wouldn't it be Whereas I think it's an organization curse. It's deeper than the manager. Yeah. It transcends eras and ownerships and managerial. Doesn't matter. Eras.

Yeah. No, it's bad. It's bad. Speaking of bad, come join us for the pool party. We've loved tickets left. I don't know. Come out and help get rid of this curse. Maybe we can reverse things.

If that doesn't help. Yeah. Like, we are bringing. Damon directly to we couldn't get Damon's body any closer to the players than we could with this takeover we are doing our part so you have to help us come on out defend the pool enjoy us a great game a great time our this is the best event we do uh here on the diamondbacks beat is the official ph-nx diamondbacks takeover of chase field july 3rd 640 p.m it is not shane's birthday i mean it is Shane's birthday, but this particular party is not in honor of Shane or his birthday. So don't

forget that. See, Michael brought it up. Isn't it someone's birthday too? It's not, well, again, I'm not dismissing the fact that it's Shane's birthday. What I'm saying is, uh, I will kick you out personally if you bring a gift for Shane, if you bring him a card, if there's a single mylar balloon, uh, normal conventional balloons either. Uh, bouquet balloons, anything like that. It doesn't matter. I will not allow you into the pool party, even if you have a ticket. I'll make sure the usher kicks you out. But if you come, just as a Diamondbacks fan wanting to help turn this thing around, you will totally be allowed in.

We got all you can eat food, drinks, got yourself a towel to take home, all sorts of fun to be had. And of course, you get to hang out with a great group of people who we don't deserve as to be diehards and fans of this show. So again, come on out. It's going to be a great time. I think somebody said that they were going to be there in the chat. Yeah, our guy Russell Smith.

Smith, yes. See you there, Russell. Cannot wait. cannot wait um and yeah michael dixon says what about a party hat um hmm i mean it's if it's a party hat then i'm fine with it but if it's a birthday party hat then it won't be allowed big difference big difference yeah marlins had a party hat in their dugout i don't know if you saw that atrocious contraption that they were wearing in the dugout had a little marlin stuff marlin on the top of it you know it said to me that they that they have more confidence of the diamond bags uh and their

lack of pulling the vest out. And don't even get me started on what they did to poor JJ here. That's how we ended up adopting him. Derek, that might be the move. We might need to get a dugout prop. I mean, you got to change something up at this point in the season, no? Like, I don't,

I felt like the minute that they, like the minute that they installed a dugout prop, everything went badly for them. And then they immediately blamed it on the prop. Like, as if there was too much pressure. Like, oh God, we have this snake in the dugout, that you get if you get a home run and I just want it so bad that now I'm trying to hit three home runs and a single abat you know and like oh whose fault is that it's obviously the snake

and the dugouts fault right that's that's who needs to that's who needs to pay for this so uh that's that's how the diamondbacks choose to treat it uh I suggest busting that vest out we'll bring the snake to Chase field on on July 3rd you guys can attach it to the vest we'll let you we'll let you keep JJ uh anyway we do have some updates on diamond back young guys doing some fun things. Third baseman, Lou James Groover and outfielder Slade Caldwell were both named to the National League roster for the 2025 All-Star Futures game. It will be the first futures game for both Diamondbacks players.

That's very exciting. And of course, that's a fun part of All-Star weekend, which will be taking place in Atlanta this year. So make sure if you are going out there to not miss the futures game, they have, I think they had like the bunting competition and such last year in Texas. at the futures game. That was a lot of fun to watch. It was a little confusing at times, though. Some of their hitting competitions were a little confusing, but still fun to watch.

In 67 games with the Sod Poodles, Grover is batting 301 with an 848 OPS. He has 14 doubles, 10 home runs, 36 RBI, and 26 walks. And then Slade Caldwell in 66 games for the Hillsborough hops where he currently is. And in single A. Basalia, Caldwell is batting 267 with an 840 OPS. 15 doubles, three triples, 22 RBI, 60 walks, and 19 stolen bases. So great job there.

Great eye. 60 walks. That's pretty good. Anyway, you guys know what day it is. We have so much to talk about when it comes to mailbag Monday. And I think we've already covered at least three or four of these topics. But we're going to circle back and make sure we get you your answers. But don't you go anywhere.

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use code P.HNX at Monarchmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year. That's 50% off your first year at Monarchmoney.com with code PHNX. All right. Let's see. Do we have some super chats, Damon, before we get to the mailbag? Yeah, we got a couple. PCO, she says, if Gino doesn't make that air, Beaks never goes in. That's, okay, that's a great point.

And that's where I did want to say it goes hand in hand with how bad the defense was this weekend. That's something where I like we can put our hands up and be like the drop off in defense Tori gets to wear that one because they've been a great defensive team the last few years here and they just are sloppy sloppy sloppy all the time this season. I just I really think that you know we're missing obviously Paris Cheek over there at third base and again it's it's weird to have to slam new coaches considering we really don't know the negative impact that they're having. The only thing that we can do is.

look at the results. And it's hard not to look at Brian Kaplan as a pitching coach and say his brief time here has been a failure. And same thing with Sean Larkin. And as much as I don't want to say that and we don't know exactly how much of it is their fault, it's hard not for people to place blame on them as well. And I understand that. But we've also placed blame on Mike Hazen, the medical staff, Tori, both Mike, you know, the only person that gets free of blame is, you know, I don't know, pretty much Jeff Bannister, right? You're not blaming Jeff Bannister for anything. No, Jeff Bannister is like the, he's currently like the backup quarterback.

You know how everyone says that's everyone's favorite player is the backup quarterback. Yeah, yeah. That's the bench coach. He looks like Jeff Bannister, you're just waiting for a fight to happen. And that's like the big payday for Jeff Bannister, I feel like that man is just itching to fight someone. Everything, this team is going to do right now. Everything good that happens within the debacks is all Jeff Bannister. bad is all Tori. Everyone knows it.

Dave McKay also. He can't do any wrong. Folding chair says, folding chable, folding chable, I like that. I donate the super chat to get party favors for the birthday boy. I'm going to use that $10 to buy a margarita. No, I'm just joking. Thank you for your

super chat. All right. Well, of course, you know what we do today besides blame Tori and everybody else. We blame the mail. We blame your questions. We blame everything. We're going to blame a lot of things. But this week, this year, this month, it's all been a mess. It's not been a good year, but it's still our year. And every year on this podcast is our year. Every month on this podcast is

Black History Month. Every month on this podcast is Black Women's History Month. Every week is Shark Week. Every single day is Earth Day. But on Monday, me and Damon, we go to the mailbag. Damon, let's go. to everything in my mailbox and then once in a while there's a letter that makes me go wow even that song can't make me happy right now uh what do we got what's our first question first question comes from sazar says how cooked are we Derek all right so i'll show you uh they say that when you're cooking a steak that you can test the different parts of uh how rare it is by touching your thumb right up here this is rare right and then as you get down to like the

bone, meaty part. That's like, that's well done down here. That's well done. Diamondbacks are right about a year. So cooked, very is my answer. Very well done. And that's kind of what it feels like. Instinctually, I want to have like hope. And I also think baseball is so ridiculous that anything can happen. I think it's so ridiculous that the Diamondbacks could essentially trade some pieces away that we see as being the stars of this team with expiring contracts, say a Merrill Kelly, say Zach Gallen, say a Gano Suarez, and the Diamondbacks can find ample replacements for those players that not only can help this team this year finish

potentially strong, but actually put together a roster for next year when those players who are free agents most likely sign elsewhere and the Diamondbacks are left to find replacements for them during the offseason anyway. At this point, with all of the injuries being injuries that are going to carry over into next season, well into the midpoint of next season and potentially beyond. The Diamondbacks don't even have depth to call upon. Normally it would be, you know, with Zach Gallen and,

let's say, Merrill Kelly leaving this team as free agents. Normally the Diamondbacks would have a Tommy Henry, a Blake Walston to call upon next. Those players will be gone with those injuries, with those surgeries as well. So I don't really think that the Diamondbacks have much of a choice than to try to flip for guys that maybe are still starting pitchers that have years of control left that aren't nearly as good, but at this point might put up better numbers than what Zach Gallen is currently putting up, right? And we know once Gallen goes somewhere else he's going to shove.

And I think that at least for me, if you're talking about a situation where, yeah, it might break our hearts a little bit, but it's possibly best for everybody. It really does feel like Zach Gallen would be the return potentially that could work out where the Diamondbacks get more than they should, considering how poorly Zach is pitching, the new change of location, new environment for Zach is good, and he becomes his old self and finds, regains his ability to be the consistent pitcher that he was at one point,

and that allows him to, you know, maybe still get a decent contract at the end of the season, and perhaps whatever team he gets traded to, he can help out and make that team a contender by adding him to their starting pitching rotation. I feel like that's like one of those situations where it works out with everybody, even though it would make us here as fans tremendously sad to seize that gallon go to someone like the Chicago Cubs and suddenly start shoving.

So, but that could very much be a reality. And to be honest, it could be the best situation, but best case scenario. But I do feel like we are definitely cooked. We are definitely cooked. I will say that the debacks, like when you were, you know, kind of putting that all out there, Derek, came in my head like the debacks are in a horrible spot, probably the worst. spot possible where a lot of their players are free agents and they will be valued very highly, but the team stinks.

So it's like you're struggling to bring back your own players that you would want to keep, but also you're not reaping the rewards of having players that are coveted by other teams in the league. Yeah, that's a great point. I mean, we were talking about it the other day, but Zach Gallin's performance is getting so bad that you kind of worry. Yeah, he'll be back. You worry about offering him a qualifying offer because he's probably going to accept it. now at this point and do you really want to bring the pitcher back with the worst

ERA of all qualified pitchers on a $22 million deal next season? Is there someone else you could find that would pitch better than Gowan has been pitching or will pitch for you next year? I don't know. I still refuse to believe that with Zach Gowan struggles that this is who Gowan actually is. I just think that this has been a really rough patch. However, the numbers, I think our guy Mark in the chat brought up his numbers in regards to his fastball and uh you know some of some of the metrics on it and it's it's vertical break and stuff

i mean things haven't been trending in the right direction for zach for a while it's just kind of bad enough now where he's seems ineffective um and he can't go out there without giving up that beginning someone else said they were playing backyard baseball and asked me who the first pick was uh jordan it's Pablo right there's no question about it that's Pablo and i will be purchasing that. That dropped on the Nintendo Switch. It's backyard baseball, 97. Me and Damon might just have to might have to do something

to pick people up around here. It might just be us playing a little backyard baseball on stream in order to get things back right around here. But what else we got in the mailbag? Next question comes from Russell. Says, Derek, do you think the debacks should be wearing protective gear on their whole body because they are always getting hurt by pitches?

Do you think they will be sellers or buyers? Man, I have no idea what is going on with the Diamondbacks getting hit. Right. It's ridiculous. And I mean, they've talked about it on the broadcast. It's kind of similar to pitching injuries where because we watch our specific team quite a bit, it seems like it happens to our team more than anybody.

But there are a lot of players being hit by pitches, just like there are a lot of pitchers being lost due to these season-ending surgeries and injuries again, too. So I don't know. I mean, it's almost like guys don't know how to pitch up and in. I don't know what the deal is with specifically where guys are getting hit. You know, a lot of injuries in the hand. A lot of, but I mean, you know, it's baseball. It makes sense. It's just, it's happening a lot.

And they dressed it on the broadcast. I don't know. I just, I can't stand seeing it because of the impact that it's already had specifically to this team and the caliber players that the dimebacks have lost. If they would have lost, you know, for a significant amount of time, I don't know if I could say I've ever seen a season that was this that had this much bad luck, this many injured players that you've lost for a significant period of time. The second half of that question,

what was that again, Damon? Are we buying or selling? I don't know. I really don't know. And I know we're going to have like three questions in a row about this, but I really, I don't know. I mean that because I do think the Diamondbacks will make trades at the deadline, no matter what.

I just don't know what they'll get, who they'll seek out, what they'll get in return. I think that deep down inside Mike Hazen is trying to pull off a move where they could potentially trade somebody that, you know, is one of those big names like a Zach Gallen and get back pieces that they need like bullpen pieces that it's kind of a, you know, it's a simpatico kind of trade, right, where it works out for everybody. However, I've said this before. I said this last week. Jack told me that it was a really good point that he hadn't even thought of. And that is if you trade Zach, if you trade Merrill, who's starting for you? Where are you getting another starting pitcher from? Look at the depth and Reno.

Look at the experience that those guys have had. You're almost to the point where you are calling up Umin Lin, not because he's ready, but out of necessity. And I don't know if that's the right movie. move. And I don't know if they're even at that point yet. It's just getting to that point where the diamondbacks really don't have those pieces available, at least in the short term. Long term, when guys come back, yeah, they'll be able to have some depth and fill out the roster and things will be better. However, we don't know how long it's going to take for all of these arms to come back. And so far, it would seem that the recovery time on all of these surgeries for all of these guys

is a year. With all of these injuries happening here at the end of May at the beginning of June, with all these surgeries happening now, we have lost, you know, so many arms until the midpoint or beyond of next season. So I don't know what the answer there is if the Diamondbacks do pull off a trade for either Merrill or Zach

and what they would get in return. Jordan Lawler is now injured on the IL with a hamstring injury. So it's not like the Diamondbacks can readily trade Gino. They could have Tim Tawa or another guy potentially play third base over there. But that, once again, they do trade gino they're testing their depth there should they have another injury i'm sure

jordan lawler would be the answer once he's once he's ready once he's healthy come up and just start playing every day no matter how poorly he's he's doing offensively at the dish right but then it moves on to even other like bullpen arms like are we really going to trade shelby miller are we like who else is left after that right so i don't know some of these trades i do have to ask if you do make a trade for some of these guys that are on expiring contracts, who plays there next. Killer Rex brought up Trey Mancini earlier, and that's a great point.

Trey Mancini has been like a major league ready depth piece for first base over there in Reno this entire season. It's been having a great season. So yeah, if the Diamondbacks do decide to trade Josh Naylor, I think there's a guy that they have a solid replacement there for, who is not only a great story, but a guy who has major league experience similar to like,

James McCann behind the dish for the Diamondbacks right now that you could call up and might not be the offensive threat at the plate Josh Naylor is, but he would do just fine at first base, right? But outside of that, I really don't know who you can trade and then have a reasonable replacement for once you move that piece, right? Third base is eventually going to be fine once Lawler is okay. I'm sure if you want to bring Lawler up, just let him be out there. Gertr Jr. says he's ready. He says, put me in. coach so girt juniors ready to play any infield position and maybe even pitch out of the bullpen in a in a pinch situation so i appreciate you thank you for stepping up not a lot of guys are right now

but uh yeah again that's that's the big question as to the buyer or seller thing i think ultimately mike hasn's going to be savvy here with what he does and the diamondbacks most likely are going to have to try to think you know think this whole thing through and see what offers they're getting in regards to, you know, especially guys like Gowan and Merrill Kelly, if part of the deal includes a return of starting pitching, it might absolutely be worth it to not only have a different guy in there giving you a chance, maybe a better chance since that Gallen is, but also a guy in there that's going to be an able-bodied pitcher ready to start

when opening day 2026 comes around. All right, what else we got, Damon? Next question, which I'm not really even quite sure which one we're on. I think it's this one from flea ball says there's a lot of talk if Dback should be dollars or buyers can we be both let's say trade down or nailer for bullpen help also how predictable are thomas at bats weak grumball the second guaranteed sometimes they sneak through though don't they flea ball yeah no the thomas at bats thing is frustrating man i feel once again uh yeah like if alec is not if he's not crushing one in some way it's most likely going to be that weak

softball to the right side and i do think i address your question quite a bit there uh yes i do think that there is a way for the Diamondbacks to be both, be both a buyer and a seller, right? But, you know, it's going to get to that point where how much do people still believe in someone like Zach Gallen, how much do people believe in Merrill Kelly? What are the returns going to be for these guys? Who are they going to part ways with? Is it going to be a fire sale where they try to get rid of, you know, four, five, six of all six of these guys?

I don't know. but it's definitely a thing where it has to be planned out accordingly to ensure that they have enough able bodies to finish up this season, right? And again, if this season is awash, having Jordan Lawler play third isn't the worst idea. So maybe moving Gino isn't the worst idea if that is out there. And trust me, the suitors for Gino are many. That's the biggest problem.

The Diamondbacks teams are drooling over the Diamondbacks. If there is a team right now that teams want to fall apart and be sellers, it's this team for this exact reason. So the returns could be good. And this could be a situation where once again, like I said earlier, the Diamondbacks could benefit from the trades. At the very least,

even if it's not an upgrade, right, you're not going to get nothing for Zach Gowan if he walks as a free agent at the end of the year. And you're also going to have a pitcher already here available to start next season when you're missing. so many arms. So it's, you know, again, it's, it's a matter of if this season is washed, getting it going now and trying to figure out what next season is going to look like with

things already being a mess for the start of 2026. All right, let's do one more there, Damon, and then we'll do a quick break. Next question comes from Ed. And Ed says, at this point of the season, what overall letter grade do you give the Diamondbacks and why? Instinctually, I feel like people want to say F, right? I don't know how it's not an F, but I think it's a D. The only reason why I say that is because their offense this year has been too good. Their abilities to come back late have been too good for them to, for this season to completely be a failure. They right now sit at one game below 500.

What the Rockies are doing is an F. some other teams are doing is definitely an F. the diamond backs probably deserve it based on expectations, right? How good this team should have been. However, you can't not factor in what's happened with injuries and not see that to be a large part of the Diamondbacks failures. And then again, I mean, when it comes to certain guys,

there are certain guys I absolutely would give an F2 on their season. But this team overall has proved to be resilient at times. And again, I think they have the third best OPS in all of Major League Baseball still. So, I mean, that's pretty good. That's the only reason why they are near 500 is because of how good their offense has been. So I say D. 2 BMC says D plus miraculous that they're hovering at 500. Yeah, when you consider how bad the ERAs are of guys like Zach Allen and Brandon Fott,

it is fairly miraculous that they're hovering there. And yeah, I do have a problem saying a lot of this stuff, including bad stuff, about a lot of people in the organization because I just honestly I still believe so much in every single one of these players I still think Brandon Fought has his best days ahead of him I still think that Zach Gallin is going to be incredible for some other team for whoever he joins

I just feel it in my bones meanwhile Elise will not stop her anti-Paven agenda she says I'm getting I'm trading him and Pavin she's talking about ERA because piece of Yoshi said, Elise, I fear now that Erod has been good for four starts, that I'm emotionally attached to him, and you will have to pry him from my cold dead hands.

And Elise said, also, Elise is Mike Hazen, by the way, for those of you that don't know that, I'm trading him and Pavan, get ready to cry, Yoshi. Yikes. Yikes. All right, well, we're going to take a quick break, and we'll get back to some more mailbag Monday. Questions on the other side of this break.

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All right, Damon. What else we got? Time to get back to the mailbag. Next question comes from PCO. She says, Did Hazen finally hit on Operation Deploy the entire 20203 Mets bullpen with John Curtis? Mike Hazen is doing anything you can to find somebody with a heart and a brain and an arm and a working UCL. So don't blame him for looking to some of the pieces that the Mets have discarded.

That wasn't the best team. But still, nonetheless, he is doing this despite you specifically. In regards to this, though, I do say, like, again, you can't blame Hazen for scraping the bin, right? Like, there's a lot of good stories that we've seen. The Diamondbacks kind of pick up because they're guys that haven't played in a year or they were lost time due to injury or whatever the case may be, right? Trey Mancini, a guy who, you know, had to recover from, you know, cancer. So, like, there's a lot here when it comes to some of these guys and what the diamondbacks

are essentially willing to, who they're willing to give a shot to. It's really just about trying to find that diamond in the rough. They've done it a few times, to be fair, before this disastrous outing and maybe one or two other that he's had. Jalen Beeks was kind of that for this team. And there was a time early in the year, especially when Joe Mantelpie was completely ineffective, that we were very thankful we were able to find this guy out of nowhere.

Unfortunately, he hasn't been consistent. It hasn't lasted all season. And his most recent performance is possibly his worst of the season. It just feels like this is what the Diamondbacks have to resort to with their current situation, trying to give guys an opportunity that aren't getting one elsewhere. seeing if they can come up and get out for this team. What else we got, Damon?

Next question comes from Tyler Hall says, do we trust Hazen to pull off a successful sell off if we do sell? He's been great at buying, but I don't know if he has been as great when selling. At least it doesn't feel like the track record has been there. Well, and I mean, of course, the most famous one there being the Paul Goldschmidt trade, right? That's the sell that I think a lot of people remember.

I don't know. I mean, if we could see how things played out in an alternate timeline and see ultimately if if things would have been any better going in a different direction. I mean, when you have an expiring contract that you really don't plan on picking up, it does make it difficult for you to be in a position of power when you're trying to make a trade, right? So that usually means with the return that you're getting back isn't as good. And of course, that's kind of what happened there with Paul Goldschmidt. The Diamondbacks kind of unfortunately made it publicly known that this was going to be a, probably a situation where they weren't going to pick up his contract, and he was going to be either traded or walk as a free agent at the end of the year.

And, yeah, the pieces they got back didn't end up being great. However, you know, that one still, you could argue at least they still got something. And a lot of those players are good now, aren't they, Damon? Yes. He doesn't want to talk about it. But yeah, no, I mean, I do feel like going back to the original question that Mike Hazen could do this well. I think that the advantage here is that there are so many teams that are still in the playoff hunt. And that's going to make the seller's market mean something.

It's going to be a chance for this team to fleece another team. In fact, it was kind of my concern if the Diamondbacks did do well over the stretch, right? say they did just enough to convince this team to be sellers instead of buyers. They bring in a couple of bull up in arms, maybe improve their ERA, maybe bring stuff up a little bit, win some more games, end up 10 games above 500 at the end of the season, but ultimately either miss the playoffs or kind of get bounced in the wild card round. I don't know if looking back on that run and what they sacrificed in order to make the playoffs or get to that point would be worth what they could have gotten

in order to get this team back on track in 2026 or at least give this team a fighting chance out of the gate when opening day next year comes back around. It doesn't really feel like right now, I have any idea what this starting rotation is even going to look like if the Diamondbacks are even going to have five available starting pitchers when opening day comes around. So it's kind of that critical right now for them

in regards to the injuries that they have and then the pieces that they're losing at the end of the season. I think that it might just be the best case scenario if they do sell and try to replenish this team a little bit before 2026 comes around. Oh, that felt gross to say. I hate this conversation. I really do hate all the things I'm saying. But I do feel like I'm trying to speak with this instead of this, Damon, with my brain instead of my heart. Because my heart wants to continue to believe in these guys and say, push everything in next year's such a mess anyway you might as well be buyers at the trade deadline

you might as well try to go on to run in the second half and you might as well try to do something with this calamity of a season when next year is already set up all the table is already set for next year to be a disaster so let's just try to finish this one strong but that doesn't seem to be the right answer that that logically doesn't doesn't flow well for me uh what else we got damon next question comes from uh suzels susels says if we pull the trigger on selling what do we even want back pitching as far as position players go we have guys we're hearing about all the time in the minors guys will want to rely on pitching wise we'll be coming back from tommy john at various times around the all-star break in 2026 um pitching is 100% what the diamondbacks need the i mean again if they do a transaction that involves them losing Gino. I think that's a case where they really do need to get a third basement back right now, at least for the time being.

I think they're covered if they trade Josh Naylor. But I don't really feel like the Diamondbacks need to get a whole lot of position players back in a trade. What they need is pitching. They need a starter. They need a reliever. They need two relievers. They need three relievers. They need all the arms they can get.

So I doubt that any return for the Diamondbacks, unless it's setting up another trade that, involves losing a position player because our depth isn't great with our position players right now. But I think they're fine. I think this team can compete this year with this offense and with the position players they have. It's really just about right now getting arms. Arms are important, Damon. And I mean, if we don't have the arms, I don't know if we can.

I don't know what the Diamondbacks can do. Yeah. I mean, it's just the worry. The worry is trading for these arms, right? Yeah, like what's the cost going to be? You get them? Where do you get them from? I mean, I'm joking a little bit about the curse, but I'm saying like if you trade away all of your good hitters, Josh Naylor, Gino Suarez, et cetera, and you bring back a bunch of pitching, do you trust this organization to develop that high caliber prospect pitching to be MLB ready? I don't trust.

I don't trust anything anymore. I trust Mike Hazen to do swap trades. That's what I trust my case. like the jazz chisholm for Zach Gallantrid. Yeah. I need more of that. Yeah. Well, of course, if you guys are watching right now on your favorite app, make sure to head on over to go phtonx.com.

We are currently going into overtime and we'll keep the conversation going over there with just a few more mailbag Monday questions. But again, we thank you guys all for watching. Thank you guys. Of course, it's not remember kids time yet. It will be soon. It probably should be. I should wrap this up. I don't want to talk about this team anymore.

And I want to take the next three days off. But the next three days, very crucial for the Diamondbacks 2025 season. And I couldn't abandon you in that time of need, of course. But what I will say, though, is that I, and 2BMC says it here. Like, I would be maybe okay trading Gino, depending on what the package you get back is. I'm not trading Josh Naylor. I'm keeping Josh Naylor around long term. I want to keep Josh Naylor forever.

I mean, he's not a good defender and it's a stark difference after watching Christian Walker for so long. That guy's a dog. Yeah, you need that bat. And he's young and he fits. He has a good attitude, I feel like. From a selfish perspective, he's one of my favorite people to interview in the clubhouse because he gives us so much when to be honest, he doesn't need to. But he provides us with so much context, so much explanation, so much experience as a baseball player. like where we that that's what we as journalist nerds don't have right so when he can shed a little light on

what it is to be an actual baseball player it's pretty cool and i feel like nailer does it better than a lot of people like he's just very eloquent he's very well spoken he likes to take the time sometimes like he's he's he's a gentleman in every sense of the word um so i mean it's it's one of those kind of things where Josh Naylor for me, uh, he's, he's a great teammate to have around. Uh,

same thing could be said about Gino. Uh, and I just, I don't know. I think Gino, the, the difference between Josh and Gino is that I feel like, uh,

it's, it's, I'm hard, I have a hard time believing that I'm back's and resigned. Gino at the end of the year with the season he's having. Um, but I think Nailer, you know,

Naylor's the kind of guy that, that could come around to liking this team enough to wanting to to be here for a few more years and, you know, resigning that deal. What is Elise doing in the chat? And he's not paving at first base. That's a good point. You two are going to continue to push your anti-paven agenda. Is it even an agenda if it's true, though?

I don't know. I mean, Elise made a point up here, and I'm trying to find it. It's like this guy, he saves himself, you know, right when you are ready to get rid of them. And then he can be bad for three weeks straight because he hit two home runs in a single baseball game. Is anyone else sick of the black hole at DH that we experience for 85% of games? I mean, there could be other options for sure. He should be a pinch hitter and an off the bench option. He should, he has no business being your starting designated hitter.

Oh, this is so funny. It's funny to hear from people that aren't actually in the clubhouse. telling me who's a better clubhouse guy and who hates this team but whatever uh yeah and that's the same guy who thinks that the team the whole team hates the manager so that's true that's very true um but yeah no i mean you guys can keep up your anti-payvan agenda and it might be right you might be right i mean you you're not wrong i do feel like paven is the uh not that not to still a line here but paven payvin pays a lot of past due rent you know and he he has those games where all of a sudden that one game makes you forget, you know, about how poor his performances are.

I've told you many times that one of my favorite movies of all time is a little big league, right? And there's a scene in there where because the first baseman, the kid who's the, who is given the twins and makes himself the manager, he's like a lifelong fan of the first baseman, right? Because he was a fan of this team just last year before he owned it. And he has a hard time seeing past the fact that their first baseman, you know, best years have come and gone. And there's a point where the first baseman gets a single because he's been struggling and the kid gets really excited about the single.

And his bench coach basically looks at him and goes, don't you think there's a problem when you're getting this excited over his seeing eye single? And, you know, that's kind of where you guys are at, I think, with Pavin, right? Like Pavan has those games where you get very excited about it. But then you're like, I mean, you got to go back and look at his last, you know, four or five games and what he's done in that stretch and not get excited about this one game. But you could be on to something there.

Offense definitely is not getting a lot out of that DH spot. And I don't feel like they're getting a lot out of it no matter who's there. What else we got? Folding Chable says, listen, the moment you accept Pavin will be Mr. Diamondback, the better off you will be. Right now I'm stuck with Nick Ahmed as Mr. Diamondback. So, you know, it's not necessarily too far from that. You're not supposed to bring him up on this show.

All right. What else we got? Got one more? We do have one more from absolutely Arsenal. Boo says, would the bullpen be better if we DFA to all of our relievers and put an actual bowl and a pen inside and asked either to relieve for us daily? Okay. That's actually this. Okay.

Interesting idea. This is a really good idea, actually. So we DFA all of our relievers. Sixth inning comes around. Zach Allen's struggling. one good good good game only gave up three earned runs in this one doesn't look like he's going a quality start he's gone a five and a third uh you mean to tell me that tory going out there going going to the mound pull pulling maybe on the or no like given the horns given the horns to the

to the pen and then they just open up the gate and an actual bull runs out and you mean to tell me that's not better than our relievers right now i don't believe that i'm hard hard pressed to believe that a bull running out there and being on the mound is not better than what we've been witnessing from this Diamondbacks team whenever their bullpen actually does come out. No? What? And then is he saying a pen?

Like an actual writing device could be better? Yeah. I have a hard time defending that one too. Like, yeah, a pen might actually be better than our bullpen. Um, just because it does its job, right? a pen, if it has ink in it and it writes, then it does what it's supposed to do. And you could definitely make an argument that our bullpen does not do their job and does not do what they're supposed to do. A piece of Yoshi said, now is a great time to mention that it's called the bullpen because it's supposed to mimic the way bulls are lined up for execution in a pen.

Well, thanks. I mean, this episode was already a bummer, but that's a great way to end things, I think, is really with you bringing us down with that. Thank you for that. That's definitely what the Diamondbacks bullpen feels like these days. And they need to do something about it in order for them to have a chance against the San Francisco Giants in this four game series. That is very important. I mean, you could probably make an argument that this season is already over. But if you have not accepted that fact yet, then you could say that a poor performance here against the Giants would be the nail in the coffin for 2024, which is very depressing considering we're not even.

out of June yet but we will be shortly tomorrow's July and again don't forget don't bring chain presence but do bring yourself on July 3rd to our pH and X takeover pull party out there at chase field we're going to be having a good time hopefully celebrating a win and hopefully being encouraged by what we saw out of the diamondbacks by that point in those three games so make sure to join us for that you can get those tickets over at go p hnx.com but of course we thank you guys so much for being here, being a part of this, and for venting with us here today. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at cap underscore K-man with the K.

Damon is at Damon Dog with a DAWG at the end. And of course, we are all Damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our shows at pH and X underscore D-Backs, but as always, all roads lead to at pH and X underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Damon, did we miss anything? No. Yeah, we actually have one more super chat here.

from Mark R says can we talk about how abysmal fought has been crazy thing is he's gotten lucky as his four seam sinker and change are all outperforming expected numbers that's never good that's never good because that is one thing we talked about erod when he was struggling that at least his expected numbers showed that he was better than the results and that is the that's that's the only thing that can help you can be uplifting when you're talking about those kind of numbers for a starting pitcher when you see someone struggling as bad as Brandon Fought has been and realized that those expected numbers are even

worse. It is not good. It does not really have a lot of a lot of blue skies in the future for Brandon Fott. But we do know that he has been a really good pitcher at times for this team. And again, my heart says he'll turn it around and my brain thinks my heart's an idiot. So we'll see what happens. But of course, we thank you guys again for your time. You guys have been awesome. We will see you tomorrow. We're going to have another postgame show tomorrow and Wednesday. And then on Thursday, we'll be bringing you a 12 p.m. show so we can get out there for that pool party and not change birthday. And then no show Friday. It's July 4th. So we are going to go eat some hot dogs and some hamburgers and celebrate. But until then, you guys go ahead and follow us on social

media. Have yourselves a wonderful evening. Let's watch this Diamondbacks game. Get this series with the Giants started off in the right way. Behave yourselves and remember kids, baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when your bullpen is ranked number one in all of MLB.