PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Did the D-backs LOSE ANOTHER KEY PLAYER Ahead of Red Sox Series?

Episode Date: August 17, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks secured another series victory over one of the National League’s best, taking two of three from the Atlanta Braves. But Sunday’s win may have come at a cost, with Nolan Arenado exiting the game with a trunk injury. How serious is it, and could the D-backs be without their third baseman for an extended stretch? We also look ahead to the upcoming series against the Boston Red Sox and discuss whether Arizona could get two key injured players back in the lineup. Plus, we preview an exciting pitching matchup in Game 3 and answer your questions in another edition of Mailbag Monday! JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4 An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/ Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX15 at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order! Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Are you mad about the Arizona Diamondbacks taking two games out of three in Atlanta? Because you shouldn't be. We're going to talk about them winning that series. And more importantly, we're going to talk about Sunday's loss being more than the game. Diamondbacks may have lost Nolan Arnado in that one due to injury. And we're going to get to all of that here. Don't you go anyway? We're starting right now.

Monday to you all. Welcome in to another edition of the P.HNX Diamondback show. Love from Studio K. presented by our friends at Circle K. It's your mayor, PHNX, occasionally known as Derek Monta. Thrilled to have you guys here. I'm thrilled to be talking about Arizona Diamondbacks

baseball. I am not alone. I have you wonderful people in the live chat. And of course, I got my dog, your dog, and the D-Vex dog. Damon Dog, aka Damon Farrell, on the ones and twos. Bark, bark. To you, Damon. We got some injury news. Good, bad, positive. Some updates here. We got a positive update about who is in Boston.

and who has bats in their hand. But still, we still got to talk here about the potential loss of Nolan Aronado because we still don't have updates in regards to his situation after leaving Sunday's game with a left trunk injury. And yes, we are going to reveal what a trunk actually is. And no, it's not what you think it is. But anyway, welcome into this show. This is the PHNXDbacks show.

We are brought to you proudly by GameTime. Go download that GameTime app right now. use our code of PH&X when you sign up, and you will get $20 off your first purchase. Of course, create an account to do so, terms to apply, and go to wonderful baseball games and cheer on this particular baseball team,

this team that did the thing in Atlanta. And I say that because there was a weird, I don't know, like letdown on Sunday from the DeBacks fan base on social media when they lost that game, the finale to the Atlanta Braves. And to be fair, that's, it's a good, It's a good feeling to have.

I'm happy that this team is performing so well that a single loss, even in a series win against one of the National League's best teams, disappoints fans. But got to keep things in perspective and just have to be happy that the boys were able to take care of business there in Atlanta, winning two out of three. They did win the first one in a very close two-to-nothing game where Brandon Fott did out-dulechris sale,

and that was a very positive thing. The biggest takeaway is that Arizona's pitching completely neutralized Atlanta, which is one of baseball's most dangerous lineups, and they did so proving that this team can hang with one of the best teams in baseball. And they did it again on Saturday when they beat the brakes off the Braves, winning by a score of 10 to 3

and really letting the offense fly. Nolan Aronado, of course, has arguably his best game as a Diamondback hitting two home runs in that one, and then, unfortunately, leaving due to injury on Sunday. He exited that game with a left trunk discomfort at the time.

And that was a game that honestly the Diamondbacks had a chance to win. But Saturday's win, again, was backed up not just with the huge offensive explosion, but Eduardo Rodriguez, who looked like he might have a rough day after giving up two early runs, was able to get things back on track and give the Diamondbacks six strong innings without allowing another run the rest of the game. And the Diamondbacks cruised to a 10 to 3 victory to clinch the series on Saturday. Then they went for the sweep on Sunday. And let's be honest, I think one of the things that's most frustrating about that loss is that it did feel like it was within their grasp.

That game was tied too too late. And unfortunately, Brandon Garcia on a 3-0 count through a ball that you probably shouldn't throw to Matt Olson, who smashed it to give the Braves a 5 to 2 lead, hitting the ball 437 feet for his 36th home run of the year. Gabriel Moreno would add on to that lead. the dimebacks are, they added a late home run in that one or late run in that one in the seventh inning off of an ill-demarro Vargas Homer. Wait, that was when he tied it, but they did add an extra run there. So again, if that three-run, home run doesn't get hit, obviously, you know, the diamondbacks are in position there to win that game three to two overall. The series win is something that we should be happy about. We talked about this six-game road trip against Atlanta and Boston, and being two of the

best teams in Major League Baseball right now, what you're looking for is series wins. A sweep would have been amazing and incredible, and, you know, Damon and I would have been on this podcast today, completely overreacting in a way that they, that, you know, that, that, that we've been known to overreact. Let's just say that. But Brandon Fott looks like a completely different pitcher and is one of the best in baseball. And Erod delivers another quality start and also continues to look like one of the best pitchers in baseball. Meanwhile, unfortunately, Merrill Kelly is now, has the second worst ERA in, as a qualified pitcher,

and the Diamondbacks still have, what, Damon, the 13th best starting ERA in all-N-M-LB? Was it 14th? Yeah. 14th best. Well, that's total staff, ERA, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's total staff, but starting pitching ERA,

they have the 13th best ERA, and that's hilarious, considering that both Merrill Kelly with his current plus-5 ERA, and Zach Gallen and his plus 5 ERA are both calculated into that figure. So the rest of the guys have really stepped up for this team, and that's been impressive, and it continued to be over this weekend. The bad, obviously, being that they had a sweep sitting right there, and they couldn't finish it,

and Aeronado's injury is something to be concerned about, though we are getting reports, I guess conflicting reports, not really conflicting reports, but we're getting reports that Nolan Aronado is both on the field at Fenway this morning with a bat in his hand. And we also have this tweet from John Gambadoro basically suggesting that there needs to be an MRI. Nolan Aronado is having an MRI in Boston today

after leaving yesterday's game with trunk discomfort. And yes, trunk discomfort is a very funny way to phrase what Nolan Aronado is experiencing. A left trunk injury refers to damage, strain, or discomfort in the left side of the torso. It could involve the lower back, abdomen, or side. It often involves soft tissue, oblique muscles, intercostal muscles, or ribs on the left. Let's just hope it's not because, again, this is another devastating blow to this team

that does not have much time left to lose guys due to injury. Of course, this happens, too, after Nolan Aronado has his best offensive game as a debaq. So it's just rough and let's hope that the injury overall is, limited, but I do have to ask, I mean, besides the Nolan Arnado injury, are we mad? Are we mad about the Diamondbacks only taking two out of three? I mean, is it more about the fact that they couldn't get the sweep? I think you have to have reasonable expectations, especially with this particular ball club, right? So, I mean, we'll see. But at this point, what the debacks need to do is win series down the stretch. They need to win as many games.

I just think that you can't necessarily let your mental health, Damon. Would it be mental health that I'm referring to here? Yeah, I mean, I think that this fan base, especially since 2023, has gotten kind of out of control with the expectations. I think expectations are good, but sometimes you need to, you know, be reasonable at the same time. And I'm a part of that. So I, like, I'll put my hand up on that as well. But I do think that, like, yeah, a series win against the Braves. How could you be upset?

I don't really understand that. I came in here saying we're back, and ESPO wanted to know how that's possible after they lost Sunday's game. So that's baseball for you, folks. I mean, you know, you had a good chance of winning that game, so it's unfortunate the result that ended up playing out. But, you know, I do think that we were talking about four and two

in these two series against the Braves and the Red Sox, and we're over the moon. We've every opportunity to do that. Yeah. Every opportunity. But I will say, this, Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawler, they are back, baby. We are expecting some breaking roster news here shortly, hoping fingers crossed that it happens while we're doing this show

right now, because that would be great. That would be great. I'm just throwing that out there. It would be great if we got that confirmation. But what we did get was this tweet from the one and only Jody Jackson, who did confirm that Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawler are here. Where's here, Damon? Boston. Boston. Fenway. the same field that the Arizona Diamondbacks are about to take to play the Boston Red Sox, starting today for another three-game series. And if those guys are there, that means they're either going to be available today or at some point over this series.

And Nolan Arnato, let's keep our fingers crossed that that's not a serious injury and that he doesn't miss any time or if he misses time. It's a short absence from this team. The return of Jordan Lawler and Justin Martinez is a huge boost right now. a huge boost. Not just because of what Jordan Lawler can do on the field. I don't think Lawler is going to be a candidate necessarily to take over for Aronado because I think the Diamondbacks were pretty committed to keeping him in the outfield

and not having him come back in and play in field. I don't think that they were even trying to get him reps there while he was off in any way. I feel like Justin Martinez, though, that return, get that 102 mile per hour forcing fastball, back in my bullpen, that's, that's electric. And obviously it's electric because his stuff is electric. But more so, Damon, we find, we're finally getting a reinforcement. We're finally getting a person who, we're finally getting a person who is here that we've been waiting for, that we feel can truly change this team.

You're saying Justin Martinez? Yeah, I mean, that's no discredit to Jordan Lawler. Jordan Lawler's been an excellent defender and he's been great offensively as well. Very short sample size, but Jordan Lawler has been one of the better players on this team offensively this season when he was on the team at least. But yeah, I mean, I think that, yeah, you have, Justin Martinez changes the way that you can approach the bullpen a little bit because Brandon Garcia doesn't have to be the closer anymore.

He can attack lefties in particular. Yeah. And that didn't work out on Sunday, right? I mean, like Matt Olson got the better of them, but that's one of the best hitter. in baseball and a guy that is really good at hitting he's one he's really good at hitting against left handed pitchers as well from that side of the plate so I think I think away there is Brandon Garcia needs to learn that veteran

aspect of kind of knowing when you're beat or just walking away from that guy and going on to the next guy that you feel like isn't going to be nearly as dangerous as the hitter you're facing you're down 3 o in the count right there's just times as a pitcher you just got to take one on the chin and when I mean that I don't mean giving up a three-run home run. I mean, you know, walking him, right? So that's probably the only takeaway I have from that loss, particularly on Sunday.

And yeah, maybe that one could be blamed on Tori a little bit or the manager's not ensuring that he just takes that last ball four and moves on to the next batter. Still, though, that's in hindsight. And that would have walked the bases loaded. That's not great either. So I get why, you know, he tried to attack Mattel. in there, but you're right. He lost that one, and you're going to hopefully learn from it.

Now, though, he can be utilized in the lineup or against the lineup in the best possible way. And Justin Martinez, who, I mean, not only does he have closer stuff, but he has closer swag, Damon. I mean, look at the pictures you were showing me, just drip of confidence and the kind of guy that you want in there in the ninth. That's your closer. Striking guys. Yeah. And I don't understand what you're talking about, Rex. We didn't criticize Brandon Garcia at all.

We said that he got the beat by one of the best hitters in all of baseball. It happens. It is what it is. I think that this new role, this new change, Justin Martinez is in the closer spot. Brandon Garcia being able to be utilized against particular spots in the lineup versus being pigeonholed for that ninth inning spot could be beneficial for everybody involved, including Garcia, who's been fantastic this year. but imagine now if he's picking and choosing his battles more so where you're having him go against lefties where he has a huge advantage and I think that that's just I mean it's the type of it's a ceiling razor type of move for sure

like it you already had a good base level the bullpen's been good this year but now with Jmart it just it makes everything just flow a little bit more seamlessly I believe hopefully I mean I know that Tori probably still isn't going to be committed to naming Jmart the closer or any one guy the closer that's probably going to stick for the rest of the season. But hopefully that's still who he goes with unless he feels like the better match-ups in the ninth are Brandon Garcia. I think, though, that what it can do is set the bullpen back into place, like what happened when they added Paul Seawald.

Right? The idea that you know one of two guys is going to be in there in the ninth inning and what your particular role as a bullpen arm is going to be was very successful for this team at one point and should be something they implement, considering how important that seemed to the relievers themselves, the pitchers, the players. Those are the guys we heard from Damon

that appreciated knowing what their role was going to be when they got to the ballpark on any given night. I heard it from Joe Mantiply, Kevin Ginkle, even Paul Seawall discussed how much him being the closer helped those guys into those, you know, just know what their role was going to be. Yeah, I mean, I think that's what this is going to bring to this bullpen. I think that that's been almost,

Paul Seawald's best trait as a diamond back in his career. And the two stops has been that he like provides like just like I am the closer. Right. And again, like that might be a little bit disrespectful. It's, I'm saying it's, I don't think it's as much of like his on field like what he's contributing as much as like I just think that it's healthy for a bullpen to have a set guy. And we've seen what our bullpens under Mike Hazen and Tori look like when there's not a set closer. and those tend to be our worst bullpins.

Yeah. I think that our better bullpins usually happen when you know who the ninth inning guy is. And regardless of whether or not he's even a really a good pitcher in Paul Seawall's case. So, yeah, I mean, I just think that that's beneficial to have distinguished roles, but also for that guy that is distinguished in that role to be a 102 mile per hour throwing, you know, hammer splitter combo, though, like, I mean, just, I injected it into my veins. I can't, I can't wait to watch J-Mart ball. Like, that's just, I think I've said that to you five times this morning, Derek,

where it's like, I, just, I, we get to watch J-Mart again. Jason. He's like, we've never had a player like him in our entire organization's history. He's awesome. Yeah. I can't wait. Well, and Jason's right. A name that we don't bring up enough is Herardo Carrillo, who has been amazing.

He says, yeah, we need control for years. he came into yesterday's game, gave up one walk, one inning pitched, lowers his ERA to 0.66 this season. And I know he doesn't have a ton of games pitched, but man, that guy has been nails for the Diamondbacks. And it's another unexpected, you know, source of production from this bullpen, another lights-out reliever that can help you win a lot of games. You look across this bullpen, it's kind of amazing how many sub-E-R-3 ERAs there are. You got Taylor Clark with a 2.29 ERA, even with giving up those three earned runs on Sunday. Brandon Garcia has a 2.52 ERA, 0.66 ERA for Carrillo.

And the list goes on. The Diamondbacks just have themselves. Murillo. Morillo, I mean, they're just set up so well for success as far as their bullpen is concerned. Now with Martinez coming back, it starts to truly be the question, like, who goes, who stays? They DFA'd Philip Abner and they called up Dennis Santana.

Dennis Santana was a guy that was closing games for the Pirates last season. So he is a guy, especially with his relationship with Jeremy Blige that could also factor in as another impressive arm that helps his team win baseball games.

I don't know. Fair connection. He was really good for the Yankees, I think three years ago, I think I was looking at. Like a 2-1-2 or something like that, something ridiculous. So maybe there's something left.

there. I did like read on MLBtrade Rumors.com that he's more than likely a guy that won't be on the team for a super long amount of time just with the amount of right-handed arms in the bullpen. But we'll find out. I mean, maybe he shows something in the Diamondbacks feel that he's better than there are other options that they have. For sure. Jason asked that the entire current bullpen is in the circle of trust. I mean, this bullpen is a, I think they're a playoff bullpen, Derek. I really do. I mean, the way that we're lining it out, like, I'm. I feel pretty comfortable that this is a postseason type of bullpen,

and that is one of, if not the most important aspects, I think, of winning in the postseason if you make it in. And that's going to be the big if the big if, is can the dionbacks get in? But I think that if they do, knock on wood, this bullpen with Maria, with Ginkle, with Carrillo, with, you know, J-Mart, Brandon Garcia, Taylor Clark. Didn't Dre Jameson just strike out the side in a rehab start

in a one, two, three inning the other night too. I mean, they have decent options as well, but like that, like, I just named like five or six guys. They don't really need anybody else in the playoffs. That's what I'm saying. They're going to unload the tank with those, with those players. And I feel about as good about that core five, core six guys as almost any team in baseball right now. I think that they are honestly that good. They really are.

Is it getting to the point where you personally would rather see the Diamondbacks not rush Ryan? and Nelson back any longer this season as a reliever considering the parts we have considering that Zach Lattel seems to be working out just fine as a long reliever and the other pieces have been like seem to be just fine it doesn't if rush is truly the the the correct terminology there because I mean he could be progressing very swiftly through his rehab because his arm just looks great like I you know what I mean like who are we to determine that but yeah they shouldn't rush him through because there's not like a dire need If he's ready, though, I'm fine with them kind of swiftly bringing him through the process.

Again, like that he's a longer-term asset for this organization. So they can't, they can't risk his long-term health. And they know that. The defects are very cautious with injuries. Plus, I get it. If he's ready, he's ready. It didn't derail Brandon fought to become a reliever for a short period of time and then go to AAA Reno and get back to being a starter.

No, it saved his career. It became one of the best pictures in baseball because of it. So, David, maybe we put them through the same thing. Maybe we have them do the same thing. Maybe we do. I mean, I'm looking at people there talking about Brandon Fott's contract and they're like, this was looking like one of the biggest issues with the Diamondbacks entire organization in the foreseeable future.

Just given that they have them extended for what, like four or five more seasons or something at a pretty sizable amount of money. Now you're looking at it and you're like, is this the best contract in baseball? Is this the best contract on the Diamondbacks outside of Corbyn Carroll? Brandon Fott might be a front line starting pitcher. and he's making like 8 mil a season or something like that. Hopefully he keeps it up, man. It's been God said.

It's been awesome. Yeah. I mean, Brandon Fought has changed the dynamic of this team. Yeah. Brandon Fought has changed the dynamic of the starting rotation. And he's changed his importance. And Seroca back. And Seroca being back.

Right. But we got a, we still got a rookie in there. And the Diamondbacks got to get that last piece back with that last piece, hopefully being Corbin Burns returning soon. So we're going to talk about the probabilities for this. upcoming series with the Boston Red Sox. And of course, hopefully it breaks some news for you during this show about Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawler being back.

We're back. And we were never, we were never gone. We were never, we were never out. We've never been more back. But we're going to talk about that series on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere? You're watching the PH&X Diamondback show. Well, Circle K is my favorite place to stop on a day like this.

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and tell them PHNX sent you. Well, we have another tough series here with another good team in baseball. Another weird team. Boston has been probably one of the most chaotic teams in all of MLB this season, considering how bad they were at one point and how good they have become.

They've had some incredible winning streaks, and they have just been a team that really found its way, especially after the All-Star break. But so did the Diamondbacks. And whenever we were looking at who had the best record since July 9th, there was always the D-backs and the Red Sox kind of hand in hand there, right? But at one point, the Boston Red Sox did start actually coming back down to Earth and losing games. And in fact, they are three and seven in their last 10 games played this year.

So let's take a look here at the Boston Red Sox overall at a glance and how they match up with your Arizona Diamond for this three-game series. And again, you kind of feel a little good here about some of these things, especially the timing on this particular series and when it's taking place. The Red Sox do have a 720-Team OPS, which is tied for 14th in baseball. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks do have a 715 OPS. It's getting respectable. They are 18th. Team ERA for both teams, quite a difference there. The Boston Red Sox have a 3.52 team ERA. And in fact, they have the best. best bullpen ERA right now in all of MLB. Their bullpen ERA is 2.98 first, number one, overall.

They're starting pitching ERA 3.91, which is still also very good. It is 10th. They have 11 outs above average, which is tied for 7th. Meanwhile, the Diamondbacks drop to third with the St. Louis Cardinals sliding in there and taking that number two spot away from the debacks there for outs above average. I blame Joshua Baez. I don't know. I'm just going to blame him for everything because he's baseball Jesus and I got to. But the Red Sox, like I said, do R66 and 58 this year. They have a plus 81 run differential,

and they are 3 and 7 in their last 10 games. So again, even though they have had some amazing winning streaks and have been a very difficult team to beat at times, now is a good time to be playing them. I've said this time and time again. Predictive stats, expected stats, all sorts of stuff. even the projections for what the record is going to be at the end and who's going to make the playoffs and what percentage they have of making a playoffs. These are all just attempts at telling the future. But nobody actually can tell the future.

And the only thing you can do at times is worry about how hot the team you're playing is right now when you're playing them. That seems to be the case with a lot of teams in baseball. But let's see. We got from, Cesar says from Jody Jackson, Nolan Arnottos on the field with a bat and ad. more to come. Yeah, that was what I was referencing earlier about him being on field

with a bat in hand. So don't know what that means. Don't know just if a bat in hand means that he's okay. Don't know if he's had that MRI yet, but I feel like that's a very good sign that we're seeing Nolan on the field with a bat in hand. Again, hopefully if he does have to miss any time

it's like some of these other injuries where the guys have only had to take like a day or two off and then can get back on the field. Without Nolan, third base is not a sure thing. I think the minute that we don't have Aronado over there at third doing the stuff that he does defensively, we are going to very quickly miss Aronado being over there at third. So let's hope he doesn't miss too much time because that man is incredible. Stop calling him an

unk because I don't even know what that makes me if Arnado is an unk, I was going to say that's entirely self-serving on your end saying stop calling him an unk. Like, that's just because you don't want to feel bad. And we all know. We see right through it. Let's look at probable pictures. Shut up. Just shut up.

Let's look at probable pictures. I'm done with you. I'm done feeling old. Damon told me, like, Derek, like he was like, Derek, did you know you're old? He just said that to me randomly while we were planning the show. Because Derek, you said something like. I knew who the knack was. They asked me who sang my Sharona.

That's not my fault that I know musicians and stuff. No, it was something about, oh, there's no more bananas at the banana stand or something. Rested Development reference. Is that old? Like, what is happening? Arrested developments from a long time ago at this point. God, I hate it here so much. Let's move on to the problem pictures.

I'm done with you. All right. Well, again, this series is going to be an interesting one for the Diamondbacks. They got kind of an unknown quantity here in game one in Mitch Bratt going up against Alec Gamboa for the Boston Red Sox. Brat has been outstanding at times. and Alec Gamboa has a very limited sample size, but he has been successful in his time starting there for the Boston Red Sox.

Again, though, two young guys going at it and not sure exactly what you're going to get in that matchup, just kind of like you don't know what you're going to get in the finale there with, again, two of the best young pitchers in all of baseball going up against each other in Peyton Tolley and Brandon Fott. I mean, lately it's these guys just every time they go out there and start, it's a highlight reel. Peyton Toley's awesome. He is awesome and it makes me sick that there was ever even maybe a chance of him being a diamond bag. I think that, you know, like in hindsight, like Mike Hay's invidicated on that Cattel trade situation because, you know, like if we had, if we got Peyton Tolly, maybe, you know, all of a sudden we wouldn't be feeling like, You know, like it was the, you know, the worst trade in the entire world.

If you got him and maybe a couple other players as part of it, but, you know, the Red Sox weren't willing to part with the, you know, package needed to get Cattel. And so we hold on and we, again, lose this number. Pay up or lose this number. Overpay or lose this number. We were very clear all offseason, Derek. Yeah. Very clear. Ernesto in the chat says, did you see the OJ chase?

Derek, probably. I was in California during the OJJs. Oh, God. I'm just going to move on. I don't need, why, why am I incriminating myself? Why am I incriminating myself? You were driving a car probably on the freeway. Oh, no, I was not old enough to drop the car.

You were going to work. You were going to work back then. No, my dad was the GM of a hotel. Sure, Derek. You were like 30 years old when OJ happened. Last thing I want to talk about there with the probable pictures is, again, a very much unknown in the middle. game there, game two. Like it feels like, unfortunately, Merrill Kelly with his 5.11 ERA is not, you just can't rely on

him, right? But it's, as we've said, this team wins and loses based on Merrill Kelly's performance. And that's why he is 8 and 10. And that's why this team, you know, again, still needs him and still gets good performances out of Kelly. You just don't know consistently what you're going to get. And he goes up against Ranger Suarez, who's a very good starter there for the Boston Red Sox. He's missed some time, but definitely has, you know, a lot to give and is a very

difficult starter to go up again. So this is not going to be an easy series, but if the Diamondbacks can find a way to win this one and come back from this road trip, four and six, or four out of six, or five out of six, it would be literally amazing. So at the very least, you know, coming home three and three is not a disaster, but anything better than that is definitely. definitely a win for this team and hopefully they can get the job done in Boston. It needs to happen. And this is a team right now that, like I said, they've lost seven out of their last 10 games. Yeah, you got them at a good time for sure, especially because they've been playing such

good baseball before this most recent stretch. So got to take advantage of it, right? Yeah. And as you talked about with the Red Sox, like, and you mentioned in this episode, they're such a streaky team. They are. It feels like they're probably one of the shriekiest team in baseball or they're not. not playing very good at all.

Yeah. So if you get them in a stretch where they're not playing very good at all, just you got to take advantage of it. That's pretty much what it is. And that's what baseball is and has been all season long. I mean, the Diamondbacks have been lucky enough to catch some of these teams when they were down. They've also caught some of the teams when they were playing some of their best baseball.

That's why as much as it's the end of the world for us to lose a series at home to the Colorado Rockies, it's more about the fact that the Rockies were just playing good baseball. And we caught them at an unfortunate time when we weren't. Well, and I think the Diamondbacks typically play up and down to their competition. They do that as well. They do that as well. But the Rockies have been able to put up a lot of runs this year. And you can notice that the Diamondbacks, at times, they can't hang with those teams.

They can hang with the teams that keep games close. Which is weird. You know, but the teams that like randomly, like the athletics and other teams, the White Sox, that have those ability to sometimes just put up double digits and have been doing it a bit, you know, a lot this. season, they're the teams that just the debacks don't match up well with. Yeah. I mean, this season definitely, I think they have the most one run wins in baseball still, which they have led for a majority of this season at minimum.

So I just think that, you know, like the, yeah, the debacks are a team that thrives a little bit more in the close games. And yeah, when a team opens one up, it feels like the debacks can't really hang there. So I agree with you on that perspective. but you still have to find a way to beat the Rockies because the Rockies have horrible pitching. Yeah, I know. So that's when your offense has to finally wake up

and find that life that they had the last couple of seasons, you know, and they haven't been able to do that. That's absolutely true. And that's been their biggest struggle all season long and continues to be. And, you know, it was weird once again there in Atlanta, winning the first game, 2 to nothing, taking the second 1, 10 to 3,

and then losing the finale 5 to 3. You know, it's just the offense is all over the place sometimes, but, you know, hats off to Atlanta. They have a very good rotation. They have a very good bullpen. And the debacks just should be happy to get out of there with two out of three. Same thing here in Boston. They sneak out of there with two out of three and things look really good.

And I'll just say it. It doesn't matter what the standings say right now. It doesn't matter where they're at in the National League wildcard race. I know people want to worry about that. know we want to watch the scoreboards and I know we want to do the comparison thing, but there's just still a lot of baseball to do. And you're going to spin your wheels. I feel like a lot doing that.

If you're starting it on August 17th when you have so many games. I know. Do you want to do it right now? I mean, yeah, for sure. Let's do it right now. But also like I feel like, you know, like that's just kind of, that's the plight of being a baseball fan. Is this like constant looking at every game when there's 162 of these things and overreacting. and freaking out when typically baseball works itself out, right?

But this is the wild card standings as of right now. Let's freak out because the Diamondbacks don't have a wildcard spot right now. They are currently one game out with the Phillies and the Padres being in spots two and three tied for that spot. And yes. The Padres just can't, we can't get them to lose. They can't lose baseball games. It's just eight and two in their last 10. Yeah.

It's just gross. It is gross. And again, the Rocky Series, yeah, the Rocky Series does. doesn't help. That puts us here. So, no, you're right. And then I think on top of that, like, I know that we're feeling good about ourselves because we just beat the Braves, but that can change quick, Derek. Look at where the Marlins are. Look at where the Cardinals are. If you lose to the Red Sox, you get swept, you know, God forbid, you could find yourself three spots out of the Wildcard,

potentially. So every game is pretty important right now. And, yeah, you got to, you got to find a way to win this next series, two, one at least. 100%. 100%. 100%. Well, we're going to take a quick break and on the other side of this break, we're not going to look at the wild card standings anymore, I promise you. We're going to look at your questions because you know what day it is and you know what we do on this day. And we're going to do all of those things when we come back from this break. Don't you go anywhere? You are watching P.HNX Diamondbacks.

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use code P HNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms do apply. Again, create an account and redeem code PHNX for $20 off. Download the GameTime app today. Damon, what time is it? Game time? Well, we are getting some breaking roster news that we knew we were going to get on this episode. Damon, sound the alarm, baby.

We got an update from the Diamondbacks, and of course, that update does involve. Justin Martinez being activated? Is that the, is that the confirmed? confirmed news there, Damon? I honestly was not looking, so I'm hoping so. I just saw it going crazy in the chat. Apparently, it looks like the Diamondbacks are going to activate Jordan Lawler and Justin Martinez, and it looks like the related corresponding move.

Wow. Is that they are going to option. Carrillo. Man, that's something. that's something, but I guess you got limited, limited amount of time. Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawler, Tyler Locklear, and Herardo Carrillo option down, corresponding with that move. Makes some sense just due to the options that Carrillo has there, but also, I don't know.

I don't know. I mean, I guess they want to see what Santana has before they make an assessment there. and again, it's a low-risk situation with Santana because should you not perform, you know, the Diamondbacks could easily turn back to Carrillo. It sucks that you burn an option in that case. But yeah, I mean, it's actually not that shocking. Neither is the Locklear move, right? Like we talked about potentially DFAing Max Kepler or Jorge Barrosa.

And I know that there are people clamoring, especially for Jorge Barrosa to be designated for Simon, just based on his performance, his batting average, everything else. But they still feel like he is an A defender out there and somebody that they can continue to use off the bench. And in spot starts when needed. Meanwhile, Max Kepler, again, he is ineligible for the postseason, but he has been big for this team at times this year. So it's understandable that they would want to keep both of those guys

considering a DFA means that there's a good chance that they're no longer part of the organization. Either could clear waivers and come back to this team, but I'm not sure if that's very likely with teams needing extra bodies at this point of the season and with rosters expanding on September 1st. But overall, it's good news for this team to be getting better. I don't love Cadillo's 0.66RA not being in the bullpen anymore. But, yeah, I mean, Ernesto's right here.

He says, Locklear being sent down, means. no Nolan I.L. Stint. And that's very likely because they would need Tyler Locklear to at least be available over at first base if the intention was to have Ildemar Vargas or Tim Tawa play third. I feel like Vargy would probably be the likely choice over there at third base. And then, you know, you would have Vargat or you would have Tawa and Locklear both available over at first. But yeah, I agree. I do think that this move optioning Locklear down does definitely clear the way for for nolan to be okay but man tell you it's exciting it's exciting to have one of the best arms in this organization back and honestly jordan lawler too like i feel like we're

underestimating what he can bring to this team but i'm very excited about his bat back in the lineup he already has been hitting home runs and his rehab starts and he looks like he is ready uh to be back here helping this team win baseball games so all of that That is very, very exciting news. But let's see. Books Journey says Cadillo is bad for confidence. Eh, I don't know, man. I think that sometimes when it comes to the team,

they understand these moves better than fans do because from their perspective, they understand the importance of being designated for assignment and what that means for you and the organization, as far as that player being a part of the organization, then an option. So options and DFAs are definitely looked at differently. but you are right from the aspect that, you know, he was ball in and, you know, it sucks that

it sucks that you can't be performing so well that you can't be optioned down just because business-wise, that makes the most sense, right? And that's probably what this is. It's more about not getting rid of guys that you are going to essentially have removed from your roster rather than using a guy's option to just temporarily send them down to AAA Reno. And you know what? You're not wrong there. Number one D-Backs fan in Texas. He says, I mean, look what happened when FAP went down.

Maybe he comes back as an even like a 0.00 ERA never lets another earned run happen ever again. Who knows? They're doing something special in Reno right now and I have no idea what it is. But Damon and I have been oddly invited by the president of the Reno Aces to come checking out in person. And so we're going to have to make that happen for sure. I just asked the question, Derek, what the hell is going on in Reno, Nevada? And he goes, good things, brother. Going to have to get you on out here.

Deal. We're there. Derek and I are there. Secret stuff? And Max used to work for them too, right? Yeah. So like I said, I'll come back here as such a better podcaster after that. My numbers will be improved.

Accuracy will be up. I mean, we'll even be doing longer shows. Who knows. Yeah, we probably would be a different beast after a quick little Reno skin. Yeah, it's fine. But we're fine now. We're everyday starters around here and we are needed. But especially on Mondays, Damon, because of course, you know what we do around here on Mondays.

You know that every single year on this podcast is our year. Every single year, we are back on this podcast and it is the year of the snake. Every single month on this podcast is Hispanic Heritage Month. Every single week on this podcast is Shark Week. Every single day on this podcast is Earth Day because Damon and I recycle. But on Mondays, we go the mailbag. Damon, let's go the mailbag. Shout out to Game Time for always powering our mailbag Monday segment.

And always getting you cheaper tickets on going to see baseball games just like these in Boston. Like I said, we can use some reinforcements up there. So if you are a Boston adjacent fan anywhere in the tri-state area, make your way over to Fenway right now. Get yourself some cheap tickets with game time and watch this team do its thing. Damon, what do we got in the mailbag today? Our first question is from Travis Moore, as always. And Travis says, I don't find there to be an advantage to getting the fifth versus the sixth wildcard spot.

Obviously, the fourth spot gets to play a home series. So there's an advantage there. But whether you're fifth or sixth after that doesn't matter. matter. Atlanta or Chicago is kind of a wash, agree or disagree. Well, after beating Atlanta the way we have, taking like nine out of the last 12 games, I kind of want Atlanta more than I would want the Chicago Cubs, speaking frankly. Well, I mean, it could be the Dodgers. I mean, it could be the Dodgers.

And then we beat the Dodgers pretty well this season. So do you want them? Yes, because it's our job to, we created that monster. It is our job to put it down. So I will take the Dodgers in the first round. I think he's right, though. I don't think that there's this big difference. I don't even think winning the division matters that much anymore.

Obviously, if you're the number one or number two seed in the NL or the AL, that makes a huge difference because you don't have to play in that first round. But I think overall, he's right. I mean, it's pretty much just about getting into the postseason. Even if you get the third spot, it doesn't matter that you won the division, you're still playing in the wild card round just like everybody else, right? So I do think that, you know, home field advantage would be nice. I also think that this particular team plays very well on the road

and has proven that they can win on the road, especially in big games. So I'm not that concerned with not having home field advantage. What I will say is that the wild card, having three wild card spots and being what it is now and involving one of the divisional winners does kind of make the postseason just more about getting in and less about how you finish in regards to any of that stuff. Just get in. Anything can happen. And in fact, I said this the other day,

but I almost feel like when you are fighting for this wildcard spot, like the Diamondbacks, the Phillies, the Padres are going to be for the next month. Plus, you are kind of already in the playoffs. This is what baseball used to be at its core. It's 162 games long for a reason. Those 162 games used to be played entirely against just your league, and the majority of those games were played just against your division. It gave teams that were 10 games out an opportunity to catch up to the division leader,

because if they got hot and the division leader cooled off, there were a lot of games left to play against that team, and directly beating them is the best way for you to make up ground and catch them in the division. Baseball used to be a playoff race throughout the entire year. And, you know, now with the addition of these wildcard spots, you kind of see that, once again, as always, Jesse Friedman was right, right? And Jesse Friedman was right about the fact that the more teams you add to the playoffs,

the more you water down the purpose of having a 162 game season. A season where you can get hot and win plenty of games, but then cool off in September. And now all of those games you want are meaningless because you're going in the wrong direction at the wrong time, while teams that have been fighting for their lives for the last two months match up with you in the first round and all you have over them at that point is home field advantage.

I think that objectively, I do think that like the old way of like having the best record and going straight to the World Series and that's how you win the pennant, it's kind of cool. It's very like Premier League soccer like over like you where the league is what matters and it's over the course of a season is how you get invited to the big world series at the end of the year. It's how the season used to work. That does not help us, though, as D-BACS fans.

No. While objectively, I think that that's a cool- We beat up on the division this year. This is the one year where we have been doing well. So what that proves is- The Dodgers would make the World Series every year if we just did the old Penn it way. True.

Very true. So that wild-card spots directly help the Diamondbacks. Well, you still always had like the DS and the CS. You still had to play through rounds, right? So it's not like it was just given to you. Not always. Oh, you're talking about like the old, old days. Yeah.

It was like that for a long time. I mean, but for the most part, you've always, you still have to win games to get in, right? But you're right. I mean, it does, the more you add to it, the more rounds there are, the more games you have to play, the less that these regular season games mean. They're always going to mean something because you have to win enough to make the postseason. But having 162 of them starts to feel redundant and unnecessary. It also feels like the only reason.

reason why we're not going to stop doing 162 is because of money. And that, to me, seems like another really stupid reason to not want to do something, right? But what do I know? I'm broke all the time. And I don't really have money, so I don't know what it's like to have money. And then when I do get money, I spend it on all of these shirts and hats that I wear. What else we got there, Damon? So to answer his question, I agree.

I don't think it really matters. And I think, again, as long as you are in the playoffs in any position, still would there being a limited amount of teams that make it, right? Six teams for each league, you know, you're, you're, you're, you have a chance to do something special. I feel like it means more than any other sport, because in any other sport, you have the fact that, you know, those particular games, um, or, or your, your last seed making it in, you are not going to advance. And, and it's a miracle if you do, right? But in baseball, that's not the case. I mean, in baseball, we've seen the final wildcard team make it to the playoff or make it to the post world series

several times now so I don't think that I don't I don't think that's the case but anyway and people in the chat saying that you remember the old pennant days you're all bunch you're all bunch of assholes you're all bunch of asses remember remember shulist joe derrick that must have really taken a lot out of the nation when that went down yeah I know people were morale went down across the country I'm sure back in the 20s I lived in a time when there was peace in this world so think none of you know anything about. We used to like each other, believe it or not, before the internet. Doubt it.

Oh, yeah, we really did. We used to like each other at one point. What else we got? Next question here is from Ed Holinsky, who says, realistically, can the debacks catch the Dodgers? And is there enough time left in this season to do so? This is exactly what I'm talking about. I mean, this is a great question from Ed.

I know we've kind of, we got excited after we won that series over the Dodgers. And we were in shouting distance. Dodgers won a lot of games, or lost a lot of games, I should say. and they got to a point where the diamondbacks were seven and a half back, I think, at the closest. But if there was a team right now in the wildcard race that was seven and a half back, I would say they don't even have a chance. They don't even have a shot at catching up, even though mathematically they do. Right.

So I will say where the diamond backs are at right now, no. There's probably not a great chance that they're able to catch the Dodgers without having any series left to play against them and with just having like 30, 40, two days left in the baseball season. I'm going to say no, that they're probably not going to catch the Dodgers. They're currently pretty far back from that team, eight games back.

But again, the Dodgers have just lost two in a row, and you never know what could happen. I think, as I just said, for the last question, though, really all it matters is that you're going to get in. The Diamondbacks aren't going to achieve one of the best records in National League. There's hardly any way that they're going to win

as many games as they need to to be a number one or number two seed. So at that point, the only thing that truly matters about winning the NNA West would be doing it one to smite the Dodgers, which would be a great reason to do so. And, you know, to get home field advantage, which would also be very nice for the debacks to have. But we also know that home field isn't really a home field for this team during a lot of games during the regular season. So they're kind of used to playing road games. I think that the, when we play the Dodgers in 20,

those actually were home games. Oh, 100%. Playoff games are a different animal for the Diamondbacks and for this fan day. So I'm not going to take anything away from them for showing up. I guess my point being is that the Diamondbacks are used to not really having that during the regular season in a lot of series and in a lot of games at Chase Field.

So them not having that big home field, home crowd advantage behind them isn't that big of a deal. They are the comeback kids, though. So batting in the bottom of the ninth is always a very, very good. thing for this team. What else we got there in the mailbag demon? Our next question is from Jarmie who says Jerry versus MOU mascots is exactly what I signed up for. He put a beat down on the Braves drill embodied Mr. Red. Does Jerry suffer from childhood mascot trauma or is he playing

chess when the opposing team is playing checkers? Is Jerry Baxter's secret weapon on the road? I mean, that's a loaded question. I mean, there's a lot to take on there. First of all, yes. For sure. Yes. When Geraldo Perdomo was a young boy, him and his parents actually, they went to a show. I think it was like a live show at a theater. Had a great time.

But when they were leaving, they went through this dark alley and they were in fact accosted by a mascot. I was a group of them. I heard a gang. Well, it was actually, it's still to this day it's debatable. People still haven't figured out if it was. in fact, this mascot named Joe something, or if it was the Joker, or if it was a clown mascot, I don't really know. But regardless, this mascot, this mascot bodied his parents right in front of them.

I mean, full on as, as, took his mom's pearl necklace. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Ran them over with their little car. It was tough to watch. And again, Pardomo always remembers that and will never forget it to this. day and any chance he gets an opportunity to act, enact his vengeance, his revenge upon any mascot, he doesn't miss. You know what I mean?

Like he doesn't miss that opportunity to get involved. And yes, I mean, it's also done for a strategic advantage. So to answer both of your questions, he is playing chess. In fact, it's 4D chess because he knows how you can't like go start a fight with. with an opposing player, you can't go over and, you know, grab one of the starting pitchers by the arm and throw them down on the ground, but you can do it with that drill in Atlanta.

You can take those presidents out in Washington. You can cook every single one of those dogs in Milwaukee. You know what I mean? Like you can, no one's going to stop you. No one's going to stop you. Unless it was Tori. Because Tori actually did have to pin Perdomo down in the dugout yesterday to keep him from,

going out there and once again attacking the mascots. And honestly... It's very Robin Lopez-esque. It's... He probably should have just let him go out there and do it. I honestly think if there was one thing that Tories should be criticized on Sunday, it wasn't what happened with Brandon Garcia.

It was not letting Pardomo go out there and take care of business. Because had he done that, the sweep was inevitable. The Braves couldn't sit there and watch their mascots get chunked by Heraldo Pardomo and then like go take it. at bat without having that be in their heads? It's crazy.

Yeah. And was there any other part of that question I missed? Was there the last part? I think we're done with that one. I think we're done in general with a lot of these. We got one more from Twitter, though, don't we? Is Baxter Jerry's Seeker weapon? Or is Jerry Baxter's secret weapon was the end of the question.

See, that's, I don't know, because I think Baxter is friends with a lot of these mascots. Is he not? He invites him to their birthday party. He shows up for their birthday party. Maybe he's, maybe it's kind of like an insider. Like he's, he's trying to like be a double agent type of situation there. I think he's just trying to ensure that next year he gets,

um, that batting title again for the home run derby for mascots. I also think like, do mascots value themselves higher than other mascots, right? Like does, does Baxter think of himself as being better than the legends? I know most of us do.

Right? Like, does whatever the hell Milwaukee have as a mascot hate the hot dogs because they're lesser than him? I don't know. Those guys only come out for one inning thing. The Baxter, he's out there the whole time and beat L.A. underwear and rocking different outfits once we get into extra innings and everything. Like, Baxter's putting the work. I'm sure he doesn't love the attention that those legends get and steal away from him. But anyway, we got one more, Damon.

And what else we got there in the mailback? Yeah, our next question is from Karen with the C who says, Gallen has a record of 44 and a third scoreless innings. Do you think Fott will break it? Man, the fall off of Zach Gallen, man. You're not wrong. God, it hurts. I think that's almost what you take away from that more than how good Brandon Fott is doing.

100%. We know how good Brandon Fought is doing. But to be honest, yeah, that just once again shows how crazy it is that Zach Gallon was one of the most elite pitchers in baseball. He was insane. I don't know. I will say that I don't care about stuff like this that much. I care that Brandon Fott continues to put up, you know, performances of two earned run or less.

But you are right. At this point, Brandon Fought now has four consecutive starts of not allowing an earned run. And I probably just cursed it by discussing it. But, you know, if you do the math on that right now, he's up to 27 and two-thirds innings scoreless. 44 isn't that far away. So I'm when number one D-back fans. At this point, yeah, I say yes. I think there's a good chance that he could do that.

I also don't think, like, I'm going to be mentally devastated if he doesn't do that and gives up an earned run or two here or there. Can't say the same about this entire fan base. Some people are probably, that's probably going to be it for them. That's their final, that's their final straw. They're going to be out. And you also have, of course, you know, his matchup in the finale there where he is going to very much need to be his best to match up with Peyton Tolly against this Boston Red Sox team. It's going to be a tough matchup there.

All right. Let's go ahead and take a quick break. On the other side of this break, we're going to do some mailbag Monday questions from Discord. Don't you guys go anywhere? You are watching the pH next Diamondback show. Well, if you're looking for the ultimate spot to watch the game, Place a few bets. Join me and Damon, betting on red on the tables downstairs,

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With so many possibilities, how will you use My Style? Apply for your MyStyl checking account at any Mountain America branch or MACU.com slash MyStyl Today. Insured by NCUA membership required based on eligibility. Some benefits require no cost registration activation, terms, conditions, and exclusions do apply. And apparently there is some more breaking news. Andrew Hoffman has been designated for assignment by this team. And that is another unfortunate breaking piece of information because Hoffman was actually a very, very big part of this team

for a short period of time there last year. He came in as a youngster that was part of that trade that was one of the trades with... He was at the Royals for Gritchick. Yeah, for Gritchick. That's right. And I mean, he was impressive, super bad. I loved him. He sounded like Michael Sarah.

He looked like Jonah Hill. Couldn't get enough of the guy. Especially his tales about his car being shipped to Reno after the trade and then him coming here to this team and being without his car. But the official moves are now official. Justin Martinez is back reinstated from the 60-day injured list with a sprained right UCL. Jordan Lawler is reinstated from the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring. Herardo Carrillo and Tyler Locklear have both been optioned to AAA Reno following yesterday's game, and Andrew Hoffman has been designated for assignment.

Hoffman did struggle this year for the Diamondbacks, and again, it comes down to them having a lot of arms coming back and not enough space for everybody. So best wishes to Hoffman, and I hope wherever he lands, he continues to improve and have himself a successful career that makes us regret getting rid of him. that's all I can say about any guy that we lose. I hope that you go on to be so successful that we hate that this day came and come to talk about it for a very long time. But let's get to some more mailbag money. You're a nicer guy than me, Derek. I have to be. I have to be.

I've been yelled that too many times. The thing is you don't really, you don't really mean that, though, is the thing. You just, you like to play this nice guy out. No, no, no. But then behind closed doors, you're like, you're like, son of a bitch. How did we, how did we let go of this guy? No, that's different. That's different.

I'm more angry about the move. Yes, off air than I am. I mean, when it comes to like, negativity to our lives. How could you not be upset? Well, because these unfortunate moves have to be made. They do, right? You have to start getting rid of guys because the roster is going to be too full.

You got to free up some space on your 40-man roster and the 26-man roster. And both of those things are difficult to do when you have so many guys you're giving an opportunity to. and still giving other guys like Zach Lattel and Santana opportunities with this team. So I don't know. But like I said, I'm just saying this because when I get to know these guys personally from that perspective, that I truly mean that. It's hard to be around people like these athletes to root for them,

to meet them, to hear their stories, and then be like, all right, see you, a loser. Like, you're never going to get that out of me. But what is? It is what it is. And no, cool, bro. I'm not a fake, nice guy. And you guys have all been very mean in the chat today.

I'm just going to tell you that. But no, it's more about me being upset, Damon was saying, about the move rather than it being about me not liking the guy. So whatever. But let's go on with the Discord questions. Damon, what else we got? Our next question comes from, man, work with me here, technology. It will eventually. it's in there.

Okay. Our next question here is from Hanley, Ryan Hanley, of course, who says, what are your thoughts on friends, family members cutting the line at a concert amusement park? Is there no honor system? I hate this. I hate this so much. Now, here's the problem I have, is that you're probably going to, like, save seats for those people at some point.

an amusement park, let's be honest, we come together, we endure the fact that we traveled in a car together so that we could have fun riding rides together. So is it not okay that I go get an ice cream and then come sneak back in line with my family? And yes, I say that as a person who's guilty of doing it so often. So, but I don't know. I mean, you're kind of right. Concerts? Are we talking about general admission concerts? I don't know. I don't know. If there's a limited number of seats and you're letting people cut with you, then I might have a passive aggressive sigh or two to direct in your direction, right? I think he's thinking a little bit more of like maybe like, you know, they're waiting to let people in the doors and there's a line formed outside.

First of all, if you have tickets, everyone's getting in. If you have tickets to an event where you have a seat, stop waiting in line. What are you people waiting in line for? So that you can be the first to get in the building. Maybe there's a floor. Maybe it's the Van Buren. Maybe there's a given. You know what I mean? Now, okay, that's fair.

That's fair. Is it fair to cut in line there with your friend group? See, that's what I'm talking about. Like, oh, am I supposed to not be with my group when we go into a show where we intended to all be together and stand together? Is it really going to change that much? Am I just going to secure a spot on the floor where I get in anyway? And then those people are going to get there.

And then they're going to squeeze their way through the crowd to come down and be there. And then if you're going to squeeze their way through the crowd to come down and be there. if you're close to me, you're going to have to spread out and find ways to make space so my friends can fit next to you. Like, none of that seems like it's worth it. It's not worth it, right? But I will say, yeah, like when it comes to stuff like merch lines at a concert, screw that. Screw letting your friends sneak in line with you at the merch. There are so many XL shirts up there of the concert tee, and I want one, and I'm standing here, and I'm supposed to be okay with you letting like three guys that are my size specifically get in line in front of me. Ain't happening.

ain't happening. So there's that. But all right, what else we got? Let them cut in line at the theme park. Stop being a stickler for rules handly. I'll let you cut in line. I'd let you all cut in line.

Except you know who. I'm pretty okay with the cutting in general, like if it's like one or two people or something. But the problem comes when it's like a group of like six people that want to cut in line. And then it's like, okay, now you guys can actually all go in the back of the line and be, if you want to be with each other so bad.

But if you don't. If you don't, then you can go in the back of the line and they can stay up front. You can't go half and half group here. If you're meeting up with some people, though, maybe you drove the car, you parked it, you dropped everybody off at the front and you're the one guy that's getting in line. I think that that's fair game. Yeah. I'm going to the Van Buren on Wednesday, I believe.

And one of the things that I was asked was like, what time do you want to get there before doors? And I said, why were we going to get there before doors? And then they said, like, well, don't you want to secure a good place? at the show because it's a general mission show. I said, don't you losers want to stand by the back so you have easy access to the bar anyway? Because that's what you guys make me do every time we go to a show like this anyway. And they're like, oh, yeah. I feel like lines are just something we just want to get into.

Like instinctually, we just want to be in line and we want to be at the front of line or as close to the front. It's just a weird thing for me. I try not to go to anything where I don't have to stand in line. If I'm going to just be able at one point to walk in the door and still sit in the same seat, I'm fine. but that does not go for bobblehead days and other days at the ballpark either. Screw you back in the line. You want to be with your friends? Back the line.

Everybody back in the line. There are definitely a limited amount of those. 10,000 and I'm supposed to let you cut in front of me? Absolutely not. I think we drew the lines. I think we figured out where the districts are on this particular topic. What else we got? Next question is from number one DBAX fan in Texas.

Who says which Diamondbacks players would be most likely to see at a Renaissance festival and what would their outfits be? also what's your most controversial food take other than pineapple pizza xyz dig deeper okay so let's start with the renaissance festival one and why it's 100% going to be james mccan james mccan i feel like is going to look for any event that he can be at openly where he is wearing a shirt uh armless sleeveless shirt and tassels right so what better place that he could get away with that than there he's definitely going to be able to wear some beaded tassels uh arm bands and he's going to be able to wear like a cool thing. Plus, I know James McCann is a great father. So not only is he going to take his kids

to the Renaissance Festival, but he is the dad that's going to be 100% all in on that. And I don't even know if it's a sleeveless top. Not like I think about it, it might just be like leather straps that go across his chest like that, like bandaliers and like a night helmet or a crown or something. I don't know. But it's definitely James McCann. 100%. The only other person I could imagine actually being at a Renaissance festival and enjoying themselves is Heraldo Perdomo. And that's because I think that guy is just going to have a fun time doing literally anything. Like it's immersive for him.

So he's going to go, he's going to wear a costume too. He's going to go ride with James McCann. It's going to be Uncle Jerry to the kids. And they are going to have a blast. I don't know what Jerry would dress up as, probably a night. But like he would go too hard. He would get like a full Knight's costume with like chain mail and metal and then realize what a bad idea that was cooking in the Arizona sun out there in the middle of nowhere. But still, those are my choices for that.

I also thought Jester too. You're not wrong, number one D-Backs fan. Jester was in my mind. But I thought saying that Jerry would dress up as a jester felt mean. So that's what I got. But what else we got in the mail bag, Damon? Next question here is from Deborah, who says, what do you think will happen with the rest of the season? season.

Will the D-backs make the playoffs or not, I think is probably more. I was going to say, I think Damon and I will claim that we are back and that it's over at least 15 more times. That's what I think will happen. That's probably a fair judgment to make. I think the Diamondbacks are going to finish with 88 wins and are going to finish in the third wild card spot behind the Chicago Cubs and the San Diego Padres. That's what I think is going to happen.

Stamp it. Time to stamp this one. Record it. down to him because we're probably going to have to revisit this and either tell me what an idiot I was or brag about how right I was. But yeah, I think they're going to make the playoffs. I think they're going to continue to get better. I think the big unknown is obviously how these guys perform when they come back and have

to face major league pitching or hitting. And I think Justin Martinez has looked outstanding so far in his rehab starts and he's I'm very encouraged by him. Corbyn Burns though is the true X factor for this team. what what corbond burns is when he returns to this team is going to completely change this team potentially or you know he's going to struggle and it's going to be a letdown and i'm not sure if they can overcome that letdown i feel like they're equipped for it i feel like they've overcome a lot this season but you know waiting for essentially one of the most elite pitchers in baseball to return only to have him no longer be elite would not only feel

like a very diamond backs thing to have happened to us, but it also feels like, you know, the kind of thing that that could just be too much to overcome. But they still have plenty of depth here when it comes to starting pitching. So I'm doubtful that that is going to be the case. Let's get one more in and get out of here. What do we got? Our next question here comes from Sean, who has a series of questions, Derek, and says, number one, let's hit these number one. Let's do these one at a time. If you door dashed grocery list that includes Dejorno pizza, does that, does it become delivery and Dejarno instead of not delivery de Janeiro? Okay, that's a really stupid question, but a fair one. And yes, it does become delivering de journo, right?

That's like if I invite you over to Netflix and chill, but instead you pick a fight with me about the dishes and we just scream at each other for 45 minutes, even while Stranger Things is playing, that's not Netflix and chill anymore. You know? It's Netflix and fight. I don't know. It does get changed. So, yes, it's delivering a journal. Question two, please. Question two. Why did the number of Froyo shops skyrocket in the late 2000s, early 2010s?

In the Northwest Valley in particular, it felt like the number per square mile was high. Was this a statement from Big Froyo? No, it wasn't a big statement from Big Froyo. Though what it was a statement was investment firms and other evil, diabolical companies, that want to open franchises and take all of our money, realized how easy it was to open a Froyo shop where it is a do-it-yourself Froyo shop. Again, when I grew up back in the 50s,

you had to go to like a soda shop and they had to have like a soda jerk, make you an ice cream back behind the counter. They mixed the syrup itself with the soda. They would literally take cream and churn it for you and make it into some fresh-made ice cream. And then we get saltwater taffy. Yeah.

But now what basically happened was they realized they could run frozen yogurt shops with one disinterested teenager who all they had to do was clean the machines as the day went on and weigh your yogurt on a stupid little weight, you know, on a little scale and charge you whatever the computer said. So once Froyo shops became like essentially do it yourself the way they're trying to make everything into with automation. It was easy to own them and keep them open and have them run. It's a food place, but it's not particularly difficult to make the food or get the license to have for Oyo. And overall, it's just about keeping those machines clean, which easier said than done, based on my friend who was a plumber that worked for a certain big franchise fast food shop

that has a lot of soft served ice cream and their machines break all the time because they're disgusting inside. That's why. But no, it wasn't a story. statement from Big Froya. It was a statement by a sign of things to come. A sign of things to come. Yeah. That wanted to open places that they didn't have to have human beings run. It was a statement of what was to come in America. Yeah.

With corporations. Exactly. In big business. All right. Now we have real questions. Number three, assuming the MRI for Nolan goes poorly, what do you think the plan is for third base? Well, hopefully that's not the case with the news we're hearing. But I think the plan, once again, would probably be to have Ilamar Vargas over there at third and Tim Tawa take over at first. You do have Gino Gruver. as well. Excuse me, we're not allowed to call him Gino anymore. Lou James, artist formerly known as

Gino Groover over there that could come down and play some third base for them. That's kind of his natural position. So if they did need that, they could put Nolan on the 10-day IL and call it Gino. Gruver. Lou James. And then the last one wasn't really a question. It was just shouting us out, Derek, for what we do here. Shout you, Damon, in the chat, most of them, let's hope the Ph. and X-Dbex family doesn't suffer a legdown to end the regular season again. See, nobody liked you. I just want to throw that out there. But anyway, thank you, Sean. We love you. We appreciate your questions. And thank you all. We thank you all. We'll be back here tomorrow with another post-game show. Remember, Mailbag Monday isn't what it is without your questions. So we thank you so much for submitting those.

Of course, like I said, you can follow us on social media. We'll be back tomorrow for another post-game show after, actually more than just a post-game show, right? Damon. We are doing a watch-along tomorrow. for game two of the Boston Red Sox series. So join us for a watch-along, join us for the game, and then join us after the game. We're going to do all that stuff. So we're going to have a great time. Of course, until then, you can follow us on social.

I'm at Cap underscore Caveman with a K. Damon is at Damon Dog with a D-A-W-G at the end, and we're all damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our show is at P-H-N-X underscore D-Backs, but as always all roads lead to at P-HNX underscore Sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you guys for your time.

Appreciate you. We'll see you back here tomorrow. whole lot of baseball action. Gonna be talking for like three hours, four hours. But until then, behave yourself, Lando, and remember kids, baseball is fun, but it's so much more fun when you don't constantly remind me how old I am.