PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - MUST-WIN Series? Diamondbacks Face Giants With Postseason Dreams Hanging in the Balance

Episode Date: September 15, 2025

📬 Arizona sports in your inbox! https://gophnx.com/newsletterEvery series matters for the Diamondbacks down the stretch, but none more than this week’s showdown with the Giants starting Monday. With the postseason hanging in the balance, we preview the matchup and break down what the D-backs must do to keep their playoff hopes alive. Dalton Feely from Jomboy Media joins the show to share his thoughts on the series win over the Twins and what losing Blaze Alexander to injury could mean for their playoff push. Plus, we 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-thermostatsBranded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order!Zen Leaf: Visit our friends at Zen Leaf (http://zen-leaf.store/phnx) for 50% off using promo code ZENPHNXSpencer’s Appliances: Visit Spencerstv.com and use code PHNX5 for 5% off appliances OR use code PHNX10 for 10% off TVs, audio and mattressesChicken N’ Pickle: Family friendly fun awaits! Visit chickennpickle.com to plan your visit today!Phoenix Raceway: Tickets, hospitality and upgrades are still available for the NASCAR Championship Series October 31st through November 2nd! Visit the link HERE to get yours now!Visit Mountain America Credit Union to learn more about their MyStyle Checking Accounts!bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets!Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 20% off your first order!Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply.Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 35% off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people.Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you!Monarch Money: Use Monarch Money to get control of your overall finances with 50% off your first year at https://www.monarchmoney.com/phnxAll Pro Shade Concepts: Call 623-204-1476 or visit https://allproshadeconcepts.com/ now to schedule your free estimate!When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

I don't mean to sound dramatic, even though you know I am dramatic, but the Diamondbacks are about to start the most important series of the entire season. We are talking about it and answering your Mailbag Monday questions in 30 seconds. Don't you go anywhere. Do another edition of the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast live from Studio K, presented by our friends at Circle K. My name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX. Happy Monday to you all.

happy Roberto Clemente day out there, Chase Field today, you all. And, of course, welcome in to the Ph.NX Diamondbacks podcast. Of course, I got my guy, Game and Dog, on the ones and two behind the match. Always good to have them. Always good to see his beautiful face. Always great to have you guys here for another mailbag Monday. Of course, the Diamondbacks just got done taking two out of three from the Minnesota twins up there at Target Field.

Probably should have swept them, but we know they're very bad at that. Meanwhile, you know what this means. The Diamondbacks are 75 and 75. Damon Sendomo up that mountain right now. I love that. I can never get enough of that. Thank you guys again for being here. Of course, this show is brought to you by our friends at Bet365 and GameTime.

Make sure to download that Bet365 app. Use our code of PHNX 365 when you sign up. Get yourself some bonus bets for following a few easy steps. And then over at Game Time, you can use our code of PHNX for $20 off. your first purchase and enjoy yourself last minute ticket deals. This is a big win for the Diamondbacks, and not only that, but they had some of the teams ahead of them have some big losses. Here to talk about it is our guy, the one, the only.

Dalton Feely from John Boy, also known as the Warehouse Games MVP there. Damon, where's Dalton? There he is. Look at that beautiful base. What's up, buddy? Glad to have you here. Glad to be here. I mean, I'm happy it's on these circumstances, Derek, where there's some positivity in the air right now. End of the season and we're playing some meaningful baseball. That's huge.

How? How? How? With all of the ups and downs, with all of the bads, with all of the injuries, with all of the nights that people wanted Tori fired. Here we sit at 75 and 75 Dalton and the Diamondbacks, not only, I mean, they're in the fortuitous position that the NL West, or not NL West, the National League Wildcard is an absolute mess right. now and you have to be 10 games plus over 500 in the AAL to even have a chance. Meanwhile, here in the NL, you got teams that are below 500 and right at 500 that are in the race still. And you have a Mets team that just can't wait to give away that final wildcard spot to somebody. I mean, I'm just shocked.

It was just one loss after another for the New York Mets. And it just gave not only the arrows in the dimebacks, but the San Francisco Giants and the Cincinnati Reds a chance and some of the last. life within their September games of baseball. And the Reds kind of stumbled big time in their series versus the A's this weekend. So they're now way back in the passenger, you know, or one of the passenger seats or the trunk, whatever makes the most sense. The trunk is a good call.

It's a playoff car. But the debacks, you take two of three, the sweep would have been awesome, like you said, but they're in it there. Two games is not much. It's just that. You and I were both very angry on Friday. And you had your very well-spoken. rant about what happened and I

tried my best to host a show while internally screaming for an hour straight. But the Diamondbacks absolutely gave away a game where as I said on Friday, that felt magical, right? That felt like the kind of thing, a team that is destined to suddenly turn things around

and make the postseason does, right, with the big Gabriel Moreno home run late. And then this bullpen as it tried to do in other games of this series did its best to give the game away. I know that they are limited on arms. I know they are limited on, you know, guys that they can bring out of the pen. But again, it's, it's still amazing that they've been able to do what they've done,

considering, you know, that they only have really maybe two guys in the bullpen that they can truly count on and rely on to go out there and give them consistent outings. And then there's everybody else that you have no idea what the hell you're going to get out of them. It's basically a dice roll with the bullpen. The arms that are being used, like if you said in March, you're March and April, these are the guys that are going to be in the bullpen at the end of the season. I'd laugh. They're like, oh, where's everyone else? What happened?

What happened? Did another pandemic happen? What happened? How is that the guys that are left? On the COVID list, they're out. I will say, Derek, I think in terms of like the Diamondbacks community, I'm pretty lenient in terms of bashing decision-making processes. But that Friday night, I'm still shocked that South Frank wasn't.

And I know you guys talked about it on the post game show. Yeah, absolutely. It's, you know, you're trying to save Sal Frank because he threw a lot on Wednesday. But my thought, and I could be wrong, and I'm just going to quickly voice my opinion. Like, you had the off day, you play Friday, and you're saving for an emergency situation. I think an emergency situation is winning a game that you've come back from in the ninth inning when you put up four runs in the top ninth. That is an emotional one.

That is a, I get the twins are the fourth worst team in baseball, but that was, that would have been an emotional and statement win. And it's been the summary of the dime back season where the dime backs offense comes back and does this amazing thing late in the game. And then the bullpen falters and ruins it and blows it. And I'm happy, like, this could be a whole different episode if the twins did much better on Saturday and Sunday and took, you know, took care of business. You're absolutely right. You're absolutely right. Debex did their thing.

They're 75 and 75. And with the injuries, as you said, they could be in a much worse spot. Heck, they could be in a better spot. But this is where they're at and they got to play least. the last 12 games. Well, let's take a look at the numbers from the series. Here's the count presented by Desert Financial Credit Union. The Diamondbacks actually outscored the twins. That's reversed. They're 19 to 15. And here you have Elizabeth praising you. The Diamondbacks hit five home runs or four home runs to the Twins five, 10 for 30 with runners in scoring position

in the series. The twins six for 34. So the Diamondbacks actually did pretty good. They had a 333 batting average to the twins 176. Starting pitching ERA, excellent for the Diamondbacks. You got to give credit where credit is due. Nabil, Chris Mott once again delivered for this team. And Ryan Nelson was outstanding, just simply outstanding, outstanding going out there, giving them six innings scoreless. You got Chris Mott going out there, no earned runs in the finale there in five innings pitch. Meanwhile, the twins also got very good starting pitching as they do in the series. But the Diamondbacks just, they just, they just. out dualed them. The Diamondbacks had a 2.87 starting pitching ERA.

Twins had a 3.60. And then the bullpen's there, kind of a push. Both weren't great. 6.17 ERA for the Diamondbacks. They gave up a lot of runs, including four earned runs there in that game one loss by the bullpen. Meanwhile, the twins bullpen also very bad in the series. They also don't deserve flowers or dinner bought by Eduardo Rodriguez, quite frankly. But no, you are right. Like, I don't even think I brought up on four. Friday's episode, the Saul Frank Factor that he was, they had an off day on Thursday where

Eduardo Rodriguez did buy everybody dinner and everybody's belly was full with delicious steak and rested and well ready to go. There is nobody that should not be available at that point unless they're injured. I think the idea is that Tori, yes, it might have been an emergency situation. Yes, he might have said that. But ultimately, he doesn't choose a closer. He doesn't want to. He wants to use relievers out of the bullpen and you just feel like this is truly what he wants to do unless he has a dominant reliever that earns that spot and deserves that role. But he wants to have guys available for the righty lefty matchup and he always wants to play that. And I mean, sometimes he might be absolutely right as a manager to do so and sometimes he might just be overthinking it overall.

But I think in this case, you send your best reliever out there to get the job done, especially like you said, after an emotional uplifting moment of coming back and taking the lead, giving it right back to them felt like honestly, honestly, like the true end of their season, right? And then here we sit on Monday. Two more wins have happened. Other teams were very bad over the weekend. And we still are in this thing. The Diamondbacks have a series coming up starting tonight against the Giants.

And then the Giants don't really have it super easy. We've talked about the Diamondbacks strength of schedule, but the Giants have the Diamondbacks, you know, who are playing well and are in this race. And then they have more games with the Dodgers. Like the Giants got a lot of the NL West opponents six games against them in this month. So they're not in a very enviable position, especially considering that the Dodgers are still trying to fight off the Padres to win the division. Absolutely. And I will say one huge note for the upcoming look for the nine back schedule.

They play the Giants in this three-game set. The Giants adjusted their rotation for the Dodgers series. They pushed up Logan Webb and Robbie Way to pitch Saturday Sunday. Great point. Burn them for this series. And so now the Diamondbacks are going to be facing I'm going to say his name wrong, but Wang. It's Monday starter.

I think it's TBD Tuesday. And then Wednesday is Verlander. So you burn your two best artists, which both games the Giants lost this weekend. The only game they won was the Verlander start on Friday. But now the Diamondbacks are facing arguably the bottom three pitchers in the Giants rotation currently versus an offense that has been still one of the best in baseball, thick and thin through all the injuries this entire season. You're playing at home.

You got to set the tone this week right now. Giants like this is, I mean, obviously every series is important, but like this right now, like you're playing for your life every single game. We kind of mentioned like 12 games ago. You got to go like nine and three at worst to have a really good shot in making the playoffs.

Start by going three and own San Fran versus their bottom three pitchers. And also, man, I'll tell you, it's they got a lot of help. They got a lot of help. The Diamondbacks should not be in this position. And I think that they need to just kind of press the action and play with House money here. There needs to not be, there is no tomorrow. And every game is a must win game. Every single game.

Today's game is a must win. Tomorrow's is a must win. Wednesdays is a must win. You have Thursday off. And then we start with more must win games on Friday. And I know that they are against very tough opponents, right? But like, it really doesn't stop. It doesn't mean that you have to win every game.

But every game is a must win. And I know that almost contradicts what I just said there. But Nabil Krizmat. understands the assignment. That man is getting the job done. Three and oh now for the Diamondbacks, a 2.70 ERA, zero earned runs in the win on Sunday. Just incredible what the Diamondbacks are getting out of a guy. Like, Damon and I were making funny comparisons about a snake getting cut up and then regenerating like its tail and stuff, but there's no better metaphor for the Diamondbacks this season than the fact that no matter how much they lose, they're able to somehow

regenerate something there that that is playing as well, if not, even better than who was there. Now, I'm not going to say that about Chrismont as far as other options that could be there, right? Like Merrill Kelly, you can't say that Chris Mott's ever going to be a replacement for Merrill Kelly. But my God, 2.70 ERA, 3 and O, he's allowed three barreled balls over 99 batted ball advance. That's courtesy of our friends over at Dback stats and info. And also courtesy of them, he has a 2.10 walk per nine ratio and a pitch at a, at, a pitch per inning percentage of 14.83 pitches per inning pitch. So super efficient, getting the job done without putting up a whole lot of strikeouts,

but just getting outs and keeping runs off the board. He's just been great. Yeah, and I think sometimes just looking at like the pure box course stats, it could be misleading, but I think one thing that just stands out, five of the six games, he's allowed to earn runs or less. Like he is keeping the backs in these games. And I think it's really interesting, Derek, because his entire career entering this year, he was never like a starter starter.

He had 114 career games, one start. Like he was a long reliever slash reliever role. He's kind of thrown into this starting role with the Diamondbacks, and he's been lights out. He has been, I think the biggest shock of the Diamondbacks 2025 season is basically picking up in the ball, Chris Matt, and he's been amazing. He's been nails. He's been very consistent, shockingly. Like, he's had one clunker in six starts. And for him, for someone who's never really gone, five innings, six innings,

he's been doing it pretty much almost nightly basis right now. I truly think he's been one of the reasons why the dime back's rotation has been so good, Derek. In September, Dinbacks have the third best ERA within the rotations of baseball, not just the National League. They have a 287. When we're talking about this dime back's pitching, it's always been a curse about how bad it's been. But right now they're getting a job, especially Ryan Nelson, Nebel himself. Like they've been pitching lights out.

And for them to make the playoffs, they have to do that because the bullpen is still an issue. There's still a lot of question marks. I know Saul Frank's been pitching great, but on the flip side, bullpen in September, fourth worst year in baseball, six, eight one. That's not going to get the job. And see, that's that island.

They've dubbed them the island of misfit toys, right? And all things considered, you shouldn't be surprised that those guys that have been castaways from other teams and guys that were just available in general, And this is no disrespect to, you know, some of the guys that have been there, like Ryan Thompson and such. But even tea time, right? Ryan Thompson is like the most unlikely leader of a bullpen.

But that's what he's become now just due to his tenure there. He's like the longest tenured member of the Diamondback's bullpen. And he's just out there thriving in that role as far as wanting to lead the way. He's been leading by example since returning from that injury. And I think he's been having some great luck or I don't want to say luck, but he's been performing well. But Andrew Saul, Frank, another guy that, you know, again, based on that suspension and what happened to him, he was kind of a cast off. Like a lot of people were not thinking about him being back as a part of this team or part of this bullpen. And yet he's become a very, very valuable piece.

But the dimebacks just have lost so much to injury this year. Luckily, they did not lose Cattell to injury. Cattell is back, but is he back? It's more of a philosophical question, I suppose. He did return on Saturday. And he went one for five on both. Saturday and Sunday. Just a little concerning over his last 24 games.

He's gone. He has a slash 209, 295, 308 with a 603 OPS, 9 RBI, and two home runs. So Ketel has not been performing well at the plate and the injury didn't help. I was hoping maybe his time off would, at least a little time off, would have him kind of well rested and back to 100%. It seems like that foot might still be bothering him a little bit. Yeah. And obviously he's one of the biggest engines within the Diamondback.

offense like if katel mortay goes usually the diamond backs go there's there's a reason why those two things correlate with one another but yeah katel mortay just doesn't look great he doesn't look comfortable and i think that's sometimes the biggest thing right when you look at someone at the plate just the old eye test screw the numbers i'm not a numbers guy never have and never will be that's a lie uh it's just he i was like who are you what are you talking about what did you do with dalton uh i've taken him away um no but he just doesn't look like the same guy that he was coming back from his hamstring issue earlier in the year. And I think, you know, I might have lied saying I'm not a numbers guy because I'm about the read some right now

that are very concerning. Over the last two weeks, he's got the lowest slugging percentage on base percentage versus right-handed pitching. That is a massive problem because this year has been the year where he's been slugging right-handed pitching, the complete opposite of 2024. And with runners on base, he's got the second lowest average over the last two weeks. So he's really not getting the job done in clutch could tell moments that we've usually seen him get through and be a hero of some sort. So I'm really hoping that foot is okay. It sounds like, you know, the MRI, the x-rays, everything they did came back clean. Yeah. Maybe it's just fighting through some pain and maybe he gets one big knock, Derek, that could change everything. Maybe it's a mental thing. Who knows?

Sometimes you see a ball land in the outfield grass. Something happens and we're good. Yeah, you're not wrong. But Gabriel Ferrer brings up he's been struggling since the hit piece came out. I mean, not the entire time. I feel like Catello has been struggling late, and you can't help but wonder how much, you know, that whole situation still kind of lingers with him. It's been a tough season mentally for Catell.

And I'm not saying that it wasn't, you know, that he doesn't have some accountability in making it tougher on himself. But at the same time, it's unfortunate because you do really feel like at least you feel like on paper this team can't do it without Catele Marte, yet they are. They are doing it.

And a big reason why they're doing that as of late has been Blaze Alexander and him picking up, you know, the ball over there at third base picking this team up. And unfortunately, he was hit by a pitch in Sunday's game and left the game with what has been called a left elbow contusion or as I like to call an ouch. And he is day to day now because that's, it just means it's an outch. Like people are like, what's a contusion? Yeah, it's an out. it hurts is what it does but um he did have a fluoscopy done on it which is something that's

an x-ray of sorts however according to this tweet from steve gilbert um he actually had a horoscope done and according to go ahead what were you going to say no i was going to say i heard that he had a horoscope it came back negative his horoscope came back negative yeah according to this tweet from steve gilbert blaze alexander had a florae fluoscopy uh which is a type of x-ray but this debacks teamate's uh, his D-back's teammates say he told them that his horoscope came back negative. And also, Steve went on to quote tweet this tweet of himself and said, win or lose, this is the reason why his teammates love him because Blaze Alexander always brings, uh, the laughs and the good vibes, you know, and again, it's, you couldn't have asked,

I'm never going to say you could replace Gino's vibes, but you couldn't ask for a better guy to attempt to do it and bring vibes of his own over there at third base the way that blaze is done and i think it's really interesting too because not only has he brought the vibes and energy uh from his own personality and emotions and whatnot but we've seen him just completely changes a player playing all over the field like he had the series a couple series ago in chase field where he was playing left field center field so he has been a huge versatile piece for his arizona dime back's defense he's you know they're telling him hey you're going to play in center field tonight hey you're going to play third base here can play left field and he's been doing it

whatever you know yes sir tory i'm going to do it i'm going to play and i'm going to give my heart out he's been like gold glove caliber in three different positions he had the thrott and center field he had the amazing home run robbery in left field he's made like three or four plays at third base which have been jaw dropping and i i like the player himself has been lights out but it's awesome to hear steve gilbert report saying like hey the players love him he's been a huge part of the locker For a young guy who's basically in like his one and a half seasons of MLB experience, like that's impressive. And hope and like he's been a big reason like you said,

why the dimebacks are continuing to be a part of the playoff conversation. Yeah, for sure. Well, and I also know that overall here, man, I mean, this is this is fun. This is what baseball is all about. You know, we've had people for weeks asking us, especially on Mondays because we do our mailbag segment about like, should we still be scoreboard watching? What is the point of all of this?

And again, like, I tried to say, until baseball reference puts that new little skull and crossbones next to your team's name, which is drastic and unnecessary, but I love it. It feels mean. It feels mean. It feels mean, but it feels right.

You're dead. You're over. It's over you. It's clean. You deserve it. But like, you know, it's, this is it, man. This is fun. And even if they fall short, you've got to commend this team for what they did. They kept it together after the trade deadline, unlike other teams did, and they were able to make a push. The Giants, they're in a similar position where they kind of unexpectedly became sellers at the trade deadline, even though they were in a better position than the Diamondbacks word record-wise at the time.

They still got rid of some big pieces of their own. They still have pletting over there, though. They're still a stack team. So yet even though they traded some away and it looked like they were kind of bowing out of the race, they are very much in it as well. and now this series, between these two teams that essentially didn't quit, despite what their actions were at the trade deadline, are now duking it out and could potentially, I mean, if the Diamondbacks or the Giants dominate this series over their opponent in this series,

hopefully it's the Diamondbacks, and the Mets continue to met, we could be in a playoff spot after this series is said and done. Well, Derek, I think it would be very interesting, And if the rolls are flipped from last year, remember what happened last year, dying backs weren't in control that wild card spot. And then the last couple of weeks, it just flipped, especially after that Milwaukee series, the Mets come in, Braves come in, familiar with that.

To throw in the diembacks missed the playoffs. 2025. Metter have been in control, that final wildcard spot for the last couple of weeks. And all of a sudden they lose eight in a row. D-backs lurking. Giants lurking. Are we going to have a full 180 crazy as D-Liepo once said? D-backs miss out in 24 because of the Mets.

25 Mets miss out because of the snakes. I would love that. I think a lot of people in this chat would. Well, we love you, Dalton. We appreciate you as always, man, for stopping by. Also, we always appreciate your angry rants because it gets fired up. So thank you so much, as always, for stopping by. Of course, you can follow him at D. Feeley 14 on Twitter and check out everything

John Boy Media does, including this man just dominating in the warehouse games. We're filming this week, so that'll be very exciting. And my last thing, Derek, before I go, I got to say it. Let's hear. If you're able to, if you're able to go the next nine games, especially this series versus Giants, if you're in Arizona, you're in Phoenix, I don't have the luxury of being there. But if you're in Arizona, show up because this is now and it's now or never. And, you know, this team I know it's been up and down, but one more big fight.

Get through this series, then the next series. Go support to snakes. Let's go. Let's go. Let's go make the playoffs. Let's do it. Let's do it. The playoffs start now.

Alton, the playoffs start now. So show up, folks. I completely agree. Love you, buddy. Thank you for stopping by. And snakes alive. Snakes alive. Love you, Derek.

Love you, David. All right, brother. Well, we are going to take a quick break. And then when we come back, we're going to preview that series with the Giants, that very, very important series with the Giants, a little bit more. Don't you guys go anywhere?

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Visit CircleK.com for details. All right. Well, we got a bunch of people pressing. all the buttons about who they want to be DFA'd. And I'll just remind you guys, I have no control over that. So anyway, Josh Hunt's in the chat, though, and he wants to remind everybody that there are $5 bleacher seats with student discounts.

So again... And the best part about the student discounts is you're just a student forever in their books. I'm still getting them. I'm 26 years old. I've been out of college for two and a half years. Maybe I'm... Shut up, you idiot.

Maybe I'm divulging too much here. But, I mean, I love the student discount tickets. We're very transparent. on this show. I'm always learning. I'm just a student of the game, Derek. Yeah, we are both students of the game for sure. Well, we're we try to get better every single day. And we only do that through learning folks. That's why learning is so important. But we're going to learn a little bit here about the San Francisco Giants. Let's take a look at that team at a glance, because they have been very good lately. But they are five and five in their last 10. They got dealt

with a little bit there by the Dodgers and kind of got knocked back down to earth. As Dalton alluded to, we're going to take a look at the probable pitchers, and that kind of is set up well for the Diamondbacks as well. But the Giants right now, they have played one less game than the Diamondbacks. They are 75 and 74. They have a plus 22 run differential. They are 5 and 5 in their last 10. They have a 703 OPS, which is 21st in Major League Baseball,

but not a true representation of what that team has been offensively lately, especially with the return of Matt Chapman. Starting pitching ERA is 4.19, which is 18th in Major League Baseball. baseball and the Diamondbacks are definitely catching, like we said, the better components. The ones that, the pitchers we would want to hit in their starting rotation are the ones that are here, including a TBD, which you know TBD can always be very dangerous. Relief pitching ERA is incredible for this team this year. 3.47, which is second in all of Major League Baseball, only behind the San Diego Padres.

I hate being in the NOS. Outs above average, minus 24, which is 27th in baseball. so they have not been a very good team defensively. But I do caution that that OPS is a little deceiving based on what that team has been doing lately. But we talked about it plenty. Let's take a look at the probable pitchers for this series. Things do match up well for the Diamondbacks. They have Zach Gallen there going in game one.

He is 11 and 14 this year, which is wild. It's wild the gallon has an 11 and 14 record. Like he's always involved almost in the decision. You know, like if he's pitching an example. game he's either winning it or he's losing it same with fought too it's a yeah we've been talking about it with fought and I think gallon kind of falls into that category as well of like they're almost so inconsistent that when they give you good games they win a lot of the time because they go out there and they

shove and then their bad games are horrendous just the worst thing you've ever seen which is represented by gallons 4.84 er a and branded fots 3 5.31 but look at that we got two guys in the starting rotation uh with eras below five we did it you guys, this is a moment to celebrate. Gallin sits 1114 with a 4.84 ERA. He goes up against Kai Wei Tang. He is two and four this season with a 7.54 ERA, 28 strikeouts. Meanwhile, in game two, we got the, like I said, notorious TBD going up against Erod,

who he himself has been damn good lately. We talked about how good he was in his last three starts, but my God, Erod, one earn run in those three starts. They were against the Dodgers, the Boston Red Sox, and somebody eluding me right now. I can't think, but a very good team. I don't remember. Derek, it's crazy to look at these ERAs,

but then look on the other side and be like, I think we have a pitching advantage here. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I'm looking at three of the worst ERAs in baseball when it comes to qualifying pitchers right now. And I'm sitting there on the other side and going, we could easily win this series. Brandon fought there in game three.

That's the big question mark, right? He has been struggling this year and he specifically struggles on the road. So this is a home game and you hope that home game Brandon steps up as he has done all year because he's just he's he's much better at home than he has been on the road. The splits are incredible, right? So Brandon Fott goes up against Justin Burlander. The big thing here is that TBD game, right? The Giants do have one of the best bullpents in baseball. However, that could be a bullpen game.

So you know the Diamondbacks aren't typically very good against those. however it does set the Diamondbacks up for game three as long as Brandon Fott can go out there and be home cooking Brandon Fott which I think is what we're going to have to start calling him from now on. This is the most important series of the year though. I know that there are so many people that are fans of this team true diehard fans you guys show up here every day. You voice your opinions. You're passionate and we appreciate it even though sometimes I'm just too far positive of a person to deal with Killer X on Sundays. However, I will say that everything that has happened is now in the past. And at this point, the Diamondbacks kind of have a zero and zero record, as we illustrated by sending Little Perdomo up Mount 500.

From this point on, it's a completely new season. It is a daunting task. They have no sub-500 teams. They have the Giants. They have the Dodgers. They have the Phillies. They have the Padres. That sucks.

But is it something that they can't accomplish? We'll see. I mean, like we've said, the one thing going for this team is they seem to want to prove people wrong right now, and they seem to want to fight harder than they've wanted to fight all season long. They also have a chance here against some teams that might actually be clinching their divisions or clinching their playoff spots by the time they play the Diamondbacks and might not exactly have as much to play for at that point, including the Phillies, including the Padres with the final series of the season. also, and I'll say it, this goddamn team has failed every time the task has been put before them to go out there and win some games to make the playoffs. They failed last year and they missed by one single game. They failed in 2023 and they lucked their way into the playoffs and then made it all away to the World Series? I was drunk on champagne and shirtless on this show. If you missed that, I'm sorry.

You can't go back in time and see that again. There's no, that does not live on the internet, but it's something that did happen. You never know what could happen again. This team absolutely is not built to be competitive in the postseason. There's no reason to think that they should be. So prove me wrong. Prove us wrong.

Prove the guys in the chat wrong. Prove all of the people that don't think that you can even make the postseason, let alone do something in the postseason. Prove all those people wrong. It's not that they don't have the talent. It's just a lot of those pieces aren't performing to the way that they should be. And that includes Catelle Marte and Corbyn Carroll right now,

who the Diamondbacks very much could use both of those guys to get hot in order to make this happen. Imagine if they do. Imagine if the Diamondbacks get playoff Cotel back and Corbin going on a heater. This team absolutely could win out the rest of the games. Not every game, but win enough games to make their way into the postseason. And then who the hell knows, right?

Three-man rotation in the playoffs. Added arm to the bullpen? I don't really know. to Bill Krismot going out there and being an MVP for this team, there's just all sorts of crazy things that could happen. And all of that fun, all of that magic could happen if this team just finds a way to win every single one of these series between now and the end of the year. Four series, four series wins.

That might still not be enough. But it feels like with the way that the Mets are trying to give this away that it could be. And remember, the Mets have some tough series, including a series starting today against the Padres. They also catch the Cubs, and they finish the season at the Marlins. And the Marlins, they're just the kind of team that would want to ruin the Mets season. You know that they would want to ruin the Mets season there at the end. So the Diamondbacks have a lot of things going for them, including a pretty epic collapse by the Mets. So we should be thankful for that.

They would not be in this position if the Mets weren't a bumbling organization that can never seal the deal. But we're going to take a quick break. And on the other side of this break, we are going to answer your questions from the thing you know what we do. every Monday. So we're going to do that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere. You're watching the pH next Diamondback show. Well, a period of life like this for Damon and I, this is what Pure Edibles was made for. And let me tell you, if you are going through things in life or just experiencing a lot of trouble sleeping, Pure Edibles has a product for you right now. They have a wonderful assortment of candies. And of course, their effects are clearly listed on

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We will go out there. We will bet on red and we will win ourselves. of money. So you do you at Heela River Resorts and Casinos, visit playatheela.com from the details. Well, I'm exhausted. Damon, this has been a long week and it's only Monday. But

it is Monday. And as you know, every year on this year is the year of the snake. Every year on this podcast is our year. Every month on this podcast is Hispanic Heritage Month. Every week on this podcast is Shark Week. Every day is Earth Day.

Because Damon and I recycle. But on Mondays, we go the mailbag. Damon, let's go to the mailbag. My mailbox. Always something interesting in my mailbox. I try to get to everything in my mailbox. And then once in a while, there's a letter that makes me go out. That man drug me out of the house on a Sunday last night.

He's a criminal. He needs to be stopped. I just wanted to say that. Love you, Megaramp. You said, I'm a father, Megaramp. I couldn't believe it. I'm like, on football Sunday, you're taking me out of the house? It was a great time.

You're just to be glued to the couch on Sundays. Oh, that's all I wanted to do. That's all I wanted in life. It really was. And people just refuse to let me live my life in the way I want to live it. But we do have questions to be answered and I am ready to go. Damon, what do we got? First question comes from Travis Moore. For usual, is it a successful season if the debacks make the playoffs and get bounced in two or three games. For what it's worth, my answer is yes. With how many injuries that have occurred and how many blown leads that have happened, that's a massive success. I cannot say that this season is already a massive success. But what I can say is the Diamondbacks simply playing relevant games on September 15th, 2025 is a goddamn miracle. It really is. It's a miracle. And I think that that's something to be applauded. And I think the end results will still dictate if people determine this season to be a success or not. I agree with Travis.

I think if you make the playoffs, then. it's hard not to consider this season after everything the Diamondbacks have been through a success, regardless of what happens once those playoffs come along. Honestly, we're not really a team that's built at least pitching wise for the postseason. And I have no idea what things would look like, who Tori would turn to, who they would lean on heavily in the playoffs. I mean, can E.rod keep this stretch up that he's had over these last three games? Because if he can, I'm going like E. Rod Ryan Nelson won two with Zach Gallen picking up a lot of. on the three. You know, like, I don't know how this would even stack.

I don't know how these guys are going to continue to perform. But so far, Brian Nelson has proven to me that he is the guy that I want with the ball in his hand. And again, this is one of those situations where if the Diamondbacks don't have a successful playoff run, it's hard. If they make the playoffs, it's hard to consider not to be a success. If they end the season above 500, it's not to, it's hard not to consider it as success. after all that they've gone through.

So I think that at least for the time being, you've got to give a lot of credit to the fight in this team and what they've been able to do. And again, the next 12 games will determine, I think, how all of us consider this season go, considering the ups and downs and the injuries and everything that's happened, trades, this team, it's wild that this team is in this position.

And I think that that's at least what we should all be happy and thankful for right now. I think making playoffs is 100% of success. I've been saying it every season. Yeah. I said it in 23. I said it in 24 and I'll say it again in 25. Every year in baseball, I think when your organization like the Arizona Diamondbacks,

the goal is making the playoffs, getting in the dance. Because that's the difference between, you know, being the last team in and making the World Series like we did in 2023. You never know what happens in the baseball postseason. You just need to try to get in. And unfortunately, if things go, you know, not your way, it happens. But get in the dance and that's a total success, in my opinion, especially with all the injuries. And especially coming in kind of hot, because if you do make the postseason at this point, you're going to be kind of hot.

You would have had to win a lot of games against some very good teams in order to get there. All right. What else we got, Damon? Next question comes from Ruggnar. Ruggner says, does Derek ever sit and watch in horror as the questions come in? Today, yes, very much so. more so than other days. But yeah, no, I, sometimes I do, but for the most part, I think, if I'm being honest, when the questions roll in for Mailbag Monday, I just get delighted.

I just find myself thinking about what my answers are going to be, no matter how crazy or wacky those questions are. But that's also because we have an incredible community over here. And you guys like to talk ball. And I appreciate that. And again, I did, I did. I did kind of look from hiding underneath my covers today at the questions a little bit. But what else we got, David?

We got another question there. What other question can I hide from right now or that's going to scare me? Yeah, for sure. Next question comes from Michael Rokey. You asked what's more surprising being at 500 or being two games out? It's got to be being two games out, right? Like being 500 is good and it is surprising. Both of those things are surprising.

However, the bigger debacle here is the Mets collapse, allowing the Diamondbacks and the Reds and the Giants to get back in it. Like I said, if you look at the American League right now, it's going to take 11 games over 500 for you to be in it, I believe, or at least 10 games over 500 for you to be in the race. And over here, is the team with 500 going to possibly take the final spot? I doubt that, but it's starting to feel like that, the more we plug it. along and the more, you know, all three of these teams, all four of these teams kind of clumped together. That's what at least makes it fun right now is that you have no idea what's going to happen and being two games out. That's what makes this fun. Being at 500 is just kind of like a, hey, that's cool. They got back to 500. But if they were eight, nine games out, if they were

10 games out, 11 games out like they would be right now in the American League, this wouldn't be nearly as fun. The fun is being two games out, regardless of what your record is at the end of the day. All right, what else we got? Next question, and then we'll hit the last ad break here, unless we don't have one. Do we do not? Oh, nice. We're just going to plug right through. We're going to fly right through all the questions. Piece of Yoshi, how likely do you think it is that our last four games are against teams with nothing to strive for? Is it greedy to think that number could be extended to five?

No, it's not. I mean, those teams, I don't think a team is going to, like, trot, like, their B team out there against the Diamondbacks between now and the end of the season. I think all of these teams have too much to play for. However, the Phillies did just clinch the NL East, right? They're done. They have their division. I'm not going to say that they're going to coast between now and then, but they have a lot of old guys. There's a good chance that their lineup might not be their best lineup when they face the Diamondbacks. And that could include every single night. They could stagger it in a way where, yeah, they have their starters out there, but not all of their starters and not all of their starters for any one of the three games. That at least is one thing that

bodes well for the Diamondbacks with that team having already clinched their division and still being on their calendar. I don't think they're going to phone it in because you can't. This late in the season, you have to stay hot. You have to stay on a roll if you expect to go into the playoffs and have success. And I know that the Phillies are smart enough to understand that. I don't think that it entirely means that we're going to get their best lineup every night for those three games. That, again, is something that's very positive for this team. I don't think it's greedy to think that either. I think that the Padres could be in a similar position. And I think that, that the Padres, once again, don't want to go into the postseason losing two out of three at home to the

Diamondbacks. That wouldn't be great for them. It wouldn't be great for morale. It wouldn't be great just in general for them to be on track in the postseason. But again, we might not get their best lineup all three games in that series. So the Diamondbacks might be at an advantage there. They should pull out all the stops and make sure that their best lineup is on the field every single night between now and the end of the season. And that's one thing that the Diamondbacks will have over those other teams is desperation. And desperation sometimes can be good.

It means that there's no, you know, there's no chance now for Tori who probably will still do it to sit guys or put out those like, oh, hey, we took two out of three. So we're going to put that line up out. You know the lineup I'm talking about. But what else we got, Damon? Let's move on. Starting to get angry. I just want to say, you know, shout out of least.

for, you know, her answer here or her comment, Yoshi, nothing would bring me more joy than seeing the Mets collapse in a historic way and miss the playoffs after what they did to get in last year. That's it. Karma. Karma. That's what some people call. No offense, Yoshi.

No, none to Yoshi at all. Our sweet, sweet Yoshi. And Garrett Stubbs is back on their roster? What? Oh my God. Okay. Now I was just saying I didn't want to get angry. Now I'm angrier than ever.

Yeah. That actually fires me up. I thought we defeated him. I thought we were done with this. Basketball and football guy has a couple quick questions for you, Derek. Around this time last year, Tori started using bullpen guys three days in a row. Do you think he will do the same now since we're only two games back from a playoff spot? And do we expect Christian Monte de Oka and or Christiane Mana back this year?

No, we do not. First of all, for number two, I don't think we expect either of those guys to be back this year. And it's more about the build up and getting them back. I haven't really heard much about where they're at health-wise. So their updates would be more about them moving in that direction and getting closer. I do believe Christian Mena. I want to say he started his throwing program, but I've also not been at Chase Field for a very long time.

So I'll try to get you guys updates in regards to both of those guys for sure. But I do not think either one of those guys will be back, at least for the regular season. Who the hell knows once the postseason comes around. but also in regards to the first portion of that question, I don't know what Tori's going to do. I don't. I would hope that at this point, especially with an off day on Thursday

and another off day next Thursday, that we pull out all the stops. We put guys out there that you trust. You put out your best relievers in your biggest, most high-leverage situations. You stop letting guys like turn it around during a, an outing.

You know, like one thing that I've been frustrated that has frustrated me as many of you has been how slow Tori has been at times to pull the hook on guys. There's a three batter minimum. Use it.

If a guy is struggling, go get him. Have another guy ready. Start being more prepared for these moments because you never know on any given night which bullpen arm is going to fail on you. Stop, you know, thinking every guy

is going to go out there and get the job done. Start hoping for that but start planning that they're going to blow it. And then that way you have somebody else available if that should happen. And if it doesn't, then oh well. You know, I know it's not the greatest thing to get guys up and warmed them up and then sit them back down. But it's a simple strategy that I feel like most managers do. I think now with the situation they're in, the Diamondbacks have no room for error at all.

And they cannot be letting guys build their confidence or, you know, turn it around or try to zero in on the, you know, strike zone. when they're obviously lost. But I don't know. There's a lot of things that you, it just feels like, you know, he needs to be a little bit quicker on and efficient on.

And also stop worrying about using guys just in emergency situations and start using guys, period. Some closers go out there every single night. Well, not every single night because that's how baseball works, but it feels like every single night.

So let's just start adapting that strategy and let's lean on these guys. None of them have really, put in a full season of work. Right? Damon? I mean, which bullpen arm

has been there since the beginning that's just been shoving all year, giving you 162 innings? None of them. So why are we worried about it at this point?

Let's just pitch those guys until, you know, let's lean on the guys you can trust, let's watch the ones you can't, and let's make sure that we plan for absolute catastrophe every time you send a reliever out there.

Let's plan for that. What else we got, Damon? Next question here comes from Krobin Carroll Enthusiast. And they ask, do you think the Diamondbacks would be better or worse than they are right now if they didn't sell? What a philosophical question. That is an interesting question. Right? I don't know.

Right? I don't know. Like Josh Naylor, the Mariners love Josh Naylor and what he's doing. Gino has been a bit of a disappointment. He got things turned around. He got things back on track. But Gino definitely didn't go over there. Like the Diamondbacks trade either traded Gino at the,

right time or the trade impacted him and caused him to get into one of those notorious slumps that we've seen him get into. But I think it's the latter. I think Gino's an emotional player like that. Yeah, I think so too. Being, getting going to a change of scenery in the middle of the year when he felt comfortable and like the place that he was definitely wears on him. Right.

I also think that like, who's to say if Gallin or Lortis pick or Erod pick it up if you don't trade the people that you traded? Maybe that was the wakeup call that those guys needed to start playing better baseball. Not to mention the fact that Blaze came on and became a player that he became. You have Jordan Lawler now getting an opportunity, and Jordan Lawler's been really contributing and doing well. I mean, he's had his struggles, but Jordan Lawler is really starting to develop into a major league player right before our eyes. He's really been hitting the ball. He's been barreling up, and he's been doing a great job offensively at even, you know, making some loud contact on outs.

But these guys don't get this opportunity, perhaps if the other guys don't get traded or go down to injury. and then maybe those guys stay here and struggle and don't contribute in the same way that these guys have. I mean, in one inning, sometimes Blaze puts together an entire highlight reel. Gino is an incredible third baseman, but we've also seen him not be, you know, highlight reel worthy every single night. Like there's a lot of balls to get by Gino that are just hard hit.

You don't blame him for it, but Blaze is making a play on a lot of those balls, not to mention the gold glove caliber outfielder that he became and the things he did to rob home runs and already show how talented he could be in both left field and center field. So I mean, you really just got to credit the guys that have been given an opportunity.

Nebile Khrismat, another guy that honestly deserves credit because again, I mean, he's been great. And this is a new opportunity for him. You know, like, I mean, I don't know. Just expected nothing. And then he's just great. And Ryan Nelson, continues to be great. Yeah. We knew he would be. There's no surprise there, but there should be,

because Ryan Nelson just kind of gets discarded and thrown around like he, you know what I mean? Like, hey, do this. Okay, no, now do this. Okay, now we need you to do this. And we might send you down or we might keep you up or we might whatever. And Ryan Nelson has just been cool throughout it and just gotten better as a pitcher throughout the entire process. And now, you know, might be the Diamondback's most valuable arm in the starting rotation. Eduardo Rodriguez was a guy that people have written off to be a complete failure for this. organization and he has been pitching some of his best games of his diamondbacks career over his last three games.

Elise asked if we're concerned about Lawler's defense. I don't know. Yes. Yeah, maybe. He makes too many errors. He's also not been doing this for a very long time. And again, like, wait, did not, did, did, did Blaze not make many errors when he came up at first? But that's not the, that's not the path to development, though.

I think most of the time when someone looks like Blaze did, they get thrown out and never given a chance in baseball again. Yeah, sometimes. You can't have a top 10 prospect in baseball just out there debilitating your team. Yeah, I still think that he's shown flashes of being very defensively over there. 100% there, but it's just still not his natural position that he's played. That's a different discussion. Like the flashes are there 100%, but the mistakes are also right there. And I think, you know, he has a long way to go to clean up things.

You're right. I do think that, you know, this is the type of sense. situation where he deserves a lot of playing time though. And he does look more and more comfortable. And see, there's a, there's there, what do we do there? And that's why Tori has been putting him in a DH, right? Like, because you don't feel comfortable with his defense enough that you think it might cost you a game, yet you still want him getting regular at bats and you still want his development continuing at a major league level, right? So it's, it's a weird situation. And obviously, to answer Elisa's question, uh, his defense is suspect. And Tori definitely does not trust.

it. But it's something that they're, because of the situation, they're going to keep trying it and they're going to keep trying to get him to come along. And again, the major league coaching is very valuable to him right now at this point. So hopefully he will become that defender that we need him to be at

third base. I implore you, though, again, to remember he has not been doing it for very long. So it is something to remember. What else we got, Damon? Next question here comes from our guy dumplings

JJ who says what are your go to beer and food items at Chase Field will be there cheering for our debacks this week

let's go first of all I love that I love that you will be there the beer options at Chase Field are vast

and amazing and it just depends on exactly what you're into I'm an I'm an IPA guy so there's lots of good

IPA options at all sorts of different I'm not allowed to give it it's not free at Friday right

you'll find plenty of IPAs. There are some great places to find some great IPAs or whatever particular beer you're looking for. If you like a value beer, I wouldn't shy away from those, right, Damon? A value, good value beer can be... I'm a value beer, man. Right? $4 value beers is how much they still cost these days? I haven't been allowed to drink at Chasefield in a long time. Yeah. $4? I think so, but four or five bucks. About a fiver. Yeah. I mean, I do think that they have lots of good... I will say, don't just go to your first booth and settle on the beer options that they have there. That's one point I make at every venue, because now they pepper and sprinkle the beer

around. So if you're a particular fan of, you know, like I said, like a heftier IPA or craft beer, don't settle. Don't settle for those light beers that they have there on tap. You'll find something good. Also, as far as food options are concerned, the filthy mac fries are incredible. And I speak this as a person that had I not had an opportunity to try them for free, I probably would have never tried. them and after eating them, they are one of the best things you can get at Chase Field. I don't know why. It just all works together and it's just a bunch of stuff on top of fries. And it's amazing.

You can eat it fairly cleanly, right? It's not a super messy meal. It's not huge. But it will definitely fill you up. I also very much enjoy the Grand Slamwich in concept. But our friend chef Tilder has not allowed me to try it yet. he's invited me to try it, but for some inexplicable reason, I still have not tried this wonderful giant sandwich. Side note, there are dole whips available at Chase Field now, and since many of you might know I'm a Disney adult, I love me a good dole whip.

I've also found a way to make them at home, and I've also found out a way to add Malibu rum to them. So I'm living my best life at home. But when you're at Chase Field, definitely check out the filthy mac and cheese fries, sweet and spicy Korean wings. Those are also something I've noted that were very good. You can check out Taste of Chase right when you walk in by the main shop. That usually has some great stuff. Or around the corner, if you're looking for sweets, is the churro dog stand, which they had something that was insane this year.

I was s'mores nachos. And they are as good as they sound. They are as good as they sound. All right, Damon, we got one more question. We got to get in here. And then we got to get out of here. Yeah, we do. We do have one more.

And it's very important, Derek. I'm sure you're going to have a lot of thoughts on this one. I don't know if you can keep it inside of a good two minutes here. Oh, my God. Which D-BACs player smells the best via our good friend, Groundhog Mama, otherwise known as Karen. Okay, so there's a couple of things here. There's natural scent, and then there is actual cologne that they wear. Eduardo Rodriguez smells amazing all the time, and it's based on a cologne kind of thing.

Natural raw scent, Geraldo Pardomo. Oh, that checks out. He just, he smells. Friendly. He just smells like love. That's how I feel like. It's what I feel like love smells like. You know what I mean?

Or just clean, just just clean. Even when sweating, smells great. Honorable mention to Blaze Alexander because he just smells like sour patch kids all the time. It's like they're coming out of his pores, the just the sour parts for sure. But I love all of those guys. Can't wait to see them in this big series tonight.

hopefully Blaze is not suffering from that negative horoscope that he had there on his elbow and we'll be able to play in this game. So great to see you guys here in the chat. As always, hope to see you guys out there at Chase Field. Until then, you can follow us. We'll be doing a postgame show tomorrow. That's the until then part. So make sure to join us after tomorrow's game. But until then, follow us on Twitter.

I'm at cap underscore K-Band-W-G-at. Our guy, Damon Dog, is at Damon Dog with a DAWG at the end. And we are all Damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our show is at PHNX underscore D-A-Backs, but as always, all roads lead to at pHNX underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. We love you guys so much, and I mean this.

We can't thank you guys enough for your support. And I mean that. I really do. You guys have been a tremendous group of people, and you have definitely been awesome to be here and talking about baseball with us. So we thank you, as always, for doing that. We love you guys.

We really do. So we'll see you guys tomorrow. Until then, get out to Chase Field, support the boys. Go snakes because snakes are indeed alive. Hope you guys all have a wonderful evening. I hope you behave yourselves. Talking to you, Scott Mack, and remember kids. Baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when you are playing relevant baseball games on September 15, 2025.