PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - REPORT: Torey Lovullo to Mariners? HUGE Offseason Questions LOOM for D-backs

Episode Date: September 29, 2026

The Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 season is officially over, and now it’s time to figure out where the Snakes go from here. After another season that ended just short of the postseason, we break down the biggest questions facing the D-backs heading into the offseason, from the roster and front office to Torey Lovullo, the pitching staff, and what this team needs to do differently in 2027. We also dive into the breaking reports that Lovullo could be a candidate for the Seattle Mariners’ managerial opening and what that could mean for the D-backs’ plans moving forward. Plus, we have player reactions from the final media availability held on Monday. And it’s Mailbag Monday! We answer your questions about the D-backs, the 2026 season, the biggest offseason decisions, Torey Lovullo and the Seattle rumors, and everything else you want to talk about after another frustrating end to the year.BECOME A DIEHARD: gophnx.com/join JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4An ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH 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/ACE HVAC: If you are having an AC, Plumbing or electrical issue, call our friends over at ACE: [phone] , tell them PHNX sent you, they’ll take great care of you!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 visithttps://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotesGametime: 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!New DraftKings customers sign up with code PHNX, spend just five bucks, and get two hundred in rewards within 21 days. That’s code PHNX. In partnership with DraftKings. The Crown Is Yours. Gambling problem? Call one eight hundred NEXT STEP. Twenty-one plus. Arizona only. Eligibility restrictions apply. Fifty dollars in non-withdrawable Bonus Bets issued every seven days via click-to-claim for twenty-one days. Bonus Bets expire seven days after issuance. 1 football Boost per customer. Maximum bet limits and restrictions apply. Tokens expire at the end of the final select game each day when offered. Terms at d k n g dot c o slash offer.  Limited time offer.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.

It was a sad final day at Chase Field. We have more from the clubhouse, but more importantly, there is a report that Tori Lavallo might become the next manager for the Seattle Mariners. You guys happy about that? Some of you probably are. We're talking about it right now. Don't you go anywhere. From Studio K, presented by Circle K. That's all I got.

I mean, that's the best. That's his post-season live if I've ever heard one. Oh, my God. God, I have nothing left to give after screaming about this baseball team entirely too much. Thrilled to have you guys here. Welcome in to another edition of the PHNX Diamondback Show. Of course, my name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX. That other voice you heard, of course, is the bad boy of PHNX, the one and only Damon dog himself,

Damon Farrell on the ones and twos. A sad bark bark to you, Damon. And as you can see, most people, this was postseason Derek. This was Big J journalist, Derek, that you were going to get if the Diamondbacks made the postseason. So that's what the world got robbed of by us not being in the postseason. But of course, this show is brought to you by the fine folks over at GameTime. Make sure to download that GameTime app right now, create an account and use our code of PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms do apply.

It was a dreary day here in Phoenix, which was very fitting. It was very fitting that this was a safe. rainy day in the Phoenix metro area, considering our beloved Arizona Diamondbacks have been knocked out of the postseason. And of course, the show is just starting, Michael, because we had to delay things a little bit so I could make it over to Chase Field and get some reactions from the clubhouse from the guys. We did talk to Gabriel Moreno, Corbyn Burns, Justin Martinez, and a number of other people. But of course, that's a sad, that's a sad. That's a sad. That's a sad. thing we'll get to here shortly. What is a bigger topic is this report now coming from

Bob Nightingale that the Seattle Mariners have parted ways with their manager and that they could very much be looking at Tori Lavolo as their next manager. And I have to say that it does not surprise me one bit that Tori LaVolo hasn't even had time to have a full 12 hours of sleep before rumors are coming up that other teams are interested in in Tori in Tori being their new manager yeah we said it all season long that the second that he you know is let go he's going to be a leading candidate for almost every job across the country that opens up and I feel like you know, we're already seeing step one of that. And we don't even know if he's out as the debacks manager yet.

I mean, we really don't. But what we do know is that Dan Wilson is out as the Seattle Mariners manager. And we know that Tori Lavallo has some time to at least hear out some offers, discuss some things. I mean, he has expressed very much how much he wants to stay here and how much he wants to continue to build this organization, this team and win a championship here with the Diamondbacks. However, it's hard to be a manager of a team or a coach of a team for as long as Tori has been without winning a championship and still not have people grow tired of you as the leader. Even if they don't dislike Tori, even if they don't really feel like these losses and the fact that the Diamondbacks have come up short over the past three seasons by just a handful of games.

every season. There are, you know, there are people out there that feel like even though none of that might be something they're taking into consideration, it might just be the amount of time that Tori's been here without having that result, that championship result. And in this world, that is that is the main focus of everything, building towards a championship or at least building towards something better, right? Yeah, I think that- Feeling like you're making steps and progress towards the team, you know, just being better. And I can't say that about the Diamondbacks right now.

I think that for the D-backs, like success would be making the postseason. As we kind of outlined before the season started, that was always the step to success. And unfortunately, you haven't made the playoffs enough under the Tory and Mike regime, despite it being a huge step in the right direction for this franchise overall. And I understand that that's why a lot of people want to move on. They want new blood because they think that this team, this regime probably, you know, know, took the debacks to the next level, but it might not be them that takes it to the level that is after that, which is consistently making the postseason.

Yeah. And they've struggled to do that. I will say that, you know, you have situations with other organizations where during the 10 years that their managers have been there, they haven't even made the World Series, let alone won a World Series. Not a lot of teams have been winning World Series lately with the Dodgers being as stacked as they've been. but again this comes down to sometimes a manager or a coach isn't bad and isn't at fault but

it runs you know their time runs its course right I I can only imagine what we would see with Tori Lavallo running that Seattle Mariners team up there that's something that I'm not crazy about seeing I think again though enough people here have seen Tori make mistakes. They've seen Tori be vulnerable. They've seen Tori in a way that some coaches don't let themselves be seen. And I think that's always had an impact on the way people have viewed Tori here. But the Mariners are a really well put together team right now. They have a lot of weapons. They have a lot of good things going on for them. So that's a very attractive destination. Well, they don't have Randy a Rosarena, right? Wasn't that like the big thing yesterday? Like he was like

basically saying goodbye like everybody's all the mariners fans are crying yeah now uh you got like randall in the chat says i like tory but he is at best a 500 manager the only common denominator is the manager from year to year i can't argue with any criticism of tory when it comes to the results 23 was a special year because we had no goddamn business doing what we did that's that's a fact we had no business doing what we did and in fact and in fact I would probably credit Tori for being one of the driving forces behind that team making the world series. We saw it with our own eyes. We made t-shirts about it. That's something that, as I said, it has felt like it's been missing. The fire, you know, the fire on it overall,

the passion that was there in 2023 didn't seem to be there. But also, we didn't get that glimpse into the clubhouse like we did when they were in the postseason. right? I do think that, again, I don't blame people for not, you know, for wanting to move on from Tori overall. I sincerely do not. I think that really when it comes down to it, the fact of the matter is that Tori possibly becoming the new manager for Seattle might be the best for both Tori and for the Diamondbacks. But I wouldn't be surprised to see us regret that decision fairly quickly. in my opinion. But anyway, another very interesting story that has developed that's probably more of a non-story, was the video of Cotel Marte, obviously DJing in his house or in someone's house. I don't even know if you want to call it DJing. Listening to some music on an Instagram live.

He was DJing. He was DJing. I mean, I can recognize DJing. I was, look, I'm still to this day, the youngest DJ in 99.9 KZ's history, and I will hold that badge of honor until the day I die proudly. No other eight-year-old is going to get out here and get certified by spinning records for two hours like I did. I feel like we definitely could make that happen. I know. Well, I mean, there's prodigies out there.

I was not very smart or good when I was eight. I just knew how to play music. But when it comes to Kattel, come on, man. I mean, it really does feel like... I mean, it's insane. It really does feel like anything gets blown up, but it also is, once again, the optics of Cotel Marte doing something that probably...

How hard is it to just not do that kind of stuff? That's my question. I know that people are... That's going to upset, ruffle some feathers, because I've seen a lot of the sentiments, Derek, and this fan base being like, guys, we all deal with... We all deal with losses and, you know, hardships in our life differently.

And it's like, that's true. But Cattel is uniquely a guy who wants to be in the spotlight by doing things like that and putting his DJing on his Instagram story, the day of the team being eliminated, but then equally wants to, you know, not be in the limelight, not be the center of attention when he doesn't show up to the ballpark for, a series or a, you know, three-game slate or whatever. I just, those things don't line up. It's like, he has to know that that is going to be blown completely out of proportion

and be made into this giant story because everything that he's been doing all season has been leading to that. Like, the casino thing, if that wasn't telling enough of, man, you can't just be, like, like, hanging out or like, it's just kind of a slap in the face to the fans who have really supported him, appreciated him. And I didn't, I didn't love to see it. I know again, that that's going to, some people are not going to be happy with that. But I grew up in a Puerto Rican household Damon. I just want to say that. So I have often seen at times my very, very passionate Hispanic family at times, get over really bad moments in life by blaring music as loudly as they can,

making a tremendous amount of food and getting through it. Do you need to put it on your Instagram? I will go on to say that like... I'm fine with him doing whatever he wants to do, but he has to know what the PR damage that this is going to continually do when he does this stuff over and over and over again, man. Can I just say this though? It becomes, I guess for me, a question of,

is it intentional or is it a lot of, Or is it a lack of awareness? Both are indefensible. I want to say it's a lack of awareness, and I don't feel like this is a story, but I agree because he's just one of those people that things like this become a story. I agree with Jason in the chat.

I don't know what people expect a player to do, but I also agree exactly with what you're saying is that this wasn't like the casino situation where some creep, filmed him in the casino, right? This was him doing it himself and putting that out there to the world. So I don't know. I mean, I do think that if there's one thing I could definitely criticize him for

and agree with you 100% on is his timing on this stuff is terrible. Whether it is intentional or not, the timing on it's so bad that it gives people the impression that it is intentional, you know? And it's hard not to say that there haven't been stories. and posts from Catelle that seemed very intentional. He's like in post saying the like relationship with the debacks is fractured and stuff. Like he adds so much fuel to the fire. But then at the same time I feel like, you know, him and the people that really want to have his side when it comes to all this stuff and continually do seemingly at every single turn no matter what he does.

Derek, that's not true though. You off air, your sentiment is different than it is on air a little bit of like can't you can't be doing. that. No, I agree with that, though. I'm saying I agree with you. I do think that I don't give a damn about what he was doing because what he was doing doesn't bother me. And I think it got, again, I just give a damn about him just having such a lack of self-awareness at all times. It's enough is man. It's almost hard to feel. Put the phone down. It's almost hard to feel like it's a lack of self-aware that it's, it's so unaware of the situation and the tone and how it comes off that it almost again it surpasses you just feeling like he's an unaware person of how this

stuff is being perceived and it drifts right into the this seems intentional right it's hard not to watch him doing that after what's occurred and if it is intentional that sucks and looking like he's like celebrating that the season's over or like it's a big f you or whatever right i don't know but um i I mean, the comparisons, Paving Dog, bark, bark in the chat. I had to laugh at that chat. Name, it's a great name. It says it's the same trajectory as Kevin Durant, and that comparison has been made before. Paving Dog is, I didn't even peep that until right now.

Paving Dog, Bark, Park, yeah. Man. But Super Toast also says Ketel actively makes it hard to root for the man, and that's the annoying part because I want to and so many people want to. I want to so bad. And he's still like one of my favorite players to watch play the game. I don't just mean that because of how successful he is. I don't just mean that because when we get to the Mailbag Monday questions,

my favorite moments are probably going to be impacted a lot by Cattel this season. But I will say that, you know, again, that sentiment is very true. And it wears on you as a fan, but can you only imagine how the organization, who the organization knows far more about the truth, the reality of this situation than we do. as the public. So they know more, they know the details, and can you imagine how they feel, how tired they are of this constantly being something

that they have to deal with or address with a player that is too damn good for you to just simply let go or dismiss or trade away for nothing. Yeah, because that's what the reality of what the offseason would be at this point. If you recircled back to this Catele trade rumors, especially now that he has a pick of his destination with his 10 to 5 rights vesting. And so, yeah, it's not a good situation to be. And I think the best avenue, and I'll be on the record saying this pretty much all offseason,

even with my frustrations with him off the field, particularly, I think the best avenue for the debacks to winning is moving forward with Catell and him figuring it out. But I feel like I keep saying that. Like I'm a broken record being like in him. locking in and him being more committed to this baseball team and him you know not being all over tick talk live DJing the hours after our season is over because he knows what that's going to do to his image with the fan base or with at least a portion of this fan base I just I it can't keep happening man someone has to like sit down with him his agent it's it's honestly his agent's

responsibility yeah to be like you are hurting your relationship with the debacks, which hurts my relationship with the debacks, which in turn make it where the debacks aren't going to go after future one versions of that agent's players. I mean, it just, it has to be settled. We got to come to some sort of agreement here. It just wasn't a good look.

It's not the end of the world. And again, like, I don't really even care if he's doing that on his, you know, Sunday night in San Diego. Season's over. He's free to do what he wants.

Right. But just why do you, why do you got to put it on, on TikTok lot? I just don't get that part. You'll never make me understand that. Anyway, we'll take a quick break, Damon. And on the other side of this break,

we're going to hear from the guys in the clubhouse. Don't you guys go anywhere? You're watching the PHNX Diamondbacks show. Well, Ace HVAC is here for you, and you might recognize the name, but they have a brand new look. Ace, cooling, heating, plumbing, and electrical is here to help. They have over 30 years of serving Arizona homes.

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two lower level tickets to an Arizona Cardinals game of your choice, plus a $100 gift card of your choice, and a PH&X diehard membership. So no reason to not give Kim a call today at 480, 489, 5012. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, that's 4804895012, and teller, PHNX sent you. Damon, we got a chance to go over to Chase Field. Like I said, it was a sad day over there. A lot of packing stuff up.

A lot of the tape sound, which you guys are going to get plenty of in stereo right now. but the sentiment was, I think, very clear among this team. They're proud of what they did, but they know they didn't finish the job. They know they came up short, and it seemed like they were just kind of taking responsibility for that. The other sentiment is it seems like everybody very much wants to see Tori Lavello back in the dugout as their manager for next year. But again, this was just a sad day over there, kind of melancholy as guys were packing stuff up. I did find out that Lars Neubar has never met another Lars in his life. And if that's untrue, he would like to apologize now publicly to that Lars that he met, that he forgot that he met.

But he's not come across any other Lars. That's that's the most enjoyable answer you're going to get here overall. But we did hear from Gabby Moreno on a number of topics, including him winning the National League batting title. So, of course, let's get to some of those videos, Damon. Here's Gabriel Moreno first on his thoughts on this season and how it ended. It means a lot, man. Good, good. I think we should do better, yeah, to make the playoffs.

But I feel like overall. We handled a lot of stuff, but I think we did a really good job to finish kind of strong. Not how we wanted, but, like, be over 500. It's make fit everyone good, but it's not enough, you know. You got to make it and play in the playoffs. I mean, again, that was the thought is that, again, they played good, but Damon said it best before we got on there. This team has been good.

they just haven't been better than good. They haven't been great. Yes, they've been good enough to get to the end of the season where they're playing relevant games in September. They're playing relevant games the final week of September. But once again, they came up short. And even with the Phillies finally winning their way in and even with the Diamondbacks needing them to essentially have one of the biggest

implosions they've ever had, any teams ever had besides maybe the Mets, it still is disappointing that the Diamondbacks could not at least get their end of the job done when it came down to it. You know, I know the Padres had something to play for in that series, but it's still just extremely disappointing that even that final game that ended up not really matter. It didn't matter because of the Phillies winning. Even that game, I feel like a win there would have just changed the perception. a little bit. Instead, it's once again, just kind of a fizzle out in the final series of the season, and once again, it's against the Padres, which that's something I think we can all agree that we're

sick of. But here is Gabriel Moreno on the conversation with Tori Lovelo, I believe, about his, you know, his position and everything behind the plate. It was about him being scratched in the lineup, I believe. That's right. Towards the end of the season and not playing in game 16 and two. Yeah, let's get to that. Good. For me, for me, did a really good job,

handled us, like take care of and represent us outside on the field and the team too. So he handled a really good job. We had a really good conversation. Conversation? Yeah, conversation during this year to handle how many games going to play. I think he did a really good job with me, put me there basically every day. And I feel like they did a really good result time.

That packing tape. The packing tape is crazy. Shout out to Gabby, though. I think it's a really difficult thing to, like, you know, do as many interviews as he's made himself do this year. But you can tell he's put a real effort into. he has trying to speak English and I feel like you know like not saying everybody has to do that but I think that it deserves its flowers when guys do do go out of their way to try to so that answer was in regards to how Tori's helped him this season this is that this was about like just in general the the Tori being his manager and the steps that he's taken forward especially winning this NL batting title that he's won and how much that means to him but speaking of that he's he did answer going forward about Tori.

And if he wanted Tori back and the relationship he has with Tori, this is what he had to say. Yeah, yeah, Tori is an artskeeper, you know. I've been here since four years ago and he's been basically my first manager here in my full season. And he helped me a lot to develop me my career right now. majorly and thing obviously i want to want to hang him back here so yeah and i agree with the sentiment in the chat especially seeing gabby's like the steps he's taken forward like not only becoming comfortable with english but like damon said answering questions like he did obviously you know tori has been his only big league manager so it's it's hard for

moreno to be asked something like this you know and of course he doesn't doesn't want to change managers. Of course, there's not only an appreciation and a love for Tori, considering their relationship and how long, you know, they've worked together here. But Gabby went from being a, you know, a guy that was the third catcher in the Toronto Blue Jays system to being the Diamondbacks, you know, starting everyday catcher. And now here we sit four years later, and he is the National League batting champion. Right? I mean, again, you can't help but credit those that coached you and got you there and feel like they are a big part of, you know, your journey and how you got to that point.

But here's Gabby talking about that batting title and what it means to him. It means a lot, man. Honestly, it means a lot. That's something that you drink to win in while they did it this year. in basically in a full season, you know, all those moments in the past, then I was hurt every time I lost like one and a half too. Think about that and this year, it feels amazing, you know, because I know how hard I work on it.

Since the last year, I've been working in the all season and talking, have that relationship with the coach, is what I need. And they're there with me. me to support me and it means a lot with that title honestly. It's amazing, right?

I mean, again, I was said one of the dumbest things ever when I said that my hottest take a few seasons ago was that Gabby was going to lead the team in home runs but it's not so crazy now that he's won an NL batting title. That almost seems far

more unlikely thinking back on it than him leading the team in home runs. But he really has come a long way and it is incredible what he was able to do this season, how many games he was able to play. Utilizing him as a DH was a big reason why our DH situation wasn't a complete

catastrophe. And luckily, James McCann was very good at the dish as well. So using him as, utilizing him as catcher and Gabby in a DH spot allowed Gabby to to, you know, play as many games as he did and get to this point where he does just pass the, what is it,

three-time batting champion and Luis Arise to steal one from him and keep them from getting a fourth one. So if there's any solace to us beating the Phillies in any way, we beat him when it came to that. There's Derek's Silver-Lining stuff again. We also heard from other people. First, I want to hear from Justin Martinez because I kind of loved his,

I think his vibe was more of what we all feel today, which was just disappointment. Here's what J-Mart had to say about the season ending the way it did. That's all I got to say. It sucks. We've been fighting every game that we go out there, and then at the end of the season, we're behind one or two games, so it sucks.

We just need to be better than you. That's it. I mean, there's no other way to say it. It sucks. It sucks that it ended the way that it did. But one thing that Damon and I will fight to the death about against anybody that has anything negative to say about our Latin Kings is how good of a job this bullpen did this season. And here's what J-Mart had to say about Damon, our beloved bullpen. He sucks. That's all I got to say. He sucks. Like, we've been fighting every game that we go out there. It sucks. That's all I got to say. He sucks. Like, oh, that, first of all, hilarious wrong video there when it came talking about how he feels about the bullpen this year.

Here's what he thought about the bullpen. It sucks. Yeah, we had that was not his actual answer. We had a mislabeling of videos. A video there. No, no problem. No problem. But again, we'll get that one in there here shortly. But we do have, again, more from the clubhouse. We have Brandon Garcia, speaking of the bullpen, talking about the young core of the bullpen and how they stepped up this year. Definitely exciting. It was really cool to see Justin come back and add to it.

Murillo had an amazing year this year. So that was really cool to see. This is also my first full year with the team being able to experience a lot of different guys. just having the ability to get to know everybody a little bit more. So that was really cool for me as well. By the way, congratulations to Brandon Garcia. He has some exciting off-season plans. He's going to be getting married next month, which is very, very cool for that young man.

So congratulations to him and best of luck. I will also say that I think we're all looking forward a little bit to the core that is here, those young pitchers that are going to be a part of this organization, going forward and, you know, all of those guys kind of stepping up. We got Justin Martinez here now at giving his actual thoughts on the bullpen and not that other thing that we showed you. Here's what J-Marg had to say about, about his fellow bullpen arms.

We probably have one of the best bullpen in the league this year. So hopefully we continue to do what we did this year. And this year, we'll be better if we could, if we keep, like, working and put in everything. He said one of the best bullpins in baseball. I don't hate that. And again, it definitely was, man. I know that the ERA and stuff didn't look like anything that crazy out of the bullpen at the end of the season. Like when you look at the final season statistics, but I really did think that the bullpen was one of the five to ten best bullpens in baseball this year.

Yeah, and you're right. Because statistically there were a lot of 14th or something like that. Yeah. It's like if you're taking the whole bullpen, right, let's not. forget how many games James McCann came in and pitched in relief early in the season. Joe Ross. I mean, there's a lot of bad ERAs in there. And of course, you cannot sit there and pick out the bad ones and then say, oh, here, this is what it would have been if it was just these guys, right? But the Diamondbacks have a lot of those guys that contributed to the good side of the bullpen. A lot of those

guys are these young arms that are going to be here going forward. So there are some very exciting things about the future of this team. It just comes down to really what does Major League Baseball look like after this season and how does the changes to everything impact the Diamondbacks ability to spend and add to this team and, you know, where we sit after the new CBA has finally agreed upon. Hopefully the sentiment today around the clubhouse, at least among other journalist was that the you know the the the the hope here is that we're not going to lose too much baseball not as much as we thought there's just far too much money on the line at the end of the day and really flushing four to five billion dollars down the drain just so that they can play

tough negotiations against each other might not end up being what happens because that's a lot of money but again we have a little bit more from brandon garcia here's brandy discussing next season. It sucks that we didn't make it, but we got next year and we're going to come back even stronger. And again, that's probably also a sentiment that was echoed quite a bit. But another sentiment was, once again, the feelings on Tori. Here's what Garcia had to say about Tori Lobella. Yeah, I mean, I think Tori's amazing.

I think he runs a bullpen well. That's how I feel about it. He put me in very good situations this year. So I really enjoy Tori as a manager. I mean, that was nightmare fuel for people in this fan base, Derek. I know. He handles the bullpen well. Is that what you just said, Brandon Garcia?

Huh? It cannot be. I guess I'm not the only Tori Shill, I guess, is what it is. Yeah, everybody in the locker room is a Tori Shill, too. Brandon also shows up to Sunday dinner over at Tori's house as well. Speaking of Sunday dinner, Tim Tawa is included in that as well. Here's Tim Tawa on his relationship with Tori in his time with the Diamondbacks. He's been great, and he's been nothing but kind and open with me,

and for that for sure. I think that he did a really good job this year just and keeping us together and keeping the locker room in a good spot. So, you know, ever since I got called up in 2025. He was welcoming and, you know, treated me exactly how a player wants to be treated. So I definitely appreciate him for that and everything he did this year. I felt like they were waiting until we started the interviews to tape the boxes, too, because there would be these 10 to 15 minutes spans in between interviews where no taping would happen.

Not a single piece of tape was pulled from a single roll. Anyway, I'm going to get past the tape stuff, but someone said it makes it sadder like hearing the tape while we're doing these interviews in the background does in fact very much make it sadder, but again, you're not you're not going to find anybody. And we are media sticking a microphone in the guy's face asking about their manager who they may or may not, who may or may not be returning to this team. Yeah, it's like chances are you're not going to get somebody being like, oh yeah, I hate that asshole. Get him out of here. It's like Walschman being asked about Catelle, where it's like Walshman's been around Cotel for what, three months total in his entire tenure with the Diamondbacks, including spring training at that point. And so he's not going to come out and be like, man, he could tell really pissed me off, dude.

I can't, I don't know if he'll be welcome back in this locker. He's just going to be like, yeah, he's a good guy. And he helps us win ball games. And I hope he comes back and can help us win ball games. And it's like, yeah, the players are going to say they like. That's probably how he really does feel, though. Like Ryan Walshman probably is like. Hey, my name's not Paul, but this is between y'all because he's not like the kind that's going to have a strong opinion on a veteran being there or not being there.

He's seen his stuff. He probably has his opinions. He probably voices those opinions to his father or to people personally, you know, but it's probably still not super strong. Because at the end of the day, what really matters is that you have a guy like a Talmartay on your team and that he's there helping you win. And again, that's also why, you know, you're going to forget. give him for some of the egregious, you know, missing and action kind of moments that he's had over the last few years, but maybe. I don't know. I don't know if I fully agree with, with everything you said there. I feel like you could still have some bad sentiments about it,

potentially behind closed doors, but yeah, I'm just saying, I was just saying as far Ryan Walschman was concerned, not necessarily. I mean, I just, I don't want to attribute any feelings to him when I don't really know what his feelings are. I think that's fair to say. Totally open to him being upset potentially. But yeah, I mean, I, I the whole situation is yeah you're not going to get people lambasting Tory in front of the whole media right yeah I can't we need some we need some fresh motivation in the in the locker room this isn't Tori wasn't good enough this season I mean no one's gonna say that I almost feel like what you're going to do DQ 13 said literally only heard the tape yeah I know I look I'm trying I'm trying my best out here in this clubhouse situation I don't I don't make the rules about when and people can and can't take. But I will say that, you know.

Derek, tell them to stop taping. I don't know, man. I think that you're not, you're right. You're not going to get nothing but PR answers, but. Where's Jake Garcia when you need him, Derek? I know, yeah. He probably would have told them. Can you guys tape afterwards maybe?

I gave them some very passive aggressive side eye while I was filming. Oh, I know you did. I know you did. I even probably once or twice went like that. Didn't do anything. Didn't do anything. But again, it's an awkward position to be in overall. And, you know, these guys haven't, especially some of these young guys really haven't played many other places besides here.

So it might not be that weird to them, especially even like a guy like Tim Tawa, right? That his situation being here, you know, basically the last two seasons, he might feel a certain way. but it's still about, I think for the most part, even if you have a strong opinion, you're not going to air it to try to make the situation worse, nor do you really want to make the situation worse. You kind of just want your star player to get his shit together and start showing up like you should, like he's being paid for.

And that's probably the end of it, right? But again, you also have a lingering question about how much that Marté's situation impacted this season considering the way it went. One guy, again, that did impact this season was Tim Tawa. You got to admit that ever since he went down to Reno and came back, he was a changed, he was a changed man. And our guy, Jack Summers, asked him about that Dodgers series and how it basically gave him confidence,

you know, going into L.A. And having that kind of series helping the Diamondback sweep the Dodgers. Here was Tawa's answer about how that series kind of made him feel like he belonged. Definitely, I think, you know, that was big just not only for the confidence, but just to kind of continue to get my feet under me. I don't think there's ever like a waiver of doubt that I belong or that I could do it, but to see some results and see some tangible stuff. That was definitely big. And, you know, I want to, again, give a lot of credit to the hitting coaches for sticking with me and continuing to push things that would just kind of put me in a good position. that week we just kind of focused on how early can I be ready how on time can I be

I'm not trying to think about mechanics but just literally just how early and ready can I be to hit the ball and that kind of clicked with some some stuff and was able to kind of use that the rest of the year so that was definitely a big series for me Corbin Burns was also available to the media in the clubhouse he was one of the last players we got he was the last player we got to talk to and a lot of the questions surrounded around his health and well-being. And for the most part, he basically described his inflammation and his shoulder as exhaustion, you know, kind of like a dead arm that pitcher would get at the end of the season.

There wasn't any pain. There was no structural damage. The MRI barely showed anything at all as far as the inflammation was concerned. Apparently, Corbyn Burns has become a bit of an expert on looking at MRI. Surprise, surprise. But overall, he says he feels good and he thinks at this point pretty much, you know, just shutting him down was the right move. He didn't want to be the guy that cost this team their chance at going to the playoffs because he couldn't really get the ball out velocity-wise. And he also feels like a normal off season and then ramping back up through a hopefully normal spring training next year will get him back on on track.

He was also asked about if he was going to, you know, accept his, you know, essentially contract extension to stay here. His option. His option. But it's like a three year more option, right? Right. To your point. Like it's like almost an extension. Yeah.

Yeah. So he and he, mom was the word when it came to that because he still hasn't made a decision. But I think that decision is fairly clear for him at this point. According to Jeff Pass and it is. according to Jeff Bassett very much is. But he was asked about, you know, missing the postseason. And here's what he had to say about, again, much like Justin Martinez says, that it sucks to miss the postseason.

Yeah, it sucks. You know, you went 15 months with not being able to compete and then to be able to come back and compete and not being at the level you want it to be. This was tough. You know, it's one of those things that you want to come back after that long of a laugh and be 100% and go and do what you can to help the team get in postseason. I gave it all I had. The body was just tired, and shoulder just couldn't move as fast as I wanted to.

And everything I tried, the arm was telling me no, and the body was saying yes, but just couldn't get it all timed up. So it sucked. It was unfortunate. These guys played the butts off all the yet. So the fact that it came out on the last day to make that decision when two weeks out looked pretty tough. So you've got to take your hands off of these guys for playing as hard as they did. And I wish I could have played a bigger part. we all wish he would have been able to play a big part too not only was that setback a pretty devastating

you know pretty devastating news but even though it was just the last start of the year him going back on the iL there didn't bode well for the diamond backs even had they made the playoffs right so uh it was it was all around uh unfortunate but let's hope that we get a full healthy season of corbin burns next year and let's hope we get a full season of baseball next year but one more question from burns here he is answering his thoughts on tori lovolo sticking around as manager of this baseball team yeah he's been great you know he's definitely in there pulling for us every day to go out and play our butts off and he's guys in here play that butts off for him so I don't know what's going to happen I haven't had had a chance to talk to to her today our last couple days to see where his heads out

but I'm sure I'll have that conversation here soon. But yeah, for what he did for this organization ever since he's been here, has been nothing but positive things. So it's tough to, if he does move on to go somewhere else, then I think he holds a special place here. But hopefully he's back and we'll see what happens probably here. I would guess the next couple weeks we'll see it. It's been great.

He's been none but nothing but good to me. Well, we have two sentiments that are opposing sentiments here in the chat. but we have coach Henry saying my take on LaVolo, which no one cares. We care, Coach Henry. But the debacks had three $20 million pitchers that didn't give them shit. And three of four core hitters that didn't play up to their capabilities, not Lavello's fault. And I can't disagree with that. But then you also have indifferences, indifference news, Damon there, saying,

Tori has a losing record over 10 years over it. I can also understand how the, you know, way they've missed the point. playoffs the last three years is could be completely taken differently and in in in by by different people i don't think troy was the problem at all but i think the question becomes is he the solution sure right like that's more of because is there some other manager that can get more out of this team where they win five extra games and instead of spending the final weekend hoping someone else loses and that they can sweep an opponent that's on fire maybe just just maybe they can just be like, hey, we're in a wildcard spot.

We're firmly in a spot. We're going to make the playoffs. Yeah, I agree 100%. I think that's got to be the conversation. But I do agree that in a vacuum this season, not his fault. Jose Cabrera pitching in that game when we all knew he was going to blow it, that also in a vacuum might be his fault. But that's not what the whole season comes down to.

Yeah. And overall, he had a good year in my opinion. I don't disagree. But, you know, again, we're Tori Shills that go over to his house on Sunday nights for lasagna. You're damn right. It's the best lasagna. We're going to take a quick break.

We can't lose him. On the other side. To Seattle? To Seattle? It's going to be really tough to make Sunday dinners happen. I mean, who are we going to put up Christmas lights with and eat

chocolate peanut butter ice cream with? I don't love this at all, but we're going to take a quick break. And on the other side of this break, we're going to do what we do every Monday on this show. And we're going to do it fast. Don't you go anywhere. You're watching the P.H.N.X.

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Plus, it is on tap at some of your favorite restaurants. So next time you're at the store or out on the town, grab a chestnut. sports club, the great tasting light beer you've been looking for. Look for that beautiful green can and welcome to the club. Jason's trying to tell me to drop IPAs and look, while I do enjoy a delicious chestnut sports club, you will have to pry my IPA out of my cold dead hands, Jason, out of my cold dead hands. Anyway, and see, that's just one of the many questions that we're getting set to answer right now. I don't even know if it was a question, but I'm taking it as one. But it is Monday, and you know what we do here on Monday.

Of course, every year is the year of the snake. Every year is our year, even though this year wasn't our year. Every year is our year. Every single month on this podcast is Black History Month. Every single month on this podcast is Women's History Month. And every single month on the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast is Black Women's History Month. Every single week is Shark Week, even though sharks don't celebrate it. And on every day, Damon and I recycle.

so every day is Earth Day. But on Mondays, we go to the mailbag. Damon, let's go to the mailbag. 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. All right, Damon, what do we got in mailbag today? Shout out to Game Time, by the way, Derek.

Oh, God, Game Time. Always powering our Mailbag Monday. Thank you to Game Time. And, of course, make sure to get those last minute ticket deals by using that code. PHNX when you sign up, you get $20 off your first purchase. Our first question is from Travis Moore, who I'll be honest, Eric, I saw this this morning and I was a little bit confused. He said, Damon, can we reconcile here?

And I was like, what did we do? Were we fighting, Travis? I didn't know we were upset with each other. Yeah, I didn't. I had no idea. And he said, LOL, so much talk is going to happen around whether or not to bring Tori back. And I'm fine either way because I, a thousand percent agree with you that his role as Skipper means so much less than that of a head coaching football, basketball, etc.

Yeah, you made that point. and it was such a great point, especially with this team. I think it goes even further with the Arizona Diamondbacks based on the fact that Tori Lovolo specifically is not the kind of individual that likes to be a dictator over his team as a manager. He very much takes in the input from all of his coaches. And as we know, as we've discussed, a lot of the decisions Tori is blamed for

are actually done on a committee-type level with the front office being involved, analytics being involved, Jeremy Blyche being involved, Michael Hayes, Mike, Michael Hayeson, Mike Hayes of being involved. And, you know, I think that to be entirely truthful as well, like, it's more so that he's like one of those voices rather than he's like the leader being like, I'll divvy out to everyone else. It's more so that probably the front office is calling the shots, but they take Torrey's input into account when they make decisions.

I understand how last season people were very upset with Brian Kaplan and felt like he was to blame for what was going on with the pitching staff. and I understand this year how people are upset with Joe Mather and think that he is the problem with the hit the offense. Like those are things that I feel like are a bit more reasonable than Tori. However, Tori's contract is up and there's a good chance that if Tori goes, as would his coaching staff because a new manager would probably bring in their own coaching staff. We would have to keep Dave McKay, man.

We have to keep Dave McKay at all costs. I mean, I would die for Dave McKay. I think that sign says enough. That says enough right there. If we lose Dave McKay, the franchise might be crumbling. It's actually over. 100%. It's never been more over and we'll never be back ever.

What else we got? Next question is from Gabriel who says, what are your guys' top three moments of this season? And do you expect any movements before the lockout? Thanks for everything this season. I started listening to you guys this year in one of the best decisions of the year. Dude, Gabriel, we can't thank you enough, bud. We can't thank you enough.

And when you see me at batting practice next time, you better say hello to me. Do not be shy. We appreciate you. Gabriel. Thank you for finding this podcast. You've been awesome. You've been a great part of the community this year for sure. Top three moments, Damon,

and I think we have another one of these as well, and I'll probably just address similar moments, but it's hard not to think of our takeovers as two of my favorite moments of this year. It's unbelievable what we experienced at our takeovers this year. But more importantly, what I

experienced in the Tarps off section with my new family, my new brothers for life. Yeah, that's got to be number one. Well, we're all going to be in each other's weddings. We're all going on, we're going on vacations with the families together forever, especially me and Ryan Hanley, who, again, if you've never had experience the joy of another human being lifting you up in the air and spinning you around on the concourse of a baseball stadium after your team won in walkoff fashion, then I would argue you haven't really lived life. But it's hard not to say that our two takeovers were by far some of my favorite moments this year.

And honestly, watching Dr. Jesse McGuire have his trumpet fail him and watching that man set it down and simply start belting out the national anthem during the 25th anniversary celebration in a way that couldn't be more of an inspiration for everybody when things don't go their way. Yeah, that was that that that was that what didn't happen in a game, but that was definitely one of my favorite moments of this entire year and it just happened It was very inspiring. I mean, it truly was especially considering that Damon and I do this show and have so much go wrong during a live broadcast at times It's hard just to roll with things the way that he did and I think in fact he went from just doing an anthem that people would have appreciated and loved to making it a memorable moment for so many of us that witnessed it. So what was your top three? Two of them were the takeovers and the other one was Jesse McGuire's trumpet malfunction. Man, you know you're a bad baseball team when the anthem trumpet is one of the top three moments of the season.

We got like two and a half million views on that, Damon. Some very famous people commented on it. But I think more than anything, it was legitimately the panic I felt filming. that when that moment happened because it really wasn't about him and his trumpet and the moment. It was just such a metaphor for this team of just shit not going their way. And not only that, but again, it also was kind of like embarrassing in a way. Like it was like, didn't he? What?

Didn't he fake it? I don't, I don't know. I've heard otherwise internally. I mean, like, I'm just saying, like, you can't be treating it like it's the most impressive thing in America when you are the one. one that's like, it was so WWE. I mean, it felt very WWE, but after talking to people internally, it sounded very much like he had apparently not oiled his trumpet and that that was like a real thing that

really happened, right? But also, again, I think that I didn't know regardless of whether or not it was that in the moment, I just can't tell you how it broke my heart to see that happen. Like, I literally, I think I, I think I heard just like a split second, David just went like this, like, oh, look, with my hand on my heart. I was like, oh, God. You know, like it was, and it's, it's, it is. It is kind of like how this season has gone, right? You're sitting there, you're watching something amazing happen.

You're like, yes, this is great. And then what is that? Why is this happening to us? Why isn't the thing work? It's like the dog. Why is something broken? Yes, the dog. The dog.

Oh. the dog not working. I would go. Probably worst moment of the year. I would go Cattell walk off with you doing the tarps off when we had to takeover. Probably number one. Yeah. Number two would be, and I wasn't even here doing the show, but when Ryan Walschman hit the walk off against the Dodgers.

Yeah. When I was in San Diego, one of the best moments in my life. Yeah. Calling into this show from the street outside the club that I was hammered at going snakes alive. Yeah. And man, number three. Wow. Wow, wow, wow.

I just, I mean, I still feel like when we went tarps off together in this office during a show. I mean, that goes into C. That was my first thing, as I said, the Cantal Marte walk off, the tarps off, the takeover, the whole celebration. That had to be number one for me. So I. So good. That easily is in my top, my top one. I don't know.

I mean, can I say like more generally? Can I say like just watch. kind of, you know, like Gabby, do what he did this season. Yeah. Was really cool to see. And like he finally had that breakout year. I think that we've all been kind of envisioning for him since that World Series year where he was insane in the playoffs.

And we thought, man, this is one of the best hitters at the catcher position in all of baseball. He was hitting three hole on a team that went to the World Series and won a pennant. And then, you know, obviously he's battled a lot of injuries and whatnot. But he really fully put it together this year. It was great to see. Yeah. Uh, Paving Dog Bark Bark brings up the Pave and walkoff on September 11th.

And yeah, that was pretty, pretty iconic. Pretty iconic. Uh, A-Z. Probably, like, one of like the like, more mediocre moments of the season. If I have to say so myself. AZ Katz, G. Thank you for your super chair. He says, you guys should do a year-ending video in the style of one shining moment going over the highs and lows of the season. Thanks again, guys. That's a great idea. Derek has a great like Jim Nance kind of. I'm not saying your voice sounds like him, but I think you could really pull off that kind of video of like, of like, I give it a shot of like the highs and the lows.

I can give it a shot. All right, let's get another one in. What else we got? Mailbag-wise, we have our next question here. Sorry, I got to get off screen. I'm all about the limelight. If Michael Rokeke, Evil Michael says, I remember asking in a mailback a while back,

if this was Tori's best managing year, did he undo all of that on Saturday night when he said, I need to see what Jose Cabrera had? Yeah, maybe. Maybe. that was a big moment. I mean, it's kind of like, again, if a manager had a great regular season

where he managed a team into the postseason, but then he gets into the postseason and he completely bungles the wild card round and it just left you scratching your heads, tried to go all crazy and abstract, like what the Houston Astros are kind of forced to do here with a bullpen game in game one of their wild card round. I don't know.

I mean, I think that what you do, but in the most critical moments can categorize you more than the body of work over the season. And that's the reason why I think a lot of people are mad and want to move on from Tori right now because one of his worst games as a manager happened in the second to last season of the year when everything was literally on the line. So I don't know if he completely undid it, but he did a lot of damage to the idea that he had his best year managing with that one game on Saturday. Especially with the end of the season, I was, you know, probably prepared to come into this, this podcast in our offseason, Derek, and be like, man, they should probably bring back Tori.

He had a great year. But that decision alone does make me be like, man, I guess I wouldn't be like too upset if they got a new manager, even though I like Tori and I made that very clear. For sure. That was an egregious, egregious thing to say afterwards as well. Wanted to see what Jose Cabrera had. Well, I wanted to make the freaking playoffs, Tori. It's like he's just like too honest sometimes. Put Juan Murillo in the game.

Put Justin Martinez in the game. Like those guys pitched later on. Put them in against the heart of the Padres order in a must-win situation. Yeah. It's game seven, buddy. Well, let's take a quick break because we got to get out of here soon. Damon's got another show to do. But we're going to be right back and answer a few more mailbag Monday questions.

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But join the Inner Circle 2.0 right now for free by downloading the CircleK app. Today, terms and conditions apply at participating locations. Visit CircleK.com for details. All right, Damon. What else we got in the mailbag? Let's get rolling. Yeah. Our next question here in the mailbag is from Jason.

And he says, what are you most proud of with your pH and X coverage of 2026? Favorite segment interview, memory. Thank you all for the great work. Let's light even more Cactus Lights in 2027. I will say that in general, I think some of the things we've come up with this year have become some of my favorite things that we've done, Damon. I obviously am a big fan of the blame game that we added. I think I'm a fan of the fact that we brought so many new people on to enjoy the show. with us and have a conversation with us in a live chat. That's been, that's been pretty amazing.

I mean, not only have we at this show experience some losses over the few years, but obviously we here at PHNX have had our fair share of losses. And it's understandable at times the impact that those losses can have on, you know, on the audience and on how you guys feel. So I'm just thrilled to have you guys here with us. I think that one of my favorite things about this year, honestly, has been some of the conversations and arguments that Damon and I have had on the show this year. Honestly, it's been, it's been amazing. And I feel like at times some of our best work is when me and this man are just simply chatting and airing our feelings about all of these different topics, you know, like earlier with Catell. You know, I was I was actually surprised to hear you have that, you know, take on Cotel, but you're not wrong.

I think really at the end of the day, what it comes down to isn't the act of what Kattel did being so egregious, as much as filming it or putting it live on social media so that fans who are very upset over their team being eliminated from playoff contention, get to see one of these star players from their team that didn't have a good year and ended up being a pretty big distraction, just kind of not look so upset. Not looking very upset about the end of the season happening. Yeah, certainly. you know, I think if I'm looking back at the things that I'm most proud of from this year, I think number one, first and foremost, it has to be being so right about Carlos Santana.

I knew that was coming. So I think that like there's just, there's, there's, there's, there can't even be a, and he weren't right about Carlos Santana, but I'm pretty sure I said he'll never play a baseball game for this team ever again. And last time I checked out, but I mean, that was right. He never, he never, he never came off the IL. He never even came out. Where'd he go? Atlanta.

He never came off the I don't know. Like I said. should have made him the damn coach. Like, we could have kept him around for that. Everybody was like, man, he's great in the, you know, hitting off the teas in the cages. He's the best. We all love talking to Carlos Santana. I was like, hey, Joe Mather, you need an assistant?

You know, offense hasn't looked so great this year. Just a thought. But, yeah, I mean, I got to say, like, I think that, you know, personally very rewarding and not as much from the show perspective, even though I'm very proud of what we've done this year, Gonzo calling me the Cal Ripkin Jr. of PHNX was pretty damn cool. That was also my favorite interview as well. Yeah, yeah. It's gone. It's no doubt about that.

It's unreal. Yeah, especially getting to talk to a guy that I think it's safe to say is, is, is, has been our hero, both of our hero. Oh, yeah. At one point in our life, right? I mean, if you're in Arizona and he's probably your hero and to have not only. When I was a kid, like I tell everybody Jeter and Gonzo, baby, it's the guys. Never been anybody else. Not only to have kind of a friendship with him personally.

and him knowing my name, that enough is amazing. Yeah, that's what I'm saying. Like, him saying that about me is the coolest thing it's ever happened in me. That's my point, you know. But having him on this podcast during this particular year, the 20th of the anniversary of when they did what they did, special. Really cool. Yeah, that was a great interview, Derek. And that was, like, personally rewarding him saying that, but also for the show's perspective, like, that was a bucket list interview for us for sure.

And we love Gonzo. So, yeah, I think that that would probably be the thing that I go to first and foremost. All right. CFM, who I think is Seizar, says, after disappointing weekend and now looking at the situation, constructively, I support continuity when it delivers a success for this team that's playoffs at minimum under Tory that hasn't happened besides 2023 and 17, correct? I think new leadership is needed, should it be external candidate? I think if you're going to go, if you're saying like we can't do the Tory thing anymore,

for me, it has to be an external candidate. Yeah. Yeah. That's my personal opinion on it. I'd be pretty upset if they were like, we're going to bring someone that's already on this team to, you know, elevate them as manager and keep the same thing rolling, but without the guy who, you know, has been the head of the mantle for so long. I agree with that. It's just it's hard to want to do something different, but then have, as we've discussed in the past, Jeff Bannister be the replacement. He very well could be.

And I think Jeff Bannister would be a great candidate to replace Tori. However, if what you're looking for is something different, I do think that Bannister was one of the most trusted coaches on Tori staff as far as Lovolo trusting his opinion and listening to the things that he has to say. So, again, if you want something different, I just don't know if you can go with an internal candidate. It feels like you kind of have to go with an external candidate. But if you're okay, if you just feel like maybe some toughness is needed, but everything else was fine, then maybe Bannister. is the right replacement, right? So I don't know. But I do think that if, if Tory does leave and you want to change,

then I feel like you have to go with an external candidate. What else we got, Damon? Our next question is from Lori Tovolo. Great name. Who says, when will Derek Hall be held accountable for a playoff appearances in 20 years? Stadium is falling apart. No deal with the county yet. I mean, he is addressing things that are,

that do fall under Derek Hall's wheelhouse. I don't know if any of that is really on Derek, though. Well, I mean, I guess I was going to say. The stadium stuff maybe. Yeah, I was, I was going to say, Derek, that I don't think that Derek Hall wears the, the team's lack of success, although at the end of the day, he is the president and CEO. And, like, doesn't, and he hires Mike Hazen. So I guess if Mike Hazen is not building good enough rosters, that's kind of on Derek Hall.

Sure. But I would say that he's like down the list on the totem pole of people to blame if the team isn't playing well. Yeah. Although he does share some of the blame. But I would say the stadium thing probably falls on him, no? Yeah, I think so. And I mean, they did get the- I'm not blaming to vote for playoff appearances in 20 years.

They did get the vote approved. But yeah, I mean, again, when you talk about distractions, more stadium lease news. And then that's still not being accomplished after the vote got done to renovate the stadium. I don't know. I still think Derek Hald does a great job with this team, and I don't really think that a lot of that stuff truly falls on him. I think he has made a lot of efforts to keep Chase Field affordable for fans and, again, do everything that they can on a very limited budget.

I think that if people actually saw how difficult it was for them to get the things that they're trying to get done, done and the red tape and the, I guess, the hurdles that prevent them from signing a lease and renovating the stadium and all of that, I think they would feel different and they would feel like it's not necessarily his fault. But I do agree that the longer that this lease deal thing drags out, the worse it looks specifically on him. So I think the state, like, I mean, he's the voice of the debacks when it comes to all the stadium stuff.

So I feel like he almost being the figurehead when it comes to. those deals and those happenings, the litigation, the legal ease that happens during that, like it almost then automatically kind of falls back on him in the eyes of everybody that's a D-BACS fan that's paying attention because he's the one guy that's kind of talking about it from the D-BACS standpoint, I guess. And yes, Debra, it's a county issue. It's the Maricopa County Stadium board or whatever they call it. I forget what it's what it is.

But yeah, it's a Maricopa County situation and not Phoenix. All right, Damon. Let's get one more in from Zabe, one of our favorite human beings to ever watch this show. And Zab says, why do the baseball gods hate us? Why must we suffer like this? Why? Damon, do you want to tell them? Well, you didn't let me get prepared enough for this one.

Well, no, I don't mean that. It has a little bit of something to do with Indian burial grounds. Of course, all of the land of Arizona's stolen ancient land that was, you know, used for generations by civilizations and tribes that, you know, have tons of history. And because we, we did that now we'll never, ever taste success ever again. Have you ever seen the episode of The Simpsons where Homer trades his soul for a donut? That's what happened in 2001. At least that's what I think happened in 2001.

That's what I like to feel like happened. That's what happened. Anyway, when you have Randy Johnson come out of your bowl. Bullpen. Apparently, you have to have 25 years of bad bullpens follow it. But luckily this year, we didn't have one. I think that's really what where the trade was. But we thank you guys so much. Love you guys. Appreciate your questions and appreciate you being here. We'll be back tomorrow with another 12 p.m. show. Unfortunately, even though I like that time slot, I don't like the reason why we're back to doing 12 p.m. shows. So until then, you can follow us on social. I'm at cap underscore caveman with a gay. He is at Damon Dogg with a DAW. at the end and of course we're all Damon's dogs. Bark, bark. Our show is at PH&X underscore D-BACs but of course at all roads leads you

at PH&X underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Thank you guys so much. Love you. Appreciate you. We'll see you back here tomorrow. Until then have a wonderful rest of your Monday and remember kids baseball is fun but it's so much more fun when you realize that all the players think the ending of this

season really sucked. Did we do our super shots? I guess we did. I guess we did. We did do the we did we did do the a Z catch G I just did the outro but I apologize no I want to make sure you want to go ahead get them in get them in before we get out mark mark asks do you do you two view first base starting pitching or DH as the most important thing to get right during the off season starting or I'm sorry first base yeah I agree I said I said to him in reply in the chat Derek that I think that you kind of have you know fourish starting pitchers kind of locked in already like errod uh Merrill Kelly Brandon Fott and Corbyn Burns hopefully and then even Ryan Nelson coming back you might have your five right there so I mean I'm not saying that that's good enough even but that might be your five right there so I think first base is probably a little bit more pressing in terms of not having anyone right now that's yeah that's I agree with that also Mark says fun fact Morillo Garcia Loisaga and Taylor Clark aka the Latin Kings provided more BWar than Erod Sroca fought Nelson Kelly and Gallin in a third of the innings and yes Taylor Clark is part of the Latin Kings. Shout to Zach Gallen for his negative ass war. For sure.

Last but not least, on a sad note, Cool bro says, my D-Bach's dating saga ended just like the team, had potential for the playoffs, relationship, had good moments that were memorable but flamed out. I think I was gone in Alaska when Cool,

when Cool, Bruce's relationship fell apart. Damn, cool, bro. I missed all of it. All right, well, this off season, we got a lot to rebuild, including Cool Bros. Love Life. So again, we thank you guys for your time. Appreciate you.

We'll see you back here tomorrow. and remember kids baseball is fun but it's not so fun when cool bro bums us out telling us that the relationship didn't work