PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - The D-backs trade for 2020 AL ROY Kyle Lewis while Goldschmidt finally becomes MVPaul

Starting point is 00:00:07 Hello and welcome to another edition of the PHNX D-Backs podcast right here on PHNX. My name is Derek Montia, occasionally known as your mayor of PHNX, and I, of course, am joined by my one and only vice mayor, the Thunderstick, Jesse Friedman. We have a trade, Derek. We have a trade, Jesse. Two in three days. Yay. I don't understand what's happening because this trade blows my mind a bit, but of course,

Starting point is 00:00:33 we have all the information for you on why this trade happened. potentially, I don't know, it's mostly speculation on our part, but we're very excited to talk about this. Of course, this show is brought to you by the fine folks at the Draft King Sportsbook app, America's top-rated sportsbook app. The Arizona Diamondbacks have traded Cooper Hummel outfielder slash catcher, if you want to call them that, to the Seattle Mariners for 2020 AL rookie of the year, Kyle Lewis. Jesse, what is going on? I don't understand this trade one bit. I mean, I guess I do, especially after speaking to Mike Hazen last night, they shed a little bit more light on this trade.

Starting point is 00:01:17 But let's talk about Kyle Lewis and why the Mariners parted ways with him for Cooper Humble. Yeah, I mean, initially when I saw this deal, and granted, I was not entirely privy to the very long CVS receipt. that you could fill with Kyle Lewis's injury history. It has been a journey. We'll get into that a little bit later. But yeah, I mean, the fact that the Mariners would deal a guy who two years ago, like you said, won the American League Rookie of the Year award,

Starting point is 00:01:54 he's been an above average offensive contributor at the big league level. Every year he's been in the big leagues except for 2022, which he only played 18 games. He dealt with multiple injuries that kept. him out almost the entire season. He wound up finishing the year in AAA. But yeah, I mean, this was a guy who was taken in the first round back in 2016 was the consensus number one overall prospect in the Mariners system for a couple of years. This is a bit, I mean, there's some serious prospect pedigree here. And initially when the move came out, I mean, the Diamondbacks

Starting point is 00:02:28 gave up Cooper Hummel. Like Cooper Hummel, as, as much as, you know, he's been, he's been fun to watch and, you know, Cooper Hummel is a great guy. Friend of the show, enjoyed, enjoyed interacting with him. We wish him all the best. But the reality is Cooper Hummel may or may not have made the Diamondbacks opening day roster. It sort of seemed like the team was trying him out for a backup catcher role because there's no way he was going to get playing time in the outfield.

Starting point is 00:02:53 And this sort of seems like a move that signals the Diamondbacks probably weren't going to use him as a backup catcher. And it was sort of a dead end for him as far as getting. playing time moving into next year. And we actually have exclusive confirmation on that from Cooper Hummel himself, from a conversation I had with him, where we were kind of just joking about what he was doing after playing 162 games this season going and playing for the Salt River Rafters in the Arizona Fall League.

Starting point is 00:03:23 And Cooper's answer was funny and honest. You know, basically he said, have you seen this outfield? Not going to get much playing time, right? So he was purposefully trying to get more reps behind the plate as a catcher. He actually did not play very much in the Arizona Fall League, but when he did play, he was fucking outstanding. He was really good at the plate in Arizona Fall League play. But that's Arizona Fall League, right?

Starting point is 00:03:50 Cooper has been facing Major League pitching all year long, so there's not much of a surprise there that he was very good at the plate. But we didn't really see him have that level of success at any point this season or even in the minor league. So who knows? Maybe, maybe Hummel's, you know, time in the Arizona Fall League made him a bit more attractive, the scouts from other teams,

Starting point is 00:04:13 if they only saw him in a limited capacity. Kyle Lewis, as far as he goes, you know, the rookie of the year thing still kind of blows our mind. I know he suffered a major injury. I know that Mariners fans have told us that he is not, not only is he not 100%, but apparently his knee is. like bone on bone.

Starting point is 00:04:34 So there is a good chance that the guy that won the 2020 American League rookie of the year, that he's not that same guy, right? That season, he hit 262, 364, 437 with three doubles, 11 home runs, 28 RBI, and 34 walks in 58 games for the Mariners. He's appeared in 130 games total for the Mariners since 2019. But last year did not do very well. He hit 143 with three homers and five RBI in a very small sample size in 18 games for the Mariners. And he just made 11 starts at DH, three in right field, and one in left.

Starting point is 00:05:11 Last night, Mike Hazen was very adamant about this. They brought this up asking if Kyle Lewis would be playing center field. And Hazen said, we are not looking for a center fielder. Like, he made that so abundantly clear. Like, without saying it, it felt like Mike Haysen, was saying, we're not trading Jake McCarthy or Alec Thomas. Like neither one of those guys are, or Dalton Bar Show, no of those guys are going anywhere. Like, I know that's not the case because those guys are still going to probably

Starting point is 00:05:40 be highly coveted trade pieces for, from other teams that they're going to want. But Hazen did make it sound. Like, their center field is locked in and that is not at all what they're trying to accomplish as far as this offseason or any moves that they make. I think it's less about like the outfield necessarily. being locked in, like all of those guys will return next year, as it just is the diamondbacks have so many guys who can play center field. They don't need anymore, right? Even if they do. They have three. They have exceptionally well. Yeah. And even if they do trade one of them,

Starting point is 00:06:14 which I think is still a possibility, you still have three more, right? I mean, you could make a case that McCarthy, Thomas, Carol, and Varshow all could play center field. And so even if you, yeah, he absolutely could play center field. You're right. He also, yeah, he also could play center field. So even if you trade one of them, you still have three more. So yeah, I think Kyle Lewis is not the defender he once was. If you look at some of his highlights from 2019 and 2020 with the Mariners, you'll find some incredible plays that he made. He's robbed home runs. He's rammed into walls and made unbelievable catches reaching up to the fence. You'll find a lot of very athletic clips of what he was able to do defensively. Those days, unfortunately, Derek, are

Starting point is 00:06:59 are behind him. If you look at his sprint speed from this past year, our friend Jack Summers pointed this out to Mike Hazen in the interview. He was second percentile in sprint speed, which I believe is just looking at base running, which is a little bit different than moving in the outfield. But second percentile is, I mean,

Starting point is 00:07:18 you're narrowly faster than Albert Pujol, Siniatia, or Molina at that point, right? Like, he is, Kyle Lewis is not moving very well at this stage. which is really sad because he's 27 years old and he has so much talent. There's no question about all of the tools that he has and everything that he can bring to the table in some ways he was viewed as kind of like the perfect baseball player a few years ago and there were really no limits on who he could become.

Starting point is 00:07:49 But the injuries have been such a big issue for him. And I wrote a story that I published last night where I go through everything essentially, not everything, but close to everything that Kyle Lewis has been through. And it's insane. I mean, he tore his ACL about 40 days after being drafted. And then he had another surgery in 2018 to remove some fragments of bone from that same knee. And then in 2021, he tore his meniscus in that same knee and had a third surgery. And he faced several setbacks working his way back from that, finally made it back at the end of May.

Starting point is 00:08:28 of last year. He plays four games last year for the Mariners after finally returning from this horrific journey with this meniscus tear. And he gets hit by a pitch in the helmet and has a concussion and misses more than a month. And then he comes back again and he's just not the same guy. The Mariners played him for about 12 games. He couldn't hit. The numbers were bad like you said before. And he finished the year in AAA. And theoretically, he's healthy now. Hazen said he seems to be healthy. I think those were his exact words. But that's the journey that Kyle Lewis has walked the last few years.

Starting point is 00:09:07 And it's crazy that he managed to win the rookie of the year in 2020 because even at that point, he'd already walked through so much adversity from an injury standpoint. But yeah, I mean, the debacks are betting on the upside here and they're betting that, you know, Cooper Hummel probably didn't really have a role here for the debacks. And they're hoping that maybe Kyle Lewis can come in

Starting point is 00:09:28 and be, you know, not who he once was, but just from an offensive standpoint, if his bat can reawaken, that would be a huge development for them. There is this idea, like you said, Cooper Hummel, you know, there was not going to be a part of this team. And I completely agree with that.

Starting point is 00:09:48 I think if anything, he might have gotten some time in a backup catcher role, but even then probably would have seen his time split between the majors and minor leagues, If he has options left, I'm sure he does. But Kyle Lewis, I think the difference here is that the diamondbacks are really looking at what Kyle Lewis did in AAA playing for Tacoma last year. And they do see a lot of potential in where he could return to. I think this is idea of not giving up necessarily on Cooper.

Starting point is 00:10:20 Cooper Hummel is a great guy. He has a great attitude. Beautiful eyes. Just absolutely beautiful eyes. And, you know, again, like you said, I think it's a matter of, it's a, the risk versus reward thing here is there, there's very little downside to parting ways with Cooper Hummel with the way that their roster is currently constructed and where he would fit in it. Yeah. Yeah. But to bring in a guy who was a rookie of the year just two seasons ago, despite the injuries, to bring in a guy who is a right-handed hitting outfielder that we don't really have many of, you know, it, it makes sense to take.

Starting point is 00:10:57 this risk. Kyle Lewis might not work out. Not many people are going to be surprised by that, if that's the case. But if he ends up being a part of this team that can help the Diamondbacks win baseball games, then he very easily, it very easily could look like this genius move. You and I, our first reaction to this trade was why. Not why did they get rid of Cooper Hummel, but why would the Mariners part ways with Kyle Lewis, right? Yeah. I mean, some light has been shed on that, especially by people that are knowledgeable of his situation and everything that he's gone through, everything you described with all of those injuries, right? But yeah, you know, he he lost his speed with his last injury and he's a liability in the field. That's what some people see him as. The

Starting point is 00:11:37 Diamondbacks don't necessarily need him to play the top defensive spot, even if he is out there on the field playing defense. He can also play DH, but he just really struggled to hit last year in the majors. And I think that that's for, you know, for the Mariners, a team that is ascending, a team that's trying to make that next level, right? We've already seen to make the playoffs. We have a young solid core. They have a young, solid team. And they really at this point are trying to get to that next level of being, you know,

Starting point is 00:12:08 a top contender for the World Series. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like Kyle Lewis would fit into their plans, either the same way Cooper Hummel really doesn't fit into the Diamondbacks plan. So this makes a whole lot of sense when, when you start breaking it down. But there's just still a lot of things there. I think we get stuck in what an athlete was versus what they are, which is why this trade seems so one one sided.

Starting point is 00:12:32 It seems like the Diamondbacks really, you know, got a steal here from the Mariners. Yeah, it was funny. Shane Diefenbach, one of our producers over at P.HNX, so I'm sure you've heard about if you've listened to us for any length of time. Slash huge Mariners fan. Slash huge Mariners fan. So this this trade goes down. I'm in the office yesterday and I get the news.

Starting point is 00:12:59 It's funny, I have to admit, the discord caught the news before I did. I was writing a story. I was in the zone. And then about four minutes later, I checked Twitter and our discord and everyone's popping off about this trade. But I tell Shane about the trade. And Shane is jumping up and down asking, you know, what the heck are the Mariners doing? What are they thinking?

Starting point is 00:13:20 Shane is utterly convinced that Michael Lewis is going to hit 45. homers for the debacks at some point in the next few years. He is an enormous Kyle Lewis fan. And that's kind of the sentiment that I've caught. One of the things I like to do when the Diamondbacks make a trade is check out, you know, tweets from the Mariners side of things. Check out tweets from the opposing side and see what people are saying. And when the Mariners officially announced this deal on their Twitter account,

Starting point is 00:13:51 it was a really interesting combination of. of comments about this deal. Most people were, you know, I love Kyle Lewis, like what a, like just such a great guy, so sad that he couldn't make things work here, you know, wish him all the best in Arizona. But a lot of people talked about the injuries and the fact that they're kind of done watching Kyle Lewis play because he could, he'd struggle to play on like back to backs. You know, you couldn't really use him in the field. he played 64 games altogether last year between the majors and the minors.

Starting point is 00:14:28 He played 12 of those 64 games in the field. He was almost exclusively a DH or a pinch hitter with how the Mariners organization used him last year. So when you keep all of this in perspective, the deal starts to make more sense. Kyle Lewis is such a big name. But like you said, the fact that the Mariners were willing to make this trade says a lot about how they feel about Kyle Lewis and just the stage of his career that he's in as unfortunate as it is. Nick Picoro from AZ Central when he wrote his story about this trade,

Starting point is 00:15:02 he mentioned that Kyle Lewis was a non-tender candidate for the Seattle Mariners, which also makes sense because the non-tender deadline is tonight as we recorded this on Friday. So the Mariners are basically trading away a player that maybe they would have non-tendered had this deal not come down. So like you said before, the pieces kind of start to fit together here. Yeah. And Cooper and Cooper Hummel is the same thing for the Diamondbacks. Who knows where he would have fit in. Who knows what the Diamondbacks would have done with him as far as where they would have put him on the roster if he would have been in minor leagues, where he would have been at. But, you know, again, this seems to be one of those trades that may end up being beneficial

Starting point is 00:15:40 for both teams. Both teams aren't getting by any stretch of the imagination a superstar. However, you never know how either guy could fit in, right? Let's be honest. Cooper Hummel didn't have a great season for the Diamondbacks. He showed, he had some great moments, but he didn't have a great season, right? Yeah. But you and I both saw what he did in Arizona Fall League in a very small sample size. Like the Seattle Mariners aren't that crazy for taking a chance on a guy like that that could end up, you know, basically breaking out and maybe putting up not similar numbers to what he did in the Arizona fall, they're not hitting 450, but, you know, a guy who could potentially be a solid at-bat for them and maybe their backup catcher, maybe

Starting point is 00:16:19 a backup outfield or whatever, whatever their need is. I'm not familiar with their roster as much, and I don't know exactly where they would end up playing Cooper at, but, you know, maybe, maybe he has the opportunity to be a backup outfielder for Seattle and get some playing time in the outfield versus playing, you know, behind the plate. Yeah.

Starting point is 00:16:37 Kyle Lewis just so happens to remind me of somebody that the Arizona Diamondbacks should remember very well. And that's Brandon Webb, right? The reason why I say that. Interesting. That is, that is not the comp I was expecting. I figured you wouldn't know where I was going with that one. But there's the reason why I say that. Brandon Webb, before his career ended, was at the top of his game.

Starting point is 00:17:01 And I think that, like, the comparison there is Kyle Lewis in 2020 was probably extremely exciting for Mariners fans. And everything fell apart for him due to injury very fast, just like Brandon Webb. Brandon Webb won a major league MLB leading 22 games in 2008. Jesse, 2008, he had a major league number of, he started the most tied for the most starts in baseball, most wins in all of baseball with 22.

Starting point is 00:17:29 The next season, he pitched one game. You know? So like that's the shit with baseball. It can happen in any sport, but baseball is one of those sports more than others that, I think we have a hard time believing someone that was extraordinarily talented and gifted that their career is suddenly over due to injury or that a fantastic player could be limited to being just average due to an injury, right? Like Kyle Lewis reminds me of a guy that a lot of his game came from his speed, just like a lot of players on the Diamondbacks now, where they're good, but their speed makes them so much better in every possible way.

Starting point is 00:18:10 It makes them better on the base path. It makes them a better defender. It makes them better in every way as a baseball player. And if they don't have that speed, if they lose that step, then what are they? Then they're just an average baseball player. Again, still good, still good enough to be in the majors, which isn't, you know, it isn't a knock at anybody. But it's just hard for us, I think, as fans.

Starting point is 00:18:32 I think even organizations, it's hard to accept that a guy that was so talented as like Brandon Webb, as like Kyle Lewis at one point. are that their career could potentially be done. I mean, you, you describe Lewis's injuries and like, it literally sounds like his knee is revolting from the rest of his body. It sounds like his knee is like, no, we're not playing baseball anymore.

Starting point is 00:18:53 And he keeps trying it. And they're like, we're just going to keep popping tendons and ligaments until you get this point. But, you know, again, Kyle Lewis does definitely seems like a guy that I'm, I wouldn't be ready to give up on. I understand where the mariners are at, but I also understand what they're diamondbacks, where the diamondbacks are at. I mean, yeah,

Starting point is 00:19:10 this might not work, but if it does, what a huge addition, you know, a right-handed bat like him could be to the lineup, even if he's just playing DH. Yeah, which he very well, he very well might be. I mean, it's interesting. We were talking the other day about how the diamondbacks now need a right-handed hitting outfielder, given the fact that they DFAed both Jordan Looplo and Stone Garrett. What's weird for me, Derek, is I'm not even sure that Kyle Lewis fits that. Because if the guy is unfit to play even a corner outfield, which we don't know, the Diamondbacks, I'm sure, know more about his health status than we do. But at least the Mariners, they certainly weren't using him in the field last year. So unless something has really changed from that standpoint, Kyle Lewis might really be a DH. Like, he really might be a guy that you just don't really want to play in the field. and if that's the case, you kind of still need a right-handed hitting outfielder. You still need someone where if you wanted to like pinch hit in a tough left-on-left matchup

Starting point is 00:20:17 late in the game, that you could have that player stay in the game and place some outfield defense for you. I'm not sure that Kyle Lewis is necessarily that guy. So that's something I wrote about as well is the door is still kind of open, at least in my mind, for the Diamondbacks to make another move in that regard. I think we thought it might be a bigger trade, maybe a bigger name, maybe a little bit, you know, like not somebody that they were, again, taking a chance on. This seems to be the Diamondbacks MO lately. They're very much into giving guys an opportunity that other teams have given up on that they feel like still have value.

Starting point is 00:20:53 You had a good season. Zach Davies, you know, Kyle Lewis, these are guys that like, again, the Diamondbacks see as being like, oh, yeah, last year sucked for you or maybe the last two years have sucked. but we have a good coaching staff and we feel like we could really work with you and bring out the best out of you, bring the best out of you, you know, and I don't hate that because I really do think baseball is a crazy sport where with the exception of, you know, a few elite players, there are a lot of guys in baseball that are getting paid way too much money when you compare to what a guy with similar skill set that's like in his second or third year is getting paid. So it makes sense why teams like the Tampa Bay raise and even the diamond.

Starting point is 00:21:34 Diamondbacks aren't really trying to stretch for those guys that hit 10 batting average points higher, but also are going to cost you like $10 million more plus per year. You know, I mean, baseball is just so weird like that. And you really can field a good team with guys that you didn't need to pay, you know, every dime to guys that you didn't need to break the bank in order to have on your team. But of course, we've also seen the Diamondbacks let those guys go.

Starting point is 00:22:02 And we're going to get to one of those right now. it's going to make me super sad. But in order to break that monotony up, I also need to tell you guys about our friends at Four Peaks Brewing Company. They keep me sane. They keep me rational. They keep me from crying over Paul Goldschmidt leaving the Diamondbacks. But we're also teaming up with them to host all U.S.

Starting point is 00:22:20 and Mexico World Cup matches at their 8th Street Pub. That shit's happening next week. So make sure to join us. Check the link in the show notes to register for free. We're going to be having a blast down at the 8th Street Pub. You can enjoy beer specials, giveaways, guest appearances, and so much more. You can also enjoy those beer specials of $3 kilt lifters, $3 while wheat pines. So come on down to the 8th Street Pub with us, have some Four Peaks Brewing Company beer.

Starting point is 00:22:44 Must be 21 years or older to enjoy. But remember, you can bring the family down to the 8th Street pub and get some chicken tenders and watch Mexico. Apparently, we're having 8 o'clock in the morning start time here for the Mexico game. There's going to be a breakfast buffet, all sorts of great stuff. So make sure to check the link in the show notes to register for free and find out more information about that. Also, I want to apologize to everybody for my atrocious Draft King's Pick of the Week record lately. So what I'm going to tell you to do is this. I'm going to tell you to listen to our Thursday show, hear what I have to say about the draft

Starting point is 00:23:19 Kings pick of the week, and then do the opposite of what I tell you to do. Whatever pick I give you, if I give you the Cardinals, you take who they're playing, you take their opponent. I'll have you guys know I did not take the bet that I gave you on yesterday's. I'm a coward. And then I turned around and took Derek Henry on a anytime touchdown and I won my money. So also, I don't listen to myself either in case you were wondering. And I'm fine with you guys not doing that or doing the opposite of what I say. But that doesn't matter.

Starting point is 00:23:47 It doesn't matter because draft King's Sportsbook, that's all about you and what you want to do with your money. Of course, new customers can use our promo code of PHNX, bet $5 on any NBA money line bet and get $200. and free bets if your team wins. Download the Drafking Sportsbook app, use promo code PHNX, and get that free bet money now. Drafking Sportsbook, the official sports betting partner of PHNX,

Starting point is 00:24:10 minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. See show notes for details. Well, MLB award season, Jesse, continues to roll on. It never stops, and we're just still giving out awards. People around the office at PHNX are still very mad at us for our selection. for PHNX office MVP,

Starting point is 00:24:30 much different reaction than the diehards. You know, the diehards were applauding each other, Jesse. They were like, yes, Chris deserves it. Yes, Charles Woodall Pike,

Starting point is 00:24:41 you're the man. But no, no, what do we get from the office? I literally had to have Sean DePaz walk me to my car. Walk me to my car. Because Michaela Perkins was just following me around

Starting point is 00:24:51 with that bat in her hand knowing what, you know, I don't know, but anyway, uh, that's, that's what's fun around. the office. But award season is happening in MLB. And of course, no surprises when it came to the

Starting point is 00:25:04 MVP for both the American League and the National League. Aaron Judge is your American League MVP, Jesse. I'm not mad about it. I'm not mad about it. My feelings are hurt. I'm still, I still got a little bit of an Otani, you know, favoritism there. But Aaron Judge, you can't deny not only what he did for the Yankees this year, but again, it's been the, it's been the first time in a long time that like the home run chase feel was back to baseball yeah i mean the guy the guy hit 62 home runs right i mean when you set the all-time record in the american league for home runs like you you did something right and uh an errand judge was certainly rewarded for that um it wasn't unanimous interestingly shoay otani got two first place votes the other 28 went to erin judge

Starting point is 00:25:56 one of them was mine. Yeah. There's a reason they don't let, they don't give you a ballot, Derek. There's, there's a long list of reasons for that. In great detail why they don't give me a vote. Paul Goldschmidt, though, is the, I think the biggest story from like the Diamondbacks perspective. I mean, it finally happened, right?

Starting point is 00:26:16 And in his 12th year, a guy that Diamondbacks fans have known for years was an MVP caliber player. He had a few great years in Arizona. and it just seemed like there was always somebody who had a slightly better year, at least in the minds of voters, that made it impossible for him to ever get the MVP deserved in Arizona. But now Andrew McCutcheon, not Andrew McCutcheon, Jesse.

Starting point is 00:26:41 I'm still stuck on that one. I don't think you're the only one. I think a lot of Diamond Vax fans kind of hate Andrew McCutcheon's guts, which it's funny because in retrospect, so at the time, I think I was still, I was doing some sort of podcast about the Diamondbacks at the time. And I'm pretty sure I was also of the belief that Andrew McCutcheon should not have won and that Paul Goldschmidt was the easy choice there.

Starting point is 00:27:08 If you look at the home runs, the RBIs, some of the more traditional baseball stats, it seemed like Goldie was the clear front runner there. Looking back, though, I have to admit that Andrew McCutcheon's wins above replacement was higher by like a pretty decent amount, mostly just because he played center field and he was a great center fielder and Paul Goldschmidt was a great first baseman, but there's there's a pretty big difference between a great center fielder and a great first baseman. So I don't know if I'm being totally honest now.

Starting point is 00:27:35 I don't really feel like Goldie was snubbed that year, at least not to the degree that I did when it was happening. But I don't know. You think you think I'm crazy? Yes, I do. I think you're crazy. By the way, Paul Goldschmidt, for those that don't remember this, Paul Goldman was originally drafted Jesse by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Starting point is 00:27:57 Really? drafted in the 49th round of the 2006 MLB amateur draft. And then he did not sign with the Dodgers. And then he was selected by the Diamondbacks in the eighth round of the 2009 amateur draft.

Starting point is 00:28:13 Both are very egregious, in my opinion, that this man was drafted that low. Of course, like you said, he has finished second an MVP. voting twice in his career. He's finished third once. He's finished sixth once, twice, actually. I'm sorry, six twice.

Starting point is 00:28:33 And then 11th and then 15th and 20th. So pretty much every year of his career, just about dating back to 2013. He had two years prior to that, but 2013 was his first all-star year, gold glove year, Silver Slugger year, second MVP voting year. Almost every year, almost every year. year since then he has had MVP votes whether he was with diamondbacks or the st louis cardinals he's

Starting point is 00:28:59 just been yeah uh consistent uh great consistently great player and honestly even there were times where he was when he first went to st louis uh where he wasn't hitting he wasn't doing very good his first season in st louis he only hit 260 and we started patting ourselves on the back about the trade thinking that this guy was on the downside of his career we were finally maybe maybe it was was a good thing to not pay him this boatload of money that he wanted, which ended up actually being pretty reasonable in the grand scheme of things. But this season, he led the National League in slugging percentage, OPS, and OPS plus. And again, he's just an incredible player that continues to be,

Starting point is 00:29:43 like just continues to find ways to be outstanding. And I don't know. There's just something about Goldschmidt that, like, you know, I know, I know Albert Poolewold. Holes is the machine, but Goldschmidt is a machine. He is a machine. The man just, it never ceases to amaze me with how good he is as a baseball player or how he can bounce back from, you know, a down year. It's incredible just looking and, I mean, you just talking through all the MVP votes that he's accumulated over his career. It makes me realize like, Goldie's been really durable

Starting point is 00:30:19 throughout his entire career. The only season he didn't, and granted, I guess, 2019 that year he hit 260 for the Cardinals. He was 20th in MVP voting. So I don't know if you're giving a guy, huge props for finishing 20th, but he did,

Starting point is 00:30:33 he did 15th, right? So it's good. He hit 304, but he wasn't like in the top 10 or anything. It's just he never, it's almost like he never doesn't get some MVP votes. It's like always somebody who's like, wait, is Colchman still playing? Yeah, I'm going to throw him some votes.

Starting point is 00:30:48 The only year, that he didn't get any MVP votes is 2000, at least after his first couple seasons in the big leagues, is 2014 when he only played 109 games because he was hurt down the stretch that year. But looking at the number of games that Goldie played every year or has played every year in his career, he didn't miss more than about 10 games ever, like any season since his rookie year, with the exception of that 2014 year. They say the best ability, is availability and on that front, Paul Goldschman has had an extraordinary career.

Starting point is 00:31:27 I think what I feel as a Diamondbacks fan is, you know, immense regret, right? Immense regret. Of course. The Diamondbacks did not see this in him. We talked about this earlier, right? Baseball team's ability to always feel like, well, we could pay.

Starting point is 00:31:49 pay this guy $100 million, but, I mean, he did only hit $290 for us this year. So maybe we can go find another first basement that I'll, you know, hit somewhere close to that and be far less expensive. And they did because 2019 was that season where things actually looked like the Diamondbacks found not, you know, not exactly a replacement, but a pretty close to a replacement player for Paul Goldschmidt when Christian Walker came in and had the season he had in 2019. It just made us feel like, okay, you know, that same thing, right? And Christian Walker still to this day is one of the most valuable players on the Arizona Diamondback. So it's not like the Diamondbacks replaced Goldschmidt with some, you know, scrub that can't do anything.

Starting point is 00:32:40 Like that year, 2019, Paul Goldschmidt, 260, Christian Walker hit 259. there you go you know like by all by by the comparison at least that first season things were looking good the difference here is paul goldschmidt is a generational talent shout out to mjf for teaching me that term but uh there's few guys that are elite like and i know you like to talk about elite players you don't let an elite player leave your team right at least not at the point when they're still playing at a high level as far as being an elite player in major league baseball So I don't know. I mean, yeah, we could always look back.

Starting point is 00:33:20 We're always going to look back on this. Paul Goldschmidt will never be a name that Diamondbacks fans don't, that Diamondbacks fans forget or don't regret losing, right? So that's there, I don't even think there's an argument for that at this point. I know that we as fans can just be happy for him for the success he's having and that he's finally getting that recognition that we thought he deserves so much here in Arizona that he didn't receive. Yeah, yeah, absolutely.

Starting point is 00:33:47 A trivia question here for you, Derek. Who was the last Arizona Diamondbacks player to get MVP votes? It wasn't Paul Goldschmidt. It was not Paul Goldschmidt. Really? Would it be as far back as Kirk Schilling? No. No, I mean, it's the last.

Starting point is 00:34:10 You're going too far back. It is after Paul Goldschmidt left the Diamondbacks. they had a player who received pretty significant support in the MVP race within the last few years. Let's hear it. Who is it? You're going to kick yourself. Probably. Cotel Marte in 2019. Oh, yeah. Ctele Marte in 2019 hit 329, hit 32nd, hit 32 home runs, finished fourth in MVP voting. And yeah, I mean, other than other than, other.

Starting point is 00:34:45 than Goldschmidt, I mean, within the last decade or two, that's, that's the only support that Diamondbacks have received in that race. But I thought it was interesting because I don't think, I don't think you're alone in like kind of forgetting that season, right? Ketel was so good that year. 240 will make you forget about seasons where you hit 329 and 318. Right. Exactly. But yeah, I mean, at the time in 2019, it, it seemed like there was, there was almost like a changing of the guard. Like Paul Goldschmidt is out. And, and, you know, Kattel, of course, couldn't replace him.

Starting point is 00:35:20 Christian Walker couldn't replace him and the guy that he was in Arizona and how important he was to this franchise. But there was an element. It's undeniable. I know it might look crazy now. But in 2019, when Kutel was doing that, there was this sense that, like, hey, we lost one superstar, but Kattel has come out and looks like another superstar. So, like, maybe, maybe, I mean, we still would rather have Goldschmidt, but maybe.

Starting point is 00:35:44 were not in quite as bad of a spot as we thought we would be in. Unfortunately, Ketel has just not been able to stay consistent. That's a great point. 2019 was a very hopeful season for us. It felt like even after losing Goldschmidt and the transition, everything like that, it felt like this team was bouncing back and headed in a direction of getting better. And it's crazy how the last three seasons have gone for this team, considering where they were at, where our hopes were in 2019,

Starting point is 00:36:13 compared to how the next three seasons ended up going. Things did not. Things did not go well. Things not go well. Of course, the reason we're all still here, though, is because we're D-Backs die-hards. And we will always be D-Backs die-hards.

Starting point is 00:36:26 And we want you to be a die-hard along with us. So if you haven't signed up for our brand-new membership over at go-PhNX.com, make sure to do so. Of course, we've been talking yesterday, today. We've been very excited about our new die-hard level of fandom. Of course, we here at P-HNX, are all about culture, community, and content.

Starting point is 00:36:46 We're giving you all of that as a diehard member. You're going to get a free PHNX shirt or hat every year. After renewal, you're going to get 20% off all merchandise over at the PHNX Locker.com, as well as exclusive merchandise for diehards only, a membership card, sticker pack, so much more. We're also going to give you 20% off tailgates and takeovers for every team in town. PHNX diehards only discard lounge where it is the best place to be in Arizona Diamondbacks diehard. And of course, online Q&As and happy hours with us, your PHNX staff members. Jesse and I, like meetings with the mayor might open up to including you guys on a Zoom call,

Starting point is 00:37:21 whatever we need to do. But of course, we also have the Die Hard's Only newsletter from Jesse, Craig, Gerald, and more. We're going to have mailbags, exclusive content, both video and podcast. We're just, we're so excited. We hope that we make it more appealing to be a diehard and we want you to join us. Make sure to do so over at go phtonx.com. If you're listening to us right now in your favorite audio podcasting app, make sure to subscribe to us. Leave us a review.

Starting point is 00:37:44 We appreciate you for it. Also go over to the PHNX sports YouTube channel, subscribe there, sign up for notifications. And, you know, we appreciate you guys for, of course, always being with us live on the show. We hope next, it's Thanksgiving week now. I'm calling it that. We're less than seven days to Thanksgiving. So we hope you guys are enjoying some wonderful family time and, you know, really relaxing you guys deserve it.

Starting point is 00:38:10 And of course, we thank you guys always for checking us out. Jesse, before we go, the spring training schedule includes appearances by the World Baseball Classic National Teams. I know we've talked about this a little bit, but of course, here in Arizona, you're going to see Team USA, Team Canada, Team Great Britain, Team Columbia, and Team Mexico. and on March 8th and March 9th, they will be facing off against our very own spring training teams around town. So not only are we going to have the World Baseball Classic played here in Arizona,

Starting point is 00:38:49 but we're also going to be able to see the World Baseball Classic teams get in some reps against spring training teams. What are your thoughts on that? Yeah, it's kind of unfortunate. I don't think the Diamondbacks have any. I don't think they're going to play any of those WBC teams. but yeah, I mean, there's some, there's some interesting stuff out there.

Starting point is 00:39:09 I mean, we'll have, uh, we'll have some of these teams coming from, from all over the world and playing at some of the most glorious, uh, spring training facilities that you'll, you'll find anywhere here in the valley. So, so for Maryvale, I think Great Britain has to play in Maryvale. So, uh, that's, that's, that's, that's,

Starting point is 00:39:26 that's, that ballpark actually is kind of nice. Once you're inside, obviously the Maryville. neighborhood is not not the best part of town but you are attacking the town of maryville right now jessie i'm telling you yeah i but i say i mean the ballpark is pretty nice it it is kind of uh it's it's one of the one of the nicer things in in maryville but uh anyway just keep making it worse no matter what you say and i love it i'm so glad this is really really digging myself deeper into a hole here but yeah all that to say uh it'll be a lot of fun. March is going to be

Starting point is 00:40:06 an incredible time for baseball in the valley between the world baseball classic spring training a banana why am I forgetting the name of this the Savannah bananas are coming to town and they're playing banana ball right is that just that's

Starting point is 00:40:22 what I'm looking for? Yeah they're playing banana balls Eric Burns there you go former they'll be here on March 31st and April 1st which is that will be an incredible event we're going to talk a lot more about that as it gets closer because banana ball is is an incredible thing. And if you don't know what it is, we're going to have to tell you all about it.

Starting point is 00:40:42 But, yeah, the spring in Arizona is going to be, I mean, baseball Nirvana is going to reach another level this spring, I guess is what I'm saying. Oh, boy. Yeah, I agree. Baseball never stops in Arizona. Don't forget that. Here's what I'm most excited about. The first team that team USA is playing, Jesse, is the San Francisco Giants.

Starting point is 00:41:04 now our very own Merrill Kelly happens to be a starting pitcher on Team USA and I pray to God that the Giants get Merrill Kelly on the mound for that game because this man held the Giants to a 188 fucking opponent batting average this season in a whole lot of games had one of his highest strikeout

Starting point is 00:41:26 for walk ratios against him from a team that he played more than twice and yeah Merrill Kelly has been a nightmare to the Giants this season so I hope that they get them. That would be just a fitting a fitting first day for them in spring training. But of course, make sure to check all that out. We will be out there at spring training once that rolls around. And actually, we're going to be all over the place. Winter meetings, we'll be wherever the Diamondbacks

Starting point is 00:41:49 will be. So make sure to follow us in the meantime. You can get us on Twitter. I'm at Cap underscore Caveman with a K. Jesse is at Jesse and Friedman. Our show is at PHNX underscore Dbacks. But of course, all roads lead to at P HNX underscore Sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. I want to give a shout out to our friends over at Moore Furniture for not only denying, like protecting all office chairs from me, which I understand, but I also appreciate them hooking our office up and making it look so wonderful. So make sure if you haven't done so already,

Starting point is 00:42:20 check out their fall sale over at morefurniture.com. And don't forget that for every $1,000 you spend, you will get $10 in, or excuse me, $100 in gift cards back for every $1,000. dollars you spend. So make sure to get everything you need for your home this fall. Get ready for, you know, the holiday season. And we hope you guys all have a great Thanksgiving week. We appreciate you guys tuning in. We appreciate Paul Goldschmidt for continuing to make us regret losing him. And on behalf of Jesse and myself, we appreciate you for your time. Remember, baseball is fun, kids, but it's more fun when you win the MVP.

PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - The D-backs trade for 2020 AL ROY Kyle Lewis while Goldschmidt finally becomes MVPaul

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