PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - Vegas baby

Episode Date: January 18, 2022

On this episode, Jesse and Derek are discussing the recent minor league and international signings by the D-backs, how playing a game in Las Vegas is no big deal, and the abomination that is New Era's new "Dueling" caps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to the PHNX D-BACs podcast right here on PHNX. My name is Derek Montia, of course, officially known as your mayor of PHNX. And I do not know the outcome of the Cardinals game yet, even though this is coming out on Tuesday. We are recording this on Monday. Full disclosure. We have no idea. If the Cardinals won, let's go, Cardinals. If they didn't, I'm so sorry, guys.

This sucks. But anyway, of course, that voice you heard is the voice of my vice mayor. my friend and co-host, the one and only Thunderstick, Jesse Friedman. I think we should have just come out and made a prediction that we were just very confident in. Like, we should have just come out and said, well. Can you believe that game last night, Jesse? Holy shit, they smashed the Rams.

They came out there and hit them boys in the face. JJ Watt with six sacks. What? A playoff record that's nuts. I can't believe that happened. We could have made up a score and everything. I'm sure we would have been totally accurate. But no, we're back.

talking more devax here. I know I did see that a number of people submitted questions for Mailback Monday today. We recorded these shows a little bit earlier than they released. So we apologize to people

who probably are thinking they got their question in plenty of time. But we recycle them, Derek. We recycle them. Next week. We'll come back. You guys, yeah, come in, come back next Monday. We will circle back to all these. I won't even ask for any new questions next week because we have enough this week. But of course jesse this show this very show is brought to you by the fine folks at the draft king sports book app go download the draft king sports book app now use our wonderful code of phnx and simply for betting five dollars on any nflbill team in the divisional round to win their game you will win two hundred and eighty dollars in free bets instantly that's two hundred and eighty dollars in free bets instantly if your team wins also you'll get that 56 to one odds on any NFL team in honor of super bowl 56 and that's just

crazy. That's nuts. That's a crazy nuts. Uh, odds boost. And if you haven't hopped on that already, jump over to draft King's sportsbook and do so right now. Jesse, we actually have MLB baseball related news, not just MLB related news, Diamondbacks related news. They're signing players. Things are happening. Lockout, be damned. We are still proceeding with baseball. The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed two players to minor league deals this past week, Braden Bishop, and And what is it, Kenan, Kenan, Kenan, Keenan Middleton. Keenan Middleton.

It's a bit of a tongue twister. Yeah, that's a little bit one. Keenan Middleton to minor league deals. Braden Bishop is an outfielder. Both played for the Seattle Mariners organization last season. Keenan Milleton is a relief pitcher. So very interesting to see them still proceeding with minor league deals. Neither guy really moving the needle too much as far as major league baseball goes yet.

but, you know, definitely some promise there. And I think, again, the Diamondbacks approach this next season is going to be giving young players an opportunity. Maybe some young players that haven't had a, you know, a great major league career up to this point, but still have a lot of promise or their own players in their own minor league system. Yeah, I mean, these are just good depth moves, right? And we saw last season just how disastrous it can be when you don't have enough proper depth in place.

Like not even enough warm bodies. Like that's exactly the, it's crazy to say that because at one point, that's literally what they needed. Just somebody that was capable of playing at a major league level and stepping in. They had a hard time finding those guys even at times. Right. And Keenan Middleton, excuse me, is a guy who should be able to fill that role. Right.

Last season, 32 games with the Mariners. 4.9 for ERA, certainly wasn't spectacular. but the kind of guy who could hold down a bullpen roll for a few weeks if you needed if you needed him too. The other thing I'll say about Middleton is that he actually broke into the majors at the age of 23 and he was very good with the angels when he did that. He made 64 appearances back in 2017 in his rookie season and he had a 386 ERA and 18 walks as opposed to 63 strikeouts, which is a pretty solid year across the board for for a new. reliever. So yeah, maybe the Diamondbacks think they could get more out of him.

He doesn't seem to give up a lot of home runs either. And that's something I like about him. And I think that's something that could play well at Chase Field, depending on the situation. But, yeah, like, again, just somebody that, again, young, you know, somebody that this organization could still develop at 28 years old. Yeah, he's still only. Yeah, totally. Yeah. So, and not only that, but they have a whole batch of international signings that they, that they have made. None of them are official yet, but like we talked about

on yesterday's Mailbag Monday episode, the Diamondbacks agreed to a deal with shortstop prospect, Abidus de la Cruz, for $1.2 million. And then according to MLB.com, there was a whole list of other players that they signed as well.

Yarel Ninn, a shortstop from the Dominican Republic, another shortstop from the Dominican Republic, Rubin Santana, a catcher, Andy Incarnation, Omar Moia, another catcher,

and another catcher, Jose, I'm not even going to try to say Colmenaires from Venezuela. I did my best. Those Venezuelan names can be Venezuelan, right, yeah. My Puerto Rican heritage allows me to pronounce the Dominican names. That's the closest I can get.

But Abuel Fuerte, a right-handed pitcher from the Dominican. And we talked yesterday. The Arizona Diamondbacks have made a lot of Dominican signings, and a lot of that, I don't know, yet is translating over from their academy that they put in the Dominican. But a big reason why they have that academy there to develop players and to have their scouts get an early look at some young players too, right?

I mean, we're talking about, as far as we're concerned, kids coming in there and playing at that academy. So able to create a connection with players at a young age and able to see them, you know, kind of come up and coach them up and see who can potentially be a big league star for the Diamondbacks. Those guys are all, I mean, all the names you mentioned are between 16 and 18 years old, right? So there's a long path ahead in terms of their development. But yeah, it's interesting. There's so many catchers among that group. Yeah, yeah. Like short stops and catchers seems to be their primary focus right now.

Which is maybe not a huge shock because, I mean, those are about the two most valuable positions on the diamond, right, except for maybe center field. That's a great point. That's a great point. probably not all those all those short stops will stay at shortstop. We've seen a lot of times, right, guys come up as short stops. And then, you know, Justin Upton came up as a shortstop, but wound up as a corner outfielder for most of these years. I actually did know that. That's very interesting.

Yeah. Yeah. Justin Upton came up as a shortstop. But a lot of times people kind of know well in advance. Like, okay, yes, they played shortstop in high school, but they're not going to be a major league shortstop. And that's okay, right? That's part of the development process. and you don't need everyone to come up and play shortstop at the big league level.

That's very true. And a lot of times it's about your ability to field and be an infielder. And perhaps also, you know, with with Tori Lovelo and the Diamondback's love of versatile players might be the opportunity for you to play multiple positions that might increase the likelihood that you'll be a valuable contributor to this team if you can do so, right? But yeah, interesting because, again, we have no signing news. but the Arizona Diamondbacks did do their best to kind of replenish their minor league system with some potential future stars. And honestly, the entire, you know, again, something else we talked about yesterday,

the entire international signing process is very strange and probably still needs, you know, some tweaks to make it fair just as far as maybe a draft is concerned or something else. You know, it's strange that these teams all get, the majority of them get a similar pool of money, and it's just kind of a free-for-all on who you can sign. You know, obviously, as much as you want to take away the financial impacts or the financial benefits for a team like the Yankees or Dodgers having more money, in this case they don't.

They have even less, like you said yesterday, than the Diamondbacks. It's still a matter of being the Yankees or the Dodgers or the Cubs. Yeah, the brand is something you just can't do anything about. And like much, right, much like the D-backs, you know, establishing this academy in Dominican Republic, the Yankees have been very smart about establishing their brand worldwide, right? I've gone places. I've been in parts of the world where the only thing you saw people wearing were Yankees stuff as far as like baseball, you know, baseball clothes. And it wasn't, it was a place nowhere near New York City. So they are very good about their brand.

And again, that has a huge impact. on signing players, especially when it's really up to the player to decide. They're not going to get any more money one way or another going to one team or another. They just get to decide on which team they want to be a part of, which organization they want to be a part of. Anyway, that's our international and minor league signing news. Obviously, we'll see how some of these guys come along and we'll be reporting on them, hopefully for a number of years,

because hopefully they'll all kind of develop and we'll get a chance to say, hey, remember when they signed them way back when. But I was also say, remember when I told you guys about the most amazing Draft King Sportsbook deal that they ever put out there? You guys are going to be like, oh, man, yeah, Derek, you were right. I remember you were going off about that deal, just telling me how I need to do it, and I didn't do it. But here's the thing.

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Gambling problem, dial 1,800 next step. New customers only, eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com slash sportsbook for details. Speaking of sports books, speaking of gambling, Jesse, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies are going to play a spring training game in Las Vegas. Yes, Sin City. There you go, the home of a couple of spring training games between the D-backs and the Rockies. And yeah, I mean, it should be fun. The only question running through my head right now, Derek, is will baseball be going by the time March 19th comes around?

I'm not necessarily so sure. But, yeah, hopefully, hopefully this happens. And I know there were some rumblings. I think you stirred the pot a little bit on Twitter about the history of the Diamond Vax and the Las Vegas metro area. And see, here's the thing, by the way. I want to clarify that tweet

because I don't really feel like I was stirring the pot as much as I was just acknowledging the pot being stirred. I was acknowledging the pot stirring, right? Neither you nor I think that this team is going to move to Las Vegas. As a matter of fact, the responses we received, I completely agree with. that it's looking more and more like it's going to be the Oakland A's if an MLB team does, in fact, move to Las Vegas. Not only does it make sense considering their entire situation with their ballpark in Oakland,

but it also makes sense because, let's be honest, the Raiders have already had a successful transition in Las Vegas, and it might just be easy to steal all of Oakland's teams. Maybe we'll see the Golden State Warriors in Las Vegas one of these days. I know that's not what happened, but I just like to stir the pot, Jesse. I like the stir. It's the pot stirring. But, you know, I understand, I know that the minute that this came out, I'm sure that there are some fans of this team who, again, are triggered a bit by this. You know, they see the idea that the debacks are going to Las Vegas.

And while we know they aren't moving, what does this do to fans who aren't so confident, right? I mean, again, it's not to say that those people are wrong for being paranoid. There's been enough talk and fights and arguments when it comes to this team in Maricopa County that I don't think you're completely off base for being a bit paranoid about this team moving out of Arizona. But I also don't think that that's going to happen. I just think things like this make people kind of go a bit crazy when it comes to worrying about this and thinking about this. The games are going to take place on Friday, March 18th and Saturday, March 19th. at the home of the Las Vegas Aviators, which is a beautiful minor league ballpark, by the way.

I have been to that ballpark. It's incredible. And it's going to be a great place, I think, to go watch some games. So forget all of the paranoia about the Diamondbacks moving to Las Vegas that I caused. And let's just enjoy a weekend in Las Vegas. Let's get drunk and have a good time. It should be, yeah, I think it should be a lot of fun. Hopefully some Diamondbacks fans can make it up and it's not all, well,

I mean, Rockies and Diamondbacks, they'll probably have a roughly equal showing, I would, I would expect. I would expect that. Yeah. And I think for the Diamondbacks fans, at least it's a, I think it's a shorter trip to Las Vegas than it is from Colorado. I don't know. I've never driven from Colorado. But it was especially. I think we can say that because we were, we were talking with our buddy Patrick Lyons from DNVR about this series.

And yeah, it's only about a five hour drive from Phoenix. And I think he said it's something like 12 hours from Colorado. Five hours, Jesse. Six hours? Maybe. What are you going to speed limit? Five hours? Come on.

Oh, is it four? Is it four hours? I can get there in 345 if I have enough energy drink in me and a full tank of gas. Well, if I come, Derek, I'm not. Maybe I'll, maybe I'll take my own car. We talked about meeting in Kingman. All of us Stevex fans will meet in Kingman because that's a glorious place to meet up. We love.

Everyone loves King in Arizona. What a legendary place. I think it's important to note that the Diamondbacks have played in Vegas. before. This is not the first time this has happened back in 2001 and 2002. It's been a while. It's been about 20 years, but the debacks did play a couple of spring training games against the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2001 and 2002.

And it seemed to be a big event there. So this isn't something that the team has never done before. I agree. And they've also had some disastrous pre-season or kickoff games in Australia and in Mexico. Yep. The Australia one still haunts me. I will not forget. I believe Patrick Corbyn needed Tommy John's surgery after making his start in Australia.

Let's not talk details. Let's not talk details. But yeah, no, I will say you're right about the Las Vegas thing. I think we're going to all have a fun time. I think we should all go. And I'm going to give you a bold prediction, Jesse, because you brought up that the lockout is going to be happening. We have no idea when it's going to end, even though you have been so confident. in your January 28th date.

Yeah, I will say. 11 days, Derek, 10 days now. Based on you being wrong, I feel like there's a good chance. And this might be crazy that this weekend series in Las Vegas could be the kickoff to to spring training for the Diamondbacks. Because if you factor in this deal getting done by March 1st, let's say, then they're still going to need pitchers and catchers to report. They're still going to need to have a camp.

and they're still going to need to ramp up to being ready to play spring training games even. I think if anything gets cut out, it is spring training games, right? You know, these games that the starters come in and play an inning and a half and then literally leave the ballpark after that. Those are the games, I think, that might get cut out. I don't see camp getting cut. Maybe a few days shaved off here or there, but for the most part, I think that this weekend, March 18th, could be the weekend that spring training. launches. I hope not. I hope I'm wrong. I hope you're right. Actually, you know what? I don't hope

you're right. Like I said, you'll be insufferable to live with if you're right. But I do hope you're right because I think that your date is the last chance for us to have a non-impacted season at this point. Yeah. The minute it extends past that point, even the March 14th date that I lay down there still has the, the, you know, ramifications of taking a little bit before once the deals in place before they can set up when camp's going to start. Yours is February 14th. February, I said March 14, yeah, February 14th. Valentine's Day.

Yeah, because the exec's got to get, if you're not done by Valentine's Day, there's going to be some questions. There's going to be, you're going to have more than angry fans to deal with. You're going to have somebody in your own house to deal with is what I'm saying. So let's get this deal done. And for you guys, make sure to go get a subscription to go PHNX.com. And that way you can keep up on all of our updates that we're going to have about. the pending lockout when it ends what happens with spring training and what happens with this season you can

only get that as a member over at go p hnx.com and you can become an annual member and it'll get you a free t-shirt over at p hnx locker dot com those t-shirts are the king of soft style they're amazing there's a wide variety to choose from you won't even hurt jesse's feelings if you don't get a debacks shirt you will totally hurt my you will no my jessey jesse's a bit more reasonable jesse will forgive you i am petty i will hate you forever. But that's, I found the stash, Derek. I need to tell the people. I was in the, all of our PHNX shirt turned currently stored. I, I am in Denver, Colorado, as of right now. And I, and I visited the DNVR bar. It's the first time I've been there. And, uh, and yeah, you know, they've got all of their DNVR merch out and, you know, ready to be sold and whatnot. And then there's

some mysterious little shelves in the corner back there. And, uh, I know, I see. saw a Sun Devil pitchfork in there somewhere and I'm like I don't think that's a DNVR shirt so the stash is in Denver so the other option is to just storm in there someday just drive to Denver storm storm the bar and buy all the merch in person you'll save on shipping charges I imagine they probably would yeah they would probably sell you one right then and there I'm guessing come on we're reasonable people but of course I am not so if you don't buy the du die of my back shirt you're dead to me but you are still free regardless of my feelings about you to buy whatever shirt you want. And that's over at phnxlocker.com. But most importantly, if you get the annual membership at ph-h-nx.com, you will get that free t-shirt. If you're not interested in the annual membership, you can sign up for a month-to-month option

and you'll get your first month for just 50 cents. But speaking of merchandise, Jesse, of course, we have one last topic to discuss. And it's one of the most disgusting piece of merchandise I've seen baseball-related in quite some time. There were those abominations when New Era I decided to start putting like patches for things in the town on the hats. I don't know if you remember those.

Oh yeah. Like like the LA one had like a low rider and a palm tree on it and stuff. And it was just really like I get it. I'm old. You and I have discussed this before the podcast started. Things like TikTok and wearing pins on hats or things that I just I don't think I'm capable of ever getting into or ever knowing about. But I think I'm pretty I'm pretty well grounded in this.

one, Jesse on Thursday, champ sports revealed new era's latest dueling caps with the logos of classic World Series matchups. And when I say logos, I mean both teams logos on one hat. Who's going to? What is the market for that, Derek? I don't know. Okay, I figured out the market for this. Parents who have a child on both teams. That's it. You know, like the Upton's parents, like when BJ and Justin were playing each other. They would be the type, right? There was a players on, I believe it was the Seahawks and another team on the Lions. And their parents were shown in the stand wearing kind of a smooth looking combo jersey.

Like it was like a, it was a Lions. I think maybe Packers is what might have been the other team. But it was like a Lions and a Packers jersey. And they had like cut them into pieces and like put them together, It reassembled them. So the mom had like a Packers with like a lion's shoulders and the dad had like a lion with Packers. But it was because their kids played for both teams.

That is the only market I can imagine for this hat, Jesse, a parent who has children on multiple baseball team. And even then what are the likelihood that you're going to nail the two teams? Are they maybe collectors items like like at home somewhere? You have a collection of all of the World Series matchup hats. It's definitely not meant to wear on a head in public. that's for sure. The hats which retail for $45 feature like the Yankees logo next to past World Series

opponents. So there's like a Yankees X Mets hat. There's a Yankees X Braves hat and a Yankees X Marlon. I swear to God I saw a Yankees Boston hat, which who is wearing that? Show me one person who is wearing a Yankees. Well, also they've never played in the World Series. Yeah, you can't. Yeah.

They're just doing their own thing. Like there was a Dodgers A series. I could be wrong. I thought I saw in the tweet that there was a Yankees Boston at. And it sent me over the edge. There is. There is. Or wait, no.

What is that? Is that the Brooklyn? It's the old B. So I think it's the Brooklyn. I don't know. What is that? Is that the Braves? What is that?

What is that? I don't know. They said it's a New York Mets Yankees, but I'm not seeing that. I'm seeing the old Marlins times Yankees. I'm seeing Yankees times Brave. And then maybe Yankees, Brooklyn Dodgers. because it's the old B. So maybe it's a Brooklyn Dodgers hat.

I don't care. It's too close to the Boston Red Sox B. And I hate it. I hate these hats, Jesse. I want them burned with fire and I want to throw them in a pit. And I want to be the one to personally shovel the dirt on them. You're right, though. There are collectors hats.

I have one in this room somewhere. And it's the Yankees Diamondbacks hat from that World Series. But it was like, it's like a dad hat. And it has like World Series 2001. And it has the logos on it. And it has other. stuff on it. So it's more of just like a commemorative hat that you bought at the World Series or while it was going on about that World Series. This is different. These are like fitted

new era caps with both logos on it. And I just, it just doesn't sit well with me. They're really kind of ugly too. They are. That's the other thing too. They're just red and both logos are in white, regardless of the team's actual colors. I hate it. I hate it. Yeah. No, it's like, okay. New Era does some pretty innovative things. And if you want good hats that you'll just be super frustrated over that you're going to miss out on drops time and time again, go to the hat club and get yourself a solid hat for over there. Even, every once in a while, they do some crazy stuff that might be like, you know, mixed matching colors with like a rival or something like that. But it's still going to be much more subtle than this atrocity of putting two names or two logos of teams on a hat with

an X in the middle. I hate it. I hate it. I hate it. it so much. I'm not even a person that really minds wearing bizarre hats or anything too. You know me, Jesse. You've seen my shirt collection. I do. I do hear your argument, but I have to say, Derek, it is quite funny that you literally have a Diamondbacks Yankees hat. I do. I do. I mean, yeah, no, I've never worn it, not one time. And it's, again, you know, it's one of those, like, I don't know. It's like when you go to the Fiesta Bowl or something like that, right? They have merchandise. that has both teams on it. And it's commemorating, it's commemorating that event, right?

Sure. Like the fact that were you there? Were you at one of those games? And that's why I was. Well, I didn't. I was at one of those games to buy a hat if that's what you mean. No, I didn't have a ticket. That's not.

That is not what I meant. Right. I don't know, Derek. You bought one of these hats without being at the game yourself. So I don't know if I'm sensing a little hypocrisy. No, it is not about. It is not hypocrisy, Jesse Friedman. That hat is much different than these hats.

It sets a different tone. These hats have no context to them. You have to know that the hat is somehow honored. Like put the World Series logo on the side. Put something on the side. I think there's a logo. There's a logo of some kind on the side. But it's a little hard to tell exactly what it is.

I think it's just the National League and the American League logos. I think that's all it is. Yeah, it might be. maybe it's who won. I don't know. But yeah, it looks just like the American League or the National League logo. I don't know. Throw it in the bin.

It is a horrible idea. I just think it's funny that you kind of have one. In all transparency, I had to tell you I have one. But like I said, I mean, it's definitely not this. It's not this. No. I hope it's not red with like just the two logos slapped on it. No.

It's not. It's not. I promise you. But someone did do a Photoshop where they put the, MLB Players Association logo and then the MLB and then the MLB logo on the other. That's delightful.

That's a hat I would definitely buy. It's the same thing basically. That's how I feel about it is that way. But we thank you guys so much for checking out the show. Obviously, you can follow us on Twitter and you can tell us how you feel about these hats. I am at cap underscore caveman with a K. You can let me know if I'm a hypocrite. Jesse is at Jesse and Friedman.

You can let him know if he's just being mean to me. But of course, our show is at PHNX underscore DBAX and all roads lead to at PHNX underscore sports. That's on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to us on your favorite podcast app. Leave us a five-star review. We deserve it just for the way that we've talked about these hats and defended your honor when it comes to merchandise. Also go over to YouTube and subscribe to us there. Sign up for notifications.

That's the way you don't miss any of this PHNX content coming out of it. of this sports Arizona sports machine. Also, go over to PHNX Locker.com. Get yourself a shirt. They are the King of Soft style right now in honor of what we're hoping was the Cardinals Big Win tonight and, you know, the six sacks that JJ Watt had. We hope you guys are enjoying the merch and we hope you pick yourself up a shirt that you like because once you do, I have a feeling there's no going back.

Once you go to our shirts, there's no going back. but it's much different than these hats that are garbage that should be throwing in a dumpster. We appreciate you guys again, checking out the show, being a part of this. All roads, like I said, lead to at PHNX underscore sports, but don't forget to use that PHNX code on Draft King's Sportsbook, as well as sign up for a membership at go phmx.com. On behalf of Jesse and myself, we thank you so much for checking out the show. And remember, kids, baseball is fun, but it's so much more fun when you bet on it.

Thank you.