PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - What the Richest Owner in U.S. Sports BUYING INTO the D-backs Means for the Franchise

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

A new report from Sportico says that billionaire Rob Walton quietly purchased a 10% stake in the Arizona Diamondbacks two years ago, and nobody knew it happened. What would the richest owner in U.S. sports investing in this franchise mean for payroll, long-term stability, and the team’s championship window? We also preview the D-backs taking on Team Mexico, where outfielder Alek Thomas finds himself on the “wrong” side for Arizona fans. Speaking of the tournament, we dive into the latest power rankings for the World Baseball Classic from MLB.com. Is Team Japan still the team to beat? Plus, we’ve got a brand-new way for us to get you more Jellybean content. 0:00 SkeeYee!!!  2:30 Richest owner's SECRET stake in D-backs 👀  20:00 World Baseball Classic heating up  24:00 Alek Thomas's red hot spring  35:00 Let Lourdes Gurriel Jr. DH?  39:05 Team USA in the Valley  51:00 WBC favorites JOIN THE SUPPORTERS CLUB ➡️ https://tinyurl.com/yc6km2r4 An ALLCITY Network Production SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtube ALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsports MERCH https://store.allcitynetwork.com/collections/phnx-locker ALLCITY Network, Inc. aka PHNX and PHNX Sports is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by the City of Phoenix PHNX Events: Get your tickets to PHNX events and takeovers here: https://gophnx.com/events/ Phoenix Raceway: Get your tickets now for March 5-8! https://www.phoenixraceway.com/march-cup-weekend/?CID=PIR_DI_TP_BA_PHNX26Spring_251120 ALLCITY — including us here at PHNX — is teaming up with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America for an exciting three-year partnership. To learn more, visit https://www.bbbs.org/allcity/ Branded Bills: Use code BBPHNX at https://www.brandedbills.com/ for 15% off your first order! Husband & Wife Law Team: If you’ve had a serious injury, Call The Husband & Wife Law Team first at 602-783-8841 or visit https://husbandandwifelawteam.com/?utm_source=allcity-padcasts&utm_medium=digital-phx&utm_campaign=allcityShowNotes bet365: https://www.bet365.com/hub/en-us/app-hero-banner-1?utm_source=affiliate&utm_campaign=usapp&utm_medium=affiliate&affiliate=365_03485317 Use the code PHNX365 to sign up, deposit $10 and bet $5 to get $150 in bonus bets! Disclaimer: Must be 21+ and physically located in AZ.  If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-NEXT-STEP, text NEXTSTEP to 53342 or visit https://problemgambling.az.gov/ Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Shady Rays: Head to https://shadyrays.com and use code: PHNX for 40% 2+ pairs of off polarized sunglasses. Try for yourself the shades rated 5 stars by over 300,000 people. Circle K: Join Inner Circle for free by downloading the Circle K app today! Head to https://www.circlek.com/store-locator to find Circle Ks near you! When you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions.  Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

According to a report today from Sportico, the Arizona Diamondbacks have the richest owner in U.S. sports as a part of their ownership group now. Maybe we don't want the salary cap anymore. Welcome in to another edition of the PHNX Diamondbacks podcast live from Studio K, presented by our friends at Circle K. It is I, your mayor of PHNX. It's Derek Montaia. Welcome in, friends. Glad to have you here. and I hope everybody is ready to be Walmart shoppers.

Max still isn't back, right? I can still give out free ads. He's still on a different continent. It's fine. I don't care because now the richest sports owner in the U.S. is now a part of the Diamondbacks or actually has been for two years and nobody knew about it. My name is Derek Montia again. Welcome into the PHNX Diamondback show.

Thrilled to have you guys here. Skiy to you all. Got my guy Damon Dog, aka Damon. and Farrell on the ones and twos. I would say bark, bark to him, but he went and got coffee without me this morning. So we aren't on speaking terms right now as far as this partnership and relationship as goes. But I got my coffee. Don't worry.

I went down by myself and got it all alone while David and Noah gallivanted down to the lobby and got coffee. Let me tell you guys. Derek well and truly is the mayor. He walks around this office and has to speak to every single individual that works here on a daily basis and chat it up with them. How was everything? How was your Monday night? It's called being a good person. What did you eat last night?

And so I, you know what? I'm a busy man. I got to get down to it. I got to get my coffee and get back here and prepare for the show. You act like you were up until 2 a.m. tweeting about your other team that you cover. It's crazy. Yeah.

As if. But David, it doesn't matter now because we have all the money for coffee that we need. We're rich now. Did you know that? We're rich now. We're all rich now collectively. And we don't have to worry about money anymore.

According to a report today from sports, The richest owner in U.S. sports quietly purchased a stake in the Arizona Diamondbacks, but he didn't do it today and he didn't do it yesterday. He actually did it two years ago and nobody knew about it. Rob Walton is reported to have bought roughly a 10% stake in the debacks ownership group about two years ago. This wasn't widely publicized at all at the time. which is why we are now getting word about this according to sources that went unnamed and stayed anonymous overall here. But to get down to this, Walton owns the Denver Broncos.

He is the richest owner in major U.S. sports. He bought a 10% of the debacks at a $2 billion dollar valuation. And again, he wrote a nine-figure check to be a 10% owner of the Diamondbacks. While that might seem to be a lot of money, it is not a lot of money for someone who is worth roughly $146 billion, according to Forbes. The team used the bulk of the proceeds for stadium improvements at Chase Field. and Arizona was ranked 24th on Sportico's list of MLB's most valuable teams last year, with an enterprise value of $1.54 billion.

So who is Rob Walton, for those that might not know? He is the heir to the Walmart fortune, as well as the principal owner of the Denver Broncos. He's the eldest son of Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart, and he has served as the chairman of Walmart from 1992 to 2015. And then after stepping down, he remained an influential board member. But more importantly, in 2022, he got into sports ownership. He led a group that purchased the Denver Broncos for a then-record $4.65 billion. The highest price ever paid for a North American sports franchise at the time.

And Derek, I saw as a part of that, he spent $400 million more than he was even asked to spend or more than the highest bidder, the next highest bidder. Just to make sure that there wasn't a doubt in their minds. That's how much money this guy has that we're talking about here. Well, and considering that he's paying that, this might sound naive to me, but when you're paying billions of dollars and you're paying 400 million extra, I imagine you're only increasing the worth of your team that you're also buying. I know you're giving that money away, but what's $400 million in the grand scheme of things

when you have 146 billion really. Yeah, exactly. So if you want to hit us up, Rob Walton, then maybe you invest in to a little podcast that, you know, shows up daily, just likes to do their job or in their briefcase. I mean, we're here every day, five days a week, and we will say all the nice things about you, whether things go good or bad.

And Walmart's always been my favorite place to shop. I shop there every day, Damon. I shop there every single day. By the way, the ownership group also featured Lewis Hamilton. as a minority owner of the Denver Bronco, someone that a lot of people might know there. And again, Walton is one of the richest sports owners in the U.S. And again, this is very interesting. Like initially this investment went into improvements at Chase Field

and improvements overall with the infrastructure of the team. But this obviously has payroll implications for the future. It could be a big reason why the Diamondbacks were kind of suddenly able to be in on Corbyn Burns. after the Jordan Montgomery disaster. And perhaps even the ownership or the purchase could have even influenced. See, if you go back two years, could have influenced the addition of Jordan Montgomery as well. But overall, this is huge for the franchise. This has huge implications.

It hasn't gotten out, though, which is interesting. It's been very secretive. Sportico contacted both sides. And, I mean, I don't believe the Diamondbacks ownership group and Ken Kendrick responded. to request for comment and I think that Walton's side declined comment. But overall, this is just really something that the Diamondbacks need, right? Like, baseball is in a place where it's kind of been proven that spending is the thing that's going to get you over the top.

At least in the postseason. At least in the postseason, right? But of course, Damon, this comes at a time where we are on the precipice. of a salary cap being put in place and spending finally being curved in Major League Baseball right when we have a member of our ownership group that's worth almost $150 billion. So maybe we don't want a salary cap is what I'm saying. Salary floor, everybody in on the salary floor? Like, let's figure this out without needing the cap spending.

We were saying something about franchises spending a lot of money at one point, but I don't remember what it was. It does seem like this has made an big impact on what the Diamondbacks have spent in the last couple off seasons. Right. You know, like thinking that the money was a lot lower than it was, come to find out they're spending, and then it come to find out the richest owner in U.S. sports is a part of the ownership group. It's starting to line up a little bit more now that we're finding this information out. I think what this is more interesting for than the present is what does this mean for the future of this franchise?

How big of a stake does Walton eventually want to get to in the Diamondbacks and how big of a stake will you be able to acquire? We know that money is no object when it comes to someone like this. So getting a 10% stake in the team really feels like it's just a foot in the door for you to eventually be own a larger percentage, right? thankfully this is an ownership group out of Denver, Colorado that already has a baseball team. So at least we don't have to worry about this being an ownership group that is in Utah or Nashville or Portland or something like that where the eventual takeover as an owner or maybe eventual purchase as an owner as a majority owner or whatever the plan for the future is would result in the team moving. Hopefully for now all this means is that the Diamondbacks have an owner that is. committed to improving the franchise in every way. That's a great point.

Right? Not just the infrastructure, not just necessarily making Chase Field better, though that is a priority for both, obviously him and the Diamondbacks current ownership group. Also, though, a guy that understands that winning is the thing that ultimately will bring fans to the stadium and make your franchise a success.

Not the kind of attitude that won Art Mareno, Arte Moreno has where he thinks that the first thing we care about is low concession stand prices and things being affordable, right? But again, this is a guy that definitely understands two things, right? Like running Walmart? Walmart? I mean, you do understand value, right? Sounds like I'm making a joke here, but you understand the benefit to providing a value and finding a way to do it. And even if that means that your little, you know, what would you call it, grocery store slash retail store, eventually grows into one of the biggest retail conglomerates in the world, right?

Like, you understand how to balance the idea of both making money and making the business successful while also at the same time providing a value to your shoppers and people that come to your store. It's one of the things that makes Walmart so suffocating to local businesses is the fact that Walmart not only, you know, is convenient and there's locations everywhere, but they also make it so that they are more affordable than every other store in some cases, maybe not in every case. But overall, though, I will say that this is a very positive thing for the Diamondbacks. It's, there's a lot of questions as to what the future holds and what, what Walton's, you know, ultimate goal here is with owning a portion of the Diamondbacks. But I feel like this is, again, a thing where hopefully in the future if he owns a bigger stake.

He is the kind of owner that is okay with once again putting money into this franchise to make it not only a success, but making it a winner. We have a, finally a rich business daddy here. That could be the thing that spends, outspends a team like the Dodgers. That's still very difficult because that already is a brand that is very powerful, not only in baseball, and has been for generations, but it's a brand

that's globally powerful. So again, the Diamondbacks have to find a way to compete with that as well as competing with what they're putting out there on the field. Though I will say, you know, the one thing we have is that the Dodgers are committed to a lot of guys who are going to be on their payroll for a number of years. And I'm sure they're going to make tough moves at times when those players aren't ultimately able to perform at the same level that they are now in order to keep that team relevant, keep that team good. But you got to figure there comes a time here where perhaps the Diamondbacks

youth and having someone like this involved in the ownership group might open up a window where the diamondbacks could be, you know, that bigger spender in the division, at least currently as far as getting new players and acquiring new assets. But this is me just speculating and getting excited because it feels like, you know, the Diamondbacks can finally spend with with the addition of an owner like this at the same rate that other franchises are currently spending, right? However, you know, that still remains to be seen. This isn't something that's new. This isn't something that just happened today.

Again, this is a secretive, I guess, deal that is two years old now. And, right, again, like Damon said, could be the reason behind some of the moves that the Diamondbacks have made. It could even be the reason why this offseason, Instead of reducing payroll, like they said they were going to, they end up increasing it based on need. Maybe all of this is the reason why the Diamondbacks have been, you know, spending the amount of money they have over the last couple of years. But overall, it does feel like it's a good thing for the future of this franchise. It's hard to feel like this report coming out means anything bad, right?

Also, hell of a job by Ken Kendrick to not tell anybody about this. keep expectations low and then take all the credit when spending gets made and be like, guys, am I not the best owner? I mean, it's bought a lot of goodwill, I feel like, with this you're right. You're right. You're not wrong. I mean, we have, we have defended Kendrick quite a bit when it came to spending and reports have back that up as far as what the team makes versus what they've invested back into the team. It shows that the Diamondbacks are one of the teams that spend the highest percentage of revenue back into the team. But you're right. This could be the reason why. At least having, I don't know, I guess more of the confidence that you have someone that owns 10%

in the team and is in this financial position back there makes you a little bit, I guess, a little bit more free to spend more money, right? You're not as unsure about the future there and where money is going to come from. However, I will also say that, you know, these baseball teams, they receive a ton of money, especially teams like the Diamondbacks and teams that are kind of benefiting for the most part from the competitive balance tax and other things. So, I mean, it's still good on them for investing when other teams aren't.

You know, that's kind of, again, one of the bigger problems in baseball. Let's remember that. Cap no longer a part of the problem. Let's forget about the salary cap. Let's just get rid of that. Competitive balance. tax, all of that. Let's just let teams spend how much money they want to spend, Damon. At least, maybe not now, but maybe five years from now. Maybe then. I don't know. Again, though,

it's interesting as far as, like, if this implies that the future owner of this team is going to be, you know, Rob Walton and perhaps a different ownership group, maybe the same ownership group, but perhaps Rob Walton takes over as the principal owner of the Diamondbacks in the same way that he did for the Denver Broncos. So it feels like overall, though, You feel a sense of security ambition, you know, when wealthy owners like this are involved. Even if Walton's stake doesn't change the day-to-day operations, it's hard not to believe that this team has deeper pockets now. And that, you know, opponents might view the Diamondbacks as big spenders. Maybe free agents view the Diamondbacks as a more favorable landing spot now.

You know, they might just see it differently, like psychologically, now that this news is out there in regards. to, you know, Walton being a part of this team. But a lot of things we don't know yet. You know, we don't know if this was an active pursuit by the Diamondbacks group to get a new owner or if this was just a quiet investment opportunity by Walton because he wanted to buy a stake into this franchise, right? Does he have a personal voice in this or is this purely financial? And again, how does this fit overall with Ken Kendrick's longstanding role as the managing general partner and the kind of the, kind of the, voice face of the ownership group. So a lot, a lot to be determined there, but this could be moves just for, you know, the future potentially on both sides. We'll see how things evolve,

but again, it doesn't, this is, I don't, I don't hate this. And I don't think anybody that's a diamond back span should. This feels like this means good things and especially considering that not only is there a lot of money involved, but again, an ownership group that knows how to run a business, right? Like, knows how to run a brand. That's probably more important to say. Forget just being a business owner. It knows how to run a brand.

So, anyway, we're going to take a quick break. We got fun stuff happening today, including the Arizona Diamondbacks facing off against no nemesis, Alec Thomas, and Team Mexico. Yeah, we got to watch that happen to the day. We got to watch Alec Thomas go against us. We're going to talk about that and preview that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere.

You're watching the PHA next Diamondback show. Well, you know what this means. Now this means we have plenty of money for pure edibles. And pure edibles, of course, is one of my favorite companies. And they do a great job at giving you exactly what you need in life, which basically is a wide variety of effects from your edibles, as well as a wide variety of flavors and choices when it comes to your candies. Pure edibles does make gummies, but they don't just make gummies. They also have hard candies, chew, soft candies. You can get caramel.

You can get their version of Starbursts that they call kicks and new stuff that's coming. and have all the time. They also have, like I said, a wide variety of flavors. And of course, their effects are clearly listed on each tin. So you know exactly what you're getting into before you try their wonderful edibles, including sleep edition gummies, things that can help you improve your mood and so much more. So make sure you stop by one of over 130 dispensaries and check out the products from our friends of pure edibles. They do have a collaboration, of course, with Mother Road Brewing Company that we are in love with. They bring you a smooth With a THC twist on a classic IPA, the Tower Station IPA can now come in this new Tower Station

all-in-one THC device where you will get the same crisp citrusy notes and piney hops that you get from that wonderful IPA, but now in an all-in-one THC device. So again, find yourself some pure edible products from one of over 130 dispensaries across Arizona. And get there in your new Corvette that you could win from Healrib Resorts and Casinos. Right now you can drive into excitement. with the fabulous Corvette giveaway running through April 24th, four casinos, four corvettes, four big chances to win. That's right.

Get yourself, upgrade your vehicle, get yourself a new Corvette. And, of course, there's some ways to do that. You can do that at any one of their four locations, and you can qualify on Fridays from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. with hourly drawings for free bonus play or a finale entry. They also have four times the entries on Tuesdays and Saturdays when you play with the card. And on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.,

they have their hot seat qualifier. where you can play with the card for your shot at one of those fabulous corvettes. They also have exclusive swag giveaways throughout the promotion, and those grand finalities will be held at the end of April. So do not miss out on this. For more information, visit play atheela.com. Don't miss your chance to accelerate in the luxury, play earn and win in any one of their four casino locations.

Well, we got the world baseball classic tournament, heating up, getting ready to start. The Team USA has been working out here in town, and that's very cool. Not to say I would rather be there watching them than doing this show, but I mean, there's some cool players out there all getting ready, is what I'm saying. But speaking of World Baseball Classic, the Diamondbacks take on Team Mexico today in a little World Baseball Classic exhibition clash, which means D-Backs outfielder Alec Thomas is officially the enemy, Damon. He's officially dead to us, and he is one of them now. He is on the opposition. No, I joke, but he will be teaming up with former D-backed Taiwan Walker, former coach, Tony Peres Chica, Gil Velazquez, Elmer Descends, and Jacob Cruz,

which are all members of Team Mexico's coaching staff. Taiwan Walker will be on the mound against the Arizona Diamondbacks today. Also, Rodrigo Lopez, the Diamondbacks current Spanish broadcaster, is the general manager for that Mexico team. as well as Federation coordinator, Mariana Petraca, who's currently in the Diamondbacks baseball operations. Those are all members of Team Mexico. And we also have the World Baseball Council President Mauricio Salaman will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch today. So big fun game out there for the Diamondbacks facing off here in an exhibition game.

A lot of those exhibition games happening where they can happen here and in Miami. but yeah we're going to see the Diamondbacks once again some of those players that that you know we love will be featured on other teams Tim Tawa Jordan Lawler Ryan Walschman they'll be all in the lineup today for the Diamondbacks Tawa has hit safely in five of his spring training games or in all five I should say of the spring training games Tawa's hitting 400 with a double a home run three RBI and two walks meanwhile Jordan Lawler he's reached based safely in his first five spring games he currently has a five 556 on base percentage. He also has two home runs, two RBI and six walks, along with five strikeouts.

And then Ryan Waldschmidt last, but not least, has hit safely in four of his six spring games. He is hitting 316. Oh, hell yeah, with three doubles, one homer, five RBI. And he is pounding the ball, hitting it 100 plus multiple times and ExaVilo multiple times so far this spring. But Alec Thomas is the guy, of course, that we are without, that we will still get to see. on the field today. And a lot of this obviously is still a small sample size. We're talking about six spring games, five spring games. This is not enough, you know, for you to really start forming any major opinions on. But it was like what I spoke to Tori about on Friday. It's just very

encouraging for these young guys to understand that there is a competition and more importantly an opportunity for them to go out and win playing time in the D-backs outfield. at a major league level, even if they are like Walschmidt, who has not even played for the Reno Aces yet. Like that opportunity is wide open. It's open for guys like Jorge Rosa to win more playing time. And Alec Thomas obviously still has to worry about how he factors in. Center field, left field.

He's been playing both of those positions. It feels like the Diamondbacks are far more comfortable with Loller being in center field. So it does feel like Alec Thomas will be over in left. come opening day with Lawler in center and Corbyn Carroll over and right. Waldschmidt could still factor in there as well, and if I don't say that, Damon will attack me violently while we are live on air. But Alec Thomas continues... I was getting ready to jump the tape. No, I know you were. I could see the anger like boiling up

on your face, but you got to be impressed about what Alec Thomas has done so far this spring. And six spring games and 16 at bats. Thomas already has six hits. He has a 375 batting average. I think we have a stats here for spring. 444 on base percentage, 625 slug. He has a 1.069 OPS and that's an 18 plate appearances. He has two doubles, a triple. He's walked twice and he only has three strikeout showing some improved plate discipline compared to his last few springs. Plus, again, if you want to be on the negative side about this, I know this is early. I know it's a small sample size, but he has kind of had a slow start in spring. And right now, that stat line puts him among the most productive at bats in Diamondbacks camp so far. And I'll say this multiple times,

but he, Jordan Lawler, Ryan Walschmidt, other guys that are having success, they're hitting against the same pitchers that are pitching to Catelle Marte and Gabriel Moreno, both of who aren't exactly knocking the cover off the ball in the same manner that these guys are. But Thomas did enter spring healthy and he has made deliberate swing adjustments he has trimmed that exaggerated leg kick to improve contact and the early results so far suggest that has changed has helped reduce those strikeouts small sample caveat again but slashing 375 444 625 and showing improved strike zone control it's that's all very encouraging for a player who we were kind of at a point that we needed to see this from Thomas.

We needed to see improvements from him. He had kind of fallen into a pretty significant rut last year. I wouldn't even say that, you know, that he had struggles. I wouldn't even say that he was in a slump. It was just kind of an all or nothing for Alec Thomas, where, you know, most of the time he was softly grounding out to the right side. But every once in a while, he would just still impress you with his power or his ability to get one out.

But what we needed to see out of him was more consistency with the certain situation right now with the outfield, with the uncertainty about where, you know, when Lorda Scuriel is going to return, who's going to factor in like Alec Thomas was only needed. But quite frankly, he could also lose playing time to some of these other guys that right now are being given that opportunity

at the same job that he currently holds, right? Nothing is just given to anyone right now in case. outside of those guys named Catell and Geraldo and Corbyn. But like this really feels like, you know, again, that Alec understands the assignment here, as do the other outfielders, and he is responding in the exact way that you kind of need to see him respond. This is pressure. You know, this is high leverage at bats to these guys. I know to people in the chat, I know to Damon and I.

I know even to many members of the coaching staff and such. is just spring training, but to these players that understand essentially the threat to their at-bats here, they are all responding. And I feel like that comes with a great amount of pressure. So kudos to all of them for responding once again to the situation, to the competition, and to that pressure. Now we're going to see Alec Thomas on the other side of the mound from us. So it's going to be interesting to go out there and see how Thomas does in that role for team. Mexico. I think, who was it? Book's Journey pointed out that Alec Thomas is hitting low in the lineup for Team Mexico. I mean, that, that, understandably so. Like, this is more of a prove-it situation,

but I wouldn't be surprised if Alec can keep up what he's already done in DeBag's camp in the WBC if we don't see him rise up their lineup in the same way he kind of did in the spring training lineup so far. But I also know, again, in order for Thomas to be that guy, to be that over opening day, you know, left fielder. Most likely that means that Waldschmidt doesn't get that spot. Most likely that means Walt Schmidt probably starts the season. I can't imagine with the sod poodles at this point. So I mean, I figured that means that Walt Schmidt has to start the season with the Reno Aces. And again, he would probably be the next man up should the diamond back's experience an injury or anything like that. Jorge Barrosa or somebody else could get that bench roll just due

to the fact that, you know, they don't worry about them playing every day as much as they might worry about someone like Waldy continuing to play every day. A lot of things still, a lot of decisions still to be made. And of course, a lot of it is based on how ready Lordus is come opening day and how ready Corby and Carroll is. So we might see a whole kind of congestion here in the outfield should everybody be healthy and should everybody be playing well on top of that. So, but hey, that's that's the good thing. Competition brings out the best in everybody and it feels like so far, all of

these guys, including the ones that are injured, understand how easily they could lose playing time here. You know, that seems to be why you got Lourdes and Corbyn also having a sense of urgency here. It's not like, you know, it's not like they're rushing back because the team needs them.

It could be just rushing back so that way they are not kind of pushed out of their roles by these younger guys playing extremely well. Not saying that that's probable, but it's possible. That's fair to say. Daman, what do you think overall about what AT's been doing? Do you think it's actually sustainable?

Or do you think that this is just, again, a good stretch from him like we've seen at times in his career? I'm ready to be hurt again by Alec Thomas. I am too. I really am. I want to be hurt again. I don't want to be hurt. No, I don't want to be hurt. But I want to believe in Alec Thomas.

But I'm going to be. Oh, yeah. Because I will never stop believing in Alec Thomas. as we've been over this, he's the, I mean, Derek, we already showed the graphic, but like one thing that got, I think, a little underplayed here, aura. Oh, yeah. I mean, like, the stats are what they are. A thousand sixty-nine OPS, nice, love it.

625 slug? Fantastic. But the aura, Derek, he looks like an all-star. He'll never stop looking like an all-star. It's hard to explain the look on his face there. It's confidence. There's a little smirk there. And he also looks like he's ready to do business.

Also, as a photographer, I think that they didn't do their job here by having Alec kind of sideways just to show a little bit more of the flow from the back. Oh, there's some sideways pictures, Derek. Okay. Let's not get a question. We got a few angles from our friends that took the photos. Shout out to them. But I mean, Alec Thomas, he's a really good defender. he kind of hits the ball hard,

he just hits it on the ground way too much. And so it's always been about getting that lift and getting a little bit more contact on the baseball because he does have a lot of swing and miss in his game. And I feel like if he can become like a 250, 260 hitter, that's more than enough for him to be a valuable baseball player for the Diamondbacks. No one's asking him to go hit 280, 290.

He doesn't need to hit 300. He doesn't need to have an OPS of, of like 850. Just give us an 800 OPS, get on base, steal some bases, play good defense, and that's going to go such a long way for this team the way that it's constructed right now.

So I'll always believe in Alec Thomas. You'll never get me to stop. If he's not on this roster anymore, I'm probably just believing in him on another team. It doesn't matter. I'm never going to give up. You can't give up on Alec. But I also say we need Corby and Carroll to work on him

work with him on his attack angle, right? Like Corbyn had the flattest swing in baseball at one point, and he somehow corrected that to last year, having the highest percentage of best attack angle in his swing at like 68%. So maybe some improvements to his attack angle, but, you know, maybe, again, the reduced light kick can all lead to us seeing a little bit more of Alec Thomas driving the, ball like you said he's always hit it hard but he just kind of can ground roll over it and ground out so

often so but we need him and honestly he he needs it like i feel like he needs it it's it's not in the same places jordan lawler considering what thomas has contributed in his career at a major league level but it's it's similar to the make or break season that we said that jordan lawler needs to be having. Yeah, I mean, and he's shown, obviously, as you said, more than Jordan Lawler has at this point. He's also older than Jordan Lawler. I think it's fair to say that, you know, Alec Thomas, if he doesn't kind of show at least

a little bit of semblance of improvement, that this might be his last chance on the diamondbacks and that he could find himself on a new team. But obviously, he's kind of always going to go down as a debacks legend for that home run, basically saving the season. I mean. It's, I mean, it's, it's probably the second biggest hit in DeBax history we said at one point this off season. I don't think that that's like an overreaction to call it that. I've never seen a hostile takeover of a stadium before in my life before Alec Thomas planted the flag at the bank.

And that's, and that's part of the reason I think also why I want them to be good so bad is because it's like, I'll always remember what the peak memories felt like in this relationship. Oh, yeah. God, didn't we have so much fun together though, Derek? Wasn't it? Like, yeah, there were some, we, we fought a little bit, but like, man, like the highs were high, you know? Oh, yeah. The highs are always very high, you know. So we just need to sit, Alec, down and just say, how do we get you to making us feel loved and appreciated all the time, Alec?

Because if we can, if we can find ourselves in that spot, then this feels like a beautiful marriage in the works, you know? a lot going on a lot going on for the outfield man i mean i thought you were talking about with my with my my my little uh simile that yeah no it's that's a lot too that's a lot too but there's just a lot going on with this outfield and i don't know i mean i honestly cannot i don't feel like i can predict what's going to happen forget opening day like what what is this outfield going to look like on may first right like that's that's what kind of intrigues me like not just who is available from opening day but who fine maybe guys aren't back from injury yet but how does lordis factor in when he is back from injury how does corbin carroll play how does alic thomas where does alic thomas play does he stay in

center if lordis returns does he go to left is the what happens with jordan lawler when those guys return right so just a lot of questions about lordis d h i know i know it's my i'm going to keep saying it. I really feel like it's the, it's the recipe is like, let's get this guy back in the lineup as soon as possible and let him focus on hitting. You can start to see why they didn't address a DH spot, something we said time and time again that they couldn't really do. If they did, it needed to be a guy that played, you know, a position as well. It needed to be a guy that did more than one thing. But in this case, you're starting to see that they might have just enough extra bodies where that DH spot is going to be adequately filled, though,

ever-changing, right? So, interesting to see once, again, I probably said that 15 times, but just because I do find it. So, like, unknown as to how everything's going to play out, what, you know, who's going to factor in where and who's going to excel in those places, right? Like, being a DH, if you're a positional player, isn't necessarily an easy thing to do. I remember Payman Smith saying that one of the things that he did was, you know, in between innings instead of sitting on the bench, he went and just took swings in the cages. you know, at Chase Field or whatever, right? Like so there's a certain, you know,

a certain way that you've got to stay warmed up and a certain, you know, kind of rhythm you need to find. That's a bit more difficult to find when you're not going out there and playing in the field on the bottom or top of the inning. So again, Alec Thomas, though, he's the enemy today. That's the important thing to remember. We're not rooting for him.

Don't get lost, Damon, in his flowing lots out of the back of his hair for one day, For one special day, he's the enemy. But, of course, speaking of Damon's enemies, we got some updates about Team USA here on the other side of this break. And again, good luck to the Giants with handling this lineup out there. So we're going to talk about that on the other side of this break. Don't you go anywhere.

You're watching the PHNX Diamondback Show. I am a hat a fictional. I love hats. And one of my favorite companies, as I've talked about endlessly, is branded bills. Branded Bills makes a wide variety of hats. Some featuring our great state. featuring ASU and U of A as part of their campus collection along with 40 other universities

and some amazing hats, one that ESPO wears around this office. It makes me tremendously jealous when he wears it featuring our Phoenix Suns. So do not miss out on all of the wonderful hats they have to offer over at brandybiz.com. Plus, if you are a company looking to have your brand stand apart from the crowd, look no further than branded bills. Their team can help you get started on your custom apparel order. And they have you covered no matter what you are looking to get, whether it's snapbacks, fitted hats, truckers, beanies, they have

t-shirts, they have bags, they have so much more. So, of course, contact their dedicated team, and they will help you create the exact custom order you are looking for. Head on over to brandedbills.com and use our code of BBPHNX for 15% off your first order. And, of course, now is the best time

to start on those home projects. The weather outside is beautiful. And of course, before things get too hot, you want to replace those windows in your house. The place to do it is the window depot. Not only are they with experts in Windows, but they have so much more than that. They have doors, skylights, cabinets, countertop, sinks, and everything you are looking to get your home improvements done in 2026. They have the best price and the biggest inventory.

It's the reason why contractors absolutely love the Window Depot. It is because they have job site ready quantities for those contractors as well as unbeatable prices. Plus, no membership fee is required for contractors or for us. So make sure if you are looking to get something started in your home, start at the window depot. They also have in-house designers that are there to help you plan your space at no extra charge from cabinets to countertops. They make it simple. The window depo more than just the window store. Visit the window depot.com and get started on your next project today. Team USA and their star studded lineup is here in town. They actually have been. They were training

out at, uh, what is it? The Oakland A's spring training facility, I believe, yesterday, um, today. or maybe even they were at Scottsdale Stadium, I forget which way, but today they're facing off against the Giants in an exhibition game at Scottsdale Stadium that's going to start in about 20 minutes. So again, this is our first chance to see how manager Mark DeRosa is going to deploy this All-Star lineup in the 2026 World Baseball Classic. And man, what a lineup to see in a spring training game, Damon, right?

Everybody's talking about spring training games. being too expensive. Well, did you get to see a lineup comprised to Bobby Wood Jr. Bryce Harper and Aaron Judge today? Did you? Because if you did, you might have just gotten your money's worth. Also batting fourth in that lineup. Kyle Schwarber at DH.

Alex Bregman batting fifth at third base. Cow rally behind the dish as catcher batting sixth. Roman Anthony and left field batting seventh. We got Byron Buxton in Centerfield, batting eighth, and Bryce Tarang, batting second, or excuse me, batting 9. playing second base. That also doesn't include

Sy Young winner Paul Skeens on the mound and PCA and Gunner Henderson waiting on the bench for this team. By the way, PCA who might be the one baseball player that hates Dodgers fans more than Damon does.

It's crazy. What did you say? I didn't... Oh, he's been going at it. It's been weird. It's been layers of comments and like I feel like he just doubles and triples down. Something that I know you yourself can very much appreciate. He doesn't relent. He's relentless.

He keeps talking up Cubs fans and how they are ball knowers. And meanwhile, Dodgers fans just come to the stadium to take pictures. His business comments have been scintillating. This is a man who will undoubtedly, it'll be hilarious when he signs with the Dodgers come the end of his contract or whatever, because that's what feels like it's going to happen with every player. But Damon? I think that, you know, like to be fair, Derek, in the most fair sense, that we can possibly be.

There are some Dodgers fans that are very locked in on their teams that love their teams show up to every game. You know, I just think that when we're talking about the general Dodgers fan who just lives in SoCal and goes for Instagram posts, that's what Pete Crow Armstrong is referring to. And you know what? Those fans, I think the majority of them get a lot of TV time because of their proximity to the good seats,

right? You know, and it's an expensive experience sometimes to get those good, sports seats in a town like Los Angeles. So I completely understand it. It's it's kind of like how we we get on them about those people not being behind, you know, being there when the game starts and not showing up to the fourth inning, right? But I'll tell you, get out there early. I mean, maybe I shouldn't encourage you to stop watching this show. But if you are going out to Scottsdale Stadium, get out there, man. What a chance to get some, a lot of really good autographs. I imagine that

that autograph section is going to be filled with grown men that look like me over there getting autographs. But make sure you let the kids get theirs for sure. Interesting, though, to take on this lineup. It's one thing for the Diamondbacks to play Team Mexico. And this is no disrespect to Team Mexico at all. I just feel like, you know, their lineup, especially to a depleted Diamondbacks lineup that is without the majority of their stars who are playing for their own WBC teams, their lineup feels, you know, at least like it's going to be an adequate game. But could you imagine sending your team up against this lineup today in Scottsdale? Could you imagine being like a double A caliber pitcher?

Yeah. Just like getting thrown in for an inning. Yeah. You're going up against like judge, you know. Right. It's Philip Abner from last year when he had to go pitch against the Dodgers against O'Tonnie and Freed. Yeah, absolutely. No, I mean, it's, it's pretty, it's pretty crazy.

I think that that would be the type of experience, Derek, where, you know, we were talking about it with Alec Thomas a little bit and like Drew Jones. I think it's beneficial to the player to like experience that. And like, you're not going to be nervous in a double A game when you had to go up against Aaron freaking judge when you had no business pitching against a guy that's that good. Yeah. You know, so. Yeah.

Meanwhile, Adrian Houser on the mound for the Giants. Good luck to him. That poor sweet soul. You poor sweet baby. Good luck to you, sir. Good luck to you. By the way, we have a birthday in the chat. We do.

We do. We got our guy, Jay Army Strong. He says, who turns 43 today? This guy, we salute you, sir. Happy birthday. I hope you took the day off and maybe you are going to go watch the D-backs face off against Team Mexico. That would be a fine way to spend your birthday. But one of my favorite people that we've encountered here in the last.

Oh, absolutely. Absolutely. Jarmie, absolutely incredible, dude. Love your support, man. And I appreciate you so much. Happy birthday. From the Mailbag Monday questions, being a diehard, to being a supporters club member, man, you have been great.

We appreciate you. Happy 43rd rotation around the sun to you. And again, this is a good month to have your birthday. My birthday is this month. This is a fine month to be born, especially with all this fun stuff to do in Arizona. So again, he said, nope, working because the kids want Vietnamese foe for dinner. Man, it's not about the kids.

Wow. We, yeah, no. It's not about the kids today, Jason. It's not about anybody but you, pal. See, that's the thing is, is we, that's what happens to us. This is what happens to us, especially at 43 years old, right? We don't, we, we, we, we, we lose, uh, the selfishness. We focus on others.

We try to worry, worry about other people's happiness. for one spectacular day. Your birthday is your day. Sure, you share it with other people, but screw those losers. I'm talking about it being your day, your specific day. I share my birthday with the Undertaker, right? That's pretty sick. Do you think I'm going to let the Undertaker get first name?

You think he's going to be the main event on my birthday? No, sir. No, sir. And this is coming from a pro wrestling fan. So, well, I just, you know what? Defend your birthday and make it about you. Derek, you strike me as a man that absolutely will die for his birthday. You know that.

You know that. Like, this is your day. It's all about Derek on this day. And it's one of the two days out of the damn year that you get after Father's Day. I don't even get Father's Day. You think I get Father's Day? My father-in-law gets Father's Day. I'm just a wheel in the car.

I'm just a cog in the machine of Father's Day. Damn. Yeah. Yeah, I don't get that. I mean, it's, yeah, I, listen, enjoy the fah. But I just, I, you know. know, Jason, I want you to know, you can tell your kids I said this. It should be about you.

It should be about you today. Yep. He's not wrong. It's not wrong. Tell your kids that your favorite podcast, one of the co-hosts said that they let you down. Yeah. Well, they let us all down is what really happened here. But it's fine.

It's fine. Hopefully the foe will be good. We're going to take a quick break on the other side of this break. We have a little bit more WBC news to talk about MLB.com ranked. Did some power rankings for the WBC team. We're going to talk about that. And then, of course, as you know, this is a jelly bean podcast. So we're going to figure out a way to get you more jelly bean coverage.

Don't you guys go anywhere. You're watching the pH NX Diamondback slash jellybean podcast. Circle K is America's Thurstop. It's Derek's Thurstop. It's Damon's Thurst Stop. It should be yours third stop because they have you covered no matter what drink you're looking for. And they will save you on drinks. Forget paying $8, nine dollars for a coffee.

You can go there and get all of your coffee needs for cheaper. And if you are a member of the Inner Circle, you will save all sorts of on all sorts of products. It doesn't matter, including coffees, including drinks. You'll get yourself 79 cent frosters or pull of pops. You'll get yourself 99 cent frosters. And it's all for free. All you got to do is sign up today.

Download the app, sign up. And then you use your phone number to save on all of these deals. Plus, you can save on gas. You'll save every day on gas as a member of the inner circle. Plus you can save more when you buy three Coca-Cola 20-ounce products. That'll save you 25 cents off per gallon over there. Plus, get your your. yourself something to eat with their meal deal matrix from breakfast to dinner they got you covered at circle k

join the inner circle for free right now by downloading the circle k app terms and conditions do apply at participating locations visit circle k.com for details and if you are looking for representation for an accident or serious injury situation the lawyer you hire matters and that's why you need to contact the husband and wife law team mark and Alexis brier are the husband and wife law team and they are dedicated to helping residents of the Valley get the exact representation that they need. If you want to hire an attorney that's focused on your best outcome, not how much money of the firm makes. Contact the husband and wife law team. This team brings hundreds of years of combined experience. Plus, they have certified specialists in personal injury and wrongful death,

which is something that you just won't find at every law firm. They actually go to trial for their clients. They are trial. Lawyers, if your case needs to go to trial, they are ready. They know way around a courtroom and what needs to be done to prevail in front of a jury for their clients. So do not do your research and do not just trust anyone. Make sure you contact the husband and wife law team. Nobody can guarantee the outcome of your legal case. However, there are promises they're proud to make to you, including that you can cancel your fee agreement at any time for any reason.

You'll receive as much in pocket as they receive for their fee, even if they have to reduce their attorney fee to do so. And you may speak with one of their lawyers at any time as often as you choose about anything you want to discuss. If you've had a serious injury, call the husband and wife law team first at 602-783-8841 or visit their website at the link in our show notes and tell them, PhNX sent you. Well, again, big happy birthday to J. Army Strong. Somebody asked, yes, my birthday is March 24th. Mark it down. Mark it in your calendars. Also, just look up the Undertaker's birthday and it'll figure it out. Also, Lana's birthday. Shout out to Lana.

You got to love former PH&X employee Kyle Cooper in the chat You're telling you happy birthday Derek Because he doesn't know if he'll be here On March 24th So he's got to get out ahead of it. He's got to get it out now

Not only that but yeah What adventures Kyle Cooper Going to be on on March 24th Lord knows where the wind will take him By then so Well speaking of adventures That will be had around that time I hope Kyle hasn't got

Click off the video yet Because Derek I will be taking an adventure to Alaska. What? In the late summer. Why? For what reason?

And I would be, I would be just horrified if I could not break some bread, maybe have a cold one with my good pal, Kyle Cooper. It's going to Alaska is to see Kyle Cooper. That and the king crab legs. That and my parents are partially pink. Yeah, for sure. Kyle says wait what All right well we're going to get a beer date on the Kyle we're going to make this happen

I'm going to be in Alaska at some point Ice fishing anyone We got a lot of excursions on deck My dad's never been He's been to 49 states Derek so Oh this is number 50 for Dennis What a legend What a legend that man is

Big 5O man man that's crazy What a what a traveler An adventurer if you will I'm right Speaking of adventure It's going to be an adventure for some of the world baseball classic teams to try to compete with the top teams in this tournament. And MLB.com released their power ranking, Damon, for the WBC, and to nobody surprise, Samurai Japan, which is what they're calling it. And it just makes them sound even more awesome, ranked as the number one team in world baseball play with the United States ranked there as a close second.

and Damon's Dominican Republic team following it up with the top top three appearance there overall that's good we don't want to be the favorites you don't want to be the favorites right we have winners on this team well you got to be the man you got to beat the man and that would be the case with Japan

they still have a very strong lineup their top MLB player Shohei Yoshinova Yamamoto and D'Saius Suzuki meanwhile the United States sending up there Aaron Judge Paul Skeen's Terrick Scoobal I do like Team USA's chances because of the pitching. I still have my reservations about how much we'll see skeins and scoble. But again, it's hard to imagine that with those two guys as your number one and your

number two and whichever order you put them, it's hard to imagine that you can beat those guys. Like that, that just seems impossible. Yeah. Derek, I believe that it was announced earlier today that if World Baseball Classic is a Team USA final, that Nolan McLean will be starting for Team USA. So I agree with you. I think that Skeens and Scoobel are good enough to

get you to the final. Carry this team through the tournament, but that's a little bit worrisome if you get to the final and you're playing Japan or the DR or whatever and you know, you're playing maybe a little bit a pitcher that is not the caliber of pitcher that we are thinking of when thinking of this team USA squad.

But you also have Bobby Witt, Jr., Bryce Harper, Aaron, Judge, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Breggman, Cal Rally. I think offensively you're going to be fine. I think offensively you're going to be just fine. Dominican team, solid lineup. Same thing, pitching, questions and pitching outside of your ace, right? You could say that about a lot of teams. It's the reason why I think Japan is still number one because they probably still have the best mix as far as position players and pitching goes.

The most solid lineup. But again, some other teams, I mean, some underrated teams here in the top five, including Team Mexico at five with Alejandro Kirk, Jaron Duran, and Randy Orozarina there. But at number four, Venezuela, Ronald Acuna Jr., Ranger Suarez, Arvaryone Eduardo Rodriguez, William Conreras. So that's a team that you could say is playing. playing for much more than other teams, right? Just as far as what you and I have discussed in the past,

team Venezuela, playing for national pride, playing for a country that right now is going through a lot. So, I mean, you ride ball. Hey, man, you just never know, right? You never know. A country that's going through a lot. They got to watch Eduardo Rodriguez put their uniform on it. That's exactly what I meant.

That's exactly what I meant. Shout out to team Puerto Rico for still being in the top 10, despite everything going on with that team. Edwin Diaz. Dude, why? I forget, why is Lindor not playing? Haymate bone. He broke his Haymate bone.

Like Corbin? Like Corbin. Yeah, it was Lindor, Jackson Holiday, and Corbyn. They all broke their Haymate bone within a few days of each other. So just like Corbyn, he's not participating. What a disaster? Well, between that and the insurance situation,

it didn't allow so many guys to get covered for some reason. But Nolan Arnato, he is down there. He shaved his head, and he died at blonde. Nolan Arnato, Damon, is going to come back pronouncing bad bunny as Babani. He's going to come back correcting every single person on their pronunciation of Bad Bunny, I promise. He's going to come back saying, you mean Benito? Yeah, you mean, yeah. My close personal friend?

I went to his concert three times is what he's going to say. Stood on stage. We went out for Briniel afterwards. I do love the hair thing, Derek. I'll be honest. Like, I think this is where Derek has to, like, you know, show his. true colors right here. Are you an actual Puerto Rican man or are you not? Because you need a buzz cut and bleach blonde hair if you are. We already did this and we know it took me a very

long time to recover from that. I'm sorry, but some things are just worth it. Is the World Baseball Classic worth it to you, Derek? God. God. I don't know. I don't know. Also Michael Dixon not not happy with me with my my negativity, quote unquote, surrounding Nolan McLean being the starter for a final. Listen, brother. This is not... This is no knock to Nolan McLean.

This is more of the fact that you have Paul Skeens or Territ Schuble. Oh, I was... Sure, absolutely. That was my real take, but now I'm getting back to Damon mode. Brother, I'm not rooting for this squad.

Yeah, he's not a fan of the team of a day. You might think it's a joke, but it's made that very deliberate. It started off that way, but like, I'm not rooting for a team that has Make a Wish, Kershaw on it. I'm not going to do it. So I'm always been from the Dominican Republic. Everyone knows it. You take one look at me. You go, that is a Dominican man. And so I, that's what we're rolling with, this World Baseball Classic. I hope I do bring all the negativity to the team USA. I don't care.

They don't have Geraldo Predomo or Cotel Marte. Damon, when you return, because you'll be off tomorrow, when you return on Thursday, I think we're going to do some WBC brackets. I know you have plenty of bracket action to get to over at the Wildcats podcast but I think we need to figure out we need to pick our bracket and get down to who's actually going to win this whole thing once you return but

that's then. This is now and today I figured out a way for us to get the most important content out that we can get Damon as many people know as we have not tried to hide on this podcast in the same way that for we hid the Rob Walton investment

in the Diamondbacks this is a jelly bean podcast, as many of you know. And we are working diligently at all times to try to bring you the best highest quality jelly bean content that you can find. Of course, here is our adorable little friend that is more important to us than water or air, right? But Damon, today I found out that there is a very important historic relic that is up for auction that we could repurpose and use for this exact thing. Okay? So you want good jelly bean content.

That means you got to get in there and you got to, you got to film him when he doesn't know you're watching. So what's the best way to do so? Of course, it's with the rhinoceros from Ace Venture to what nature calls. Okay? This is the rhinoceros that infamously Jim Carrey was born out of the back of due to getting too hot inside of it and created a very hilarious scene that we all

remember to this day. A scene that I don't plan on recreating. I plan on using that exact. flap probably for a camera to come out of the rear end of this rhinoceros, which we would put in jelly beans facility in his area, in his playpen, so that we could get the highest quality jelly bean content without him thinking that there's actual humans or cameras in the room. Also, I could do a live episode of this podcast from the belly of the rhinoceros. And for a mere $2,000, I don't think that this is a wrong way to reinvest the money that we were

going to spend in us going to Mexico. Am I wrong? I think actually we could make the money back for Mexico in a few days based on our jelly bean content. It's actually, it's an investment there. It's an investment in the future. Would you rather have a million dollars or a dinner with Jay-Z, you know? Right.

And you want to pick his brain about something. Right. Yeah. A million dollars is a million dollars, but I could spend that in a week. Sitting at dinner with Jay-Z and perhaps becoming business partners with him, priceless. Exactly. Priceless.

And that's what this rhino is. Yeah. But yes, this. This rhino again, it just seems like it's a no-brainer. Damon, there's ways that we could repurpose this. Of course, that jerk, Noah had to point out that the other adult rhino or adult hippopotami would come after this rhino because they would see it as a predator. They're pygmy hippos, you idiot.

They're tiny. They're not going to get us inside of that thing. I've thought this through. You think that this is the first time I've thought about how we can get better jelly bean content on the show? Crazy. You're crazy. But anyway, we thank you guys so much for joining us.

Let's go watch. Our beat meeting, Derek, later after the show is actually going to be sitting down with Leah discussing. It's all that we have to talk to her about. How we can vastly improve our coverage of jelly bean. I mean, she's going to be like jelly bean shorts, jelly bean bods. Like, these are all the ways that we get to success for sure. Of course, we wouldn't be successful at all without you guys. So thank you so much for your time.

It's your most valuable commodity. We appreciate you sharing a small portion of it with us. We will be back tomorrow with another 12 p.m. show. Damon won't be. He's abandoning us, but hopefully we'll have some fun surprises for you then. So make sure to join us at 12 p.m. Until then, you can follow us on social media. I'm at cap underscore K-Mad of the K. Damon is at Damon Dog with a DAWG at the end. And we're all damask. Our show is at pH and X. Our show is at PHNX underscore sports on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Thank you guys again for your time. Happy birthday to our guy. Jayon, Army Strong A-Z. Hope you have a good one. And to the rest of you, hope you have a wonderful evening. Let's enjoy some baseball and let's get back here tomorrow to talk about it at 12 p.m. Until then, again, behave yourselves, Michael Dixon, and remember kids, baseball is fun, but it is so much more fun when you have a new owner that is worth $142 billion.