PTI - Who's Going Home with the NL MVP?

Episode Date: August 6, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Frank Isola discuss Shohei and PCA NL MVP race, Red Sox/Braves streaking, Jefry Yan's celebrations, Messi scores two in 1st start since WC, Infantino gets vote of confidence and more! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon, and if you are looking for a sign, then it's midsummer and we're on the deuce, you're about to get one. I'm Frank Isola. I don't get it. What sign? What's the sign? You're not looking at the third base coat? Huh?

Oh, wait, it's casual Thursday, apparently. Yeah, it is. Thank you for noticing. Tony texting me said you better wear a tie. That's his requirement. What you give for listening to the wrong host? That's what happens. And you still look better.

Thank you. Welcome to PTI. We spotted Kornheiser Monday, still couldn't make it to Thursday. So I'm joined by our great friend from the starting lineup on Sirius XM, Mr. Frank I saw a look out of the pen. I like it. That tie's a little ivy-ish, though, but we'll skip that for now. Let's start with the baseball MVP races.

Triple Crown leader, Yorda, and Alvarez is lapping the field in the AL, so that takes care of that. But things are neck and neck and neck in the National League. Shoah led off of the home run yesterday. And Pete Crow Armstrong of the Cubs matched that in the bottom of the first. After PCA homered again later, Otani responded with a second of his own. All this at Wrigley at the friendly confines.

The two are almost identical across a range of hitting stats this season. Frank, so who is your NL MVP? You know, it reminds me a little bit of last year with Aaron Judge and Cal Raleigh. where the sentimental choice was Cal Raleigh. This year, the sentimental choice would be PCA. You mentioned the offensive numbers, which is interesting. I think the two things that could swing it in his favor, number one, and we know this from voting for NBA MVP,

is voter fatigue. And sometimes we like voting maybe for the good story on not really what should be. Go back to Michael Jordan Carmelon all the way back when. The other big thing could be pitching, because Shoah hasn't pitched since July. So the one difference, the stolen bases for PCA, and by all the metrics, I know you don't like analytics, but you're going to like this one, they have them rated as the best defensive player at any position. In the game. In the game.

So defense and base running matters. If Shohei comes back in pitches, I think that'll swing it back in his history. If he comes back, and I think he has to come back to pitch. I don't think the Dodgers wouldn't necessarily just try him out there in October and wait on that. So there'll be some pitching from Shohei. And you get the irresistible nature of a two-way, two-positioned player two-for-one. Yeah. But PCA is two-way player two-way two-way in a different way. Yes, more subtle in a more traditional way in baseball. He's the best defensive player in the game.

He's also, for those of us who care about this, and I do. My bias is I'm a lifelong Cub fan. PCA is the greatest center fielder in the history of the Cubs. Yeah. A franchise. This is not the history of Seattle or the Astros. This is 150 years. Well, that's your info for not having a lot of good ones.

We haven't. I think Dexter Fowler is the greatest center field you ever had. He only played 260 games here, but he did something that we'd like to call it hit a home run to lead off game seven in a world series. You hadn't won in a hundred and eight years. So Dexter Fowler is my favorite. Hack Wilson's got to be the greatest Bobby Dernier, Rick Monday. Now we're getting two inside Cubby. He's the greatest player at a position in a historical franchise.

All these things count somewhere. in this debate. And it's, I don't know that it's spirited. Each guy is likable in a different way. They both commented on this. How cool was this? Did you watch? I watched this live yesterday.

This was scream out loud for me at Wrigley, a place I've sat many days and nights in my life, watching these guys rocket these home runs out. And they each said all the things you want to hear in a gracious way about the other and about being MVP but wanting to win more. You know, it's funny. The way it was framed, then I get it. the Cubs, you know, destroyed the Dodgers.

But they both went six for 13. They both had two home runs. Yes, PCA did have two more RBIs, two more runs scored. But it was treated like Shohei went one for 13, and the one that base at bat, or the one hit that he had, was a little dribbler. Something about PCA, this is an important thing to keep in mind. His on-base percentage is 100 points higher this year because you know what he's doing?

He's been more selective at the plate. Taking that high-ditch and letting it go. Mike, his walk. 60 this year. The previous two seasons combined, 50. Remember, this guy's in the second full. He can get better than this. We could be looking at, I'm not going to call it a rivalry,

because if showy's out there throwing, that's another whole dynamic. We just don't know what we're going to get to that. By the way, the number of runs saved. You watch them every day like I do. You get a great appreciation for this kid. All right. One thing to keep in mind, and Shoh Hayes talked about it, he thinks he's going to pitch again.

Yeah. He was 8 and 2. His ERA was 1.7.9. So he was having Sy Young type numbers. If he has one more month of that, if he has September of it, he's going to win. But that still counts with voters. And there's some nerd-head vote.

They're all, you know, they can't look at it. They can't do it with their eyes and look at what they see on a baseball. Two media members from each of the 15 NL cities vote for MVP. Tony was right. It's a Chicago-centric show. There's no question about it.

So let's, you know, move away from it. Let's turn to two of the hottest teams in baseball. The Red Sox, they shut out the pale hose last night to earn their seven straight win, and the Braves match Boston's win streak by taking down the Marlins. All right, Mike. Which team are you more bullish on right now?

Boston or Atlanta? It's an easy one for me. It's Boston because it's sustained in a way that I was skeptical about it being sustained. Right? I thought they would jump off of it, lose seven of nine, and then hit it back.

No, they haven't. 35 and 5. I mean, it is not just one of the best 40-game stretch in Red Sox history is probably you can go down to the 30 MLB teams, probably 27 of them. I mean, who has a better streak than that? They're 27 Yankees? It's only happened 26 times since 1903,

where a team has gone 30-5 or 35 years. Crazy. So let me give the Braves and love. They've got no attention. No. Because either the Red So, have been hot and they've gotten all the attention. The Dodgers started the year and through most of it have.

The Cubs have had a couple of peaks. You've had Yorna Alvarez and Houston getting hot. You've had the Phillies, you know, firing their manager, bringing Don Mattingly in, and then they got all the attention. The Braves have gotten no love. Rald Ocunia Jr. is not the neat thing he used to be, and they are still getting it done. They can wind up with the best record in baseball, Frank.

But my answer is Red Sox. Nine straight series wins for Boston. That's the most since they had 12 all the way back in 1912. So it's actually been a while. They've been absolutely dominant. And how about Sonny Gray last night? I mean, he's now 14 and 2. He's in his 14 season.

His ERA is 2.78. They didn't throw one pitch faster than 93. If he was left-handed, we'd call him a crafty left-handed. He's getting a Pedro land with that record and his dominance. But the Red Sox to sustain this with the pressure that team and those. players are always under. And they can't ever sneak upon anything. Now, but here, you know, you talked about the attention,

and that's being for that the Braves weren't getting. Before the break, they had lost 19 of 28 games. Yeah. Since the break, they're 14 and 5. And you look at the way that Austin Riley is now hitting the catcher, Drake Baldwin's hitting 338 since he all-star break. Last night starter, Bryce Elder, his ERA and his last four starts, is 1.50.

They can get into the playoffs, Frank, with Sale, Elder and Holmes and Sale is having a hell of a year, 12 and 6 with a sub 3 ERA again. You got three guys and you're getting in series. You're getting in short order. The Braves can be dangerous and the National League absolutely loaded with teams that can play. They've already, they've leaped progged the Dodgers. And believe it or not, they lead the NL East by eight eight and a half games. The Dodgers are only up by eight.

They've got the big league. All right. So there's seven straight wins, Mets, Marlins, NAC, National. Nationalals, okay, fine. They're 11 and 4 this year against them. I'm talking about the Braves, against the Dodgers, your Cubs, the Brewers, and the Phillies. We could be talking about them a whole lot more.

They'll be happier if we're talking about them in October than... Pretty good. Talking about them in April May. Everything's changed since the All-Star break. Unlike the Sox and the Braves, the men's haven't had anything to celebrate this season, but don't tell that to rookie reliever Jeffrey Jan. The 29-year-old made his Major League debut yesterday in flamboyant fashion.

He took the mound in the sixth, struck out the first hitter. Then went full Lord of Leapin. Yon rejoiced like this throughout his time in the minors. But, Frank, are you okay with Yon now taking these celebrations to the bigs? I actually think I could speak on behalf of both of us. I think 20 years ago, I don't think MLB players would have been okay with it, and I don't think I would have been okay with it. But things have changed.

There are bad flips now. And I think baseball is trying to embrace. race maybe, and some levels encourage, players showing more emotion. But in this case, you have to put into context. Here's a guy, that was his Major League debut. The player he struck out, Anhele Martinez of the Guardians, that's a friend of his. It's a former teammate. He caught him looking at the first pitch he threw.

And before we go too crazy, the next two batterers got singles, that he gave up a walk, then a strikeout, then a fielder's choice to get out of the inning. But here's a guy that came up at 17 in the Dominican League. By 19, he blows out his elbow. Then he's bouncing around, you know, spending time in Japan, working odd jobs. He was a roofer for a while. So he has a greater appreciation. So that being his first ever strike out in the major leagues. Do I think he's going to do that every time he strikes somebody out?

I'm not so sure. I'm okay with it right now. Listen, you're right about the way. The world changes. Yeah. And 30 years, look, I covered baseball in the 1980s. and that's coming out of a time where in the 70s still

you had Drysdale and Gibson who of course were in the 60s and in the early 70s and in the 80s even 90s I mean Pedro they're Roger Clemens those guys would have themselves personally drilled

this dude if he'd ever come near a plate in the American League he never would have hit but the world changes and now you mention bad flips So 40 years ago, each one of those guys I mentioned On the list, anybody's list of meanest pitchers and idols of mine in baseball, they would have drilled you. Now bat flips are, everybody's got a signature bat flip.

You know what it's like? Remember when Mark Gastonow was painted legitimately as a clown For having a sack dance? And now every single guy, including quarterback's stupid discount double checks, I won't mention a quarterback that does that by now. name, but the world changes. And you sort of got to let it go and everything is done in the name of entertainment. Yeah, but you do know in a baseball clubhouse, guys are going to be watching this show.

They've seen the highlights. There's going to be a conversation. If he does that to me, I'm going to do some. I don't think they think that way anymore. I don't think every player does. He runs into the wrong player. But you know what's funny? I thought about Pedro, too.

Because I remember when Pedro first came up with Montreal, he didn't mess around. Yeah. But if you struck out, let's let's say, Manny Ramirez, and you did that, the next time, It doesn't have to be you coming up. It could be the first or the next inning, and Pedro's coming high. Real quick story. Bob Gibson, he hit a guy in an old-timers game because he didn't get a chance at him when they were late in their careers. That was the baseball I loved.

It seems to have gone by by. Let's take a break, but when we come back, what's the word for Leonel Messi's performance last night? And how best to describe the reported support for embattled FIFA president, Gianni Infantino. I'm going to spike Mike. What's the word when we return? Did you see he had that scarf, that gray, probably Hermes, scarf, infant. He buys points for me, having that scarf form. You're saying he can afford nice clothes.

Well, yeah. The two you probably shop at the same place. But he has the sense of style to wear. Has nice clothes. Mysteries unravel and stunning truths are revealed when 2020 investigates. Follow the clues, the evidence, the breaking new details. ABC's 2020 means. True murder.

mystery. Shocking. If you follow true crime in 2020, then you've got to listen to this. Subscribe now to 2020 True Crime Plus. Add free exclusive true crime content. Search 2020 True Crime Plus on Apple Podcasts and start for free trial. Terms apply. Time to go all, the soros, wrecks on Frank and what's the word?

What's first? Lionel Messi made a blank return to enter Miami's starting lineup last night. Okay, Messi has just picked up where he left off. Yep. I mean, he's back in the starting lineup, and he scores these two goals. And the first one, you know, it reminds me of Wayne Gretzky. So much of what Gretzky did had to do with, why is he there and able to take advantage to drop a pass like that or in a shot in Messi's case to score?

Look how effortless this is. Beautiful. The beauty, the art is in the placing, in the positioning that he has, and the second goal was classic. So my word is goat affirming. And, you know, look, I spent years and years and years basically pushing back saying, wait a minute, why isn't it Rinaldo, why isn't it Maradona,

why is it, and I still believe it could be play. But Messi, with what he is continuing to do at this stage what he just didn't work up, what he's doing now in MLS, I throw up both hands. It's goat affirming, continuing to play this way. Yeah, my word is necessary, and I'll get to the reason why I have that. word. So this is the Leaks Cup, which is the top club teams from Mexico playing top teams from MLS. The tournament they created this in 2023, Miami in fact won the first one. This is 14th goal

in this competition. And what you love about him, he started in the World Cup final on July 19th. A lot of players were in the World Cup that got eliminated earlier are just joining their clubs. Not if B's are right now, they're not exactly. The fact that this guy is all in, it's an absolute home run for MLS and certainly for Miami. But the reason I say necessary, because Luis Suarez last year in the Leaks Cup final against Seattle after the match spit at a player on the opposing team. He's suspended for this entire tournament. He's one of their main goals scores, so they're not going to have him. So Messi starts, delivers two unbelievable goals, and he's so right.

He just knows to be in the right spot at the right time. Then he had the assist on another goal. Amazing. Insane return. Amazing. What's next? It's blank that FIFA senior staff reportedly endorsed. Gianni Infantino.

All right, so FIFA the other day apologized for Gianni Infantino is what they called a fail plan to sell off part of the World Cup. So at this meeting among some FIFA leaders, they then said, you know what, they reaffirmed their support for Infantino as the president. Okay? My word is, here's a soccer word, VAR, VAR. I'm the referee. This is under review because UEFA and Mike, you and I sat here last Friday. and we talked about it. We were thinking, this is not going to last.

Sure enough, three hours later, it was done. UEFA said, we're going to boycott every FIFA event if this plan goes through. They scrap the plan. Now they're saying we're still upset with Johnny Infantino. We still may go ahead with our boycott. So now what they're doing, Infantino put himself in a position where there's a big movement to get him out as president. And this comes among reports that he's offered Morocco, show support for me.

me, uh-huh, and I'll give you the World Cup where I want to jump in. You know I believe greed always wins. And always. And look, you know we're together on this

since Friday. My problem is UEFA is going to get a little preachy here. And when you get to that point, I don't believe you. I believe someone is in the back room going with palms. I just believe that's the way

I am that cynical now. So my word is confusing. And by the way, Are you familiar with this 110,000 seat stadium that they're supposedly building in Morocco as a place to host? So you think nobody in any country wants to play ball to get...

Huh? You believe that? See, I ain't buying that yet. This is going to go. You know at some point to me they're going to tweak and tweak and tweak and tweak. Until we're going to be discussing this again what? Two years from now? Yeah. And so Spain is already saying we deserve the World Cup final. And they're talking where our men's team won or women's team one.

Well, maybe there's a way to get it if you play ball. But you said it, though, because they have a great stadium where Barcelona plays. Yes, they already have it. The Bernalville, where Real Madrid play. Yeah. But like you said. 113,000. In Morocco.

Imagine the traffic out of Foxborough, if you had 113,000. They can't process 10,000 out of that. He was looking at you, kid. That's a final word. We're taking a break. But still to come, Casey Myers has a miserable start to his Padres' career. And the Colts lock up Jonathan Taylor for two more season. How about last week?

We were off the air two hours later. They must have been listening to the show. Infantino said, you know what those guys are right. Time to get happy, people. Happy 61st birthday, David Robinson. The Spurs legend frequently joined Tim Duncan in the stands during Victor Wimbunyama's run of the finals this season. Robinson was the Spurs' first great center,

a 10-time All-Star, two-time champ, 1995. MVP and a one-time officer who has always been a gentleman. I've known him since he was a kid before he even entered the Naval Academy and he's always been an example of class and dignity. Wimby recently said of the Admiral, quote, he was running through 48 minutes and 100 games a year. I think he might be the closest thing we have to Hercules in real life. I mean, just conditioning-wise and shape-wise, it was just amazing. You said it. Class on and off the court. Remember, he won his last ever game championship, you know, walked off into the sunset. But how lucky is Wembe Njama?

You get to be around a Spurs organization. Those two. Dave Robinson and Tim. And they're there all the time. And Pop and Genobley and Tony Parkin. When he drops in from France. Yeah. Come on here.

Happy anniversary, Dion Sanders. On this day, 15 years ago, Dion was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, albeit with a bus that some say bears a strange resemblance to Troy Aikman. Dion is now the head coach of course of Colorado and struggled through last season as he battled a series of illnesses personally including bladder cancer. But he recently said, quote,

I've got my health back, I've got my swagger back. He also predicted his Buffalo's team that went three and nine last year will be much better this year saying, quote, it's already turned. You just ain't seen the fruit. It's already there, close quote. It does look like Troy Aikman. You know, we talked a lot about baseball today.

I remember covering games. games, the guy, the fastest guy I've ever seen go from home to third? Dion. Oh, my God. Dion. What, it's crazy. What an athlete. September 19 in Evanston, Illinois.

I'm going to be there to watch Dion at Northwestern. Last game at the Littlefield. Happy Trails to last night's Padres debut for Casey Mize. Maize surrendered eight earned in three and a third. It is first outing for San Diego. A 10-4 loss in Arizona. That's not just Miser's worst start of the season. But the most earned runs, he's allowed in 103 career starts.

Mize have been terrific with the Tigers before getting dealt at the deadline. He posted an ERA of 270 across 16 outings. He had pitched in 11 days but did not blame Rust for those struggles, said Padres manager, Craig Stammon, quote, I know once he gets back into his five-day routine, he'll be back to normal and the guy we traded for close quote. You know what Mize said? What? Not the first impression I wanted to make. Oh.

said him frustrated and embarrassed. I'd still take him. Yeah, absolutely. It might as going to be fine. Yep. No errors today, let's run to the big finish. Aaron Judge has been cleared for light activity. Frank, what's that mean?

He hasn't played in over two months, but this is huge for the Yankees. We didn't really do a lot at the deadline. They need him back, and he thinks he's going to return this season, which would be big. The Colton Jonathan Taylor reportedly agreed on a two-year extension for $39 million guaranteed. Is that significant? It means a few NFL clubs seem smart enough now to pay their best players. They stop worrying about how they're categorized. Pay your best player.

Atlanta, too. Vinnie Jr. agreed to a six-year deal to stay at Real Madrid. Significant? I think his agent did a pretty good job because there was a lot of rumors about him going to the Premier League to play for Arsenal. That had a bit of big loss. Big change. Big for him. Aces at fever tonight in the WMBA.

You intrigued? Yeah, it could be a final preview, couldn't it? Last one NFL Hall of Fame game tonight. Frank, this is way too soon. Panthers, Cardinals, are you curious? Mike, you've already invited me. You've texted me three times. You're coming over to watch this game tonight.

I said, Mike, I don't know. I'll try to make it. So tonight. Chinese food in the Hall of Fame? Oh, it is kind of early. But not for us at a time. Thanks for watching. I'm Frank Isol.

I'm Mike Wilbon. Back on the mothership tomorrow, knuckleheads.