Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 463 | The 2022 Position Unit Draft

Episode Date: March 28, 2022

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Hello and welcome to talking baseball. We are drafting teams based on their positions. We're drafting the positions based on the teams. It's a position unit draft. And welcome to talking baseball. My name is Jimmy. Sitting next to me is Jake. We got Trevor.

Blue in the middle. Coming from California and producer BBD. Behind the dish, bottom right corner on your screen. It's brought to you by Seat Geek. And if you go to the app and you get some tickets, make sure you use code talking for $20 off. That's at seat geek, baseball, concerts, football, whatever you want. Use code talking for $20 off your first seat geek order.

They sort each ticket from zero to 10. Make sure you're getting a good deal. And they are presenting the podcast. We're doing the position unit draft. We did this last year. And it was good. And now we're going to do it again. Jake, how are you?

doing. James, Trevor, B, B, BD. Hope everyone had a slap-tastic weekend. We're back in five. I'm doing all right. Can I tell you what? Sure. I'm excited. James, you've heard me say this probably 100 plus times. Trev, probably 20, BPD, maybe in the 50s. One of my favorite things about podcasting is to stumble into something, to stumble into an idea or a take. or finding something.

Last year, we stumbled into what was a fun episode for the whole season. We drafted position groups. You can only take one from a team, so say if you took the Dodgers starting pitching, you couldn't take their relievers. And it just turned into a season filled with jokes and entertainment and loosely keeping track. I think our guy, King BPD, ended up with a jersey that says,

does it say the infield on it? It says five? Number five infield. The fact that BBD has a jersey that says infield number five on it, that means we stumbled into a really good episode. So I'm excited to run it back with you guys because I think this year it feels like there's almost, we didn't know that was going to stick.

Like we were just looking for an episode now this year. BPD, were you more excited? We're vested. I mean, there had to be like, oh, shit, this is going to stick. And then there was a tipping point when you're like, hey. Well, once opening day came, and I believe they won last year on a Gene Segura walkoff. And I was like, all right, I can do a good line here. Okay.

And like first couple weeks of the year, I was watching, you know, watch a lot of baseball when it first comes back. And then, uh, and the whole year. It's kind of the job. Tuned into them a lot, vested interest. We affected BPD's internet life. He became a Phillies infield guy. So I'm excited to see what Senor predictions got up his sleeve for this year. Yeah, Trev, who did you pick last year?

Name them. I don't remember. Wow. Yeah, I don't remember who I picked infields. Clearly it was BBD stole the show last year because the Phillies infield thing was it's still going. I believe you're still associated with the Phillies infield. If you don't pick them today, I think they'll be blood in the streets. Wow.

I already have my whole team picked out. I think I'm good at stuff like this. Clean board. Yeah. Clean board. You guys aren't picking who I'm picking. The same thing happened last year. I already knew who I was going to get.

It's awesome. I think I'm just one step ahead. Okay. Well, that's great news. We can put it on the screen so everyone can keep track a little bit. And I mean, we're just going to get into it. I think explain it, Jake, for people that weren't listening last year and have no idea how it works. I think the only housekeep, do we want to touch on pool holes quick?

That was really the only news. Katel Marte got an extension. I have a take on pool holes. Sure. It's awesome. Yeah. I will pass it to you, Trev. Excuse me?

Pools, Cardinals, thoughts. Are you still making your draft? Because I thought you had it set. On baseball today. Oh, okay. And I think it's an excellent move for both parties. Are we expecting Albert to go in and be like a masher? No, he's going to platoon.

The D.H. is going to help with that. He still hit Ritey's okay when he went to the Dodgers. I think he ended up with a 101 OPS Plus, so right around league average. But he's going to bring his knowledge to the game. And St. Louis is known for their veteran leadership. They had a managerial change. So, like, yeah, you have Adam and Yadi there. But to bring in Pujol's back to help tutelage with some tutelage for the younger hitters,

getting guys through a complete season. I think it's for $2.5 million. Every single team should do this. Bring in a veteran to help teach your kids. Hitting coaches can only do so much. They can't be in your ear in the hotel room or on the plane. That's what a veteran hitter does. He's with you when the coaches can't be with you

helping you navigate a season. I think that's what Poo Host will do. I love the move. Not for what he's going to bring on the field. I think anything will be a bonus. In that regard, I think this is strictly a mentorship, you know, veteran move here, and I like it. I think me and Jimmy are sports romantics, and there's, you know, I think St. Louis's World Series odds just went up one and a half percent. Just because you got to believe, right?

Yeah. Yaddy, Wayno, Albert, the old men doing it. If you're one of those young guys, you better be busting your ass for them. Harry Bader run into the wall. No, it'll get hurt. Once, not hurt. Lightly. Not hurt.

Cotell Marte, Best Contract in Baseball. Are we ready? Yes. We play for rings in the desert. The infield includes the catcher. The outfield includes the DH. That's a new one this year. Yes.

Because everyone's got a DH now. Last year we drafted ballpark, but it confused everyone. Yeah. Because I drafted like Philly's ballpark, because I had a lot of lefties on my team. Sure. But everyone was like, how did no one draft Pittsburgh?

It's the most prettiest. And we're like, no, we were drafting for our team. It was very confusing. So we're not doing that. We're doing manager, which I haven't thought about at all. But that's fun.

I think it's a manager ballpark hybrid, but not really part of the draft. That's just a for funless shout out. It's for fun. It's a fake last round of the draft. Who's going to, who's going to get Joe Girardi? Great.

Great. No manager, no ballpark. Awesome. We do have to write down a random number. to figure out the order. It is a snake draft. And say Trev drafts the Pirates infield. He cannot also take the Pirates starting pitching.

You only get one unit per team. So that's a wrinkle in there. What's the number between? One and 100. Can you pass me one of those pens? You're hoarding the pens. I am hoarding the pens. I still didn't hear you say it.

One in 100. Okay. one in 100 um okay okay oh you like your number i do Jake likes his number changing PBD is changing his number audible did not like his number my numbers ready yeah you're everyone's got it down i wrote down in 31 55 uh that's an illegal yeah that's an illegal pick, Trev. Of course it's not illegal. Is that 24? That's 42.

That's been retired. That's a retired number across baseball. Not from number guessing. 42. Oh, we retired. Okay. I mean, we can let you have it, but it is officially retired from 43. We have. We have uniforms at my little league for the coaches and every team has a 42

on it. That is disgusting. For me to pick 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson is okay. All right. Treve has 43. It's 19. I pick 24. What did you pick? 28. So you're closest, then me at 31?

Yeah. Okay, BBD, would you like the first pick or the wrap around or some of the fun in-betweeners? I'd like the first pick. Wow. God, I hope it's the Phillies in film. Wow. Treve, you're not up. What did he pick?

But you're not up. I'm up now. and I will take the wrap around. What a BBBD pick? The first overall pick. You know what? I am going to take the third pick.

Okay. Not the wrap. I thought you just took the wrap around. I changed it. Okay. You didn't make your selection in time. I'm not up. That's why.

Yeah. And that's exactly what I'm talking about. Trev is asking questions. So. Fourth. I want the second pick. Okay. Let's go.

And that leaves Jake. What do you want? Jakey wraparounds. Jake's taking the wrap-around. Rapparound, Sue. The draft order is set. The picking shall commence. Do you have it?

The draft order set. The picking will commence. Feels like a bad ESPN. Look at this beautiful graphic. So everyone can keep track as they watch from home. Should somebody be bringing us? Who's bringing us? The draft is brought to you by the Kings of all drafts.

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Mets rotation. Really? Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow. Wow.

Wow. Wow. The Mets rotation. Step right up and greet. Who's in the Mets rotation again, BD? Why did you choose them? There's a couple of guys in there that I'm really in on, I think, can have some big years. Maybe break out.

Jacob de Grombe, Max Scherzer, Chris Basset coming over as your three on paper. Cookie Carrasco and Taiwan Walker is your like bonus piece, four or five. Wow. I saw them going in this draft. First pick is a tough pick in this draft, to be honest. To be honest. I actually thought last year, it was much easier. Last year, it was clear.

I thought it was last year when we made my board, I thought it was very like, oh, there's a top five of each of these categories. And I thought all four of us will agree this team is a top five. This year, like I have some that you guys may not have. Or I passed over some that I thought you guys may have. I thought it was much more weedy. this year I knew I wanted a top two pick because there's only two rotations I was very very very excited to

to get wow trev your thoughts there's a lot of great rotations there are two I really wanted um I mean I don't hate the pick first overall I probably wouldn't have got there but if he wanted the Mets rotation that you probably had to pick it now maybe it's an interesting take I like that I don't think it was surviving to my second go around and again there's two rotations

I'm not picking them with my first two picks I'll say that okay okay okay solid pick BPD yeah Scherreter and de Grom if they do it this year Jesus if they do it this year Jesus Jesus oh Jesus those guys do it this year

oh my God shoes shiz Chiz Trevor you're up Trevor this is I will be selecting I think you already know. I got no idea, Trev. I'm taking an infield.

And I love this infield. And I think there's more potential in this infield than in any other infield in all the baseball. Why, you're going to take what I'm going to, I was going to take this next. I am taking the Toronto Blue Jays. Infield. Holy cow.

Yep, yep, yep. They were going next. I already love Boba Shet and Vladie, but then you throw my. guy, a guy guy, guy. Matt Chapman there, his hip is feeling good. He looks good in blue. I just love, this is, it's youthful, it's powerful. They can play defense. They play in that small little park. I mean, Boba Shett, people don't talk about Boba Shet at all. He had 5.9, almost a six war season last year. Six war is nuts. Now, Treve, if you had the first pick where,

they going to be your one overall? Yes. Same. I love them. And you know what? There's a lot of really good infields in the big leagues right now. I have a sheet up with some of the projected war. So, like, you could have gotten, I could have gotten a nice infield, but I really wanted

this one just because of my guy, chap, he's there now. He really sets it off from me, puts him over the hump. I know they lost Simeon. I get it. But I just think that there's more potential here than... than anywhere else. That's it. I am worried about Jake's back to back after me.

That is affecting my brain right now as I have the third overall pick. Bro, can I tell you something? Yeah. I don't want to bro you this early. Yeah. My board's a little nutty. Okay.

I'm kind of shocked where my board's at. Did you have either of the two picks on your board? I had the Mets. You didn't have Blue Jays infield? I almost made a joke that would have gotten taken out of context. They're really good. They're really good. Oh, Simeon.

Where's Pizio at? Where's Chappi at? I don't know. Where's Chappie? They're a very good info. Third base and second base? I love that. Yeah.

What? I know positions, guys. I'm talking about their season. How good will they? Um, all right. Yeah. That's a Jake's wondering. I just told you Boba Shett

at a six war season last year Under the radar Lad was good too Not under my radar Okay Okay I okay Yeah I really don't know what I want to do anymore

Hmm Hmm Do I go in Found Boodoo do You're thinking about Yeah I'm gonna take I don't

I want rotation or infield. So let you guys know. Bullpen I don't think should be grabbed in the first round at all. Outfield, you got a lot of options. Some of the other ones get shallower or quicker. I am going to take an infield. Okay. And I think I got this squad's infield last year, but I'm not sure.

I remember who you had. BPD knows what infield I took last year. I do not. They had a big addition themselves. I will be taking the Dodgers infield. Freddie Freeman at first. Trey Turner wasn't there for the full season last year. He's there for the full season this year at shortstop.

Chris Taylor returns. He's going to be dancing around. And Justin Turner just does the damn thing at third base. So the Turner boys and Freddie. And their catcher position ain't back. And their catcher position ain't that. I think I had them last year. You had them last year.

Jimmy, you had the Padres. Yeah. Well, I've upgraded. So that's complimenting my last year's draft. Thank you. Good. Great job, bless you. Appreciate you.

Great pick. Great pick. Considered them in the wrap around here. Frederick, man. Justin Turner, by the way. Yeah. In his age 36th season when they're like, should we bring him back?

Should we not? 278, 361, 471. 832. OPS 1,23 OPS plus, and 151 games. It's a stud. Maybe stop discriminating against age, right, Trev? Wow. Some guys can just do it.

Some guys can just do it. James, projected war has a Dodgers and the Blue Jays right now tied. So, excellent pick. I thought about going there. Obviously, the addition of Freddie Freeman is massive. And you just mentioned who else they have playing me. Trey Turner is God mode in baseball. He's a stud.

So I like the pick. Thank you. Okay. I think those are two clear top infields and the rest. There's still some good ones. So I'm curious to see where Jake goes here. Let's hear about Jake's nutty board.

Solid picks, guys. Seriously. You don't believe it. Really solid stuff. Were the Dodgers on your board? Yeah. Dodgers infield? Yeah.

So you don't like the Blue Jays infield. I took them last year. They were not on my board. I've got a couple infields I like. I had a Dodgers ahead of Blue Js on my board, but they're one, two. We'll see what happens a catcher for them this year.

I mean, Blue Jay's only Silver Daisy. They can be really good. Vladito. Enough about your shit picks. I am up. I am up.

Which is huge. Chris Taylor, Max. God, I want to get so... Maxx's D.H. now. He's on the outfield crew.

I want to get so ugly on you guys. I'm going to play some first. Let's see. Jake's got back-to-back picks here. It's not relief. pitcher. I'm going to save on that. I'm going to save on that. And I think I'm going to wait on infield because I, I, my options are laid out. You guys made your move there. BBD can take one and I'll be fine.

So it seems like I'll go outfield and starting pitching or starting pitching in outfield. Um, you know what? Let's, uh, let's not overthink this. Um, I am going to take the Milwaukee Brewers rotation. When I was clicking through teams before this to check around, I was clicking on the good teams to see who had good infield, outfield, rotation bullpen if they weren't jumping out. The Brewers, I don't think you could take their infield or outfield, yet this is one of the premier teams in baseball.

My guy, Corbyn Burns, the ace, the rest of the law firm. I mean, even the guys we don't talk about in Milwaukee are dudes. So I'm taking the Brewers rotation, probably get another Cy Young, Woodruff Peralta, House or Lauer. Who knows what other freaks they'll call up this year? Should I go, or do you guys want to gossip about it? Say it's a great pick.

I was between taking them or the Dodgers infield with my pick. And I thought whatever I'd, whichever one I didn't take, you would get on the wraparound. So good pick. Yeah. They were, if I was going, second pick and Mets rotation went, I was taking Brewer's rotation. So, good pick.

Appreciate you guys. Are you like happy, dude? We're happy for you. I really appreciate you. I love the Brewers pick. You guys know how I feel about the brew crew. The whole team, you're right, Jake. But the starting pitching is something else.

We did get to see it up close and live. And when you get to do that, it just kind of resonates a little more. I think that's what happened there, Jakey boy. You still got a little bit of tingles from when we saw Corbyn Burns dicing mofos up. If you don't still have the tingles, this is the wrong job for you, bro. Because I think about the pitches he was throwing almost every single day. I have since we've been there. I think about the reactions the MLB hitters had to his pitches,

because they were the reactions that we have to Blitzball pitches. Because they're not supposed to freaking move that way, dude. like the cut that he throws and how he can locate it like that doesn't you just don't see it very often and that's the one thing that will get big hitters like their eyes to pop open it's like wow I've seen millions of pitches in my life this guy's doing something that looks different than 99% of the dudes I've seen so like when you when you when you got guys like that and they have depth and eliteness at the top like I love it man go brew crew So I'm in an interesting spot here because I'm going to go outfield.

There's a couple outfields I really like, but they kind of have holes, if we're being completely honest with ourselves. They kind of have holes. I think where I'm going to go, because now I'm doing like a two versus three dance. I'm going to shock the world. outfield with the addition of DH changes things just a little bit and I'm going out

to my guys this year I can't quit them they won't hurt me the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim with Mike Trout and Shohei in the DH position Corner Outfield

we have questions but Poppy likes the questions I think Joe Adele could pop this year Justin Upton, if he finds it for a little bit. We're going to find outfield play Brandon Marsh. You know, one of those guys is going to click. And if Shohei and Trout do their thing, Bing Bong, maybe kicked your Walsh out to write for a little bit for Daddy.

Give me the halos. Angels in the outfield, if you will. That's one of the top outfields in baseball. You love it. I wasn't going to go there because I figured I wouldn't get a chance at them. but yeah, you're talking two of, if not the two most exciting players in baseball. And you got them, Jake. You went in, Jake snaked the Angels.

I had him on my board. I don't know if you've seen Fangraph's overall ranking of trout. Oh, yeah. It's tough. We live by that. It's tough. I want to make a point about show, hey, you don't get his pitcher stats, by the way. Don't want him.

Oh, yeah, but you don't get that extra war. I don't want it. You don't get it, Jake. You don't get the pitching war, bro. Not a war guy. I'm a scout. Can I say one thing and get it off my chest and nobody can clip it and it's fine? What's on your chest, bro?

Not a lot of hair. I have a nice amount of hair. Zero hair. I'm now drinking Angels Kool-Aid. I'm now in like a spin cycle on it. And every time I do, I feel like I'm bearing myself a little bit. So next pick. Dude, you're so in on the Angels.

It's crazy. Why? I'm in. But why? I'm in. Dude. Shohei, Trout, Rendon. Like,

dude, Hamilton, Pouls, Crout. I mean, for 10 years, we've been saying this. Dead. Like, Hamilton was on his way out.

Not back when they signed him. Not back when they signed him. We've been Rendon. Trout. We've been saying this for years. But they actually brought in some pitching to. Okay. But that's what I need you.

This is the year it happens. That's what you need to hype up then. Like, you can't. hype up the lineup. They've had a great lineup forever. Shohay, Cindergarde, Sandoval,

I'll drink a little Kool-Aid. You're not drinking that Kool-Aid. I know you're not drinking the rotation. I'm drinking the Kool-A. You're lying to everyone right now. You're not drinking the rotation, Kuires and Loup. You're drinking Shoehay and Trout Kool-A.

Yeah, the bullpen's good, but what's the rotation? Shohei, Cindergarde, Sandoval, Lorenzen, Dettmers, Suarez. I'm just saying, look around the AL, like that rotation. doesn't not play in the American League this year.

Give me that Kool-Aid. I think that rotation doesn't play. Matt Stassie. Because Noah's coming off. Noah's coming off Tommy John. Right. If it was a year removed and he had put up like 25 games post-surgery and all that, but... Did he pitch in one game last year?

Was that real life or did I dream that? Maybe you dreamt it? Because like I think it's more... It's more Tyone. Like he kind of was ready to go, but he didn't go. he made he had two like one inning appearances last year so not real but like he was ready at the end of last year so it's not like Monty did that savvy did that yeah it's not like he was rushing back to the field yes still he has to pitch he do it if he does what tyone did last year I think that's very possible and that would be huge for the angels

well tyone had all of um 20 20 off well he had two it's a it's like the same thing. No, Tione had... He had two surgeries. He could have pitched in 2020, but it was like another injury. I forget. It was at the end of the year.

He could have came back, but the Pirates sucked, so he didn't. Yeah. Cindergarde kind of did the same thing, but he made two appearances. Halo up, babe. Are you happy with your pig?

The outfield, yes. I did say, every time I compliment the Angels, I feel like I'm putting dirt on my own gray. So I'm going to take an outfield that had two guys in the top 20 You know an OPS and OPS plus last year They had two guys in the top 10 in the AL I'm taking the Yankees outfield It is judge it is Stanton and it is gallo

Hicks will get in there but the three of those guys Even if you're a Yankee hater and there's a lot of places where the bias could have kicked in other places But Yankees outfield is still very much. They all had great seasons last year. That was my pick, James. I was going Yankees' outfit. I was figuring you were going to stay away

just because you didn't want the, you know, you Yankees love or stuff thrown at you. But that's an excellent pick. You got the DH involved as well. I think Aaron Hicks is going to come back and have a really, really good year. And you combine that with Aaron Judge. Okay, I know my guy, Dan Work,

always talks about him. I don't visit his baseball reference page often for some reason. Go check that thing out. C. Rose asked me a question this morning about Vladdy, Harper, Otani, and Judge, who is going to have the best offensive season. Judge has better career numbers than all those guys.

Yeah, I thought I might lose. I thought Jake was, I was worried, I couldn't take him first round because that's a little bit too much. I was really worried Jake's back to back. He was going to grab the Yankees outfield. I like them over the Angels Outfield Just because of playing time Otani's gonna sit some games

You're gonna pitch some games And Trout got injured And then Marsh really is We'll see We'll see But I like both picks But I'm glad they lasted Hey I'm a frontrunner

I got Dodgers infield Yankees outfield I love it Sounds like if you didn't take them Trev was going to And I was going to If it somehow got to me So

Yanks were up there Yanks were up there I just went with Otani or Trout could be your one-two for the MVP if they have their best seasons. Judge, you can be there. And Trev, it's the thing we try to drive home and not sound too Yankeesh about, like, Judge really is real deal. Like, you look at that baseball reference page.

Like, that page doesn't really show the defense. Like, he is legit defensively as well. Like, Judge is his stud. It's not just New York media. Like, he's awesome. All right. Great pick. Nice pick, James.

It's always good when people are mad at you. I mean, you did a good job. Yes, yes, yes, yes. For my next pick, I will be selecting a bullpen, and it's what I believe is the best bullpen in the big leagues right now. It's devastating. It is a devastating bullpen, and in my opinion, will be the weapon that they use to really have a nice season.

I'm going with the Chicago White Sox, Bullpen. the names here are absolutely insane. And it seems like they just keep adding people to it. You guys ready? Yeah, let's hear it. Liam Hendricks, I think, is one like the reliever of the year, two years in a row. Am I wrong about that? He's just turned into an absolute monster out there.

Craig Kimball backing him up. You brought in Kendall Graveman, Aaron Bummer, Crochet. He's going to be like a swing man for them. I'm going to include him into the bullpen. this is just they can shorten games with the best of them. They already have good starting pitching that has proven that they can go deep into games, but they're going to be able to pick and choose when they want them to do that. Everyone's going to stay fresh because they're going to be at times,

they're going to run the rotation out there six, seven endings. And then at times they're going to say, you know what, guys, five and fly, baby, because we got guys that can do it for multiple endings. We have specialists. We have guys that throw cheese. They have everything that you want in a bullpen. And you know in modern baseball, bullpins can change a season.

Look at the Braves in the postseason. The bullpen changed their fortune. Brought on a World Series title, Chicago White Sox, Bullpen. Look. I mean, look out. They're awesome. I mean, they, you know, there's,

like in college football, they say if you have two quarterbacks, you have no quarterbacks in baseball. Some teams say they have three closers and they have no closers. This team has three closers. Liam Hendricks, Craig Kimbril, Dirty Craig, kind of like a Hall of Famer. And then Kendall Graveman, if he was,

if the Philly signed him and he was their closer this year, we'd be like, oh, hey, Philly's got a guy to be their closer. Nope. He's your third best dude out of the pen for the White Sox. I know we got to. some TPPs rolling out very soon. Tomorrow, BPD? Tomorrow.

Tomorrow the first TPP's come out, and I know we just recently recorded the White Sox, and their bullpen jumps off the page. I forgot to mention Joe Kelly, too. He's just thrown in there. Yeah, Joey? Sexy. More like Jake, what do you say about Joe Kelly?

I like Joe Kelly a lot. He will. No one clipped out and make it seem like I'm talking bad about him. Joe Kelly will be pitching in the postseason in a huge moment. And he'll be chomping on. He'll be chomping on gum. You say that every time we mention his name. And it's fucking true.

It'll be the seventh inning of a massive game like game six. Joe Kelly will lose the zone and then strike out two hitters to get out of the end. Chomp on gum the whole time. And he'll look like, you know, so sexy. Like straight from like a cool orgy, not like the ones Jake goes to. No. Those are grimy. Yeah.

I wear protection. BPD, I think you have the to wrap it up. Wrap around. I have my back-to-back picks here. I think, and Trev, kind of led into this a little bit. I'm going with a bullpen. No way. I want that Braves bullpen,

which carried them to a World Series last year in many ways. And by the way, they added to it. They added Kenley. They added Colin McHugh. Okay. Like a penis. The depth they have in the Derino Day's back in the mix.

He didn't do much last year, but Locker and stuff, look at, he's there as an NRI. But he means a lot to that. Don't block us. And just the number of names they have that they think will be reliable.

Kenley, Will Smith, Colin McHugh, Mattson, Jackson, AJ Minter, plus whoever else comes around. Yeah, I was going to take them with my next pick. They're good. They're available. Yeah, they're really good. Great. It's a good job out of you.

Great pick. The only concerns have to be the micro penis and He'll be pitching with Finneger. Do they care about regular season games? I heard it fell off so he's cool now. Barbie doll. No, there's some scarring.

Okay, good pick. It's a good pick. And now I'm going to double check one thing. It's double checking people. Doesn't want to lead you down the wrong road. It's time. I'm going to my fills. For what?

They're outfield. Yeah, we knew it was coming. We knew it was coming. I had theirs above the Angels. I considered it was a two-for-three type deal, and I'd rather take the two with one of the kids popping for the Angels. But you get the DH. And they play a trucious defense.

They're going to play bad defense. Harper's pretty good, and that's like it on the defensive end. This is Philly's infield part two. third round I'm okay with that and of course they have their hole in centerfield but Harper Castellanos and and Schwabber Schwartz they'll be hitting they'll be mixing in the D.H. spot they'll be getting their they'll all have fresh legs out there when they're out there playing their best defensive outfield they've played in years

so I'll just gonna mix and match a little bit there will be like it there will be a gift this year of Gibby or Nola or we like just with their head down watching balls fall in the outfield. And that's fine because those guys are going to combine for 100 home runs. 100%

there is going to be some like clips with circus music being played over some airs and bloopers with the Phillies outfield. But. And that stadium. The chains will be popping. There'll be some

some swings to a hop to looking into the dugout to getting the boys fired up. I mean, I want to see the competition between Bryce and Castellanos. I think Castellanos is more confident in himself than Bryce Harper is and think about how confident Bryce Harper is in himself. I love that.

Like Castellanos is the most confident person maybe besides Cole Tucker in the world. Different kind of confidence. I love it, man. BBD, I knew you were going to take the Phillies out with it. I'm happy you got. You're like a Phillies fan legend at this point. At this point.

And sure, whoever their center fielder is, they're going to be a glove guy. So on the end, the whole unit's defensive metrics, probably even out. Who you got having the start in center field? They're verling. Yeah, you know, Mickey Moniac's finally going to step up. Adam Haisley. Vermont.

Boy, Mickey. So we'll get some, we'll get some speed and deep. defense in that spot. It's like we're getting in New Jersey. All right. I think King Trev after King Bebes. This is tough. I'm in a conundrum right now because my,

the rotation is locked. You guys can't pick who I'm going to pick. So I don't have to pick a rotation here. Why? So now because James. Oh, you're taking the Dodgers. You can't pick the Dodgers rotation. So table that.

Tabled. Great. I was worried. Oh. I'm not picking them. You can't pick my rotation, dog. This works out. It works out.

But I'm going, I have two teams here who I'm choosing between their outfield for. Okay. Okay. You want to list the two teams or just go with one team? I mean, my board, I put five teams on my board for outfield. Yankees. Yeah, I guess all the outfielders taken. Yankees, Angels, Phillies were all on my board.

I had two others. So I'm wondering if you're going to grab one of them. I think you are. I think you're going to go. I'm choosing between the Astros and Seattle's Outfield. Seattle's Outfield, like people, don't be sleeping on Kellnick, Hanager, and Winker. Those are the two on my board. On my board.

Plus, Dodgers were no option. Julio Rodriguez coming up. Like, who knows what that's, like, how's that going to go? Kyle Lewis is still there. Remember him? Like, they have depth. But I'm going with the tried and true. Just these dudes are ball.

players. They've been in every single situation you can think of and they succeed. I'm taking the Astros outfield. I get Yordon Alvarez at DH. I get smooth in left field. I get Kyle Tucker, one of the most underrated players in the game. Center field, a little bit of a question mark, but they're going to figure it out. And those three guys alone are enough for me to say, I want the Astros outfield. I love it. I love it. The other, the guy that

caught a lot of people's attention last postseason. We'll see if he can get some run Siri in centerfield. That dude was an electric factory. DH helps here too. Oh, Yordawn is something else. Yeah, Yurdan put them on my board. If D.H wasn't included, I don't think the Astros Outfield was going to be

taken above the Mariners for me. But it was very iffy. I didn't know where I was going to land if I had to do that. Didn't have to do it. But good pick. Strong. Strange. We got any Astros fans that chat? just playing center field for them.

McCormick is listed on on fan grass, but do we have someone coming up? I think it's McCormick or Siri. Okay. James? Well, I'm in the same place as you where kind of doesn't matter.

Yeah, I've taken the White Sox rotation. It's who I wanted, but I won't take them now because no one can steal that. So I'm going to go to my bullpen with my third pick. as well. And I'm taking the race. And I'm not going to name a single name because it doesn't matter at all.

And I didn't look up who is in the raised bullpen right now or who's going to get majority of the innings. I'm sure I could guess some names. But I'm not even, you don't have to. You could put silhouettes out there. And I can tell you there'll be a great bullpen. So blind trust. Blind trust in the raise bullpen.

How long do you give, them blind trust. Like how many years? Say they have a bad year this year. Next year you're also blind trusting or is this one year away from you saying, okay. They might have had a bad year last year. I don't even know. I doubt it. No, they need to have

like a bad year. It's going to be discussed. Like when the rays go to the bullpen, you need that feeling of like the Mets. Sorry Mets fans. I know your bullpen's gotten better. James, I'm looking at the roster here. And yeah, I know what you're saying about the race. They just make it work. They figure it out. If you're just looking at the roster,

I might not have included them in this exercise. But that's what you do every year for them. They have never had a bullpen that looks like the Braves where you read out the names or looks like the White Sox where you read out the names. Third and ERA last year, second in whip. Like, that's just what they, that's how I be. As soon as it becomes a name that you know, they're gone. Yeah. well I know all these names but as soon as it becomes the name you're like oh yeah he's a stud he's on another team that's there's a there's a there's a few too many and he's a few too many guys who have been bounced around a lot and I know that's kind of their MO we can find what you do well

and we'll put you in that position to do well but all these guys have kind of been everywhere else too yeah but look what they did with McHugh last year and they traded for fire I get it I get it your point stands like it it doesn't matter who's out there, they just figure it out. But man, it's hard for me to look at the roster and be like, oh, yeah. Like get really excited about it. I mean, Kittridge has been good doing it for a while. Yeah.

Fairbanks is doing it. They got Diego. They had McHugh last year. Fire Eisen. I mean, yeah, they're going to have a good bullpen. Rinse for Pete. Fire rison's in my book, by the way. Just a massive homer.

Mine as well. Is Nick Anderson back? No, lives on a farm now. Farmer. Oh, look at it. strictly farming. BPD says he's going to look it up, but I think we got it.

James, I just want to point out you have a big time coastal elite team so far. Well, the White Sox are coming up next. I think I played this draft well. I'm going to be honest.

Infield, there was really only one other team I wanted. It is your Atlanta Braves. That Atlanta Braves infield is what carried the team. team last year. If you remember looking up those stats and what Frederick, Ozzie, Dansby, and young, thick Austin Riley did last year, was incredible. They set records for infields. And you know what they did? They swapped out a younger version at first base. They said,

oh, Matt Olson played a little better than Freddie last year. Let's bring him in. Why not? Let's give the local kid chance and lock them up for eight years. Give me that Braves' Infield. Olson, Albies, Swanson. And don't make me read Young Thick Austin Riley's stats from last year. All right.

Promise I won't. Don't make me read them. I'm going to do it. What's your next pick? 303, 367, 898, 33 homers, seventh in the MVP last year. Whoops. He's young. He's thick.

Leaving my last pick for bullpen. There is a very sexy option. And then there's a sexier option. Trev, you have your hand raised. I just have to point this out. It's a tough look on this that we don't have the brewer's bullpen picked. Yeah, you guys kind of screwed that up. And you can't, you can't do that.

Now, we're leaving them out of this exercise. and I think that's going to, like, I'm just envisioning our social media posts and everyone yelling at us for not picking the bird's bullpen. My butt's covered. My butt's covered. I wanted the raise as my number one. I would have taken the raise over every bullpen. What?

I don't agree with that, but. I didn't look at bullpens because I know the raise are a top three bullpen. And I don't have to look at a single thing or study anything. So they were going to be my pick. I have thoughts about all. all this, but okay, I just wanted to put that out there. You now, my friend, are picking who? So, I have the option between the number one

fan graphs rated bullpen, and you know, Jim's a big fan graphs guy. Stats only here. Analytics. I mean, I like fan graphs, but it's my third most visited baseball stat website. I'm not taking them. I'm not taking the team that last year was first in bullpen R.A. They were first in bullpen whip. This team won 107 games last year, and they are managed by a very

sexy, sexy man. Oh, and by the way, they had the breakout, one of the breakout players of the playoffs last year. Your San Francisco Giants, baby. Camilo Duval is my guy guy. It took him in the reliever draft. I think he's going to be a breakout of all breakouts. Tyler Rogers. is just as gross as it comes, what Jake McGee can do for you. Again, it's not a big name bullpen, but the results were the best in baseball. There's a reason this team won 107. None of their other position units have been taken. Give me the Cibedou yantes.

Nice. Thanks, guys. Okay. I love me some Camila Duval. And I love what they're doing there. And I liken the Giants bullpen to a raised bullpen. Yeah. Like they're going to mix a match just like that.

Obviously, Gabe coming from Rays, then Dodgers. He kind of has that in him in the way he wants to manage his bullpen. I like it. I'm looking at your team and I got to say, we're doing reactions because your team is finished now. I don't love it. Good. I think it's the fourth best team of the draft.

You have horrible taste. I also have Jake's team as the fourth best in my brain right now. The people figure it out. I mean, people in the chat right now are calling the Braves the best pick in the draft. The fact they went this long is disgusting. Braves infield? Yeah. They were like the best unit in baseball last year.

Okay. Well, I already have the White Sox and Trev has the Dodgers. I didn't say that. I didn't say that. I said I can go Dodgers. Okay. Well, I have the White Sox. I love the White Sox starting pitching.

It is ranked third. I found a bunch of websites. I was ranking them and I was just making sure I was covering my butt a little bit. And it is spoken highly of because they have Lance Lynn, who's one of my personal favorites, Gialito. Copac's going to make the thing. The transition, Dylan Seast was good last year. He's a disc golfer.

So his arm is always loose, barely even has an offseason. And they're going to just tear through the division. So white socks rotation. If I get a chance to get Lance Lynn as my guy, I'm doing it. Kind of changes the outlook of my whole squad knowing he's around. It's true. I'm looking at the Dodgers and I'm liking them.

Yeah. But there's some other good, there's a lot of options for me now that I'm kind of like racking my brain. You guys, your picks are pretty much done. The Phillies rotation. You know I've been on the Phillies rotation for quite some time. Ranger Suarez being a big difference. anchor in it. I think I'm sticking with the Dodgers.

I trust my guy Walker in any spot. I think he's my big game pitcher. I've said that before. Trust him in any spot. Eureas is an absolute problem. Kershaw, still going to do his dang thing. We'll see where the whole Bauer situation lands. I'm not predicating my pick on him being involved, because I don't know. But I like these guys, big game pitchers. There's eliteness. And I think there's a little more depth than people give them credit for him. Huge. And my team is incredible. Oh, and what's that? Oh, Austin Riley just took Heaney up top. One nothing, Jake. Yeah. Well, I love me some Andrew Heaney. He's a buddy of mine, okay? But we're not,

we're not talking, you know, six starters here. Okay. I was surprised that I went to the Dodgers rotation and I was like, ooh, they're not, they didn't make my board. Okay. Okay Blue Jay's rotation was also in my mind I couldn't pick them because I had the infield Astros rotation Not bad Furlander

Wow I couldn't pick them either Trusts on rotation stuff too PBD where are you going Last pick of the draft You're infield Yeah well we have our We have our fake manager round right after

Sure But it is it is my infield pick That And I'm uh you know There's a couple good options left There's a lot of good infields I'm going. Oh.

What are you trying to say right now? I'm just. That's twice. You kind of have to say it. I think there's one option left. Okay. There's like a very, I give it. I think there's an infield if it doesn't get drafted.

It's we all, same as the Brewers bullpen. I have two. I'm between the two you're talking about and one of them, all the guys are ready to play on opening day. And I have two of my favorite players and just got their twins infield. Oh. Yeah. I did not have. Okay.

With a Luis Arise kind of as a bonus piece, he's gonna be messing around. He's slapping it. The Brewers, which is really weird. Brewers, bullpens, bad look for us.

Red Sox Infield, not being. Red Sox Infield is infield are, there's actually, there's a few infield. I mean, the Cardinals, you get Goldie,

you get Aeronado. You get Edmonts. There are in fields. What was the other team I was just thinking of? I mean, dude, there's an argument for the Texas Rangers. But not a big one when you're really good. Now that Garver's behind the plate,

like Garver, Simeon, Seeger, and Nate Lowe is like a good first baseman. He's obviously not elite, but. Dahlbach, um, story, Zander, Devers. Second, if this was a second short and third draft, the Red Sox would have went early.

There's dollback questions. Vasquez is Vasquez. I think Swarber and you knew, who's going to play a good amount of first. It'd be more of a discussion for me. Right now is James and I's teams in a landslide. I mean, that's just a lie. That's just a lie.

So I don't think you believe that. Yankees bullpen kind of a miss. That was the one that Fangraphs has as the one. That surprises me. Chat, let us know whose team you like. Let's get an instant reaction from the chat. they'll be sucking up to old BBD. Everyone always sucks up the BBD in the chat.

Sucking BBD. I have... Now for the manager, for the manager, are we going straight... BPD first again? Are we going to go backwards? I think we just roll it. Who's managing your club, BPD?

I'll take our guy, Gabe. Really? Jimmy has rose-tinted glasses on that outfield, someone said. I mean, you come at some other picks. The Yankees' outfield is. fucking really good. What are you talking about?

There's the potential for a very, what Hicks has been when he's played full, healthy years. There's a potential there. Hicks is a complete dud. I still love it. I don't care about Hicks at all. Stan Judge and Gallo Poppin homers, but standing judge, top 10 guys.

All of our outfields have kind of offensive duds in center. The Yankees' outfield argument is. that if Hicks can be good Hicks, he plays. If not, they start moving judge and Gall to center. And like, there's, that works. Gabe, okay. It's a tough one for me. You know, I was going to go, Gabe,

but I did have a backup. I'm going with Craig Counsel. I love what he brings. Have you ever heard of like a spat in the Brewers, like, organization? like anything negative about like anything. Am I forgetting something? Like this is a just a great clubhouse. Every time we're around,

guys are loose having fun, but they're also working. Like it's the mixture of both. It's not just a free for all. There's structure there, but they're still having a ton of fun. Every single person I talk to that comes into contact with this guy loves him. So Craig, you're my guy.

Let's go, let's go on a ship this year. that's huge yeah who's your guy Jim cora it's a good one that's Aaron boom I don't think I don't think there's a manager that makes as much difference as cora and I think you saw it when he wasn't there for a season

and they had the same amount of talent and we're walking dead they were no identity had no idea what to do we're asleep at the wheel and like a brutal watch. And then Corr comes back and they're just Vim and Vinegar and Rip It and Roan

And winning games I think he's the biggest Like right now The biggest effect on a team manager in baseball Huge Do they have to be a current manager? Yeah Yes

It's this year It's all Tori might get hired this year At some point The way it's a whole coaching staff Thing who knows who applies to what? You know what?

How about a manager that gets recruited somewhere? A manager that had to deal with shit and he did so well there that another organization recruited him. Give me Bowmel. Trev's guy guy.

Yeah, fight that one, Trev. I love Bowmell. Yeah. Him holding that trophy. He's gonna run a real tight ship on your really crappy team. You saw those jakes in the chat.

I know you're a chat guy. The people like what they like. Okay. Okay. That's it. And now we're Tiger, some of Tigers infield. Tigers infield, that stuff.

Maybe next year. Someone said Blue Jay's outfield. There was a decent argument there. On my board, yeah. A lot of the good teams have a lot of good units. That's the... Yeah, this is tough. There's only four of us and the only certain number of picks.

Only two teams on my board didn't get picked. I made very serious. small boards, though. Mariner's outfield didn't get chosen and Red Sox Infield. And Brewer and Brewer, but I didn't... I didn't put a bullpen. I didn't have a board for the bullpen. And let's be honest for a second with the way

I followed these drafts pretty close last year. I root for my guys pretty hard all year. It's going to be hard for me to cheer on the Red Sox infield if I picked them. Just got to be honest. I will forget what teams I pick in a week. Maybe he'll remind you every week. Done. Done.

Man, how about no Padres? No. No Padres. They left a bad taste in every facet of their game. Tatis got hurt. Their starting rotation still has a pretty good argument. Musgrove, Darvish, Snell, Cleve. Yeah, I was reading a bunch of stuff.

A lot of people have them ranked as like the eight or ninth best. That rotation can be really good. It can. It can also go five and fly a lot and not be good. Yeah. D.H rule, I think, affected the Padres a lot. A healthy Tatis, their infield gets picked. Whenever Tatis is back plus...

I don't know. I mean, just like the vibes of the Padres are just like, I mean, it was a crash. It was like burned too bright and dead. And now they need to like reignite the flame and I'm hoping they do because it was really fun when they were fun. Yeah, they need to find that. They crashed.

I wanted to pick them pretty badly, but it would have been a whole thing about it. It's probably going to be 90 games at DH, 100 games at DH, whatever it is, and it would have been the whole discussion with the rules we did. And the twins have two of my favorite players from the Yankees and a bunch of other good dudes. Marlins' rotation.

You're banking on some young guys, but they can be really, really good. I gave them a look. You're digging deep. You're digging deep. I mean, you just, You got a compliment. We're talking about the elites of the elite.

This is what we're doing here. I think there's like people are going to be mad. Oh, he didn't choose this. Dude, this is, this is, this is top gun. It's a rotation that you, that you should have looked at

and thought about and then dismissed, but, but they have some, some exciting names in a year where we're maybe there. We're talking about the Dodgers rotation being like, ugh, that's what kind of draft that we're talking about here. So people can't be upset because we didn't choose their team.

There's only so many. This is this. And if you look at the board here, these are the elite teams. I think if Alconra... Besides the Angels. If Alcantra, Lopez, and Rogers were on the Dodgers, I think we'd like them for the Dodgers. That's a great game.

I don't love... Like, the Padres aren't an elite team right now. Man, they're one of the stories of this season, huh? We're going to see. If they have it or they don't by the time Fernando gets back. What a whirlwind couple years for them. I can't wait, man. I can't wait for baseball to start.

Dude, I want to see. I don't want to talk about projections anymore. I don't want to talk about like, what's going to, let's go. We got a lot of those coming up. And we got all 30 teams. Yeah,

we're doing that. Yeah, we're doing it. Yeah, we got a lot of time. We have, Trev coming out here next week. Hmm. Yes. Next week.

Dude, it's, the year is, flying guys. We have a lot of stuff going on. Trev is playing in the semifinals again. Whoa. And in the warehouse games, the Blitzball Battle for 10K. Tonight. Tonight, 7 o'clock, Eastern. I might even be able to catch this one live.

I remember this game. And dude, like I was not in a good place in this game. You're going to love the chat, Trev. Okay. Have you not been, have you not seen it live? No, every single time is I have baseball.

I don't know. I didn't know if you caught an early. Premier time. The chat's fun. And they've stopped, like they kind of like have understood the rules are better now and they're not complaining about, uh,

everything all the time. So there, it's a great time in the chat. I would say that that chat is the tops. Ooh. Chad is the top. So were the rule changes we made. I did some data on the chat.

rule changes. They're great. And the Tops is the Tops. Tops Bunt. The official digital trading card of Major League Baseball is back for the 2020 season. They sponsored the entire Tops Bunt House out in spring training, Arizona. There's still a ton of content coming. That's going to be like spread out throughout these next couple months because it's an editing bonanza.

They have new and returning users can get their hands on four new starter sets plus unique chances to collect top Series 1 baseball cards in the app. Collectors can earn Series 1 cards by completing various tests. throughout the inapt event. For more info, download the free Topps Bunt app by clicking the link in the description or visiting the app store or Google Play. We should get Moilin to just, I mean, he was addicted to the Topps Bunt app.

Still is. Still is. Yeah, it's still going strong. He loves it. What a guy. He's like, sometimes alien vibes. Dude, the way he can move his lower body, what?

You like that? Is that the episode? I think that's the episode. I think we did a great job. We drafted good teams. We had a lot of fun. How many teams had multiple spots drafted? Dodgers had two,

White Sox had two, Braves had two. Braves had two. Brevers should have had two. And that's all? Brewers did not have two. Yeah, so they should have had two. Oh, okay.

Everyone agrees they should have gotten picked somewhere, but nobody regrets their picks. Yeah. The Blue Jays should have had more. Blue Jays outfield was in play and their rotation. Blue Jays could have come away with three picks here pretty easily. Here's my thought on the Blue Jays. I think we're going to be rolling into August

and we're going to be like, holy shit, like, we saw this coming, but like, oh. Like I think they might be in the commanding lead of the ALEs come August and we'll be like, holy crap. They're here. They could, man. They, like, have the ones he locked up in August. All those young, talented guys.

I mean, Vegas has them as the favorites right now. It's just where the pitching staff actually lands. Dude, the pitching staff is good. I know. You love Berrios, and we've talked about that next step a lot. And if it's there, it's there. Gossmann kind of took that next step, but his name doesn't have the sex appeal of what his stats were.

Ryu, where's he at? Manoa, you know, rookie year, does he follow it up? That can be tough sometimes, Kikuchi. And then the bullpen, again, like Jordan Romano was nasty last year, but he's still not a name that like, if you're in the baseball lexicon, you're like Jordan Romano. But yeah, they could light it up.

This is blowing my mind. We haven't even mentioned this at all. And maybe it'll change. If you're unvaccinated, you aren't playing in Toronto. as of now, yeah. You're not, you're not playing in Toronto. And I don't know the percentages. We know, we've heard some names that.

I think Trevor Story actually went and got the vaccine just because of this. I'm not telling you which side to decide on. Just state in facts here. Some of your, some of your favorite ballplayers probably aren't going to be playing in Toronto unless the rules get changed. I don't think they'll change rules. I mean, they made them playing Danedden and in Buffalo.

they were pretty strong. It seems pretty. So I have the GM of the Blue Jays, blanking on his name right now. Anthopolis. Yes. That's brave, sorry. No.

But something similar. He was like, was he with the Blue Jays? He was asked about, you know, how it's a disadvantage because other teams can't bring all their players. And he was like, he was like, they're at a disadvantage?

I couldn't sign guys. We had to play in different stadiums last year. He was like, just put it, flipped. He was like, I was laughing at people saying that we're at an advantage because of this. So there's free aid and somebody wanted to decide. Somebody in the chat is saying that you can if you're for business purposes, but everything that I've heard and read is that's not the case yet. And we talk to guys at spring training where like the teams are telling their locker rooms.

Like guys, there isn't going to be a work around for this. You have to if we're going to play in Toronto. I know. Like it's, they have the solution's not there yet, and we're a week away. 10 days away. Well, we'll see it first with the Rangers and it'll be a mighty fun. That's today's episode. We had lots of fun.

TPP tomorrow. Do we reveal what it is? I think the people know it's that no central. It is letting the central go first. Nice guys. Nice of us to put the center. Rapphapang!