Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 466 | AL Central | Profile & Projection

Episode Date: March 31, 2022

Is this the year the AL Central can make it past the ALDS? How many good teams are here? Presented by SeatGeek Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to talking baseball. It's another round of team profiles and projections. We are doing the American League Central Trev's division, his home. If you forgot, or this is your first episode, tuning in. We're doing them a little different this year. We're sitting down and we're doing an entire division in one sitting, 15 minutes on the clock per team. If you're watching on YouTube, you're just going to get one team at a time.

If you're listening on any of the podcast apps, you'll get the entire hour and a half session of the entire division with only three weeks of spring training. It was pretty hard to do all of these at once. So that's how we're doing it. The other big reminder needed to be said here, you know your team better than us. So royals, twins, tigers, white socks, guardians,

hop in the comments, tweet at us, Let us know what we needed to say that we didn't say. What we got wrong. We got right. You know your team better than us. Trev. Yes. Nobody knows the twins better than I did.

Nobody. What about Gene Gaba? Aaron Gleman. My. Okay. Jake. And the Vell. All right.

Your Royals, PPP. TPP. TPP. We ready? Are they the last rank team in this division? Yes, they are. Yes, they are. 15 minutes on the clock, on your mark, get set, go.

The Kansas City Royals were ranked 25th in all of baseball by our audience on the survey, the rankings. That puts them last in the division really low in the league. They finished 74 and 88 last year. They missed the playoffs. Jake, did they add anyone fun? Your Kansas City Royals, they added a couple. dudes how about Zach Grinky i'm coming home coming home the old pictures the new pictures beautiful

and ameer garrett in the pen uh a couple friends of ours taylor clark out there hey they lost dudes too though mike minor he went to the reds in that funky trade for mere garrett wade davis retired congrats wade really nice career dude gregg holland gone he's trying out nri for the rangers there's Kyle Zimmer and handsome Hanser Alberto. How about Trev's guy? He's in Dodgers right now. Go match some lefties, kid. Coming in, coming out, eh, yeah.

But this team's begging on a lot of young guys, especially in the rotation, Trevor, Paul, Plouffe. It's kind of one old dude and then all the young guys. And a couple of them we met in spring training. But yeah, Zach Greenkey coming back to Kansas City. he'll be at the top of the rotation, teaching all the young guys about the game. That's got to be a fun clubhouse. I got to be honestly thinking about Grinky leading all these guys.

But behind him, we got Brady Singer, who's a stud, Brad Keller, who we met. Chris Bubick, the lefty, Carlos Fernandez, Daniel Lynch, another lefty with some depth there. The bullpen. We got Scott Barlow, who was absolutely filthy. We got a great stat we'll give you on him after this. Stalmont, who's a guy. Amir Garrett got traded over there, like you said. Jake Brent.

and a host of other guys who will get into. But young pitching staff, they were pretty good last year. James, what about that lineup? Lineup has a ton of familiar names. Obviously, you got Salvi Perez who went off last year. Carlos Santana at first base, Whit Merrifield at second coming off a down year for him, but we met him. So that probably makes him incredible now.

Nikki Lopez coming off a huge year. Then Bobby Witt, Jr., supposed to be, getting that shot at a camp or I don't know if they're going to mess with service time stuff. I haven't like really looked at that, but he's going to be up at some point this season if he doesn't start with the team. Ben in Tandy in left field, Michael A. Taylor, every mom's favorite in centerfield. And Kyle Isbel is the first name I don't really know. Like I think I kind of know that because it's the same sounding name as Jason Isbell,

which is a musician I like. But I don't, and then Hunter Dozier as DH. So a ton of familiar names for the 25th ranked team. and like some good players there. I'm into the Royals. I kind of, when you're looking at the roster here, there are some familiar names,

a good mixture of veterans and kind of some of the young guys. I like younger pitchers, and this is what we got here. I wanted to give that stat on Scott Barlow and the pen, because the pen's pretty good. You got some arms out there. He was one of just seven relievers in baseball

with 70 plus appearances in an ERA under 250, and as 16 saves led the Royal. So they're count on this guy at the back end of the games. But I'm looking and in kind of what I think is going to be a weak division, kind of like him. It's really, this is a fun one. This truly is a fun one. Peter Moylan, who has Royals connections. He went down there for a day at spring training.

You know, they're excited when we talked about the Royals in recent years. We talked about how they're kind of bucking. trends. They kind of didn't go full rebuild when they could have. They signed Carlos Santana. We didn't know what that was fully about. They gave Salvi that big extension. They traded for Benny. Remember all that? And I think what's going to decide their season, because their lineup, I think there's pluses and minuses. We'll see what happens with some of those young guys you're talking about. Salvi Perez had a monster year, which it feels like that's going to be tough to repeat. But with Merrifield, some of his numbers were actually.

down a little bit. So I mean, do those end up balancing themselves out along with other players maybe getting a little better? For me, it goes to the pitching staff in which of these young guys take a leap. What does Grinky give you over 162? Like, I'm not going to bet against them. But yeah, and I know even before when we hopped on, we were kind of busting each other's falls about the AL Central a little bit because, you know, that that twins team that was a power for a while, they just didn't get it done in the playoffs and then the white socks the new kind of beast of the central uh they got punched in the mouth a little bit in the playoffs too so um you know the discussion is usually the cream rises to the top in this division but they somewhat don't get challenged during the year

i'm really interested to see because you guys are right this doesn't feel like the 25th best team in baseball this feels like a team that has a chance to be a really solid squad and i'm interested to see where it measures up against the rest of the division because if someone like Bobby Witt Jr. comes up and that dude is a stud, which he's the top prospect in baseball now. He made he's numero uno. He jumped Adley Rushman. If he is that dude. If he's a dude of that ilk, what does that do to the Royals? It should be a fun summer in Kansas City. It's just how many wins does it lead to? I like their bullpen. I know the White Sox get a lot of credit for having like the best bullpen. get there, everybody.

There's a guy, and I might have done this last year. I might be on repeat here. Stomont in the bullpen. He is getting hurt by being in Kansas City and on this team. If this dude was on the race, the Red Sox, the Dodgers, the Yankees, he'd be like a name because when I watch him pitch, I have the same guttural reaction as when I watch Bruce Star Gratterol pitch. Just easy 100 and then a fucking hammer curve. So he's not even like their closer or whatever, but if you tune in, you're flipping through MLB TV and there's like a late

Royals game and you see that Stomonson, go watch him toss. And he's been really good. I think he was really good again last year. He's in 90 something percentile for whatever. So that's not just one guy in his reliever. But that dude is fun. Now they got Amir Garrett down there. Barlow, as you, who said Trev went off. The pitching is where I mean, I don't, I don't really know what's going on. Brady Singer, supposed to be really good. I know at times she struggled last year. And then I just, just remember doing breakdowns of him where he was kind of pissy on the mound a lot.

Okay. Little attitude. Yeah, I mean, all pitchers. But not in a good way, not in a good way. Like things weren't going his way and he wasn't like persevering. I think he's like two breakdowns. So that's a very, again, Royals fans like, correct me on that. I'm probably being wrong, but just a very small memory.

Yeah, they didn't get on base at all last year. Kind of where I'm looking at their offense was not very good. Got on base like a 306 clip as a team. And they brought in, remember they brought in Santana. And that was one of the things I said was they bring this guy in. He's going to teach these guys how to get on base, how to work counts, how to have professional abats. He took a little bit a step backwards last year.

And then they just didn't really gel as an offense. Sal obviously won off 48 homers, 121 RBIs from your catcher. Sal's one of the guys, man. We love him, love watching him play. But, you know, even with the addition of Bobby Witt, that lineup, if he comes up and just as a guy, like, that everyone thinks he is, maybe that, I mean, obviously it's going to make a difference.

It's going to be enough to where we're saying the Kansas City Royals are in a playoff race. I don't know. I don't know, man. And I think with the offense, you know, looking at last year's stats. Salvador Perez had an all-time catcher season, like a video game catcher season, 48 homer, like he literally set the catcher home run record in a season. This team finished last in the American League in home runs with that.

So as we're giving this team love and we look through the lineup and we see guys like Benny, Carlos Santana, Hunter Dozier, you know, Nikki Lopes, who put up a hell of a year, I guess maybe some of the reality starts to sink in that like offensively power wise. Let's say Bobby Witt is the truth and whatever that means for a rookie shortstop. Let's say he has a 25 homer year, which would be incredible or he plays third base, whatever. This team, you can't really outside a salvi, you can't pencil in anyone for 20 plus homers. I mean, literally fan graphs doesn't have that. So this lineup needs a little more juice because now when we go back to those young pitchers,

you know, it's probably a little easier to pitch if you see you're up 4-0 on the scoreboard. And I don't think the Royals have that kind of firepower in the lineup. Santana will give you 20. I think if he's, you had a tough year last year. He did. But I think he can do that. But I mean, your point still stands. Like they, I think everyone knows they're going to need some offense.

How do they have so many names? like they don't dominate any of the slash fines. Like you said they're not OBP lineup, Trev. They're not. They're not any of the slash. Not anything. Yeah. They're not anything.

And it's a tough part to hit in. I don't think, I don't know what the park factor is on it right now, but I tell you when you're playing there, it's not a home run happy place. I don't know. Sal made it look small last year, but it's,

I can get in your head a little bit. But for the most part, yeah, I think, They just got to count on some positive regression with all these guys. Like I don't think Santana is a 319 OBP guy. He was last year. Hopefully they just get better in all these categories with,

I mean, they're not even not the young of a team though. I'm trying to like think like maybe more bats in front of them. Like they're not like a young, young lineup. Like they have some young pitchers, but the lineup is all, you know,

guys have kind of been around like you said. So we'll see. I tweeted out today about surprise people making the lineup. And obviously Ryan or her is going to make it. He was around last year because they don't want him to. That was the, they were like they were trying to get some other rookie to like step up or something. I speaking, uh, just reading my replies there. I looked at Brady Singer stuff with runners on base with, I mean, again, this is just stat lines.

But to go to my point of like he kind of didn't got, didn't handle it well with a runner on third and less than two outs. 400 batting average or 400 and 4669 batting average 474 out base 40 plate appearances so small but like for it's not that small so let's go brady singer pick it up get some got some guts to you royals fans reach out ooh um maybe the bigger thing for brady and i maybe this is a conversation roils land again i'd love to know he's a two pitch guy fastball slider 50 38%, 38%. He threw a change up 4% of the time. If you're starting pitcher, that's just brutal.

That's going to be. If I Google Brady Singer, like new pitch or third pitch, that's the articles from spring training right now. You'd have to assume so for a starting pitcher, uh, especially like, you know, pretty highly touted guy first round pick out of Florida. You know, even, you know, when I, when I look at a pitcher, even if you give me a third pitch at a 10% clip, that'll at least it's in the hitter's head. Like right now, especially a young guy as the division's starting to see him more.

That's just, that's a tough ask for any pitcher. Yeah. I mean, all right. So I think we opened up the episode being like, I don't know why we're so down on this. And now we're looking at the rotation and the lineup and being like, wait, maybe 25th makes sense, at least me. They need a lot to go right, for sure.

And a lot of people to have bounce back years. Even our good buddy Witt kind of had a disappointing year last year. Still put up some numbers, 40 bags. I think what did they say? He was crushing it in doubles as well. 42 dubs still. So, you know, I think he'll have a better year that you can count on some of that bounce back. But I think that we're probably talking towards the end or the bottom of the NL Central here.

Okay. Let's do the over under then. We got a minute left. 74 and a half games. They won 74 last year. Do you think that was like if you go back and think, was that a lot for them last year? Or like,

was that like kind of what we expected? Well, weren't they the best team in baseball? Weren't they hot to start the year? The royals. The royals? I don't know. I don't remember that. I just think of the Mariners always.

Yeah. I'm going to say under. I'm going to stay under. They were in first place up until May. fifth. So maybe, maybe I'm just thinking they had a good April. They were in first through all of April. I'm going to say under. I don't think it's like a lot under. I don't think it's some crazy historically bad season. They have some guys. I'd slated him right around 70 wins. I think that's probably what they're going to have. I'm not going to bet on it. Here's a here's what I got. I'm going

over. Tell us. This young pitching that I feel like we said young pitching a lot like, our guy boobitch i always always feel like i'm going to say that wrong um i mean a young lefty in his 23 year old season last year he had a 104 era plus like if if it clicks for him carlos hernandez who we haven't mentioned yet jim i don't know if you remember this he pitched against the yankees he's got one of the most electric fastballs in baseball uh they start giving him starts at the end of the year they've got a lot of young pitchers that keller boobich singer Lynch Hernandez. One or two of those guys takes the leap.

They have the back end of the bullpen and their offense should be able to do enough to win some games and the Royals want to stay in it. And if Bobby Witt can give them a shot alive, like I'll drink the Kool-Aid that this team can win 78. Let's go, Royals. You stole me. I'm back. Let's go over.

I like it. Young pitchers keep them afloat. Some of the hitters take a step forward. it comes up gang bang we got it jimmy you're sitting this one out yeah no no i just don't think they're gonna like get better at the deadline or they might they they do have some guys they can sell off so they got benny if he has a good year like no yeah they could trade him we saw the out we saw we saw the corner outfield or market go crazy last deadline with the braves retooling their entire outfield so like if he has a good enough season so lair didn't even have a good season last

year and he got traded at the deadline. So I just think they'll trade pieces no matter what kind of. They traded the way last year, 174 games. So it's right on the mark. Yeah. The bullpen's fun. And that's kind of it. I'm going to stick with the under.

Fair enough. BD, did you say their, their World Series odds again? Aren't we doing the stimulator world series odds for the Royals? I can pull that up You said you had a number You said you had a number for the Royals To win the World Series

Right, always do Didn't you say it was like 1,000 to 1 They're not going to be my pick Just so you guys know As I announced They're plus 12,000 on draft kings To win the World Series Okay

100 bucks to win 12,000 Got it You know what I said that I said that the Royals should get Chris Bryant. Remember? You did say that, yeah. And everyone was like,

and I kind of said it because I wanted to pick a shocker. He fucking went into the Rockies. Like the Royals made more sense than the Rockies. That's good. It was a good one. All right, that ends the Royals. Thank you guys for tuning in. Royals fans,

let us know why we're so wrong and why we're so right and what you like and what you didn't like and then make everyone else smarter about your team moving forward. Next up. in the AL Central. We have the 23rd ranked team by our audience in baseball. The Cleveland Guardians, the first season as the Guardians, which means a whole lot. You got to get off on the right foot.

Last year, they finished 80 and 80 and 82. They missed the playoffs, just missed being 500. They got a new name. Jake, any new players? James, not really, dog. They went all free agency without signing a guy until they re-signed Brian Shaw, locking it down in the back end of the bullpen. Also, Sandy Leon is in town.

Let's go, Luke Maley. So, yeah, yeah. Who they lost. They lost Roberto Perez. He's on the Pirates now, great defensive catcher. Nick Whitgren and that mustache around the Cardinals, like Parker's gone. Harold Ramirez, it with Ramirez. That's a dark night reference.

Nobody really gets. And Wilson Ramos, I guess, ended up there for a little bit last year. A little bit more leaving than coming in. But yeah, this, this Guardian's payroll didn't find it in the budget to make some big splashes, Trev. But if there's one thing this damn team does that makes us buy in every year, it's they pitch. They pitch. develop pitching. That's what they do. Obviously, we know who's at the top. They got a couple

of guys here that are absolute studs. Shane Bieber, Cal Quantrill, Savale, please, Zach McKenzie. I mean, that's a nice five right there. Behind them, we got Eli Morgan, Logan Allen's a lefty. I think he's more of like a swing guy than a starter, right? Logan Allen. In the bullpen, some flame thowers. I'm going to mess this guy's name up. Emmanuel Claisse. Did I mess it up? nailed it. I don't think so. I nailed it. No, he's a stud.

We have Karen Shaq, who I've given some crap too, because I think he's got a gimmick. You know, it's his gimmick. Then you got Brian Shaw, Anthony Ghost, which is awesome, former outfielder for the Tigers who I played against, who's bringing heat from the left side, like a thorn hunge behind them. Nick Sattlin, a host of other guys in that reliever depth.

James, what about that, what about that offense in that lineup? Yeah, he's got, guys miles straw your favorite side fielder Ahmed Rosario went over there with the Mets trade Jose Ramirez that's the guy you're going to know about Framiel Reyes went over there in the Clevenger trade Bobby Bradley Stephen Kwan drafted Andre Seimenez Austin Hatches also in the

Clevenger Trade and Bradley Zimmer in right field. That's what I am reading. They still have Oscar Mercado. But I thought Palacios was going to make the squad. I think he got an option that. You told me that. And I think he had option like the second after you told me. Damn.

I think. I don't know. Before we even get into like the roster, which we have to, they're, you know how much money, you know how many guaranteed money they have? on the books for next year, Trev. Do you have this page open? No, but I think you told me on talking baseball. Go for it.

No, that was the A's. That was the A's. The A's have $1 million next year, guaranteed. The Guardians have zero. Hmm. All Arb eligible are below? Yep. All Arb eligible are below. Wow.

Jose Ramirez has his club option that makes him so appealing. Yeah, but that's not guaranteed. That's not guaranteed. Right. So, and then they have, there's like an option for a Shaw that we don't know about yet. But that's different conversation for a different day. This team was just like one of the classes of the AL, not too long ago.

Well, time to break it down. My goodness. Yeah, the Jose Ramirez contract worked out well for them. He's got a team option just for a 12. I thought it was two, but it's just one. I mean, you gotta be, that's the first thing you probably think of if you are a Guardians fan is, are we, when are we trading Jose Ramirez? That's sad. One of the best players in baseball.

And like, I think he's appropriately hyped now. He was underrated for a long time, but I think people are no now. I had him going to the Braves last year. It didn't happen. We'll see what happens with that, but they got the pitching. That lineup, though, not a strike could fear in. to a lot of people right now. They also,

I'm guessing this is like a, a, what's the term, window shopping or shopping for Beaver? Bieber has a good year this year. He will not be on the team in 2020. He's going to have two years left. And he got hurt.

He was having another good year and got hurt. And they trade everyone with two years left. So you're a Guardians fan. This is probably your last season with half of Jose Ramirez. And last season with Bieber would be my guess. that's tough. Yeah, we'll see. Let's not go there. Yeah, the whole gossip was they were going to trade Jose Ramirez before this season. They end up keeping them. We'll see. I feel, I genuinely feel bad for Cleveland fans.

I mean, Chris Rose, our guy, like this, this sucks. Like this, as fandom goes, this feels like you're tied up on the flagpole and people can just punch you if you want because there's the roots here. like this is one of the best $40 million baseball teams you can assemble. Problem is, other teams spend a lot more. Like if you put the pieces around Jose Ramirez and Fran Mill, you know, you got a good on base guy, you had another power stick. We'd be like, okay, like the top of the lineup can slap it around a little bit. You'd look at the pitching, Bieber, Quantrell, Police, Sack, Savali, McKenzie, you're like, man, if Bieber can be Syung Bieber, which who knows if he's got that in the tank,

or, you know, and a couple of those young guys make the leap. They're not even a leap. Like, those guys are pretty solid. But instead, we're sitting here looking at this like, when are they going to get plundered? When's Jose Ramirez getting traded? This is like a definition of fandom hell. It doesn't even make sense in my head for like a proud sports city of Cleveland to, because they're not even like giving you window dressing.

There's not even like a couple one-year guys that it's like, well, you know, if he hits the switch. Like there were some conformo rumors to Cleveland, which should make sense, but everyone looks at their payroll and they're like, they're not going to do that. So it's incredibly frustrating and a little sad for Cleveland people and sports fans because you're right, Trev, like Jose Ramirez in baseball circles is now respected the way he's supposed to be if you're really talking to baseball people. I mean, this dude, if he lands in the right spot this trade deadline or whenever. I think he could have a different level of

stardom. He's incredible. And it almost, I never say this, I almost want to root against Cleveland because I hate what they're doing. Yeah. They have what every team is looking for, by the way. They have the, like, they

have the pitching. That's the, you have to have that or else you have nothing in this league. So they have the foundation, like you were saying, to surround them, Jose and, and, Fram Mill and just bring some guys in. They could have. There's people readily available.

But they're not spending right now. Classic conundrum of as a fan, Jake. Like I'm sure there are some Guardians fans as well that are like, I hope we lose so they don't think they can do this every year. Because like you said, the Royals at least got the window addressing. We're like, yeah, we'll grab Benny. We'll trade for Granky. We'll give the fans something.

They're not even offering their fans. anything. This is like the A's, but somehow they escape that rap. Like the A's get it so much worse. Yeah. Same thing. I want to know what their payroll was in 2016 and 17. Maybe it wasn't that much then. Maybe this is the exact same thing they went through. I don't know. And in 19, it was 120. So, I mean, there's a new, there's a trend around baseball right now. that's the full tear down and they they are doing that. And once they fully see that next window,

they'll make a plan of attacking and get the payroll back up to 80, 90, but it just sucks, man. And like that's, I guess that's why, you know, Bobby Bradley, we met him at spring training this year. He was the dude. I hope that dude's a monster. I hope next year we're doing TPPs and saying like, wow, Bobby Bradley, is he one of the better first baseman in the AL now?

but Bobby Bradley shouldn't be penciled in as like the third best hitter on this team, hopefully this year after Jose Ramirez and Fran Mill. Two guys I love dude. How often have you guys heard me yell about Fran Mill? The dude's a monster. But yeah, it's just like enough to not lose games. So the town's like, oh, these guardians stink and it's not enough. Like I don't see a, I see more of a path for the Royals to.

have like a fun, silly wild card attempt season, then I do the guardians. Well, do they have any pitchers that are going to come up and answer your question, Treve, in 2016, it was 118 million.

In 2019, it was 136 million in 2020, 53. Now it's 40. Yeah, I mean, look at, and the win losses, I'm back on in 2016,

94 wins, 2017, 102 wins, 1891, 1993, and then boom, the payroll gets cut down. And they finish.

the COVID season. Oh, even there, 35 and 25. Isn't that good? 10 games over. That's why. Yeah, they lost. But they were third in the A.L. Central, but they did get into the wildcard, yeah. Do they have any prospects, Jake? Are there going to be any pitchers that, like, more?

Obviously, you got Tristan McKenzie, you got Clase, you got, you got a lot of arms already, but are there any prospects? I'm trying to look it up now that are going to come up. So I guess that's the thing. And if we're trying to make some positive guardian stuff, like, you know, someone like Bobby Bradley. He's, you know, he's going to be 25, 26 this year. Let's find out what he's got. Ahmed Rosario, I mean, I know he's a name we're familiar with, but he's 26 this year. Like Jimenez, the other guy in that Met's trade, he's 23. So like there's a lot of youth and even their top 100 prospects.

You know, Fangraphs has a lot of those guys hit in the show this year. You know, they have, let's see, their top six. projected prospects. All of them are supposed to ETA to arrive at the show this year. We'll see what happens. None of the names jump off the page. Sorry Guardians fans. You know, for my nerdy baseball

dives that I go on. Like, the only one is Nolan Jones, who's actually ranked fifth of their prospects now. So maybe it's a find out year and these guardians can actually make a plan for attack next year. But I don't know. The whole thing feels uncomfortable. Like if this

team feels like if there was an $80 million salary floor, they'd be a lock for a wild card spot. And that just frustrates me. If they were forced to spend, they'd sprinkle some and then they'd be good. Yeah, that is frustrating. Good news for Guardians fans is we have a ping pong tournament coming out at some point that has a lot of guardians in it. Palacios. Good energy too. Tristan McKenzie. We had, um, uh, Benson. Will he B. And Ray, what his name? Ray.

It's a middle infielder. I liked him a lot. Yeah. Millie? Millie? That's like his Instagram name. I don't know. Delgado.

Nice guys. Raynell. Raynell. Ray Delgado. Yeah. So I don't know when that's coming out, but that's fun. As far as this season, I don't know.

You guys want to do the over-under? I mean, this was a, this was a rough one because it's like Jake said. it's like awkward it's like well they're not like do they want to win they still got pieces i can see this team still like i don't think they'll finish last their ceiling what's their ceiling then trev third yeah i have it as like yeah ceiling's probably third unless the twins have another meltdown like they did last year which i don't think they're going to we're to talk about that later I do have a 1% like their ceiling is second.

Like, you know, like one, like 1%, I do. They got to add to bats. And for some reason, I don't think their floors five. I think they're four, three, two, three or four. Because they're, you've been conditioned because they, that's what they've been. They've been competitive. Yeah. And it's because they do have the pitching.

Like I know we mentioned them briefly, Emmanuel Class A has a chance to be like a special all world pitcher. He throws a cutter 102. Last year, 71 games, a 129 ERA. That dude's a freak out of the break. Quantrol, some MLB ties. He had a breakout year last year, 150 innings of 289. Beber is he Shane Bieber. And then if you have one of Plessax Savali McKenzie, guys that have done it pretty well at this level, you've got a rotation that would be one of the tops in the AL. So that's where it just gets so frustrating. And yeah, we could easily be sitting here at the end of year. Like, oh, 85 wins.

All right, Guardians. But I'm kind of rooting against them. And I hate that for me. What's the over under here? 76 and a half. I'm going to take the over. Pitching wins. They got good pitching.

I know it. This is a tough one. What they won? They won 80 games last year. They won 80 games last year And they didn't really have much help offensively last year And Bieber got hurt towards the end He had a 3-1-7 through 16 starts

Was an All-Star He's back What did I go with the Royals over? Yeah Jake Jake put you on the over All right I'm taking the under here Just barely I think they're going to just barely

Sneak in 75 wins our dude sticks on the mound he's gonna he's gonna put it together even more i know i want i'm unlike jake i am rooting for these guys um i like the way they don't know if i am well i'm gonna say under although i am rooting for you guys to prove me wrong i'm rooting for the young players i'm not rooting for the organization how about this i'm going under it's so angsty. I don't really believe in it. I don't like it either. Yeah. How about this? They trade Jose Ramirez. And when we do our year-end check-in, it's going to be like, oh, the guardians are on pace to win 85. They're easily going to beat their over under. And then they just eat it. Eat it after Jay-man. That's mean. That's me.

Under. I'm being mean. I don't like being mean. I have your, uh, your fan service. It's not trading J-ram. It's keeping him around for the last year because it's a cheap deal. Yeah, and then just trade him. We'll see. They got to. They got to trade. They take the option, then trade him in the next offseason. I got a hot take. I don't mind the name change. Guardians. Kind of like it. So ready, like I'll mess up a couple times, but it's already not weird to me. Yeah. Yeah. That's exactly what they wanted. Congratulations. politicians PR team.

Police Sack didn't even talk about him. One of my favorite guys, blue bubbles, good results. All right, there you go. I'm on the over. You guys are on the under. That is the Cleveland Guardians fans. If you tuned in to listen to this on this season, like I can't even imagine that.

We didn't even feel comfortable doing it. And we're not fans. So thank you very much. Give me, I need like a guardian's hug. Like give me, help me out. Because I don't like how I just sounded. Yeah, that's not like you. It's not me.

They're bringing you down. Now you know how I feel about Texas. But I'm kind of back in on Texas. Spoilerly. I am too. I kind of am too. That's coming later though. Backyard Brad.

My guy. All right. That ends the Guardians. The next team we will be discussing. Trevor's, Minnesota, twins, 15 minutes on the clock. Reminder, if you're a twins fan, if you're any fan of the teams we're doing, you know more than us. But Trev says he knows the most about the twins.

They got ranked 22nd. So this whole division might be the lowest ranked division as a collective because the guardians were 23. The Royals were 25. The Minnesota twins ranked 22nd. They had an abysmal year last year, missed the playoffs, won 73 games when they were coming in as supposed to be the favorite with the White Sox. Like those guys were supposed to be beating each other up and the twins just tanked it.

Jake, confusing, fun, wild offseason for the twins. Can you wrap it up for us? Yeah, they probably have the most fun who they've lost, who they've added. You'll see. They lost Josh Donaldson, the bringer of rain, Trevor Ploose, hitting coach. Mitch Garver, probably an underrated catcher in the catcher realm. Andrelton Simmons, where Simba at in his career, we'll find out. Alex Colomay, Big Mike Paneda, twirling it at the back of the rotation.

Williams asked to deal everyone's favorite Rob Reff Snyder, John Gant and Matt Shoemaker, they took the same flight and they're pitching in Japan this year. That's a lot of dudes leaving. How about the dudes coming in, especially the big one that happened, probably before this poll went out. Carlos Correa is playing for the Minnesota Twins this year. Sunny Gray is a Minnesota twin. He'll be at the top of the rotation.

Gary Sanchez, Gary Sanchez, he escapes Yankee Land. Let's find out. Gio or Shell, cute is a button. Pretty good stats the past few years. My guy, Dylan Bundy, Joe Smith slinging it in the pen. Trev, why don't you give us the rotation? And, you know, I hope you didn't eat any, like, fish recently because it might come back up. Oh, my goodness.

I had Mediterranean food for lunch. Look. Yes. We know that there's going to be some problems here with the rotation. And let's go through it. Yes, they brought in Sunny Gray to be their ace behind him. I'm going to slot in Bailey Ober in the two spot. You know how tall he is?

He's 6.9. He's like an alien out there. Got to love that. Yeah, my hot guy. Yeah, my hot guy, Joe Ryan, Dylan Bundy, Dobnack, our guy, the Uber guy, love him. And a lot of people really are passionate about Dobnack in Minnesota. So you got to love that. Griffin Jacks, who provides some depth.

And then that bullpen's nasty, though. Taylor Rogers, at one point was like one of the best relievers in the game from the left side. I think he's going to be really good this year alongside my good buddy, Tyler Duffy, Jorge Alcala's nasty. Caleb Thielbar was there last year. I played with him. He took some time off. What a crazy story for him to look that up.

It's going to be a problem. This is where the team gets fun, James, when you talk about their lineup. This is what gets me very excited. Bailey, Uber. Yeah, talk about him, bro. Six-nine Alien. Yeah.

The twins lineup is something else. Byron Buxton. They locked him up before the lockout. They got Luis Arraise as the DH Fangrass has him. Carlos Corre at short, Jorge Polanco at second, Miguel Sunou at first base. Max Kepler, right field, Gary Sanchez, catching Alex Kirillov, left field, Gio Orchella, at third base.

How about that? I like this line of note. me initial reactions, Jake, go. You saw the lineup go. I love the lineup, dude. One American. I love the lineup. Is this the most foreign lineup in the MLB? It's just

Kierloff? Boxing. Kierloff. Only two. Seven out of the, yeah, only two. Only German. Trev, this lineup's gross, dude. And, and I love it. I absolutely love it. The way they

retooled it, there's balance. There's righty, lefty, switch righty lefty switch like it's balanced there's power we talked about the royals before how they only had one projected guy to break 20 ding-dongs this lineup has seven guys projected to hit 19 plus like Buxton is the guy you have to circle for me if he's healthy he's an MVP candidate like even if it's 125 games what he does um the Correa story is incredible like let's watch that play out. Dude, the pitching staff, here's my thing. Why don't we have a little more of an identity? Like, Treve, I know that bullpen is good. Like, I like Taylor Rogers. Tealbar, a nice little lefty slinging it up

there. Duffy. Like, I wish this team, if you have this rotation, which, hey, let's see, maybe they can find that magic in Dylan Bundy, Joe Ryan. I do like him. Young pitcher, let's figure it out. I wish they had, like, the bullpen behind him that, you know, if I was a young Joe Ryan and I've got that lineup and I had a bullpen behind me like ready to go, I'd be like, all right, I'm going to get me five innings. I'm going to get a win because that lineup's going to put up six and the bullpen's going to close it out. I'm just so nervous about this pitching staff that I absolutely love the lineup. The bullpen, I know the numbers end up pretty solid, but I'm not like scared of it. anyone and the rotation, not my cup of tea.

It's not. But look, I think they're still in the market for some moves here. And there are starting pitchers to be had. So they're going to need to do that. If they want to be who maybe they think they are, which is, you know, a competitor for an AL central title, they need to go get some pitching. Now, they do have a ton of all of their top prospects are like big league ready. or right at the precipice of the big leagues. You got some real studs down there, too.

Royce Lewis, Austin Martin. You got some pitchers there too. So there's a nice mixture of athletes and pitchers. They're close, man. And I think it's crazy because we wrote them off so much from last year because they just disappointed. And then one signing, like what? And like a trade, it just changes kind of everything.

They lock up Buxton. And that gives everyone even more hope. Like I'm on this team. They need to make a move, though. And it has to be a starting pitcher. If they get that, I'm confident to say that I would pick them to make some noise and have a chance to win in the A.L. Central, but they have to have to have a starter. Trev, does you're a hitter and you don't like pitchers. Do you agree with the tale as old as time saying that good pitching beats good hitting?

initially yes yes and then like post season i think you're probably going to get i think the like the facing the hitters three times thing really matters when you're talking about good hitters good pitchers so like the good we just did the guardians rotation how do your hands balance out when you go twins guardians on the rotation no just overall because that's it's good it's hitting versus pitching. They've seen these guys a lot, though. If the Guardians and twins played 162 games against each other, only them.

What are the records? The twins are, they come out on top. Okay. I don't know by how many games. That's a crazy hypothetical right there. My brain is not working. I would have done a hundred games because the math was easier.

And I would have said the twins win 60. I was thinking something like 15, games over 500, something like that. But again, if they get a starting pitcher, it changes everything. We talk about this team identity and you guys always make fun of them because they go in and, you know, ha ha, twins, you're going to lose the Yankees anyway. Dan Roark, freaking show me up on Twitter with that. He freaking baited me and he got me.

But then we get a guy like Carlos Correa. Is that going to change the entire, like, feel to the organization too? Or is he going to go in there and be like a humble dude now that he's in Minnesota? I really hope he isn't. Yeah. Carlos. Well, it's also what's he going to do because he knows he's there for a year. I mean, his, his goal is to be there for a year.

So how much is he a mercenary at the service of his next contract or how much is he going to like be, be a twin, you know, and be part of the twins. I have no idea. But the lineups, I think the, I think the team will be fun. I mean, you got a lot of like Latin flair and flavor here. There's going to be like a lot of. a lot of Sano and Gary know each other from their 16.

G. R. Shela is super fun. I mean, if Buxon's out there sprinting around and running, like I do think they're going to be a really, really,

really fun watch. I just worry about the pitching. He's one of the best players in baseball when he's out there. Like he can hit, hit for power. He can play defense. Yeah.

He is a scary thing is Buckson and Karea have both been injured lately. A lot of people worried about Korea's back. But, um, now I love, Gary Sanchez and Girochella. I think they're going to have good years. I think Twins fans will enjoy them. But last year during the Twins TPP, we were talking about how happened Panetta were the moves like at

the rotation. And I was saying like, like, Yankees fans had both these guys and they don't like them. And like 60% of Yankees fan base had, had Gary Sanchez and like would laugh that a team is excited about him. But I think Gary's going to go off. I hope twins fans enjoy him. The defense ain't great. well mash Jimbo I need you sorry to give you work I'm going to need a schedule guy

and I'll tell you why this team Jim I know you already teased it on the yes network a little bit this team is one you have to circle for the story of baseball this year because of what Trev also said before all their top

nine prospects have a chance to be major league level this year. So what does that mean? If the twins are in it and they need pitching, they can flip a couple of those guys because they're some real prospects. You could go out and get something. You know, Austin Martin is like the big piece

that they received from the Jose Burrios trade. They have guys that they can flip to go get the pitching they need if they're in it. If the twins are not in it, boogity, boogity, boogity. Because, A, you're going to want to give those young guys the playing time to find out if Austin Martin and Royce Lewis, if those guys are your future. Or could Gary Sanchez be flipped? Gio Orchella, where's Sinoa contract-wise?

Jorge Polanco has been a trade rumor every year. Carlos Correa has that crazy one-year contract. This team, I feel like every year we run into a team that's like a pivot point of the trade asset. that's for the trade deadline. This team could be the squad this year, at least offensively. They have it on paper. We're just judging this by our perspective on paper,

a tough April. But again, it's a shortened April, but they open up four games versus the Mariners, which I don't know if that's tough, it kind of equal, but interesting. Then they play the Dodgers, then the Red Sox, then the Royals,

then the White Sox, then the Tigers, than the Rays. So there's some good teams there early on. May, they can feast in May. They got Orioles, they got A's. They got guardians. They got A's.

They got Royals. They got tigers. They got royals. They got tigers. And that's in division too. So May's the month you circle as a twin fan. And you say, we need to have a fucking great May. So that front office doesn't get any ideas the other way.

You guys want to know what they were? offensively last year. OPS plus, ninth in all the baseball. Pitching, not so hot. It's been that way for too long in Minnesota. Go make a move. Falvi and Levine, I gave you a Drake meme on my Twitter. Go finesse some more people. Go get some starters. Twins territory can be freaking rocking. Come July, if you bring some people in. We deserve that. We're going to come through and it better you rock it. I don't want no stale team when I show up. They're always rocking there. They play music in between pitches. It's a great ballpark. My goodness.

It is one of the ones like one of the newer ones that are that looks the most appealing to me. Like I've had it. I've had it on my list of like ballparks I want to see for a while. Let's go. This summer we're there. Let's do it. Need some pitch. They get they need some pitching. Do they have, do they have any pitchers come up. I mean, but here's a thing, Trev. And I guess like some people, I'm cynical about young pitching. Like, I don't think you can go into a year where you're supposed, you want to win the

division with like a guy who's in his second every year or first every year. I could be wrong there. It definitely happens. But the Yankees and the twins are similar where it's like they, they, they, they don't develop starters. Yet they continue to rely on pitchers from their farm system. And it never really gets you to the next step. It only gets you like to a certain point. I'm looking at their guys. They have a few. I can't say this guy's name.

I should know this. I said no more about the twins. Anybody Jordan Belazovic. I believe I just crushed that nice. Good for me. He's like their guy that's closest. But Joe Ryan, they need him to step up and be a guy along with Sunny Gray and then go and add somebody.

That's it. They're not relying on anybody to come up and fill that spot. I don't believe. Tell me if I'm wrong. I haven't heard anything about that. So that's it, man. It's, it's, it's been a simple formula for a long time, though. Do we all, do we all think Sunny Gray is Sunny Gray?

Like, is that a dumb question? No, I don't know how he, oh, that's our time. We're running along. I, it's a trip's team. I don't know, no, no. I mean, I like Sunny Gray, but he's never been a one. I guess for the A's way back in the way he was, but like, he had other people around him in CINC.

Um, he likes to blend in. And I think he had a really bad second half last year after a great first half. So I don't think it's a lock. I got like, is that your question? Are we just like, are you saying, should we just lock sunny in for like? I guess I don't, I don't know what to pencil sunny gray in for like last year. Yeah. Yeah.

Yeah. You know, I mean, which is really good. It could be a three. It could be a four. But I think he's definitely good enough that you can pencil them in for 25 starts three, 3-5. That's at least what I'm my brain with it.

I would say. Okay. What's the over under here, boys? Over under on the Minnesota Twins. The Draft Kings over under is 81.5. I'll take the over. You got to be a 500 ball club or better than a 500

ball club. I like that. If they do these moves and they're not that how are they going to get innings they need they need a they need a breakout guy like we talked about over the ogre like if he has a Chris Bassett like I'm 6-9 and I found it or Joe Ryan is a borderline all-star that would do worlds for this team because right now I don't know if they're getting two good starts a week and you really need that or at least they need that or at least they need that early on to get them to the trade deadline and figure it out. The amount of talent on this team is like a top 15 ball club, but there's just so little in the pitching. It's scary.

Give me the over. They brought in Correa. There's going to be some juice. Trevor Plouffe, Home Run Derby. Give me the over. Let me ask you this. Knowing what they know now, Carlos Correa is here. Do they regret making the burrios trade? I know, I know they, I know they, like the, I know they like the hall. Yes. Yes. If you had burrios and gray, we'd all say over and we'd say like then they just need a little like a lesser trade. And and if a prospect jumps up, it'd be a much different feel. It's really sunny gray and then and then you have no idea. Like the ceiling in the floor, this, mostly the ceiling for Bailey over, Dylan Bundy, um, Joe Ryan in this season, not, not in their careers. I'm not trying, but like in this season, the ceiling is like they get bounced to the pen. Like this, I mean, the floor. The floor is like real low, man. The ceiling is that they're good.

Solid. But what's that? Solid. Yeah. Trev, who's the GM in Minnesota? It's Felvey and Levine. I don't know what, who does what? I'll say this.

They're always together. They've got, they've got puzzle pieces. go win GM of the year. Because there's a lot of pieces, but it's like two different, two different puzzles. It's the top half of the same puzzle twice. Go get the bottom half of the point.

What's so funny is, you know, they ran Terry Ryan out of town to bring in these guys and like, you know, they're the new age analytically driven guys where Terry Ryan was not that. Admittedly,

he was a scout. This whole roster is still his roster. Sure. Like, they came in. Let me tell you this. These guys came into a golden opportunity and really have done nothing with it for being on this year. We got zero playoff wins. Did we get to the playoffs? Sure. But they've done nothing with it. This group of guys we're talking about here, a snow, a Buxton, a Kepler, a Polanco, Burrios. Aras. Like, the list goes on. Like, those were all Terry Ryan guys. They came in with that. And those guys were. were making no money. They had all the flexibility in the world and just haven't, it has not been good for them. A division title? Like that's with that core and you're coming in.

So I think, I think this is a huge year for them to prove like, hey, we know what we're doing. Because you can't just be like, hey, look at our farm system. Like we have some really hot prospects and nice young core. You got to win in the playoffs. What else is it for?

The rotation, Jake does kind of have an identity. They're all got some of like funky looks. Like if Dobnack breaks back in, Joe Ryan's going pirate hair and pirate mustache. Bailey Ober is an ogre. Dylan Bundy's face is redder than the sun. So they're all got like a little work quirk. Maybe that's their identity.

Trev, I'm loving the over now. This is the GM's either last year, or they're renewing their contract. They signed Correa. They're going to cash in some prospects. I don't know where. Go twins go, babe.

I actually love that. I do love what Trev said. Like, this GM is either like, he's not going to sit idle because then he's out. So he's got to fucking do it. I think they might have already extended. I got to look that up.

I think they might be locked in. I'm serious. The point still remains the same. Like, they have to go, like they got handed a great organization. that let them do what they wanted. And they just have, I mean,

they've had some good finishes in the AL Central and that's it. So this is definitely put up or, I'm not to say put up or shut up, but like, it's time. It's time. That ends our twins' conversation, twins profile and projection.

And thanks for tuning in. If you're on the podcast app, we pivot right away. Right away. To the next team in the AL Central. And as Jake said at the beginning of the twins one, our rankings were done before. the Correa trade before a lot of the offseason stuff happened.

Tigers come in next as the second in the division. I do think that I'll be interested to see if we vote now. But they were ranked 20th in all of baseball. Last year they won 77 games. They lost 85. They got a hinge at the helm. And they're climbing back up. They were digging down for a long time.

found whatever they're looking for down there and now they are climbing back up. Jake, what did they do this off season? Man, yeah, we should we should definitely do a poll like the Wednesday before the season starts and see how much the TPP rankings would have changed. Jim, who they lost, your guy, Matt Boyd, he's now slinging it for San Francisco. So expect a 3-1 ERA out of him. Jose Urania remains unsigned. He gone Nico Goodrum love watching him play. He's how, on the Astros. Watch out for that. But fellas, look what came in, Javi Baez, bang, biscuit.

Love that. Eduardo Rodriguez, Erod, kind of the staple of the Red Sox rotation of recent years. Tucker Barnhart, how's your gold glove behind the dish? Treve, you ever hold a gold glove catcher's met? Andrew Chafin coming out of the bullpen doing it Southpaw style. Big Mike Paneda locking down the back end of the rotation. and Willie Peralta. Sure, minor league deal. We note stuff like that.

Trev, the rotation makes me curious like a cat. What do you got? Yeah, me too. I like it. I like it. I think we're going to start off with the guy E.Rod coming over from the Red Sox career worst year last year, but he still parlayed that into what is it? Five years of 77 M's, get you the bag, E.rod.

He'll kind of be like the veteran presence there. Casey Mize. Is he young anymore? He's not young anymore. This group who we all, I kind of think like, hey, these are young prospects making their way up. Now, these guys are here. Like, it's time for these dudes. So we got Casey Mize, Tarek's scuba, Paneda, another veteran, Matt Manning.

And then Turnball, he underwent Tj surgery in July. So probably not going to happen this season. I don't know what they're saying. In my guess, not going to be there. The bullpen, Gregory Soto, left-handed pitcher, Michael Fulmer, Andrew Chaffin, who you mentioned, Jose Cisnero. I don't know who that is. He's a right-handed pitcher. So they got some pitching.

I think that's why, you know, we're high on this team. And then you kind of look at the lineup now, James. I'm looking at them. I like it. You like it? I like it. It's balanced to tell you that. They got Akeel Badoo rookie sensation from the Twins.

He's a lefty. Robbie Grossman. You're endeared to BPD's heart. BD's men. Switch hitter. Javi Bayez. That was a big one. He's a Ritey at shortstop.

Jamer, Candelario, hit a home run in spring training, switch hitting. Mickey Cabs. Jonathan Scoop loves it there. Signed a whole big deal. Wants to be there. Riley Green, they have to pencil in the center field. NRI in spring training. So that makes me think center feels up for grabs.

Again, Tigers fans, you know your team. Where's Ray? Where's our guy, Ray? He's a stud. Riley Green's like their stud. Green and Torkel Center. like big prospects. So why do they do

I guess I never heard of Riley Green or if I had I didn't commit it to memory. He just, they don't know on 40 men yet. I know not on 40 men, but it's like my brain sees NRI and I think like journeyman, you know, you in Texas. Bangrash should use another thing. Yeah.

I mean, Tucker Barre. Tucker Barnhart. Right now. Tucker, a friend of the program. Send me a jersey. It's a red jersey. though. So now it's like, am I honoring him by having that?

I think so. Yeah, it's vintage. Immediately it's vintage now. Wow. Bro back. So yeah, that's the lineup. How do you feel about it, James? You said balanced. What else comes to mine? Hey, I don't want this to be a knock. I like, I don't think the Tigers are a playoff team, but I don't think they're bad anymore. I do. I think they're like a competitive team. I think they'll be a little over 500. I think they're going to feel better at the end of this season. they did the last season. Like, I think they're going to continue to go up. But nothing here like does a ton for me.

But also I am admittingly like just not incredibly familiar. I've looked at the tigers in such a bad light in the last three years. So like you like Jonathan Scope, uh, Jamer Candelaria. Like to me, those are just, oh yeah, those are the, those are the veteran guys that are on the bad tigers team. Like, and that's kind of as much thought as I've. given them, which I understand is rude or just like ignorant. So, but I'm admitting that.

So I need someone to tell me like, how excited should I be? Well, I think here, I'll give you something. This is what I've been hearing about the Tigers. If the boys come up and become guys, we're looking at a nice little team here. We need these guys who are pedigreed to the max Torkelson, one overall, Ryther Green, I think it was the fifth overall pick. Like, these are guys that you're banking. on to come and put a jolt into the organization.

If they come up and do it and you mix them in with some of the veterans like Scope and bias, we'll see what McGee Cabs has got for us. Man, like he turns everyone into a good hitter. Nick Castellanos owes that man some money. I'll tell you that much right now. So they need those guys to step up.

And from all accounts, these guys are like, they're the real deal. So be excited. If you're a Tigers fan, I mean, I'm getting pumped about them. Yeah,

it's, it's interesting. Erod goes to the, top of the rotation currently. He got the bag, good for him. And hey, this is going to be a fun one for ERA plus and ERA people going from Fenway to pitching in Detroit. Like I bet E. Rod's video game stats look a lot better this year than with the big monster over there. Casey Mize is a name that probably more baseball people should know. He was a one-one draft pick last year. I mean, 30 starts of 371 ERA for a 24-year-old starting pitcher.

like I guess the question for me is at the end of the year for the Detroit Tigers is Erod the one, two or three starter. Like does Casey Mize jump on and he becomes a true one? Scouble, he's he's the lefty. He's got some fun stuff. He had a solid year last year. Like can he find another level? Because if they do, Matt Manning a young pitcher, he got knocked around a little bit last year,

but was a big prospect as well. where does this rotation end the year? If Erod's still slotted as the one, I don't love the year for Detroit. Because they're hitting, there's still not a lot there, man. Like even if, even if one of Riley Green or Torkelson comes up and they're a guy guy,

the lineup still just leaves you a little, you almost wish each person was down a spot in the lineup. Like, Miggie Cabs kind of has this like alumni. spot on the team that he gets a spot in the middle of the lineup and deservedly. So dude's one of the best players to ever play. So I'm not really knocking it. Jim, we do the scare test on lineups.

Who in this lineup scares you right now? Jim, he's not scared to anyone, though. No, I, no, I mean, like a big spot. I don't know. Scopes crushed the Yankees a couple of times. I think Jimer, Jimer, Jimer? It's Heimer. Yeah.

No, they say it with a J. I think it's Jamer. Really? I've been saying Heimer. Last year I said, Heimer and they say it with a J. Oh, I love that. I love that.

I love that. Oh, James. Nice. That's perfect. James Jamer. Yeah, I don't know. Hobby doesn't.

Like, I think Hobby's supposed to be the answer, but he doesn't. Like that, that's the thing. If, if Harvey was the third scariest option on this team, like,

that's a lineup. That's kind of how the Cubs, thrived when he was there. Like, Harvey can have a huge year and maybe he does, and I hope he does. I,

Harvey's projections from fan graphs is 253, 298, 27 homers, 16 swipes. Like, for that to be the anchor of your lineup?

Up. I mean, the, the migi cabs effect, I'm telling you right now. If you want to like buy stocking dudes, hobby buy is getting, to work with Miguel Cabrera is going to, like that 294 OBP, going to be up this year that

that has projected for it. That's going to be up because that's what I'm telling you, man, it's like a masterclass in hitting that all these guys are going to get to go to. And to your point, maybe there's not someone just scares you in their lineup, but if they have a bunch of guys with OPS pluses over 100, that's what you need. Get guys on base and drive and runs. And then, yeah, can Torkelson or Riley Green come up and really just give this massive bump, Akil Badu is like kind of a guy.

Like, so patiently optimistic. We got to see how it goes. Like I like it. I think there could be a ton of wins in this lineup. But we're going to have to see. We're going to have to see. These young guys got to come up and do it.

My question for Tigers fans and I think I'm, I needle and I troll and I'm annoying to twins fans. But I'm being genuine here. Like I What's what what are your hopes like tigers fans like what what do they do tigers fans think they can make a wildcard team this year? Or are they just hoping to like yes. Yeah. I think they think they can compete for the AL central.

They signed Erod and Javi. Those are two monster signings. Yeah. And they were at they wanted Karea. So that got their organizational hopes. Erod and hobby are two monster signings. Jim. I mean, both.

Well, Erod was 80 mil. I know the money was, I know the money, what the money says, but like, neither are. If the Yankees signed Erod and Hobby, I think we'd be saying those are, you know, but the Yankees have Cole and judge. It's the same point that you just said. Like, those guys aren't the ace and the, the anchor. They're banking on a lot of young guys, mostly on, like mostly on the, hitting side and the rotation for a little bit. Like I guess I guess that's what I'm saying. Like if we

if we were a L. Central guys and we'd seen, you know, 10 Casey Mize and 10 scoble starts, I think we'd be speaking more highly about them like where their stat lines landed. So I think they feel pretty strong on that side. Like big Mike is a five starter. Like the tiger's rotation can be very real. Um, it's just just as a five because of that here, he's, I think he had like 30 starts and like a four ERA last year. Like he's, I don't think we need to read anything into how they're placed on like the roster resource thing. Yeah.

They won. The Tigers had like their final record is what it is. But they did have kind of like a winning year last year. It's like winning percentage above 500 in May, June, July, just under in August and winning and above in September. Now it's like a game over every month. But that's why I thought they were fun last year. because they were supposed to not do that at all.

And I guess. And I guess that's what, because they had that awful start. They put that in their rear view. They played solid ball. Then you add Erod. Then you add Havi. Then you add Torkelson, Riley Green to top six prospects. That's where if you're a fan base, if you're a fan of the Tigers,

you're thinking wild card. Like, I don't think any of us would place money on a Tigers wild card. But it's, you know, spring training. James, I got something for you, bro. Okay, I know you like catchers. And you like names. And I like big players. And Jake, I don't really know what you like.

Dylan Dingler, catcher, 6-3-2-10, one of their top prospects. How do you feel about that one? Like it's illegal, straight out of a baseball movie. Dylan Dingler the catcher also baseball reference baseball reference has him as catcher outfielder which is a joke I make a I make a decent amount because that basically that just means you can hit and you're slow well no it's funny they have one of those already in Eric Haas so Dylan Dingler's like the understudy slipped in the draft a little bit out of Ohio State um sorry I had I had information

and want to get it out without being a total doucheback but who was the who was the who was their catcher last year with a mustache um wasn't pudge right no no okay mustache last year yeah yeah like a classic mustache uh hold on tigers catcher mustache here he is jake rogers guys jake rogers wow another great baseball name. Yeah. It's like a dog who becomes a human. How about this?

Stay alive. Okay. In this new playoff format. Dog name. So all the tigers catchers are just dogs. Dogs. Dingler, Tucker, and Jake. If you're a Tigers fan,

how about you dream of staying around all year and then you go Atlanta Braves and you add yourself a jock and a Solair and hope they, click, right? That's like your, that's your best case, kind of. Yeah. Before we get into the over under, which I want to do, Max's fun stat, really nice. I like this one because it's a big milestone. Miggy Cabs. We know we got to 500 home runs last year.

13 hits shy of 3,000. So he'd be the seventh player to achieve 500 home runs and 3,000 hits. The other guys, Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, I would pool holes. Alex Rodriguez, Eddie Murray, and Raphael Palmero. That is elite company right there. So that's going to be awesome. I have that to look forward to for the Tigers.

77 and a half, James. 77 and a half. I think I know where you're leaning. Let's say it all together on three. Yeah? 77. What did they do last year? They were 77 and 85.

Over. Oh, okay. Three. Over. Over. I think they're going to get better than last year. 500 balls off. I think so for sure. If they didn't have an abysmal April last year, they're over. And they had like a, like a bad, bad April. They were like, it was like 300 winning percentage. Like if they went three more games, they're there. And I do think they, they should have gotten better. They did get better. I'm going to go over. What do you got? What do you got?

I also already lied about an over-under in this episode. I'm going under. Oh, my goodness. I just drank a little bit of the Twins Kool-Aid. Like, dude, put those, put the offenses next to each other. It's like no contest. You could say the same for the pitching a little bit. But I kind of liked where we landed with, like, Minnesota.

Like, they got to go. They just paid Buxton and everyone. Like, they're in it. where the tigers, like there could be a September this year for the tigers where we're like, okay, like, let's Riley Green, Torkelson, scoble, Manning, like, we're still finding out who these guys are as young players. I don't like it. I don't feel great about it. I wouldn't bet against it.

And opposite of the Guardians, I'm going to root for this Detroit Tigers team because I think they can be really cool. I'm going to root for him too. Tigers finish in second I mean Torkelson 70 grade power Animals or baseball I didn't mean what I just said Okay what did you just say

I meant guardians Now you're just talking silly So where do you have the tigers All of the guardians pitchers are better Than all of the tigers That's not true Not Erod Than all of the twins pitchers

Like all of them All of the guardians Yeah but they're Look at their off offense. Yeah, but pitching is more important. Anyway, that we already did that conversation. Yeah, we did.

I need the twins to make a trade. I'm going over on the Tigers. I'm rooting for them. I don't think they're going to make the playoffs. But I'm glad that there's hope in. Next year is, I think, we're talking like, okay, here we go. Like Torkelton will be a piece of guy.

Like we know it. Like I just said, 70 grade power. He's only 6-1-2-20. I thought this guy was a monster, but how big are you again? 6-1. I'm getting to 200 again. I'm getting close. So me and Torquist and same guy. All right. That ends. That ends the Tigers portion of this episode. Or if you're watching on YouTube, just of this episode.

We are moving on the last team in the division. Now, we jump. We jump so much. We had the Royals who our audience ranked as a 2015. best team. Then we did the Guardians, ranked as a 23rd best team. And we did the twins, ranked as a 22nd best team. And we did the Tigers, ranked as the 20th best team. And then you jump to number five. And again, a lot of those rankings happen for a lot of the off seasons. But this is the story of the AL Central forever and always. And by that, I mean, the last five years. There is a one team that rules the land and they beat up on all the little teams and then they

losing the playoffs. That's the AL Central. And it's the White Sox. The fifth ranked team by our audience, uh, good year last year, 93 and 69 lost in the ALDS to the Astros in four games. Jake, this is one that I, I feel like they made moves that I forgot about all of them or they didn't make a lot. What did the White Sox do this offseason? I know I can remember one. James. So for our who they lost, they turned down a club option on Caesar Hernandez, the on-base percentage second baseman. He's out of town. Carlos Rodon, that's a sneaky one. He had a huge year last year. He's now the San Francisco treat. Billy Hamilton, he's gone. I know some White Sox fans didn't like how much TLR was playing him. Ryan Taperra,

really solid reliever. Adam E.N. Ooh. And my guy. Magical. I think that was at the deadline last year. Hot. He's in Cubs uniform. Now, who they added, Kendall Graveman, an already stacked bullpen. They bring in Kendall Graveman on a three-year deal. Vince Velasquez, Trev's guy, he's going to be in a little bit of a swing role. Daddy likes that. How about Joe Kelly? Guarantee you see him pitching in October. That's how baseball works. Josh Harrison is around to be a util guy. And yeah, man, I mean, this is one of these squads in baseball right now. And Trev, the pitching is delightful, especially after some of the teams we just went through.

Absolutely. I mean, look, I'm not going to sugarcoat it. This is one of my favorite teams in baseball right now. I really like this lineup. I like the rotation. I love the bullpen, so let's get to it. Lance Lynn, our guy is back doing his thing. Him and G. Leto, top of the rotation there.

They did lose Rodon, which is tough. But you got Cease, Kikel, you got co-pick. I think they might be even trying to crochet out. I think they're stretching him out. Is that right? I have to look that up. But a nice rotation there. They have maybe some depth issues with the starters.

I have to see who's coming up for them. But the bullpen, like you said, is also just elite. Jim Hendricks, Craig Kimbril, Aaron Bummer, Kendall Graven, Crochet, Bernalde-Lopez. I mean, who do they sign to Perr? To pair out here? Like, they just have absolute depth kind of everywhere on their team. The rotation, I think, is one spot. Now that I'm kind of getting in the nitty-gritty here, that maybe they need some more depth

there, like another five guy or something like that, to eat up some endings throughout the season to keep everyone healthy. But, man, pitching is good. line up James sick I did I did do a quick Google for you on crochet they are extending him at in relief first so instead of uh you know a one inning guy uh which he did scary by the year he they're going to try and get him as a multi-ending reliever with hopes he can eventually be uh an option for the rotation or get their uh a backup option option or just an option so they're they're seeing

and that as well, a little bit of lack of depth in that rotation. As for the lineup, you got Tim Anderson, the guy who hates your stupid analytics. Luis Robert, Jose, Abrae, Young, Moncada, Eloy Jimenez, Yosmani, Grendal, Gavin Sheets, Josh Harrison, and Lori Garcia. How many Americans are in this lineup? Two? three she's hair i mean if if josh harrison is going to start yes three but this is christ harrison is going to be the like adam eat in um madrigal hamilton for tLR this season

i think they'll just give harrison tons of run until he either they take him away from tony or he proves himself to be worthy of it seems like the old school utility short guy that Tony the Roses seems to love just running out there. This team's different. I mean, we did the whole division now. And I think in all facets, lineup, it goes there with the twins, similar. But when you have all three,

I think this lineup is much better than the twins lineup. I do. I do. I think better. I think better. But I think they're, you could talk about them in the same thing. but as a collective, this team is different than the other four in the division on paper by a wide margin. I agree with our audience who rank them as such.

And it's funny, you can like, we talk about like a little bit of starting pitching lack of depth there, but because they're so stacked in the bullpen, they just seem like they keep signing good relievers to when other teams are just like sleeping on this. Like, I don't get how Kendall Graven went there. I don't understand that, but they're drawing from that. And if you have a rotation of Lynn, G. Alito, C's and then Kopeck and Crochet. Have you seen these guys throw the ball? Copac and crochet could be ace, ace.

Like if everything hits with these guys and, like, they can put it all together, we're talking about five dudes who have potential to be number ones. Some guys that are already number ones. I mean, obviously G. Lido and Lynn have proved it. C's been that guy too at points. I don't know about a one for him, but you know what I'm saying. How about a high level pitching?

How about Lance Lynn throwing 80% fastballs or whatever he's throwing with a bunch of guys around him that hit 100 on the gun easy? Like Lance just must tell him like, hey, just heater. You boys got it. Just throw it. their pitching can be in a whole other world, especially in the American League. Like we looked at a lot of those NL rotations last year. The American League, I mean, this is kind of the class.

Lucas Gialito can win a Cy Young. Lance Lynn has been in it. Cease, like casually can strike out 200 guys. And Copac and Crochet could be the most talented of the crew. and that's before you get to Hendricks, Kimbril, Bummer, and Graveman, who in a playoff game, those guys can give you about six innings. And Kelly. The white, yeah, and that's Joe Kelly who will be pitching in the playoffs.

That's just how it works. And Trev, I'm not even too worried about the depth. Like a guy like Vince Velasquez, Rinaldo Lopez has started games for them in the past, they're going to be fine. And the lineup, you know, the top six in a given year can get you. MVP votes. Eloy, you guys know that's my guy. He's kind of another Fran Mill for me.

Like that guy could hit 45 this year and I would not be shocked. Yon Moncada is probably underrated in the baseball world for what he does defensively and is a switch hitter and getting on base. The team is loaded. The team is absolutely loaded. I guess the question from my end would be, and the farm systems pretty much depleted and good, like they're in their window, go, go, go. How much can they genuinely get caught in an AL central slot?

Like how much of the twins, now that they've got some energy, how much of the tigers and what we just talked about with them? Like, the Royals want to be a competitive team this year. Like, that's a genuine thing. Like, how much can the AL Central and those teams that Jimmy noted are, you know, We've revoted. They're probably all in the, they're in the 20s region. How much can those teams keep the white socks in the, in the slog of the central?

Or are they just going to go gangbusters and see you guys at the finish line? Well, I, I don't think those teams are going to pose a huge threat. They didn't last year. And the four teams that don't win the division rarely pose a threat to the team that wins the division in the AL Central these days. And that's, you guys know, I'll track it all season. and I'll be annoying about it. And Tref says I give the division no respect.

And I don't until it happens. The White Sox were one of the only playoff teams last year that had a losing record against teams over 500, which is what we've seen every year. The twins were doing it. The White Sox do it. They just beat up on their own. Whoever's the king of that hill,

then they enter a different hill and then they get beat. So I need the White Sox to have a winning record against teams. that are 500 or over. I need the winner of the AL Central to have a winning record against good teams. Dude, this team won 93 games last year, essentially without Eloy and Lubob. 66 and 40 against the bad teams.

What you need to do, you need to eat against the bad teams. And there's a lot of bad teams in the division, especially last year with the twins being a shit show. You just, you know, also need to win against the good teams. I love this team. I don't know. I mean, this is, this is one of my teams in contention for a pick in the World Series, 100%. I don't think that's obvious. I think they're the, I think they're the favorites in the AL in Vegas. This is one of the best teams in the AL right now. I mean, I love the rotation. What went wrong last year in the playoffs?

The Astros. Yeah, the Astros. Just goes to the Astros. Yeah. And I guess that's, That's where, you know, a good sports narrative, which Poppy Gordo loves, you know, the first year the White Sox were supposed to be good was the pandemic season. Jose Bray wins the MVP, like, you know, but just kind of a weird year overall, if we're being completely honest. Last year was the first time the White Sox were kind of like, welcome at the table. Like, all right, like all the best warriors from around are going to gather up and we're going to fight. see who wins. And they ran into those damn Astros and the Astros gave them the noise. If that stuck with the White Sox and they said, okay, so our 93 games we won last year meant nothing and they bring that to this season and this postseason, they're the most talented team in the AL, I think, I really think. And I do think what Jimmy says is true. It's how much do they

get challenged. And that's also a reason why I kind of get a little excited for these White Sox, because I do think day in, day out in the Central, they're going to get challenged a little more. I think the Royals got a little bit better. I think the twins are going to be a better team this year. The Tigers became a better team. So that's when I was talking about the slop. Does anyone stay close to them? Because if they do, I think that would be important for the White Sox. Because there's no Oakland days. There's no Baltimore Orioles in this division. So on night in, night and night in, night in, that's not a statement.

Day in, day in, day out, the White Sox are going to get a team that's trying to win games, at least up until August, September. Now, who's around then? And do they have any matchups? I don't know. But I kind of like that formula for them. I misspoke earlier. They are the third best odds or worst odds, whatever you want to call them.

J's are the number one team in Vegas, according to the drafting sportsbook, for the AL title. And then the Yankees, then the Astros, and then the White Sox. I'm excited about they play the Dodgers, the Padres, the Giants this year. So those will be fun. Ooh. Yeah. So they have the NLS. That is. That's kind of important.

There you go. There's your competition. That helps. Look, yeah. These guys are good. The over under is 91.5. I take in the over. I think they're going to beat up on the Central. This is one of my favorite team. I am rooting for them. I think they're going to win like 95 games.

I hope so. Otherwise, I mean, baseball can do baseball stuff. But this is a really good team. This is one I would go run to, bet. Like how many other teams are we going to say, yes, all three facets are A's? Like their rotation, their bullpen and their lineup are all A's. Like not A plus, but A. And how many teams are there that have that? Three, four? Not a lot.

So let's, let's try to, we haven't seen one yet. Let's try to find the devil's advocate. because when you see 91 and you think of the team that the White Sox could be, like what happens? Like one of the twins are real or Detroit's real and they have injuries and it starts getting loud around Tony LaRusa. Like is that is that the only formula that a team like this could land at like 88 wins? Whatever happened to the twins last year, but they weren't as good as the White Sox on paper. I found a flaw.

I found a flaw. I got a fatal flaw. You know, like the two towers, Lord of the Rings, there was like a little spillway where one of the Urichai runs down and puts like the explosive. Like that's the flaw in the in Helms deep. The defense was really bad last year for the White Sox.

That is true. 40 defensive run saved in total. So we have to mention that. That has to improve. I don't know if it willed. Is Lou Bob? I don't think Eloy is a premium defender. Lou Bob, I'm assuming is.

Eloy's not. I don't know about it. They got to get better there. They got to get better there. It took a ball to the head for one time. You want me to sound like a like Mad Dog or something right here? Yes. In the playoffs, defense matters.

You got to have defense. Jake, do you want to hear how they end their season? I think you're going to enjoy it. Sure. Four against the A's, two against the Rockies, three against the Tigers, three against the Guardians, three against the Tigers, three against the twins, two against the Padres, three against the twins.

You like that? Easy. I like it for making sure they win the division. stay alive Minnesota there you go if one of those teams if the twins are around and it becomes a challenge that's really fun otherwise their last challenge will be August 18th 15th through 18th against the Astros other than that they don't they don't have a assumed playoff team in all of September all right me and James are on the over Jake. The Vegas in me wants to do the under, but this team's really good.

I mean, I, someone, someone who hasn't had his name said, you guys know I've like, if, if there was stock, I would buy all the Andrew Vaughn stock in the world. And right now he's, I got baseball cards if you want them. Right. Yeah. I mean, that's, that's kind of baseball stock, right? And that dude doesn't even get mentioned where if Andrew Vaughn was on the Tigers, I would have been like, I think this dude's going to hit three and be like, yeah. I think this dude's going to hit three and be like, lights out. And he's a bonus point for the White Sox. So I'll go over. I'm not going to try to play the Vegas game. I think this team's just going to win games. They have to. Jake goes over. Jake does not play the Vegas game. I'm going to play a game though. It's not Vegas game. We'll

call it the Calabasas game. James is going to cut me. You might after I ask this question because it's kind of silly. That's the Calabasas game. It's kind of a bait question here. But if we put this team we just inserted them into the AL East we added the team where do these guys rank in your projections would you put them in the head of the BJs they'd be the favorite for me

like for me they'd be the favorite but the Blue Jays are the favorite in the east like according to draft kings has them favorite in the AL draft kings are such trolls well Vegas does they they play with your emotions

that shit. That's stupid. The White's actually the favorite. Okay. That says a lot. If you're talking about like games one, I'm saying you put them in the ALEs and they have to face all those teams just the same way. You think they come out on top? Yeah. Yeah, but it'd be like tighter.

Like maybe I, maybe they're the favorite in the East, but the, I don't, I take the under. Okay. Like, I think that. playing the Central. Like I, I'd sprinkle on them having the best record in the AL. Okay. Because I think they're going to feast.

That's a big endorsement coming from you. Yeah. I have one last thing. Yeah. He did it up. Luis Robert. Hmm. 68 games last year.

338, 378, 946 OPS. He's a stuff. And I think you went on record so he wasn't even trying that hard. Yeah, he was just like chilling. They're going to be good guys. They're going to be good.

Z white socks. Okay. That's the end of the White Sox episode. Thanks for tuning in. If you're white socks fan, let us know what we missed when we messed up on and all that stuff because you know your team way better

than we do. Thank you guys for listening. We'll be back. What are we doing next? Are we doing the West Coast or the East Coast? Coast, baby. So I just made a schedule.

I think it'll be ALS next. I'll tell you details after we hit and record here. East Coast by East Coastal elites. Screw the middle Americans. I don't want to say that. These are my people. I spend a lot of good years in the law.

Bye, everyone. Bye, bye, boy.