Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 468 | NL East | Profile & Projection

Episode Date: April 2, 2022

We move over to the East Coast for our Team Profile & Projection series. Will the Mets & Phillies offseasons be enough to overtake the defending-champion Atlanta Braves?  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.

Hello, what's going on? It's another episode of teams, profiles, and projections here on Talkin' Baseball, brought to you by Seat Geek. We are doing the National League East today. And if this is your first time tuning in for one of these because you are a fan of one of these five teams in this division, make sure that you are under the impression that we know less than you. And we need your help. We count on our audience. They clean things up for us.

They tidied up. to make us sound less dumb and more smart. Also, if you're listening on the podcast app, this is going to be a long episode, about an hour and a half or so, and you'll hear all five teams. If you're tuning into YouTube, it's one team per video.

Now that I've laid the groundwork, I think we're going to get right into it, unless you guys have some quick first words. Jake, on the clock, first words. Fire me up. Let's go. Trev, do you have any first words? We're dumb sometimes. BPD?

We're recording these and ALEs back to back. So it's going to be one big session. Just so everyone knows. He loved it. Speaking of one big sessions. On your mark. Get set and go. The stopwatch is going.

There's 10 minutes on the clock. The Washington Nationals won 65 games last year. They missed the playoffs. They traded a couple guys that had some promise. They kept some other guys. They did make some moves in the off season that are a little odd. And I'd like Jake to tell us about him, Jake. You're Washington Nationals, who they lost.

Poor one out, Trev. And let's retire a number. Ryan Zimmerman, Mr. National. What a career. He's the only notable loss. Who they added. Nelson Cruz. Love him.

Caesar Hernandez. How's your on-base king? Steve Seishak. Sean Doolittle. Iheri Adrianza. Let's get that right. maybe. And then some minor league deals, guys you might know that'll be playing in the show this year.

Annie Ball Sanchez, Michael Franco, D. Strange Gordon, Tyler Clippard, how's your high changeup? And Aaron Sanchez trying to find it back from his Blue J days. So they brought in a lot of guys to this 65 and 97 team. And I guess if there's somewhere you can dream, it's the rotation a little bit, T-nasty? You can. we got to get some guys healthy here. Starting the rotation off, Steven, Strasberg ever heard of him.

The electric debut seems like 50 years ago. Still in the Washington Nationals organization, missed a lot of 2021 with right shoulder inflammation. Behind him, Patrick Corbyn. They paid him a ton to be the lefty that strikes everybody out. They got Josiah Gray from the Dodgers. We got Joe Ross there, Palo Espina, Eric Fettywap. Jake, you like that name.

And like you said, Annabel Sanchez is in there on a minor league deal. But man, he got hammered against the Cardinals. I think he gave like 14 runs or something like that. So not a great start to spring for him. But in the bullpen, some more familiar names. Kyle Finnegan, Tanner Rainey, Steve Seishak, Sean Doolittle is back, Will Harris. You know, so there is some pitching here. James, why don't you tell us about the lineup that definitely has some boppers?

Yeah, the two, three, and four are fun. You got Caesar Hernandez. They have him scratches leading off at second base. Then you have Juan Soto. I mean, if your team's playing the Nationals, make sure you pay extra special attention to Juan Soto at bats. And, by the way, impossible not to. So I don't even need to tell you that.

Nelson Cruz behind him for at least half of the year. Josh Bell behind him for at least half of the year. Kelbert Ruiz, not in my book. Lame Thomas. That's a tough name. Not in my book. Alcidas Escobar. We like him.

Michael Franco and Victor Robles. So that really dives off. It does a little bit. And even the pitching, we're talking about Strasbourg. He had Thoracic Outlet Syndrome last year. You know about the guys that have had that. It is tough to come back from that. He's working now.

I think this is what an article says. They're hoping to get anything out of Stephen Strasbourg. That's a good article. I'm sure he is happy about that. This is a trade team. This team's going to be really bad, and then other teams are going to ask for pieces. Nelson Cruz will probably be traded.

Give him $10 million, have him bang some home runs for three months, and then trade him for prospects at the deadline. If he ends the year with this team, I think, is a weird option, but that would be bizarre. Josh Bell actually had a good year last year. Yeah. And that was awesome, good for Josh Bell.

And he should also not end this season with this team. And then the whole bullpen is, basically that. It's like they are, their strategy is, hey, maybe, you know, we'll trade Will Harris,

C-Shack, do a little, like if anyone plays themselves into being wanted, we'll get a return with some prospects. I think that's the goal this year. And they, the 2019,

World Series champion nationals, things have changed a lot. Patrick Corbyn, who's slotted in at the one spot, right now because remember Scherzer used to be there. He gone. Strasbourg, you mentioned the Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. You know, a couple more success stories are starting to leak out. Alex Cobb, I didn't realize he was one.

So let's hope Strasbourg gets to be one of those because, man, what a sneaky little career he's had, huh? And by the way, they gave him the bag. So if you're a Nationals fan that wants some hope over the next five years or so, you hope that guy bounces back. Patrick Corbyn got killed last year. 582 ERA. He slotted in the one hole. This division is disgusting.

This division is disgustingly good. So, yeah, I mean, you're looking to find the next part of Nationals history. I know they're trying to lock up Juan Soto. I think, you know, bringing in Nelson Cruz and a couple of those guys on the offensive end were to help Juan feel more comfortable. So hopefully they can lock him up for the next 13 years and, you know, make sure he's a national and build around him. Ruiz is a legit prospect behind the dish.

Josiah Gray is a legit prospect pitching. Those are part of the return for Scherzer and Trey Turner. So those are the guys you're circling in Natsland. Like, hey, if those guys click, we're starting to build a young core of this team. But you're right, Jimbo. I mean, Josh Bell, I think it's a contract year for him. Nelson Cruz, by the midway point of the season, is going to be better surfer contender.

Same with Caesar Hernandez and any of the bodies in the bullpen. So sorry Nats fans. I mean, I don't think any of you are surprised, especially these other four teams in the division. Like even the fish, I think, are just a tier up from Los Nats. I started this off by saying, hey, these guys could, they can make some moves.

They could do something. And as you mentioned to me, Jake, wait until we get to the other teams. Now that I'm even going over the roster and kind of seeing what we're playing here or playing with here, it's going to be a long season. But you do have Juan Soto. I think, like, let's get a silver lining here. You want to go out and see one of the best hitters to ever do it. You can go see one of the best hitters to ever do it. Not every team can say that when they're struggling.

The pirates don't have that. So we're trying to give a little bit of optimism here. You still get out to the ballpark and go watch him. Yeah, it's front office season. Watch Juan Soto. He's not going anywhere. So you're rooting for awards here. Like you're rooting for Juan Soto to hit a ton of home runs, to win MVP,

to have protection. And then you're rooting for some of the young guys to stand out and give you hope and promise for like the next year. And then root for the front office to move some guys and get good returns. Basically. And start working a framework to keep Juan Soto in Washington for the next decade and a half. Yeah. Like don't make.

Make him miserable. Make him feel like... Honestly, here's what I would do if I was a Nashville fan. I go to the park. I go for BP. I try to catch me some Juan Soda homers and BP. Stick around for the game.

Watch them take a few A-Bs, have a beer. And whatever the night brings you, you might get a victory. Probably not. Odds are you won't. But I think if you go early and try to get some one-soda homers, they'll make for a successful day.

I can't tell if that's depressing or I'm trying to be nice. Yeah. Yes, to both. I think, you know, TPPs, we jump in the deep end and start swimming because we were in lockout mode. Like, if we're being honest, like, what this TPP should be is like, hey, if you're deep-cut baseball, like Carter Key Boom, once, you know, he strained his forearm, but he should get a lot of at-bats this year. Is he an MLB guy guy? You know, the other Luis Garcia, Luis V Garcia, he's a young guy, he's going to start the year in the minors, he should get called up.

You just, if you're a Nats fan, you want to circle three guys that next year you're penciling in the lineup and you like them. And, you know, hey, the Washington Nationals, they showed they will spend. Like, they tried, I think they offered Juan Soto a $300 million bag. So, you know, let's get Strausberg on track. Let's get some money, get some young guys, make some free agent moves last year and start the next step. Because this team's not good. Worst thing to happen here is that Bell and Cruz have down years and you don't get to cash in because that's the biggest win. I hate rooting for the front office and that side.

I like you rooting for wins, but clearly you're going up against good time to rebuild if you're not a contender at all. Because there's some teams in this division. The other good thing they have going is the two main pieces they got and the Scherzer Turner trade are going to play all year, Keybert and Josiah Gray. They're going to play. You're going to get to see them. They're supposed to be really good.

You flipped Lester, I believe, for Lane Thomas, who came over and did really well. He's only 26 years old. He only has two years of service time. So this guy's going to be in your organization or James, a very attractive. I saw Lane Thomas Bad lead off. No, you didn't.

I swear in my life. You liar. Great piece if he goes off. Okay. You froze for a second. And then we got the rest of your sentence all in one quick, tidy package. And that's the net season. That's the that season.

That's it. Yeah. Let's move on before it freezes again. Over under is 42. 71 and a half. Ooh, I'm going to take the under. They went 65 last year. year and the division got better and they got worse.

That's an odd one to me. I think they kind of, there's an argument they got better. For two months. They didn't lose anything. Yeah. And they brought in guys trying to make. They had Turner and Schwerber for three months last year. They're like better than the team they finished with.

Yeah. But that's not how you can judge that. Exactly. They had Trey Turner and Shorber for half the year. Yeah. Now they're going to have Cruz and Bell for half. Like, yeah, under. I mean, the answer's under either way.

Yeah. Drive, hit that over, dude. I can't. Hammer that over, dog. I can't. I can't hammer the over, because they may have stayed the same or gotten a little bit better, but the division got like a lot better. So I'm taking the under.

Sorry, guys. I'm a little shocked that that's their real number. Yeah, that's like a run-to-the-phone number. Yeah. So I pick up the draft Kings and place the bet number. All right, draft Kings. Next up. We have the Miami Marlins.

Last year's finish. They won 67 games after being the bottom feeders, the fish with arms and making the playoffs in 2020, doing the damn thing, winning a series smoking cigars. Everyone was like, hey, maybe they can do it. And they kind of didn't. 67 and 95 missed the playoffs.

I know about the Marlins. I know more about the Marlins than I have in the last three years. Since the Yelly Stanton situation, because they have a lot of fun guys. Got a markable team that loses too many games. Jake, can you tell me some new faces and old? Yeah, pay attention. I will.

They lost the catcher, Jorge El Faro. Yeah. Fine. Joe panic. Don't panic. He's gone. Lewis Brinson, outfielder. He gone.

Zach Thompson. threw the pill for them a little bit last year. He's a pie rat now. Tough for Zach Thompson. Anyways, who they added? How about two outfielders? Jorge Soleran, Avicale Garcia. Boogity, boogie, boogie,

Miami, South Beach. That's what I'm talking about. Joey Wendell. Oh, Joey Wendell, he'll be playing some utility. Jacob Stallings. Jim, I mentioned there's a catcher out. There's a catcher in. Gold glove stalling.

Show him. Look at that fliggett at wrist. and Lewis Head might throw some innings this year. But they addressed some of their offensive needs. A couple outfielder's Jilly Lindel and a catcher. So they made their plan of attack. It just wasn't enough for Jeeves to stay around because Jeeves probably want a little more to support this young stuff.

I mean, this is a Trevor Plouf pitching staff right here. I'm looking at it and I'm wondering what the hell were they thinking during the Aussie? and you got these arms. And these aren't really household names, but I think after this year, they might be household names. Sandy Alcantara, Pablo Lopez, Trevor, Rogers,

go look at the stats from last year and tell me your team wouldn't want these guys heading your rotation. Okay, behind him, Elisa Hernandez. Jesus Lazzardo, he was the crown jewel of the A's for a long time.

He's got electric stuff. Sixthos, has behind them. This is depth. This is quality. And we knew these fish could pitch, but when you really start to look at it, my goodness. Move into the bullpen. We got Dylan Floro, Anthony Bender, Anthony Bass. Who else do we got? My page just froze. Doesn't matter. The way you hit Batch. Richard Blyer. Zach Anthony Bass. Zach Pop. Zachie Pop. Anthony Bass. They got Zachie Pop. Richard Blyer. Dick Blyer, BD's guy. Look, they can pick. dude.

Jimmy. Yeah. Can they hit though? You know what? I mean, they got some guys in the lineup. Last year, the Marlins were so good at being just below average. Like if you look at their final stats, all their offensive players, it was like you can have three of those on your team if they're if they're great with the glove. But they kind of have like a lot of those guys.

Anyway, they got the young stud, jazz. Chisholm Jr. They brought in Jorge Salar, three-year deal. Garrett Coup a loop. How about him? He's there. I mean, his numbers were good last year. Did he get hurt and play less games or something?

Yeah, he got hurt halfway through the year, but his numbers were good when he was there. He's a gap-to-gap guy. Abysale Garcia, they picked him up as a free agent. Jesus Sanchez, Jesus Aguilar, Brian Anderson, Jacob Stallings. Jake told you about that. And then our friend of the program,

Miggie Rowe. Also, Joey Wendell, who right now is listed on the bench, but he's going to get a lot of run. I don't think he's going to be a, like, he's going to be an everyday guy just roaming, so they have him on the bench right now. Trev, what you said about this team, this Marlins team, and you said they have that pitching.

Why didn't they go have an offseason? They did. But they're a little bit like the Rangers. They're like, hey, the Mets. And the Phillies and the Braves are going bananas right now. We got these guys locked up. Lazzardo, they got him through 2026. Trevor Rogers through 2026.

Some of the other pitchers, I think the same thing. Alcantara signed him up through 2026. So it's more like the Rangers story where they're like, we got a window. It's not closing. We're trying to open it, but they're waiting out. Because the guys they did sign, Garcia, he's locked up for four years. Solair, three-year deal, right?

Miggy Rose got two left. So I don't think the urgency is crazy high. And I think it's actually smart. I think it's smart that they're like, if we're going to get a guy that we like, let's get him for a couple years. Because this first one might be tough. But we can keep adding and adding and adding as we go.

I mean, you could say that, James, but where are these teams going? I mean, maybe the Phillies window is here and gone. I mean, I don't know. Look at the Nats, Trev. They won the World Series, the Nats. They signed their guys. They signed Patrick Corbyn.

They went out and got guys. They had Tray Turner and Scherzer and where's their window? They won the World Series, done. I mean, the Phillies, the Braves, the Mets, they could win their work. The Braves have everyone locked up too. I know. The Mets have everyone locked up. But the guys I named could have been locked up.

I'm just saying windows closed immediately sometimes. So, you know. I don't know, man. I just think the waiting around to make moves isn't always the best thing to do because there are some really good organizations that are in their division that are going to keep going. Uncle Stevie is going to continue to spend money. They might not draft and develop.

So he's going to be there. The Braves are an excellently run organization to have those guys locked up for the foreseeable future. Sure, like maybe fine. Wait this off season. If this happens again next off season, I'm be pissed. Yeah, I'm not necessarily applauding it. I'm just trying to figure out what what there might be doing.

And if they signed Garcia and Soler to one-year deals, I would be the opposite of applauding. I'd be like, this is dumb. But I like that they kind of locked them up and said, let's build a team here. There's a two-year plan and I think there's a five-year plan or four-year plan. I think that's kind of what you're alluding to. I think they want to find out now.

Like, we got to find out who these guys are. Al-Cantara, Al-Contra. I know we always, I heard Miggie Roe say it differently on the Chris Rose rotation today that's throwing me off. They just speed it up so fast that I can't like actually figure out. I watched a video of him saying his own name like 20 times in a row. I think it's Alcantara, but it sounds like Alcantra to us. I mean, and he's, he actually has an option for 2027,

and they're going to be paying him real money there, or is he gone? Like, honestly, the Marlins right now are a victim of their division, man. And, you know, we do some East Coast bias stuff here. If the Marlins and Orioles swap spots, like the Marlins would be slated for last place, in the ALE East. And it's tough because they are going up against some cash cows. Like, you're right, like Uncle Stevie, where do they end up landing?

You know, they seem to have a budget and they want to be New York, New York. Jimmy is right with the windows. Like, stuff does happen fast. Like, you could easily be looking at a Phillies or Mets team in a year or two that it's like, holy smokes, what happened? We could also be looking at them contending or being really good teams because they do have money that the Marlins just don't have to operate. Like if, you know, the Marlins payroll, estimated payroll for this year is $84 million,

which, hey, again, good for the Marlins. Like compared to the Guardians and a couple of these other teams, good for you. Like, you're trying to put a product on the field. I appreciate that. I have it as 112. I'm on fan graphs. I don't know. It says estimated 22 payroll 84 for this year.

luxury tax payroll 112 estimated luxury tax that's uh yeah that's in there too um so either way like if you could if you could get this team you know two arms in the bullpen that were paid six mil a year if you could get this team one more impact bat how many times did i yell about castellanos like one more impact bat in the middle of this lineup and they just don't and they're going up against these teams, like we're going to talk about the Phillies in a little bit. My goodness. Like, they're taking chance on a Jorge Soler.

Jorge Soler was so bad with the Kansas City Royals. He was solid with the Braves, and then he had the postseason of a lifetime. So like, what Jorge Soler are you getting? You know, are you getting the guy that can hit you 45 ding-dongs in a season? Are you getting a guy that could end up on slump watch this year? Who just got excited saying? Wow. Slomp watch.

But those are the chances that the Marlins have to take. And like, let's be honest, if the Marlins click this year, could they catch one of those teams if something goes south? Yeah, it's baseball. But they're not jumping all three of them. They just can't. They can't even jump two of them. So it's a brutal spot, brutal spot.

I just, you need an impact bat. I'm looking through the free agents that are going to be available next year. There's no one that really fits for them. they're not going to go sign of Xander Bogarts. They're not going to do that. A lot of the other guys that are free agents that you would like there, they're kind of old. They're older.

They don't fit what they need necessarily. So I think for them, it could be a trade. Like they have depth, pitching depth. And guess what every single team in the big leagues wants pitchers? So maybe that's the move that they make. I like this team, but yeah, I mean, going from. I think it's a fun watch. What a big jump.

And then I think when we see. maybe the other rosters, specifically the Braves and the Mets and the Phillies. I think we're going to see a little bit of a jump but definitely like a fun watch and there is there's some magic, Jake, and you're saying there is a world where these guys can shake things up and be competing for a wildcard spot.

We didn't even talk about 6-0 or did we? He got mentioned. We did. He's shoulder, I think they're waiting a month or something like that to see what he's got going on. Yeah, but I mean if he comes back and the window thing and Jimmy Yacobonis. Hey.

Oh. Jimmy Yacobonis. I've got a question. Yeah, we're almost at the time. Did this team finish second? No. In the AL Central. Oh.

Yeah, they have a chance. Yeah. I like them. Yeah. They have the second best pitching in the division. Yeah. I mean, that's where, you know, I think in a couple years we're going to be talking about

two more teams in baseball and some realignment. unfortunately if you just add the AL East the Marlins still gets screwed a little bit but this is a good ball team they're in the wrong division would you guys rather have this pitching staff for the Yankees pitching staff Cole's a good headliner

when you include are you doing just starting pitching or bullpen too because I this bullpen doesn't have a lot of I was talking starting pitching but I mean I guess we could do both I mean Cole is Coles the Cole's the difference maker.

Yeah. But I don't know if I don't know who I choose. Like that's a legitimate question from me. There's just so much deeper, I think. I still don't know if they're all certainties. Right. If I had one more year of Sandy Alcantara being... I think he's established himself enough.

I think so, but I just don't know like where's the hymn and Cole gap. You know what I'm saying? like, Garrett Cole, you kind of lock in. He's going to be like a top five side young guy. I don't know if Alcantra has a step back, or does he take a step up? If he takes a step up, I think there's an easy argument for the fish. Like my guy, Trevor Rogers, another Jakey stumbled into pig shit last year. He was awesome.

Yeah, so it's a pretty tough call, Trev, but there's some guys on the Yankees like Tyone and Monty, who I feel pretty comfortable in what we're going to get from them. and there's something about comfort over, like these guys have a much better high end. Like, I'm not doubting that at all. But because Cole and comfort, if Cole wasn't there, yes, absolutely. It's almost like Cole and comfort versus three better.

Cole's really good. He's top five pitcher. So. Yeah. Sandy, if you go by ERA, he's a 349. Cole's a three, two guy. So that's a sizable gap right there. That's a difference right there.

And then 121. ERA plus for Sandy and 129 ERA plus for Cole. And those are like they don't seem like massive jumps, but that's the difference between a really good pitcher and an elite pitcher. Top top 30 and top five. Trevor Rogers last year, 25 starts a 264 ERA. What?

Yeah, Pablo Lopez had a good year as well. I, I'm going to answer my own question. I take the, I take the Marlon staff. Yeah, I mean, if I'm not a Yankees fan, I think I'm going to say that, but I like have ties to my guys. Yeah. It's tough.

I think it's a fun conversation, Jeff. Really good stuff, dude. Over under? Over under is 76 and a half. That's great line. The question here is, do you think one of the Phillies, Mets, or Braves will fall apart? Which sometimes we've been banking on that. But usually it was with the Nats in there and the Nats fell apart hard.

I don't know. And we'll get to them in the next three episodes, next three conversations. I don't know if I have the Phillies or Mets or Braves falling apart this year. out of all the last three years, I kind of think all of them might be really good, which means that I got to take the under under one. It's a great line. I'm taking the over.

I'm rooting for a guy, Miguel Rojas. Always rooting for Mickey Roe. I'm just saying, I like the pitching staff. I think it's going to keep them in games. And maybe they'll just hit enough. You'll be a lot of close games. So who does the NLEs play this year? Do they play the A.L. Central?

I think so. Yes. No. NL Central plays the ALE East. We know that. You tell me they got the Dodgers Giants? Obviously they have Dodgers Giants. It's the National League, Jimmy, you bozo.

I am taking the over still, no matter who they play. Okay. Jake. Over. 77 wins. 77 wins. Come on, Miami. They play the AL West.

So Astros. Come on. It means we get Marlin Seattle, Mariner's Marlin series. That always peaks my interest. A little bit. Yeah, two different sides of the ocean. I'll bet you did a little bit. You know, cold fishermen versus hot fishermen.

I got one. Mariners catch Marlins. Game over or under 500 for the team. So either way, we're over. Oh, so you're going five. I have them at 76 or 77 wins. I think Vegas, if I could bet. 80 wins.

If I could bet both like that window, I absolutely would. And not even like Jakey jokes like throw it on green. Like they've pegged this. Vegas knows what they're doing. In all aspects. Who'd you vote for? I loved when we ended shows like that. That's the end of this one.

We're going to go on to the next one. And the next team. Oh. The Philadelphia Phillies last year, they finished above 500. but did not make the playoffs 82 wins, 80 losses. Jake, yes. This team lost a lot of guys, added a lot of guys, and I'm excited to find out how you guys feel about them.

And also excited to find out how I feel about them and the way. I just retweeted a picture of us at the Phillies game when we did the Scrotum. I liked that. God, what a what the time. we had. They lost guys, which I guess I didn't fully appreciate. Andrew McCutcheon, your boy, Trev. He's now a Mill O'Wake Brewer.

Hector Narese, a lot of talent. He's in Houston. Will they tap into that? Ian Kennedy, Jim's guy, backyard Brad, Trev's guy, Freddie Galvis, BPD's guy, Archie Bradley, formerly Chris Rose's guy, Haisley, Quinn, and Williams in the outfield. There's bodies there.

They lost some bodies. What did they add? Nick Castellanos and Kyle Schwarber, one of your best righty, lefty combo hitters in the league. They'll be patrolling some outfield in DH. How about that bullpen that's needed to be addressed? Corey Evil Kniebel, Euris Femilia slinging it. Jimmy's Brad Hand. O'Dobel Herrera re-signed.

Okay, cool, dude. Johann Camargo brings his sexiness over to Philadelphia. Is that important? Make it matter. Catch your Garrett's Stubbs. You might see him around in Philly this here. Bullpen guys and the lefty-righty duo, some of the bigger ads this off-season.

And I don't know how we got here, but the Philadelphia Phillies and that rotation, that dress. What did you just say? Yeah. Oh, my goodness. We love the rotation. Top end of the rotation

can match up with anybody in baseball, maybe not the Mets, who we're going to talk about soon, but we got Aaron Nola. We got our guy, Zach Wheeler, our guy, lead, Zephlin, Zach Eflin. Oh yeah, Ranger Suarez turned into one of the better pitchers in baseball last year.

So they have some depth there. They have some guys that have been there, done that. And Ranger, who lit the world on fire at the bullpen. They addressed it. Brod and Corey Kniebel, Jose Alvarado, Familia's there, Brad Hand, Connor Brogden, Sir Anthony Dominguez. At one point, when I was in the Phillies organization, they were saying this guy is the heir apparent.

So if he can get it going again, let's see James Norwood, Bailey Falter, Nick Nelson, Christopher Sanchez. Don't know these guys. That doesn't mean anything. Phillies fans, are they good? Let us know in the comments section. So we know about the pitching Jake, not you, Jimmy. But we're so stoked about on this team is this lineup, specifically the top five or six guys. You got Kyle Schwarber.

D.H. maybe outfield, J.T. Real Moodo, the most. athletic catcher in baseball? What? I like these guys. Bryce Harper. Nick Castianos. Reese Hoskins. Gerardy's favorite,

Jean Seguera. At Shortstop, D.D. Gregorius in center field, Matt Verling. And at third base, this says non-raster invitee,

Bryson Scott. Yes. Stott. Stott. That's tough. Stott. That should be Scott. That's like a birth certificate malfunction, I think.

Just think of Mel. Doctors change so many names. Oh, Mickey Moniach's there. Wow. Angry. They have some decisions to be made here in spring training, James. Like who's going to catch balls? Like who's going to play third base?

Alec Baum came up and everyone, you know, anointed him the next third baseman of the future for the Phillies. And the guy has got a ton of talent. It hasn't translated necessarily into results on the field, struggled a little bit. And you know how I say there's never really a spring training, you know, a challenge or a fight for a job like the front office knows who they want to play? Maybe I'm wrong on this one because from all accounts,

Bryson Stott, who was their top pick in 19, is on fire pushing for the job. And they know in this division, this is where it gets interesting, I think, for them. They know in this division, they can't give away games, that they can't wait to see if someone's going to do something. They need to get out to a hot start and stay hot the entire season. So Bryson Stott enters the chat. He's hot.

He's got a pedigree, just like Baum does. If they send Alec Baum to the minor leagues and have Bryson Stott start at third base for them, that's sending a message. I don't know if that's going to happen or not. Mickey Moniac now is probably going to be in the center field discussion. I think Herrera got hurt with an oblique just recently. Haysley just got traded. I don't think Verling's going to be the guy there.

So that's kind of where they have to figure something out. But with that being said, the rest of that lineup, like the top five guys there, that's toe to toe with any team in the big leagues. For real. Yeah. Oh, Johann Camargo. Hot. Trev, what you're saying there, it's those two spots for the Phillies.

Dedi, you know what? Like, we'll see whatever they get out of Dedi at this point. I think his bonus points for them. I think he can have a solid season in his shortstop. He just made a crazy play at spring training today. Center field and third base, do those become fun things for the Phillies or problem? Like, are bomb and stop pushing each other? A little lefty-righty platoon?

a couple young studs trying to make it in the show? Or is it kind of we're panicking over there? And neither of them are doing it. And what's the solution? Centerfield, I think Odebel, when he comes back, he's got a strained oblique. Trev, you've told the people about that. But, you know, we'll see if Veerling or Moniac or anyone else steps up.

The lineup is a really weird thing. The lineup is pretty stacked. The starting rotation is pretty stacked. And it's how much can a bullpen and defense help you? At least they address the bullpen. Defense, they kind of let a ride, baby. Yeah, I'm interested to see how Gerardy handles the defense on this team. I mean, Gerardy was mad at Seguer last year.

And it kind of became public or whatever. I mean, you got a bunch of bats. Got a bunch of bats. Hopefully they got some strikeout pitching and some, uh, yeah, I don't know. this is a video game team yeah and in veerling kind of fits that mold as well I kind of went back and did a little deep dive on him

the guy can rake came up last year and did really well I don't think he's a defensive whiz out there so if you're adding like another back first type of center field there kind of just like come on phillies adding to the problem Mickey Moniac is another guy who kind of hits

I don't know about his defense you know I don't have the info on that I know Bryson's supposed to be like shortstop of the future. So I'm assuming his defense will be plus at third. That's an assumption. I don't know that.

So he's a sure stop playing third base. When Gibby is on the mound, you guys better field the ground balls, okay? That's all I'm saying. I think I agree with that. What's going on with Nola? How much is,

I mean, Wheeler was awesome last year. Fangress have is like down at the five for some reason. It's kind of weird to me. You got Ghiby, you got Nola, Ranger Suarez.

I'm interested to track him. I mean, you got Gibby, you got Wheeler, Ranger Soros, trying to track him. Nola can be a difference maker. Had a good start this season. His secondary pitches just did him dirty last year. I think he ended up really scrapping the change up because he was just getting rocked on it. But I like Nola when he's on. He's one of my favorite pitchers to watch.

Yeah. But I'll get into some of the Numbies. I've got to strike some guys out. Because he's, his baseball reference, what that's telling me right now, now, you guys have heard me saying this, and now that I'm on his baseball savant, like, it just didn't happen. Like, I think last year for Aaron Nola is going to be the outlier. Like, that guy is really good. I think you read the, did you read the stats on them? The max provided, 531 ERA, but a 315 FIP in his last 10 starts. Maybe it just needs a little defense, huh?

He needs a little defense. We need to step it up. Come up. That's tough. Get a defensive center fielder fillies. How'd the Red Sauce get Jackie Bradley Jr. back so easily? Why do they do it? For free, basically. No, Renfro. Yeah. Anyone. Well, J.B.J.

Mickey Moniac, be the guy. Be the guy. Well, it was a, what? It was Renfro. J.B.J. was a salary dump. Didn't Boston get someone else as well? They got like two prospects for taking JBJ's contract. Corr said, give me my center fielder back. It's important. Yeah.

Yeah. They didn't go on them. Phillies could have used that. I'm playing my second base in center. I'd like, I'd like J.B.J. Brad back. Anyway, this is the Phillies thing. Philly's Bryson Scott is not the next Scott Kingery.

That's a headline I just read. Trave your thoughts. I don't know Bryce and Stah. I do know Scott Kingery a lot, so I will not sit here. A Stott Kingery, actually. Talk about him. Scott Kingery. Short Kingery.

Scott Kingery. Hey, Scott Kingery is doing all right. I think he's probably making like six or seven million this year. He was at the 3-11 driving concert. I went to with Cole Tucker. Hey, where are we at with the Phillies? Braves are a wagon. Mets are scary as shit.

I think I'm drinking a little bit of Phillies' Kool-Aid. That rotation is nasty. The lineup is nasty. God, they're going to be, there's going to be some scary games between bullpen and defense. So I believe, I believe. They are over the tax threshold, but it's their first year. So the penalties aren't super severe.

What does that mean for them adding somebody? Like at the deadline? I don't know, man. How bad is the defense? Like really, really, really, really bad. BPD wasn't, I know we talked about a lot, but the infield defense was historically bad last year. you're right?

It wouldn't pass very many eye tests, even D-D-D it was like his worst year on that side of the ball. It's his worst here on both sides of the ball. I'm not sure if I haven't watched enough of Schwerber and Cassianns's outfield play.

Do they make the routine plays at least? Probably, their vets. But I'm curious what the eye tests will be with the outfield and I kind of know what it is in the infield. It's not great. Ciguras is okay, generally.

Yeah, some of Ciguras. numbers were all right. Diedies were terrible last year. Jesus. Yeah, it was really bad. Philly's fans do not like Didi. And Gene Cigar had a few stand out, like, just what are you doing, plays. But overall, he is a good defender at second.

And Reese's Reese. I like Gene. J.T. Riamuto, there's going to be people making errors. You're just going to have to throw them out at second base. That's the plan. A lot of good timed pitchouts for JT.

I hope they mash. When we went to the Phillies game, weren't they down by like seven, and then they came back to win it? Something like that. This team, like needs a defensive formation. Like a winning formation. Two guys on their bench.

Maybe we just don't know those guys. Like maybe there's some names down there that Phillies fans, let us know. Because, yeah, Yankees did that because they're bad at the defense where they were like, all right, we have a four-run lead. So from the seventh inning on, you guys are now out. Defense, you're in.

Here's a stat for you. Oh, my God. Since 2013, when the most recent version of defensive run saves was developed, only three of the 15 teams with the lowest run save totals made the playoffs, the 2013 and 2014 Detroit Tigers and the 2013 Oakland A's. Who was the GM of those tigers? Dave Dombrowski. So he don't like defense?

Dave don't care about defense. Wow. I like that. They want you to bang it. Hit and walk. They're going to get on days, right? We got a lot of good OBPs here. You know what's funny is this team mirrors like one of those tiger teams where you have good starting pitching or great starting pitching.

You can mash and the bullpen is kind of a, we'll see like it's been a weakness and also the defense. That's exactly what the tigers were. They had all time pitching there and an all time offense, but the bullpen couldn't get it done and the defense was bad. You also have on this team good balance, right? Especially if they can slide D-D-D up a little bit.

I think you can go right-e-left-to-right-e, like pretty deep into it. Oh, you love that. I do like that. Especially with the three batter rule. No, it would be the Dumbrowski nuke. And again, this information could be bad in a couple hours. Like, sign Conforto, throw him in center.

Like, let's just go scorched earth. Like, screw defense. catch some fly balls. Let's mash. Let's go mash potatoes. The Mets can have good defense now. Weren't they the bad defensive team two years ago in the East? I think they've improved it.

I don't think they're going to be a good defensive team. I think Lindoror really helped them because he's like an all-world defensive shortstop. Well, they're not the worst defense out of the contending teams in the East now. That's good. That's huge. You don't got to get better. Just let other people get worse.

Say a Jada kiss line. Ha ha. Just bang. Just bang. We'll make a Philly shirt. I'm mad. I want to sound mad. I feel marvelous.

Ha ha. The over under is 85 and a half wins. Mm. Yikes. I'm drinking the cool. They won 802 last year. I'm drinking the cool. I mean.

They won 82 last year. To be somewhat fair to McCutcheon, like McCutcheon had a solid year. I mean, I do think whether it's Cassiannas or Hurstian. Shore row, they are an upgrade. I mean, I'm, I just really believe in their starting pitching. Like, if Gibby's your four, Suarez is your four. The division's obviously scary. We talked about it with the fish and Los Nats.

That much talent. Trev, didn't you say something the other day? Not that this really matters, but something about Castellanos being fired. with Harper and like what that just does day and day out. I dream that. Castiano's is a mixture of Harper and Rendon. He's half monk, half fiery.

Yeah. Half no swag, half so much swag. Dude, he used to have the least swag ever when he played for Detroit. The worst cleats. He'd always wear like, he uses a flip phone. All black cleats. They were so bad. Yeah.

But what I said, Jake, was this guy is more confident than anyone in the big leagues than Harper. And it's real confidence. This isn't fake bullshit. Like this guy really is confident in what he does. He says, I provide for my family by hitting baseballs. And I love that. That's what he does. He rakes.

Where are you guys going? I'm going to take the over. Okay. Trev. I really want to. look at the Mets roster deep dive before I make this. I think you can bash your way to wins in the regular season. It's close.

This is a good line too. Does this, does 87 wins make the playoffs? But my thing is, I think that, like, I'd put them in contention for having, like, the longest win streak. Because I think you can just mash teams. You get to a team early. You get to a team early and then you kill their bullpen. Like, that's what the Phillies need to do.

First games of series, their mindset needs to be, let's kill this bullpen now so we can feast on the shit. The game's two and three. It works in the regular season. They got a face good, started pitching in this division. Yeah, but they got the Marlins. They got the Mets. They got the Braves.

I mean, they are. Divisions of Bloodbath. And the other thing going against the Phillies, they have the longest NL playoff drought. Some organizational stuff there. They are, I will say, draft Kings, a better odds to make the playoffs minus 120 than to not plus 100. So it's tight, but Vegas does think they're going to sneak in this year.

I'm going to take the over and I'm going to put their win total at like 87 to 88 games. They're barely going to get over. I think they're going to sneak into the playoffs and then look out. And then look out. Okay. That's where I'm at. We've done it. Good job, everybody.

Moving on to the next team in the east. It a bike noise sound. Come on. Love it. We have the Mets. Time to talk about the New York Mets. Our audience ranked them the ninth best team in baseball this year. They won 77 games.

They were that bad last year. They really faded at the end, if you remember. I guess I forgot. Straight nose. I remember they were lead in the east for a while. Yeah. Yeah. I just didn't know the final number into that 77.

I would have guessed it was. like the Phillies like 82 or 80. When it fell, it fell. Wow, I didn't know that. I didn't, I guess maybe I did, but I forgot. 77 and 85, they missed the playoffs. Holy smoke a mo. Smoky-bo.

They were booing their own fans and stuff like that. Now I remember. Jake, you're up. Talk about, we got names out, names in, fellas. Havi bias, trade deadline, he gone, tigers. How's a buck 40 mill? Let's get dinner. Marcus Stroman.

His time as a met is over. He's in Wrigley now. Noah Cindergarde on my halos. Won't regret that at all. Conforto remains unsigned. Aaron Loup, how good was he last year? Familia, Brad Hand, Rich Hill, Kevin Pilar, Albert Almora, Jose Piraza.

That's a lot of dudes. They brought in the dude. Max Scherzer will pair up in the rotation with DeGrom. Bugety, Buggy-Buggetty. Starling Marte, Chris Bassett, Mark Kanna, how's your Oakland A's? Eduardo Escobar, five-tool-Light, and Adamadovino. Wee, we, we, we, we, we, we, we, we, we, we, we, like a cop car. Trev, they added and they lost. That rotation, some are saying it could be the best in all the land.

James, Jacob, B, B, B, D. This could be one of the best rotations in the big as I think it might be. especially when we were talking with the top three guys. Jacob de Grom, do you guys remember the start of the year he had? We were talking all-time seasons, not just a great season, an all-time season, got cut short, missed. All of the second half, but he's back feeling good, looks lights out in spring training.

Behind him, oh, yeah, they brought in Max Scherzer, who was lights out last year for the Nationals and the Dodgers. They just traded for Chris Bassett, who was also incredible for the A. So those top three guys right there, that's competing against any team in the baseball. big leagues, bar none. And I think if you're really breaking down, it's probably the best top three in the big leagues. Behind them, Cookie Carrasco, Tyler McGill, Taiwan Walker. So we're talking depth, too, in the bullpen. I like the bullpen a lot. Edwin Diaz, Trevor May, Adam Ottavino,

Seth Lugo, Miguel Castro. These are guys that can pitch in a lot of different situations and gets you outs. I like the pitching. I like the relievers. I like the starters. James, what about that lineup? The lineup's got some new faces. They got some familiar ones as well. First rounder, Brandon Nimmo. Still doing the thing. Starlin Marte comes over. Francisco Lindor, Pete Alonzo Cano.

Back in the fold. Eddie Escobar, Jake's guy, Jeff McNeil, Mark Kana. Kana. Every time I say his name, I ask that question. Kana. I say Kana. Can he?

Kanah. James McCann. Canna McCann. Canna on baseball reference. Got it. That's the lineup. I mean, Dom Smith is still around. Jady Davis is still around.

My dude, Luis Mirame is still round. Maybe he's laughing. Markana's Twitter is at Out to Park, Mark. Nice. Yeah, huge news is Conforto, not around. Did lead the team and hit by pitch last year with 12. Metz were third in. in the NL in team hit by pitches.

Good news. They bring in Mark Kana, the hit by pitch king. So if Mets fans were worried, who's going to get all our hit by pitches? I mean, Mark Kana led all of baseball 27 last year. So the Mets should be climbing up the NL rankings and total hit by pitches. Jonathan Nia is really helping those reds out, though. So that's my first take. That's good.

That's good. I think I want to circle back on the pitching because let's be honest. I mean, what do we say about DeGrom and Scherzer? But they're incredible. Oh, my God, Marte 13 hit by pitches last year. The Mets are going to kill the hit by pitch game. Look for some fights. Yeah.

Some fights at City this year. Oh, man. Nimmo probably underrated, like projected for a 379 on base this year. Dude just gets on base. Starling Marte, if he can somehow replicate what he was doing last year, he was incredible. Lindor, remember, he kind of had a down year offensively. First year in the NL. You know, New York got some dead balls.

We heard about that. I'd expect Frankie's offensive stats to jump up a little bit. Alonzo's kind of a lock to hit some homers and be a big, big daddy in the middle of the lineup. I want to see what happens. Jady Davis, that dude can hit. I look at the baseball savant, look at some of the numbers, watch him play, that dude can hit. Dom Smith, I think that dude can hit. Neither of them currently have a position, especially of Cano's Deaching.

I'm fascinated to see how all of that sorts out. And if there's a trade at some point this season, because I love their depth. I mean, if we did best benches in baseball currently, it might be the Mets because those guys are Uber talented. if Dom Smith ends up playing every day. I think you're looking at like a 2830 homer guy. Interested to see how the lineup sorts out and just how the product on the whole feels. I mean, Eddie Escobar's at third now.

Markana in left, Starling Marte and right field. Like there's a lot of new pieces here that, you know, we were talking a lot about the Phillies defense. How does the defense feel with this team? And how does the lineup sort itself out? I'm not worried. I just don't know where it lands. but they got options.

I'm curious what they do with Canoe. The last that's been reported on him is he's going to get a start at first base to expand the versatility. So that's interesting. I think that the DH spot is going to be a mixture of kind of rest days and who's hot so you can put a JD Davis there,

you can put a Dom Smith there, you can rest one of the outfielers. If Cano does start swinging, what do you do? I don't see that happening. I got to be honest with you, but he does have that sweet strokes. So maybe it does come back for them. This team's a problem, though.

They're in a tough division, but they are fully equipped to handle it. And I think barring something completely Metsi, I guess we've coined that term, barring something completely Metsi, this is a playoff team, and then when you get into those series where you can,

where you shorten your rotation down to three and maybe a four if you need it, I don't think there's anyone better, serve for a playoff series than them. No, they're billed for the playoffs. They have a one, two, three. That's fantastic and they can hit. I will say we have a podcast on the John Boy Media Network called Shea Station,

and they are doing player profile on projections for every single Mets player. Jake and I do them for the Yankees on talking Yanks and they're doing them. So if you're a Mets fan tuning in or you just want to find out more about these players and more deep dives, Mets talk, make sure you check them out. They've been doing a great job. on their predictions. I was listening to some reliever ones that I was interested. With,

um, Kenone and J. D.D. Davis is interesting. It feels like push is going to come at some point. Same with Dom Smith and, and all that. They kind of just have a lot of,

a lot of guys. Like you said, Jake, not a bad thing, but. And injuries happen like, yeah, just interested to see how it plays out. Yeah. Exactly.

Um, the bullpen, uh, a lot of those guys got used last year. Trevor May, it felt like he was pitching every day. Um, interested to see if there's,

there's any effects there. But you do like the, back end of the bullpen. I mean, Edwin, May, Otto, Lugo, Miguel Castro, those guys have all gotten high leverage outs. We'll see how the back end of the bullpen develops.

And then I think the other thing is DeGroms Scherzer, it's health. If those guys are on the field, they're lights out. You know, if they get 50 starts from those, that combination, Mets are going to win a lot of ball games. And Chris Bassett's really good.

I guess Carrasco and Ty Walker, Ty Walker with one of the more bizarre seasons last year. All-Star, nasty, and then he faded hard down the stretch. What Ty Walker are we getting this year? A friend of the pod, so he'll be great. And then Cookie Carrasco. I mean, Fangraphs hasn't projected for a 406 ERA in 26 starts. Carlos Carrasco last year had a 604 and 12.

So some question marks at the back end. Health in the back end is the question for the pitching. Can I do floor and ceiling with you guys? Yes. Yes. I think ceiling, we all believe, is win the division, go to the playoffs and have the pitching, and they just win, right?

Like they have a pretty high ceiling. Yes. Yes, okay. Yes. They can win the division. I think the Braves, I still think the Braves are a power. Yeah, but I mean, You gave the Cardinals, the ceiling of division.

They have, they absolutely. It's baseball. Yeah, yeah, yeah. What's their floor? Do you think they can finish third? Do you think the Phillies and the Braves can jump them, Jake? I do. I do.

I mean, there's, you know, this lineup, I think, sorts itself out. That doesn't necessarily mean it's like, it, it has to be a premier lineup in baseball. I think, you know, their floor is an okay, solid lineup, which again, that's a pretty good floor. it's health, it's health. And you can say that for any team in baseball. Like, let's be honest, especially, Trev, you said at these top two starters and Jim, like if they were in a playoff, if there was no radio season and a playoff started today, like we'd have action on the Mets, babe, because Scherzer de Grom.

That being said, they have so many assets and resources banking on those two guys. And you could say it about any team in baseball, really. If the Yankees lost Colin Seve for the year. If the Mets lost these guys, if, you know, freed and more. Like, you could go around any team if they lose their top two starters for a long period of time, that's going to hurt. DeGrom had the weird thing last year where he just kind of evaporated the second half of the season and nobody really talked about it. And then Scherzer's just getting old.

Father time's undefeated. Maybe not against Mad Max. He seems to beat everything he comes up against, whether it's baseball or the owners. Like, Mad Max will be there. There's just so much invested in those two that a chunk of time one way, both ways, that dictates their outlook more than any other team, I think. I'm looking at the depth of their starting pitching,

like, you know, in the minor leaguers to know on fangress. You got Tyler McGill, who already mentioned, David Peterson, a lefty, is 26 years old. Jordan Yamamoto, we've heard of him. He came over from Miami last year. uh yenzi diaz came over from toronto it's like they're going to need one of those guys to come in and give them meaningful innings at some point like you're right like the top three we're talking these guys are great taiwan walker i think is a really solid number four yeah uh and then that fifth

spot which you can say this about most teams like it's going to be a carousel you hope for stability there uh if one of these guys can come provide the stability and then you can keep that bullpen clean, then we're talking, yes, they can be the top of this division. I think that's where I'm looking. The fourth and fifth days, if they can stabilize those, we're going to get this team closer to their full potential. If Max Scherzer, Jacob de Grom, and Bassett combined for 90 starts, 85 to 90 starts, does this team automatically make the playoffs?

and finish top two because I think yes. I think so, yeah. 80 starts, yes. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, you still have to make up those endings for four and five, but like I said, Taiwan's a pretty solid number four option there. Yeah, I think you're right, James, 85 to 90 starts 100%.

This team's in the playoffs. And when you can do that and you can cut this rotation in half, yeah. This is when they really get scary. Really scary. Okay. I had another question and what's the Metsi storyline going to be? Ooh.

Now, in a lot of ways, Cohen came and he did change. They got Scherzer. They got Marte. They did a lot of good stuff. And otherwise, they had a rat raccoon incident. Yeah. They had players fighting in the tunnel. Yeah.

They didn't land their number one prospect and the owner got, like, sued for this tweet about it. they thumbs down their own fans. What's it going to be this year? The most, this would be if we were actually sports radio. The most important change to the New York Mets. That's what I was leading to. Was Buck showwalking.

That's what I was getting at. The Buck stops here, man. Organizationally, we, you know, we've got some ties to the Yankees. We've heard everything about Buck. He's different. He's different. He's different.

He's a culture changer. That's why he was brought into the Diamondback situation. Buck Show Walter, Orioles, he changes the environment. And the Mets needed that to get away from some of that stuff. If you gave me one guy, if I was the owner of the Mets, and I was like, hey, I want to make sure that we get away from some of our Metsy situations, Buck Showalter's the guy I would have brought in. I think he was the most important manager changed this off season.

Shout out Beaumel. We'll see what happens with the Padres. But man, that everyone we've talked to, we got to enjoy him as a fan of the Yes Network. He did some games and, you know, talked between pre and post, and I, like, attached to the screen when he talked. It was beautiful. We've talked to people behind the scenes that say it goes deeper than that.

The dude operates differently. I think that's huge for the Mets. It literally changes the way I feel about the Mets season. And I know we talk about managers on both ends a lot. Doesn't matter, does it not? Buck changes how I feel about it. Odds of a team mutiny because they don't like Buck. Possible.

Okay. Trevor. Let's keep going further on that point. You're right about Buck. He is a guy that is respected in the game. I think he'll be able to handle that clubhouse. but let's focus on the club else and the guys they brought in to stabilize the environment.

Yeah. Max Scherzer, do you think he takes these shit from anybody? Yeah. Do you think if he sees you fucking around, he's not going to come say something to you because he will? He wants to win, okay?

Like this is the twilight of his career. Maybe not. Maybe he's going to kill me for saying that. But like, it's no nonsense from that guy, okay? Chris Bassett, same way. Maybe not as intense, but he's going to come in there

and like be a great clubhouse. guy. And oh yeah, you want that energy? Because you might have some of those guys keeping the rules. You know who keeps it loose and fun every freaking day, Jake. You know who it is. Eddie, baby. Oh my gosh. A spark plug. A guy that is going to bring positive vibes and energy every single day because he doesn't know how to be the other way. So yeah, Buck's going to be there. The players also that they brought in are going to stabilize that environment. Adam Ottavino is going to be taking pictures

of everyone. Everything. So you can't, you can't be messing around or not going to get a picture of it. So the clubhouse, I don't think we see too many Metsy things. How about that? Awesome. The other thing that I do think is of note. Yeah. The Mets have three top 25

prospects. Alvarez the catcher, Brett Bady, Ronnie Maricio, the shortstop. Who is trade capital? I mean, Alvarez seems like the guy to pass the torch McCann to him. So I don't think he's on the table. He's a top five prospect. The other guys, if there's a move to be made,

and Uncle Steve, you know, money shouldn't be the issue, whether it's at the deadline or whatever it is, these guys should be locked and loaded. And when you put that all in the blender, when we talk about the depth with some of the bench piece, and how this season sorts out for them. If there's an upgrade, if there's a, you know, we could package a, I don't want to throw out names.

If they could package one of their positions with a prospect to get a big upgrade at one of the positions, I think that would be a really, really strong move for this Mets team. Because I think that's the one thing that had me on the edge a little bit. They've got assets all around. MLB ready, prospects, and cash money. Now Trev's got a question. Are we drinking Matt's collade? No, I just have to read

Fangraph's prospect, like blurb about Francisco Alvarez. Are you ready for this? Ready. Guess so. Built like an SEC fullback, the curvaceous Alvarez, has explosive poolside power and a good shot to stay behind the plate, which gives him a cathedral ceiling. That's the best blurb I've ever read in my life.

Yeah, well, baseball scout writers are just erotic. Poets. Poets. Have you ever? Curvacious, cathedral-like ceilings. Oh, my God. Spouse Scouts kind of creepy. Baseball scouts are so creepy.

Have you ever seen Rob Delaney's video where he reads a baseball scouting report? Oh, man, that's good, man. I'll play it for you just like a glimpse if anyone's never heard. this was play. A few years ago in Harper, I know, and it's from 2004 might run in here on it, but anyway. The following phrases were called by Sam Frank from the scouting reports of the

first 50 rounds of the 2004 for the League Baseball first year player draft. Warning, this is from me. Body maxed. Raw-boned physique. Chiseled. Supple.

Avid with weights. weight room strong low body fat developed upper half tapers to a defined waist tapers to long strong legs muscular thighs long extremities

big forearms soft hands long football game yes baseball scouting reports are a little much I was always a high guy's good that's how they describe me You're a high buck guy, but you're not fast.

High buck guys are supposed to be really fast. I was. You were a fast? That's one of Buck show after things. He loves high butt guys. That's awesome. And hands like you dream about. You might have good hands.

I was just laughing at the words. All right. Max is fun stat among players with 30 plus homers in 2021. Pete Alonzo had the highest percentage of home runs registered as no doubters. 25 out of 37. Congrats. when Big Pete catches them to go. Beat Pete, home run derby.

I'm excited for that. Over under is 90.5. I'm going to take the over. I mean, I agree. It's a buck effect. It's a Scherzer effect. And Trev with the Escobar, like the fun dancing effect.

I didn't even think about that. So, I mean, on the field, I like all those moves as well, especially Scherzer and Bassett and Marte. and they got extra bats. So I'm going to take the over here. I like it. Treve.

I'm taking the over as well. I think it's like a 94 win team. Jake's taking the under. He thinks it's getting Metsy. I have two things. That's fine. I have three things. Max Scherzer with the Dodgers last year when he got traded.

Just a reminder. 11 starts, 7 and 0, a 198 ERA. That's nuts. You have to believe in something. I believe in Scherzer and Graeme. Buck's show, Walter. I'm taking the Mets over and BPD. I have an update. I'm taking the Marlins under. Sorry, fish. Sorry, man. This division's fucked. Okay. Is that allowed? Yeah, I don't know. Seems illegal. I'll allow it. Yeah, my vote. Okay, allowed.

Sorry. Where have I gone? BPD, can you, can you tell me what we've gone? Like how long we've been recording? No, no, it's over, under's. No, just this division. This division. They're ordered alphabetically. Marlins over, Phillies over, Mets over. Nationals under.

Okay. That's not bad. I got to go Braves under, I think. Well, here we go. Next up, let's talk about the Atlanta Braves last year. They won the World Series. So who gives a shit about their regular season record? it was 88 and 73.

All of their studs got hurt or suspended, not all of them, but the big main players. They traded for three outfielders at the deadline that weren't really having good seasons. And then yet somehow, some way, it all came together and they ran the table and won the World Series. And the window stays open

and I believe it even opens a little more with some of the moves. they made and returned from IL players they got. Jake, what happened this offseason? From the windows to the walls. They lost Freddie Freeman. Iconic brave, all-time brave, Hall of Fame brave. Jorge Soler and Jack Peterson. Talk about playoff moments. Jorge Soler, that ball in Houston that's still going. Jack Peterson literally wore pearl necklaces while playing baseball and so did everyone in the stands and that was awesome. Christian Pache, he's gone.

I think he was in a trade. Drew Smiley, Chris Martin, Stephen Vote, Adrianza Camargo, your util guys, Rich Rod and Jesse Chavez are gone. Those are some guys. Who came in also guys? Matt Olson, date my daughter. Big trade, big guy was with him. Kenley Jansen.

Speaking of big guys, holy crap, he's in Atlanta. Eddie Rosario, he re-signs another playoff hero for the Braves. Colin Buzzy McHugh, he had an incredible year last year. And how about Kirby Yates? Trying to bounce back off after his injury. Mani Pee, need a backup catch. Alex Dickerson, he might get some A-Bs. And then a couple U-Till, Phil Gosselin, Brock Hole on some minor league deals.

but Matt Olson, Kenley, they brought dudes in after winning at all. Never mind, Ronnie Trev. Tell me about the pitching dog. Update Brock Holt got granted his release today, so he is not with him anymore. Bye, Brock. But that is fine because we can go to this rotation,

which is, you know, we keep saying this rotation is nasty. You can be up there with the best in baseball. Sneaky Braves rotation can be up there with the best in baseball. Start now with Max Fried. can you have a better season the Max Fried had last year, 304 with the career best 1.087 whip.

Oh, yeah, he won his second gold glove and his first silver slugger and the World Series. Talk about bringing home some hardware. Go Max Fried. And oh, yeah, you're fucking beautiful too. Good for you. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton, who had like a 3-3 last year.

Ion Anderson, who had a 3-5 last year. Husker, Yanoa. 4.0 ERA almost in the threes. I really like that. Kyle Wright, Tucker Davidson. Also,

and in the bullpen, they added Kenley, they got Will Smith, Colin McHugh, who loves, loves Jimmy, Tyler Matzick, AJ Minter.

The pitching is stacked here. The pitching is stacked here. James, I also really, really love what they're doing with their lineup. Once you go ahead and talk to us. They got Eddie Rosario.

One of those moves from last year. He's still around. Ozia. He's going to lead off? Well, that's what they say. Who knows? He did in the playoffs. Probably Cooneyer when he comes back.

Right now they don't have him in here because he's still technically on the I. L. Ozzy Albies, Matt Olson, young thick, Austin, Riley, Marcel Ozuna, Alex Dickerson, Adam DeBall, Danesby Sponson, Travis Darno. And yeah, Ocunia's, you know, on his way. Semi on my way. What's the Soroka update? I just looked that up a little bit.

I didn't get too far. I think it's very touch and go. I mean, double Achilles back to back. So brutal. I'll see if I can get a better update. But not looking good. Next summer. We also have Luke Jackson,

just a little bit of forearm tightness right now, so they don't have him listed with the relievers, but he's going to be there. Same thing with Kirby Yates. Oh, he had Tommy John last year. Kirby Yates. I'm not sure where he's going to be. But Luke Jackson will be there at some point,

year also pretty damn good really damn good what's your favorite part about this team Jake my favorite part about this team um mine is that they lost freddie and the lineup is still very impressive yeah it's probably the kind of crazy to do the high-end talent um i love meddles and ozzie albys among second baseman that's a guy that can win you a silver daisy in the right year Austin Riley's stats last year are through the roof. Like if he repeats that, that's nuts. Marcelo Zuna was out last year. Ronald de Cunia Jr. was out last year.

This team won the World Series. Dansby, contract year? Or a year away? I mean, this team is stacked. I guess that's my favorite part about this team. This team is stacked. Everywhere. Now I have something to ask you, Jake.

Trev's pointing at me. Okay. Trev? Oh, I wanted to answer the question, too. Mine is the way they develop pitchers. Mm, okay. You go around and look at who they have. Max Reed, yeah, he came over from the Padres, but they developed him.

Charlie Morton years ago, started with Atlanta. I don't know if I'm going to give them development. I don't know. I don't know enough about that situation. But Ion Anderson. Husker, you know, it came over from Minnesota, apparently. They traded for him in July 17, so they developed. helped him, Kyle Wright, Tucker Davidson, all these guys drafted or developed at least by the Braves.

I love that. That's how you get ahead. Jake. Yeah. Can I ask you something? Yeah. Oh, yeah. Okay, great.

In 2020, we sat down to do TPPs and talk about them. And the nationals were brought up. And you repeatedly said the hardest thing to do in sports is to repeat. and you are a believer in the World Series Hangover, how does that affect your thoughts on this Braves team? Because, like we said, some of these guys that were doing the damn thing with them weren't even part of the run.

Exactly. They're a little fresh. That's probably the part I love the most. I mean, dude, if I told you a team this offseason added, Acuna, O'Zuna, Kenley, Jansen, Colin McHugh, you know, Matt Olson. I mean, we'll even leave out Olson and Freddie, because the end of the day, that is what it is.

They got, they made big improvements. And these are guys that weren't a part of it. Like, Ronald Cunia Jr. is one of these guys that's in the conversations of best player in baseball. He just missed out on a World Series run. Like, you think that dude's not going to be coming in with vengeance? I mean, Ozuna had no idea what was going on with his baseball. career. He's back. Like, that guy's going to be coming in with force. If Mike Soroka

touches a mound and he looks like Mike Soroka, he was the one on this staff. He was ahead of Freed. And then Freed kind of jumped him because he's been out. The bullpen is like six deep, seven deep, guys that can pitch you in eighth inning. I love this team. I do think, like what you said, to do it over a year. like that, that does wear on you. And this division is really tough. This team is good. They've made additions. I won't bet against the Braves to win the division.

Yes. It's like you went out drinking on Saturday night. We'll compare that to winning the World Series. An excellent Saturday night. Wake up Sunday morning. You're hung over. All you want to do is get a breakfast burrito, sit on the couch, and watch football. But then two of your buddies We'll call him Matt Olson and Ronald LeCunia Jr. They come over with a rack.

And I say, hey, guess what football's starting? Here you go, boys, and toss you a beer. And you're back on the train before you know it. I don't think there's going to be a World Series hangover. You can't be hungover if you keep drinking. These boys are going to keep drinking this year. I really, I love the Brits. Did you hear, I read an article, article, I forget where it was about,

and it might be hearsay, so maybe I don't even want to talk about it, that there were some resentment over the Braves players that Olson signed a huge extension before even putting on the uniform and all the Braves are on shitty contracts and have to go fight for arbitration

after winning a World Series. Did anyone see any of that? Mm-mm. Oh, okay. I don't think that happens. You're stoked for that guy. Yeah, I might just be a bad article. Who wrote that?

I mean, see if I can find it. Braves, Olson, Clubhouse, extension. I really only read like the athletic, so maybe it was there. I don't know. We can talk about something else in the meantime. Okay. Okay.

Yeah, I mean, there was some weird stuff around Freddie leaving. You know, we've got some Atlanta connects. I don't know. I love Matt Olson, that it's, you know, one in, one out for me. we'll see if they feel that. You know, that's, that's a huge. The athletic. Yeah, I really only read the athletic for baseball news.

So, yeah. Oh, it's Ken Rosenthal. He's a good one. It's Rosenthal. I read it. I don't feel bad about sharing it now. It was Ken Rosenthal. I got to look into that.

He said the Braves internal dynamics bear watching. Braves Clubhouse was rattled by Freddie Freeman's departure, coupled with the signing of Matt Olson to the richest deal in team history before he ever even put on an Atlanta, uniform. Yeah. Yeah. No, there's there's some funny business there in the Freddie situation.

So yeah, it's something you circle. I mean, you know, another thing I believe in in sports is winning cures everything. And I think this team is going to win games. And I think if Matt Olson is Matt Olson and he plays gold glove defense and that Ops is in the high eights or the nines, I think a lot will be forgotten quickly. and we'll see how that dynamic changes. It is intriguing that, you know, he got a bigger contract than Ronnie and Ozzie, obviously. They bought out some of their Arbiers and stuff like that.

Is Austin Riley, you know, circle Austin Riley for me. That guy's 25. He just had a monster, monster season for a third basement. Is that every year? Are we going to take a step back? Does he take a step forward somehow? Now, like, the Braves have so many, so many dudes. They have so many potential dudes on this team.

Austin Riley could finish top five in the MVP this year. Matt Olson could finish top five in the MVP this year. Ozzie, probably top ten. Ronald Cunia could win the damn thing. Like, when you start talking about these guys, it's insane. High end, depth, pitching, offense, defense. the Braves do it on every front. They're a wagon.

I just, I'm trying to wrap my head around Kenny's article. I need to read it. I just, I just skimmed it. Do you want to hear what's going on? Yeah, go ahead. The Braves are one of,

in the last 11 years, only two teams have even sent players to arbitration hearings after winning the World Series. The Braves have Max Fried, Austin, Adam DeBall, and Danesby Swanson,

all didn't settle, and the Braves are a file and trial team and trials aren't happening until July. So while they're scrapping and clawing for 250 grand for Max Fried and Austin Riley, 400 grand for Luke Jackson, Deval and Danesby are fighting over a million dollars in 800 grand. Matt Olson gets the richest deal in team history. I think human nature does kick in a little bit, Trave, where you're like, what the fuck, guys?

Maybe you're not mad at Olson, but you're a little like, we just won you the World Series, but this guy gets all the money and you won't even give me. $250,000, and you're going to make me go to trial over it? I think that, yeah, you can have some a little bit resentment towards the front office. That doesn't go into the clubhouse. I mean, in my opinion, yeah, the file and trial thing, they know that's how it is. So if you can't come to an agreement, there's a set date, and that's it. So, you know, that's something they've said.

They've talked about with their agents. They know this is a possibility. They know that's how they run their franchise. They don't have to agree with it. They just know that's the way it is. I don't think anyone's mad at Matt Olson. You know, I was thinking maybe like our, like, Acuna is making $15 million this year. Olson, I think is $15 million.

He got a big signing bonus as well. Ozzy, you know, Ozzy sign of really what's looking back now, a really tough contract, seven years, 35 plus team options. You know, he's a better player than that. But I don't, I don't necessarily agree with like the whole, like the clubhouse is going to be a mess because. Seems like a battle with the front office more than the clubhouse. Yeah, more front office. And to your point, like normally I would say, you know what, this is the way they run things and they know.

But when you win a World Series, you might want to break off a few like 100, you win the World Series. You might want to be like, hey, we're not going to do the file trial thing this year. Plus, bus, we know their finances. Yeah. We've seen the financials. So, you know, I get that. I guess I can see if that's the way the article's frowned, then I agree with it. I think the Braves are good.

but last year they weren't good. They lost players. A lot of baseball was like surprised they made a lot of moves at the deadline. We're all wrong. They go up to win the World Series. Do they have to win the division?

Do they have to go out there and win 95 games in their heads? I mean, they won, what are the 80 something last year and won the World Series? Is the intensity going to be like ratcheted, ratcheted, ratcheted, ratchet it up? Are they going to be like, we got room? I don't know. But I believe in the hangover effect a little bit.

And I believe in the fact that they're like, let's not kill ourselves during the regular season. There's more teams going to the dance this year. And we're going to get there. I have them kind of like being breezy for a little bit and then having to tighten the gears at the end. Well, Acuna is going to want to get back to the World Series because he's like, dude, I just missed out on that.

Are you kidding me? But if you look, go back in time, James, 2018, first NLEs, 90 wins. 2018, first in the NLEs, 97 wins, 35 wins in the 60 game season, first in the NLEs. Last year, only 88 wins, but they did win the NLEs. So I think now winning the division is not enough. And they've back-to-back championship series. Obviously, they won the World Series last year. They're one of the teams, I believe, that can fully say it's World Series or Buss for us.

Other teams that are in playoff contention, they can't really say that. But this team can't say World Series or Bust. They don't want anything else. Anything below a World Series championship, again, will be a disappointment for them. And I, again, I believe in organizations, the Atlanta Braves are sneaky, one of the best organizations in sports. They have been to the playoffs 21 of the past 30 years. Wow.

Like, this is a really good franchise. I think they're the most talented team. They've got guys, like, you know, sometimes when there's a championship team, they bring in one guy and it's like, hey, Hank's here now and he wants to win. But if you got 25 other guys, they got the bling and they got the payday,

like, if Mike Soroka comes back in midseason, we'll see. And, like, they don't need to bank on that. But, man, that storyline. Ronnie and Marcel. Like, Matt Olson, And I just think all of the pieces are there. And we, you know, we did the Mets.

They don't have a ton of holes. I like that they got bullpen help because their bullpen went through hell. And they can really, and Luke Jackson's already got arm's hornis. And Matsick and Smith, maybe they can like give those guys a lighter April or just divvy it up until you find out who your mainstays are. But I like that they went and got McHugh and Kenley. Obviously, because they're great bullpen pitchers and make it better. but also just having more arms to give these guys that just went through the rigamaral of the playoffs.

McHugh had an incredible season, a multiple inning bullpen guy. If that's who Colin McHugh is, what a weapon. Kirby Yates, the last time we saw him have a full season, he had 41 saves in a 1-19 ERA. Kenley Jansen is an all-time MLB closer. They added these guys to a bullpen in the World Series and playoffs that was absolutely electric.

Like, I love this team. I think, you know, I don't want to speak for you, Trev. They got to be in the running for your Nostradamus run-it-back pick this year. 100%. I think that this is one of the teams that's you favored it to win the World Series. And going back to Kirby Yates, this is one of the deals where they knew he was going to be shelved all year, so they gave him the two-year with a team option. So they're thinking, you know, their window wide open.

Like, this isn't just a 2020. thing. I don't think it's just a 20-23 thing. Like they have a wide window here. So over under there's 90 wins. 90 and a half wins. 90? Yeah. My pick is in.

I believe in this team. Ova. If I take the over here, that's four overs for me in this division. That's why I flip my fish. I took the Phillies over. I don't think all three are going to. What was the Phillies number at?

85. 86, 85. 5. I can't take the under here because I took the Mets over. I believe this team to be better. I'm taking the Mets under and the Braves over and the Phillies over. I think they all end up around 85 to 90. And I'll say that if one team's going to go above,

I'll choose the Braves to go slightly above 90. I'm changing my Mets to the under. I think they're all going to be 85 to 90. James, I wanted to do that, but I feel like I've talked them up so much that I couldn't do with the Mets. that you're here with me, we're holding hands. My diamonds dancing, hopscotch, we hold them hands. Me and you, I think we're going to reverse the bet.

Yeah. I got the Mets winning 89 games. Yeah. Okay, you got that BPD, mark me down. I'm taking the over here under on the Mets. They're both winning 89 games to get the under and the over. Now we're talking. What was there on?

What was there's 90s? Oh, Philly's Mets, you're saying. Whatever, whatever I said it. It made sense. Doesn't matter. Divisions. Nine. Braves win 91,

Mets win 89, Phillies win 86. Is that even possible? It's going to be a bloodbath. Marlins and everyone else die. Hey, that's the end of the show. Thank you guys very much for tuning in.

We appreciate it. We will be back next time with the NL. Soik. I think it's the A.L. East. Have we done the NL West? That's on Sunday. Sleep with one eye over.

Where's the damn music, Jimmy? Here we go. Goodbye. That was baseball talk, and we talked about the baseball. National League East, it's going to be a battle. Three teams playing baseball against each other. Talking, talking, talking so the song doesn't get copyright claimed. We do.