Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - 495 | Talkin' Baseball's May All-Star Team

Episode Date: June 1, 2022

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Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball. It's a special time of the season. Time to give out some pedals. It's the AllJM. Welcome to Talking Baseball presented to you by C.E. My name is Jimmy. His name is Jake. We got producer BBD in the corner.

And Trevor still in Akalia. Getting his Italy on, doing Italy things. If you want to go to Italy and. sit and watch Trev go on vacation. Those are unavailable, not tickets. But if you want to watch anything else that has tickets that are sold, you can go to Seekykeek, you can download the app. Link in the description to download the app.

And you can get $20 off if you use promo code Talking. $20 off your first purchase with the promo code talking. Make sure you click the link in the description to download the app. They let you know the good seats, the bad seats. They hook you up. They're the geeks when it comes to the seats. You know, you know, you want to get the best burgers. You need a burger geek.

His best seats. She's seat geek. That's what's going on. Jake, are you excited to give out some pedals? James, it's pedal season. Yeah, you seat geek maybe over in Italy. Go see the Italian national baseball team. Their guy who would have had a lot of daisies, Mike Piazza, managing that team.

So go get your seat geek on over there. I am. I am. It's become an iconic episode. Controversy all over it. Although I feel like when we get in the later months, there's less controversies, yet the controversy stakes are higher. Much higher, yeah. You know? So started going through it. We got some good ones.

We are going to have to have tiebreaker Trev kick in a couple times from across the pond. Uh, that should be a text message, correct? That should be a mess, yep. Debating, sending a voice message just to get them riled up, but, uh, we'll see what goes on there. But yeah, excited, excited to reward the boys who deserve to be rewarded, you know? I am excited. And just to let you guys, uh, you know, jog your memory, we are giving out pedals right now. At the end of the season, you know, some may have enough.

to get the full daisy. Actually, they're all going to get a daisy. It's just how many pedals are on that. Are silver. Yeah. If you win every month, then you would give you a silver daisy at the end of the season.

That's very rare. One person did it last year. His name was Vladimir. It's currently Russian. On the streets, they call it the Vladdi. But someone might be coming for it. I'll see. We're not going to,

we're going to try and have any silver daisy bias. and give it to a guy just because he already got it, but maybe. And this is very important. Very important. Actually, these guys aren't getting daisies. They're getting pedals. They're going to have to the year.

At the end of the year, someone will get a daisy when they win April. Right. Because we're not just giving away the month of May. This is April plus May. It is a cumulative because at the end, we will find out who had the best season. It's the all jam team.

It's the all. JM team. Let you know who's on. It's on baseball reference. All right. In the future. It'll be on the future of baseball reference. Should we just get straight into it then?

I think so. I mean, last up, it took a while because there's a lot of debates, a lot of first month debates. So I think we just dive right in. Now, Jake, you have poked your head around. I have not. I kind of have my system. Right.

And there are some fun ones still remaining. There are some, I mean, we're going to have to get some tiebreakers. I believe. There's a couple, actually one of the same ones from last month, I think you can still split with a hair, which is just brutal when you're in RC and you're trying to give out pedals and daisies and petal daisies. Okay, let's do it then. We're going to go straight to the American League catcher. Is that where we start? I think we start with the American League catcher. The best catcher, April, was Sean Murphy. It was, there's a lot of, guys that might have better stats

but they didn't play a lot. Now I'm looking at some numbers here, Jake, and I already kind of see something. Now I'll just say this. I don't see Sean Murphy getting my paddle. I don't know if you disagree or agree with that right up the ring. So I thought we were going to start with a little bit of a bang here because I think we're going to be kicking ourselves.

We constantly like to think of ourselves wanting to reward someone if they ever earned the Vladdy, the full silver daisy and I think a player that was highly debated for the first month of the first pedal they did not get it and I think they're going to get it this month

it looks like the clear American League catcher winner well in my opinion I suppose I'll have to rephrase it I wonder if my search is coming up you might have to change your shirt Jonah Heim Jim, which we talked about him a lot. Trevor was screaming about paternity leave.

We love the stats, but the dude barely played. He's kept playing and he's kept hitting. Jonah He'm on the Texas Rangers. He's got a 267, 342, 486 slug. That's good for weighted runs created plus of 142, which is really for the AL Catchers, it's in like a different area code. So, you know, I know you're editing your search right now,

but he wasn't popping up for some reason. I don't know why. But yeah, he does stand. I think he's still technically not a qualified hitter. Yeah, I had lowered it. I refreshed and he's there. Okay. The Rangers have been winning of late.

he is catching like a starting catcher four out of five days That was our complaint Which was our Well he really It was fair He'd he started one two three four

Five six seven eight nine He started ten games in April He started one two three Four five six seven eight nine ten Eleven twelve thirteen fourteen Fifteen sixteen eighteen eighteen six and eight Eighteen games in May Which is normal for catcher

They don't start every single day Yeah Okay yeah yeah I for some reason it wasn't coming up And that I was like thrown for a loop because then it was really interesting if he wasn't there it got like to a Ford guy race so I won't even go into it because my head was like diving into that no but no he yeah he's gonna get my he's gonna get my days my my pedal here yeah it's it's kind of easy you're

right that that next tier of Murphy Kirk Stassie even like Vasquez like it's it could have got a little messy. Yeah, Vasquez is impressed by his hitting stats. But yeah, Jonah Heim is still above them, essentially in every category. So, you know, it's funny. He's the tall catcher. I think we remembered him from previous years. Did he hit back-to-back grand slams or he hit home runs from- Two grand slams in a game or something? Yeah. And it was like, okay, who's this six-four catcher that's going in the MLB record books for some reason? But he's having a great year. glad he's kind of won the job. I think Garver's been D-Hing and filling in and stuff,

but Jonah Heim, this is why we give out the pedals, man. Yeah, Garvers come back, and since Garvers come back, he's been D-Hing. Which, who was D-Hing before that for them? Not that this is important on this episode, but it looks like So-Lak got some D-H-Bots and Miller-Garcia, Banyas. Yeah, they were just kind of rotating it, I guess.

Calhoun, he hasn't done in a while. All right, cool. All right, easy. Good. By next month, I think his plate appearance differential, like at this pace, fully not be mentioned in a month, maybe. Keep being at this pace.

Yeah. All right. Next up, the American League first baseman. Now, Anthony Rizzer won this last year. He has had a pretty, last month, he had a pretty bad May. I'm not sure if his April carries his May. I haven't looked yet.

looking now doesn't seem like he's going to be getting a pedal for April plus May so we will have a new winner no Silver Daisy in the AL First Baseman which is the only position to ever give out a Silver Daisy No tough tough break for my guy

and dear friend Tony Riz he yeah he just had a tough month and never fully clicked a couple tough series Jimmy there's one guy who's hitting I think is untouched. And then where it went for me is some of the defensive metrics didn't like them.

And I was looking at it. The defensive metrics also didn't like Anthony Rizzo, who as we've watched Yankee games, he's been like a breath of fresh air from what we've seen. Yeah, and defensive metrics are in nunsons. They get tricky, for lack of a better term. Jim, I'll see if you can find a competitor for him, but I think we're going to Trevor Pluice's France for this.

Yeah, France. is Treves in Italy, but we're going to France. It's Thai France. Yeah. He, his slash line on the season now is great. 342 batting average, 414 on base, 5-0-5 slugging. For anyone that's listening, this, is new to the game of baseball. If you slash lines goes 3-4-5.

Big up to jump in. Big up to jump in. That's really good. Leads the league in hit by pitches, led to league last year, hit by pitches. My favorite Thai-France staff, is that he has started in 48 of 48 games in the two-hole. Yeah. He, uh, 47 of 48 games batting second playing first base, one D-H-Day.

Love that from Thai France. 172 OPS plus Tyler Lawrence France. Interesting. Um, and yeah, I might, might have to relist. And you know, I won't, but, um, I think he was kind of, neck and neck with Rizzo, so I've got a little, I don't know if FOMO is the right term, but I got a little bit.

No, you got Daisy remorse. I got day, I got pedal, Daisy peddle divorce. Yes. Yes. And it drives me nuts. Now,

can I say something to you about Thai France and then we'll move on? Yeah. His look doesn't match his name at all. You think so? You close your eyes. You picture a Thai France. You do not picture the Thai France.

Jars me every time I watch a Mariners game. They talked about, on Chris Rose rotation a little bit it's a it's a it was a great listen and dude this kid's getting a pedal and he was a 34th round pick like the Thai france story kind of needs to be talked about more and I know Hassan's trying and rose is trying but uh he's a little kind of a stocky king a little bit listed 511 215.21 5.15 yes some of his looks to me some of his looks um have like this look. I'm going to show you on the big screen.

Has a young Evan Longoria vibe to me. We're like once he gets some money, he's going to be hot. He just has no idea what to do with it. Oh, his future look should be great. He has no idea what to do with himself. He's got a little kid buzz cut and kind of like, you know. So what if he's like two adjustments away?

Yeah. Maybe if he went by like Frank Tyler, that way he's not losing his entire identity. You know, he still gets the Frank from France. He looks like a Tyler, Frank. He does not look like a Thai France. Oh, I don't know about that. Yeah.

I think he's got Frank vibes to me. I think that would play to the build a little more. I do like the caption on that article you brought up. Hitter's going to hit. It's true. The Thai France story. Tye France. A pedal.

Nah, he doesn't have a daisy yet. Not even close. But this is one step on the way. I do have one addendum before we move on to the next position. Show Hay has the Silver Daisy last year. He was a DH every month. He keeps saying Vlad, he's the only one, Sho Hay as well. What?

Yeah. What? Hall Awards fars. I don't think so. I think that was in retrospect. Onside, Daisy. I don't think we did DH sometimes. A.L. we did every month because it's a position.

I looked through the logs and I made this last month, our back channel. When we did the episode in like December, we were like, well, show hey's got a silver daisy as well. I believe so. We're like, oh, two people. I've never in my life thought Shohei got a silver daisy. But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe we're just so excited.

He did have an all-time season. He did have a historically good season. Because he also got MVP over Vlad. Yeah. Guy pitches. Okay. All right. Okay.

Yeah, for now, Vlad's the only. For now, Vlad is the only one. I'm going to stick with that. The addendum could be fully right. Yeah. It probably is. Everything seems like it is. I'm not into it.

Say, L. Second Baseman? What the hell? He's got signed out of the account. Damn. American League, second baseman. This is a fun one. Second base has been a fun, a fun position.

last month Our guy Andres Jimenez got it from the Guardians It was highly contested Is he a second baseman? We didn't know All the second base candidates

Were kind of dipsy-due dunker ruse I think A couple popular names Have started to rise to the top On popular teams Hmm, okay Who do you got? What are you looking at?

The two names that popped up early for me in the American League are Jose Al Tuve, a second baseman for the Houston Astros. Trevor's story has gone from, what do we use to say? He's gone from shame to flame. That's an old talking baseball reference. And then our guy, Espinel is lurking, Andres Jimenez. is still around. How does Altuve not meet the qualified?

I don't know what the plate appearance number needs to be, but 34 games. He's probably just under. Yeah, he's just under. That's interesting. I do not to give away where I'm at too, too early, and don't want to convolut your process, although I'd love to send the text to Trev in Italy right now.

I think it's Jose Altuva. I'll let you scrub the numbers, but man, he's got the homers. You know, I know he's a couple games short, but his slugging is absolutely through the roof. Batting average on base, I mean, he's kind of, I was going to say he's head and shoulders above everyone, but I didn't want that to be seen as a joke

because of my joking stances. You're always joking. So he missed time late April and then came back and he had a hell of a May. I mean, just an unbelievable May for Al Tuvei. Yeah, I mean, hey, I don't, you got to take it all into account. I mean, he didn't contribute at all in April.

And I don't know, I don't know how I feel about one month carrying both months, like completely. Right. You know what I'm saying? He played 10 games in April and had six hits. Right. So. April being the shorter part of the season now,

I mean, it's over half the season at this point has been May. I understand. I understand what you're saying with April having a funky start. I guess who would you have in second place? Are you trying to bring Jimenez back into this? Yeah, he's there, Owen Miller, but is he playing more first base? That was what happened last time. Yeah, that's a whole Cleveland, the Guardians mess.

It's El Tuvae. One month, that's kind of what we're doing. One month can cover for April, a short month. But it is a little weird for me to say he's been the best player, April in May, but he was not good in April and injured. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, I mean, let's be honest, the AL second base position is kind of messy. I mean,

I think of some of the other guys you name it's not shots fired at all, but, you know, Andres Jimenez, Santiago Espinall, Owen Miller, these are young people, two of those young people are on the same team trying to kind of set their path in this league. And then, yeah, I mean, I think, you know, Trevor's story is Jose Al Tuve's same story, but amplified more in recent weeks. He was just bad, which would you rather have bad over her? Al-Tube's month of May is Trevor Story's month of May doesn't

touch Al-Tube's month of May. I mean, I think it's L-2-Vey. Yeah, it's Al-Tubei. I just don't like my pedal winners to take a month off usually, you know? Weird year. I want you to be there throughout. Lockout, bro.

This early, you'd like to think one out of two months, one month being bad, it still linger, but I guess he only played nine games in April. But it's still overall, like, is Yeah. His game number's not far enough off for me to want to veto it.

I'm still on Altova, but it is interesting. Congrats to Jose Altova. Okay. Next up, Jake. American League shortstop. J.P. Crawford got this for the month of April. We missed time this month. This is an interesting one.

This really is. I don't know if a text has to be sent. We might have to reveal our answer at the same time on this one, because there's a couple guys that are in tight. We're playing botchy. We're measuring with feet right now. You know what I'm saying? Do you know what I'm saying?

Yeah. I mean, I'm going to pull up some numbers that I don't even care about. Okay. Some non-Jimmy Littics. The three names that I think we're probably going to talk about are Tim Anderson, Jeremy Pena, and Zander Bogartz? Yeah. Potentially J.P. Crawford still? You have another one?

Or is that your fourth, Bebbs? Okay. I value defense at short. Right. I do. Sure. Hard for me to give it to Anderson. Okay.

Because he doesn't pass the eye test at short right now. He's bottom 10. in outs above average. I haven't pulled up DRS, but I'm guessing he's bottom 10 there. The offense is amazing. Amazing. Amazing.

And it's so good that it may justify the defense for me. But there's a reason teams kind of go defense first that's short over hitting because it's a very important position to have good defense at. and it's been a bad story there. So that's where I'm a little,

and I don't even care about defensive analytics that much, but the eye test and the errors and kind of like, I have the DRS leaderboards up there are four, he's fifth lowest, basically. There's some ties stuff. There's like 25th around there. Yeah, he's got minus two, which isn't far off from league average,

which would be zero. And Bogart's is less than, That's the caveat is that Bogart also isn't a whiz. And I do think, you know, Yankees' fandom assigned, this is the all-JM team we're putting together, people. That stuff doesn't carry over here. That Tim, if you're going Tim Anderson and Bogart's, Timmy's kind of got him across the board.

Not across the board. I mean, Tim Anderson's numbers. He's played 40 games. Yeah. He's got 58 hits. He's got a 356 average and a 393 on base percentage with a 503 slugging. Now, where he has Zander is he has him in batting average by 30 points. The same on base percentage, but he has him in slugging by 20 points.

Stolen bases by six. Mm-hmm. So. Same home runs. Zander's got more doubles. If it's T.A. and Bogart's T.A. Yeah, it is. Okay.

So I think where this exercise is really going to be a test for you. Well, let's do J.P. Crawford first, because his numbers are still very nice. 306 batting average, $3.99. And he's played more games than Tim Anderson. Tim Anderson has played 40 games. J.P. Crawford has played 45. So, you know, the offensive stats... Go on.

The defensive numbers don't like him either. Right. That's short. Right, which is, this is where, this is where defensive numbers and small sample size get tricky because J.P. Crawford is a guy that's won a gold glove. I don't care. Yeah, I got to get off.

I don't, I don't, I don't put any stock in these numbers. I got to get off that pitch. So, so I think J.P. Crawford's going to be tough, and let's throw Jeremy Payne in the mix. He does have more homers than Anderson. That's kind of about it. He has a 141 WRC plus 282, 331. They're a different league offensively.

Tim Anderson crushes him. But I think the defensive numbers love Jeremy Paine, which, what do we do with that? I mean, he's a guy that the Houston Astros trusted enough to replace platinum glove Carlos Correa. He's young. It seems like the numbers like him at shortstop. So I don't know. I think this is where the rubber meets the road. Is that a phrase?

Yeah, sure. It is a phrase, and I think you're using it correctly? we should just send Trev a text anyway for his catcher first base if he like has him or is he only doing it? I asked him to do that and he made it seem like that wasn't happening. Okay. All right. Interesting.

I'm going to Anderson. The numbers are so good. Yeah. That will have to. They're so good. There's still video game numbers. They're still not real. Yeah.

So I'm going Tim Anderson. Okay. I don't like... I don't like... I don't like having a bad defensive shortstop. Right. But you do like having a 356, 3993. And leadoff guy.

Is that hitting good enough? Setting the tone every game. Yeah. He has not really been the problem in Chicago. The stolen bases, too. I think he's third. Jeremy Payne. been hot on him all season.

So we haven't disagreed yet? No, but... If Jeremy Payne can get just another tick up and it becomes a fun conversation, that'd be fun. There are arguments here. I think Anderson has Bogart's beat. Pena and J.P. Crawford are the same argument, but kind of like you're saying, those are...

Their stats are still real life. Tim Anderson's not, and he shouldn't be... be punished for that. Yeah. No, I mean, his numbers are insane. Are we ready to clap or no? Yeah, good job.

Yeah. Good job, James. American League third base last year, and this is the Daisy winner from 2021. Jose Ramirez.

He didn't get more pedals than Devers last year, but he got the daisy, and Devers just has the pedals. Ooh. These two are at it again. He turned it on. God. They're at it again, huh?

These guys are going to hate each other. I don't think they would. I think these guys... I think similar temperament. I think they like each other a lot. These guys love each other. I have bad news for you, though. Yeah.

This is tough. Yeah. I don't know how much thinking out loud we want to do. I think we think out loud, but I think we should one, two, three, and then we both say it. Because otherwise... I mean, this is a two-horse race, correct?

Oh, yeah, yes. It's J-Ram and R-Divv. DeVs and Ram is coming down the stretch. Yeah, the next guys on the list are clear, clear tier below. I got to get into some, I got to get in the weeds here a little bit. Get some Jimmy Liddick's going. I am going to Jimmy Liddick this one. I know you are.

I'm going to give the people a couple numbers both ways. Both ways, ref. It's called it umpire. There's more sports. Anyways, Rafael Devers is hitting 340 to Jose Ramirez. to Jose Ramirez's 2.97. And that's large, but keep going. That's large.

Jose Ramirez does have him on base. 391 to 370. So. Which is a little wild. Which is a little wild. And might show some of the Jose Ramirez respect factor the pitchers give. Jose Ramirez has him by about 45 points in the slugging department.

Rafael Devers has scored 10 more runs. Devereux. Leads the league and runs. How about that? Leads the league in hits. Leads the league in doubles. Leads the league in total basis. Jose Ramirez.

It was Ramirez. It's a Batman Dark Night reference. He leads the league in triples, which you love. And runs batted in 51 RBI at the 44 game mark of this season. Who's that? Jose Ramirez. Okay. He's currently on pace.

I'm doing turkey math because that's how I'm operating. He's on pace for about a buck 90 RBI. So I'm going to look at some Devers stats. Mm-hmm. I'm going to look at some Devers stats. Have you seen anything that you're feeling right now? I saw something that swayed me away, swayed me the opposite way of what I was originally feeling.

Okay. Really? Yep. I saw something that's swathe me. way to me the opposite way from what I was originally feeling. I don't know if you want me to share it. I don't know if you don't want me to share it. Do you think it's shareable?

Yeah, I think so. This is tough, dog. Say no, baby, baby, baby, baby over there. I have my pick. Let me just keep looking, man. Should I download the Make It Big app and write down my answer? Make it Big. And I have a stat that I've been looking at that I don't.

I don't know what to say what you've been looking at and just haven't want to brought up. But you're the opposite thing, the opposite thing, thought thing. I just don't think it is. Another one that sways it back a little bit. Another stat. Oh, my God.

I'm seesawing over here. Got a seesaw. I'm off a cliff. Text Treb just so we can test his responsiveness and see what he says first. But then I guess turn the phone upside out. Yeah, then I can't look. You all know exactly how quick. Text them and then give your phone the BVD.

Turn it upside down. Hey, I'm really zigzagging here. Okay. Do you want me to share some stuff with you? I am texting Trevor. I just downloaded the Make It Big app, and I'm going to write in my pick. So you know it's your stats aren't affecting my pick,

unless they do, and then I'll change it. Oh, the Make It Big app is with a text. on the screen. Oh, okay. Not that weiner stuff. Hello. Yeah, okay. So first I went to splits, right?

We love a good split. I texted back instantly said, looking now. So he is on it over there. Okay. All right. So first I went to splits, and I saw that J-RAM, crushing righties.

Right. league average against lefties and the power is saving him. 186 average versus lefties, 271 on base versus lefties, 736 OPS. That's something. So of note. You're not doing it against both arms. We have some situations coming up like this at other positions. It's an FYI.

Devers, good splits versus both. Better versus righties, but versus lefties, 359, 3.59, 3.59, and then 887 OPS. So notable against both. So I'd like that more for Devers. Yeah. He's doing it against both arms. You don't have to... A little more sloppy against the lefties, which a lot of players are wired away. Yeah, that's fine. Also, no walks against lefties. That's a little odd to me. Maybe just more bat to ball because he's have a different swing. Slap and I don't know. Then I went to kind of, um, runners on, right? Or, or clutch or whatever. and Devers is doing majority of his damage with the base is empty.

But his numbers with the bases on are still, his OPS is still good, but he's losing average for power, which is a little fun with runners on, I guess, maybe not, have the strikeouts go up. The strikeouts don't go up. They go way down.

I like that a lot. J-Ram with runners on, he is, really good with the runners in scoring position. Like really good. Like a 400 batting average, a 510 on base and a one dot slugging. Now, they probably pitch around him when runners are on a good amount, which helps that on base percentage and the nine walks.

But when he does get a pitch to hit, he's got three doubles, three triples, and five homers. So I like that for J-Ram. So I'm zigzagging. J-Ram has six stolen bases. He's got a little more speed. traditionally seen as a better defender than Devers. Yeah.

Yeah, man. I don't know. I'm drawn to the strikeout and walk rates a little bit. Jay Ram's got him. He's got the walk stuff, which we've gone back and forth on. But the strikeout rate, not that Devers on the season is 18% strikeout rate.

That's pretty good, better than league average, I believe. but uh Jose Ramirez just isn't striking out 7.8% and he and he's doing that without sacrificing power. He still beats him in homers. He has all the triples. It's really tough, man. It is a really tough one.

Devers is mostly hitting in the two-hole, especially of late and he has JD and Bogart's protecting him behind him. Whereas as J-RAM is hitting in the three-hole. He's got, now it's Owen Miller behind him at the start of the season. It was Reyes, a little less protection there. A little less guys in front of him. If Trev was here, I'd wait until I was third and hope you guys agree.

Right. Would be my strategy. I'm giving in mind to J-Ram. Trevor Plouf's pick is in As is mine I wrote it on the Make a Big app I wrote down Jose Ramirez Trevor Plouf voted

Rafael Devers So if that was your strategy You would have put in a tighter corner Trevor Plouf's reasoning Was a lot of bold On Devers' Baseball reference page right now There is a slight

Trevor Plouf twist that does make the pick a little icky. He said lots of bold, I'm a double guy's, I'm a doubles guy too, in parentheses, third in AL one year, my B.

Okay. So it's a little bit of a stinky pick. Well. The Devers pick is not stinky, reasoning it by one year you weren't strong enough to hit homers. Not as great, Trev.

It's really, really tough. It's really, really, really, Close. Stuff. Defense. I think, you know, I just watched Devers. It's Ramirez. I think J. Ram's the guy.

Like, you face the Guardians right now. Like, that's the scouting report, a one guy when I get out and he's still doing it. Devers is a guy like that. Absolutely. I'm scared when he comes to the plate. I am. But they got a lot of guys. So, all right.

All right. Like a Band-Aid. Congrats to J-Ram. Yeah, Randy. We're going to doing this. conversation of that. Did it last year. Yeah.

Damn. All right. Damn. Left field. We got to run into some easy ones here. Please. Please. Please.

Please. Please. Stephen Kwan won left field last year. What a month. From the kid. Is he still in the running? We're going to left field. That's what I got.

Yeah. Left field. in the American League. And then we have some graphic pop-up like they do an award shows. Jimmer, couple names coming up. We've actually got a lot of AL options. You're in Alvarez.

Going to have to check some game-played stuff. You guys know what he does on the offensive side of the field. His slugging, if there wasn't a guy named Aaron Judge, I think he'd be leading the Allen home run. runs. They might hear his name later, not sure. Then there's kind of the other side of the coin of a baseball player.

Andrew Benintendi has kept up his hot start to the season. Will he be moved at the trade deadline this year? And then like Austin Hayes is in the mix for your birds in Baltimore. I don't know if you're seeing any other names pop up. Kwan looks like he's falling off. I'm just trying to figure out if Alvarez is eligible. He's played 41. He started 41% of his games in left field. It's actually a decent chunk now.

What did we say? Was it over 50? Did we have a determining factor? Was that for a draft we did maybe once? I think those were for draft. I think we were doing more of a feel thing. Because if Alvarez can also win it for DH, you want to leave a little opening for left field.

He's played a good amount of left field. Just tricky because basically what's happening in Houston is him and Michael Brantley have a platoon. Michael Brantley's played 21 games in left field, 22 at DH. And Jordan Alvarez has played. I have 25. at DH 18 and left.

Bingo. And by the way, it is one of the smaller left field. Brantley is starting to get up there in age, never been necessarily a defensive ringer. Your Don, his straight line speed, actually always surprises me, but not known for his defense. Which, if we're going there,

I don't know. It feels a little, I would have liked a little more juice from what I just looked up. I like Benny's numbers. I don't hate Benny's numbers. Yeah. Right now I'm leaning Benintendiz.

329 average, 398 on base, 428 slugging, 826 OPS. He's playing every day in left field. Yeah, he's playing every day in left field. Yeah, I'm trying to... I think I'm going Benintendi. My only thing here, my only caveat is, I'm going to put an asterisk here, is like, if Alvarez loses the DH,

then I'd give him left field. I think he's eligible for both. I completely understand what you're saying. So if we get to ALDH and it's Shohei or it's J.D. Right. And they beat Alvarez, then he would bump Benny in left field. So that's my final decision.

that we make the rules and I'm allowed to say that. If there's something that we want to make him more eligible for DH, like his savant, like outfield tracking, like just outfield jump, stuff doesn't come up. He don't think he's played enough games for that yet. If that helps you punt on him a little bit. I'm in lockstep. Oh, you agree with me?

I'm in lockstep. Okay. Because it feels like Yordon, Yordon has outperformed Andrew Ben, Tendi this year. Yeah. As a left fielder. Dude. Yes, yes.

Yeah, I mean, 12 more home runs from Yordon Alvarez. Yeah, but if Benny's playing a good brand of defense, which I don't know, because he kind of went back and forth on that. I know, hey, Royals fans, is he looking good in left field? Because he, I mean, we saw him play good and we saw him like really get bad. And then I don't know where he's at now. But, but, yeah, I mean, Yordon's out playing him.

but I just don't know if it's like easy, easy, easy. Yeah, it's Benintendi for now. One clap for Benny and then two other claps for Yordon. No, I mean, I'm actually really happy for Benintendi in a contract year. He's coming through and playing well. So good for him. Flapping it around. Playing a different brand of baseball that can be very successful.

Remember all Peter Gammon's old weird tweets about Benny? Just talking about his body? it's kind of right. Well, I mean, that's what Cora said too. Right. Oh, everyone said it, but the way Gammon's phrased it was more so what I was talking about.

Yeah. Love you, Uncle Pete. A fucking doozy in Centerfield. Oh, boy. It might be the same situation. Oh, God. Oh, boy.

Like, dozy. It's Mike Trout and Aaron Judge. Oh, boy. Oh, God. Judge's Centerfield is, like, upped a little, right? He's actually... He's been.

playing a good amount of center field. All right. How about this? This is where I can... Judge leads the league in Homer's by a wide margin for this early in the season. Last I checked. Leads the league and runs.

Judge has a 309 batting average of 376, 669 slugging, a 1.4 OPS. I mean, Trout has him... They're the same average. Trout hasn't been on base. Judge has him in slugging. Trout has him in OPS. Here's what's going to happen, Jim.

I'm going to shout out some guys that deserve a quick mention, but they are clearly below this. George Springer is having a nice year, not on the same level of trout and judge. Buxton had a monster slump, missed some games. Luis Robber, Sarnago, Julio Rodriguez. Those guys just aren't on the same level, unfortunately. Jim, this question, and now I don't want the people to get too rowdy at us,

I think Trout and Judge are a tier above everyone. The only question would then become right field where Judge is still eligible. Trout is not. Trout's been playing strictly center field. That's why I said it might be the same situation, but I don't know what's going on in right field. Judge lost that last year. Last, last, last, last, last thing.

So how many games has Judge played? Aaron Judge has played 46 games. 16 of them are in center field. Mm. That's only 34% and I think it's Trout. I think something against his center field candidacy would be, I don't know how many of those games he finished the game in center field. We don't know how many nine innings in center field games he's got.

James, you said it earlier today. It's nuts that the best guys in baseball be the best guys in baseball. And it's Mike Trow. It's insane. His stats. Really good call by BPD. 11 of judges starts in center field. He's moved to right field.

I think Springer's got a similar... The amount of complete games in center field is, I mean, 16 minus 11, like 4 or something. I'm surprised. He's got that many games finishing over there. Five games he's finished. any of those are straight. Yeah, I don't get, I don't get two-faced by that.

You get moved off the position. It can be part of your team's game plan, you know? You get moves off the position. You're, you get winning that position. There's Ben's players that's better at that than you. Six complete games in center field compared to Trout's 40. Like Springer. Trout already won.

The combo is over. It's Mike Tram. The count, like Springer does kind of the same thing, but he starts like a lot of games in center and goes over. So, like, he would be, I think, fully eligible. It's a conversation. Did it.

Yeah. Trout's got him in OPS Plus. Judge has him in total basis. Good stuff. No steals for Trout on the year. Ah-ha. Three for Judgy. Chump.

All right. Moving the right field. Now this is where Judge is eligible. I'm going to be more eligible. Taylor Ward. Miss some time. Still absolutely nuts. He has him.

He still has him. Ooh, I think I might disagree a little bit. I mean, the on-base percentage number is pure insanity. The 34 games to 46 games does feel a little significant in what we're doing here. Ex-college, college teammates these two. Yeah, a couple Fresno state lads. Judge, like you mentioned, 18 home runs. That is eight more than Taylor Ward.

309, 376, a 669 slug for the judge. 359, 472, 709 for Ward. So, in those numbers, he does have him beat. Got him beat in every slash line, 238 OPS plus to 198. The 12 games don't phase you at all. 50 more played appearances by Judge. We already kind of do this without Tuve. So it would be the same thing I was trying to and walked away from there.

for Al Tuvae? Yeah, he played a lot less games. Altuve played a lot less games than the other guys. He had four less games than Jimenez. He didn't come up in the qualify. I don't know what I don't know what it was, but he was less than. Yeah, that's a word for me.

He's winning in every slash line. Let's see. Jogy runs RBI homers, some of the traditional. ones. It's really close. I mean, part of me wants to give it to Ward just because, again,

what a... Not aberration, but how beautiful this year has been for them. Yeah. The runs created plus 238 for Ward 198 for Judge. It's kind of nuts. The walk rate is 17%.

Yeah, I mean, the walk rate is mind boggling. I... And I think Ward got hurt making a play in the field. Sure. Sure.

Miss some time. And the start was he didn't start the season with the team. So. Right. You know, since he's been up, I actually don't think he's missed that much time at all. I might put in our Italian God's hands. Okay.

For me, it's Ward. I think Aaron Judge being out there every day, he's arguably the MVP of the league. Well, I mean, he had, he, I mean, Ward basically has, has been out there every day since he got called up. I think he gets like, I don't think he went to the IL. If the American League MVP vote was today,

who do you think gets it? That's a hard way to put it, which is why we're doing our own award. Because MVP is a judge has been more valuable. Well, actually, I don't know. Ward meant it more valuable. That's what I'm saying. It wasn't a poking question.

It was a genuine question. I think Ward's numbers are more. impressive. They're video game numbers. Sure. Like super high. So are judges. I think since they've been starting Ward,

he missed five games. And in one of those, he pinch hit. So he missed like three games since they started him when he was banged up. But they didn't start using him into the 16th of April. Yep.

So not his fault. Manager wasn't locked into that. Manager motivated him. I'm going Aaron Judge. I think he's the MVP of the league. I think what he's doing at the plate right now. I think the games here matter for me more than at the other positions. And yeah, even with the center field twist and kiss,

I think that benefits, Judgey here. So I'm going judge. I've texted our Italian prince to break it up. We'll see when he gets back to us. Do we want to check out the DH position? Yeah, I'm hoping it's Alvarez, but I know JD got pretty hot. And I think, fuck, it's JD.

Okay. Sorry, Ben Intendi. It's JD. Let's see. I mean, JD doesn't hit a lot of home runs, but he got 17 doubles just using that wall. He's got a 369 batting average. he's got a 429 on base percentage

You got a 5776 Slug he's got a 1.0PS Got a 187 Runs created plus I mean it's JD And then Yorden would slide into left field Yeah

Yeah So we gave two claps for Yard on before So he will now slide into the left field position He would rather have him out there than Benny It's a tough break for Benny It's a brutal break for Benny But I think he'd understand No, I don't think you would.

Really? I really don't. I think he would say, I play every day. Interesting. Which is like what you're saying about Judge. Like, he's out there every day. I think Ben, I think you're thinking of a young Benny. I think Benny at this point in his career would look at, like, how Yordons.

How Yordons built. And he'd say, oh, yeah, I get it. I think he takes pride in being out there. I get it. It's a tough. It's a tough little privet. Your. A.L.

Right fielder. for the months of April and May. Straight from Italy, Trevor Plouffe selects. Taylor Ward. Congratulations to War. One is nice. One dot one is nicer.

We from Trevor Plouf. Yankees lineup just came out and it's exactly what we predicted. Bang Biscuit. All right. I wanted to tell you all an old joke that I I don't think we can get that anymore. Okay.

American League starting pitcher. Something along the line of suck our ducks. Ooh. American League starting pitcher. Boo. DVD, I'm going to text you. Trevor just sent a picture.

I mean, I've obviously loved Trevor walking around Italy with his glove and stuff. Mm-hmm. You know, that's one of my favorite things ever. The fact that he's now casting his ballot while he's looking at beautiful Italian sites is just fantastic. Oh,

ways I got out about. Just fantastic. A.L. Pitcher? Yeah. You made a groan, I believe. I don't like doing the pitchers. If I was to not give pedals out to pitchers, I would not give pedal. Not because I'm because I don't like pitchers at all that.

It's just too convoluted. It's easier at the end of the season. It's an end of year tab. A going month by, like, is, there's so many and it's more daunting. You know, every team has one thing. third baseman, they got five pitchers. There's just more to look at. Last year we didn't give it out every month.

Like those worst kind of, we talked about it, and I had to do some guesswork. That's what I felt with Shohei. That's what I thought we were making in his own. Showing we did because Zale has a DH. But do you listen to all the episodes? I can go back to this, but I remembered last year. We did it every time.

I don't think we did. Show Hey, it was such an easy conversation. The first two months we just gave him the freak award. Like, well, show he gets an award because he gets an award. Like, that's what we did the first. I think that's why we did it the first time, but it was also... So maybe it's not a silver daisy. We were like giving him his own thing.

It's like a freak award down on April last year. It was like we had a very specific sentence about him. And everyone was like, oh, it's Shohei again. Because it was not a conversation ever. James, we do look at pitching a little differently. Well, no, Trev just looks at expected, and it's a result based. Well, some people are pitching war guys, which I don't really know what to do with that. Although I do feel a little more respect for Zach Wheeler after watching the Phillies.

Oh, goodness gracious. Great balls of fire. Holy smokes. Martine Perez has an argument. Nester Cortez Jr. has an argument. Yeah, those are the two. And then also like Manoa and McClanhan. Those are kind of the guys I'm seeing that need to closer examination.

A couple things that jump out. I mean, this may make some people mad. We are ERA guys. We like how many earn runs did you allow? I realize there's some defense and stuff that ties into that. but pitching, you can also play towards your defense or your ballpark or whatever you're doing. War loves Kevin Gossman, some of the strikeout stuff, some of the outliers. I think I might just go, Martin Perez.

A, in the words of Trevor Plouffe, fuck pitchers. B, he's got the lowest ERA. He hasn't given up a home run this year. What he's been doing is incredible. Incredible. He's the standout. I'm trying to look at game log stuff a little bit. Because Klein-Anne also is my two.

Okay. 58 innings pitch. He leads those four that we were talking about. innings pitched. He's been so fucking good. I mean, his worst start, depending on how you want to... Damn, man.

McLeanahan has allowed more than four hits twice. He's allowed less than... He's allowed four or less hits. Clanhan's allowed four or less hits in seven or in eight of his 10 starts. Four or less hits in eight of his 10 starts. in eight of his 10 starts. Pretty good.

He's never allowed more than three earned runs in a start, but neither has Perez. But Perez has allowed one earned run or less in seven of his nine starts. Is anyone, is either of these scheduled to pitch today? May 31st, the last eligible day. Let's see, McClanahan pitched on the 29th, so no. And Martine just pitched too, I believe.

No, he might be pitching. He pitched on the 26th. So is he pitched? pitching today. Rangers probably. He's pitching today. Mine is in limbo. Against the race.

My vote is in limbo. Don't even ask Treve. He's going to say. Not asking Trev. How about this? Let's lay it all out there. Let's go to, because I like a lot, I like McLeanhan to.

What does Perez's line have to be better then to get the pedal? And people are going to wake up and listen to this tomorrow. If he allows, if he goes, if he goes five innings pitched, it's got to be less than one run. He can do a five two. Really?

And still get it for me. I was debating six two in my head, if that was my cutoff. But he doesn't, I mean, his first two starts of the year heard him. Fournings pitch, three runs, four in a game. So he wasn't going deep in the game. He wasn't, they weren't, it was early spring. Since he's been allowed to go 70 pitches and, you know, get geared up, he's been unbelievable.

Like since after those first two starts, he's gone 48.1 innings pitched with a 0.740. He just needed, those were his last two spring training games because there's a lockout. Since then, he's been incredible. So he doesn't need much. I might give it to him right now, but if he blows, it's more that. He has it, but he could blow it. That's what I, for me. So five and two.

Martine Perez has it unless he blows it tonight. And as people are listening to it is tomorrow. You're already going to know. So we'll find out. So maybe congrats to Martine Perez. That's fucking nuts, man. But Mac's been really good too. Just incredible.

Calling him Mac. Yeah. Okay. I feel like Max get called Mac. Should we go over to the National League, Jim? Yeah, these episodes go so fucking long. It's brought to us by Mizzen. Mizan and Maine backyard golf challenge.

Jake's wearing his Mizn's shirt. You got to check out our backyard golf challenge. Some of these guys. Actually, do you have any pitchers? Levens is a pitcher. Moyland's a pitcher, and they were playing in it. Hater's a reliever. Do you have any starters?

Caprellian play? I forget of Cap played. He might have just watched. Well, go check out the backyard golf videos and head to Mizon and Main.com. use code John Boy 20 to get 15% off. Thank you to Miz and Maine for sponsoring this awesome series of content. It's on the JM baseball YouTube. They have really comfortable, flexible, athletic wear that, you know, it's not going to get

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Thanks, Mizzen. All right. Now, I hope, Jake. Yeah. that we have some easy ones coming up. So I think we might, Jim. I mean, I don't want to over-tee it up. Over-tee it up, is that a phrase?

Don't over-tee it up. Hey, can you do me a favor and just don't over-tee it up for me? Oh, you over-teed that one up. I was so excited. Jim, we'll start with the nationally catching position. There is one curveball here. It's my guy, Dahl and Varshot from the snakes, who is again playing catching.

and center field. I don't think he has the games for catcher. And then I'll let you look into that briefly. What Dalton Varsha is doing this year is awesome. At the end of the year, I might just throw two pedals at them and say, don't fucking tell anyone I did this. Shit. I think it comes down to Wilson Contreras and Tyler Stevenson in the National

League. I was conchers. Oh, Real Moodle kind of last time. So Wilson Contreras, the only question is his defense. I think Stevenson is considered a high-level defensive player. Contreras is not. And it was how much is he deaching? Him and Stevenson have essentially played the similar amount of games at catcher.

I don't think Varshok can get it. He's only started 14 games. Yep. So the question is, Tyler Stevenson, who, His offensive numbers are very nice. 306, 366, 368 slugging. Good for a 131 weighted runs created plus in 34 games. Is that enough to usurp Wilson Contreras?

His seven homers, 264, 387, 486. Stevenson not qualified right now, if that's anything that matters to you at all. 34 games to 40. Dude, I don't know. I think I don't know and I don't care. Okay. It's the main thing. Contreras?

Did Stevenson get hurt? Stevenson. I had down Contreras. He's got 11 more run scored. I know people really care about that. Offensively, I think he's just been a tick better. On base, slugging. Out there four more games.

I think Stevenson has gotten a boost from playing in Cincinnati. a little bit. Stevenson, I think end of April missed 10 games. Why did you that? Bad call by him. Stevenson betting fifth. He's got him over.

For the Reds. Contreras batting. There's contraris betting. Third? They bumped them up to second recently. For the Cubs. I mean, yeah, I'm going to go Contreras. And I'm not going to think about it

any more than I have to. Might be. traded. Maybe he gets Benied later on. How about this? I think Wrigley that's tough to hit at earlier in the year because of their weather conditions. Contreras's numbers are down at home. They're up on the road. Stevenson, who Cincinnati's always been considered a hitter's park, his numbers are much better at home. So I think that's where you get the weighted rungs created plus. It's Wilson Contreras. Dude, I'm going to need Will Smith and Rinaludo and like step up. summer's here

yeah summer's here summer's here like seriously about it sorry reds fans some of you probably thought you were about to get something there no but no I mean we have a reds fan in the office now we do

maybe he'll be upset just go out there and yell no pedal no paddle hey this is an easy one uh NL first base one two three Paulie G Paul Schmitt

Paul go Schmidt Bada-na-na-da-da-da-da-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-e. Easy, easy, easy. Are you hitting? Are you sexy? Are you Paul Goldschmidt's puppy? Now, Freeman might be coming for him. He got hot recently, but it's Paul Goldman.

Freddy's on his ass a little bit, but he's getting a boost from some defensive numbers where Paul isn't. Paul's a former Gold Glover. I think all the first basemen are getting hurt by defensive metrics. So it's Paul Goldschman. He's 352, 418, 626 slug. Freeman tier below that.

Alonzo tier below that. C.J. Corona, tier below that. Good job, Paul. Thank you for making it easy for us. So that's the good news. I think we're stumbling upon the bad news. This is one that I looked at that was, I think, our tightest one last time, and I still think it's tight as shit.

So in the AL, just a statement, step back. Yeah. We have three players still eligible for Silver Daisy. Right. That's cool. That is good news. That is good news.

So you're saying this is going to be messy? I'll cut through the crap for you. Jeff McNeil having a nice year. Most of his games aren't at second base, so he may pop up, but I don't think he qualifies, which makes it a two-man race between Tommy Edmund and Jazz Chisholm. an argument we had a lot last month. I believe Tommy Edmund edged him out because Jazz Chisholm's platoon splits.

Jazz Chisholm not hitting lefties, he's still not hitting lefties. Tommy Edmund, his numbers are significantly better against righties against, or against lefties, against righties, which the majority of pitchers are, Tommy Edmund is much more closer to a slightly above average ball player than a daisy potential winning ball player. Jim, I looked at this one for a while.

Mm-hmm. And that's what you're going with Louis Guillaume. And I love what Guillermo is doing. I think he was 16 for his last 30 recently. I mean, he keeps playing. He's going to take over. I love his beard. Defense mentally becomes a factor.

I think jazz is good. Tommy Edmund just won the gold glove. Jazz has the power and speed, yet Tommy Edmund is winning the stolen bass game. I don't, I don't know. I don't know. Like day in, day out, I think I lean Jazz Chisholm, but when you mix in a lefty,

he's basically out and then Edmonds... How bad are Jazz's splits? You're not good. But how bad are they? He's a junior. Jazz Chisholm Jr. Is his dad named Jazz? Oh, Jazz Rado Hermes.

Jazz Chisholm has played 14 games against lefties. Only 23 at bats. He is two for 23, 087, 0803. They don't even start him. Basically. So he can. No, you can, I mean, I'm sorry, but you can't be a platoon. Like, they don't, do they really sit him?

He's only got 23 at bats? Yeah. I'm going to go. to. And that starts turning Wardy. Like if the coach doesn't play him, but he's got a 993 OPS against Ritey's.

Like if this was Ritey's only, Jazz Chisholm would land in a, win in a landslide. So when a lefties out there, they start John Birdie. Birdie, Birdie, Birdie, Birdie, rocking everywhere. What are Bertie's numbers versus Lefties?

Love whenever we get some John Birdie talk going. Now they've recently started Chisholm versus a lefty. John Birdie this year. 300 967 OPS versus lefties Similar played appearances To Jazz Chisholm

Exactly the same actually So there's not a ton of lefties Yeah I don't know I was curious if we can figure out How many opportunities Has he had to start a game there Jazz? Yeah

One two three Four five six Seven eight nine Ten eleven twelve and he started one that I'm seeing. I think one. Based on the play appearance numbers,

I believe that. What if it was somehow? Oh, he started two. So let me find out how he did in these... Who are these two lefties he started off of? You're right. It's like the coach is doing this, right? Right.

Is it career? Like last year he couldn't hit him? He started against... Now I'm just finding three lefties he started off of. And also like what number does have to be? He started half. the games. Should we each split it and make Italian Trev decide?

Yeah. Okay. Which one do you want? I'll go, Edmund, because I really, in my heart of hearts, if a team doesn't start you versus any pitcher on any day, you know, then are you a JM All-Star? Or an all-J-M guy. Dude, this is, it's an absolute mental pretzel because Tommy Edmund is also bringing his glove to the game. He just got gold on it. But, dude, against right-handed pitchers,

which is the majority of pitching you're going to see, Tommy Edmund has a 734 OPS. Jazz Chisholm's a 990. And Jazz defensive second is also good. But I fully understand what you're saying. So I'm all six. If it's a playoff game and they're facing Max Fried, is Chisholm starting?

Or is he sitting at a, Is he sitting on the bench in a playoff game versus a lefty? I don't know. That's so weird. You think that organization, the young guy like jazz, who's doing all that he isn't against right? He's like trying to. But then birdies.

Get him lefty and these the birdies. But birdie God coming in versus lefty. He started versus Fried, Menea, and someone else. And, uh, blower. Three of the tougher lefties this year. Yeah, that's kind of odd to me. starts versus tough lefties. I don't know.

I don't know. Tell me what Trow says. I texted Trev. They get Bertie, the easy guys. Cannot wait to see his. Got to keep Bertie hot. Um, we'll get our second base answer in a second from Italian Trev. Shall we go to a shortstop position?

Last year, jazz, the numbers are definitely worse against lefties, but they're not a huge fall off. Playable? Not good enough. Yeah, playable. high six is OPS. Not great, but playable. Lower the numbers. Yeah.

For me, shortstop in the NL is a two-man race. Okay. It's Trey Turner, Francisco Lindor. They're awfully similar. Trey's got four more doubles. Lindor's got four more homers. Trey's got five more hits. Lindoors got more played appearances and more games,

but Trey's got more hits. Lendors got a better walk percentage. Trey's got a better batting average. They have the same on-base percentage. They have the same slugging. Yeah, the same slugging. Lendors got them in OPS. No, they're the same OPS.

They have the same OPS. If you're within five points, I'd just say it's the same. Right. And so they have the same on base, same slugging, same OPS. Yeah. Trace stole in 10 bases. They have the same RBIs. Yeah.

I think Lindor's meant more to the Mets. I think he's played every single game. I think he's got a lot of clutch hits. I think they lean on him more there. That's really tough. That's very similar. It's an eye for an eye. By the way, Dansby Swanson deserves a shout-out.

He got off to a really slow start this season, and he's like in the mix. So I just want to give him. some love contract year. Andy Go Doors. And this is the shortstop position where we've talked about defense matters a little more here. Well, the metrics hate Tritory right now.

Right, right, which Dodgers fans, you're going to have to let me know on that. All things do feel pretty equal here. And I'm, in my head, I'm staying Frankie Lindor. I think he's been everything the Mets have needed this year. the defensive numbers like him a little more than Turner and the offensive numbers like him a little more than Turner. And you'd rather four homers than four doubles.

It's so even. If you're looking at the offensive number slash lines, it's so even you kind of have to nitpick. You're splitting hairs. And the fact that Lindor has more homers because the slash lines to the OPSs, they're very, very similar. It's kind of nuts. Really good baseball players too.

The fact that I believe Lindor is still played every day. Yeah, if not, very close to it. And I know that he's... Yeah, I'm going to go Lindor. I was going to try to find batting order stuff, but they're both top of their... Among the top of the line up every... Every day.

Both three-hole generally every day. Yeah, Lindor's been three-hole 41 times and two-hole nine. And Turner has been eight, they got two Turner, so that's tough. Francisco Lindor at shortstop will be joined at second base by Tommy Edmund as they both pursue the Silver Daisy as they continue on. Trevuan Edmund, did he give a reasoning? Trevuan Edmund with no reasoning, which is a little scary. Yeah, he got decision fatigue. He said Tommy.

He didn't look shit up. I don't think he looked. I don't know he looked a thing up. If I had to guess... He went to the Daisy pursuit. I think he's in the pursuit of the Daisy, which is really tough for our guy, jazz. We've been trying not to have that clouded.

It's really tough. Easy one again at third base. It's Mani Machado. He has been... He's probably your NL MVP. 353 average, 432 on base. 572 slugging. Wow.

572 slugging. lugging. 182 runs created plus. Young Thick having a solid year, nothing near Mani. Nolan Aronado having a really good year. He's not in Mani's territory. It was close last month between them. Yeah, Brendan Donovan, the rookie for St. Louis. He's had a nice little call-up.

Probably not in this realm. Brian Hayes deserves a shout. I didn't realize he's 294-377 on base. So good for him. And he's, he's supposed to play otherworldly defense. But it's, it's Mani Machado in Atlanta. Hoo. Okay.

Hey, tough break for C.J. Cron. We didn't, like, say that. But he is. I gave a shout. Yeah, but he, I mean, he's fifth in the league slugging percentage. Yeah. But number one, same position, same league. Yeah.

That's tough. All right. Let's go to left field. Left field, wow. In the NL. Happer got it last time. I mean, we got to look at Jock starts again because he's also a 586 slugging for Jock Peterson. McNeil comes up.

Yeah. Yeah. Horace O'Hillar hitting homers, but he, Jack Peterson. Is he qualified? Who's qualified here? McNeil's the only one out of those guys that are qualified. So you'd have to. Let me drop it to, say, 150 plate appearances.

See if that brings in. It's going to get you most of it. Well, that doesn't bring in jock, but. Yeah. But that is a little, like, like Altuvae and Ward, we're in the 140s, Joc's and the 130s. That is different. It feels mean, but.

All right. I'll go to 130, which that brings in Jock? It does. Is that 1.33. That would bring in Jock. He's played 23 games in left field. How many is McNeil? McNeil.

Jock was also out for a little bit. McNeil has played 19 games in left field. And Jack was 27? He was... He was 23 in left, 9 and right, 8DH days. So around the same. and Jack is Wait, didn't you?

You said 20 something? 23 and left, 9 and right. Five more. Eight D.H days. But, uh... I think our buddy in-hap is out. Love you, Happer. Jack's percentage might be higher than McNeil's is what's.

Like, McNeil has started 26 games at second. Yeah. 18 and left. I don't know. I'm trying to figure out who's eligible before I can even fucking wrap. my brain. Yeah, it feels like McNeil should be eligible. I don't, this feels like a Yordaun situation, except McNeil's versatility is like a good

thing for the Mets. Yeah, but it's 37%, which I thought we had ruled out judge at center, like for that. I think each position's different. I mean, Yordaunt ended up winning left field, remember? But he was at 50, he was at 40-something percent. He was below. He was at 40-something. He was at 18 and left, 25.

and B.H. So I think for early in the year, it's kind of got to be a feel thing. Yeah, 41% is close, similar. So, and within anything within five, we say it's the same. The end of the year, it's a more firm, need a certain number. ProFar got in the mix, which is cool. Defensive numbers like him, offensively is not there.

Just give it to McNeil then. him over Jock? No, just because of games. But I think I like Jock's numbers better than McNeil's. But McNeil brings a different type of bat. Different ballplayers. Jack Peterson's at this point essentially trying to hit a home run every time. He's doing pretty good.

He's not doing a bad job. He's got 11. Check out some left, right. He's got 11 home runs and 131 played appearances. Right? Is Jock platooning? Is he? God, he's traditionally had lefty struggles.

I don't know where he's at now. So what's that? Jack sitting a home run every 11 at bats? It's pretty nuts. He, Jock is not really playing versus lefties. He's got 11 at bats versus lefties this year. McNeil it is.

I think he's got a better walk rate, better strikeout rate. He's giving you something else with the bat. No one is really, none of the everyday left-fielders. That's, I guess, my biggest frustration is some of you everyday left-fielders, Yelly. McNeil not hitting lefties. No?

No. What's his numbers versus lefties? 40 a bat, so he's played a little bit. But 175 of 492 OPS. 912 OPS against right. He's 349, 399. 4-92? Yeah.

Jeff. Yeah. So this is a bad position. I don't like it. Their numbers are similar. They're both only hitting Ritey's. I mean, Jack Peterson's OPS is 961. First Rydies.

McNeils is 912, which is crazy because he's contact slappy guy. I think I'm going McNeil just because he made that catch into the wall the other day. And he is playing against the left. Jack Peterson got slapped in left field. I'm going Yadiel Hernandez. You're going Yadilly. You're going Yaddy. Yep.

Very happy. Should I tell Trap to pick a left fielder? I'm not joking. Yadiel Hernandez has started 29 games in left field. He has a 300 batting average, a 343 on base percentage of 462 slugging, an 804 OPS.

not a lot of homers nine doubles he plays left field every day i hope his splits aren't atrocious but no one else i'm trying to look at it i don't think he plays against lefties oh he's got a 333 batting average against lefties in 27 at bats he's played against some when and he does he hits what a slop heap the left field is maybe in haps in Why is no one It's just a platoon spot Getting sent down What the hell?

So the NL left field is just a platoon spot But if you're in every day out there You're just not having a great year so far Chris Taylor, what are you doing? Do we want to leave? How about this? Do we want it to be a rollover? No, I mean it's Yadiel over

Happer right now, sorry Well, I think I might be still like McNeil over I'm McNeil and Peter over Yadiel. So what if we leave it as a rollover and someone can pick up two pedals? Because it's that messy, dude. Ask Trev. I don't know if that's allowed.

I'm Yadiel Hernandez right now. Your guy. You gave him an award. I do like him. I've given him two awards. He's out there more than Jock, more than McNeil. When he gets that bat's first lefties, he's doing it. Left field's a mess.

Not sure what to do. McNeil doesn't play out there half the time, doesn't hit lefties. Peterson, Jock, he's been out, doesn't hit lefties at all. Jimmy's going Yadiel Hernandez, kind of a deep cut just because he's out there. He's got a couple stats. His numbers are the same as McNeil's. What do you mean a couple stats? Not the same as McNeil's.

He hits. He hits. It's becoming a long voicemail. I threw out potentially a rollover. Someone can pick up two pedals next month. You want to get your thoughts on if that's available, or we will send you two options to pick from. 3.08 average versus 300, 362 versus 343,

450 versus 462, 804 OPS versus 812. Him and McNeil are right in the same line. Yadi's got a better walk percentage, a worse strikeout, but I mean, that's... I'm involved in some Nat stuff. Attitude. That's very similar slides.

The vibe around Yadi's good. like the vibe is, oh, he always hits. He's a good story. He's an awesome story. Just if we're looking for a vibe. Right, Yadiel to the table of this show. I mean, I'd go, I'd go Jack Peterson or McNeil over him.

That's fine. I'm just saying you can't act like it's crazy. His numbers are the same as McNeil's. I mean, it's less games. The stats are just a little... Yeah, but it's similar to Jock. It's more played appearances than Jock or you're saying you're going him over.

I'd have to reach out to some of my Natitude fans because there's a lot of numbers that hate his defense and base running stuff, like to a significant degree. So if that's true, I'd hate to be on the Talking Baseball podcast and defending Yadiel to the moon, but that's where I ask Nat's Nation to reach out. Well, I mean, I think other people should take this, but Yadi's there.

Well, I'm going to wait for Ploose reaction. Until then... I wish Jack didn't miss time. I think he'd have it. I think it would be a layup. I'm going to go Jeff McNeil. All right. Let's move the center field.

We'll wait for Trev's text. Get better, NLA Field. Figure it out, guys. Next month. Don't want to think. Do not want to think. Center field is interesting. Center field position.

Brandon Nimmo doing good things for Los Metz. My guy, Varsho, comes back into play in the crazy year. been having. Yes. Who else you're seeing out there? Yostremski. How much center field has he been at? Harry Bader, Cody Bellinger.

Yeah. Okay. I mean, I think we're drawing lines in the sand. Who won it last month? Last month was Brandon Nimmo. So he has a potential to keep it going. Yistramski didn't play much in April at all. And he's been splitting his time between center and right field.

He's got 18 starts in center now. and 15 of them were in the month of May. Out of his last, like, eight games, he's been playing a lot of centerfield. But I don't know if that's enough. Yeah, I mean, I think it's an immo for me. I mean, he's out there every day, right? He's out there every day.

Yaz, the triple slash, has him, like, slightly beat in every category. But Centerfield, like you said, for shortstop, for me, that's just a whole different beast of a position. It's Nimmo. He's lead. Yeah. Did he get hurt recently? Yeah, he got banged up, right?

Yes. How hurt is he? Because if he's out for the season, which I don't think he is, we'd have heard about that. Brandon Nimmo not expected to be on 10-day aisle, sprained wrist. It's fine.

He's going to say even if he's out. Leading off center field every day, and I think this is what we said last month, And the stats have him at the top. He's, it's Nimmo. Good job. Happy for him. Good for Nimmo.

We got a lot of Mets. Or are we just talking about a lot of Mats? They're a good team. There's a couple of Mets. They have been a good team. Oh, thank God. We got an easy one. Right field.

Who you got, Jimbo? Mookie bats. Wow. Yeah, it's easy. He is. He's got a 6-14 slugging. Next tithe is 4-7. So a 1.0PS.

Next time I says 8. It's got a 300 average. Got a 392 on base. It's mokey vats. Mookie Bats. Coveted NLDH. It was Vogelback who didn't have any RBIs from the D.H position because it's Harper, right? It's got to be Harper.

Please make it easy. Be Harper. Make it easy. Be Harper. Make it easy. It is. It is Bryce Harper. He's got 305 average, 354 on base, 586 slug.

940 he's been deaching they'd love to get him out of there he's this is going to get fucked when he's stopped when he gets healthy and then we don't know what to do with him yeah the only guy that can really give him an argument is alonzo alonzo's got three more homers and six more games everything else harper does have him beat across the board um and it kind of deserves to be said deaching not an easy thing to do and harper since he's been deaching he's been an absolute monster Yeah.

So I think that's deserved. Good job, Rice Harper. And Alonzo hasn't D.H. That much 14 times to Harper's 36. Yeah. We got it. Good job, harp. National League pitching.

Okay. What do we got here? Not Hermann Marquez. Nope. At all. Pablo had it last month. I don't think Pablo slowed down. Let's see.

in the National League, your ERA leader is Pablo Lopez. 10 starts, 59 innings pitch. Right behind them in incremental degrees are Joe Musgrove and Corbyn Burns and Sandy Alcantara. After that, there's a bit of a drop-off. Him and Musgrove, very similar numbers, eerily similar numbers. Corbin Burns

Kind of the same with one Well, not one more start than Pablo One more than Musgrove I'm kind of fine running Pablo over He's the ERA leader Musgrove is the FIPP leader That independent fielding baby Hey Pablo and Musgrove similar shit

But Musgrove has one more start Which makes Lopez that's one Yeah which makes Musgrove more Wait is Musgrove starting tonight That could be our loophole How about Pavel Lopez, dude

Snell starts tonight for the Padres. Okay. And no Lopez for Dude, Pablo Lopez Game Log is fucking awesome. No, no, this is Musgrove. Okay, hold up.

Hold up. Musgrove's game log is awesome. Let me check Pablo's out. Damn, dude, it's Musgrove. Okay. let me get there because their stats are eerily similar

but it's he hasn't taken a game off it's musgrove for me I mean looking at the but what happened was this month Pablo had a 4.2 3 earned he also had a 3

innings pitched 3 earned so those are two starts you kind of take off you didn't complete the 5th you didn't even you didn't even get into the 4th And then he also had a seven innings pitch four earned, which is good. You went deep, but four earned. We're talking about the best of the best of the best.

Right. Joe Musgroves, six innings pitch two earned, six point two zero, six point one, two, six two, seven one, seven, seven, six one. He hasn't given up three earned runs in a game yet, nor has he not pitched in the six inning, nor is he not completed the sixth inning. Musgrove has completed the sixth inning every single start and not giving up more than three-earned runs yet. That's awesome. Hear that people? That's passion. I love it. I love it. He's one inning behind Pablo while being one start behind. The ERA's right there. I love Big Joe. No losses on the season. You know that's important. Yeah, I'm good with Big Joe Musgrove.

That's an awesome game lock. It's incredible. Trevor Plouf responded. What do you say? What's the debate right now? Going back to left field. Oh, I tried to, I put that in my rear view. What do you say?

He said, can't give a great answer, so I'm okay with rollover. He's followed that with people don't play positions anymore. back in my day, exclamation point. I'm with them. Yeah. So what are we doing? I think it's a rollover. So whoever wins it in June.

Someone can get a double pedal next month. Does it have to be someone that was in conversation this month? No. Just no one wanted. No. Money's stayed on the table. We're just not giving it out. So that's like that's my, reflects my opinion of the, of the position.

Yeah, dude. All right. Great. I love it. Roll over. Leaving it empty on the ground. graphic that goes out. Roll over.

Roll over to next month. You can, we just say no one want it. The graphic for these is because people never understand that anyway. Yeah. So our team loves it. You had a better may. All right, everyone. Thanks for tuning in.

See you next time. Just gave out a lot of pedals and it was beautiful. Sound off in the comments. Turn your sound off. In the comments. In the comments. Thank you.