Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Albert Pujols Hits No. 700! | 545

Episode Date: September 26, 2022

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What is going on? Welcome to Talking Baseball. Albert Pooleho 700, the best to ever do it. And I'm not talking Albert. Guardians popping bottles. Players only. Oh, it's a big out. Week and a half to the playoffs.

What? Hello and welcome to Talkin Baseball. Presented to you by Seat Geek. Make sure you are going to your team's maybe final team. games of the regular season with seat geek download the app get $20 off your first seat geek order with code talking that's code talking $20 off your first seat geek order i've been using it i've been going all these yankee games to try to see Aaron judge hit his 61st home run of the season and he has not done that um but there's a lot of pressure his wife came up and said she's a big fan of what we're doing no big deal

Trevor, out on the left coast, back in action after his camping trip. Are you refreshed? Did you feed off the hills? Are you more tired? Yeah, refreshed. I don't know if it's the right word. We had a great time this weekend, but we had a bunch of kiddos with us. So it was kind of a, you know, it was a lot.

But I had a great time, like I said, fresh air. I was catching all the fish, bro. Just rainbow trout hear my name. and they just freak out. Like, we got to get away from this guy. He's here to catch us all. Got a little bit of trout thumb, which is always a good thing.

But, but baseball's hot in the streets. How many days we got left? Trev, the regular season ends October 5th, which is next Wednesday. Insane. And a lot of stuff happened this weekend. Like, milestone stuff. It felt like those first two weeks,

of August were dragging. Deadline, it felt like the calendar didn't move. And then flash forward. Is that the phrase? Fast forward? Yeah. September 26th. I had another wedding this weekend.

Obviously ripped it up in the Cats. Did you really? Congrats to Sydney and Eddie. Yes, Trev. Bro, you got too many friends. Too many weddings. Trevor Plouffe and Trout. Could that be an off-season show this year?

People are saying. Okay. Okay. He had a big weekend. You know, fishing is not that fun to watch. I was talking about Mike Trout. Oh, Michael. Yeah. You said Trout fears you.

That wasn't... I don't think he fears me. Okay. He knows you're coming. He fears an intentional walk. Cowards. Soft. Trevor, we are in, we're in the end game, man.

We were talking a lot before the show. I mean, teams are eliminated. Your Boston Red Sox are eliminated from postseason contention. We are up against it. I think the consensus amongst most baseball fans is that they wish there was one more race to dive into. But, I mean, since the White Sox have fully, falling off the cliff.

There's that NL Wildcar Chase and the Mets Braves is still the storyline. But man, it's, and I don't know. I don't know if we're judging this first year of the playoff format, but end of the regular season wise, outside of two of the most historic home run seasons we've ever seen in a year we're hitting's down, funny enough.

It seems like the races were missing just a little juice. Yeah, I saw some of the, talk about that earlier today on social media. You know, if we didn't have the extra wildcard team, then, you know, the royals storming back to beat the Mariners and putting up an 11-spot means a lot more than it does. And maybe it wouldn't happen because, you know, you'd be managing differently. But, yeah, that AO wild card race would be, it's pretty good right now and just because of seeding, but we're talking about leaving one of those teams out.

That's a different ball game. The N-O wild-car race is still good. We still have enough teams where they're fighting for the last spot. But, yeah, I mean, before we judge the postseason, I mean, the postseason has to happen. We have to see how these three games work. I'm excited to see all three of the games, you know, be played at the higher seeds home, you know, field.

So it's, we'll see. I think the jury is still out. Yeah, I mean, we have to see the actual playoff part of it. Right now, there are two teams above 500 that would not be. be in the playoffs, your Milwaukee Brewers, and the Baltimore Orioles. How about that? You can't predict baseball. So, I guess we'll see.

I mean, for the playoffs, like the matchups still seem awesome. The Guardians, how they just took over the Central. Good for them. Popping bottles. Our guy Tristan McKenzie having a blast. We love that. You want to talk a little NL ball, Trevioso? You know I'm leading off today.

I'm the prototypical power hitter one nutton type guy. Don't bring any of your soft tossing lefties to the ballpark. First pitch fastball, I'm on it. I don't take those anymore. Don't throw that. Change up. Trevor, why don't you walk us through the National League?

Can't really hear the music, but my people, we are going to start out in the greatest city to ever exist. That's Los Angeles. the city of angels, where the Dodgers took two of three from the Cardinals. No one cares. The only thing we're talking about is Albert, our guy, the machine, hits $699 and $700 on Friday night. My goodness, it was a sight to see.

We will be talking about that going forward. Dodgers handle the business the next two days. They'll go as 11-0 Cardinals in that Friday night game. Then 6-2 Dodgers, 4-1 Dodgers. They got some stuff going on with the IL, Dustin May. They're left-handed heavy. We're going to talk about it all, but Albert, we love you, doll. Moving on, my other city, Philadelphia.

The Braves go into town. They split this series, 2-2-2-1-0-Filly's, 9-1- Phillies. They take the first two games, and the Braves battleback, 6-3, and then 8 to 7 in 11 innings. They split the series. There are some play-up implications in this one. We'll get into it. Again, more IL stuff.

The Braves are doing it, or not doing it, I guess. strider to the I.L with an oblique, my goodness, that could really, really hurt. We'll get into that series in a bit. Moving on. Now we're going to Jake City. Why do we own all these cities? We just do. We're in Colorado.

That's not a city. He has a state, you dummy. Padres take two out of three from them. Four, three Rockies. And the first one, they win in extra innings. Then it went Padres 9 to 3. And then Padres 13 to 6. Right now.

Padres, got a little comfortable lead. One and a half games up on. on the Philly, two and a half games up on Milwaukee, or more than that, I think. They're sitting pretty. Padre is doing it there. Moving on, speaking of the Brew Crew, they go into Cincinnati. They take three or four. They're doing their business.

Is it going to be enough? It goes 5-1, 5-3, 10-2 Brewers for the Reds won yesterday's game 2-1. Brewers got to get it going here. Again, we'll go into that one. Then there's a bunch of series that don't really have many playoff implications. Giants of D-backs, Giants take. two or three, six five giants, five two D-backs, three-two giants. Cubs at Pirates. Cubs win three out of four there. They go three-two Cubs, six-five Cubs, six-oh pirates, and then eight three

Cubs in that last game. And then the last series in the National League was the Nationals at the Marlins. The Marlins take two or three, five, two, four-one Marlins before the Nationals won game three, six to one. We know Don Mattingly will not be returning next year for the Marlins. There's some stuff going on there. We'll talk about that. But my friends, that's what happened in the National League. TPP, Trevor Plouffe, thank you. Your standings, as you alluded to along the way. You know what? I'll start with that. I'll mix it up a little bit in that best city you referenced in the world ever. The Los Angeles Dodgers are 106 and 47. 106 and 47. Almost playing 700 balls, is that a thing?

That's a thing. That is most certainly a thing. They are so good, and they maintain a 21-game lead on the San Diego Padres. St. Louis, 89 and 65, as they own the Central. And the New York Mets are a game and a half up on the Atlanta Braves as we sneak closer and closer to this weekend series in Atlanta. Mets Braves.

Both of those teams trying to make their final snag for the East. In the wild card, the Braves currently obviously hold that pole position, 95 and 58. They're having a great year. San Diego is 85 and 68, a game and a half up on the Phillies. And the Phillies in that last spot, 3 and 7 in their last 10, they're struggling a little bit. A game and a half up on Milwaukee,

but they do have the tiebreaker. So that's essentially a two-game lead. Trevor, Cron Pod, and maybe I already did it with the standings a little bit. It seemed like you kicked us off in L.A., your favorite city in the world? My favorite city in the world. We're going to go over some of the hot topics here in the NL, and there's nothing hotter than Albert Pujols. Friday night does $6.99.

The first one off. Heaney. 1-2 heater in. It looked like he cheated to it. I got to be honest with you, because the hands got there pretty quickly, hits the bomb. And then you're like, okay, it's going to happen.

And I believe it was Phil Bickford with the hanger. And Albert didn't miss it again. And I talked about it a little bit on baseball today. Like the joy in his face. And maybe some, like, you know, some pressure, some weight off his shoulders type thing. When he looked into the dugout before he got there to first base and just gave the smile, man, I just think it's so cool.

And I listen to the postgame interviews and talked to some people. And one thing that Albert did say, which I thought was cool, he's like, you know, if it had to happen anywhere other than St. Louis, he was happy to happen in L.A. because when he went over there, that's kind of what rejuvenated his love for the game. He wasn't there for very long, obviously. but he got to do it with the Cardinals in L.A. And I think that maybe would be the second best option for him. But nonetheless, I mean, I think we might see another 700. Maybe we won't.

I think a lot of people are saying we won't ever see 700 again. This is a very, very special moment for baseball. And a guy that's really, you know, one of the more universally respected dudes in the game. You just have to kind of sit back in Marvel because you can't really, you say the word 700 or the number 700 is it a word or a number I think it's both oh I think so right wow heavy well 700 be two words 700 is two words that together make a number yeah so when you think about it yeah it's a lot but then like we always say break it down man it's just an incredible achievement 21 fucking years dude hidden homers it's really cool I'm happy for Albert he seems

happy. I guess we can talk about the ball too a little bit. That's kind of an interesting aspect about all of this. But what are your thoughts on all, Albert? It can't be driven home enough of how awesome this is. Baseball is a sport that, you know, the Hall of Fame and the small haul and some of the conversations that we're going to have every offseason for the rest of our lives. And the home run and what the home run is. And, you know, Just how cool a home run is. It's kind of one of baseball's biggest wins at the end of the day. Like a home run is badass.

Like, I just took you out the park. Trev did it 106 times to fools. 700 home runs. Okay. So this thing that everyone tries to achieve on a baseball field until you can't. Barry Bonds. You know, some say one of the best ever play. Some say a guy that used steroids and, you know,

cook the books a little bit. but the second half of his career, and he is not in the Hall of Fame because of that reason. He's one of the 700 guys. Hank Aaron, Henry Aaron, if you're one of the kids that don't know, you know, I've watched a couple of the mini-docs on him and stuff for being a guy that was really breaking the mold

and everything he was going up against, to do it as long as he did is impressive. And I know, you know, he led, led the league in home runs four times. He never hit 50. Like some people almost hold that against him. You could hold that for him. I mean, the fact that he did it for so long,

hitting home runs. He played from age 20 to 42, hitting a bunch of home runs every year along the way, the longevity, the health aspect of it. I mean, let me get a quick Jakey Butterknife for you. From 55 to 70, so that's 16 seasons, he averaged 153 games. That itself is impressive.

Never mind he would, never mind the fact he was hitting 36 home runs a year during that span. The guy's all time. He took down Babe Ruth in a time when people didn't like Babe Ruth to be taken down. He's all time. I mentioned Babe Ruth. He's that other guy. He's the guy that's still known in pop culture, like throughout our society. You know Babe Ruth.

He's like, a chunk of this country is built on Babe Ruth's, like, arrogance and cocksureness and who he was as a person. There's now only one other person in the club. It's Albert Pujols. So you got Barry and everything that comes with that. Hammer and Hank, who did it as long and well as anyone, Roman, and the babe. And now Albert Pujolos is there. So Albert is the only person I mean I mentioned Henry Aaron

We're talking you know played into the 70s You know 50 years later Albert's the only guy outside of Barry Bonds It's really impressive I keep driving home that number Most home runs off at different pitchers Is crazy impressive Yeah

Because it's almost double Ruth I don't know where it's at with Hank Aaron but I think we'll see 700 again. I mean, there's some candidates out there. And I think the bigger thing, especially with Tom Brady now, the fact that we're learning more and more about health and the body and longevity,

why are you laughing when you hear me say? Why, you brought Tom Brady up? I mean, Tom Brady's playing quarterback at 45. Like, people didn't think that would happen. Yeah, I get what you're saying. And so I'll bring that over back to baseball again. No strawberries, people. or tomatoes.

You just don't eat those, and you're good. You know, if a trout or a Soto or one of those guys really wants to play to their 45s and put up those last couple years where you're hitting 13 homers, you know, I think they can approach something special and, you know, there's always going to be the next guy, right? So maybe it's Yordon Alvarez

because every time I look at that guy's stat page, it reminds me of an all-time great at a young age. So I think we will see it, but there's also a chance we don't, man. Pitchers are nuts right now. Yeah, there's like two sides of that argument, right? The pitchers are just getting better. I guess the other take is that we're focusing more on slugging than ever

and putting the ball in the air and we were getting bigger and stronger. And, you know, those homeruns hopefully for hitter's sake should be maybe easy. I don't know. There's just two sizes of argument. $700 is a crazy number. I mean, we say that it's going to happen again. You never know. I think the longevity aspect, you can see it working both ways where, yeah, if a guy really wants to play long enough, like he can really take care of his body, we know more things about that.

But at the same time, it's like having the will to play that long is something that not a lot of guys have. Dude, it ends up becoming like, dude, I don't know if I want to do this again for another year. So, like, you have to be a special person. You have to be a real dog, like a freaking rat to stick around like that. you know so we'll see uh other stuff in the game or the series rosy touched on this morning too the dodgers um the dodgers uh putting dustin may on the i l he was working his way back they needed him for some length in the rotation they're real lefty heavy now it's going to be interesting to see how they line up their postseason rotation i think right now it's going to be uh ureus kershah

anderson and then we're going to have to figure it out i think gonselin isn't not going to be stretched out enough. They're talking about putting him in a long kind of role so that he might have to piggyback with someone. Dodgers fans, let me know. I've been kind of scouring to see what they're going to do. Is Bobby Miller, is that going to happen? Are they going to bring up somebody from AAA to kind of help with the rotation out? Like, they got to make a decision there. You know, they also took Kimbril out of the closer role. So, you know, they're going by committee right now, which I don't think is as big of a deal as people think it is. I think the rotation is more interesting.

We'll see what they have. They have time. They've done well enough where they're going to have the buy and they've given themselves extra time to prepare for the playoffs. But man, like, that rotation is taking a hit all year. And they battle it because they have depth, but that depth is being tested now. And more so for me, it's the beauty of baseball.

It's the matchup part that we haven't been able to hone in yet. with the Mets and the Braves as they fight it out for that two-seat in the National League. The Cardinals, let's say they go on this miracle postseason run, and it's Yaddy, and it's Waino, Aeronado, and Goldschmidt, their incredible seasons, right? Albert Poulos is one of the best hitters in baseball versus lefties. Paul Goldschmidt, I think, is the best hitter in baseball versus lefties. So that's the part that's more important to me.

I can't... The Dodgers are the Dodgers, man, and they pitch, they hit, they do all of it, right? It kind of doesn't matter the name on the jersey. If it has Dodgers on the front, people are doing good things. But if they run into a matchup, and, you know, I'm interested right now, I think, because the Dodgers are the one,

they're going to be lined up with the four, five seed, which is currently Braves Padres. We'll see if that shuffles at all with the Phillies or even Milwaukee. But if one of those teams, like righty-lefty splits are something that I don't, you can bank on in baseball. Like, you really can. You know, Trev, in a non-joking way, if we threw on you, you on the field and there was a soft toss in lefty, you'd be feeling good right now.

Like, you know you've got that in the back. I know you'd be feeling good. I like you pumping my gas a little bit. Sure, I'll take it. Yeah, yeah. Put you back out there. Yeah, right. I'm going to get blown up, bro.

That would be, that's what I would start to circle. Like, I, whoever advances to play the Dodgers, if they're going with their all lefty starting rotation, and whether it's a Mani Machado or Ronnie Acuna or whoever it may be, that can change. That changes a series outlook. Our chat is letting me know.

I mean, I know Michael Grove is there. He might have to be piggybacked by like Ahini. Pepio's also done it. I just, that depth that we're talking about with the Dodgers prior to this season has led them to this point. But like I said, it's really, really being tested now. I don't. I mean, what's the Dodgers rotation now? if you rank

like the postseason teams where would they rank with these injuries like not high I don't think like yeah you got you got a couple dogs again I keep saying dogs and rats yeah you're all about it

it's because I was in the wilderness people I was with nature yeah but dude I mean it's where would they rank fourth fifth sixth it's not ideal if you're a Dodgers fan

but look you go score a bunch of runs don't give a shit and bang the ball around like they can. I mean, they're the Dodgers. We don't treat Clayton Kershaw like we should, which is kind of on us and some of his past playoff performances. Eureas, we should respect as a dog, as you were saying. He's been in the postseason.

He's put together a full season here. But yeah, I mean, that national league, I mean, whether you're talking to Grom Scherzer, even to Basses, whether you're talking about some of those Braves guys. I mean, I think they've got St. Louis beat, right? So I don't, but they don't have San Diego. I'd take San Diego starters over them. But that is ignoring the fact that their lineup starts

with Mookie Betts, Trey Turner, and Freddie Freeman. So, like, the Dodgers are going to be fine. I can't wait to find out who they're matched up with because that changes lineup construction. that changes who's starting, that changes up your pinch hitters, everything. People keep writing here.

Dodgers have the lowest team ERA. I understand that, but they had Tony Gonsland stretched out, you know, doing his thing all year. Okay, Walker Bieler was part of that early on. Like, like, these guys aren't there right now.

Okay? It's different. This isn't the rotation that's been there all year. It's some of the guys. Like, it's just, I'm saying, I'm not, the Dodgers are...

The best team in baseball. But it's okay to say, hey, like that rotation is being tested right now. And it's going to be tested in the postseason. You're talking to the Cardinals and how they bang lefties. I mean, that's a big deal, dude. It's a big deal. That's how these teams are good,

lining up platoons. So, like, you have the advantage. If you have a team that bangs lefties and you're starting three of them, that means something. Doesn't mean you're going to lose all those games, but it's not ideal. Change is bullpoles.

pen usage. It, you know, it affects a whole series. And when we're talking either five games or seven games, yeah, we will see. Anything for the Cardinals? I mean, they check off the history, which was a big part of this. Quintana has another good start.

Good for him. But, I mean, let's be out. They're in playoff mode as well. They're in playoff mode. We have a note here talking about Monty and Wainwright battling, like dead arm. arm fatigue, so that's something we have to, you know, keep an eye on. I think they're pretty much locked into where they're going to be

so they can start prepping for the three-game set that they're going to have to play. And it looks like it's going to be either Philadelphia, Milwaukee, or San Diego. Got to get it right. I think Wayno said he's on a pitch count right now. I think that's all in preparation for a big postseason run. Yeah, I mean, Wayno is one of the few pitchers that this post-season run. season, we could see him throw buck 25 if the boss is. Oh, I like that. I like that. Yeah. I mean, he won't be shy. No, it's sick. Probably the only person that's also in that tier,

probably Justin Verlander. If these old men want to empty the tank, they will, and they have for so long. They'll be allowed to. Um, Cardinals kind of have a chance to end the brewers this week. They're playing again. Oh. Yeah. In Milwaukee. Drive the steak. You're going to do some Braves-Fills, Trev? Braves-Fills, we kind of talked about it on the rundown. I think some of the bigger news coming out of this. You know, Phillies haven't been playing good ball. They're 3 and 7 in their last 10.

They're battling Milwaukee for that last one. But as you mentioned, you know, the 1.5-game lead is actually a 2-and-a-half game lead because they have the tiebreaker. Braves got some really bad news here, you know, putting Strider on the IL. And from everything that I read, he started to, to feel it in his last start. And then he was like throwing a side and it just, it just wasn't loosening up on him.

And that's a little scary, man. Every single time we talk about obliques, it's, I tell people it's a serious thing, whether it's a small little ache or it's, or a dull pain. Like, it all means something there. And if you can't, it's not like arm fatigue where you can say,

let's put a pitch count on or we can, you know, we can just figure out a way to get through it. Like if an oblique goes and actually like pull, like he's done for the season, he's out. It won't pitch in the postseason. He won't do anything like that. So this is definitely something to watch out for. I mean, this is one of the better pitchers in the National League right now.

Like, well, it's probably the frontrunner with his teammate for a National League rookie of the year. He's been sensational. And we're going to have to watch out and make sure that he's back ready to go. The post season. Dominant. I mean that the quickest pitcher to 200 strikeouts in a season with the V-Lo, with the slider. You look at the guy's legs. If you didn't check out the video he did with Peter Moylan, some of his workout stuff,

it was a really good reminder that like, oh, yeah, these dudes are different. Yeah, that would be a massive blow to them. and Peter was on Friday, and the news was still kind of breaking and happening that we'll see. I mean, hey, hopefully we could be back here in two weeks, and it's good to be young. It's good to be a young, healthy 23-year-old, and the oblique's feeling better, and he's ready to go.

But if not, yeah, man, I mean, he was supposed to be one of their horses through this playoff run. Now, as you always point out, Max Fried, one of maybe the most overlooked pitcher in baseball for how, elite he is. How's your 2-5 ERA this year and 29 starts? Guys a bona fide stud. Kyle Wright had his breakout season and Charlie Martin. He might be the most underrated pitcher. We talk about Max because, you know, he's kind of quiet.

But he's got like, you know, the hardware and notoriety. Kyle Wright won 20 games this season. Yeah. Yeah, he's got a very much, he has like a 1997 Cy Young season going. Like that's Kyle Wright just won your 97-Sye young. Yeah, Strider would be a massive blow. And I don't know, like you're saying, I mean, Oblique, I'm normally too positive when it comes to injuries, especially actually this time of year. Because it's the end of the season, right?

So if you're going to go for it and it's not something where you can really hurt yourself, which, you know, bleak, you kind of can. And so I'm not saying that, but, you know, if you've got, you know, the Yankees injuries right now, and I'm sorry that I have to use these as an example, but it's what I know best. Like Matt Carpenter at broke a bone in his foot, I think. So if he can swing a bat and jog, he's got a chance to be a postseason guy

because he can't really hurt his foot that much more. Strider, it gets very interesting because a young pitcher, a young valuable pitcher, right now I've got him kind of in the no column which again would be a massive change to this National League postseason So we have nine days left or eight days left in the season The Braves are hoping they don't have to play in the wild card Where are they at right now? They are one and a half back of the Mets with a massive series

Coming up So they I mean the extra days off would be huge for that. If I'm the braves and this is an actual like oblique issue you might just have them off of the roster for the first round so you can get him better. See that's the shit I love, Trev, because you're probably right. Because you can still go freed Morton right

and you're not hurt that much where if we're talking a five or seven game set you're going to really want Strider. But also, I don't, how's he feeling? How's he looking? It gets tricky quick. We got to watch for it. Who? Scary, man.

Scary, dude. I hate when that happens, especially at this time of the year, man. Any update from Philliesland? They're starting, it's starting to become they're really the only team in the sites of Milwaukee. And like you said, three and seven in their last 10. They won those first two games and then they lose the last two, the last one in 11 innings,

a six-hour rain delay game. That's just a brutal feeling. But, I mean, look, they're ready to go for a wild card matchup. If they end up making the wild card, Wheeler came back against Toronto, looked good, and you got Suarez pitching the way he is,

and Nola pitching the way he is. Nola in September has been absolutely incredible. He's got 208 and 4 September starts. He feels great. Match, like those three guys in a wild card series are, I mean, it's really can't ask for more than that. So they just got to make it. They got they got to scratch and claw and do everything they can to make the postseason. And then I think things can be pretty good for that.

And man, do they have an interesting end of the season? The Philadelphia Phillies are on the road the rest of the way. Off day today, three at the Cubbies. Okay. They've been playing 500 baseball for a little bit, but they've been out of it for a while. Sure. Wheeler, Nola Suarez.

Yep. At the Nationals, okay? You know, Nat season's been over for a long time now. Can you take care of your business there? Because they finish in Houston, but it's not like they're dodging anyone because the playoffs are so spaced out if you're not a wildcard team.

They're seeing McCullors. They're seeing Verland. that if you are the Philadelphia Phillies, you better do everything in your power to make sure that Justin Verlander's last tune-up for the season isn't with your season on the line, because that's a bad... Well, you hope it's a...

It's a bad for me. Four innings, bro. Just, that's all you need. Like, actually, you know what, I'll go up for the fifth. I'm feeling good. Only through 60 bullets. I don't know, Phillies. You got me a little nervous.

I'll be honest. I'll be honest. Speaking of honest. Yeah. Let's honestly move on. Padres, Rockies, they take care of business.

They went two out of three. Like I said, they lose the first one in extras, but they're clinging to that number two wild card. One and a half up on Philly. And I think, I guess it's three, but I believe they also have the tiebreaker with Milwaukee.

So actually four games up on Milwaukee. Do you think they're in? Like, are they in? I have the Padres in. I've liked this Padres team from the start before they had Juan Soto, but I also thought they'd have Fernando Tatis. I love their rotation. I have them in.

They finish with a homestand against what looked like at the start of the season, a goddamn murderer's row. Dodgers, White Sox Giants. White Sox and Giants did not live up to last year or this year's expectations. And by the way, Coors had been a little house of horrors for the boys. They lost 14 out of 15,

including that first game of this series, that if you're the Padres, knowing that again, you have to be clean the rest of the way. You can't blow it. To come back and win those two games in a place that's been a torture chamber for you, you know, each of our favorite teams has that one place they go

that you just know, you're in for a bad time. To bounce back, I feel like that is big for them. And yeah, man, I really like this team. It's, it sucks and I don't want to relive it anymore. The fact that Tatis isn't a part of this in the middle of their lineup sucks and is a disaster for baseball and himself, but I really like this team. Haters back on, man. They have three games, like you mentioned in LA and they need to get one of those win one of those do not go and get swept by the dodge we know the kind of baseball that the Dodgers play against the Padres go win one of those and I think you're in I think that's like kind of like that's it like go get a singular game from

the dongers and you can almost punch your ticket to the postseason with this lead in the in the tiebreaker I think because the white socks RIP fucking you disappointed me big time okay And what are they going to play for? These guys now have their sights set on vacation, dude. Didn't they just get swept by the tigers? Like, they are just out of it. They don't give a fuck. Yeah.

So Padres go take care of business with them. But the Dodgers just win one game of this series. I think you're in the playoffs. If you were one of the people that thought the White Sox didn't care before what they were doing, holy smokes. I know we're not in the AL yet, but they are 10 back of the Guardians. That's how far the ship has fallen off for them. So, yeah, I think San Diego's in a great spot.

And again, I don't want to run into Snell Darvish Musgrove with Clevenger and Mania kicking to the pen for a wild card series with Josh Hader back on for a wild card series. Like, no, man, I'm Juan Soto, Mani Machado. Good luck. if you're seeing them for three good luck and I think like the Padres have it

and then to flip the switch they have some guys that can do that like so postseason comes on comes out here I think that it wouldn't be shocking to me at all for them to just go and just bang a series out and just really crush somebody like they have the type of talent to do that

but only time will tell man and yeah the series is in San Diego it's a little bit better for them but still the Dodgers. Right. You got your horses going. You got Snell and Musgrove. First two games going up against Anderson and Urius.

Go get it done, Padres. By the way, that Soto guy, who he won't be scared of a moment in October. He started to go. Last nine games, 382-501.17 OPS. So, yeah, I'm a... I don't want to see them. Rockies, I love you. No thanks.

We'll see you next year. Do you love them? Do you love that? I love that stadium. I love what they could be when they hire me as a special advisor in my retirement, but not right now. Your brewers took three out of four from the Reds. They're fighting. We're playing good ball right now, fighting some of the usual suspects doing the things. Colon Wong hits three homers.

Whoops. Whoops. Nice. Cutsch doing his thing, Renfro doing his thing. You might hear more about him later. Three or four, but they're still, I mean, they're hunting, man. It's just, I'll never forgive them for not making a big move at the deadline. Because I was promised this move, I'll never forgive them.

I'm hoping they sneak in, man, but they don't really deserve it. I guess that's my hot take is my brewers, the team that I said is going to win the World Series. is they don't really even deserve it. I hope they do make into the playoffs. I hope they make me look smart, dude. I really do. But the guys in that clubhouse deserve it. But that organization for the way they kind of approach the deadline and stuff this year,

I'm kind of upset with them. That's just me being honest right here. Like you needed to go do something. As you're seeing the Cardinals go out and inquire more and more people. And you just kind of stood pat. And I get it. Like sometimes shit doesn't happen, but you got to make something happen. So they're on the outside looking in right now. They have a pretty favorable

schedule. I was just looking at it. Who are they playing next? They have a two-gamer with St. Louis. Then they finish Miami and the snakes. That's right. All at home, by the way, Milwaukee, Craig Timber. That's what I'm saying. The Padres, they need to go win a game. And then they can feel good about themselves. and then it's the Phillies versus the Brewers for that last spot. But Milwaukee has to have a lot happen for them. They don't control their own destiny, which stinks. Like they have to bank on the Phillies losing some games.

That tiebreaker really sucks. Can I tell you something? I think the Brewers control their own destiny. I know they don't. It's the Phillies. They don't. They literally do not. But Trev, the Phillies are finishing the whole season on the road.

and I know it's this time a year and teams are checked in, checked out. But man, on the road, finishing the year. The brew crew are at home finishing the year. The brewers feel like they've got hope and they're finishing with the Marlins and the snakes. While that last Philly series is in Houston,

and you've got a team in Milwaukee that, like, believes in their September's. Like they, they do. I know every team believes in themselves, but this team has seen themselves get hot in September's before. The proud people of Milwaukee anchoring in? Little beers and cheese, baby? A lot of brats out in that tailgate area.

We've been out there. But, you know, look, the Phillies, the Cubs are playing good ball, you know, so they got them coming up, and then they go to Washington. and you know kudos to some guys in the team you know I love Joey Maness

more than anybody but that's it's not it's not a great baseball team there right now and then yes Houston and if you're Philly you really have to be hoping that they're just resting people dude yeah

like because if it's if it's I don't know I it's gonna be tough for the Brewers man it really is even with all the stuff you just said I had home Craig Timber Craig Tober whatever the fuck you want to call

that if they go off and have a bad series, it's over. They have to go play basically perfect baseball or they're going to be home, and I'm going to be hang with Yelly in two weeks. He won't hang with me. He has nothing to do with it. Nothing to do with you. I think the mindset that's getting me is like the brewers,

the brewers still had life and they didn't know if they'd still have life, that they're playing with house money. Like they're at the roulette table. They won a cup. They were down to their last. chip. And now they're up a couple chips. And they're thinking about going nuclear. They were

almost done anyways. Might as well take down the house. Where, I don't know, the Phillies have to place a couple scary bets down the stretch. I don't know. I don't know. Maybe that's again, just the optimist in me that we're going to get a little more chaos.

But a big homestand versus a big road stand, interesting. Your guy Led Zeflin coming out of the pen. How about that? I'll love me some lead Zefflin. I think the rest of these series are just going to kind of gloss over, Giants Debecks,

Cubs Pirates, Nationals, Marlins. Tom Mattingly, I think, is the only thing we really need to talk about there. Right? Yeah, we peel back the curtains. We have a couple fish players coming through the office today, Miggy Rojas, Chris Rose rotation,

Tanner Scott. I will hit them up and see what info they give me They won't say anything. Don Mattingly, if you really have no idea, you know, a baseball guy's guy, a borderline Hall of Famer, you know, a legend in New York. I think there was some early weird managerial stuff, and then I think he earned it back.

I think the COVID season with that fish team, they earned a lot of respect. There were two games over 500 that year. I don't. I know, I know. but how are you reading anything into this? Is this just, it's time to go our separate ways,

so we're going our separate ways? I think that this actually was a mutual decision. A lot of times people just say that to save face and to make sure like everyone's not burning bridges or whatever like that. But it comes to a point in time, like if you're Don Maddenly, what's it all for? You're going to stick around for like another rebuild?

He ain't going to do that, man. Like he's 60-something, years old, I assume, like the great career playing, obviously. He's managed for over 10 years now. Like, dude, it's time to go chill out. I don't know. I think that's kind of the thing. If they, if they put together a team and there was a window here the next couple of years and they went out and made all those moves we said they should have made. And like, if Jeter was still there, like, I mean, we always say like there's probably a reason Jeter left. And I don't know if that's really all came out. I just, I think,

adding, he sees the next couple years, and he's like, I don't, I can't, I can't be doing this again where they're almost a hundred lost team this year that you just, it wears on you and I think he's done enough in the game now where he's probably either ready to take a different job in baseball that's less like, uh, you know, not as labor intensive. Maybe a special assistant. Donnie, that's the perfect thing. Go be a special assistant with the Yankees. I'd sign up for that. You have a million special assistants with the Yankees. be one of them. You're not, they're actually, there used to be a lot more. It's kind of, it's an interesting convo in Yankee land. There's not as many as there used to be. It used to be a lot of

Reggie Jackson used to be around. He's not anymore. I think Petit's out. I think Csies out because he's now commissioner's office. So that's a, uh, I don't know. I heard Swisher told me he's not a special assistant to the GM anymore. He's actually a special assistant to the owner. Look at that. I said, how the hell did you score that one, bro? Sounds a great job to me. I, uh, again, I'm very open to one of those jobs. So you're not going to feed the beast and say that Jeter and Mattingly are going to the Yanks, GM and manager.

What is Jets going to do now? Like, you get the documentary, he's done, you had all the press tour for that. What's next? I'm naive as hell. I could be talked into anything, especially when Joe's McFly is in my ear. I think Jets is going to get involved with the Yankees.

I don't know how, I don't know what looks. level. It makes sense. It makes a ton of sense. This is his franchise. Makes a lot of sense. But in what capacity?

A rah-rah capacity? Or like boots on the ground? Like, let's go. Let me sink my teeth in. I'm using a lot of euphemism. Yeah, it's a big euphi. He's got that dog in him. I mean, Jeter just seems like one of those guys.

If he's in, he's in. I don't think he's going to dip the toe. so we'll see but yeah i just you know i know it got reference in the chat cheaters you know jeter day at the stadium when he dropped the like you're gonna start seeing a lot more of me and you know you you mentioned nick swisher saying special assistant to the owner like there's i want to be surprised if there's already a couple balls in motion i just have no idea what that motion would be what's that what's that combo like swisher and jeets in the same room just them just those two what are we what are we doing there i i've

going like this? I think Jeter, I think Jeter waits for Swisher to say something like, I'm too much for you, huh, Jeter? Then Jeter goes, yep. Yep. Yeah, man. No, no, Nick, I love you.

I love you. Yeah, no, you're my guy. You're my guy. Oh, I'm going to say it right now. Yeah. I like Nick Swisher. Okay. We got to get him in the,

in the Blitzball Dojo. Oh, he'd be good for that. Yeah, I think he's a blitzball guy. Maybe I'll call my friend Cliff Floyd up. Love Cliff Floyd, hot. Or how about crime dog, too? Met him. Anything else, Cubs, Pirates, Nats, Marlins?

Yeah. Nope. We're moving on to the A.O. Hayden West Neskey, Immaculate inning. Good job, kid. Oh, yeah, with the Cubs, yeah. C.J. Abrams getting a lot of hits. Missed home plate.

Missed home plate. Trevor. the American League is brought to you by our friends at better help. More athletes than ever are speaking out about the importance of mental health, but you don't have to want to be a pro to be at the top of your mental game. It's important to take care of your mental well-being. Whoever you are, therapy is the best way to stay in peak mental shape. if you're thinking about giving therapy a try better help is a great option it is convenient bang

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Love this. I like we have companies like that on the show, man. That can really help somebody. Go check that out. When I was playing, let me go on a little rant here. Sure. at the end of my career we started having you know mental health coaches around but there's still a stigma about it you didn't it was almost like guys in the clubhouse didn't want to go because it was

admitting that you weren't feeling good and you know baseball is such a confidence driven sport especially on the offensive side you just got to figure it out you know dig deep and find confidence even when you stink but to have tools to help you do that I think it's so important and I wish I would have realized that earlier in my career eventually I started to talk to these guys and and figure out ways to tools to improve, you know, my, my,

my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, my, Marchan Lynch would say. So this is,

this is cool. I like this. And I like you. Let's, um, let's do some male baseball. We are heading to Trevor Ploos, Tampa Bay Rays,

as they face their division rival, the Blue Jays and the race. They took the first. First two, your guy shags, open it up. And then springs the next day. Big runs by the race, they put up a 10 spot in both of these games, but the Blue Jays fight back behind some pitching Manoa seven shut. You may even hear about him later.

You also might hear about Randy a Rosarena, because my goodness, is he going again? And when he goes, it is a beautiful thing for the sport of baseball. Whit Merrifield with the big game and some big news for him in general. These two teams split four games. Mariners and Royals, the Royals, they take two out of three from Seattle. And like Trevor Plouffe reference, holy smokes would that Sunday game be talked about a lot more if we weren't in the expanded playoffs. because the Royals come back from down nine to sneak up on Seattle.

My goodness, did Brady Singer have a good start? You know he did. Get that guy ready for next year's Cy Young votes. And I think Vinnie Pasquantino got engaged. So, congrats to Vinny Pee. Trevor P. will tell you how important that is for a ball player. You know Big Dumpur was playing. Astros at the Orioles.

Orioles fighting for the playoffs? They win the first two games. They shut out Houston, the first two nights. Some big boy performances by Braddish and Kramer. We think we're saying those names right. But Houston, Gunna, Houston. They win the next two games. Our guy Framber loses its quality start streak.

What a run. And then the Astros put up a big extra innings for four. to take that final game. I guess we could talk a little Yankees baseball. Yankees socks? The rivalry? Yankees sweep them in four games. They take the first one, my guy Jameson, Tyone, with a big boy start.

Josh Donaldson Treb's online hitting coach with the walkoff in the 10th. Cole gets hit again. We don't like that, but the Yankees dominate this season. Series. Seven wins in a row for the New York Yankees, Trevor Ploof. Don't sleep on them. Don't sleep on him. Claibor Torres playing really good baseball. The Guardians and the Rangers, the guardians brought their broomsticks to Texas, and they brought some champagne, baby. The Cleveland Guardians partied it up as they are going dancing. Quantrel with a good start for them. Jimenez with the United. the go-ahead home run.

And these guardians are just fun, man. Still not a fan of their front office, really, but I like these young ball players. Angels and twins, twins won a game. They lost the two surrounding it, an Otani day, and then Trout put up a big Mike Trout day. Oh, my God, the White Sox. Oh, they get swept by the Tigers.

Hobby Baez, he continues to swing. and that's cool for the sport. I hope he has a big year next year. And you know what? While I'm here, Mets Athletics, they linked up for three. Interleague. Mets, they took the bread games.

Basset and Scherzer. Ken Waldichuk versus DeGrom, you know Waldichuk was going to give DeGrom the business, and they did. And guess what? A's fans? I think my guy Trev has a little something for you later. So that's what I'll tease you with.

That is what happened in the Interleague. in the American League. Our trout hit a homer against the twins. One of the hardest hit balls that I've seen him hit in my life. That ball ended up, yeah. Like through the stadium. Like literally, yeah, not. Can we get more stadiums where home runs can leave the stadium?

Feels like a layup. No. Leave the ballpark? Like, when they hit one out at Fenway. Yeah, that's nice. And it's in the Lansdown. You ever go over that monster, I forget. I did.

Tim Wakefield, sorry about it. Don't throw that knuckleball at me, bro. Get out of your knoxy. My back speed is perfect for that. Get out of your knoxy. The Houston Astros, Trev. They have 101 wins. Astros and the Dodgers.

I am shocked. The New York Yankees are 94 and 58, seven games in a row. They've got a good chance for 100 again. The Cleveland Guardians are 86 and 67, 9 and 1 in their last 10. Winners of 7 straight. 18 of 21. Put in the AL mid on their back asking for some respect at the kids table.

Toronto is your first wildcard team there, 86 and 67. They are two and a half games up on Tampa. So them salvaging that series was huge. Tampa, 84 and 69. Nice. Seattle Mariners are 83 and 69. And they have a four-game lead on Baltimore, the only team in a dream world striking distance. And more so the conversation will be the seating there

as Tampa is a half game up on Seattle. So with that, Trev, we tend to be a cron pod, whether it's on this show or it's late night. I have something. What do you have, kid? Okay. Cron Pod, we're starting with Blue Jays Rays. There was an opener for the race. Yep.

Who is it? Shags, your boy, Shagawa. I was going through my phone looking at some videos the other day. Do you guys want to see a little Shagawa rookie initiation thing? Maybe. See if you can put it on there. Here we go. You guys got that.

There's Brian Dozier. They started to do a little dance with the ball here. Check this out. It's going to get good, and then we're done. Those on the podcast only. Oh, my. Wow. They're dancing.

So that's a little Shagawa update for you right there. I think they won that thing. Buxton sang that night, too. Let me tell you something. Yeah? He's got pipes on them. I can see that. Unbelievable, dude.

I could see that. Powerful. Anyways, I tried to share that. Thank you for that, Tref. huge for the for the YouTube, tough for the podcast. Raise J's. I'll open it up.

The race, they won the first two game. The Jays, they won the second two games. Behind pitching. The game of the Jays won, they held the raise to one. The game, the raise won. They scored 10. And yeah, I think there might have been a little bit of sportsmanship.

I guess I would ask both these fan bases. I wonder if these two teams are a little nervous that, you know, we're going to be potentially seeing each other in a week and a half if they're hiding some of their party tricks, if you're using different pitch mixes to get guys off your scent a little bit. I don't know. I would have to ask the guys that were watching those games.

But anything with your feel of these two teams that is changed or is evolving? I mean, yeah, this is, this would be a matchup right now in the wild card. It would be Toronto hosting Tampa Bay. And it would be an excellent series. I mean, I think these two teams match up well against each other. I think they're drastically different types of teams, you know, going here. But, but good baseball being played for sure. You know, Manoa talks about the chemistry that they have.

And I know we kind of like reference the Blue Jays and Jim, me likes to call them kind of like Hardo's a little bit. But I do think they have a really good clubhouse chemistry up there. And it kind of was weird. And then Montoyo gets banged. And like that was like a little spark for them. And talking to some of the guys in the team, I mean,

they reference, you know, what they have going on in the clubhouse a lot too. So I think that's really important. I don't believe that they were playing chess here. Like, hey, I'm not going to show you anything. They're still fighting.

for a playoff spot, both of these teams. I mean, they're pretty much locked in, but they want to host. You want to host this wild cards here. So I don't think they were trying to do it. I think everyone was going full out. But it will be, if this ends up being the matchup, I think it'll be compelling, awesome baseball.

Blue Jays. Yeah, as John kind of said, there's a little bit of a, I mean, they're the young kids, man. And they, you know, they're talking before they've walked a little bit. and this is going to be the big year for them as they enter the dance. And you're right, that would be a really fun postseason matchup because it's a little bit pitching versus hitting if we want to be basic about it. I mean, the Jays as a team, number one in batting average,

third and on base, third in OPS. Like the Jays lineup has turned into what we thought the Jays lineup would be. The Tampa Bay Rays, what do they do? They throw the pill. They're third in starting pitching ERA. You know, a lot of their bullpen numbers are good. That, yeah, it would be, it would be fantastic to see as they would be playing their, what, 20, 21st games of the year against each other.

So I guess I'll talk myself down on revealing your secrets, too, because these teams just know each. Exactly. And I think what would be interesting for me to see would be kind of a lot of these raised guys have been there. I know that's a little ridiculous, but I mean, Yandi Diaz has played in a lot of playoff games. I mean, Randy Rosarena, wishes every game was a playoff game.

You know, Manny Margot, some of these other guys, would be interested to see, and by the way, Tyler Glassnow, likely to get the start on Wednesday. That's nice. I mean,

A, listen to him on a. listen to him on Rose Rotation because he's one of the more delightful personalities you'll run into. I don't know what he's going to be stretched out to, but guess what? The Rays don't really care. Because even if it's a two-inning start from Glass Now, the Rays are kind of, they do that. So I don't know, man. Sign me up for that series. I'm in.

I think anything we're going to get here, like Toronto, Tampa Bay, Seattle, any mixture of those teams is going to be really fun. And then you kind of, I mean, obviously you had Cleveland into the mix. And there's a lot of different types of baseball going on there. So it's great. I mean, the AL doesn't really have a race left. It's just seating essentially. So like we're talking about the playoff format. The playoff format has kind of failed as far as like a regular season.

Like, hey, like this is going to be great till the end. It didn't happen that way. But I do think the three games are going to be fun to watch. I'm not so sure. I want to see how much advantage it is playing at home. I know you feel comfortable there and you have your home crowd and stuff, but we've seen that just not be an advantage throughout the playoffs. Like you think it's going to be a massive advantage,

and the numbers just don't really support it. Comes down to the Jimmy's and the Joe's a lot, you know, who's out there actually doing it. And yeah, I mean, there's, you know, we're talking about your mental headspace. There's a lot of players that like being the spoiler. Oh, God, feels good. In the quiet a stadium to quiet one down.

Like, there ain't nothing better than that, dude. Our close personal friend Alex Bregman, like, I don't even care what the stats say. If you give that guy a big at bat on the road, like I, I'm buying. I'm buying. He's actually my friend, not yours. Certainly not selling. You can text him? I guess you forget that he used me in his Astros preseason video.

Someone's the first voice you hear in somebody's. Alex was using Premier to slice that thing together. He's an Adobe guy. He's an Adobe guy. He's an Adobe. He's had a kid. Hey, hey, let's mention. Yeah, let's mention. Canada, open to everybody.

Yeah. I'm not going to have that in the playoffs where they might be down a player because of the vaccine, or lack of the vaccine, excuse. me. We kind of knew that was going to happen. We said it all along, something's going to work out, whether these guys get fake shots, or they, I didn't know this was going to happen, but it's pretty interesting timing of it. I'll all say that.

That is interesting, isn't it? And Trevor Plouffe, you know, I'll give you a little credit. You told the people for a while now that sometimes that kind of stuff finds a way to figure itself out when needed. I like reading Trevor Plufe's stuff. lot of good takes. I'm not saying it's right or wrong, P, I'm just saying I knew it was going to happen.

I can't believe Ron Darling lied through his teeth on national television. He doesn't know who the fuck I am, dude. He does not like your takes. That may be so mad. Dodger Stadium, talking to Heidi Watney. Saying what's up to,

what's the other dude, Tom Verducci. Yep. And Ron Darling, who you love my takes, fucking just looked right through me, dude. Like I wasn't even there. Yeah. He doesn't know your takes.

I could be intimidating. Sometimes when I'm in L.A. and I'm dressed like an L.A. dude, I can be intimidating. I understand that. That makes a lot more sense. You're like, what the fuck is the, what's he doing here? Mariners Royals,

Mariners blow a nine run lead. And I like the way you phrased it. Like, if this game met more to them, would they maybe use their bullpen usage differently and things like that? I think so. And yeah, end of the day, it ends up not really hurting them. It sucks. The Mariners fans, I'm sorry you had to watch that.

That had to be painful. That had to be tough to smile, not like the scary movie ad. Pasquitino engaged. Brady Singer's really good. Cal Rally likes to remind me that they did not need Wilson Contreras at the trade deadline. you know this is a lot of things going on with seattle okay like you know swores uh julio holio's on the i l um a lower back strain so at least 10 days for him in a time where they're jockeying for position here you're going to be without your best player um that's

not great we're hoping that he'll be okay and they just are trying to rest him to get him ready for one of these three games series uh but that has to be if you're a mariners fans has to a little scary to know that the spark plug for your team is currently nursing a back issue. And back issues are similar to oblique. You use your back in everything that you do. You feel it in everything that you do. So, I mean, I'm sending well wishes to Julio. Need that guy on the field.

Yeah, I hope kind of like what you're alluding to. I hope this isn't a, I hope the conversation the Mariners season doesn't end up being injury conversation. because that would suck for what they've built this year. And speaking of what they've built, Luis Castillo signs the extension, they trade for him, and then they pay that man. I saw Jeff Passon,

as I was a member of the media this past week to cover Aaron Judge's home run chase. Jeff Passon, let me know it was happening before it broke. So that's where we're at. You know, dudes. Did you break? it? I thought about like alluding to it, but I thought I might really. Just say Jeff

passed and had it first, but he didn't get the tweet off. You got the tweet off? I think that would have really affected our relationship. I, uh, it was great seeing. Great seeing brother Jeff. And good for Luis Castillo. And they have a young core ready to go. Ready to go, man. Whether it's on the offensive side J. P. Crawford, Ty France, a big dumper, Cal Rally. We'll see if Kelnick starts to click.

He's actually had a couple okay winks. But that pitching staff, what Logan Gilbert should be the next few years. Robbie Ray, Luis Castillo, George Kirby. They're set up. And it's going to be interesting to see in the future years how this team reacts,

Julio, obviously, to now the ex-executive. expectation in the bar is set, because as we've seen with just so many baseball teams, it can be quick. Go ask the White Sox. What the hell happened there? But if you're a Mariners fan, you have to be on Cloud 9. It seems like the next three to five years should be a good run. On the other side of that, if we're sticking on this series, I mean, congrats to Luis Castillo. Five years, 108. There's a chance that gets higher than that. He's earned every single penny of it. He's been one of the better pitchers in the game for quite some time.

Everyone's wanted that motherfucker on their team. Seattle got him, and now he's going to be there for good, which I like. I think we have to mention this just briefly. Dayton Moore, the lead of his duties from the Royals, if you ask people around the game to tell you who some of the more respected executives are in baseball, Dayton Moore is probably the first person they're going to list. was there for 16 years he won a World Series

right in front of my fucking face that one hurt a little bit but a lot of respect for him and I hope I'm saying this name right JJ Piccolo is coming in to replace him and his tenure will start next year so I think snaps are

we should award Dayton some snaps we had a we had a little Dayton conversation because Peter was here and he's got his royals ties. So he said a lot of the same stuff you said and that's kind of how I framed it too. Like Dayton Moore within the walls of baseball has a lot of respect. And yeah, I think it's a, you know, time to try some different stuff in Casey because right now, I mean, you know, the Guardians are kind of running laps around them.

You know, the Guardians kind of went through a full reset while Kansas City was resetting, supposedly. And White Sox were supposed to be the power, and the twins have been in this fluctuation mode that, yeah, going to be interesting to see how, what goes on in Kansas City, great baseball town. Let's see. Astros, Orioles. I mean, the only takeaways for this series, Orioles trying to do a vendet. finish as hot as we can to try to make something happen. Dude,

Braddish, this guy keeps coming up, 8.2 shuddy, and then he gets one-uped by Dean Kramer, who goes complete game shutout the next day. So shout out to the young bucks for going into Houston dropping it. They might have also poked the bear a little bit because Houston comes back and takes the next two games. And let's be honest, Houston is also in full-blown lineup guys

for the playoffs. Make sure Verlander's feeling good. Getting guys rest in the bullpen because they are playing for something bigger. Have they already clinched the number one seed? They're pretty dang close. I think there's seven games above the Yankees. I mean, they're any day now. I think they did. If they didn't, they also have the tiebreaker above the Yankees.

So it should happen soon if it didn't. It happens. Yes. It's so. Yes. Yeah, Orioles. I mean, they're in battle mode. four games back of Seattle.

We know Seattle's lost in players, like be quite some story. Who has the tiebreaker there? I'm going to go look that up right now. That's Seattle, Baltimore tiebreaker. Yeah, it's four games. And you end up just keep doing this game where it's like, well, if Baltimore,

you know, they won those first two, if they won the last two, then it would only be two games back. I don't know, man. They have a tiebreaker. They had a tiebreaker too. Seattle? So, yeah, I mean, five games and five games in about 10 days.

That's, hey, be a hell of a story to cover. Routing for you guys as the Astros are building up. I mean, just watch out. Yankees, I think we can be quick with them, too. They handle the Red Sox. Judge does not get 61 for those keeping track at home. He gave us one good scare. But, yeah, I don't know.

The Yankees are in a really interesting spot that they are full-blown. Not full-blown. They are in playoff mode. Like, they are with these wins in this seven-game win streak, they have locked up the division again. You know, there's some bullpen guys, like in the third game of this series, Zach Britton made his season debut. Scott F. Ross,

came in in technically a safe situation in his first time off the I.O. And that wasn't him getting the closer role. That was him, the Yankees planned on getting him work that day. So the Yankees are doing a little bit of that. Gleiber Torres, anyone that listens to me, I think he's playing the best baseball he has played in a Yankees uniform. And he's played some good baseball. So that changes their equation.

Giancarlo has run into a couple lately that he needs to be a version of Giancarlo for this team to be successful. Donaldson, you could chop up his number that he's been a better version than himself. And as Waldo Cabrera, he's a kid you're going to see highlights from this postseason. The kid is electric. That the Yankees team of two weeks ago,

that, you know, me and BPD are sad face and John looks frumpy about it. It has changed a lot, and hopefully it'll be changing more as more guys get healthy and ready to go. But these four games over over Boston Boston the ship is head in the wrong direction

is Rizzo the most important guy in your lineup I understand what Judge is doing but if Rizzo's not going like I feel like he's kind of like if he is going the Yankees lineup is in my opinion this better

just like he has to be going for them to do stuff it feels better it feels better it feels more balanced because it's a very different at bat. Yeah. You can make a... Exactly. The bats that he gives are just different.

You can make a Stanton argument pretty easily because with the way Judge is getting on base if Stanton is hitting like playoff Stanton in previous years, his... Like Stanton's best is better than Rizzo's best. I don't think that's a hot take. But to get Stanton there, you need a lot to go right. I don't know. Rizzo has to be Anthony Rizzo. You know, if he gets the...

home run ball and he's, you know, had one of his best home run seasons ever, then yes, but he has to be right. He has to be in the middle of the lineup. He has to be making great plays at first base that he does so casually. And he has to be a tough out, whatever that looks like, whether it's slapy Rizzo with two strikes and that comes out in October or if he's fine in the porch. But, yeah, I mean, the Yankees need a lot of things to go right to be, in a couple weeks giving Houston a scare in the CS.

Because how many times on early talking baseballs did I say that these teams are lining up for it? Haven't heard me say that in a while, huh? And it's not because of Houston. They still look like they're going to be in the ALCS. I hope my Yankees can continue to make a few strides. Because there's still a formula there. There's still a formula there.

Red Sox RIP. Yeah. Interesting offseason for them. Interesting awesome. Last place in the A-A-L-E, 72, 80 right now. We're in a weird spot in Boston. Interesting awesome. Will Middlebrooks got mad at me.

I said there are 500 teams. I was wrong. They're worse. They're worse. You should reach out to Will. I love Will. You want me to text them? I thought it Will.

Me and Will are very similar people. Yeah. Handsome. Third baseman. I'm a little. more, I'm a little more handsome than him. Out kicked your coverage with your significant others. I didn't. Me and the Liv here are on par.

I'm just kidding. She's ridiculous. Anyways, let's move on, bro. I don't want to talk about your hands. A little more handsome, little more shortstop out of you. Ah, good point. I'm fluff you, Trev. Good point.

I am not clapping for that. I'm clapping for the Cleveland Guardians. How about the kids? Man, they they roll up and dude talk about good vibes and feeling it it must have been pretty nice when they drove the steak through

the White Sox heart and they've just kept it rolling Tito has the boys feeling good the boys have the boys feeling good as they take care of their business in Texas and it ends with them popping bottles because they are guaranteed

to be playing game in the postseason this year. Like I said before in the burn, their front office and their payroll, by the way, and I think I gave them proper, you know, they know some stuff I don't know. And look at these kids who have come up this year and been studs for them. I didn't know that. They did. I still think was their room for one or two more free agents or guys on this team?

I think so. but they have fully taken control of the division and yeah, Trev, I dropped it on you earlier. They have a 10-game lead in the ALE Central. You know, obviously I talked about these dudes with old C. Rosie this morning, Cleveland's finest. He's very pumped up. And one of the things I read prepping for that show,

you know they're a good base ring team. You know they're aggressive on the base pass. they go first or third better than any team in all the baseball. They have five dudes approaching 20 stolen bases apiece. And that is just like not, it just doesn't happen anymore. And what I told Rosie, and I've said this on the show too before, it's like every single team goes in the spring training and says, we're going to be aggressive on the base pass.

We're going to put pressure on the defense. We're going to work the counts have good at bats. We're going to play solid defense. and then it just becomes you just forget all that shit and you go out and play and you don't steal bases and you know every once in a while you're aggressive on the base pass but it's not really a focal point the guardians have made all of that a focal point

they actually went out and did it all the things they set out to do they actually went out and did it and is that because they have like a really young roster who just buys into anything that Tito's going to say maybe they're lucky they have a guy like Tito to point them in the right direction but yeah they just went and they just did it dude when it looked dire at the beginning of September

and the white socks I think they caught them right they caught them they were tied the top of the ALE Central then they went and won 18 of 21 they laughed at that shit like the pressure came to them and we talked about like are they going to crumble dude it's a young team and they didn't

yeah they went and they went the opposite way And if you listen to all of them talk, you know, in the celebration, and all they ever talk about is hard work. And I believe these guys. Sometimes that's lip service, bro. Like sometimes they say, the teams will say that shit. And you're like, okay, really, dude. Like, you just, how hard are you guys working?

What are you doing? I believe that this Guardians team got a taste of being in first place and liked it. That's yummy. They wanted more. And the only way to get more for them, was to continue to apply the things that they were talking about in spring training and to continue to work hard. And they've had some really good years out of McKenzie and Quancho.

And we know, you know, what Beaver's done. And they have a bullpen that's really gotten it done. I think that's been really important to them. But the way these guys have approached the offensive, the offensive part of the baseball is really fun. Like going and it really does matter when teams are aggressive on the base pass. It just puts you on alert. like you know that you have to be perfect

or else you're going to make an error. You know, there are times when you face teams like the white socks who you feel the ground ball and you know you can take two or three steps towards first base and lob the fucker over there because they're not doing what the guardians do or you're in the outfield

and you can go down to one knee and stop a ball and toss it in the conoff, man. That's not the case for the guardians. You better come up ready to throw. And when you come up ready to throw, there's more chances you're going to make airs. And then that just keeps going and going and going. And every team tries to do that or says they want to be that team.

There's always this one coach who's like, not really the coach. But, you know, he's like the base running guy. And like he takes it so seriously and he wants it to happen. But the rest of the guy is like, dude, I got to, there's way more that we got to do that's more important than that. But this team, they did it, man. It's fucking cool. I'm excited for them. And we all overlooked them.

it's fine. It's okay to admit that, dude. It's another shout-out for Tito because, you know, we always, we play the game. We don't know where to give credit where credits do for managers sometimes. Tito's got the resume that says he's got his fingerprints on this. But again, can I give Tito full credit for what Stephen Kwan's been this year? I don't think so. for for Tristan McKenzie's full-blown breakout? I don't know, but Tito matters.

I don't know what to what degree and why don't you be your own judge at home. And this team has a playoff formula between Beaver and McKenzie, Class A on the back end, and Jose Ramirez, Kwan Rosario, Naylor, Jimenez, and big Oscar Gonzalez. This team has a winning formula. I'm very interested to see their playoff matchup, but those three, at least two or three games in Cleveland, good for them.

And they, yeah, they bully-balled the Rangers a little bit in Texas and then pop bottles. So good for the kids. Good for the kids. Trev, I guess I'll skip down to Tigers White Sox because the tigers sweep them, the White Sox have lost six straight. I mean, do you want to deliver the eulogy or anything?

Or it's just over? I guess it was always over. Yeah, right. Yeah, right. Right? Like all this shit that people were saying, usually you brush it off, like, hey, talent takes over.

Ain't playing the game hard. Doesn't seem like they're motivated. And again, like, is that really the case? I'm not sure from the outsider's perspective. It looked like that. but it just never got there. It just never got there. And, you know, of course,

they dealt with their share of injuries. Every teen does. Every team does. And I don't know, man. I thought the white socks were poised for a massive year. They brought in a bunch of bullpen guys. I think I picked their bullpen in our like little charade game where, you know, we went and picked different positions.

They got her. preseason and then I don't know man it's weird because they've also had like a crazy sigh young year from Dylan cease who was like right coming into the year we knew was good but we're like okay we got Gileido we got Lance Lynn Kopeck is going to be really good cease like if you would have told white socks fans Dylan cease is going to have a sye young year they would have said we're going to the world series yeah like with our lineup with the other pitchers surrounding him with the bullpen guys that we brought in we're going to the World Series.

There wasn't a big hole in the roster. And it just never, it just never took off, man. It never took off. And yeah, I mean, my prediction is gone. It's out. Yeah. It's just fine, dude.

You know, it's tough. You, uh, I don't know, man. Yeah, I mean, it's gone. So I'll, I'll do this live. Have you talked to Gialito at all? Or like, I guess would you even approach that until after the season at this point.

You know what I'm saying? I haven't talked to him about this. No. And after the season, I for sure will. But what the hell happened, guys? And he'll, you know, he'll be honest with me. I think that what happened is what we all think happened.

Just, I, you know, I go back and forth because I've heard them say Tonya the Rousseau was the right guy for the job. I think Gialito even said that. And I gave, I said, you know what, okay. maybe I was wrong about Tony the Roos. I just don't think they had the right people at the helm of that thing from the kickgo.

Yeah. And I've been quoted as saying managers don't do anything and I still stand by that for the most part. I think he set the precedent and just wasn't good. It just wasn't. It's tough to argue against, right? Who really knows a lot of the stuff behind those doors? but I mean, you know, just some of the little stuff throughout the season. I don't know.

It's hard not to point that finger. And, yeah, as they lost that guardian season and they're just letting the wheels come off. And that's got to be a tough clubhouse. That's just got to be a weird environment. Javi Baez is hitting this month. I'm happy for him. Tiger fans, maybe you could take a little bit of that into next year for you. Great question in the chat.

Sure. I want a 15 second response out of you. Perfect. If you swapped Tito and Tony the Russo, is it the outcome different? Yes. I think so too. Yes. I mean, absolutely.

Tony that Russa has changed my way of thinking about managers. Like, I have to say that there are some that matter, bad and good now. And before that, before this year, I wouldn't have said that. We're always growing people, constantly learning, becoming better versions of our Angels and Twins played. You got an Otani day. Five innings two earned with an RBI single. Trout had a big final day that those sandwiched a twins win. Both of these teams. This is kind of the ploof and Jake Bowl here early on in the season, some stock there. And by the way, as we're coming off, Dodgers White Sox, I remember we were at spring training.

Those two teams share a facility. And it felt like we were seeing like the two. heavyweights. It was like, whoa. Like, there's the big bad Dodgers. There's the big bad white socks. Like, this could be the World Series and now look. I think that was a very popular preseason prediction was Dodgers, White Sox. Yes.

The only other thing that deserves love, there was one interleague series. The Mets were in Oakland. And as the Mets continue to keep the pace in the NL East, the Mets had their big dogs go. Bassett, DeGrom, Scherzer. So, hey, I'm happy for the A's and the kids that they can say they took down a de Grom day. Good for you, Chey-Langealiers.

Mets, Basset had a huge first game. Eddie Escobar, Grand Slam. And, yeah, I mean, Scher. Our note here is Scher continues to build back up from his return from the aisle. It's six innings, one earned. So he's building up just fine. Just fine.

He's the argument against, like, obliques are super serious. Because he fucking... I guess he caught it, man, before it happened because he's come back and looked great. And I was very scared for him and Mets fans about that, but he's looked good. And try... I mean, maybe it drives your point home more.

As you get older, you know your body better, that I bet a young Max Scher would have felt whatever that was and was like, ah, whatever. But I think old veteran Max Scherzer was like, hey, I don't, you don't mess with these. You don't mess with these. Yeah. You don't mess with talking baseball

as we head out to our standout performances. Standout performance. Standout performances. Trev, you were the National League leadoff hitter today. Who are you going to tell me about? I went with the National League hitter. Not a lead off hitter, but Hunter Renfro. I went four for five with a two homers, five RBI.

This is a guy that got to get going. I mean, no, he is. He's had a good year. I don't think we ever give him enough credit. I think that's something I always say about Hunter Renfro. It's like a better hitter than I give him credit for. This guy's got to go carry the team. Ham and Willie got to go carry the team these last eight games to get him into the

playoffs. This obviously was a great game for him. But 8-10 OPS on the year. year last seven days got a one daughter because of those home runs you got three homers in last seven days he's got to keep it up like we know he can have big moments and hit big homers and do all that i think that he is massive in this milwaukee lineup if they want to get to the playoffs hunter's got to go and he had a big game and hopefully that turns into more big games and it saves my prediction just a little bit.

Hunter Renfro is really good. I know you guys were looking for heavy analysis there, and that's what I gave you. A 126 OPS Plus this year with two more home runs, he'd have back-to-back 30 homer seasons. That would be three 30 homer seasons. They'd be consecutive if you take out the 2020 season. And by the way, before that,

he already has because he's sitting at 28. the guy has five, 25 home run seasons. Like, that's real. Like, to be able to check that box and put that guy in your lineup, and by the way, he's a gem defensively in right field. Guy's got a cannon. I think he was a big piece of the Red Sox were missing this year as just a threat bat in the lineup.

Hunter Renfro, you're always scared to hang one because he's a guy that, if you do, it can go a long, long way. And just, oh, no, so I was surprised. I wanted to click his splits to see if he was a lot better right-eer-lefty. Pretty well balanced. Good for Hunter Run-Fro. Yeah. How about that?

I mean, when he came over, I mean, I almost thought of him as glove first, and I think I was just misinformed because he's a, he's a baller. It's homers. One knock on him is on base percentage is at 300 for his career, so that brings the OPS down, but he's still a 791 career, because he slugs. We need you to slug. Milwaukee and me and anyone that roots for the Midwest needs you, Hunter Renfro.

That felt like a fake L.A. Midwest fist pump. My son was born in the Midwest. Wow. He's right here in his full baseball uniform. He just walked in the door. I thought I saw a shadow over there. Tell Teddy that his godfather loves him. Trev, I am going to, I almost got Yankee on this.

I almost went Nestor Cortez as he finishes his brilliant season and he technically gets a complete game shutout in the rain-cancled game, six innings. But there's a guy in division who's had a better start than him this week and has had a better season than him. And he's one of the few. Alec Manoa, the big man. You talk about the Blue Jays and kind of their young, tough guy attitude. Alec Manoa is one of the guys who steers that, and he deserves to because he now 30 games started.

A 231 ERA. Like remember what you just said about Dillon C's. If you told White Sox fans, you were going to get that out of Dillon C's. If you told Blue Jays fans, you were going to get this out of Alec Manoa, they might have thought they were going to run away with the East. A sneaky important start. It stops their bleeding in that series. The race had won the first two games.

If they win another, you're talking about flip-flopping, and we're talking also about potential home field in a wild card series. And we've talked about how Toronto can be one of the good home fields. And, you know, talk about a guy that would feed off that crowd in a big moment. Alec Manoa, he had a big start this weekend. Seven innings pitch, zero earned eight Ks. And yeah, he's a special dude putting up a special year.

So I thought he deserved the love. If he might have two more starts, he's rapidly approaching 200 innings, which is like, you know, a very nice benchmark, especially these days at 190 and 2 thirds. I think that would be a really cool milestone for him to get to because it's rare these days. I don't think we, I think we have one guy, right?

And all the baseball are now, Sandy, and that's it. At 200 innings? I'm pretty sure. Bevers, look that one up. You know what else? Manoa's been that guy from the start. I think he made his debut against the Yankees. We saw it.

We're like, damn, this guy's got some shit. You know what I like about him? I don't really like it, but if you like Manoa, you like this, I think. Yeah, I think I know where you're going. Led the league and hit by pitches twice. So now he's just like, dude, that's just who I am. If I got to go buzz the tower, oops, that wasn't on purpose. Check the stats, bro.

I hit people all the time. Just who I am as a pitcher. So he's got that going for him. I think that means something. I really do. If you have a guy who as a hitter, you're like, damn, this dude hits a lot of people. You get a little uneasy. And if he's got that in a bag saying, like, dude, like, it's been, it's been that way.

It doesn't make you feel better as a hitter, but like, you know, I think that you can point to that, not get ejected from games. his walk numbers aren't crazy he didn't walk a ton of batters uh so yeah there there's very much something to be said about a comfortable at bat and uh i don't know if he is i definitely don't think he is actually so length um i have this that up right now yeah there is only one person with two and rings uh michaelis at one ninety three and a third maybe he'll get there nola 192 there is five guys. Six guys over 190.

Six guys over 190. So they're all approaching only one person with 200 innings as of right now. Different sport. Merrill Kelly, 189 and 2 thirds. Let's go, Merrill. It was a lot of good options. I mentioned those Orioles guys.

I mean, Sandy, Bassett, Brady Singer, whenever he pitches these days. Albert, we can always talk about Taylor Ward popped up a two homer game How about that? Trev Boy, do I have some good news for you. Okay.

Slump watch. Lump watch. Wasn't filled out. Research and development didn't have slump watch this week. So I think we're clear. I'll do one. Let me talk the whole vegan.

Okay, hold on. Who do you want to hype up, kid? Baseball slumping, okay? Let's just say that. They're not really, but let's just say they are, okay? Baseball. We know football's back. Okay, I get that.

A lot of eyeballs going on the gridiron, okay? We're talking Rams. We're talking USC football out here in L.A. Because they're both good. All of a sudden, L.A. has got our football back. Baseball, we need you to shine. I want these wild card series to be good series. I want them to be aesthetically pleasing.

So figure the jerseys out. We need the big names to step up. We need all the eyeballs on the sports. So you know what? All you people out there reporting on the game, MLB Network, all the regional sports stuff, get on your game. Try to keep up with us here at talking baseball because we're going to be absolutely lights out with our coverage.

We are going to make the game shine. Now we need the game to shine back for us. So baseball, it is our time. Postseason. Baseball is fast approaching. Get your swords, sharpened, take them to the blacksmith. Make sure your hatchet is there and your extra little dagger is ready to go because we all know the dagger is the most important thing in close hand-to-hand combat.

The big sword is too slow. I'll stab you in the neck with the dagger. Same thing, baseball, we got to get going. It's our time to shine. Let's go baseball. That includes you fans and all you in the chat. Let's make it happen. I mean, bottle that up.

bottle that whole speech up Trevor Plouf, the passion of baseball, spinning it into Game of Thrones kind of. And he's saying that... I just stabbed you the neck. You didn't even see it. He's saying that right after a segment

we didn't have prepared telling everyone to bring your A game for the postseason. So, I mean, that's talking baseball, baby. I brought up some at Bath to see who was slumpin There was a couple guys But they're all gonna hit Um

Which means Dirt Nasty's on Fuegogo That means I'm on fire baby Like Waco Trev I'll feed you a couple guys Because there's a couple guys who've been going off lately Your boy Thai France They're gonna need him to step up

if those other guys are out. He's eight for his last 18. That's a 444 batting average. One dot for tree. How about Brian Reynolds? Don't tell me the pirates aren't playing for anything. Well, they aren't. But Brian Reynolds with two homers,

a little seven for 13, five runs. Your boy Pete Alonzo. Yeah. The polar bear. A lot of RBI. Seven RBI in his last three games. Hello. Six for 12, a couple ding-dongs.

You mentioned Renfro and Colton Wong with the three-homer day. How are you, kid? I love that for you. And then you know what? Because this is a guy that wasn't in my book. I'm going to give him love over a Mani Machado or George Springer, who could be in here every damn wink. Connor Capel.

On Oakland. Two homers. Seven ribbyes in his last couple games. Good for you, kid. 25 years old out of Katie, Texas. Wasn't in my book. Now he is. I'll want more for you.

One more. Will Smith, 7 for 16. Two triples. He's a catcher. Best catcher in baseball? Getting jiggy with it. Trev, let's go to our awards, because I think there's two guys that you and I just love to talk about,

guys that we would bet on, and we would bet on them at the Draft King Sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL. Trevor Plouffe, the J.M. Pickham League. Watch out. The kid is hot. And at Draft King's new customers are getting $5. If you bet $5 on any NFL team to win, you will get $200 in free bets.

If they do, they also have their same game parlayes, really easy. You click in. They make it so easy to pick out a couple things you like. And if you hit them, which, by the way, my Jakey Friday bet of the day, did it hit again. It sure did. It sure did. Download the Draft King SportsBagab now and use promo code Johnboy

to get $200 in free bets if your team wins when you plays any $5 bet on a football game. That's Code Johnboy, only a Draft King sportsbook, an official sports betting partner of the NFL, minimum age and eligibility restrictions apply. See show notes for details. Trev, I give you the honor. My award was going to go to one Bay Area catcher,

but I've decided to make it about two Bay Area catchers. One, I'll start briefly. I don't really know the guy too well, but respected around the game. Buster Posey joining the Giants Ownership Group seems pretty awesome to me. We know the guy has got a lot of money that's not where this is really about.

It's about finding what he wanted to do post-baseball, and he decided that he wanted to approach the Giants' ownership group about joining it. Well, here he is. I think he's the first baseball player to do that. Is that not right? Did Jets do it? Jets was kind of an owner.

I guess I'd have to know a little more about the details and stuff. I don't know the fine print. It doesn't matter. What's really going on here is Buster Posey embodies what the Giants were about during that run. He, I mean, he's a statue guy there. So happy that he gets to do that.

I think that's really cool. So shout out Buster Posey, joining the ownership group. I wish I could have done something like that. Ain't going to happen for me. But Buster got to do it. I don't like that. My award was really going to go to a guy that I did play with, and I do know very well, and I do love.

Even vote says this is going to be his last year. And we talk about a lot of these guys that are respected throughout the league. You know, Pujol's and all that stuff. And a lot of times, but Pujolst, it's about his number is also about, you know, the way he treated people, the stuff that he does off the field. That plays a huge part into it.

We'll vote, man. It is, it's everything about this guy. The fact that, you know, that he came from Azusa Pacific and loves to go back and talk about that. The fact that he, you know, went, I think, O for 32 to start. his big league career with the raise and was like, I don't know what the hell is going to go on here. He didn't know if he could cut it at 27 years old. He made his debut. It went 0 for 32.

Usually that's the recipe for just getting out of the game. You ain't going to stick around, kid. Two All-Star games later, 10 years in the show, Stephen Votes still doing it back with Oakland. It's a testament to the grind and just being a good person. I don't think I've ever met anyone, you will ever meet anyone that has a bad thing to say about Stephen Foe. He gives his time to every single one. He makes you feel like you're like his best friend, and he has that energy. It's, it's, it rubs off on you, man. He's one of those guys, you know, like the Eddie Escobars of the world where he's bringing the energy and he's doing it, leading a pitching staff. And, you know, like, I just can't say enough good things about

Stephen Vote. And we got a lot of these managerial spots open this office. season, he's going to be in contention for a lot of these managerial spots. Now, I don't know if he's going to go straight from playing to the lead role. I wouldn't, I would not hesitate one bit to put him in that role. I wouldn't. You know what I think's going to happen? He might go, he might be bench coach for either Cotsay or Beaumel. Get his feet wet there for a couple years, then bam he goes and takes. He's going to mark my words, people. I know a lot of people have said this. He'll be a manager in the biggies for a long time. It's the bottom line. It's the kind of person he is. He's a leader of men.

I mean, here, fucking respect Stephen Vogt. Love you, bro. If you haven't listened to the Rose Rotation episode with Stephen Vote, I mean, that's how I obviously don't know him as well as Trevor, but man, could listen to that any day of the week. Evergreen, a fantastic dude. So beloved. And yeah, you're really. You're right, Trev. I mean, you know, you talk about, you know, coming up and he goes hitless. How bad does that have to feel at age 27?

And, you know, it could all be out the door. Now, guess what? If this guy wants to do media, he could do that. If he wants to coach, he can do that. So, congrats to Stephen Vote. You know, I know he talks about his family and his wife who supported him throughout on that Rose Rotation episode. so if he wants to chill for a year, cool.

If he wants to do whatever he wants to do, he's got options at this point because he's a legend. And even if this is before your time, if you guys don't know, Chris Rose had a job before John Boy Media. I used to do a show, intentional talk. And the Stephen Vote referee stuff, man, a lot of you have probably seen it by now,

but holy smokes, just to pop on TV to do that, I mean, that's so good. So, so good. What a legend. Trev, great award. Not enough people know that me and Stephenville used to ride the Bart and Oakland to games. He kept me safe on that thing, dude.

It taught me where to get off and stuff. It was fun. Someone had to. Trev, great award. I want to give out an award to a guy who's been playing a good brand of baseball. One of my favorite players to watch play, actually. and the award is the best to ever do it.

Treve, I went to Judge's 60th home run game, which they also then Stanton hit a walk-off Grand Slam. Pretty badass. That one's for life, man. And I'm stoked, stoked and happy for that. The game that was probably the coolest game I've ever went to, was the COVID World Series.

We went to the famous Randy Orozarena, falling around third base, and he gets up and he's in full cap mode. He should be dead in the water. Ball gets away. He scores. It was some of the weirdest pandemonium you've seen in a 20% capacity crowd.

It probably felt like a million people were there after seeing nobody in the stands for the whole season. Again, a vibe in the stadium that I don't think I don't think I can replicate or will be replicated. The raise are going to the postseason again. It's almost become happenstance. We almost don't acknowledge it enough. We get sucked in talking about their pitching.

Randy had an okay first half, 744 OPS. You know, swipe 19 bags, stole 12 bases. Cool. In the second half, Randy a Roserena, 303 batting average, 368 on base, an 877. OPS. In the month of August, he won dotted, and he's starting to get hot again. He has been one of the best players over the last week. And I just think I need to remind people of Randy Rosarena's postseason numbers.

In 29 games in the postseason, you know, about a month of baseball, a little over even. 354 batting average of 436 on base and a 1.197 OPS. You know, I think there's people out there that'll probably tell you, you know, those numbers will come back to Earth and that's a small sample and that's how baseball works. Uh, maybe. Maybe you're right. Maybe they have to come back down to Earth.

But also, when this guy's up in October and a big at bat finds him, which it will, not been against him. He actually had a couple Cardinals postseason games that he went 0 for 4 in. So when you take those out, my guy on the raise has been a 370, a 1.241 OPS hitter.

So it's about that time of year. I'm getting excited for Randy season. It's boot season, baby. Put those boots on, Randy. You know what you talks about? We always tell the raise pitching. You're totally right. offense is severely overlooked.

They have seven dudes right now that start for them that have an OPS plus over 100. Can't say that for a lot of teams. So it's deeper than you think. And they do things differently there, but it doesn't mean it's not good baseball. I mean, obviously they play a great brand of baseball. And I do like, it is almost like, let's wait to the postseason to talk about the raise because it seems to me like every year they're just setting up for the postseason. I don't even know if that's the right way to look at it.

That's what it seems like to me. They've been on track. They're getting to the postseason. They know they're going to get there. I mean, I know people, a lot of people have qualms about the rays and how it gets run and we don't want every team to be run like them. But, dude, they're a lot of fun to watch. Yandi Diaz.

Yeah. Right year. 42 OPS Plus. Great year from the Andy Man. And they'll snap you in half. So jacked. So jacked. Are they the most jacked team?

What's that? Who's the most jacked team in the big leagues? Good question. Talking baseball. Find out tomorrow or the next day. Talking baseball. BVD., why don't you give us a best friend and let's get the hell out of here? Speaking of jacked, it's Flaherty.

Six innings, nine Ks. Getting right. In L.A., right? In L.A.? Yeah, they were in L.A. this weekend. Home cooking? Mm. Go, Jay.

Your boy. All right. Let's wrap it up. It was a real one today. For Trevor, myself, BBD, the Jombino. We'll be back. Oh, my God. Postseason's coming.

Let's go baseball. Chick sucks. Jack team in baseball. Comment about it. Not you. It's not the Dodgers. Ugly team.