Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Checking Our Predictions & The Most Impactful Games to Watch the Rest of the Way | 887

Episode Date: September 11, 2024

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Hello and welcome to talking baseball. We are checking in on some of our preseason predictions over under some bets. And sister cities, who should you be rooting for? Final schedule, watch. Big debates. That's where we're. Hello and welcome to talking baseball, presenting you by Seek. Jake Story Ellie, Trevor Plouffe, David Mendelsohn, some of James O'Brien's pets.

And he might be the way. winner from this episode? We'll see. I guess that's for the people to debate at home and sound off in the comments. Who won the debate? Um, no one did. Whose vote got changed last? We all lost. We all lost. Um, everyone, uh, I mean, wow, I guess it's going to be one of those ups where we're all over the board a little bit because I was just about to say, you know, it's mid-September, you know, couple weeks of baseball. It's September 11th. That's not how you say September. It's September. It's September 11th today, which has a massive impact on everyone in this country. Everyone, you know, talking to Jess's mom this morning. She had a story about how crazy

Tampa was because they have some national security stuff down there. Growing up in Connecticut, Cali, BPD's NYC, obviously felt it a ton. So, yeah, per usual, we'll be all over the board. But September 11th, always a day of reflection coming off just a wild debate last night. It's pretty nuts. Obviously, that's not a world I deep dive in, but it's funny just, you know, how much those have changed in a decade. And meanwhile, most importantly for this program, we are coming up on the baseball playoffs. It's that time. Oh, there's Jimmy O'Brien.

It's that time of year. Oh, my God. He knows he's doing well. Oh, my God. I'm doing well. Speaking of the debate. Trev, this, this breakdown, I caught, caught a tipper. It's been a while.

So I'm like, been high. I was up until 1.30. And now I'm very happy for you. The Phillies, you set that. That's why he threw out Castiano's. Hello. That's great stuff right there. So pumped right now.

Jim, you're doing the best on the overrunners, too. That's because everyone sucks this year. Yeah. Yeah, you did have the most unders. By one. Got rid of the room. but everyone stinks. Yeah.

I'm very happy for you. And I can't wait for us to take over the league and hold teams hostage. Yes. I know. Side business. I don't know if the Yankees play the raise down the stretch. And I really was like, uh,

but slave to the people. And they need to know. I love that for you. Yeah. Castionos gets hit. He's apologizing after he gets hit. He's like, I had your back,

bro. I had your back. And you hit me? So it's pretty weird. Button on the belly button. People are very excited about this breakdown. Above and below the belly button. People are going to clip that.

All right, love you guys. See ya. Checking in, Edwin, you said an update. Yeah, sorry, Edwin. Actually, you're welcome. And Jimmy just mentioned a little ad before the ad. Forgotten Rotten versus baggage Sunday night. J.M. Warehouse.

Floorball. Our best tournament production we've put on. Wow. I mentioned all over the place. I've got floor ball. We've got Edwin, who said a tipping, we've got over-unders,

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The website for details important safety information. Subscription required. Prices vary based on product and subscription plan. Jake, end the stigma. I'm trying to. End the stigma. Not a lot of men's health discussions last night on the debate. You don't want some, yeah, what's up with that?

You don't want some floppy thing, you know? Mm-hmm. You want to be able to knock on it. Speaking of knock on it, Trev, I want to start with the overunders, because that's more of the teams. That brings everyone to the party. And some teams that haven't been at the party in a little bit,

our fun conversations, our Colorado Rockies, for all our Rockies hives, still tuning into talking baseball. Subscribe if you haven't. If you're still here after watching this. Although Michael Toglia, Breton Doyle, is something happening in the Rockies? I don't think there's a G.

I know there's a G and Tolia, but I don't think you say it. I don't think you're saying. My Long Island showing. Yeah. We do our over-unders before the year. We also, we figured, hey, if we're here, we might as well check in on our prop bets episode, which has become one of our more popular the year. And then, like I said, Sister Cities, because there's some fun schedule stuff that's going to dictate,

A, these over-unders, and, like, the final playoffs, like the AL Wild Card is back in reach and some other things. things. Trev, as I mentioned, might be a big job episode. It already has been. He is currently leading the over-unders at 15 out of 30. Not an impressive look for us. You have 14. You're coming in hot on this because you are the three-time defending over-under champ.

You have a little bit of hope. And someone's got to be in last. We'll get to that. I usually like started, or Trev, do you want to do with the all-correct-all Incorrect or Lone Wolf? It's always difficult to navigate this sheet. I do want to say what Jimmy said, it was correct. He's like, there was just, there's more bad teams than good teams this year.

And I think that's right. And he ended up picking one more under than we did. You and I did 18 overs, 12 unders. Jimmy did 17 overs, 13 unders. He did one more. I mean, I don't. And he's only, it is winning by one. Right.

I think what, let's highlight it. Let's make it a Jimmy up, because the lone wolf, and this is where, you know, we pound our chest, you and I both have two lone wolves, your Astros and Blue Jays that you both had, you had the under on both of those, my pirates and rangers that I had the under on all of those, and Jim, the Johnboy, Edwin, you said as Johnboy,

he had the under on the white socks, the reds, the halos, the twins who are a potential flip-flop. They are one of the close teams on this list. They are tracking right below their 86 and a half. So that would be a flip for you and him that could get you back on top. And then Jimmy had the over on the New York Metropolitan's, which how do you like that? So Jimmy has five lone wolf solo correct picks, which in our history of doing this, I don't remember anything that significant.

I think we got to start with like the biggest miss for us. And we've talked about this before on the program. The Kansas City Royals had a 73 and a half over under. And we all took the under because we said, man, like this is a team coming off almost 100 loss season, lost 97 games the year before, if I'm not mistaken. and to improve by that many games would be one of the best improvements

in the history of the sport. And yeah, they made some off-season acquisitions, but I think that we were thinking, okay, they're pretty good. Like, they're going to be competitive, but I don't know if they're going to get to where they're going to get to and maybe they end up trading some of these guys.

And the thought process, I think, was okay. We just didn't foresee Bobby Wood Jr. being the best player in baseball, and Vinny and Sal Perez, you know, leading the league and hitting with runners in scoring position, and we definitely didn't see that starting pitching, performing the way they did. I mean, the names that they have,

the names they've been going through this year, they're not low three names that you're really accustomed to, but here is Brady Singer, here's Michael Waka, and obviously Seth Lugo. We knew Cole Regens would be good, but they've overperformed an absolutely, every single facet of the game. And now the Royals are on pace to win 88.8 games.

They're already 80 and 66, which is crushing their line. And we all got it wrong. Yeah, the Royals had tracked all season. They continue to track. Them, the Oakland A's have already surpassed their win total. That's one of those Vegas always seems to know. 56.5 and a half was there. That was mean of us to pick the under there.

We were just thinking, what a mess, the stadium, all these things going on. What they were coming off of. I mean, if you had given us that line for the White Sox, we would have went over because you and I went over 63 and a half, and they've put together one of the worst seasons we've ever seen. So the guard dogs and the brewers obviously are over. They were projected for 76.5 and 78.5. So those are the teams that are full-blown,

clear. Well, the Padres as well. The Padres as well, yes. That's a tough look for us, but there is a caveat. That's my only asterisk. Dylan Cease. Yes. This is before they acquired Dylan Cease.

We did not foresee them doing that and then also adding multiple arms at the trade deadline. This team is. Arise at the end of April. Yeah, I mean, hey, we still have to wear that one. think this team is, if I'm picking like a dark horse to win the World Series, it's the San Diego Potres. I don't know how dark that horse is, you know? Ooh, it's gray.

What's your favorite color horse? Because that's important. Wow. Um, I think black, man. I think like when, when you see a big old powerful, like, stallion, like you can, like the muscles are popping. And it's just like, oh, shit. shoot, that's the guy.

I think that's my win. I bet you like that. What about you? I'm gonna go with the white horse. I bet you like that. Like shadow facts. Like not even white, almost translucent.

Glowing out in the field. A translucent horse would be disgusting. I don't want to see their innards. Well, you don't see the innards either, but everything is translucent. What a good word. How come every kid paid attention

that day in science class? Translucent? Translucent? Translucent, transparent. Isn't there another one? Translucent was just like a sick word. It's like, okay, you can kind of see through it. Like, yeah. Okay. Opaic. Another word. Everyone paid attention that day. Yeah, okay.

Speaking of paying attention. Let's hype ourselves up a little bit because I think these are pretty much locks and it's our all correct crew. We have six teams. The Arizona Diamondbacks that were treading water for the first couple months of the season. I think even the last time we checked in was right before they get hot. We all had there over at 83 and a half. They're going to get there. The Detroit Tigers are currently on pace.

They are definitely a team that is flipped recently. They're over under was 80 and a half. They are currently 74 and 71. So if they get to the finish line, 7 and 10 are better, which they've been pacing that way. The Detroit Tigers will be on pace for a 500 season. The Marlins, we all had the under. They're not even going to come close.

That was one of our, like, everyone tilted their head. Milwaukee, we were all in on. We all tilted our head. Why would you have Milwaukee below 500? They had traded Corbyn, so we're like, okay. But it was... I believe the line actually went down from that as well. Yeah.

Like, it was no respect. from the sports books for the Brewers organization. And then overs on the Yankees and the Phillies, as they have both. The Phillies have had an incredible regular season pretty much start to finish. They had one hiccup. Same with the Yankees that,

hey, snaps for us on that. For all of us to lock it in the same bet, we all kind of start looking at each other like, this is probably going to be wrong, right? That's just not how this works. If we all think that, that's not how this works. Okay, hold on a second. Again, we're going off a sheet here.

We should post a sheet somewhere so people can follow along with this. I think that'd be awesome to see. If we're going to toot our horn about all correct, you've got to mention the all incorrect. Well, that's kind of what's left at this point. Because we got six all correct. Yeah, we're doing great. Pat yourself on the back.

You want a spanking, Jake? Yeah. I know you do. Eight. Incorrect. All of us picking the same team. Boston is number one. We had them under 80 and a half.

John Boye admitted that he was biased, but he also believes it. This actually went down to 77.5. And I think that probably would have changed what we thought. This was after the Lucas Gialito news. So we just didn't think it was there. The pitching stuff carried them at the beginning of the year. which was a surprise for anybody that follows the game.

That's fallen kind of completely off the cliff. And then the offense started to do it. Jaron Duran's been a monster. Williour Abraeus shown up and obviously Devers has done what he's done. But that was all incorrect for us. The Chicago Cubs, we had the over at 84 and a half, and they are not tracking there. They could get there.

The two teams you just mentioned, I think in a very biased way. Red Sox fans and Cubs fans, already probably, I'm not the highest on their pecking order. But these are the two that can flip the easiest. The Red Sox are currently on pace for 81 wins. So they're over as 80 and a half. So they are going to come down to the finish line.

And the Chicago Cubs, 84 and a half, which is looking like a really good line for them, as they are on. They're on pace for 84. and they've been playing a better brand of baseball with the easier schedule. So those two can go either way. Yeah, then we mentioned Kansas City.

We mentioned Oakland. We mentioned San Diego. The other three that we really haven't gotten into San Francisco. We all were in agreeance. And is that even a word agreeance or is it agreement? I don't know. Who cares? We took the over at 81.5.

We said over as if they get Snell or Monti. they got Snell, obviously. They're tracking at 79.3 for their pace. The overrunners at 81.5. Okay, Giants. Finish, Giants. Hey, Logan Webb and Blake Snow, get off a Pebble Beach and get in the bullpen. You don't believe that.

That's what people say. I don't believe that. I actually DM Logan Webb and told him about my 83. I shot there. He didn't even read it. Oh, God. Foul. That's so foul.

The Cardinals. We took the over it. 84 and a half wins. We said it's a kiss of death. They're tracking it 81 wins. So they, if playing good ball, could get there. I don't. And then do we talk about Tampa?

We all took the over 84.5%. That was our double lock. We talked about the Ray's devil magic. It really hasn't happened for them yet. It's going to be very tough for them to hit the over. What does it say? Is it 14 and 3 they'd have to go? Yeah, it's...

Yeah, I think... Raisin Blue Jays, for me almost every year, I think I'm going over just as like, hey, if they're good, I'll get a point here and my regular life will stink a little bit more. But I'm not going to hide behind me. Oh, you love to do that. I'm not going to do that.

Trev, let's kind of finish off with the taste yourself segment. Your Astros and Blue Jays are your two lone wolfers. I don't really know why I took the eye. on the Astros. I think I was looking at all the overs that I had, and I was like, okay, I could see them, 92 and a half wins. I could see them,

the Rangers just won the World Series. The Mariners have their pitching staff. We were hoping that Julio Rodriguez would show up and they'd find some offense somewhere. I thought the angels would probably be a little bit better than they were. So I was counting on the ALS, just giving them a little bit more of a challenge, which they did essentially.

You know, the Mariners were in first place until June 18th, and that went down. They're up at 10 games on June 18th, then they haven't led in quite some time. So my thought process, I think it says next to it, I think they were 91 to 92 wins, so a half game under. I thought they'd be right at that line. I just chose the under.

I don't think this is some crazy, I knew what was going to happen, pick. I think it was more on the lines of I needed an under. So I'm not going to pat myself on the back too hard for that one. Good. What about your Jays? Transparency, people. Translucency.

Yeah, I guess, I mean, everyone kind of knows the story of the Blue Jays at this point. Kind of one of the more disappointing teams of this season. And I mean, they did have injuries like Bichette has not had a Bichette year. and the whole pitching staff kind of let me down. Hey, but they are the best defense in the league, so that, you know, get for them. Something like that.

My two lone wolfers were Pittsburgh and Texas. I'm a World Series Hangover Man. 89 and a half for the Texas Rangers. They are looking like they're going to be under 500. And then I guess the feather in my cap I'm more proud about, I got excited about the pirates before the season. 72 and a half was there over under You know, I was hopeful for skeins

I did, if I went back and listened I was a little more excited for their offense Although how about cutch hitting 20 again, Trev? What's that about? Love that. What do you mean? Here's another 20 burger for you. People wrote Kutch off like three years ago.

Whoops. He wasn't getting like the consistent playing time. I think that has some. to do with it, but I do find it funny for us. That anytime we have a lone wolf, we start to think, okay, how do I, how do I salvage this with the response if it doesn't go my way? Pirates, you said, I'm fading myself and ready to be mad in September. For the Blue Jays, I said, I think it's over, but the line is a trap. Like, you know, we always

have the safeguards on the lone wolves. I think we need more confident next year. And if we pick something that's a lone wolf, you just ride with it. We will probably, maybe we'll get a graphic with our final, final standings as they come through. And yeah, sorry, Cubs Red Sox. I mean, that's all three of us rooting against you. Can we put this sheet out there, like a link to the sheet? And then maybe if one of our, you know,

statistically inclined listeners wants to go out and find one unit placed on each of our bets, would it be profitable or not profitable? Because some of these might have been plus, although I guess none of them would be plus. It all be minus 110, once 105, yeah. Talk to your Stanford. So we're all, we're all going to lose. It's looking like it on the over under.

You'd have to go what, like 18 of 30? I think 17. To get rid of the juice. You would turn a profit. Which that's been you the past couple years, Treve, but it's not looking so. Not looking so juicy. No, it is looking juicy.

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I like the logo. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Trev, let's put a little bit of a bow on the gambling stuff, because we also do our prop bets and we figured I always get excited for schedule watch in sister cities but while we're here and I think we can keep this a little tired we do our prop bet episode before the season it is one of our most popular apps to go with the team

profile and projections and we kind of we j-emified it we always make a game out of something that that's an o'brien family trait big jimmy up today um and this year we did over-under lock, sprinkle. We've done that the past couple years because we did, I don't want to say gamify the system, but unders, and I don't know, for you at home,

I'm not saying this is a way to make easy money, but with injuries and everything and poor performance, the unders have a better chance of hitting. I know that sounds a little sad, but it's just how the game works. And I think one year we all rolled up with like three unders and we're like,

okay, this is sad. Like, let's this isn't a fun game. Let's root for guys too. And, Trev, I don't, for the YouTube people, it's not a proud face by you.

I'll let you talk a little bit if you want. He's got the sheet up there too, so everyone's getting undressed. So my over, my first over was Bobby Miller, starting pitcher for the Dodgers. I had him over.

143 and a half strikeouts. That's coming off a year where he had 119 through 22 starts. And my thought process was, I don't really love it now that I'm like looking back of this because one injury or something like that would derail a strikeout number like that. But I was very confident in the fact

that this guy was going to establish himself near the top of the Dodgers rotation. I mean, he was 23 years old, a 376 in those 22 games started. last year. He looked the part very, very much so. And it was my belief that he was just going to go out and, you know, surpass what he had done the year before.

Like he'd gotten his feet wet. Like, it didn't happen, people. He's been. Yeah. And I said this before the show, and I don't, he's been Alecmanoa-esque. Oh. As far as like the fall off has been pretty. drastic, to say the least.

11 games started a 7-7-9, a 1-6 whip, 4.5 walks per 9, which is just not going to get it done. As FIP is said that as 6-8. You want war, it's not good either, people. So that one was amiss by me. He just has not had a good year.

The Dodgers have struggled to find starting pitching all year long, whether it be injuries or poor performance like this. So that was a miss for me. L.D. The Cruz has already surpassed this. He had 127 and a half hits. Thank you. I think he's at 144 right now. Break out year, you were on it.

I like that. Kyle Swarber, under 96.5 runs driven in. I had him at leadoff, and I'm like, hey, what's... Is he going to really get close to 100 runs driven? I think he's only done it once or something prior to this year. I think that was my thought process. He's sitting at 95 right now, so it looks like Schwab's going to get there. He's a baller.

Never bet against Kyle Schwerber. That's just a rule that you have in your books. When you brought that one to the table, I remember all of us being like Treff, like Schwartz? Well, again, it really is. I know the betting logic. Yeah, it's true. One injury away. It's a lot of runs driven in for a lead off hitter.

But Kyle Swarber is that guy. He also stole my walk-up song. Nobody talks about that. Nobody talks. That's not a big deal. It's not a big deal. This is the one I'm most embarrassed. stuff. Estuary or Reese, over 49 and a half steals. The guy stole 67 bases in 2023. I said, look,

he's one of the only productive players that the A's had in 2023. Like he's going to play, Marc Cautze is going to let this guy loose. We know that stolen bases are quote unquote easier to come by than ever with the disengagement rule that's been put in place. That's not case he's had like how many games did he play this year not a lot 55 at bats i think he had five steals he's been in the minor leagues most of the year so my lock is just absolutely in shambles can't believe it uh and then i sprinkled bob melvin for manager of the year in the nl and that's clearly going to pat murphy um so i did very very poor one out of we'll just call it one out a four and the sprinkle was also wrong.

Yeah, I think I'll get ahead of the sprinkle because for those that don't live in the world, you know, there's some bets that are highly unlikely to hit. So we call it the sprinkle because, you know, you could bet $5 and win a thousand if a crazy bet hit. All of our sprinkles are off. You went Bob Melvin, NL manager of the year, which I kind of like that one. Jimmy went, he threw two sprinkles out there, Mookie leading the league in hits. He got her Astros' longest win streak,

which your twins actually have this year. There's still time for that one, I guess. The two I threw out were Burns MLB wins leader. And then my deep cut was Spencer Torkelson at plus 7,000 to lead the league in homers. That was a deep cut. It's like slash an artery deep. Him and estuary kind of went back. At least my guy led the league and stolen bases the year before.

BPD throughout at Grayson Rodriguez, Al-Sai Young. So none of our sprinklers are going to get close this year, and that's okay. That's why it's a sprinkle. Yeah, Trev, Ruiz would love to know what happened. He didn't play a lot of minor league games, too. He must have got banged up down there. Yeah, did well in those minor league games, but...

It was like 12 games. Yeah. Really? Tough to predict baseball. I will... I'll pair myself up with... with John Boy, because if people do remember this episode, it was almost comical.

I think I was going before Jimmy, and I walked through like two of his exact bets, and one that I did bet, his over, was Springer more home runs than Correa at minus 120. That one's looking good, because Springer, after a slow first half, found his power stroke. And Correa's just been out after he was amazing, Trev. They got to get him back.

Are they, is that close? It was, and I think Springer has essentially ended it. Springer is at 19 homers, and Correa, I think, is at 13. Yeah. So six homers. Six homers. Hey, I'm, you know, go Twins go, Trev. We need that in the worst.

That was a scary one for a while. Looks like it's going to be signed sealed delivered. Two unders for Jimmer, and I think we're both on. this one Ronald Cooney under 53 and a half stolen bases. Just kind of like almost World Series effect. You won the MVP, you stole so many bases.

I don't think anyone pictured it going down like that, but Ronnie's hasn't been a part of this season. And then he said there's a note in there. He threw in O'Neill Cruz under, wow. He liked O'Neill Cruz under 72.5 RBI. Big O'Neill Cruz is at 71. So that one, that one's probably coming off the board. Where are we at with O'Neill Cruz?

His numbers are nicer than I thought as I opened his page. Yeah, he's a great all-around play to switch him to center field. That's going to be interested in how that affects his career. What I said before the season, Chris Rose posed this question. He goes, who's going to have the better year of the cruises? Right. Very simple, like, you know, tall short stops. with all the tools in the world.

I said, I think maybe O'Neill Cruz would be better this year, but in the long run, I think Ellie is just the better player. I thought Ellie is still young, but Ellie's taking the next step quicker than I thought he would. But O'Neill's a good player, man. Oh, Neil Cruz is 788 OPS, 19 homers.

Like, he's going to be 2020, and I think more importantly, he's going to have played a full season, which that was one of the bigger question marks. And I think that's what Jimmy was kind of leaning into like we talked about with the unders. It's a poor April, and we always kind of like being able to identify that, just been like really solid.

Mall's righties. He still struggles with lefties, so that'll be part of the story for next year, along with the outfield situation. I feel a little bad on this one. Jimmy got the lock of Ray's over 84 and a half wins. This was a little Brewer's theory. This is a little Ray's theory. They still have a little chance.

I think it had to be like a 13 and 4 to the finish line, which, hey, baseball. And I did bet a good American money on that one, so I'm probably going to feel the actual loss on that lock. And I mentioned his sprinkles, Mookie, and the Astros. For myself, we've got a little bit of fight. Freddie Freeman was my over-on hits. I did well with the Boba Chet hits because these guys just hit. Freddie missed a little bit of time, and that's the difference when you're that good of a player.

And his batting average is a little lower than you'd think for Frederick this year. Over 176 and a half hits, he's not going to get there. I think he's at 131. Randy a Rose-Harena, 25 and a half stolen bises for my under. He's going to be close. I think he's at 19 right now. You know, one or two big games. that gets a lot closer.

So let's see if that goes. I locked in the Cubs to miss the playoffs. That one's looking okay. It's, you can't. I can't lock it in. And then like I mentioned, my sprinkles or misses. To wrap it up, BBD, you've got an anxious. Well, your lock is locked, which is kind of unreal.

Lock feels good. Because I thought that was a sucker bet. I even said that. Yeah. Because I lost a sucker bet of that degree. year. I said it after that I don't feel good about this because I think it spells bad news for our yanks, but. Yanks, Philly, Houston to make playoffs plus money, plus 160.

And I think that's about, that'll cash soon. I think we're about to get to clinching season on them. Asher's gave a scare for a while on that bet, but that's a happiness hedge. Your boy Mike Trout under 93 and a half RBI, the Mike Trout injury under bets. Unfortunately, it's just reliable. That's crazy, Trev. Where are you at with Trouty? Just trade them to Philly and let's figure it out or what?

I want to see the guy healthy. I want to see him in the playoffs. And I don't know, you know, those things just haven't really happened until the last couple of years. Playoffs, obviously, we know about that. I don't know, man. He's got a new golf course opening up. I know guys that have, you know, invested in that.

He didn't ask me. I've been near him on a golf course. That's right. Crazy couple years. A video of him hitting the ball at top golf is still A-plus, so he's got that working for him. Trout, you're the best ever, but your team always stinks. Oh, wait. Now we've got this guy that hits and pitches, so he's the best, I guess, but your team still stinks.

Okay, now he's gone. The team's even worse, and you've been injured. Tough couple years for Trouty. Come back with vengeance. I like that. Fire him up. Fire him up. Hear that trout? Jake doesn't think you're good at baseball anymore. You hear that?

I think he needs a change of scenery. I think a lot of people think that. And now, BVD, you've got two over-homer totals that are going to come down to sweaty over. To the final day of the season, if you'd like to tee those up. I mean, Corbyn Carroll, his over under was 23 and a half. He's coming. 24 was what he hit last year. Or 25.

Either way. He was over that number last year. I expected a next step. He had a very slow start to this season. The numbers are just starting to get above average. 14 homers in the second half, so he's coming for it. But he needs five more with about three weeks ago. It's more than possible.

Possible. But it's a sweater. And Bryce is in a similar spot, I think, also needs five more. And he has not been homering for the last month or so, I think, two in August. so both those guys could hit five homers in one week and I'm in a good spot this year. Man, the Harper Homer Trout. I know it's become a thing, obviously,

but 28 games now that, yeah, he was, you know, August 9th. He was kind of, if anyone was going to catch Shohei for MVP, it was him. And he hit the brakes. And it's weird, like his other numbers, Our goodies in his Homer drought, Trev, 337 batting average, 410 on base and 882 OPS, ball just ain't left a yard. Yeah, I don't know what's going on with that.

What's that about that? He had one close. I think fan interference took one away from him the other night, so there's a little bit of that going on. That's just scary for people that are facing the Phillies in the postseason. That's what I think. Ooh, yeah, like it's going to happen. Yeah, yeah.

Blood Gates. Man. You know all about that. Bobby Miller, Treff, that, I, you know, you go through a long season and you don't see a guy's name a lot and you're like, okay, I know Bobby's been banged up. I didn't know when he was out on the field, it looked like that. It's been, you know, I mean, Walker Beeler's looked the same way, man. It just hasn't looked the same. And obviously he's coming off of injury and maybe he needs to get a little rust off there.

But, yeah, Bobby, it's been clear. still has armed talent, but just, I don't know, man. Hasn't been there this year for him? It's tough to watch when that happens. You know, you get to the big leagues, you have initial success, you think it's going to last forever, and then all of a sudden the game just humbles you, man. Like, humbles you.

I understand what you're saying with it's tough to watch, but yet this happens to so many players. Like, this is the majority of the story. Bobby Miller, you know, he's with the right, org. He's young. Like, you can, we can bounce back from that, and he will. Bobby Miller.

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For additional terms and responsible gaming resources, see dkng.com slash FT Ball. NFL Plus premium offer available only to new and former NFL plus subscribers. Additional NFL plus premium terms at NFL.com slash terms. Trev, we've got, we just kind of looked back a little bit. It's time to look forward. And also, I've just been talking too damn much. So I don't know if you want to get into schedule watch, 2024, as we leak into, God, two and a half weeks.

September 11th, the season ends on the 28th. 27th, I thought it was. Minus 11. Carry that math. 10. 19. Carry the math. there's a lot of good

stuff coming up that you know we've kind of been hinting at it the Braves Met series is going to be awesome I know we're talking who should you root for like spoilers but there are some there still are some really good series left between teams you know chasing each other

which I think is kind of the more fun aspect of this I believe right now Mets and Bray's five and five against each other locked up for the last wild card spot in the NL they play each other the second to last series of the year what's the SAT word for that Jake ready go SAT word

penultimate oh yeah is that right it is and that'll harshly decide what's gonna go on with the last NL wildcard which I think is awesome I wish it was the last series of the year right don't know why that happen. I think the Mets also go to Milwaukee directly after that, which is we'll see what Milwaukee's doing at that point. Are they still going to be jockeying for, you know, a buy? I don't think they're close enough to really get that. As I'm looking at the standings right now, I am the standings guy. They're like three games behind the Dodgers right now, two and a half games. So yeah, it's still possibility that Milwaukee could be going full throttle there, which should be.

be interesting for the for the Mets. That's my hot take-ish right now. Chris Rose always asked me the hot take questions. That's what we do. I'm basically mad dog Rousseau. He asked me between those four teams, Padres, Arizona, Atlanta, and the Mets,

they're only separated by two and a half games. Or four and a half, I guess. Yeah. Who's the odd man out? And I said, just by looking at the schedule, I think it might be the Mets because they just, they're playing the Phillies

seven more times. Then they have that series against the Braves. Then they play against Milwaukee. I think it might catch up to them. They really could go either way. That's really like, I guess I can't say that.

I was going to say that's really like the most interesting race. Now the AO Wildcard has kind of gotten back into it. My twins have just been absolutely abysmal over the last 20 games. I think they're 4 and 16, something like that.

Something bad. Finally, my guy, Kyle Farmer, came back and helped them beat the angels last night. Yeah. And we're, like, really patting ourselves in the back for that. Detroit within three and Boston, Seattle, within four. It would not surprise me if the twins, like, didn't make the... We've heard it in your voice the past month or so, Treve. Even before this tough 20-game stretch.

Yeah, and I think the other thing that I just want to put out before we died, in a little further. Like, those last series, you don't get, like, punt games anymore, because with the break, like, teams are lining up their starters,

but if you're one of the best teams, if you're one of the top two teams, you still pitch through the end of the regular season because that lines you up for the next series. Even the wild card teams, you're going to miss a day or two that, like,

I remember a lot of the games last year, even that final game, like a lot of teams use it as the last throw day for their bullpen. So, like, you might see the team's five best relievers in the final five innings just to get them a throw day. So it's not like, you know, I looked at a lot of these and, you know, the Braves finish with the Royals, and I don't know, A, are they going to be competing for the wild card? Like they might not be pitching their one,

but they have four guys in their rotation anyways. Like even if the Royals lock something in, it's not like you're going to get three easy royal games. No, I don't mean that, but they won't back-to-back games with the back end of the bullpen will not happen. True. It's true.

Those are the things that I'm looking at. Extended pitch counts if a guy's going off are not going to happen. They're going to have a set pitch count for their starters at 70 pitches. Like I said, Devin Williams, if the brewers have everything locked up will not pitch two days in a row. That's kind of what I'm alluding to. Possibly some lineup stuff as well.

Get your guys off their feet. We'll see. I don't know. But there are, I mean, this is, this is like, maybe not yet. I'm not ready to say this is my favorite part of the season yet. I think it's like the last 10 days. I'm not even going to go two weeks.

Like 10 days when the playoff picture is really, really clear. And then it's a sprint. it's so much fun Jake so much fun and I'm glad that we still have decent races to go on well that's what you know when you see the Braves and Mets schedule on paper like Braves have two or Mets have two Philly series

Braves and Brewers like that is that is a slog for the Braves you know they have a four game Dodgers at Dodgers so Mets fans are going to be Dodgers fans this weekend which that's fun yep And then it's Mets Royals. So in a way, the Mets, if they can handle their business there, and then the Royals can be who the royals are,

the Mets are going to be in this thing, which is kind of crazy to think about. I think the other one that jumped off the map for me, Trev, the AOL West. Like, we've drank the Houston Kool-Aid, you know, best records since April 22nd or whatever it is, all of that. and they're the Houston Astros,

who they're about to finish up two games with the A's, and then the Angels, and then the Angels again. I guess what jumped off to me, a Mariners team that we've written off, and Dan Wilson's Mariners now, they finish with three at Houston and three versus the A's. So if the Mariners can keep it within four or three, going into that final week,

they have a chance. And it's like, they definitely have a chance. Like, it's what the Mariners are supposed to be built on. Hey, we've got six games here. You're going to get a great starting pitcher every day. Like, let's actually do this.

And I don't know, I guess I'd mentally written that out. I agree. I feel like it's, when we're thinking about this race, if it's just in a vacuum and we don't, we got men in black, and you don't remember anything that happened this season.

Sure, it would seem like clearly there's a chance that the Mariners have against the Astros, but that's not the case. I have not gotten men in black. I wore the sunglasses, so I remember the past. Right? They had a 10-game lead and choked it. That's what I remember,

and that's why we think about it the way we think about it. The A's, by the way, obviously not a push-over this year. They've had one of the better records since the All-Star break. Our guy Lawrence Butler is like the best player in all the baseball. Estuary Rory is not on the team. I think that one's over for me. I know what you're saying. I know that statistically they're going to have a chance.

And they do even lead the season series on the Ashes. Which is big because that means, you know, they will have the tiebreaker if they win one more game, I believe it is. Yeah, one more game. And let's see if your guardians end up in a race. I would love that. Make me wrong. Right.

That would be awesome. I want chaos. Let's get nuts. Chaos is a ladder. If your guardians are in the mix, that's where Houston finishes. So if there'll be A.L. Central watching, that could get interesting. Those two Angel series, though, with Houston, you'd like to think they're going to handle their beadness. but I guess in my head the door was fully shut,

and it's not. The Astros are on pace for like 86, 87 wins. Mariners with one hot streak, they could find it. Trev, I want to set up a pair of cities, and one of them's my city. New York Yankees. New Britain, Connecticut? Oh.

Hard hit in New Britain. New York Yankees are trying to win the division over the Baltimore Orioles. Hmm. They have a pennsyllas. Ultimate Series. I had stopped listening to you. I do know that word.

That three games at Yankee Stadium, and let's see if that decides it for Orioles Yankees. Orioles are six and four against them this season. What may be more impactful, the Orioles have six games against your Detroit Tigers. The young punchy Tigrees, who, if you do the numbers over the last month have been playing better than the Orioles,

a Tigers team that has a little bit of hope for that wild card. Six games against the Orioles that could dictate whether the Orioles are the AAL East champs or the wild card, or whether Detroit actually has a shot to make the dance. Whoa! They definitely have a shot. There's no doubt about it.

You look at the two schedules between the twins, who that's the team that they are chasing for that last wild card spot as you mentioned the twins can't beat the Angels they're you know tied in the series right now another one to go today

the Reds kind of never know with them they could show up and just be really good or really bad and then it's the Guardians who they have not played well against at all two and seven on the year the Red Sox they are two and one against them but again I think they're pretty dang good team

and they're still at the wild card hunt. They could close the gap. We've only four games back of the twins. Marlins, they should win that. And then the Orioles, who are obviously a very good team. It's scary for the twins, man. Like, the, I know this is not a twin show.

It is. I do a twin show. If you want to go check it out. It is. What's the score north? Twin show. Skoll. There's a lot of weird stuff going on.

There's a battle between, like, it seems like there's a battle between Rocco and Royce, which is like, what? There's Rocco called the team unprofessional, which is an interesting choice of words. And I don't know if that's great at this time of the year to call them that. Maybe they need it. I don't know.

The Tigers could come and steal this thing. That would be the craziest turnaround. We've seen in quite some time. If the Tigers were able to come, trade Jack Flaherty away. I know that they got their starting shortstop in that deal. I understand that. But the way they've been able to piece together, pitching staff here at the end of the years.

Kind of crazy. They've been going multiple bullpen games. Their pitching has actually been really good since getting rid of Jack Flaherty. There's been more of a youth movement. Some of the guys coming off the IL and then some of the guys just coming up because at one point they thought they were kind of out of it. Then all of a sudden they go on this run and here they are.

That's kind of what dreams are made of. If you're a young player, you get an opportunity and all of a sudden you win so much that you're back in the playoff race, And you might sneak in? Mm. You've got to be stoked if you're a Tigers fan right now. Man, there's a lot of ways to skin a cat. And two of those teams in the Central,

your Tigers fighting for life. They're, they are a bunch of kids. They had, you know, two rookie infielder's on the same day, and that was our debut infielder's to go with Colt Keith and a Torkelson back. Like, they went all youth where it's funny Kansas City right before August 31st brought in. Tommy Pham, who's putting the team on his back,

along with some other veterans, obviously. Did you hear why St. Louis let him go? I did not. He didn't like platooning. Isn't that what he's kind of enough to do? Tommy was just like, Tommy Fan plays every day. And I think the Cardinals are like,

well, we didn't plan on that, so you're out. And now he's batting leadoff for the Kansas City Royals. God. Dude, Paul DeYoung is the everyday third baseman of the Kansas City rules. I know. Yule Gereal. I love that. That's a good one. Salvi's the young guy on the team again.

That's really funny. Yule is, what, 42 years old? 77. It might be 46. It might be Julio Franco and a mask. Like, it's insane with that kind of similarly. What that can't, right? there's something there

what's going to come down to your AL Central Are the Guardians going to win it Or are they going to get reeled in? They are. No, they are Because they really do have a formula to win. You saw it when they played your Yanks. I mean, they just need to hit when they get some runners on.

They're not going to crush the ball. It seems like they're a team that has one guy step up every single game and get the big hit with runners in scoring position. And then if they have the lead come to the fifth or sixth inning, it's pretty much lights out.

Although I believe that's, did the henches just get hurt? Bebers, can you check that out? Hensches and benches. They have a formula, man. Like, they rely on the back end of their bullpen. Somehow they've gotten great starts out of shoulder surgery.

Yeah. He's out. Yeah. That's tough for them. But they have a formula, man. The second, best defensive team in baseball with the best bullpen in baseball. So you got to get to them early, essentially,

and then just hold on for your life. I think they will. One other team has been in first place, like in the Royals were in first place for what, a day? They've just like ran it, dude. It's been pretty crazy to see them. Buckle up for the Red Sox Twin Series. 10 days to go in the season.

You said 10 days left in the season is your favorite part of the year. The Red Sox in Fenway against those Minnesota twins. They also have six against the race and four at the Yankees. So the Red Sox, again, as of like a week, week and a half ago, it was at five games and we're like, that's a crazy number. Three or four starts to feel more attainable. Dude, if your twins keep slipping. Maybe it's everyone against the twins.

Oh, the perfect show. The Guardians have been in the lead, in the AL Central since Saturday, April 13th, where they were a half game back. They were tied with Kansas City for one day other than that. Right. That's right, that four-game series. Twins, Reds, Guardians, Reds, Red Sox, Marlins, Orioles.

I don't know, Trev. they gotta get Carlos Correa is coming back he is the answer team meetings not the answer calling your team unprofessional not the answer Carlos Correa is the answer Uh Drev I think the only thing really left to discuss uh in the NL West

um Padres Padre snakes which have been the flip flop in our simulator for a while I did think it was interesting putting this down on paper D-backs with two brew crew series. There's Rockies in between that helps you out there. Giants, and then they finish with the Padres.

Meanwhile, when I look at that Padre schedule, the one thing that jumps out, I mean, they have the White Sox, which, I mean, I guess the Debacks have the Rockies, which is as close as you get to the White Sox, although it is a different brand. The Padres, Astros, Giants Astros, White Sox, Dodgers, D-back.

So I don't know. I was going to say I looked at the Padre's schedule and with that White Sox, I was going to give them a leg up. I don't think I am. I think it's coming down to that last weekend. It will. They've owned the Dodgers this year, seven and three. What I like is even if they don't catch the Dodgers,

I believe it's four and four and a half games back for the Diamondbacks and the Padres right now, even if they don't catch the Dodgers. And they have a chance, obviously, with a three-game set against them. But if they don't, still going for that number one wild card, they have the last series of the year against the debacks, and they're tied right now at 5-and-5. So that's kind of, you know, as just a national baseball fan,

like you'd want to see that happen. You'd want to see them going, basically playing for that playoff spot, tied or close to tide three games set to see who gets to host a wild card series. I think that's really important. Dude, I think this season is going to end with at least five Padres Diamondbacks games, and it's going to be funny to see, are they going to switch locations? They're going to be in Arizona for those three games. It'd be a hilarious little thing.

They just have to stay in Arizona? Yeah, right now it's Milwaukee. You'd be hosting either the Braves or the Mets, and then the Padres would host the D-BACs. But again, the D-Backs are a half-game back. The Padres, everything can flip. And, dude, think about the dynamics there. Do you go for the win to get home field?

Do you... Or line you're pitching up, because you know you're going to be in the series. I look this up. I don't think either team is crazy home-road splits. I'll get it up right now. The Padres at home are 40 and 35, and they're better on the road at 42 and 29. So 592 winning percentage on the road, 533 at home.

So that's not a crazy split. Diamondbacks, on the other hand, let's see. 563 at home, 554 on the road. So it doesn't necessarily matter, but I got to believe playoffs matter. I know that history hasn't told. told us that. So I'm just like kind of just like talking like an idiot. But I don't know, man. Like you feel like you'd want to play at home. Even if statistics don't say it. Did you ever final question of the episode? Did you ever actually play on a team that it was like we like playing on the road more than home?

No. Right. No. Like I think I mean not really. I don't know. I don't think that's a baseball thing. I think there's a football thing. I think there's a football. thing there. Why? That's like the most crowd involvement in a sport. I think you can I think you can truly feed off that in football. I can't even hear a play call though.

Right, but if you shut down the crowd and they go silent, which like baseball, you can do that. You can do that. You can do that. You still need to hit a 98 mile per hour fastball, not run behind your all pro left tackle for the first down for two yards. Sports. Just sports.

Not my Rams. My Rams don't have that problem. Miss you, Whitworth. Your boy. Vegas Whitworth. Movie. All right. Let's wrap this up.

Thank you, everyone, for tuning in. I can't wait for the stimulator on Friday. It's going to be a big one. It's going to be a big one. We talked about a lot of teams today. We might not talk about them Friday. It's the teams that matter. Jicksucks.

We'll see you there, though. We're here, man. That was just a yucking ball effort. Don't eat my dog. What's that about? I think I'm going to run for president. We need the dogs. We need you.

I think I'd win. Get your eyes off of that and managing the Olympic team. Oh, no. Yeah. Guts. Hitting coach.