Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - How MLB Fans Feel About Their Teams Heading into Playoffs

Episode Date: September 16, 2026

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Hello and welcome to talking baseball. We're almost here, which means we're bringing in the whole JM crew, Roundtable Ep. We're going to talk about all your favorite teams, maybe. Let's talk about David Price. Matt Diaz. Sorry, Matt. Hello and welcome to talking baseball presented by Fanatic Sports and Casino. If you're locking into baseball bets, Fanatic Sports and Casino is the place to do it. Winning hits different here. I am Jake Storelli. That is Trevor Plouffe. Rob Chiracroko is. producing Dalton Feeley in the sheet? Yeah, a little bit. A little bit he did. Wait, is Peter Moyland joining us?

In person? Oh, okay. Damn, I got juicy. I just looked at the sheet. We're going to have a bunch of our JM people hopping in, mostly the playoff teams. Jolly Olive missing, even though his Mets in September, stealing the headlines.

Amazing. Maybe my favorite baseball team. Trev, how are you? you love what's happening with the Mets because it just validates you all offseason and Pete Alonzo. Don't sleep on Matt Diaz 2007 or 2009 with the Braves. Over 850 OPS. Relax a little bit.

Pop, it's good to be on here with you. Your Yanks have been BTAing my twins at Target Field and my good friend Max Fried really hurt me last night. but I'm excited to be in person with you tomorrow. Soon. And Peter Moyland. How about that? Soon.

We have one of our warehouse weekends. It's Blitzball, which just brings a little bit of extra testosterone out of the boys. And I guess there's one swilly. Not testosterone. I don't know how the body works. I think women have testosterone. I think they do, just not as much. Question mark.

Okay. Comment below. Oh, Matt Diaz, 2007. Rob says thumbs up. They do have this. Hey, if you're a lady listening, why don't you tell us what goes on with your body? Matt Diaz, 338, 368, 497.

Okay, probably a teammate with Peter Moy. We're going to have Peter. We're going to have Ryan Cohen. Shelfy's going to be in the mix. Lorenzo in his Red Sox. Oh, smokes. Red Sox have been a team I've been trying not to think about because I think, I think for about three days I'm going to be in pure hell with that.

Trev, anything else you need to get off your chest before we dive into this? I saw you, Jimmy and Joe's discussing Celebration Gate and like when to celebrate all that. I like to weigh in on that a little bit if that's okay with you. Yes, and now that I have my answer concise, I'll just give it to the people so they can see where you're going with it. You know, Yankee fans can be obnoxious. Shout out, Dan Rourke, myself. God, what happened in Flushings yesterday was so beautiful. So the Yankees can be snobby because we're supposed to play for rings.

That's why we're the Yankees, blah, blah, blah, the whole deal. That, you know, Dan Allen tweeted out and he was like, oh, you shouldn't celebrate. you know, we're making, now we're celebrating winning the wild card and blah, blah, talk with Uncle Joe's, the wise man of the office, because he's 51 years old. And we were like, you know, what is right here? And as me and Jimmy kind of used to have dance thoughts, because you're raised to be the Yankees and we win World Series. As we've matured, we've been like, you know what?

Celebrate making the postseason. And I have a quick side anecdote of that. But what is interesting, the new wild card. format. Mejos and John were kind of like, I don't know if you should celebrate winning that, like two games to go on to the DS. I don't know. It doesn't get me too

jazzy. The DS I don't have a decision on yet. I think you should celebrate, celebrate with the boys. CS, obviously, and World Series, obviously. So with that, Trev, what do you take from it? All right. You just kind of got me thinking about a lot of things. We go to Thrones a lot

here. I would say this. Like, you know, I'm comparing baseball to war. I hate when that happens, but I will compare it to Game of Thrones. Okay. How about that? That's fine.

Game of Thrones compares itself to war. And then we could just go through that. Perfect. A lot of times you're marching towards, you know, the ultimate fight, but there's battles along the way. I would say this.

I bet you're going to have a glass of wine after a day on the battlefield. Right. And you're moving on. The other people aren't. Yeah. Same concept here. You play and grind for 162 plus.

spring training, off season. There's no, there is no off season. So you're just grinding, and then you finally make it to what matters, the playoffs. I think you celebrate. It doesn't have to be crazy. I thought what the Yankees did was right, because that could be the only time they celebrate the entire year. And you got guys in there, like Carson Falmer, who's never done it before.

Yeah. And you have young guys who have never done it before, so you can't take that away from them. If you're an old dog and a veteran in the clubhouse and you've been through it, sure. You know, like, you know, you might not enjoy it as much, but I guarantee those guys are having the freaking time of their life. And you know what? Life is short. Celebrate whenever you get the chance to.

So I am a big, I did it one time in my career. I told you that. If I didn't do it that time when all the veterans had already done it for six years in a row, I would never have gotten to spray champagne all over my friends at the big level. and I have that memory now. So that's my take on. Yeah, I'm, I think I'm 95% in lockstep. The wild card, it weirds me out a little bit that you kind of celebrate that.

But at the same time, I do get it. And to the, I think celebrating a two, the two, winning those two game wildcard, that's, I feel like sometimes that might be tougher than a five game set. And sometimes the argument goes from there is like, well, you shouldn't party as much. And then if we're turning into party police, like how much should you party? then like I you lose me so I don't I don't care if you're the brewers right and you clinch a playoff spot but you know you're going to win the division as well that's when the champagne toast comes in so there's there's caveats and I know there's been some uh of quick Mets funeral to start this episode thanks for filling in

last up Jolly um uh John Dorn who's one of the more respected guys in our office like kind of an actual adult cool guy um he's a Mets fan And while this conversation was happening in the office, he goes, the 22 Mets are one of the best Mets teams I've ever watched. You know, 90 plus wins, winning the division for the whole year. When they clinched the postseason, they didn't celebrate because they wanted to win the division. And that's when the Braves caught them. And then they lost the wild card to, I believe, Ryan Cohen's, Joe Musgrove's ears, Padres.

So that team, one of his favorite teams he ever got to watch in his life, never celebrated anything. That, like, you should celebrate Joe's McFly, who has a way with words, he said, the way he phrased it, that I'm going to steal, he said, you always celebrate a birth. And I think he was doing that

with baseball and life. So, yeah, yeah. Maybe normalize celebrating your friends with some champagne spraying? I don't know. I'm not the biggest champagne guy. I don't know if that's a cold, drink, it's just to spray because it's so fizzy.

Oh, yeah. I think maybe 4th of July, we start doing that. Okay. Like fireworks and a champagne shower. Ooh. Because you're outside. Yeah, I'm in. Fourth of July, mark this down, Bobo.

I'm going to be spraying champagne. I don't know where or when or on who, but I'm going to be doing it. And that was my final punch back to Dan Allen on the Yankees was like, If you saw a video of all the Yankees on like a Sunday night, they all went to the same party and were having a blast. Dan would be like, oh, that's so sick. These guys love each other. So the fact that they're, like if it was someone's birthday on the team,

you'd be like, oh, that's sick. These guys love each other. Like, you're going to the playoffs. Celebrate it. Oh, yeah. I don't know. Time, wisdom, and Ryan Cohen. Let's start the Jam Roundtable.

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You know, you know we're good. Warehouse weekend coming up. You know what happens. some version of the three of us are going to be facing each other and in a bat with actual kind of pressure and it's going to be weird. Speaking of actual weird pressure, the San Diego Padres.

A little seven-game win streak before yesterday? Eight before yesterday. Sheesh. You got rock piled. And now what is the goal? You said you're coming in a little humble, but also the top wild card spot is now in play. Where are you at?

The dream is a wild card. series at Peco Park. The Padres play better at Pecko. I do think the Wild Card Series last year being played at Wrigley instead of in San Diego and they had chances last year to get that four seed, five seed. I think it made a huge difference.

Riggly obviously is one of the most iconic ballparks and we know what Petco does for playoff games. It goes nuts and San Diego shows out and the Padres play really well there. So I would love to see the Padres get that top spot and find a way to have the three games

at PECCO, but a week ago, I was worried they weren't going to make the playoffs. So I don't want to get too greedy. They still have to clinch a playoff spot. Just keep winning for now and figure out the rest later. Give me some Walker Bueller talk. I was just looking at the stats. I think it's this third time ever in his career that he's made 30 starts in a year. I feel like nobody had that, you know, coming into the season.

Yes, he was going to be a pitcher. Yes, he was going to start games, but going a full season, healthy. where does he rank in your rotation as we speak right now? At the beginning of spring training, they took a ton of shots. They went with Herman Marquez, Walker Bueller. They ended up getting Gialito early in the season, Griffin Canning, and it was kind of who's going to be the one to step up? Hopefully two or three of them do.

And it turns out that really only one of them did. And Walker Bueller's season's been a tale of multiple seasons in a lot of ways. He's had a really good stretch in the middle of the year. It got ugly for a second, the back half. And then the last four or five starts have been a lot better. They have a pretty quick hook with him in general. They go to the bullpen pretty early if he gets into any sort of trouble. But the fact he's gone out there for 30 plus starts, put up 130-some odd innings at this point.

More than I expected from Walker Beeler, I do like the veteran presence. If it comes down to it in a elimination game playoff situation, I don't think he's going to give you seven shutout like he did for the Dodgers at some points. But I think if you need nine outs to kick off a game, the bullpen game, I trust Walker Bueller a lot more than like a Randy Vasquez or even Robbie Ray at this point. He does, he does seem like lights go on, you know, he gets a little extra bump of that testosterone we were talking about earlier in the episode, Jake. I could definitely see that happening. So in a, let's let's call it the wild card round. If you're able to line up the starting pitching, what are we doing? For now, Michael King is definitely number one.

I think he's been the ace of the team, and he's your game one starter in any playoff series if you get to line it up the way you want to. Then it gets interesting. Traded for Robbie Ray and Casey Meis. I think Casey Meis has the higher upside. He sprained his ankle against the twins back in August. It kind of seemed a little off since then.

He had a good start against the Nationals. He got through a decent start in Colorado, so everything's with a grain of salt there. I think Casey Meis is probably game two. And then if it gets to a game three in a wild card series, you just all hands on deck, get the ball to Mason Miller as soon as you can and see how many outs you can get. What is going on?

Every time I look at the Padres lineup, there's one just pure head tilt. Samad Taylor had it for a little while. Dustin Harris is now, our two-hole hitter. Do Padre fans feed off that? Is that like part of the church of the San Diego Padres right now is like, hey, it's Nando. it's Machado, Jackson Merrill is now young Freddie Freeman again. Obviously, they're the big pieces.

I guess how does San Diego fans, like, is that a rally around it? Or that's a Preler God situation or no? Definitely. And I mean, there are very, very few guys that get called up to the Padres who have never heard of. And when they said Dustin Harris has been recalled, I'd never heard that name. He wasn't in spring training with the team. I'd never heard of him. And he's been unbelievable. They did it with Luis Renhifo before his. is season ending injury.

They did it with Smod Taylor for a stretch there. They've kind of been doing it for a while. Look at the year Ty France is having. That was a minor league signing. He didn't have a roster spot. Pro far a few years ago. We know there are some asterix there, but Gavin Sheets,

like they've done this time and time again now with, these aren't superstar level players, but to fill out a lineup and fill out a bench with players that anyone could have had, I mean, Dustin Harris has been incredible. He's hitting in the two spot. I don't think Dustin Harris is going to win an MVP in his career, but the fact that he's been a productive bat,

for a team chasing a playoff spot. They didn't have a left field option before that, other than guys you've never heard of like Samad Taylor. I wonder what kind of contract Ty France is looking at going into next year. I mean, right now he's sitting with an 871 OPS through 450 plate appearances. So it's not like it's some small sample size. You know, we know that he can play first base. He can do a lot of different things.

Professional A.B. Is this like a, is this like a, a one year 17 guy from here on out or is like, is he going to get a little bit of a bag here for the couple of years? I'm very, very, very curious. Four one B war season right now. Elite defense too, slept on. Yeah, I mean, he won the gold glove last year with the twins and I wasn't really sure about, you know, how to feel about that, but another, another season of it with you guys in the Padres. I would love him back on a 225 type of deal. I talked to him before the Mets Padres series on the field.

and I was like, hey, you're back in San Diego. You went to San Diego State. You played under Tony Gwynn. Like, what does it mean to have this season as a pottery this year? And he looked me in the eye and goes, I never wanted to leave. Like he wanted, he loved San Diego. So obviously free agency, it comes down to money. We all know that.

But I do think if it's a similar offer between two teams, would love to have Thai France back in San Diego next year. And I think he can make himself some more coin if he has a big October. Who the NL playoff teams. There's obviously a big bad wolf. that a lot of San Diego fans aren't the biggest fans of. What? I know you're doing the right thing.

Let's get in the dance. Get us there. Is there, you know, this isn't supposed to be bulletin board material. Is it like, oh, I like our matchup against the Cubs better, like the Phillies high in pitching I'm a little worried about. And then Dodgers, it's just kind of get us in the cage with them. And hopefully we jacebole them to death. I want it very much on the record.

I hope the San Diego podcast. get to play the Los Angeles Dodgers in the playoffs. I don't think if the Padres win the World Series, you're going to have to get through the Dodgers. Doesn't really matter what round it is. I want to take them down. So they don't scare me. Are they the best team in baseball?

Of course. But if you're afraid of that, then you're not going to go anywhere. In terms of the rest of the teams, the Phillies have had the Padres number all year. Okay. They terrify me. And the Padres over the last few seasons,

including the Wild Card Series in 24, have done a lot of damage against the Braves. That's not to take away from how good the Braves are, but they don't scare me as much as the Phillies, even though I think the Braves are the better team. Head tilt that Dodgers are the best team in baseball. You know what I mean. Oh.

I think the Brewers would like to have a word. I think Junior Cameronero says, I'll do whatever I want to your baseball team no matter when. Don't make me defend the Dodgers, Chris. Come on, you know I'm right. Chris Rose is rubbed off on you. And shared opinions with you. Playoff Rochio.

I'm looking right now at some of your eyes. So you're four and three against Atlanta. 1 in 5 against the Cubs. 0 and 6 against the Phillies. 3 and 7 against the Dodgers. I'm not really liking what I'm looking at the board here. I'm not really liking it. The first half Padres and the second half Padres are two very different vibes.

It's a different energy. So a lot of those teams they played in May and June. I'm not saying this Padres team is not flawed. There are plenty of flaws. I do think the bullpen is so good to an extent that no other team has with Mori Honan Miller alone, let alone the other arms. Yeah. And then if Merrill Tatis and Manny can hit the way they've been hitting,

I'm not saying it's guaranteed we're winning the World Series. I think there's a path to a deep October run. Is right now the idea, as it sits today, obviously you'd want home field, but right now it would be you'd play the Braves in the wild card and then it would be the Dodgers and a five game set. Is that kind of? Love it. That's kind of the ideal Padres draw, I guess.

Love it. Again, like just get in, play whoever you play. But yeah, if that's how it lined up, I would be very excited. Got anything else, coach? Let's get this on record now. Padres make it to the World Series. So you win the National League. Watch out.

City Ryan. Shaving. Yeah, we're going to get you to the World Series. We've got to see you at Petco. Shave had Diet Blonde in solidarity with Manny Machado. Sure. Deal? Yeah.

Absolutely. If I get to Petco Park, I'll be blonde. Yes. By the way, Trev, I love this hat. Thank you for this. Wow. Look at that. You're welcome. As we get ready to F and F in Jersey City. Ryan, best of luck to your fathers. The Yankees broadcast, Paul O'Neill, what Morahone and Miller did to them, he still,

they'll be, they'll play any other team and he'll be like, remember Morahone? He's just like, Paul, what are you doing? It's so, because I've been watching a lot of other broadcasts, specifically Phillies, Cubs. Wow, scouting, huh? I just, I want to see how we line up every time they make. Well, the Padres are in that wildcard spot. Their bullpen is unbelievable. Well, yeah, it is.

Because Miller and Morayhoun are just unbelievable. Radgley? Ragley is unbelievable. Like, it's a really, really good group, but it's the best righty reliever in baseball. It's the best left-year-reliber in baseball. Back-to-back. I like that.

I like that. Thank you, Ryan Cohen. We'll see you a lot. Yank Drey's World Series? Sure. Tell that to Dan Allen. See you tomorrow. Today's episode is sponsored by Seeky.

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10% off any MLB tickets with promo code Talking 2026. Click the link, download the app, have the code added, use it when you want. Thank you, Seekek. All right, let's jump over to the East Coast, the fight and fills in our guy Shelfy. And again, I know there's been a few warehouse references. because we're about to walk into the storm this weekend, the forgotten rotten boys.

Shelfi, how are you? I'm doing great, man. Like you said, we're coming up on a warehouse weekend. Playoffs is right around the corner. I get to see my guy Trev in person in just a few hours. Let's go. Let's go, baby. Let's go.

The bad boys are here. They're back, baby. They've been nervous about us around the office for weeks. All right, and that was Shelfy. Shelf, give us some fillies. You can start high level. start tight because like, you know, your guy's season was the whole, okay, Rob Thompson, Donnie baseball, okay, they are the Phillies. And now, man, there's, every time I look at them,

it's like, oh, well, it's best record since then. Or it's like, ooh, four out of 11. And then Lizardo news drop. So give me, I guess give me some Philly State of the Union. Yeah, well, we'll get into some particulars here in a second. But overall, this season has been an absolute roller coaster for the Phillies. But my. favorite part about it, guys, is it lines up so much with that 20-22 team. First half was, they had their moment in that Angels game in the second half. I think Harper hit a grand slam, Stott hit a walk-off. And from that moment forward, the rest of the second half, they were a great team, just like the Phillies after the trade deadline this season. The one thing people forget

about that 22 team is they sucked in September. They were actually not good down the stretch going into the playoffs and Phillies fans were not excited about that Cardinal series. But that late inning rally, one hit, that Gene Segura moment, and they just went on a run. This team has all the tools. We say it in the offseason going in every year. Just how do you get to the dance, reassess yourself there? They're not looking great right now. Lizarro gets hurt. That's devastating. You're blowing extra innings out of the bullpen here the next couple of weeks. They've already been doing that because Wheeler and Sanchez weren't their best down the stretch in August and September. So there are question marks.

There are concerns. But this team, we've seen them hit since the trade deadline. They're one rally, one game from flipping the script and getting hot at the right time. That's what I'm excited about. Let's stay on the Lardo. So he comes, he's on the IL now. It's a shoulder, some discomfort in the shoulder. And tentatively now he could return for game 162.

Doesn't seem like that's a smart move to start him game 162. So legitimately the next time we would see Jesus Luzardo, best case scenario is it's a playoff game, which I think it's pretty crazy, right? Yeah, that's my concern with the situation when I first tweeted about it yesterday. The first reply I got was, well, let's make sure he's good for the playoffs. There's no tune up. He's going to go from a couple. He's going to go from a couple starts off here to the biggest start of the year. That's concerning because Lazzardo here down the stretch has turned into a straight-up.

bulldog and he was he was pacing to potentially you could argue he was going to pitch game one the way he's been pitching down the stretch and you know that that was a dagger it was a dagger the fan base is down on that right now you can't expect him to come out firing the way he has over his last like 10 to 12 starts but you never know maybe he does it is a major concern I'm also concerned about the extra couple of innings that you might have to eat up over those couple of starts between now and the playoffs because the bullpen's already kind of not looking good Jonathan Ballin gave up that home run last night. You're going to have to figure out some outs here between now and two weeks as well. So that's that's the plan right now is four man and then a bullpen game every time

through. Well, I mean, this has kind of been like an on the fly thing because Lizarter's last start was an on the fly scratch. We didn't even know that until right before the game. And he said after the game that if it was a world series situation, he would have been on the mound. And then all of a sudden a couple days later, now he's on injured reserve and it seems like it got worse. I don't know. There's definitely question mark. Something happened between that last start and when they actually placed them on the list. It's a wait and see situation, sadly. It's not a good position to be in.

After the trade deadline, it was the new look fills. It was Louisa Rise. It was everyone's playing a new position. And they got out of the gates great. I think that was the last time we talked to you that was like, oh, shoot, these games, these upcoming two weeks are going to matter. And they did. They took care of their business.

They got out. I guess where is it at now? like, does the defense feel steadier? Does the offense feel steadier? Like, what do the Phillies feel like? Yeah, they still have their issues defensively. You're not going to be able to hide the amount of negative defenders that they have. But I said it at the trade deadline. I like the makeup of the team now versus before. I love Bryson Stott at third base over Alec Bone. We've seen him make some big plays. But this team's got a hit ever since the arise trade. They've walked more. They've struck out less. Bryce Harper in particular, we've seen his walk rate skyrocket since the trade deadline.

but they've also had some guys go downwards. Brandon Marsh has been the worst hitter in baseball since July 1st. They're the guys that are going to have to step up in the postseason. We've seen Harper have his moments. We've seen Swarber have his moments. They're going to have their moments. But everyone's got a hit. And right now it's kind of an up and down thing.

Marsh has been kind of unplayable over the last couple of months, kind of getting the benefit of the doubt because of the All Star not earlier. There's some issues, just like the pitching staff. They got to have their spark plug moment. We've seen that stretch after the deadline where they were just, blowing everyone out. They got to get back in that rhythm. Who do you got? So obviously, Yon and Durand's going to be closing games for you, the highest of leverage situations in the playoffs, whatever that may be. After that,

you know, I feel like there's always that pecking order and you have to have, I would say, you need three relievers, you know, to go into high leverage situations. Anymore after that's just really a bonus in the postseason. So if you had to give your hierarchy of this high leverage situation for the Phillies pen. It goes Yoan Duran and then after that where you're going. Even though he gave up the home run last night, I think Jonathan Ballin has earned that spot on the team this season. He's been very, very good outside of a couple appearances over the last month.

I also really like the Alex McFarland kid that we called up here in the second half. Did not like the pitch selection on that Ronald Cunia home run last week. You can't throw seven straight home, seven straight fastballs to an MVP like that. he was just slowly, would surely get closer and closer. Outside of that one at bat, Alex McFarlane has been lights out since he came up from the minor leagues.

Would like to see him get a couple more high leverage innings here down the stretch before we get to the postseason so that he has that in his bag. But that's the guy that I would highlight going into the postseason. Guys haven't seen him very much. He's disgusting.

Make sure the pitch mixes right. He's the guy that I would probably have after Ballin. Bang, bang. You're going to see a Ryan Kirkering as well. Painter? Yeah. Yeah, and Brooks Raleigh is the disappointing one too, man.

Because Brooks Raleigh, I don't know what's going on with him. Just hasn't clicked since he got here. He's a really good pitcher. He's another one that if he starts getting out, could be huge as a lefty out of this bullpen because Jose Alvarado hasn't been very good this season. Game changer would be Brooks Raleigh. If we're looking at the guys that are going to be coming out of the bullpen first,

that's the guy who could step up and be a difference maker. Hasn't been that since the trade deadline. I'm looking at, I'm looking at everybody here, a little left left for Tim Mesa and where does he kind of step in there. He's usually the first one out. They'll bring him out first. Honestly, I saw, I've seen McFarland. He's the great.

I do agree with you. Like putting him, you know, high leverage is a scary thing in the playoffs, but he's got the swing and miss stuff and obviously the VLO to get it done. So, okay, that kind of like eased my thoughts on. because you are going to have to cover a lot of innings throughout the season. So are the end of the season, maybe you do put McFarlane in some of these spots towards the end, like you said, to get him some reps there in some of these high leverage situations. I like that.

Yeah, that's why I would be prefer. I like him a lot. And the rest of the NL, and we just, we had Ryan Cohen on for a little bit. And obviously it's get to the dance. And yes, we'd love to be at home, comma, but, and we'd, okay, yeah, we'll play anyone. Is there anything in the NL outlook that, I guess, guess team-wise you're eyeing in a positive way or a team that you're looking at like, I'd really, if we could duck them, that would be fantastic.

I don't think there's anyone in particular, I'd say I don't want to play. I don't want to duck. But in a three-game scenario, I don't love seeing Chris Sale in game one. Okay. I don't, it's game one of these three-game series tend to be the team that goes on the win, the whole thing. Chris Sale, man, just kind of owns the Phillies. don't want anything to do with that guy in a short series.

Other than that, I think this Phillies team can beat anyone. They just need to have that moment that they had in that Cardinal series of 2022 where everyone just kind of seems to jump on the ship and go. They need that. So we're schedule watching a little bit right now. And obviously, you know, there's still you got to make the dance. Right now, half game back of Chicago, one game up on San Diego, and then Arizona kind of lurking there.

So no real chance to like that. up the pitching, which I think is always a conversation as we get into October. Let's just say that you have clinched a playoff spot with three games to go, but there's still a chance to host. Would you rather set your rotation up or go for the ability to host a wild card round? That's tough. That's a tough one. I'm happy I'm not in the seat that has to make that particular decision.

I think the Phillies are one team that are in a good spot because they do have three guys that you could give the ball to in a game one and you should feel comfortable. Wheeler's had not the best second half, but his last three starts, he's been electric. So, I mean, yeah, if you're going to do it that way, I probably would lean in to Zach Wheeler right now. But I don't know. I don't have a preference there. I think just staying healthy, getting in prioritized getting into that playoff spot. I have a hard time even thinking like that ahead. Like you said, they're in a position right now where they might not even get in, man.

I need to see this team lock that position down. God, a couple with the Nats. Yeah, I understand what you're saying. The snakes would really have to go. And, God, that would be the plot twist. Snakes are insane. I saw something online yesterday. You know how we always talk about.

It seems like every time we see the snakes play, it's like Corby and Carroll hitting a line drive down the right field line and getting a triple or they're having an extra Indian game. And then I saw somewhere online last night, it goes, every single Arizona Diamondbacks game at home. It does. It does feel like that.

They are, they are sick franchise. I've seen that too. I know we've had the eyes on the Padres. It is right. And I'll bring in the cubbies for this with a plus 139 run differential. Like, yeah.

They've been super cemented that a really bad week, a knock on wood week would make things even crazier. Because we've been looking at that wild card shuffle. And I don't know. Yeah. It's scary. It's scary. Like I said, I don't think there's any matchup in particular with the Phillies that I'm overly concerned about.

I just, Chris Sale in particular, I don't want to see in a game one. Edmundo Sosa versus lefties? That did say, we had that same thought in the 2023 playoffs, and then he ended up getting benched in game three in that Mets series. That has once not worked out. Man, this team, this team has seen a lot, man. They need their Seguera moment. Phil's fans, we need our Gene Seguer a moment.

already on the 2022 timeline. Now let's just wrap it up and then close this time. Such a fantastic spin. And I think everyone, root for Orion Kirkring. Right. Yeah. How fun could that be. Yes. Can we unpin the video from Instagram? I've been getting demolished for a year. Taylor. If Rees Hoskins came back to a dead Philly season and hit his 300th Homer, what would Citizens Bank Park do? Oh, dude. I watched Chase Utley come back and Homer for the other team, and we gave him a standing O. Yes.

Okay, so that's going to make Mets fans feel better. I'm there and I'm fired up. Yes, sir. Saw some of that last night. Shelfy. Thank you. Well, obviously, we'll be together all weekend, so we'll see you there.

Go Phil's. Good luck to everyone trying to get Trev out this weekend. No problem. This is the big one, people. Frog Week is coming up fast. and we need your help. The inaugural Frog Week festivities are about to kick off and we'll be crowning a very special Frog of the Year award.

We're looking for submissions. We already have a ton from you in two different categories. There's an at-home division and the imaginary division. So if you have a pet frog or a frog that shows up at your home regularly, you think that frog is worthy for winning Frog of the year. Please submit them for consideration. Alternatively, if you don't have that, Maybe you have an imaginary frog or maybe you think of one right now.

Try your best to show us what frog, what that frog would be like if it was real. And submit that image to the imaginary frog division. You could submit your frogs at frogweek.coal. Please nominate your at home or imaginary frogs for frog of the year at frogweek.com. Thank you. We've had, I don't want to call them the appetizers, but this man for me is just the main did. Peter Moylan coming live from the ATL. Again, three, I don't want to say alphas.

I don't want to say omegas, but when we lock horns, I'm already, I started daydreaming of us getting dinner. Usually Kelse is there, Chris Rose getting old in the corner. Peter Moylan, how are you? I'm doing very well. We're at the business end of the season. It's been a long season, but I am so fired up for the next nine, ten games. plus playoffs, I just think it's going to be a shit show.

Are you going to get wet after this celebration? Are you going to get in the clubhouse and get sprayed? Or what's going on? Oh, no. Yes. I will, I will not be partaking in the clinch unless it's at home. If we do it versus Cincy at home, I'll probably run down to the clubhouse and get an eye full of champagne somewhere.

You have to wear goggles? You just keep those specs on right now. You know what? The pain is good the first couple times. And then after that, I'm like, I don't need eye surgery. Like, I've had LASIC twice and I'm still wearing glasses. So anything around the eyeballs is probably going to have to keep it clean. I'll remember that.

What's the state of the union in Atlanta right now? We're right. We're right. Look, for the last, we went on a gauntlet of a run where we were facing first place teams for it felt like 21 straight games. They've held their own. They did the job against the Phillies. that Cubs yesterday was a much better performance. We're also seeing guys that are coming back from injuries

that are trying to get that last minute buildup for playoff. So I'm willing to throw a couple of those results out until they get back to 100%. But look, I think we're in a good spot. Offensive is starting to turn it around. Bullpen, the bullpen has had some heavy workloads, but there's some reinforcements coming back, hopefully. But it's all big question marks,

whether the timing's going to work out. you talk about Michael Harris like turn around this season obviously he's been a good baseball player even a great baseball player at the big league level but struggle last year we see him like get adopted by the world cup fans and you know everyone's cheering him on like I'm being kind of like half serious about this like you think that like kind of brought some joy back to him because he's been a hell of a player for you guys again this year you know what the biggest difference is Trev for me is that there was a period at the start of the year where he's back stiffened up. And over the last two years, he's had to go on the IEL for three, four, five weeks and

missing that much live pitching. It just set you back. This year, he got hurt early on or sore early on and he played through it. He got some of bats at the DH spot. He was able to continue to see live pitching. And I think that's helped him out. He's been so consistent all year long. He had a tough June like everybody in the Braves lineup did.

But as far as consistency goes, he's been around that 300. level, that 290 level with the 800 OPS all year long. He's using the opposite field now. He's just started to pull the ball with authority the last couple of games. So there's some good signs for him. And look, in center field, I know there's a guy in Chicago that plays pretty decent center field, but Michael's up there as well. I know you're not much of a bullpen guy.

Have you guys been, has there been a little too much Padres talk going on in Atlanta? because your guy's bullpen, especially those dudes in the back end, like you guys can get through a game on a very similar level. It's not Miller. It's kind of not more a home. But, I mean, if there's a 1B, it's probably the Braves bullpen. And they've done it. They've gone over and above what was expected.

I was just looking at the guys on the list in the bullpen as we sit today. You got Rice Lucell who's had his moments this year, but lately has been much, much better. Dylan Lee's on the struggle bus at the moment, but he's going to figure it out and find something. me back. Didier Fuentes? Yeah. I mean, came out of nowhere and has taken over seventh and eighth inning when we need him to.

You can see that formula, obviously, working in the playoffs. Then you've got to go Dylan Dodd, Brent Suda, Ray Kerr, Victor, Victor, Medeiros. Games, names you've not heard of. Obviously, Souter, you've probably heard of, but he's not going to be that high leverage guy in the playoffs. But we've just had guys that have just filled a role when we've needed him to. Dylan Dodd has been outstanding. We haven't seen him for about a week. maybe he's getting a little rest before playoffs. But look at the goose coming back.

Robert Suarez started throwing against live hitters today, but my only concern is with 10, 11 games to go, with no AAA season to go and get some innings in, he's going to be trying to figure it out at the big league level during the playoffs. I'm not sure about that. But if he can get a couple of innings underneath him, I think it would be fun. Yeah, looking at the overall stats for your reliever, second in whip this year, just like not letting people on base.

That's a good formula. I like that. If you're breaking it down into hitting, like offense, starting pitching, relievers, defense, those four categories. Is there one area where you're concerned the most about? That's a great question. Honestly, it's not a concern thing. It's just, you know, if they go cold, which we've seen them do multiple times this year,

if eight guys in the lineup go cold, then that's obviously a formula for them to get trounced in the first round. But, you know, I've seen this team and different guys in this team pick it up. Drake Baldwin at the top of the lineup is a weapon. Ronald has started to swing it. So when you look further down, it's all about Matt Olson, who has had his struggles as well. But again, this last week and a half has been really good.

We talk about Ustremski potentially being an X-Factor. It lefty bat in the playoffs with a little bit of thump. I don't really have a concern anywhere if everybody plays the way they're supposed to play. Defensively, we've been unreal. We saw the difference between good defense some bad defense in that Philly series. It was just a huge light shun on the bad base running, bad defense from the Phillies.

But yeah, I think maybe the fourth spot in the starting rotation, but apart from that, I'm pretty comfortable with Sayle, Maylee, Perez, and Grant Holmes. Who's your guys shortstop in October again? It depends. If we're facing a lefty, it's probably going to be Hassan Kim. if they're facing a variety, it's probably going to be DuBahn. I mean, do you believe in like, where, I've seen Hassan Kim's stats. I haven't felt every bat, but I know when you have those stats and you feel every

a bat, it can hurt a baseball soul. Is it, where's it at? Is it like, is Atlanta, is it rooting for the guy because it's gotten so bad? Or is it like? No, no, no. Okay. So let me give you a little, just a quick breakdown, okay? Because Treb, I don't know if you ever been in this situation, but he was on the struggle bus for four straight months.

Four straight months could not figure it out. Every bad it seemed to have. It was just like he's spinning off, wasn't even putting good swings, wasn't getting into good counts, just felt like he was 02 in every situation. And then all of a sudden, a couple of walk off knocks in back-to-back weeks. And then he's just, everybody feels like there's a chance when he's up to bat now instead of just, okay, let's just get it to Drake. So he's playing a bit of defense. for me, like mid-season turnaround player of the year right there is Hassan Kim. Yeah, I mean, September stats right now, you know, it's only 29 plate appearances,

but 280, 379. There's no slug, but I mean, that's very much serviceable for a shortstop. And some big, if you get that. Yeah. That's it. That would be his job. It's not to carry the offense. It's just to, you know, be a guy that gets on base, maybe moves or run it or in a big

situation get a knock. Yeah. Absolutely right. How awesome is DuBahn? You know what? He has some of the ugliest that bats you're ever going to see, but somehow he gets the job done. The feet move like crazy.

It's got his Sheffler on steroids. But he puts the barrel on the ball. Like he knows, he's situational hitting. I don't think there's anybody better. If someone's thrown 99 top of the zone, he just gets the foot down. He'll get a big leg kick at his first two swings. And then as soon as he gets the two strikes, widenes out. shortens up and just tries to punch the ball somewhere and it's just quality at bats.

Do you do you have a team because right now the the wild cards are just all up in the air in the NL? They've kind of gotten that way because San Diego's gotten hot. Do you have a preference of a team that you'd want to see between Chicago, Philly and the Padres in that first round? I guess and throw the snakes in there as well. Yeah. I don't have a preference. I feel like it's so evenly matched this year. I heard Shelfi just talking about trying to line up the rotations. Ideally, we'd love to have Sale game one of any series, but I think that if we're going to win this thing,

if we're going to do some damage, it's not going to come down to our rotation. It's going to be our offense. It's going to be our offense. It's going to have to out slug and out hit everybody, which is tough to do in the playoffs. The Padres is hot as they are. Rotations, question mark.

Bullpen's great. They've got names who are starting to swing. the bats better as well. I just, I just think Philly, if they can get hot, if they can, you've got Wheeler, Nola Sanchez, Nola's, I get it. But those three at the top, if Nola can figure it out, like he's, he's still, he can get comfortable if he gets through the first couple of innings. Yeah, it's, it's, the Dodgers aren't as all conquering as we thought they were going to be without Shohei. There's just, there's so many, if a team can get blazing hot, hopefully the Padres don't run this all the way through September.

but if a team can carry that momentum, that's the thing that scares me the most. And we're the only sport that doesn't get a benefit of having the four days off. I feel like that really hurts teams. The only positive is you get to set your line up and your rotation. Otherwise, you're not seeing live pitching for four days. Then you've got to try to start the bus up again. Yeah, I'm interested about that. Obviously, never had to do it.

But I do think that they're doing their best now facing, you know, doing live BP, bullpins on the field, all that stuff, so it hasn't made that big of a difference. I'm looking at your guys' record against these teams, and it is like all evenly match. Arizona, three and four, Chicago Cubs, three and two. Philly was probably, you know, the team you fair best against, and it's just happened, nine and four against them. Padres is no going on.

Yeah. Yeah. What would be the biggest spike to the Braves that it would go from like survive playoffs to like maybe we win this thing? Because the answer in my head that jumps out, and I guess this is the guy I want the most feel on. Austin Riley, like if Austin Riley, if there's a two-game wild card and he homers in each game,

and it's like, can he be the Austin Riley we gave a couple hundred million dollars to? Because every time I've tuned into a Braves game, the feeling feels weird, and then he hits a double, and everyone kind of looks around like, wait, can he do that again? Yeah, we've been just waiting for him to go off. I think obviously when you look at the first half, second half, numbers he's been much better in the second half but he just hasn't got to that level where it's been

consistency for more than a couple games you'll have two good games in a row and then it'll be an o for 12 and with a couple of punchouts and it's just he's not able to string it along for longer than a couple of days but you're right if he gets comfortable and gets in a rhythm and starts to swing the bat well uh he could definitely do something in the playoffs but i keep pointing back to just this lineup was so good in the half at any, anything that any situational at bat we needed, they were able to put it together in big situations. And we've seen less of that. Trev, runners on third lesson two outs, it's the bane of my resistance to just see guys pop up to shortstop or ground out to the pitcher. You know, I know it's, I know hitting's tough, but there's just certain situations. There's

certain teams like Milwaukee that almost are errorless when it comes to that sort of thing. So if I'm going into the World Series, we need to hit and we need to somehow figure out the brewers. Well, Peter Moyland, we can't wait to see you. A couple hours? Yeah, I've got a big day. Do you want me to run you through it? Yeah, always. Yeah.

Because you're a big day guy. Big day guy. I love a growing day. You have a big day. Yeah. So obviously you're going to work today. We've got a game in Chicago. go. And then checking into a hotel, I'm going to spend about five hours trying to get some sleep,

wake up at 4.30, shoot straight off to the airport. I'm on a seven o'clock flight into Newark, jump in an Uber, hit the warehouse, and get ready to go. Wow. Okay. Yeah. Big day guy. Big day guy. Look at this. Can't wait. I'm excited to see you as always. You're the best. Yeah. See in a couple hours. Enjoy the rest of the show. Go brothers. Let me down. Today's episode is sponsored by Best Western Hotels and Resorts. Life's a trip, so why not make the most of it?

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Life's a trip. Make the most of it. Book direct and save at bestwester.com. It's time to bring in the closer. Arawled as Chadman. We Got Ice Red Sox Nation, raise up as they always do at John Boy Media. Lorenzo de Maliah, how are you? I'm good.

How are you guys? I'm the closer today? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Trev, you'd be proud. Zoe's got a nice little fit. He's got the watch going. Zowing up.

Proud. I'm here to make sure. There's a couple people at this company that have had just massive glowups. I kind of joke about jolly olives because I think it's fun to mess with him. but I truly believe that Zoh might have the biggest glowup in the office. I mean, the body has changed from, you know, kind of like a skinny, skinny year young guy to a man right now. Yes, analyze my body, please.

All right. I'll get them away from that. So give me the high level with Red Sox Nation. How are we feeling about the lads? One of the weirdest years of baseball I've watched. It went from like worst time ever to where the best team in the world. world to I think the last 20 games are 10 and 10 or 11 and 9 of like 500 the last 20 games some injuries starting to pile up and then it's like Roman Anthony comes back so right now I'm

kind of very lukewarm on the team um like I feel confident that like it's a good baseball team okay but I don't know if they're like gonna be able to make like a serious run I'm kind of I'm a little nervous right now because it's like Roman Anthony came back which is awesome. Contreras just got back from injury. So like a bunch of team, a bunch of players, say Don's coming back from injury right now. A bunch of guys a little knocked up. Offense has been like a little inconsistent. And it's kind of just like, I don't know how to feel because like one week they're the best team in baseball. And then the next week, they're the worst team in baseball. So it's like, I don't know. The season's been very weird.

So, you know, we've had a couple guys on here. We've had Ryan Cohen talk about the Padres bullpen and just gushing over it. And then we had, We just had Peter Moylan, and we're talking about the Braes bullpen. They've been very good. Statistically, right now, the Boston Red Sox are number one in homers per nine, ERA, whip, and walks per nine. I did not know that. Give me, like, what is happening out there in the bullpen? Obviously, all this Chapman's there.

Give me the rest of like kind of the rundown of what you got coming out of the pen. Well, Whitlock is like sneaky. And it was last year, too, it's kind of weird because people kind of forget about him a lot because there was like a lot of, he's not the closer. But Whitlock is nails. Like every time he comes out, he's absolute nails. Guerrero has been great for us this year. Just easy 100. So those three guys have been unbelievable.

And then you have this whole like is Garrett Crochet going to come back as a reliever. I am incredibly confident in the bullpen. I believe in him. The pitching all season has been great. It's a pitching staff. Craig Breslo, a lot of doubt towards him, but he has nailed. Wow, I can't believe Craig Breslo, like, where we started this season, we're giving Craig Breslo this. Sonny Gray has been electric for the Red Sox this year. So the bullpen I feel so confident in.

It's just a matter of, like, I guess, I don't know how much you guys have started, talked about, like, who's going to start playoff games for the Red Sox. Please. It's just a matter of, like, who starts because I personally, I think Hugo Suarez is the first game, just because he's, like, a great. Big game pitcher. And then I'm giving it to Tolly. He's probably the guy I have the second most confidence in.

But if Whitlock and Chapman pitch with a lead, the Red Sox will win. It's just they have to get to that point. As any time Whitlock and Chapman are on the mound, I am like the game's over. That's how I feel watching them. Yeah. Because we're lining up for Yank's socks. Like, you feel it in the office. You feel it in the office every day.

They're still fake. We're chasing Tampa. That'll go out with like basically one loss. No, it's Yankees, Red Sox. And by the way, I hate what you just said, because I like our lineup versus righties a lot more than lefties, that if you go Ranger Suarez and his playoff, in his playoff experience, which is insane,

and then you go Tolly, who's like, erase uniforms. I think he's my favorite pitcher in the league. He's awesome. That's a nightmare for me. Yeah, that's amazing. I am a little nervous that Sonny's going to get to start just because of how in the first game.

He's earned it. Because he's not because of his performance. Like, I don't think he, he obviously, earns it. I just would personally rather Ranger Suarez started in that spot just because of his history. And I'm assuming Schlittler is going to start the first game. So I'm like, okay, I want

a, I want Ranger. A little sunny gray with the chip on his shoulder back at Yankee Stadium. That could be a lot of fun. Yeah, he talked a lot of trash of the Yankees before the season. He backed it up. Yeah, he did. Is going to Peyton Tully. I mean,

what's been like difference like you knew this guy coming in was he like a massive prospect for the red socks he has the stuff but i don't remember like hearing him coming up i knew there's a couple lefties young guys and we're going to hear about them but he's like he's turn it to a different level i think the most dominant inning of baseball i've seen this year and i've called games with jacob miscarowski versus my twins but it was the first inning of the twins red socks series in the rain Peyton Tolly went out there and it was like he threw, he was just throwing heaters, because that's kind of what he does.

And it was like he was handing the ball to the catcher. Like the twins had no chance. Like they were more on time with Jacob Mizorowski throwing 105 than they were with Peyton Tolly. Like he's 23 years old. Like give this guy as flowers, I guess. I don't know. Well, he's like you said, it's just, it's a very interesting thing watching him because it's mostly just fastball. but his location this year has been, especially lately,

I think him and Adley, Dalton was telling me that they have like a fantasy football team that they run together. Them together has been like my favorite part of the season. Every time Peyton totally finishes an inning with Adley behind the plate, they like run to meet each other. It's like best friends. They have been electric,

but Tolly's fastball location is unbelievable. And it's no one looks on time with it. It's crazy. He's also he looks like he's having the best time ever, ever, ever, every time he plays. And it's not force, which is a very fine line. You have to walk.

So he's, I do not love watching him. I don't remember him being a huge prospect. Last year, I feel like people were higher on Connolly early than they were on Peyton Tolly, just because Tolly kind of struggled

at first with like anything but fastballs, but now it's like, hey, you can't hit my fastball, so I'm just going to show it. Speaking of Connolly early. Curtis Meade, just off the face of the planet. In the offseason,

there was like the Tolly. video like yelling and he was throwing cheese in the pen but they were all balls and I think I kind of possibly made fun of him and now that I like got to see him and how big he is and how fun he is like I should just shut my mouth I think there was a pivot point where it was like like kind of what zoja said like wait is he really this because if he's really this this this is awesome if he's trying to be this that can get weird quick but he really is it also helps when you're good. Like, totally didn't have the best numbers last year, but this year, it's like, okay, when you're doing all that and you're all so strong in a mac in the inning and striking everybody out,

it's like, okay, now this guy is awesome. In a big at bat, would you rather see Trevor Story or Jaron Duran? That's a mean question. It shouldn't be a mean question. It shouldn't be a mean question. Who would I rather see? I don't know. I mean, maybe Duran. I don't have a great answer. Both guys. Those are my two least favorite players on the team. So I'm kind of like, I don't know if Durant's starting in the playoffs. I don't think he is. I think it's probably Roman, Williard and Seidon are probably getting the L field.

And then Contrary. Contreras and Mickey Gasper, D.Hing. Mickey Gasper, interesting. But story coming back, it's been a weird, it's been a weird vibe for me. Red Sock they had a lot of bodies. A lot of bodies. A lot of the same bodies. A lot of the same guys.

The bench, kinder, Philips. Leffa Monasterio Eton Jemai Jones. Monasterio's been having a, he's been struggling a lately tough last night, almost had a really big moment, but just hit a Homer foul. It's tough for him. But it's kind of a weird mix. I've also kind of like, I'm trying to figure out who's a Red Sox. Contreras, obviously.

He's been amazing all year. Sure. I need one other person to like start like hitting. And Adley has been hitting the ball really hard, but I think his OPS on the Red Sox is like 6.50. It's not been great. But he's making, so I need one other person to like be like a serious him or Roman or William or willier to get hot again or say Don when he come back.

They need one other guy to get like really hot right now because it feels like they load the bases every single game or they have the most runners on and then they hit a really hard liner right at the shortstop. That feels like every Red Sox game I watch lately. I had a Nick Sogard moment where I thought he looked like me. How do you feel about that? Look like you. Interesting.

I don't know if you look. like you. I'm really bad at remembering how people look like, but Nick Sogard, he has been awesome for the Red Sox. He's been really good. I was looking today to just, like, in preparation for doing this, because I was like, has he just been good like the last two weeks? And I kind of made that up. But he's been really good all season long. So like, I feel really good about all the the players on the Red Sox. And I would not be surprised if just won, like, the playoffs start, and they just click. And all of a sudden, they looked at the team they were when they won 15 games in a row again.

That would not surprise me at all. It just feels like they just need to click and get hot. And maybe they're just, everyone's on the I.O. Everyone's taking a slow end of September. They're not really going to get that spot for the Yankees, so they're not playing for a ton. So it's like, hey, let's get hot to the right time and get our vengeance. Screwzy Yankees, bro.

Totally to Adley. Amazing. This is the first year going into the playoffs for if you said, hey, like give me the betting favorite to win the World Series and talking about both leagues. A.L, I think, is just an absolute crap shoot. But for both leagues, like,

I don't even know who Vegas has as the odds on favorite. Is it the Dodgers? Probably has them just because they're the chalk. But, like, where are you at with that? If you had to go, this team looks like they're the best team in baseball now and they're going to win the whole thing. Is it as simple as the Brewers?

Well, I feel like the Brewers kind of tainted my view of them last year because I was really in on the Brewers last year and then they just got absolutely dogwalked in the NLCS. So now I'm kind of at that point where it's like I need to see them win before I actually believe in them. So I guess I would default to the Dodgers. But I think the Red Sox have as good a chance of anybody. Like they have all the pieces.

Last year when they got bounced to the Yankees against Schlittler, obviously who turned out he's actually just really, really good. So it makes me feel a little better about that. But they had no one in the lineup who could like calm them down. They would go up there and they would just swing it free straight fastballs and strike out. They have Contreras now who, like, will stir. Like, if they're, like, first three innings, they're getting one, two, free. He'll do something to change the vibe of the game,

which makes me feel better about them. So I think, in the AEO, at least, they have as good a chance of anybody to go to the World Series. He's so funny. Who did he stand on the plate against? Everybody. Yeah. Yeah, everybody. Yeah, good answer.

He's a really good, he's found his lane of, like, he, Early in the season, I feel like he was doing a little too much. Now he's kind of found his lane of like when this team needs like someone to cause some trouble. I was Will Warren in the Yankees game that he was, Will Warren's like, I'm just, dude, I'm trying to, I'm trying my best. Will's like, I don't know if you should be in this league with me. Very rude. I defended him early on in this season because it was like the Brewers had hit him 50 times or some ridiculous.

Oh, yeah. I was like, yeah, of course he's going to get mad. Like he's been, he's been, hit, I think it was 24 times. 24 times by one team's insane. And all these Burrers fans were like, dude, you got to go look at the times he got hit. Like, he's literally over the plate. And so I did.

And then you start to like really focus on what he does. It's like, okay, like a lot of this is Contreras's fault. Yeah. Most of them. One thing I feel like really good with Contreras and about like how much the Red Sox season has evolved is the biggest criticism early on was the young guys and everyone was like Roman Anthony has too much pressure. So I feel like Roman has a really good opportunity here to have a really big playoff moment for him Because there was so much pressure on him to be like he needs to be our best hitter I don't feel that way at all anymore like there's for him I feel like this is a great opportunity

He was awesome in a world baseball classic in kind of this spot where nobody was like expecting him to be the guy He had those big homers against the DR he had that big solo shot like this is a great opportunity for him because the pressure is on Contreras williars taking a lot of the spotlight say don has been unbelievable this year. So nobody's, like, looking at Roman, like, hey, you need to be that guy. So I feel like this is the perfect opportunity. And he's looked good since he's come back to be like, dude, like, everyone talks about you, like, you're going to be one of those dudes.

This is your chance. We need you. So in the nicest way, if it's mid to late October, and I'm watching Gasper, Durbin, Sogard, Monasterio, IKF, I'm going to be in a bad headspace. so I'm sorry for that. That's fair. But you are right, man. They can pitch.

Like, we just did Phillies, Braves, Padres, and like, if it's gray, Suarez, totally in the back end of their bullpen, they can go toe to toe with anyone. When a Boston team gets magic, it's such a furious experience. It's pretty crazy. And speaking, you brought it up earlier, Trevor of bullpen. Chapman kind of breaks my brain a little bit on how good he is because last year he had that, like, unbelievable season. And then he kind of just did it again. And it's crazy to me just how automatic he is watching him pitch. And as a Red Sox fan, I never thought I would get to the point where I'm watching Aroldus Chapman with so much confidence.

I'm just like he's going, he's going to strike everybody out. Or he's going to get out of this every time. It's crazy. Yeah, he's having some of his best seasons in his late 30s. He's an absolute tank, dude. Nuts, bro. I want him to pay him to pay him to him. Peyton Tully versus A Raldus Chapman and just a brawl.

Well, here's a question. for you, Jay, because I kind of, this is the most solo I've been locked in on a baseball team. Like, I only watch the Red Sox. I don't watch anything else. Are you nervous? Like Red Sox Yankees, Yankee Stadium. Are you like, oh, God. Yes.

Yes. Okay, that makes me feel good. Yes, because I, no, it's where I started. I currently, our numbers are fine. I currently don't like the Yankees versus left-handed starting pitching. Because Ben Rice and Louise Garcia Jr., who have been two of the best. hitters in the league this year. One of them gets benched.

The other one is now a bad matchup. And like the Yankees lineup, as much as I love Paul Goldschmidt and what he has done versus lefties, I believe in him. He becomes our leadoff hitter, which like, okay, so now I'm going lead off Paul Goldschmidt, and then it's a pinch hit at bat later in the game. Or if it's the Red Sox, they could just go Ranger Suarez to Eric Miller to Chapman. They can go lefty, lefty, lefty. We never use our...

So, yeah, that... No, and it would just be so Red Sox. Like, the Yankee fans, as they're doing, like, our dream rotation is coming together. Like, it's Schlittler, Freed, Cole, Rodon. It's all happening. Judges back that... Yeah, man, in two baseball games,

Mickey Gasper finds the porch twice. Like, the fact that the Yankees are in that position is horrifying, because the Yankees, they haven't been really hurt by the wild card since 21 when they went to Fenway and it was one game and Cole was kind of hurt and it was just like, okay. Bogart's took him, it's center that game.

If you get one year deeper into this and Judge gets another year older and like Stanton's not a part of this anymore, like it's, the wheel is turning yet again that no, Yankee fans have been sneaky prepping for like our worst funeral. Okay, that's interesting to me.

I felt like you guys were going to be a little more confident going into this, especially because it's at Yankee Stadium and you guys won last year. But I'm not nervous because the Red Sox season, I had really high expectations and then it went so low that now I'm kind of in, I don't know what to expect. And I don't know, Treve, maybe you can speak to this with like prospects and how organizations work. It blows me away how the timeline has worked, how it went from like Marcelo Meyer, Christian Campbell, Roman Anthony.

Now we're on September 16th. And Jake's talking about Mickey Gasper, and we're talking about Nick Sogard. And these are like legit difference makers on if the Red Sox are going to have a run or not. It's like, well, Nick Sogard has become like a really big part of their infield and their lineup. It makes no sense to me how baseball works. Trade your prospects. That's always been what I've said. Because you know why?

You don't know until you know. You got to get to the big leagues and do it because there's just, there's no comparing the minor leagues. we've been my twins aren't a part of this episode because of some things that have happened since the trade deadline but you know yeah we've gone through an iteration of prospects where it's like okay we thought this was going to be the core we do have some guys up right now

and Jake you've watched the games our guy Manuel Rodriguez is a freaking star in making is this real is this real? He's been he's been it's a safe space tram go ahead you seen him I've seen him against Max free

lefty lefty a 22 year old kid putting the business on my guy it's fantastic let me get a freaking 90 seconds in coach I don't like you cutting me off he asked me about prospects I'm giving my prospect tag Walker Jenkins Manuel Riggas Luke Kees out Yankees

your old ass team is me and Zoe listening to Bill Simmons talking about the 73-7 Celtics. I'm rooting for them, Trev. I am. I think this year's not the year. Mani del Carmen.

I'm just looking at the 07 Red Sox right now, just kind of torture porning myself. They got good vibes right now. Host season, Zoe, are you excited? You've been a part of like the Mets, playoff runs, you've been a part of our live streams? I've never done a Red Sox live stream here because they play the Yankees, which means obviously you guys are doing talking yanks and stuff.

So I've never gotten to like actually be a fan. of the Red Sox in the playoffs since I started working here almost five years ago now. Like I've never actually got to enjoy that like with Red Sox fans. So I need them to beat the Yankees because then I can actually be with the people and like show my crazy emotions of them. Because I am very excited and I just need Adley to do like have a little bit of better numbers so I can really go on my agenda tour of how much I love him. Because I love Adley Rushman so much. And I just needed to be a little bit better before I start coming with my really hot takes on him. Because that jersey was an instant.

I need it. Nice. Before we end this, I'm going to put this in your guys' mind. If anybody wants to AI this, I feel like I've seen these videos done on my Instagram. 6.6.250 for Peyton Toley. 6.4.235 for overall this Chapman. I don't know. Really?

Would love to see some wingspan there because Chabman definitely has him because he's got like the longest arms I've ever seen. Muscle mass comparison. He looks way bigger than 6-4-235, so I don't know if that's right or not. Dana White just woke up in a cold sweat. Peyton totally 6-6. Are you going to, you and Jolly should do a Red Sox hate street. You've joined him on Mets. Yeah, I need him to join me on.

I think he's almost there. I was, uh, I was on a run where I live yesterday and Jolly lives like 40 minutes from me. and I was running and I saw him sitting on a bench with like a bowl of like something. I don't know what he was eating with his backpack next to him. And it's like 8 p.m. at night. So I stop and I'm like, what are you doing? He's like, oh, my train got the late. Just the saddest guy of all the time.

I was like, dude, what are you doing all the way out here? Well, as we started and we should finish, what a couple days for the New York Mets. Zoe, thank you so much. If Adley does do something The Yankee Hate Funeral Get ready for that Oh can I do a quick thing real quick Please

You're making me a little upset Yes Why do we have so much cool New York merch bro Like that makes me mad I'm like yo I'm just about to say that's a sci-op Yeah every all it's all sick New York merch And I'm like okay this is awesome and cool

I want to support the company I'm not buying New York merch So if I may How do you eat an elephant one bite at a time I don't know if it's legal to you So we're starting We're like we're getting our apparel

I think we're getting away from merch We're getting our apparel Into like a really cool spot If anyone has seen it are It's really cool It's sick we're crushing it Like we reached out to very real people We were like we need to do better at this

So it was like all right Let's crush New York And then we'll start slowly branching out To the other places So yeah I think Literally we sold out on the turtlenecks. And this is fully peeled back because we're now buying like nicer apparel.

Yeah. So we bought a bunch of navy blue turtlenecks. And so for all the teams that are navy blue, we were going to sell postseason turtlenex. We sold out, I think we sold 144 Yankees turtlenecks in like 15 minutes. That's crazy. So there's a reason we're taking that approach. Okay, fine. I understand it.

There will be a day that we have cool merch for every team. Boston will probably last. Give Minnesota some love. Treves over here dying. That Navy blue turtleneck would have worked for them, but there will be great apparel coming. Thank you, boys. Thank you, Zoe.

Thank you to all our J.M people. Tell them they're the best because they are. And because you know it's Wednesday, we're looking at some future baseball markets, presented by Fanatic Sports and Casino. And it's the series we've talked about the most this episode. It's Orioles. It's Mets. Pete hits number 300 and then they win in 11.

Lindor could do it tonight. What are you looking at, Coach Trev? Baltimore is still in this. We got a Chris Bassett versus Robert Stock matchup. What is it? I don't know, man. But the Mets, you know, they've been playing better ball. Orioles come into town. Pete comes into town. It's a very emotional series. if Lindorh hits 300, he's got to get the standing O and the curtain call, I hope.

Can't do that for the opposing team and not your team. Interesting series, I don't know. Mind are the Mets 22 and 18 since the start of August, so they be one of the best American League teams. The other one, and we just saw our guys, though, the Boston Red Sox kid. The Texas Rangers, Rangers have won three straight, one game out of the AOL West.

Yeah, I never know what to make of the Rangers. They win three straight. They lose three straight. This is, I guess, a fun one. Red Sox are kind of where they are in the playoff picture, but the Rangers are still fighting for their life. You mentioned Red Sox haven't been playing well. Two and four in the last six games,

but the bullpen's been great. My guy, Nick Sogard, two run Homer and the third, where those only runs for Boston on Tuesday. so they got to get their offense going. I'm rooting for the Rangers. Right now that AL West team is either the winner of the division or out of the playoffs. So I can't wait to see what the rest of this season has for us. Fanatics, sports and casino winning hits different here.

Event contract trading is offered by Morton Street Trading Investments LLC, doing business as Fanatics Markets, a CFTC registered futures commission merchant and NFA member. Event contracts carry risk of a total loss and changing prices, not good for all investors. See app for important disclosures. Coach Trev, just like Peter Moylan, you got a crazy 24 hours coming up. Excited for you. Excited for me.

Warehouse weekend. We got talking baseball coming up. And I hope everyone's team. No, I don't. I don't. Jake sucks. Oh, my team. I'm going to go hang out with Max Fried in the dugout for a little bit today.

It's a pretty nice. Great guy. All-world guy. dominant last night. Lead off triple from Cody Clemens. Then he just dices the next three batters up. Swinging it air. I'm one for two against him lifetime.

Whatever.