Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Playoff Teams Biggest Concerns!

Episode Date: September 19, 2025

Use code TALKIN2025 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALKIN2025. Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountCoach Trev and Talkin’ Jake discuss the Guardians creeping up on the Tigers for the AL Central, If Ohtani should come out of the bullpen for the playoffs, who should be the Blue Jays 3rd starter and more!0:00 Intro6:55 Trev going in on tipping pitches7:20 Dodgers bullpen has been a mess8:30 Can Shohei been used out of Dodgers bullpen10:40 Who starts for the Dodgers10:53 Kershaw is retiring16:15 Ohtani’s legacy21:38 VOICEMAILS22:20 Blue Jays 3rd Starter27:40 Brewers concern 31:33 Tigers going to make the playoffs??37:18 Cubs playoff concerns42:18 Astros bullpen 48:12 If Mets Get in52:55 End of year schedule watch Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to talking baseball today. We are talking your team's biggest playoff concerns and a little show hey, Bitcoin, politics. Click. Let's talk ball. Weeners, weaners. Oh, shoot. Justin Robleski. Jose Ramirez.

Homer. Hello and welcome to talking baseball, presenting you by Seat-Geek-Cotein' 24. I am Jake Storrelli. That is Trevor Plouf. Rob Chiracco producing. We are coming live to you from beautiful Jersey City, New Jersey, as we are running one of our warehouse tournaments this week. As we are nine games out from the postseason, and we are having some drama.

I'm seeing Cleveland Guards tweets about winning the division coach, Trev. I mean, you sweep the tigers. You go in there. You're three and a half games back with nine to go. going to get there. But you're putting a scare into people. And, yeah, I mean... Who do they play this weekend?

They play a four game set, doubleheader tomorrow with my Minnesota twins, who are checked out. I don't know. They're checked out, guys. Did the Guardians have a witch spell or something? Yeah, Chris Rose. Chris Rose is the Guardians witch, Warlock. I'm taking, or he's taking me out to dinner tonight.

Really? That's me. I must have missed that. It's Peter Moyland. It's Chris Rose. Oh. It's Michelle Rose. Oh, shoot.

Yeah. All right. Maybe I'll. Do you want to invite yourself? I'll invite the boys for after maybe. That feels that's like the John Boy Media adults at the table. It is. Whenever we come to the warehouse, there's one night with the kids, you know, the employees who are, you know, they're in their 20s.

And then there's always like the adult crew, which is me, Cal's, Peter, Chris. Oh. Sometimes. Sometimes we let you to the adult. Yeah. I was going to ask. I was going to see if you. dinner plans tonight. It seems you do. And that's fine. That's fine. Me and Rob will go fuck ourselves.

So let's talk some ball. And yet it's, I don't want to say it's a weird time of year. It's a beautiful time of year. But like we've been talking about, a lot of the topics are very similar, except the Guardians reappearing. It's playoff time, bro. Cincinnati and the Diamondbacks kind of approaching. Yeah, it's all, it's playoff seating. It's who's going to be the rotation. Like, we just briefly talk some Blue Jays. Like, how are they going to line it? Trev wants Trey Yesovich game one. I don't. I don't. He says, get all the olds out of here.

Give me the young buck. And you guys called in with some of your team's concerns. We also, you know, Dalton put together a document for us that has, what kind of has been the general consensus of biggest team concern. And I don't want to say we're starting off clicky, but Trev, this is a topic you have actually been hot to trot about, and we touched upon it last episode. The Dodgers, who will be a big part of this postseason,

and Shohei Otani, click, click, click. And how they're going to use them this postseason. And you were kind of first on this. You were like, hey, maybe use the guy who you said isn't going to pitch more than five innings this whole year. Use him out of the bullpen. Everyone clapped back at you, as they always do. Clap back with no hands.

Where are we at? Because now Dave Roberts is talking about it a little bit. The topic, you started this when it wasn't. a topic and now it's one of baseball's biggest topics. I guess, you know, it's, we'll see how they handle everything. But what do the Dodgers have right now in Spades and starting pitching? What have they struggled with basically all season is the bullpen? And not like they haven't tried.

I mean, they didn't do much at the deadline with the bullpen, but they didn't feel like they needed to because they brought in a bunch of guys and had what they considered to be one of the better bullpens in the league. It just hasn't turned out that way. It looked like a Super Bowlpon. We laughed when they brought in Scott and Gates. Just out of nowhere. But, you know, injuries, underperformance.

That always takes place through a 162. So that's what we've seen. Tanner Scott, maybe he's just been tipping his pitches. Have you seen the video of him tipping his pitches? Oh, no. Yeah. I've seen the guys hitting the ball far. Me too.

Me too, like really far. Like, why are guys hitting 97 at the top of the zone just like it's batting practice against them? So there's a. I wish I had the guy. I wish I had the guy's name. I saw the video on Instagram. John Boy? Maybe we could, it's not.

It's not. But Tanner Scott had mentioned it in a postgame interview about how he thought he was tid and pitches. And all he was doing was before throwing a slider, there was a little bit of this. A little bit of a head tilt. And let me tell you, because I've been around now, you know, I've finished my twin slate as a broadcast. Yes.

Thank you. I'm around, you know, different. teams and club houses, obviously mainly the twins, but I'll talk to other coaches and stuff as well. And one of the things that always gets brought up now, because I think, you know, the Yankees have been, you know, at the forefront of a lot of these discussions with how they're relaying the signs. I mean, Aaron Judge's seven foot tall. Yeah, doing the bird man at second thing. It's insane. So that's been a hot topic. You know, we talked about all the time. On the show, we, you know, I've been adamant about, we can't, like, software programs suck for this.

That should not be. That's not games been shipped to me. I've learned a lot about what teams are doing. A lot. Certain teams, I'm not mentioning who they are, have like literally people hold up in a hermit's den and all they do is watch video.

Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, there's some. I've heard some hermit theories. Yeah, interesting teams that are doing that. Which, look, if you're not doing it, you're behind. Right. Like, that is the main thing. So that's going to be, I bet,

And not that this hasn't been a thing, and we're kind of going on a sidebar here, whatever. Not that it hasn't been a thing throughout the history of baseball. Stealing signs, stealing or picking up tips on pitchers has been there forever. It's gotten, okay,

let me just, let me cook here for a second. Yeah, dude, you're, I mean, yes. If you're going to pay a shitty reliever earmuffs, I missed it. God damn.

If you're going to pay him $3 million. Sure. And you're like, oh, this guy can like give me one more i don't even know like what i'm you know just if you're going to pay that you could pay a dude let's just call it 150 grand sure a year and say sit on your computer and find me stuff and you could probably how many could you fit for three million uh quick math would tell me 30 you could fit 30 guys with their computer for the same amount of price at a buck 50 a little

under 30. I went to 100 grand right there with that. Oh, okay. Yeah. You sure did. Yeah, because now I'm just cutting it. And some hermits get paid differently. But do you understand what I'm saying? Like, this is going to be something that's talked about during the postseason. Teams are going to really have to tighten it up. But okay, back to the Dodgers bullpen. Thank you. They've been a mess. Yes. A freaking mess. More hermits, less wealthy pitchers. Yeah. You're saying. I think that's the way we're going. Or, or, hey, here's another one. Screw humans altogether. and let's just have a computer doing it.

Finally. Because that's probably what's happening. I haven't got that from anybody yet in the big leagues. But every time I mentioned it, they're like, oh, yeah, obviously that's coming. So, like, it's probably already happening. So you're Dave Roberts. I'm Dave Roberts. You're a little shorter.

You're friendlier. You're well respected. What do you think about? Yeah, looks wise. We're about the same. Like, not great. Yeah. I mean, how many years does Dave have on you at this point?

It's like we have cool jobs, so that matters. Dave and his day. You know, I don't know how. Peacocking around stealing bases with a red socks. He doesn't have a speedy guy. You think he just, like, walks around with a base? He's 53. He's a good-looking guy.

How do you show-hay? It's like we got away from that a little bit. Well, no, it's all circles back, Jigel. This is how it all circles back. It's a flat circle. Can Shoh-Hoebe be used out of the Dodgers bullpen? Do they have some guys that have been getting the job done? Sure.

You know, Vesia, I think, has been, I would say, reliable all year long. Banda, same thing. Those are two lefties, though. So what are we doing about, you know, the right-handers out of the pen? Like, what are we going to do? Are we going to kick Emmett Shee in to the bullpen? What's Clayton Kershaw's role? They're going to have some starting pitchers that aren't going to get starts,

so that could be a bullpen help as well. But if we're talking about what I think is the best case scenario for them, I think kicking Shohay to the back end for certain games. I wouldn't do it. I don't even know. You'd have to see where the series takes you. I don't think he's your closer. I don't think that.

I don't think you can run them out there day after day after day. I don't think that works. But with the off days in these series, you know, once I guess the Dodgers are going to be playing in the wild card. So I could see Shoeh coming out of the bullpen for one of those games. And then once they get to a do. a divisional or a championship round where those off days baked in. I think we could see him multiple times a series coming out of the pen.

And how do you do that? Oh, my gosh. What if he gives it up? Then he can't hit. You move him to the outfield. You hide him in the outfield. And say, Shoah, just like play deep. You're in no doubles the entire time.

Keep the ball in fronty and throw it in. That's what we do anyways. That's every outfield defense I've said. Like, it's only no doubles defense now. And then, oh, well, you lose the D. you have a bench. Right. And shit.

How many times is that going to come up? You're not going to play 17 innings. It doesn't work that way anymore. So it's all right in front of the Dodgers if they want to do it. It sounds like they've been talking about it. And I don't think it's as far-fetched as many people thought two weeks ago. Yeah, there comes some logistics. If you're right with the Dodgers starting pitching,

I mean, they now, as long as those guys stay healthy, they have options there and options to kick to the bullpen. And it becomes a little bit of, You're going Yamamoto. Yamamoto. You're going Blake Snow. Yep. And you're going Tyler Glass now.

That's who's getting starts. Kirshaw, if you go game four. I don't know. Let's say they go to the DS. They're going to be in a wild card. I don't know if Kershaw gets a start. I'd love him to get a start. I'd love him to, you know, he's, here we go.

He's retiring. Snaps. One of the greatest pitchers to ever do it. Nice guy. Love that he's been showing the dad bought off lately. he's feeling really good about it I mean why wouldn't you he's feeling really good about it

I still I'd still like to stir the pot with some Texas Rangers rumors this offseason because we did that for eight years we need to do that and yet just on the unofficial dude meter which I think we've I think we've brought to the forefront of baseball analytics the amount of dudes that posted

Clayton Kershaw's like retirement thing in their Insta story Jock, glass. I mean, obviously, it's easy for these guys in their teammates or former teammates in Jock's case. But, like, you can also read through the lines. Like, you know, I think Miggie Rowe posted a video of Kershaw playing with, like, his kids, like, when they were visiting New York

or something like that. I think Kershaw, I think he registers all time on the dude meter for his pitching performance and just, like, how guys handle themselves. when you actually become a team leader and you're making that much money and just there's a natural level of respect that people show that ballplayers show ball players who are Clayton Kirshah and I think if you pay it back that's when your dude meter goes through the roof and I think Kirshah has that to one of the highest degrees

I think I've ever seen 11 time All-Star three times Cy Young you want a gold glove when did that happen love that for him five times led the league in ERA Roberto Clemente Award winner He's won an MVP Two-time World Series champ Although he didn't pitch

Which one did he not pitch in? He pitched in 2020 I mean I could just look it up right now He pitched in 2020 Did not pitch last year Yeah yeah yeah Okay we had that we got nervous for a second Why doesn't we have that listed on his page

So Otani out of the bullpen. Would you start him? No. I don't think you need to. I think your more pressing issue is the back-in of baseball games. I think you have starters. And so...

And I wouldn't bring him middle relief. He's not like a... You put a fire. He has to be at the end of the game. So is it DH? So he takes an abat in the seventh or eighth inning. Get your ass down to the bullpen. Get down to the pen.

Yeah. That part gets interesting. Dude, a sick, like, show Hey, Otani bullpen car. So what if he's, like, warming up in the eighth or ninth inning and the Dodgers are rallying? Does he have to sprint from the bullpen for his at bat? No, because I'm going to have this sick bullpen car. It's going to be sponsored by someone super cool. It's a wild moment.

It's awesome. How's that work for the pitch clock? What do you mean? Hey, the on-deck hitter is in the bullpen getting warm. How do we get him to the plate? You know what I'm saying? If it's at Dodgers Stadium, I don't think there's a tunnel out to the bullpen, so he would have to, like, sprint.

I mean, the scenes would be electric. What if he has to hit? Genuine, dumb guy question. It sounds worse than it is, I think. Like, get down to the bullpen, throw quickly. I think he'd, I think, I think this is going to be interesting because he might have to play catch before he goes to the bullpen, right? Because you've got to lengthen it out.

We might see some show catch. from Shoah. Show catch means playing up and down the field lengthwise in front of the dugout. Just warming up the outfielders between innings. The only thing he can do. There's not enough room downstairs. The other thing lurking here is he's a $700 man. Exactly. But he hasn't been coming out of the bullpen.

So like to mess with his routine. He was making no money for the Japanese WBC team and came and shoved it up the Team USA is you know what? What? Gear mobs. Three, two. Dude.

Why is this so hard for people to, like, grasp? I don't know. He's not made of glass. I guess here's my thing. There are going to be a lot of pitching options and, like, real pitching options. Maybe even,

maybe Blade Shrinan just, I don't know. Right? Like what, Trinin goes out in his first outing and looks nails and it's like, okay, he's back. Tanner Scott, if he's tipping,

uh, you know, Emmett Sheehan, I know doesn't have the name history of some of these guys, but he's been really strong this year that I think they're going to flush out every option. And I think this isn't too far from what you're saying. But if every option's out and you've got a season or a series on the line, use the guy that can pitch really well. Yeah.

I guess it just, you got to make sure things are right, man. Because if he gets hurt, my God. What's left for Showing? to do in this game. Nothing. He's gonna win MVP every year. He already got his bag. Not if he gets hurt.

He was hurt last year. Right. And won the MVP. He did do really well. You know what's left for him? Like legacy, being the most badass dude to ever do it. And that includes saying,

yeah, I'll go to the bullpen and I'll, I'll be a starter in this league. I'll be the best hitter in this league. I'll steal a ton of bases in this league. I'll create my own 50-50 club, and I'll also close out playoff games. It's it. If he does that jig,

it makes him by far, no one has even a chance to sniff being the greatest player to ever do it. How can you say otherwise? I can't. Imagine a show hey closes out of your most, a fucking world series. Yeah, I mean...

Unbelievable. I think, as you know, I'm always saying, there's levels to this. That it's like... Why do you say that? I don't say that. I don't say that. I kind of do. It's when do you push the show hey button.

Is it a game two of the wild card and you're up 1-0 or down 1-0? Is it the NLDS game? I don't know. I just... I think the stars have to align a little more than... we're currently depicting. But we'll see. How about game three of the wild card?

Yes. Like if it's season on the line, like why? Okay. Like having, we saw the way they used to use. I guess any game in the wild card because you're like, okay, we won game one. That's huge. Game two is either closing it out or a must win. And then game three is a must win or, you know, like.

The other thing that's in the back of my head, and unfortunately he's a baseball name that's getting lost in history quickly by his own doing. But remember the way they used to. use ureus in the in the playoffs like could show hey not do that he's built up for five innings ranger swores madison bumgarner did it as long as he gets the we still talk about madison bumgarner he wasn't hitting crazy baseball he was hitting he was hitting a little bit i think two silver slugs coming up on a future jm baseball video check it out um and make sure you guys check out our jm plus johnboymedia.com.

We've had a little bit of a rebrand on the website, and we post a bunch of bonus content over there. So if you're in our jam world and, you know, all the different person, Joe's McFly, Jolly, panic, everyone, we got ice. We're always posting bonus content on there. So go check it out. I'm on it right now.

I've never been on this website. Yeah, I know. I know. And that's part of the problem. No, I feel like I've been on our website before. This is different. Yeah, we've had this for months on the low end, closer to year.

I guess like, why would I go on the website? We're making the content. I know what the content is. You know what I go on shop.jomboimedia.com? You know what, Trev? We're the guys making the sausage in the back. We don't work on the website, you know? Exactly.

We're grinding up the pigs. So that was a little Dodgers. Playout is that their biggest, their biggest concern is their bullpen pitching. Yeah. Because if game one of the wild card, they lose because of bullpen game, a lot of people are like,

okay, what about Michael Kopeck? He's back. He's just walking everybody. I don't think you, if the choices are that and show hey, it's show a ballpen. There have been, it's the easiest thing to fix.

Basically, it's just guys getting outs in one-inning spans. Nice, Jake. Thanks for that. But we have seen, dude, the Texas Rangers bullpen going into the playoffs was a mess. The Atlanta Braves in 21. You just need three guys. People remember that bullpen as like the holy crap and his mentor and nut sack and all of that. It wasn't that way going in.

Going in, it was their weakness. So I guess I'm interested to see because there's a couple teams right now that they're concerned is their bullpen and if the Dodgers come out their first series and look nails, watch out because they're probably back to being the favorites. They could also, like, what is 20, 23 when they faced the Diamondbacks and it was the Dodgers were in the playoffs. The problem was their starting pitching. And when the Diamondbacks started rolling up on Lance Lynn and the guys thrown for them.

Bing Kirschaw. Thank you, Kershaw. We have some more teams to go through. That was a good discussion. Jake. Look at us. Dinner. Bobby's got some voicemails for us. From the people, because that's who we are.

One of the few in the United States, I'd have to guess. But I was just calling to get your guys a talk on the third starter for the Blue Jays for this postseason. I'm pretty confident in Sturzeman and Beaver, but I want you guys a thoughts on who you think the third, the best third starter would be. Thanks, boys. Jake sucks. Right at the end there.

You got it in. Right at the end. Thank you. Thank you. An American Blue Jays fan. All right. We love that. This is a good reminder that you guys know your team better than us.

We will add some commentary. But, you know, Trev, we were talking about this beforehand. And Kevin Gossman is the lock. He's kind of been the guy. He's also his second half has been really strong. that I think Kevin Gossman is your game one. Get that done. From there, it starts getting a little trickier,

because Scherzer has been going downwards a little bit. But a reminder, he is Max Scherzer. Your guy, Berrios is there, Bassett is there, Bieber is there, and then they just called Trey Yassavage, who yeah, Yassavage he is, that, okay, Toronto kind of has a good problem here, we think. So they're going to get a buy. I don't think there's a way they don't with nine games left.

It would have to be cataclysmic. Oh, yeah. That's not a word. I don't think it's a word, is it? Trev. I think so. I think you combine two words? That's one of Joe's words he learned once, so he says a lot.

Okay, yeah, that could be like a college word. High school grad here. Relating to or denoting a violent nature event. Of course you would. Of course you would use that word. Okay. What was the question? The third starter?

Toronto's third starter. They're going to need four. I guess not in the DS. You need three. Not necessarily. Depends, yeah. Okay. First starter's Gospin.

Yes. I 100% agree with that. It gets a little interesting after that because I would say that it's probably Breos. I do think in... Beaver? Yes.

I do. I think it's Gossmann, Beber, Scherzer. with a hint of possibly a savage. That's what I think. Is that how you say his name? Because I don't want to butcher that. No, I looked into it because I was like,

Yesovich. Maybe it's not as savage as we're hitting it at the end, but come on. Yeah. Like if that's going to be your name, kid, and you're going to pitch like that. Highest release point in MLB. I think you're right.

I think you could go. If you put your savage in the bullpen, then it's Bassett for game four. Yeah, I like that. And so does Burrios come out of the bullpen? I think that you have them as a piggyback. Yeah. Yeah, personnel?

Okay, let me know if this is dumb. But the personalities matter here. Like, Gossman deserves it. Bieber, you made a trade. It's working out for you. Yes. Chain Bieber, yes. How about that trade?

Also, right? Also, in a playoff series, can happen and it's all hands on deck. So the plan can change pretty quick. But man, to not give Max Scherzer a start when he's had a pretty solid year, he's going to have extra rest. And if you have you Savage to follow him, A, that's just that fun baseball stuff. Like let's- You want to piggyback those two guys. Like, let's say if Shurzer, you sense Shurzer out there because he's Max Bleep and Shurzer. Nice. edited that one for the children listening. It's Max Bleepin Scherzer.

If he goes out and he has it, it's Max Scherzer. And he just did it. And he's your guy and he's, you know, Max Scherzer is one of the guys that changed the tone of this organization this year. Right? Yes. That I think there's also a moment of honesty that I don't know, again, I don't know if it's Schneider and Max.

I don't know if it's Max operating alone. But, okay, if he goes out there in over two winnings, he's not looking like the good version of Max Scherzer. It's a playoff game. You pull that plug and you have you Savage or Burrios or whoever ready to go. I mean, is Eric Lauer factor into this? Sure. You make Eric Lauer work.

I'm thinking because he has been working, the last four outings has been two and a third, one and two thirds, one and one third, is he, Max Scherzer's piggyback? If they stack a lineup with a bunch of lefties, absolutely. This is where we're now going a step further that the matchup matters

and what the other team is doing. But you kind of have to give Mad Max one start. Yeah, I think he's going to be the third starter. And then I think after that, that's when the discussion with the Savage and Bassett and Burrios lies. But if you look at like just whip, which is my, I love going to that because like traffic on the basis is traffic on the bases. Bassett and Burrios are right around a one three right now.

And I think in a postseason scenario, you're just, I don't know if you trust that. I know they're a good defensive team. I understand all that. But that's what I would do. It'd be Gossman. It'd be Bieber. It'd be Scherzer with a piggyback from Lauer or one of those guys.

And then you savage. And I think the other caveat we should put up. That's crazy, dude, to think that we're just giving a start to, let me rethink all this. I don't know, man. You're just going to give a rookie just to start the playoffs? I didn't. I said he should follow Scherzer.

Okay. I will say this. I'm about to say that because if he goes out, like this is where, this is where playoff baseball at this point is crazy. They're like, dude, what if you savage goes out? His next starts against Kansas City, and what if he goes six shut? Yeah. You know, like this is.

It seems like it might be an audition situation right now, especially with the Blue Jays, how they basically locked up a buy. We're going to find now. Okay. Well, that's what we got, Bob. Hey, guys. Tom here, Lifelong Brewers fan.

I'm hoping we'll be the one scene to get home field throughout the playoffs. But my biggest concern is our lack of left-handed pitching. All of our best starters are righties, our top two bullpen guys, McGill and your eBay. righties and I'm looking at the heart of that Philly's roster with Schwarber and Bryce Harper and you know even the clubs Kyle Tucker Ian Hap PCA all hitting from the left

side and going through those righty pitchers am I overthinking is can can writeies get the job done let me know trev can writeies get the job done yes they can yes you know it all just depends on who you are, but, you know, it's not always, hey, the righty, lefty masheap is a loser. That's not how it goes. I mean, you do have Aaron Ashby. You do have Jared Koenig in that bullpen. Uh, Jose Cantana Arracur. Oh, you know, come on. Don't forget about him. So I, I am not worried in the, in the least bit about, uh, the brewers and just who they're going to throw out there. I think that's not something that you really concern yourself with. Do you concern yourself with those mashers?

Yeah, not just because they're lefty, just because they're mashers. And it doesn't matter who you put out there. Go check Kyle Schwerber splits this year. Yeah. I believe Bryce Harper, same thing. So it's not just as easy as throwing a lefty out there and these guys are going to get out.

You just need good pitching. And guys that can keep, I think the main thing for the Brewers, if you're talking about Brewers' Phillies matchup already would be keep the ball in the yard. Yeah. The guys that can keep the ball in the yard, that's who you want pitching for you.

I'm not overly concerned with the lack of left-handers. I mean, there is lefties. There's lefties. Yeah. And I mean, if you're the Brewers, again, jump into the Phillies. Look, look what, hello, Milwaukee. What a year. Of the National League teams against left-handed starting pitchers this year,

which isn't an all-encompassing stat, none of them crush lefties. Like the Mets have a winning record against lefties, 23 and 21. That's the best of NL playoff teams. So I don't, it's not like you're looking at that going in. Like I was a little worried for the Yankees if they play Houston. Houston's 18 and 13 verse lefties. But I guess for me, the whole thing is Houston is predominantly right-handed.

The Yankees two, the one and two starter for the Yankees are lefties. That I don't know. If the righties just have a day, you lose a playoff game because you got outrighted. So I get that being a genuine fear. But I don't know. You've got a couple lefties in the pen that you're going to roll out your right-handed starting pitching. And if someone really becomes a problem, you can still throw a guy there. But like you said, it very much depends on the hitter because those Phillies guys, it doesn't.

It doesn't matter for them. Just get the best pitcher out there. I'm also looking at, you know, two of their, top right-handed relievers in Trevor Miguel, which he needs to get healthy. You know, they have some time now to do that. Lefties hit worse against him. Abner-Ir-Ebrae, the same exact thing of four, excuse me, I had it right here, a 533 OPS against lefties and a 5-73 versus righties.

So, like, you know, there's reverse splits, there's all those things. I'm not worried about that. Thank you. Coach Trev, Jake, what's going on? Big time of the show, guys. Hey, so, you know what I'm not a big deal? fan of is the Detroit Tigers right now. We are three and a half games behind Chris Rose's guard dogs and a little nervous about what's

going to happen. Where do you guys think the Detroit Tigers season ends if it's in the playoffs or if they're not even going to make the playoffs? Oh. Whoa. That's the easiest question this all the time. Oh, my God. It's going to end in the playoffs.

Milwaukee's getting ready for the Phillies and Detroit's wondering if they're going I'm dancing. Detroit, you're going to get in. I think you're still going to win the Central. We just got to win a couple ball games, baby. We do have schedule watch, which is fun. So they're at home against Atlanta for three. Then at Cleveland again?

Yo, handle your business against Atlanta. Oh, God. And then they're going. So, okay, this is actually, it's a better question than I thought. Now that I got the schedule. Shit. Three versus Atlanta. You never know what you're going to get out of Atlanta.

I've never known. Yeah, just especially this year. What did you just do right there? I never knew. Have you seen that like Instagram or the guys doing like their strike three calls? No. I got a show too. I don't really have a good one.

Me and my college roommate, Nick Proch, shout out. Yeah, I know, man. The mailman from grown losers with me. He's a music guy. Big music guy, big silly guy. Like his silly cord is there. Great beard. He, we have a habit of sending each other like the best of the stuff on Instagram that's like nothing.

Okay. So yesterday he sent me an account that's a guy that makes conveyor belts and he just shows how they work. And it's set to heavy techno. I'll show you. It's just, it's, I don't. It's not. Bad. I'm going to show you now. Right now. I'm going to show you right now. Isn't this every girl's nightmare like guys showing them Instagram Reels? You're going to get our show canceled. I know, I know. Now we're reported. I guess shout out to the account is 1, 2, 3, Roland Bond.

Shout out. So subscribe. 67.5K followers. The world's a weird place. Where did we go off the rails? Detroit. Detroit. Detroit. Detroit. Atlanta. Bro, if they don't hand... If they don't handle Atlanta, I'm kind of with this caller. Yeah, I was out. I was out on him.

You cannot put it in the Guardian's hands next week. Okay, so right now, let's just talk about this. The Detroit Tigers are sitting 85 and 68, okay? Boston is two games behind them, 83 and 70. Cleveland, as we mentioned, three and a half games back. But let's just, just for fun here. For funsies. Let's say that the guardians take three or four from the twins,

which is probably going to happen. I'm just a realist here. Twins are, you know, they're planning the offseason right now. So there's the half game. Okay. And then just call it another game. Let's just say that. The series, tigers and guards cannot be within three games.

Come that series. If it's two games and then they have to go at Cleveland? Yeah, okay, okay. And then Boston's going to be fighting for their life as well. I don't know, man. It's very interesting. I didn't know the Tigers had it that bad. And they didn't until they got swept by Cleveland at home

with Terrick Scoobble on Getaway Day. Big Christmas. Change up to John Kensey. They're going to make it. They're going to make it. they're going to make the playoffs they're going to make it and i i guess we're being dramatic right now hey would i be just like slightly happy if they did it because i didn't have them in the post i think you i whispered that for a reason you would be don't clip that um wow wow yeah i don't know i even as

dramatic as i'm being right there like don't be within three games come that series like if it's three games and cleveland wins the first game like that basically ends it so or excuse me Detroit wins the first game. So Detroit, it's a long season for a reason. You guys banked a lot of wins. You're using up some of your bank account. That can be okay. That can be okay. Three and a half games with nine to play for them, ten with Cleveland. But the caveat is, Jake, they play each other. I know. I don't.

He just got swept. It did just get swept. Oh, my God. I am. I know. That's become more interesting than we thought. You know what's real tight in that Tiger's Clubhouse right now. Yes.

Trave, I just had to look something up. I think we have fantastic news. Okay. Do you know who's playing at MSG this weekend? That's Madison Square Garden. Yes. Is it a, are we talking like music? Yeah.

Oh. Res. Duolipa. No. But not tonight. I was going to suggest maybe after your old people dinner. It's Clapton tonight, so Chris Rose and Michelle are probably going to that. I like Eric Clapton.

Derek and the Domino. Everyone loves Eric Clapton. Come on. Okay. Who else we got, Bobby? Bobby. I was wondering what your guys' thoughts are on the Cubs in the playoffs with Tucker potentially being out and the rotation struggles with Matthew Boy.

not doing great as late and how they can handle themselves against the potteries at Wrigley. So that's all. Bye-bye. Okay. Thank you to Ian Hap for calling in trying to throw us off. We know that was you, Happer. That was interesting. Thanks for checking in, pal.

I don't, the Cubs have been a weird exercise for me all year. I'm happy it worked. They had the big off season. They were winning the division. We go, Cubs Go. One of the more electric songs of all time, even outside of baseball. What are we worried about again? Is Kyle Tucker need to be back and feeling good?

Yeah. Yes. And I think there's, I think the weird thing about the Cubs is there's concerns kind of in every aspect. Like the bullpen has gone. They have a very strange kind of fun bullpen. My fingerprints are all over this team. Go on. Caleb Thielbar.

Yes. Yes. Your guy. My guy. You can trust him. Curball from the heavens. Who's the other guy that just got over there that my fingers are all over? Drew Pomerans.

Oh, there aren't. No, there's another guy. I'm missing them right now. Is your fingerprints? Someone, Ryan Brazier. Eli Morgan. I don't know. Kyle Tucker.

There was somebody else I saw. Is it Kitchridge? Kittridge is over there. Yeah, fingerprints. Oh, I didn't know your finger. Yeah, Tampa Bay Race 2017. They have essentially everything you need to get the job done. It's running a little short now.

You could talk about Matthew Boyd and some of his recent struggles, but you still have like Kate Horton's been the best pitcher in the National League. Yeah, and show does. And Shoda's nasty. So you have guys, and again, is it running thin a little bit like me and Jake's hair, unfortunately. A little bit. Just a little bit.

Gosh, darn it. I don't know. man. We talk about this, this Cubs offense. And, you know, there's been swings in it. There's been huge starts by PCA. Then, you know, obviously a huge dip from him as well. But if you go up and down the lineup, we're talking about, you know, eight guys with an OPS plus over 110. Like, the lineup is long. And you know, it doesn't matter, like how you're feeling at the end of the season. I swear it doesn't matter. I swear it doesn't. Right. Because the playoffs happened. And then it's a completely different atmosphere.

The zeros are on the board now. It's a completely new thing. It's a different type of baseball. I am, I'm in on the Cubs, man. They can take this time now to work on whatever it needs to be worked out to set everything up. Are they going to get a buy? No. So they are not going to get a.

So that was the other part of our caller. They are one of the like few things we truly know about the postseason. It's going to be Padres at Cubs. Yes. Rigley for three games. And I think that's their other concern. The only way it wouldn't be is if the Padres catch the Dodgers. Right.

Yes. So, I mean, either way, they're hosting the Dodgers or the Padres, which are last year's two best teams that still have potential to be that. And yeah, if you're a Cubs fan that shouldn't excite you. Like, you should, yes, you'd like to be saying something differently about those teams. But if I told Cubs fans before the season, you'd be hosting it. Isn't that what you want? Let's go.

Don't be scared? Who do you want to be saying? host you got to beat the teams the twins i mean everybody wants that okay that's who you want to host um hey and i rob i don't know if it's the next one but i know like padre fans every team every fan base is having concerns right now i guess that's why we're doing this um let me look at let me look at the cubs like what they've been doing 10 and 6 in september know what else i needed to shout out while you find your numbers. Nico Horner has put together a full season, a full, full season that the stats

geeks are starting to come out. And, like, his season is a baller is really good. And he doesn't get mentioned enough. Seven and six first, the Dodgers and the Padres combined. Three and three for the Padres, four in three for the Dodgers. How does that work? Why do you have more against? I still don't get the schedule.

I don't understand the schedule either. I know John's got a plan that everyone agrees with. But, yeah, he's been touting that a lot. Because I told him I liked it. He believes in it. I told him I liked it, and I said that some other guys that told me they watched it and liked it, and that was, I shouldn't have said that. He believes in it.

Yeah. He should. I got two more. You want Astros or Mets? Let's go Stros. Hi, my name is Hayden. I'm a huge Houston Astros stand, and I was wondering what Jake and Trekk's thoughts on. If Josh Hayter isn't available,

in that first round of the postseason, I don't want Brian and Brayu out there in the next inning. I've seen too much of him just not be able to get the job done and not be able to find his own. I would rather have Craig Kimball or even Brian King in that zone in that ninth inning than Brian and Brayu.

He is the best eight inning pitcher in the game, just not the best ninth inning pitcher in the game. I want to get your guys' thoughts on it, and I'll have a great day. Okay. I, yeah. I understand where you're coming from because Brian and Brayu, especially as of late, has been putting a ton of base runners on. It's just how it goes.

I'm looking right now, even in September, you know, he's been at the back end of the games now since, you know, mid-August. Since Hader went out, yeah. Yeah. So we'll just go September because that's what we're looking at. And I know I just said everything changed in the playoffs, which is true. So, like, you can just change things. But here, in September, winning pitch, three hits. So that's a, that's a lot of base runners there.

Then the next game, just one hits, no walks. Then it was two hits, two walks. And it was a clean inning. And then it was two hits, one walk. And it was three hits, one walk. So, yeah, he's putting guys on base. And if you're a fan of a team that has a closer that does that, that does the tight rope back, you know it sucks.

It does suck. But does he get the job done enough? Only runs in two of those outings. He's going to be the guy at the end of the game. Craig Kimberl's not going to be the guy at the end of the game. It's just not going to happen that way. So unless Josh Hayter's back, this is what you're going to have to deal with. And it's going to be, yeah, like an edge of your seat type experiment.

I want to say. Is there anybody else? You can't. I mean, like, I don't know. The rookie blue ball I know has been striking dudes out. So is that something you can. You're just going to put it in the 19. I know.

I don't believe in that. And part of, like, I think people sometimes, like, just hearing our opinions on stuff, I think analytics kind of got away from this for a little bit. Like, those last three outs, like, yes, I get the lanes. And if the top of the lineup's coming up in the eighth inning and throwing your clothes are out for that, I get it. Like, you can't lose the game there. But that ninth inning is still different.

It is that, yes, I. I understand what Houston's saying. You know Brian and Brady doesn't do? What's that? Give up homers. That's good. Walks better than a homer. That means a lot, dude.

That means a lot. Four homers on the year in 68 and a third inning's pitched. That matters. It matters more than almost anything because, yeah, you might walk a guy, but keep the ball on the ground. Keep it in the park that gives you a shot. Man, this Houston roster. It's fun.

I'm sorry. I know it's different, but it's fun. It's just all over the place. Like, you go through the lineup and you're, you're at Caratini's batting fifth. And you're like, what is that right now? And then you see Yiner hitting six and you're like, that guy could win ALCS MVP and I want to be shocked at all. Okay. I don't know.

They've got the one two punch and Brown and Framber. It's how are they going to navigate the rest of the pitch. Is Framber one two punch right? now? He's been pitching like buns. Yes. Buns, Jake. Hey, man.

I don't know if he's seen the last, his last five starts. It's been bad. Yeah, but the locker room likes him. Here's the earned runs last five starts. Seven, then zero against Colorado. Your Yankees put up six against him.

The incident. Then he pitched against Texas. Sevenings pitched three earned runs. So quality start. And then his last start against Atlanta, a forwarding pitch, five or hundreds. It has not been as easy as put Framber out there and you're going to win the game. So that's an interesting one.

We talked about that. Like that whole incident has changed the way people look at Framberg. And maybe if you were around him, because I've heard Bert, like little whispers. If you were around him, you kind of maybe knew that he was a little odd. I'll use that word, that adjective right there. Yeah. Nope. No, no, no, no. No, no, no. But now it's out there.

Now it's kind of out there. Yeah. That's in... Can't put it back. It's more than just hair and tiny gloves. What is their playoff rotation? That's what I'm saying, man. I was going to use a different word than what you use for Hughes.

And their roster... Okay, again, I didn't want this to come up. And maybe this is the beauty of sports that sometimes things just come together and whatever. There's also times you look back at your baseball team like three years removed. And you're like, what was that? Like good or bad? Kind of both.

I guess that's what I'm trying to say. I'm not trying to say it in the most negative light. But like they're going to like is Enel de los Santos a seventh inning guy for them right now? And that could lead to good or bad memories. I don't know. That's kind of the beauty of it all. My fingerprints are all over this team. 2018.

Lee High Valley Iron Pigs. I think that was 2018. Jason Alexander? Who are you talking about? And you de la Santos. Oh, nice. Yeah. Nice. fellas. Yeah. I think there's a Mets one, Robert.

Hey, guys. Long-time listener, first-time caller. And I'm calling to give all the other National League team's biggest concern, which is that these damn Mets get hot. Yeah. They make the playoffs and get hot. they're going to be one of the better teams in the league, and they could run through the National League

and accidentally stumble their way into a World Series. Probably not going to happen because they kind of suck most of time, but damn it, they're good for three weeks. Bye. Can I say something? Yeah. Hard agree. Yeah.

Like hard, hard, hard agree. They have an offense that could take a game over at any given moment, right? I'd like to thank Ian Hap for calling in again. Dude, why are you? you making fun of Ian Hap? I'm not making fun of Ian Hap. I'm not, what? I'm saying that Ian Haps the king of cool,

just calling in our show. Every once in a while I'll be like, me and Ian Hap are like the same. No. And then he's not. I don't think he likes me at all. Did you see he bought his old high school, like a,

he built like their new gym facility or something? Like every box he checks off. I know. Have you even drank the wine I gave you? No. It's really good. No. He fed it to his dog.

He's like this was only $400 a bottle. That was a lie. Tapita, our listeners. Are the Mets even making the playoffs? That's the other problem. That is, that is, it's a good point. There are two teams within two games of them with nine to go, and there's the giants who are under 500,

so I can't talk about them. Three games back. Yeah, I mean, they got to do that, but could they just turn it on in the playoffs? 1,000%. They have all the makings of a wild card team that just goes on a run. Yes.

And like, they're not even the same. They spent a billion dollars in the offseason. Right. So they're not this cheeky little wildcar team, although they've played themselves into that role. But yes, they have everything. They have, well, we think they have the starting pitching. They got these young dudes.

Yeah, I don't know if they do. They do, though. I think those guys are fucking nasty earmuffs. Maclean deserves all the respect and, like, he's burned it. It's McLean. I know it doesn't look like it. But he's so McLean. You know what I'm saying?

Man. The box scores have been. Okay. Yeah, I struggle with his name. For some reason, both of them don't work well for me. You Savage in McLean? No, Nolan and McLean. Oh, together.

Yeah. Nolan McLean. I like, like, no McLean. Kind of sounds like... No McLean. Like he's a car from cars. Anyway. Wonky Epp.

Would he strike your ass out in three pitches? Oh my God. Yeah, dude. What? All of these guys. I've said this for a little bit now. A, dude, Soto is literally different. And the way that guy is going to lock in if they're in postseason games.

And like, sometimes he sees a dude come in and he's just like, I am going. Yeah, he knows. You're not getting me out right now. And that's with Alonzo, who's had postseason experience, an amazing season. That's with Lindor. Like, yes, yes. The Mets lineup. has in a way underachieve,

but in a way that's, we believe in them come the postseason. The pitching, they are going to be my most fun pitching path to watch. Because I like all their bodies. And like in the wild card game, ugly it up, right?

You got two to three games to save your season. Oh, they're going all out. What do you mean? Like, they should be pitching seven guys a game. They're going to. Right?

They're going to. Because, I mean, they don't, I don't think you'd trust. to go three times to the order. I don't think that's going to happen. So, I mean, we're looking at one time and then if you can make it through two, if you get baserner on, we've got somebody else coming. That's exactly what I think they'll approach it. I was just looking up swaggy V's numbers. I, I, I, I, oh, man, it's just in September not good. It's back to him like 189. It's tough. The league is tough, people. I keep telling you that.

You can be good for one year, but you got to be good for six years. Right. To make some cash in this not really six years, like at least four, though. Right. And good luck. Good freaking luck. Didn't work for me. It didn't. Oh.

Sure didn't it. What else do we got, fellas? We kind of cranked there. Yeah, we were talking about remaining schedule watch. I don't know if we need to do that. Yeah, I guess if anything jumps out to you. I'm interested, but... All right, let me just see if anything jumps out.

Tigers jumps out. That jumped. Who are the other teams on the fringe? The Mets. The Mets go three games at Washington at Chicago, at Miami. That plays very, very well in their favor. Although Jolly Olive is totally multiple times they play down to the competition. Cubs don't really need to do anything.

So that's interesting. The D-backs have a gauntlet of a schedule. Philly's already clinched and then Dodgers and then at San Diego to end. The Reds, they got a four. game set with the Cubs. So that was yesterday was the first game, which Hunter Green dominated. It's like a no hitter into the seventh. So they have Chicago, Pittsburgh, and Milwaukee, which Milwaukee have already clinched

and done everything at that point. So they have a pretty good schedule. Dodgers, San Francisco, at Arizona, at Seattle. For the Doyers? For the Dodgers. What are we worrying about them? I don't know. Like could the Padres actually, yeah.

You know what I'm? I don't know. They're at Chicago. Milwaukee, I think, to clinch. At the Chicago White Sox for the Padres. Yes. So that should be three. Yeah, we'll see.

And then it's Milwaukee in Arizona. I don't know where we're going with all this. We're going to track. We're going to watch the whole thing. You could track like in the wilderness, like with footprints and stuff? No. Like a tree branch that's just like a little awful. Oh, that's broken.

Like that how it's supposed to be broken. I'm 100% I'll up it I love watching like you know in the shows where like there's a guy

that tracks he's like oh a hobbit light here yeah and then his hands were bound I mean that's also that's a partially fictional story I need you to know that

I need you to know that part no man I think they were into the forest I love the great outdoors but man I Angorn Forest, don't go in there. I do need a, like, I need, like, an actual bed at night. Like camping.

Oh, so you, you can't. Like, I don't want to track anyone through the rules. Programming alert. I will be camping next week. Right. Right. What are you, what are you sleeping on? An RV.

Right. God. Exactly. I have kids. Right. Could I camp myself? Absolutely. A thousand percent.

Interesting. I love, love the outdoors. I don't get the do. it enough. I used to be a much more outdoorsy person. That's a weird. That's a weird ask for the family if you say, hey, I'm going camping by myself. Yeah, I were like, I don't know, man. Like, I used to go like beach fishing. I used to go fishing so much more, man. And I'm going on a fishing trip. It was you. Paul Blackburn. It was not Paul Blackburn. We never hung out. But now all I do is untie, I untangle my kids' holes. And I tie new hooks on. And I, it's just, I love them.

Love my kids. They've ruined my life. Fishing wise. Fishing wise. Everything else is fantastic. Oh, I have a great life. Thank you very much. Thank you, everyone. We juggled some things.

We had to get this out for you. Trez's going to six, seven. Oh, that's not what I was. It was juggling. I don't know. It kind of looked like that. We'll be back Monday. Playoffs are going to be here oddly soon.

Ten days. Yeah, dude, then we're like every day. And it's every day. Holy shnikes. The grind. Streaming, talking. Streaming and talking. Yapping.

Buy a shirt. Yeah. No ads this app. Like and subscribe. And comment below. Nice. Comment if you think Jake could survive outdoors. Oh, I'd survive.

It's ugly.