Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Rivalries Start 2025 Playoffs! | 1035

Episode Date: September 29, 2025

Corona. La Playa Awaits. Be sure to get yours athttps://OrderCorona.comDownload the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use promo code JMBASEBALLUse code TALKIN2025 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: ht...tps://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALK.... Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountCoach Trev and Talkin’ Jake breakdown Wild Card Series’, who’s going to come out on top in the Wild Card rounds, the matchups we like and more!0:00 Intro3:30 Dodgers / Reds 6:20 Clayton Kershaw left off Wild card roster7:00 Dodgers bullpen9:50 Comparing Reds & Dodgers Offenses12:30 How is Dave Roberts going to navigate the bullpen?18:55 Padres / Cubs24:48 Padres Pitching26:40 If Cade Horton was here it’d be different 31:20 Biggest things from each series39:30 Yankees / Red Sox47:00 Garrett Crochet48:30 Where are the advantages?57:15 Tigers / Guardians1:01:17 SkubalGAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, (800) 327-5050 or visit gamblinghelplinema.org (MA). Call877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). Please Gamble Responsibly. 888-789-7777/visit ccpg.org (CT) or visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). 21+ and present in most states. (18+ DC/KY/NH/WY). Void in ONT/OR/NH. Eligibility restrictions apply. On behalf of Boot Hill Casino & Resort (KS). 1 per new customer. $5+ first-time bet req. Max. $200 issued as non-withdrawable Bonus Bets that expire in 7 days (168 hours). Stake removed from payout. Terms: sportsbook.draftkings.com/promos. Ends 9/29/25 at 11:59 PM ET. Sponsored by DK. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:01 Hello and welcome to talking baseball. It's the Yoffs. Wild Card Week is here. We're going to walk through it. Picks and predictions. Everything. Analysis. No luck here. We're going to play our game and we're going to win. Jack Flaherty. Oh, it's tough for me. Brian Rokio. Sack fly. Yeah. Sack fly. Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, presenting you by C. geek code talk in 2025.
Starting point is 00:00:36 I am Jake Storelli. That is Trevor Plouf. Rob Chiracco's producing. Dalt's update in the sheet live as we go. It's playoff. It's all hands on tech. It's everyone ready to go. Spikes on.
Starting point is 00:00:50 None of that starting pitcher BS. Everyone's ready to go today. Coach, how are you? That is some of the best moments in the playoffs. You see the starter out in the bullpen. no idea what to do. He's not really part of the reliever crew. They're like, get this fucking guy out of here.
Starting point is 00:01:10 Yeah. That's an early F bomb. Sorry about that. I'm excited, man. Obviously, playoff time this year. We had some really entertaining matchups coming our way. I mean, Yankees Red Sox is going to be electric. We're talking about that just before the show.
Starting point is 00:01:23 But I don't know, man. Like, I guess let's just kind of get right into it because there is a lot of ball to talk. Yeah. And I do want to get ahead of it just a little bit. there's probably going to be three, four, five times when we both shrug our shoulders and we're like, let's see. Like, it's three games and it's baseball. It's almost not how it's supposed to go down in the postseason,
Starting point is 00:01:46 but in this current playoff format, it's what we've got. And now that we have two year sample size, I think 10 of the 12 Wild Card Series have been two games sweeps. So this first game is of ultimate importance. And that's obvious. There's going to be a lot of obvious stuff today, but we also, we've got some stats. We've got some research. We'll give you some opinions.
Starting point is 00:02:10 Treve, I think you had a shout out. You want to take out this out with? I do have a shout out. Thank you. So as people may or may not have known, I went on my annual fishing trip up to Twin Lakes, which is eastern Sierra's beautiful part of California. And there's a little where we goes remote. There's like really nothing there.
Starting point is 00:02:29 But there's a little town called Bridgeport, about 10 minutes. down the road. We went in there for my sister's birthday. We had dinner at this bar called rhinos. You like it? You like that. And I'm sitting there and then a guy approached me and says, hey, are you, are you, are you Trevor Plouffe? And I'm like, oh, what? This is a very small town, like 2,000 people maybe. I say, I am. And a guy kept his name was Diego. He's a big fan of the show. He's a Dodger guy. And I don't know, man. He was just super cool. He worked there. and I wanted to give a shout out to Diego. I mean, we, having fans in like these,
Starting point is 00:03:08 I guess I just don't realize it sometimes. We just do the show and that's kind of it. But it was cool to talk ball with him while we were up there, man. So shout out Diego at Rhinos, up in Bridgeport. He wants the Dodgers to it. I don't know if they're going to. I guess we'll find out your prediction.
Starting point is 00:03:24 Why don't we start there, then Coach Trev? Because it's the playoffs. So that means we start in the National League with those Los Angeles. The Los Angeles Dodgers. The unfair team, the team that's ruining baseball, are they? The World Series champions from last year, they are the top seed in the National League this weekend, having won the NL West. I think it's their lowest win total since 2018 in a regular season, which again just shows the standard of excellence that goes on with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Starting point is 00:04:01 and they are taking on the New York, the Cincinnati Reds. Sorry, Jolly. Mets ate it. That was mean, dude. That was mean. I'll be honest. We've decided,
Starting point is 00:04:15 me and Jimmy kind of talked a little bit last night with where they were at, with Soto and this season, we're going to let it sting for this year. And then we're going to move on. I have stats. If you want, do Mets first?
Starting point is 00:04:28 No, no, we cannot. We cannot. Because I've got stats, bro. We cannot. It's bad. It's really bad. The Dodgers are playing the Cincinnati Reds. How do you like that?
Starting point is 00:04:40 The Reds, the best Western Road Warrior Reds, who needed to win two games this weekend in Milwaukee, did something they had not done in a long time, and they win a series against the Brewers to find themselves in the postseason. Hunter Green, hello. This Reds team that we've talked about, for so long being a threat in the postseason if they can find a way in because of their pitching, because of some of their high-level talent, well, they're going to get the ultimate
Starting point is 00:05:12 test going to L.A. for three games. Trev, I guess where do you even start with this series? We can talk about the head-to-head matchup that's happened this year between these two teams, which has not been good for the Reds. The Dodgers won five of six. So they went two out of three in Cincinnati. They swept late August in Los Angeles. And I mean, when you're thinking about these two teams, I think there are some clear strengths. The Dodgers right now, let's start there. We're going to get a Blake Snell start, which he's been pretty dominant against the Reds. But I think that's where these two teams match up the best is in the starting pitching. The Reds have that in spades so much that they're
Starting point is 00:05:55 kicking some of the guys to the bullpen. Same with the Dodgers, if we're being honest. and see you're Clayton Kirschar, by the way, not making the wildcard roster, which makes sense. Doesn't really have a spot in a three-game set. And if I'm curious what happens in the DS and the CS for that, I'm assuming he will be on the roster, that'd be crazy if he wasn't, crazy if he wasn't. Just out of respect for the guy, I think he's got to be on the roster and just good vibes.
Starting point is 00:06:22 You can't have that negative vibe around your team. other than that I mean I think offense we got to lean Dodgers pretty pretty heavily here and then bullpens to me this is where it gets interesting because the Reds kind of have had their formula at the back end of their of their bullpen I mean Santion freaking throwing that banger up there Emilio Paghan I don't know how it happened this year I really really don't but he's been a stalwart for them at the back end of their bullpen we got some of their guys, like I said, from the starting rotation back there as well. But the Dodgers bullpen, which we've been just hammering all season long.
Starting point is 00:07:00 These guys, they haven't showed up. They've been injured. All of a sudden, they're looking like they're supposed to look. I mean, we had the game against the Mariners where they struck out nine straight hitters. Nine straight dues to shut the door is crazy. It's crazy. And then you got, you know, I had Otani possibly go into the to the bullpen. I'm like, that's cool.
Starting point is 00:07:22 Now all of a sudden we got Roki Sasaki in the bullpen for the Dodgers. And it's just, I think this comes down. Hey, this is going to sound stupid. It comes down to, you know, who's going to score more runs. And right now the Dodgers offense is just so much better than the Reds offense. I think that's kind of where my head is at right now. Yeah, it feels like the Reds can go pitching toe to toe. I mean, Hunter Green on the big stage.
Starting point is 00:07:51 California boy in L.A. like this is what he's built for. And we might see that. The problem is he's going against Snell, who, and that was kind of the surprise. People were kind of thinking Yamamoto was going to go game one. Snell's going game one, Yamamoto game two. We believe Cincinnati will go green Lodolo Abbott. A lot of these two and three starters haven't been officially named. and I'm interested to see the everyone put your spikes on.
Starting point is 00:08:24 Like, how is Tito? How about Tito back in the postseason? Like, are the Reds going to go out and get games? Like, I know Pagan pitched in four straight over the weekend. My goodness. That he's probably your guy to end it. Would they tap on an Abbott in a game one? I don't know.
Starting point is 00:08:47 Chase Burns has gone to the bullpen And he's gotten some results there That pitching-wise, they feel like they can go to toe to toe But some of these Reds hitting numbers Are kind of the worst of a post-season team ever Like the least home runs Ever led by a post-season team The worst batting average ever led by a post-season team
Starting point is 00:09:08 It's this is going to be a true test of the format Because there's something cool about this. Like the Reds do have fun talent that we've kind of wanted to see on this stage. But we kind of would have hoped it was 87 wins or something a little more. The way they kind of backed into the postseason with the Mets dying, the snakes dying. It's unexciting. But going up against these Dodgers, I mean, Mookie's playing better baseball.
Starting point is 00:09:38 And he put together a five-war season after losing 15 pounds, the opening three games of the season and starting off pretty weird. Freddie Freeman's batting average landed where you think Freddy's Freeman's batting averages. No Will Smith who carried them for a lot this season, but the Dodgers offense, and I thought you were about to small ball us early in the program that you were about to say, like,
Starting point is 00:10:01 whoever gets the bunts down and pushes across the runs win, this is probably big fly, and if it's probably big fly, I'm looking at the guys on the Dodgers, and I'm saying they've got triple the odds of running into home runs than these Reds with my guy Miguel Anduhar in the middle of the lineup. Yeah, I think that's going to be a priority for the Reds, is keeping the ball in the ballpark and maybe making the Dodgers have to move some runners
Starting point is 00:10:26 or, you know, have situational hitting. It's a tall task, obviously, because the Dodgers have guys that can do that. But you're right, like the three-game set is so crazy. It's just, can't you, let's give some Reds fans fan fiction for a little bit. Can't you imagine Lave Marte hitting a big home? or LIDA of the Cruz hitting a ball in the gap and, you know, a two-run scoring triple, and all of a sudden they're ahead and you got the back in the bullpen coming in, and they win game one, and then anything can happen.
Starting point is 00:10:55 I think that is the biggest test, or not the biggest test. I don't even know the word I'm looking for, but it's, it's, game one means so much in a three-game set. And when you got a guy, you know, like a Hunter Green going in there, I mean, he can do wonders. Like he can, right. They can rely on the pitching. They don't have to have a big offense to win a three game set. I think over longer periods, longer playoff scenarios, yes, but in a three game set, no, like you could just go there and ball out with your pitching and go away with the victory
Starting point is 00:11:31 against, like you said, the team that was supposed to ruin baseball. This is not, you know, a set thing. A Dodger going to roll the Reds. You know, we think they're, what I think about the Reds, which is interesting. interesting as I'm like in my mind they had a big second half surge but they they didn't really they were like two games over 500 in the second half they just they just like pared out to win right that's kind of what they did kind of bogeied out like I know par is fine a couple games over five but they didn't go on some sort of heater 14 and 11 in September great love that for you guys but again I mean the matchups it's going to be the starting pitching for me and then yeah bullpens i think both kind of rounded into form maybe uh you know again the dodgers man that that was eye-opening to me and as we go through these uh go through the postseason if they do advance i think that's going to be a big reason uh them like kind of finally figuring it out
Starting point is 00:12:34 the bullpen i mean it's obviously big and in short series like this but we saw them struggle so much during the season, Jake, to see them kind of finish the way they did was pretty eye-opening to me. Yeah, and that's probably the story on the Dodger side is how Dave Roberts navigates his bullpen. Is Tyler Glass now going to kick in the bullpen and throw some innings right there? Because if there's ever a guy that it feels like his stuff would translate to a one-inning or two-inning role, it would be him. And if that's how they can dodge a lot of their guys in their bullpen that have struggled, Emmett Sheehan has been put together an amazing season for them.
Starting point is 00:13:12 So very interesting to see who Dave Roberts taps on the shoulder to come into games. If it's tied late and that Dodgers bullpen is out there, I mean, that is going to be anxious moments for Dodger fans. And I guess that's the other thing, like these Dodgers that won the World Series last year, nobody's gone back-to-back World Series since 2000, yanks. like are the Dodgers going to feel the pressure to have this team? I'm with you, Trev. Like, I don't think so.
Starting point is 00:13:41 I think they've got the World Series in the bag. All of these guys know who they are. That I don't, I think for some of these three games series, obviously the pressure can get heavy quick, but this Dodgers team feels like they don't care. Yeah, I mean, they ended the season the way they wanted to. They won the division. and would they have wanted the buy, sure,
Starting point is 00:14:04 but I don't think that's necessary for them because they do have the starting pitching. The teams that need to buy are the teams that need to set up their pitching. The Dodgers don't need to do that. Yeah. Yeah. This can be a good series.
Starting point is 00:14:18 I feel like we're talking about it like, yeah, the Dodgers are really good, and the Reds are kind of lucky to be here. They kind of backed their way into the playoffs. I don't think it's going to feel like that when the two teams hit the field. And by the way, very aesthetically pleasing matchup. Love Dodger, Blue, versus the same.
Starting point is 00:14:32 Cincinnati Red. Love that. And just some final best Western Road Warrior notes for those Cincinnati Reds. The Reds last reached the playoffs after a 162 game season in 2013. Whoa. Reds have not won a playoff series since sweeping the Dodgers in the NLDS in 1995. Great year. What were you doing in 95, coach? I was nine years old.
Starting point is 00:15:04 God. Just bawling out. Life was good. Life was good. I think I saw like Independence Day, the movie right around that time and just love that. The Reds were a game under 500 on September 16th. So they did win eight of their last 11 to get in.
Starting point is 00:15:22 And Terry Francona is the guy steering the ship, which that is going to be a fun story. Like you mentioned, the past couple postseason, we've seen some young guys stand out. Will it be on the Reds? You mentioned Noel V. Marte. Will South Stewart get a look? It's going to be a fun one.
Starting point is 00:15:42 These are going to be the nightcap games. And if you're new to talking baseball, we pretty much go right after the games every night. We're different. So for games two and three, we'll have a little more of an update of the pitching matchup and things we're looking for. I guess for game one. Watch out And Uh-huhar, decent numbers against Blake Snell.
Starting point is 00:16:03 And Tommy Edmund, who always seems to have, uh, what do you, an itch for the postseason, an ink? I don't, that dude always seems to hit in October. There you go. However you need to phrase that one. I almost cursed. Sorry, everyone. Um, he has fantastic numbers against Hunter Green, uh, seven for 18.
Starting point is 00:16:23 Uh, so always, always watch out for that guy. That is going to be a fun one. You going Dodgers? We go in Dodgers? Coach, I preseasoned I had them to win the whole thing. Right. I know that's a, I'm with the chalk there. But man, like the way their roster lines up, it's pretty good.
Starting point is 00:16:44 I don't think this is a slam dunk. They're a much better team. If this was a five game set, I'm going Dodgers no matter what. If this was a seven game set, I'm going Dodgers no matter what. Three games set is, it really is a toss up. I will pick the Dodgers. Because you read the numbers against Blake Snell for the Reds and Duhar nice. Other than that, no Red has had any success against him.
Starting point is 00:17:10 So if Blake Snell goes out there and does what he's done against these hitters, and it's going to be pretty good for the Dodgers. I'll put the Dodgers. But again, I don't think this is like some slam dunk thing. Yeah, it's a test to this wild card, the mighty, mighty Dodgers and the not-so-mighty Cincinnati Reds, but with their top end talent. I'm rooting for the Reds. Oh, Dodger Trev? What happened?
Starting point is 00:17:38 I don't know, yeah. I hit every team but love every team. It's tough. Yeah, that is very tricky for you. God, I'm picking the Dodgers and partially because the winner of this series goes on to face the Mighty Mighty Phillies. And I didn't realize this, Coach Trev.
Starting point is 00:17:57 the Phillies and Dodgers haven't done it in the postseason. They've missed each other. Yeah, that was a storyline like I think it was last year. It's crazy. You know, Dodgers have had a lot of Braves, Padres, a couple other teams. The Phillies have alluded them that I didn't realize that. Like jokingly to Dalton before the show,
Starting point is 00:18:18 I was like, we're going to get Dodgers, Phillies part, what, three? And we went into it. It's like, oh, these versions of these teams have never played. that's insane, which if you know the baseball gods at all, Reds in two. I'm taking the Dodgers. I think their extra help they're going to get in their bullpen is going to be noticeable for this series.
Starting point is 00:18:42 Cuts to Tanner Scott. Anyways, let's keep it in the National League, Trev. And maybe the two best teams linking up, Yankees, Red Sox probably have an argument themselves the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubbies are playing three or two at Wrigley Field. This year they split three to three. Both series were in the first two weeks of April.
Starting point is 00:19:12 That's insane. I know. The Cubbies took two out of three. The Padres took two out of three. These teams have only met before once in the postseason. 1984. What were you doing then? Orwell?
Starting point is 00:19:25 I wasn't there. I was just, I was not in the simulation yet. We were both just swimming in Daddy Sacks. I don't think we're, how often do we get produced? I don't know. I don't think we're swimming yet, Coach. The Cubs first postseason appearance since 2020, haven't played a wild card game at Wrigley Field since 2018, have not won a playoff game since 2017.
Starting point is 00:19:54 The Padres is their. first time with back-to-back postseason since 0-5-06, first time in franchise history, winning 90-plus games. So with all of that, Coach Trev, where do you start with this series? A couple things. I think we're going to see strong pitching out of the San Diego Padres. We know the bullpen is very good. I think they're going to go to them early and often. Right now it's set up for Povetta and CIS and then we'll kind of see where they go with that third game. could be King Udarvish, could be Vasquez. Apparently, they are going to, not like a lot of other teams,
Starting point is 00:20:31 they're going to keep all their starting pitchers on the roster, kind of keep the normal rotation of things going. But that means we could see a U.Darvish out of the bullpen one game. So with that being said, you have this San Diego pitching that we think can be really, really good. What Cubs offense shows up? You know, is it going to be the, electric offense where we're seeing PCA go nuts and Kyle Tucker go nuts and all the and you know
Starting point is 00:20:58 they have guys that can do that or is there going to be an offense that we saw a lot during the second half struggle and and you know not find a group if that's the case I think this one can go in San Diego's way very very quickly I am a little bit worried with the Cubs if Kate Horton was here I'd be saying a completely different thing because I think game one means so much Matthew Boyd, been great this season. I think they can't be understated. But that's a huge, huge swing of how I feel about this series without having a guy like Kate Horton,
Starting point is 00:21:35 who was one of the best pitchers in the National League before getting hurt. Yeah, I think this segment a week ago, if we were doing like breakout guys in this postseason, Kate Horton would have led the way with how good he was in the second half. He goes on the IL with the rib, will see his eligibility going forward if they go. forward. And yeah, I'm, I'm interesting. Obviously, Tigers introduced pitching chaos last year, and that phrase is kind of stuck. I think we might see a handful of that in this series,
Starting point is 00:22:04 probably not after game one. I mean, Shoda, I know he hasn't looked as good recently, but I still believe in that guy. I think he's got marbles the size of my head that like him versus Povetta in game one in the season, your guy Povetta put up this year is insane. that I picture that probably being normalish baseball. But then again, the Cubs are talking a lot of bullpen that they might go openers, that it could be opener to Boyd. That there's a lot on the table this series.
Starting point is 00:22:34 And even San Diego doesn't really know what they're doing. Like, King could get the starting game two that I don't know, man. I think both of these teams are going to try to muddy the waters as much as they can. And I think it's just an interesting battle of, God, those Padres guys in that bullpen, is it going to feel like those old royals teams? Like you always bring it up.
Starting point is 00:22:56 That, like those teams were just gnarly. The last central team that we saw really get it done in October. That's wrong Cubs. But I'm interested to see if the Padres feel that way. Because if they do, if Tottie goes lead off Homer to start game one, it's almost like, is this enough? And I hope that's not the case for, Cubs fan because God, when that lineup is right, it's everyone top to bottom in the lineup
Starting point is 00:23:25 passing the baton. Yeah, the Cubs names in this series aren't as flashy, but like we've talked about Brad Keller, how he adapted to the bullpen. Palencia just came off the aisle. My guy Mike Soroka that I was begging teams to trade for because I think he can be a bullpen weapon. The Padres have a little more flash and a little more playoff experience, which kind of makes my eyes lean that way.
Starting point is 00:23:49 I hope Wrigley matters. I hope all the home fields matter because this playoff format, we need something to matter. Well, Wrigley will be rocking for sure. Look, we can talk about the Padreys bullpen as much as we want and rightfully so.
Starting point is 00:24:04 Even without Jason Adam, like they still are four or five deep and high leverage guys they can go to. That's great. Sounds like a Jake Story alley pass is right there, four or five deep. But the Cubs bullpen is good too. And they do it with a bunch of olds, man.
Starting point is 00:24:19 I've referenced this before. My fingerprints are all over that's Cubs bullpen. So you're right. They could muddy the waters and you might see a Kittridge go for two innings somewhere or like I got Caleb Fieldbar throwing the freaking breaking ball from the heavens. You know, Taylor Rogers. It is a group of olds that knows how to get it done. And if you're looking over there pitching,
Starting point is 00:24:39 I think one thing that works in the Cubs favor is they don't walk guys. So no free passes. We know how much that means or how much that means in the postseason. and make this team hit. And the Padres don't hit a ton of homers. So they get a string together a bunch of hits. Without the walks, I think that is going to be the biggest play for the Cubs. No free passes.
Starting point is 00:25:02 Make them hit, you know, two or three hits in a road to score a run. Try to keep the ball in the ballpark as much as possible, which should be a strength for the Cubs. And then, yeah, can Kyle Tucker, after a long absence, be the guy in the middle of the lineup? Can PCA kind of find his way and numbers go to zero again? I mention that all the time, man. Like it doesn't matter like how you ended or the regular season is.
Starting point is 00:25:27 Yeah. Earmos. Fucking out the window, dude. It is. It's gone. There's just something about seeing those numbers reset on the Jumbotron that you just, you flush everything. So you get a little extra adrenaline.
Starting point is 00:25:43 All this matters, man. So it's going to be, I guess, you know, I'm trying to like put together. what is the biggest thing in each series. I think for the Cubs, it's, yeah, I can't, Kyle Tucker. That's kind of a layup there, but he needs to be the guy that they traded for. He has to be that guy. And for the Padres, I guess it's score early. Put the pressure on the Cubs to try to come back against your elite bullpen.
Starting point is 00:26:13 That's kind of how I feel about this series. Yeah, I, man. I love the talent in this series. No Luriano for the Padres, which that hurts. He's been a really good writing. I saw his injury. I don't understand it necessarily. He took a swing and miss,
Starting point is 00:26:32 and I believe it's his pointer finger on his right hand. So before the show, I was trying to figure out how he did it. You know, he just, like, came through, and I feel like he tried to, like, pull his hands in at the last second and just kind of, like, got in on that finger. And I don't know. Yeah. I don't really understand it.
Starting point is 00:26:51 I think we're going to get the video up here pretty soon. But it's... See, that tries to pull his hands in just to the last second there. And I don't know if the bat, the force of the bat going just, like, kind of rub the bone the wrong way. I don't know if it's a bruiser or a fracture. Have they said? I'm not sure. I'm not sure.
Starting point is 00:27:10 His postseason. His quote was hopeful, no, delusional hopefulness. Sure. In there. That doesn't sound good. Yeah, that one, and whenever a handmade bone injury happens, I'm like, wait, what happened in your hand? Is Michael Bush going to take this series over and just,
Starting point is 00:27:30 maybe? Is he still pissed at Ollie Marmal for not letting him hit the cycle? Finish with the highest OPS on the Chicago Cubs this year, who their offense was Primo for about four months. Definitely faded a little bit. Let's see if they get back to their ways, because, God, Gansby's got a lot of playoff moments down in the bottom of that lineup.
Starting point is 00:27:51 I don't know how it'll happen, but the guy who has the best stats on the Cubs against these Padres pitchers, it's 40-year-old Justin Turner. I don't know if he finds his way in the mix. Kyle Tucker, like you mentioned, he just came off the IL. He hadn't played the outfield yet.
Starting point is 00:28:09 He's just been deaching. So, yeah, these developing storylines, I think it's how muddy are the Cubs going to make the waters? because with the Padres can end up being very lefty and the Cubs have a ton of lefties. That's what I was going to say. Play up that lefty-lefty matchup. With Luriano being out,
Starting point is 00:28:31 you're going to have Sheets and you're going to have O'Hern in there quite a bit. So that alone just makes that lineup. And we got right now one, two, three, four, five lefties in a starting lineup for the Padres. O'Rise, Merrill Sheets, O'Hearn, and our guy Jake, the real Jake, that is going to be a lane that the Cubs are going to try to expose.
Starting point is 00:28:53 It's just bottom line, that's what they're going to have to do. I think the Cubby's got maybe the toughest draw here of the wild card round. I think the Padres are built for this. I think they're on a redemption tour. I think if there's any guys
Starting point is 00:29:09 that feed off being on the road, it's Tatis and Machado. Like, my goodness. Yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm picking San Diego and I think Cubby fans are going to look back at this year and be like, wait, Horton got hurt the last week. Justin Steele is never a factor.
Starting point is 00:29:27 Like I don't know. Cubs fans, Go Cubs Go is maybe my favorite song right now. So I'm probably going to be rooting Cubbies. This is going to be the 3 p.m. game. So that's an interesting little shot. That's always a weird shadow slot. The shadow time, yeah. for all of these games, get the lead early
Starting point is 00:29:49 because you don't know who's coming out of the pen, you don't know what shadows are going to be out. What do you think, coach? Probably the hardest one for me to predict, if we're being honest. I think this is going to be a close, I think this one goes three. I hope it goes three because this is going to be some good baseball. I also am on the Padres here.
Starting point is 00:30:12 I've been a believer in their team, and I know a lot of, a lot of Padres fans weren't believers in this team. throughout part of this season. But there's just something about like Tautis in the playoffs. I don't know. I keep going back to that.
Starting point is 00:30:26 Like this guy's going to come up and just nuke balls. It's kind of like what he does. And that bullpen is just so scary. I know the Cubs pitching has been really, really good this year. I understand that. But Horton changes everything,
Starting point is 00:30:41 him being out. Can the Padres get exposed a little bit with the lefties? Yes. I think they'll over. overcome that. I think I'll go Padres here. It should. It may be the best baseball. How does how does young Moises by Asteroes get involved in this? He's had some big swings for the Cubbies lately.
Starting point is 00:31:02 Must watch just like all these series and it's it's a coin flip. Sorry Cubs fans that had to listen to that last part. Let's jump over to the American League and it's brought to you by Corona. It's a Corona October people. It's that time of year. Kick back. Get some coronas and enjoy the ride, whether you're watching your team and going through the stress of it all, or you're watching another game. Maybe you're celebrating a victory or if you're getting ready for loss. Corona helps for everyone. And this time of year, when anyone can catch fire, go on a run and take their fans to the promised land. Why not do it with some corona? So go ahead. Turn the cheap seats into your own private island with some ice cold coronas, the official
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Starting point is 00:32:02 favorite present time. Get yours. Order Corona.com. 21 plus, enjoy responsibly Corona extra beer imported by Crown Imports, Chicago, Illinois. Coach Shreve, I have something before we jump into Yankees, Red Sox. Jesus. I'm not ready.
Starting point is 00:32:18 I'm straight up not ready. Is the weather going to be too good for these playoff baseball games? It's like 80, 70 and sunny in New York. I think it's 70, 80 sunny in Chicago. L.A., known for their weather. Is the weather going to be too good for playoff baseball? I don't even know what you're trying to say here. Wednesday, it's a lot.
Starting point is 00:32:45 supposed to be a high of 69 in New York. Nice. Okay. It's starting to drop. I understand what you're saying. It's a steep progression. It's going like 80, 70, 60 in New York City. Can I go back and change my prediction?
Starting point is 00:33:01 I'm going Cubs. Okay. I love it. I'm just thinking about the lefties. Boyd. I'ma. Fieldbar. Drew Palm.
Starting point is 00:33:13 Drew Palm. Rogers. Yeah. Yeah. There's a lot of lefty, lefty stuff going on here. So maybe you just pitch around some of the big right-handed guys. They're going to agree. They're not available.
Starting point is 00:33:28 Tough. Lefties abound. Good for you. Cubs and three. Hey, I'll tell you what. What am I truly rooting for? Because I do like San Diego a lot. But waiting for the winner of that series is Milwaukee.
Starting point is 00:33:44 So if we get the Pat Murphy, Craig counsel, Chicago Milwaukee. That's a win-win right there, to be honest. I, God. If you're the Brewers, whichever team you get is kind of a tough draw. But it's that time of year. There's only a couple teams left. You're not getting a lot of cakewalks. All right, I'm done dodging it.
Starting point is 00:34:05 It's Yankees Red Sox. It's the best rivalry in this sport. It has an argument for one of the best rivalries in sport. The Red Sox had an amazing off-season prochet, Bregman. They got all these young guys along the way. Took a little bit to figure out. They started clicking. They end up in the second wild card.
Starting point is 00:34:27 The New York Yankees got off to a great start. Had a horrific summer. Finish strong to the fact that they tied the Blue Jays for the best record in the American League, but they did not have the tiebreaker. So they are hosting the Boston Red Sox, 4-3. The Boston Red Sox have had their number this season.
Starting point is 00:34:48 They've had their number the past couple's season. 9-4, head-to-head Red Sox this year. At one point, the Red Sox won eight straight against the New York Yankees. The Yankees did win the last series in September, taking the first two games. Six times the Yankees and Red Sox have faced off in the postseason. The Red Sox have won the last three.
Starting point is 00:35:09 How do you like that? 0-4, 2018 and 2021. the one game wild card. Postseason head-to-head all time is 12 and 12. Judges postseason career is lurking in this series. And I think the two lefties that are going to start off this series, Crochet and Freed, Cora and Boone legacies on the line.
Starting point is 00:35:34 Oh, boy, Trev. It's a pit in my stomach. What do you see? This matchup has our entire office in a frenzy. see I can see in your eyes. Joe's is fasting a 72 hour fast right before the playoffs. I told him, I said,
Starting point is 00:35:51 I love this for you. It's great, but like what weird timing. Jimmy is about to have a baby at any second. He's going nuts. So this is, it's just chaos. I love it,
Starting point is 00:36:02 man. I do want to mention it because I don't think we've talked about it yet. And I'm sure it's going to be talked about all over your screens during the playoffs. Harvard freaking way. with at least four. There might be more guys that I don't know of. Four guys in the freaking playoffs, man. PCA for the Cubs,
Starting point is 00:36:25 Jack Flaherty for the Tigers, two guys matching up here in Gilead O'N-Fried. How crazy is that? It's nuts, man. Again, my high school doesn't have that kind of legacy. My guy Shane Bannon got drafted in the seventh round by the Chiefs. Katie Stevens is on some. TV shows.
Starting point is 00:36:45 And then like your boy might be bringing up the rear. Yeah, baby. That Harvard Westlake is. The Mission League in general, which is a high school baseball league out here, Hunter Green came from it. John Carlos Stanton is from there as well. That's two Notre Dame guys. I mean, we're represented big time.
Starting point is 00:37:03 So that's, I don't know, it's just cool for me. It kind of hits close to home. But shout out all my boys. Fingerprints all over it. Yeah, all over it. All over it. What do I see from this series, Jake? I see a freaking bloodbath, both sides, and I love it. I do. I think this is going to be fascinating.
Starting point is 00:37:19 It's because we talk about game one, how much it means, and you got Garrett Crochet and Max Freed going up belly to belly. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that. This is going to be, it's going to be awesome. I have no idea. My take on the Yankees before the season was, are these guys going to hit enough. They're the best offense in baseball. Way to go, Treve. I'm sorry. I didn't see Jazz going 30-30. I didn't see it.
Starting point is 00:37:50 I didn't see Ben Rice being, I didn't even know who Ben Rice was for being honest. That's fair. Truly. Stanton with a big bounce back year. Judge, everyone could have seen that. Trent Grisham hitting 30 homers.
Starting point is 00:38:05 Like, what are we doing here? So much has gone right for the Yankees offensively. And you just got to hope that carries over into the postseason because as we mentioned, once the numbers change into the postseason, the regular season means nothing. So now it's time for these guys to kind of reset. Not that it's detrimental to guys that are going good. You see the zeros. I think it does help guys that are going bad see the zeros. I don't think it's like a wash for guys that are going well. But yeah, that's, it's been my biggest thing here. I think Jimmy talked about this.
Starting point is 00:38:37 I was watching something you guys are down talking yanks. everyone's hitting everyone's hitting you know volpein no and then Ryan McMahon how bad he's been offensively has been interesting but he's been so good defensively that it doesn't matter uh I thought that was a really cool point by I think was the Jimmy was talking about that I expect to see some plays out of him I don't know man um the Red Sox losing Roman Anthony it's so big like I think that can be a difference maker here but there's I feel like there's more dog in the Red Sox I think the Yankees have a better overall lineup
Starting point is 00:39:15 So what does that mean for the series? I don't know The Yankees are a really good team You saw Yankee fans getting squirmy over the summer Because it was this weird exercise of like Wait, if I go around the horn, I kind of like Almost everyone But it got so dark again this summer
Starting point is 00:39:34 But so many teams also did that Like maybe not to that level but you could go through every postseason team and talk about their ups and downs this series. I mean, wait till we get to Detroit in a second. That, like, this Yankees team is really good. I think Crochet is a horrible matchup for everyone, but it's also interesting.
Starting point is 00:39:56 Max Fried has the most ground balls to the left side of the infield. So Ryan McMahon joining the team has been magnificent. Huge. Magnificent, because the way he plays third base, like his body is literally built for it. He kind of turns in. into Gumby on some plays, and it's just easy for him, and he wants the ball.
Starting point is 00:40:15 That the Yankees went out and they got some lefty mashers. They got a med Rosario, who has really good numbers against Crochet, but they probably don't have a spot to put him. You don't think he finds his way in there just because of that? Well, it's tough, Trev, because you kind of can't take out McMahon because now you're hurting Max Fried, who he's getting the rock. And his defense is more important than the three at bad. he might have against crochet.
Starting point is 00:40:42 So your other, he hasn't played the outfield for the Yankees, and it's massive Yankees left field, which where I hope, left, where I hope home field matters is, the socks are going to put in their lefty mashers. Romie Gonzalez is going to be in there. Is my guy Rob Reff hurt?
Starting point is 00:41:00 That like, I hope big Yankee Stadium left field matters, but if I'm hoping for that, that means I need Cody Bellinger out there, because the way that he plays the outfield is incredible, that the Yankees might not be able to press their buttons. It would just be Paul Goldschmidt, who's been great first lefties this year.
Starting point is 00:41:20 He hasn't been good against Crochet, and that would take Ben Rice out of the lineup, probably, who he's had, like, the best at bats outside of judge of any Yankee hitter. So it's where this matchup is really tough that the Yankees have buttons to press, but they might not be able to press them, you can't really take Trent Grisham out, even though he's worse versus lefties,
Starting point is 00:41:43 but his center field play in what he's been to this team this year. The Red Sox know how to press the Yankees buttons. Cora knows how to press the Yankees buttons. Bless you. Ben Rice that you mentioned can play catcher. Defensively, Wells, is better. So are you going to put Rice in there, and then you're going to risk having one of those Yankees nightmare games
Starting point is 00:42:03 where everyone starts running all over the place on you? You kind of can't do that. So a lot of the Yankees' buttons, they won't be able to press early. Maybe it allows them to have buttons to press late. But my God, I mean, the Red Sox talent, the blood in the water, they have been 500 without Roman Anthony, who that guy is a difference maker and he won't be on the field. But yeah, if the Yankees start to bleed,
Starting point is 00:42:29 this is the number one team that turns into sharks and starts to terrorize them. Isn't this, I mean, okay, you talk about the Yankees have buttons to push. Isn't this like, if you're an analytically driven team, you push the buttons. Right, but it's, how do you push them? If you can't take McMahon's bat out for Rosario. Is there a chance they put rice behind the place? I know what you're talking.
Starting point is 00:42:56 There's a chance. There's a chance. I know, or do you just kind of have, gosh, man, so interesting. Goldie hasn't done anything against Crochet so it's not like you start him because he got these bangor numbers right He's 2 for 12 I don't think that's
Starting point is 00:43:13 I don't think that's enough to start Goldie then Yes but he's been so good versus lefties this year a 981 OPS But we're not facing lefties We're facing Garrett Crochet Right but it's been fantastic
Starting point is 00:43:28 He had his first start against the Yankees Sixthes pitch five runs and after that It is quick math here, 21 in the third innings, five earned runs with like a thousand Ks. Yeah. Yeah. We are very interested to see that Yankees lineup because it's also, there's an argument that it's like, hey, you guys are the better team.
Starting point is 00:43:52 Like kind of trust what's worked. Like, Trent Grisham, Trent Grisham deserves a start. Like, God, the season he has put together. that it, yeah, it's going to be very interesting to see how if they try to outfox the Fox, because that's kind of what the Red Sox have been in Cora in these situations. He's all about player empowerment. How is he going to deploy his young pick Connolly early who was broken onto the scene late this season? How is he going to operate his bullpen?
Starting point is 00:44:24 Game one, it might not matter a lot. I mean, it could be crochet to Chapman. And then you're sitting there on your hands like, what the hell? happen to them. I think if we go through kind of like the big matchups here, I think starting pitching,
Starting point is 00:44:37 I might lean Yankees in a three-game set. Right now, it looks like the Red Sox are going Crochet, Gialito, Beio. That's what it seems like. And for the Yankees,
Starting point is 00:44:53 it'll be freed, Rodon, and who's game three? It would be Cam Schlittler, the young. Slittler? I mean, he's nasty. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:45:00 Young, but nasty. Seven innings pitch, two hits, nine case, throws an easy hunch that, yeah, it's just tough spot to be in. Game on the, season on the line. Yeah, you put him in.
Starting point is 00:45:12 So, okay, let's just say I give the Yankees a slight edge there. Okay. And lineups, I think you have to give the edge to the Yankees. Although, I mean, the Red Sox line up, no slouch. No slouch.
Starting point is 00:45:23 But then the bullpen, I think that's where we can really start to kind of like talk, like, who has the advantage. I think the Yankees, might have more guys, but I think high, high leverage. I think Whitlock and Chapman are like,
Starting point is 00:45:37 it's pretty freaking good. It's kind of hard to beat what they've done this year. So maybe I give the advantage to the Red Sox, but just slightly. So if we're talking overall, I think the Yankees are the favorites here, but it doesn't feel that way to me. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:45:55 Yeah, it's, you're hosting. You know, we just talked about the three big elements of your team. I guess defensively, you can talk. Red Sox really good in the outfield, not so good in the infield. And for the Yankees, not really great anywhere?
Starting point is 00:46:14 Like average? The outfield's pretty good. Cody, Trent, and Judge play a pretty solid outfit. McMahon's been brilliant. Volpe's all over the place and circle him to watch. Jazz is good at second. and when Goldie's out there good, Rice, not as much.
Starting point is 00:46:33 So, okay, okay, maybe wash defensively. This is going to be a crazy series. I know. It's going to be loud. It's going to be obnoxious. Man. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:46:49 What do you, I mean, I know who you're going to pick. I know who you're going to pick. Yeah, I'm... Can you set aside your fandom for... Because, like, this is, great. The twins were here. I would have to figure that out. Right. Twins, not here. Hmm. So I can just go from what I'm really, really, really thinking.
Starting point is 00:47:09 So how about- I'll give you my pick if you want to some more time to digest. I did, I did a Wake and Jake episode last night. It's different. Um, and just, you know, kind of raw, less stats, what I'm seeing, what I'm feeling. The Yankees are a better team than this Red Sox team and they're playing at home. But I, I do genuinely think I would, pick them. I think Seattle, if they were to link up with Seattle, that would be the ALCS. Obviously, like, so much is going to happen in the postseason by then that your thoughts can change.
Starting point is 00:47:46 I think Seattle, on paper, is better than the New York Yankees. I think with their pitching staff, I think with the balance in their lineup, I do. So that's me trying to get out of my Yankee fandom the best I can. I think the Yankees are, the Blue Jays are tight, but I think the Yankees are about as good as any AL team. And that's kind of been the story of the American League that the Yankees being at home with Fried and Rodon, the bullpen has been really strong lately. Judge, if not now, when?
Starting point is 00:48:20 That, yeah, I, I'm picking the Yankees. Shout out Incubis for that. Great album, if not now, when. I'm going Red Sox, Jake. I have them in the World Series for my preseason prediction. I think there just is something a little bit different about this team. They have the right kind of chemistry that you look for. Roman Anthony being out really, really hurts.
Starting point is 00:48:42 Like that is, you really wish that guy was going to be in this series. And I believe there's still a chance he's going to be playing in the postseason if they advance, which is great. But for this series, no. I don't really have a good reason other than I pick them preseason, and I have a feeling like they're just kind of like they're just dogs. Because everything we just talked about probably Leans Yankees. But this is the playoffs, man. I'm going, I'm going Red Sox.
Starting point is 00:49:14 Max Freed's career playoff numbers aren't, aren't what you'd expect from him. So hopefully that's... I expect, I like Red Sox game one, just because of Garrett Crochet. Love Max Fried. It's been awesome. I think he's a phenomenal person. I think Garrett Crochet is on a different level than anybody.
Starting point is 00:49:33 Well, and Treve, I guess that's the mental hurdle that Yankee fans are going through because if you like Crochet in game one, 10 of the 12 of these series, that's been it. So, and if... So much pressure gets put on the team to lose his game one. Oh, my God. If the Red Sox win game one, Yankee Stadium on Wednesday night will be a scary environment for the Yankees.
Starting point is 00:49:58 Yeah. Yeah, I don't know. It's Yankees Red Sox. It's three games. There's a lot of different guys. Legacies and stuff that'll be blown up in significant ways with one swing. Daniel Lowe, the new Red Sox first baseman. He can become a legend instantly. The Yankees are really good at home.
Starting point is 00:50:18 I think 50 and 31. They've got a lot of guys that can hit that porch. I don't know. Max Fried's been domic. against the Red Sox, too. He's great. Max Fried has been great. 18 and a third innings pitched
Starting point is 00:50:32 four earned runs. Sheesh, man. This is going to be a tough one to call. Again, I'm going Red Sox. I don't feel great about it. That'll be the 6 p.m. game. We'll be streaming all of those on Talking Yanks. We'll have the other streams.
Starting point is 00:50:51 Jam baseball, talking baseball. We'll figure that out. J.M. Baseball. Our final series, Coach Trev. It's brought to you by the Draft King Sportsbook. Today's episode is brought to you by Draft Kings. We are going to be streamed. We're going to be live betting games.
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Starting point is 00:52:12 Coach Trev, Chris Rose's Guardians, somehow... What the hell, man? What the hell, dude? Somehow won the AL Central. 15 and a half games back. They are going to host the Detroit Kitties for three games in beautiful Cleveland.
Starting point is 00:52:30 The weather looks good there. These are going to be the 1 PM games. The Guardians won the season series 8 to 5. The Tigers were 4 and 2 in Cleveland this year. Okay, they last linked up. The Guardians have been dominant. The last six games all in September, five and one in those games.
Starting point is 00:52:51 A historic comeback or a historic failure, depending where you want to point it. The Tigers 7 and 17 in September. That's crazy. The worst record in the final month of a season by a playoff team since the World Series began. We've got two teams sprinting opposite directions. We've got some central baseball.
Starting point is 00:53:16 Who better to talk about it than Trevor Goof? Kind of hurts my heart. People ask me like, what teams do you hate? the Yankees, you hate the Mariners, you hate the Blue Jays, you're not covering Cal Raleigh properly. What the people. Yeah. Agreed. Who I really hate is all the central teams. I can't stand the Guardians. I can't stand the Tigers or the Royals, man. It just hurts, okay? But these two teams, they played a great series last year. I don't feel remember how good
Starting point is 00:53:47 that series was back and forth with the homers. Obviously not like a big name or big market teams, but like if you're a fan of baseball, it's going to be pretty damn good, man. The Tigers, you limped into the playoffs. I mean, you crawled into the playoffs. I don't know if limp is the right word. You mentioned seven and 17. That's insane.
Starting point is 00:54:11 The Guardians on the complete opposite end of that, just rushing in with no real stats to back it up. I always tell Chris Rose, it doesn't matter. Stats do not matter with the Guardians. They just find ways to win. And I always tell them, it's Brian Rochio, it's Brian Rochio. And of course, I love that they not only, they won the division. They kept after the last game, they were talking about that.
Starting point is 00:54:35 We won the division. We didn't win the tiebreaker to get in. They won the division because Brian Rochio, after Rowdy Tellez, hits a three-run bomb in the 10th inning, and you think, oh, they're just going to celebrate after a loss. Nope, Boehler double. Brian Rochio, Homer, walk off into A.L. Central Championship. this freaking guy, dude.
Starting point is 00:54:56 It's always him. The momentum is it couldn't be more drastic between these two teams and Jake, guess what? It doesn't matter at all. I know. Because you got that bad man on the mound, game one for the Tigers, Terry Scoobel, who's going to win a second consecutive Sa Young.
Starting point is 00:55:17 Dalton has some really good stuff on the sheet, though, talking about going into progressive field. You know, Scoob's last year, to Lane Thomas Grand Slam in the DS. And just last week, they were bunting all over him and that was not good. I'm assuming we're going to see more of that because Stephen Vote understands what that does to a pitcher. If you can't field the bunts and it's not going well, they just get mad, they get out of sync. I expect to see more of that.
Starting point is 00:55:45 This is going to be, it's going to be a baseball series. Guardians are going to play ball. The Tigers are going to try to stop that. They're going to try to out pitch. It's, this might be the most fun series. If we're really talking actual baseball, you're going to see big moments, big names in all the other series. Padres Cubs, huge names.
Starting point is 00:56:09 Dodgers Reds, huge names. Yankees Red Sox, huge names. This one, I mean, ask a casual baseball fan to name players on these rosters and they probably wouldn't be able to do it outside of what? A Terrick Scoobel? Jose Ramirez. A casual baseball fan, yes. A guy on the street, no.
Starting point is 00:56:30 Probably nobody, if we're being honest here. But there's going to be some fun baseball. Some of the notes, like on the Tigers, they are last and stolen bases, but they are one of the best base running teams in baseball. They take the extra base. They go first or third all the time. So that's like kind of an interesting facet here.
Starting point is 00:56:50 Like you don't really have to worry about them stealing bags. They have 60 on the year. 60 on the year. But they run the base as well. It's, and then you get the Guardian's offense who's like, they're one of the worst offenses in the sport. 28th and runs, 29th in average,
Starting point is 00:57:10 29th in OEP, 29th in slugging, 28th at homers. It's crazy. They pitch their ass off to get into the playoffs. Can it continue against this Tiger's offense? Yeah, I can. But I think we're going to see a lot of like, I think we're going to see a lot of small ball.
Starting point is 00:57:24 I think we're going to see a lot of hitting runs. Maybe not a lot of hitting. Stuff of that nature. Situational hitting is going to be paramount in this series. Yeah, and Gavin Williams and Bybee, probably getting the first two stars. Still not confirmed, but Gavin Williams has earned it
Starting point is 00:57:39 where his final year stat line has landed in Bybee, 182 innings. He's been pitching better of late, and they both pitch really well against the Tiger. And everyone has been pitching well. That's how they went, 19 and 4 in their last 23 games because nobody really stood out offensively. And some of their year-end numbers are just insane.
Starting point is 00:58:02 Outside of Jose Ramirez, only Kyle Manzardo, the other Guardian, with 15 plus home runs over 162. It's going to be interesting, man. It really is. Scoobel has to do something special in that game one, and he easily can. like a copy and paste anything you'd say about crochet, right? That I think the old baseball phrase is your momentum is only good as your next day's starting
Starting point is 00:58:35 pitcher. Well, Detroit's next day starting pitcher is pretty damn good. From there, they don't know what they're going to do. Are they going to give it to Flaherty? Are they going to give it to Casey Mize? Do they go full pitching chaos? I think if they win game one with scobs, it's all hands on deck. you can't even really call it a starter.
Starting point is 00:58:57 I think they just go for it. They go for the jugular and they don't. I think they probably do that for the next two games. Win game one, next two games, no roles per se. Like no starters, nothing. It's like, we're going to throw the gauntlet at you. That's how they're going to have to approach this.
Starting point is 00:59:12 Yeah. Yeah. And I guess it's how much is Cleveland? I guess if they win or lose game one, that's how they're going to do it. Game one set, other two games, man. Like we're going to see Hinch do all his little, you know.
Starting point is 00:59:25 Yeah, I almost, I mentally went the opposite way. Like if you're the Tigers and you win game one, for me it's almost, hey, give the ball to Jack who's pitching a lot of big games and see if you could get five out of them. Five, no. Yeah. I don't think they, I don't think they approach it that way. I think they're going to try to knock it out.
Starting point is 00:59:47 It's so many, so many young guys. Who's going to have their moment? I mean, half, half this Cleveland roster. George Valera's been hitting second for them versus righties. C.J. Kaffis, Rokio, Arias. They just called up a guy Jonathan Rodriguez. Is he going to get thrown into the spotlight? I think so.
Starting point is 01:00:07 He's been hitting cleanup versus lefties the last couple of games. So that's how they do it in Detroit, man. They need someone to change the whole tone. And again, there was times we really liked Glaber this year. Gary Carpenter's year-end numbers landed below what you'd expect. Orkelson, Riley Green, someone's got to step up for the offense. Scoboble in game one, you feel great about that. You feel great about that.
Starting point is 01:00:37 Someone has to do something. You can feel great about Territ school bowl. That's awesome. I do too, but Gavin Williams has been an absolute menace for the Guardians as well. You will get Carrie Carpenter in the lineup, because Williams is a right-hander. I'm curious if they try to exploit that, try to get him in and out of the lineup to Stephen Boat have some sort of trickery up his sleeves,
Starting point is 01:01:01 like wasting a pitcher. Will we see that? I'm curious if he's going to call in, I guess you can't really do that without fudging the rules. Right. Maybe he does. Maybe he does. Maybe he does.
Starting point is 01:01:19 I don't know. It's going to be interesting. I have my pick. Okay. Don't like my pick. Okay. I'm going to Tigers. Okay.
Starting point is 01:01:31 I think what I said happening is going to happen. I think we do see a really, really good school start. I think that they end up winning the game. I think it's going to be a close game. And then we see the pitching chaos comes game two and three, and I think they sneak one of those and win it. That's how it's playing out in my head. Again, you mentioned all the momentum.
Starting point is 01:01:57 Good and bad momentum. Yeah. Is there such thing as bad momentum? Yeah. I think so. For sure. So good and bad momentum. Out the window, it's playoffs.
Starting point is 01:02:07 It doesn't matter. I don't think it matters one bit that the tigers were struggling coming into the postseason. I don't at all. I don't think it matters one bit that the guardians are flying high. I don't think it matters. Does it matter that they got home field? Yes.
Starting point is 01:02:19 I think Cleveland's going to be a freaking, it's going to be rocking, dude. That matters, and that's the only thing that matters. 19 and 4 in the final 23 games for the guardians, my gosh. And I'm throwing it out the window right now, Jake. I know you are. Yeah, I guess for me, you're right. It doesn't matter, and it can be thrown out the window. But also in the first inning, if Jose Ramirez hits to run Homer,
Starting point is 01:02:47 that's not out the window. I think all the dark thoughts sink in. I'm not saying that's going to happen, but I think Gavin Williams is really damn good. I think Bybee, I think Parker Messick, I think all of their pitchers are so good that we've talked about teams mucking it up and going postseason mode.
Starting point is 01:03:05 Like, Cleveland might be the team that's built the best to muck it up right now with their mix of righties, lefties, starting pitchers, relievers, that we're talking about them not needing to do that. because their starting pitching has been so good that if they need to, and I don't know, man,
Starting point is 01:03:21 there's just something about them that it just feels like, you know what Jose Ramirez is, everyone else is a goddamn wild card, but almost in a good way. Like, you know, Rokkeo try to hit a homer, dude. And if you do, great, if you strike out, that's fine.
Starting point is 01:03:36 Go make another highlight defensively. I'm going Cleveland. Okay. I like that for us. Chris Rose. Come on. He's going to be a mess. I got to show with him in about 10 minutes.
Starting point is 01:03:47 and he's going to be a mess. So that would be the winner of that series goes on to face the Seattle Mariners. The winner of Yankees Red Sox goes on to face the Blue Jays. Oh gosh. Guardians versus the Mariners. That seems like a classic
Starting point is 01:04:04 late 90s matchup. Yeah. It's a good 1995 series. Independence Day came out in 1996, by the way. That was not 1995. In my head it was 94. I know that's a famous. July 4th, 1996, I believe, was the opening day.
Starting point is 01:04:24 Lex. Who you got winning it, Coach, Treve. You're still going your preseason Sox Dodgers? Oh, we're going World Series? Whoa. I mean, I have to stick with it. I don't even know what, if we got the tweet up, I don't know what it is. I have the Dodgers over the Red Sox.
Starting point is 01:04:45 I don't remember the games. Have I hit that again? I don't know. I mean, nothing will happen, but it would be fun. Yeah, I'm a, before this, before the season, I, I said Philly, if not now, when. I think they're set up as, as good as they can be. I love their veterans. I love their home field.
Starting point is 01:05:13 God, if they get the Dodgers, that's going to be insane. I'm going Phillies, Mariners. A little bit of a sadness hedge for me because I do like the Yanks. I don't know. For Seattle, if not now when,
Starting point is 01:05:30 and for the Phillies, it's like, it's got to be. That being said. All right, I have my, it's the Dodgers over the Red Sox in five. So Dodgers over Red Sox in five. I don't know if, I don't know if I tweeted out with that.
Starting point is 01:05:43 That's four victories to one. That hurts, but. Yeah. Hey, thank you guys for joining us Coming along the ride with us this whole postseason We will be recording tomorrow night after the games Reacting to game one of the wild card Oh my God
Starting point is 01:06:04 Thank you socks, really? I love it so much It's you, it's Jared Karabas It's Big Poppy It's Damon I could have been a red socks I turned down $5 million to be in Oakland A. You with that green monster?
Starting point is 01:06:27 It could have been me in Chili Davis.

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