Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Selecting the April 2024 All-JM Team! | 831

Episode Date: May 1, 2024

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Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball. It's a special day. All JM, the first month. It's always messy. Trevor Plu from the sky? Not in the gym. Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball presented to you by Seatgeek. Got an update on them even more in a minute.

Get ready for that. Joined BBD on the ones and twos and the great Jombino in the last. in the lab. Trevor Plouf covering the Caliente twins. They're calling them, Jim. Calling you out on the air during pinch of changes. Calling out me and LaTroix. LaTroi didn't understand or know what was happening.

Still doesn't. Yeah. What? Still doesn't. I was with my family. Treve. He's from Gary, Indiana. Okay.

Trevor Plouf. One gym appearance. But I'm happy for him. are back to life. Will any of them be all JM? I don't know. Not looking great, if I'm being honest. How you doing, Jimmer?

I'm doing well. I don't think I have any twins winning, so sorry, twins fans. You can leave the show if that's what you're here for. Jeffers and Julian. I'm not sure if I have any twins. The all-JM team, it's a special day. Basically, I don't like All-Star votes,

so I said we should do our own JM voting at the end of the year, like when All-Stars should be voted on if people think of that. is like this guy at a great season. He was an All-Star. And then we said, let's do it month by month. So the first is April, but then you'll get April plus May to see who started hot and stayed hot. And if you win April, you win April plus May plus May plus June.

April plus May plus June. But all the way, you get a golden daisy necklace that we ship to the players and they wear proudly. Silver. Silver, Daisy. My bad. Yeah. You get a pedal if you win just one. of the time frames.

The first month is always the most fun, especially when we look back at the end of the year. I know some just off the top of my head, some former first month guys. Jorge Mateo had an electric first month a couple years ago, that he was the Hale's best shortstop. He did not keep it going throughout the year. Didn't Jonah Heim like early on? He's now like up for it for real a lot of months. But he was an early 8.000. April winner two years ago, I think.

2022, he was right there for April, won it in May. And I don't know how close he was for the other months, but he didn't win any month besides May. And last year, I believe that April, there was a weird second base or winner or shortstop winner. Simeon dazied at second Mateo, as Jake mentioned, was the April shortstop winner. That's not what I'm thinking.

So maybe it was a year before or something. But yeah, there's always an odd one. And that like doesn't, you're like, oh, yeah. Mookie didn't get the Silver Daisy because this dude stole it from him. 2022 Vogelbach that DeH. Harper swept the rest of the year. Ah, Voguey. This year is no different.

A little teaser if we've been looking at at the outfields. Where are the stars? Judgey, Tatis, Acuna, not them. But maybe some players from your favorite team. And before we get into it, like I was saying, Seat Geek. Thank you to Seekkeek for being a part of everything we do, our presenting sponsor. And the Code Talking 10.

It's May 1st. I've been telling you. Get it in before April. Got on the horn. Said, hey, Mr. Seekek, people need their tickies. Said, please stop calling me. We'll keep the code live. The Code Talking 10 is still live.

10% off any tickets. right after this episode, I'm taking the train to Baltimore to watch the birds play the Yanks. Buy ticket to that game. Use code talking 10, and you'll get a secret. I can't tell you what it is,

but if you come up to me, you prove to me to use that code, you'll get a secret. Oh, wow. Yeah. So, download the Seatgeek app. Use code talking 10. Do it now.

Do it now. Because Mr. Seekiekeek will revoke this offer at some point. And you know what, Jake, I've decided that, not that I really, this is anything new, or it might not even hinder my picks at all. But I don't like how all awards. Did you see the NBA awards?

I don't even know what award they're voting on, but the two guys got the same amount of third place votes, the same amount of second place votes, and it was one vote different in first place, some NBA award. And like the Tsai Young is a consensus now because everyone just goes off war, goes off whatever number they think the public likes.

Like all sports, voting now. There's, besides MVP sometimes, has lost its nuance. Right. A little. I've decided,

I'm voting for what I like. Awards are supposed to have a little bit of feel. Yeah. Like, I like quality at bats. I don't like strikeouts. I'm pretty dead set in that. Okay.

So I don't know how many come down to that because that's not the number one thing I'm looking at. But when it comes to differential maker, I'm going to vote like, no, this is what I like personally, even though I know the, the monoculture of sports of talk. does like just values war. Yeah, and I, you know, I think there's some team feel,

and it's also what's going on at the position. So let's get into it. Trevor Plouffe is covering those Caliente twins. He has submitted his votes. I have them ready to go for any tiebreakers. We will need those, but I think to start, I think we're in the clear. Because with the American League catching position,

we've had some great performances. The guys that made the list, five names. Hello. You love a catcher, Jim. I love the catcher position. I'm very happy that the catcher position right now is in offensive position in baseball because three years ago,

it was looking like we were doomed and it was going to become the new pitcher hitting spot. Right. But no, the catching position is bringing thump. I think four of these catchers would be all-j-m outfielders, which normally it's the opposite. The names, Yiner Diaz, Ryan Jeffers, we already kind of spoiled. Yeah.

That he's been great, but it's just not happening. Salvi Perez, Adley Rushman, and Connor Wong makes the list with a late 582 slug. Oh. Just aim for the monster kid. Jim, we do have a consensus on this one, so I don't know if you want to tee that up or hand out some other flowers. No, there's a lot of good players here and a lot of good stuff and blah-la-la, but we'll keep it moving.

My vote is Salvador Perez. He's caught 18 games, so like some people could look at that. I did the math at 62 percent, or no, 62 percent, 18 divided by 29. 62 percent of games he's caught, which is enough for me to give in that position, especially early on. But he's played a lot of games. He has 104 outbats. He has a 346 batting average, a 404 on base percentage,

the only of these five catchers or these catchers with over 400 on base percentage, and then a 596 slug, the only one that has almost a 600 slugging percentage. And then in Quality at Bats, a stat that I really like right now, he's eighth in the American League. Quality at bat is any at bat that, because I will reference this further, is you get a hit, you get a walk, you get hit by a pitch, sack hit, sack fly, move the runner over, productive out. Or the at bat last seven plus pitches.

So you made the pitcher work, which is super valuable. And then they credited it. I wouldn't do this if it was me, but the website, if you barrel it, they give you a quality of bat. Which I actually don't like that, but I can't create my own algorithm at this point. Ideally, it's probably not enough of those that it's like ruining it for. Yeah. Wells probably has a, like,

the Yankees catcher. is probably a barreled quality of bat merchant right now. We're like, I don't know if that was. The results haven't been. Salvi Perez's eighth in the American League amongst like all hitters. So it's a stat. Use your stats wisely. Yeah, it's not the end all be all.

Right. Yeah, no, but even if you are a war person, Salvi has that. I think him and Adley and Yiner should give each other hell the rest of the way. And maybe you will too, Jefferson Wong, but it's Salvi right now. You know, Salvi has been playing a little bit of first base. So maybe we'll watch out for that later in the year. Maybe he starts sneaking in some center field and we can tuck him in out there. Adley with a bunch of DHS too because he's obviously so valuable.

But it's Salvador Perez. He's gone off to incredible start. 180 WRC plus, almost a 600 slugging. Snaps for Sal. Only note I've got on Ryan Jeffers because it stuck out because he looked a little behind on that bats and played it. appearances. He was in range. He's been hit by seven pitches.

It's tough. Damn. I noticed that and couldn't let it go unmentioned. Yep. And then, yeah, I mean, Salvi and Adley are mainstays. Adley hits two. Salvy hits four. Every game basically there. That counts for something. Yeah. Ryan Jeffers, 27, sneaky career OPS Plus 11. So maybe there's more coming there. The Mitch Garver path. Trevor also voted Salvi. Nice. God. He loves Salve.

It's his only connection to today's current baseball. First base in the American League. A little bit of a new wave, I think, begins the discussion. How's your lefty-righty? We've got Ryan Mountcastle, Jess's Bachelorette, wife, husband, ballplayer friend. Josh Naylor, who put it all together last year and seems to even be doing more this year.

And then Anthony Rizzo snuck on the list late with, what was it, four homers in six games, but he is outgunned in this one that. I think it's Naylor, Mountcastle, and Jim, I'm excited to see your thoughts on this, because we discussed some of these beforehand to see where the layups were. These are, these are pretty tight.

Yeah, I went to, I went and, like, look deeper than just the slash line and the counting stats for these guys. Naylor has a 283 batting average. Mountcastle has a 305. So Mountcastle has them an average. Mount Castle, they have the same on base percentage, it's four points difference.

Same WRC plus. There's a lot of copycat numbers. Nailer has them in slug by 30 points, which gives Nailer the higher OPS. And I went Nailer. Nailer has a better strikeout to walk ratio. Nailer actually has the seventh best strikeout to walk ratio in the American League,

which is funny because he visibly hates walking. Every time he gets walked, he gets upset about it. Nailer is also absolutely dominating relief pitchers this year. He's got the second best batting average versus relief pitchers. And then I did look defensively, and I think I didn't write down a note, which I'm guessing means they just grated out somewhat neutral there, so it didn't sway me in any way. I don't think either are plus plus, but I don't want to speak out of turn.

But I went Nailer, for the record. and a credit to him, he's also crushing lefties this year, which used to be he was like a pl- People thought he might be on the platoon path. He's now hitting 300-verse lefties with a 9-97 OPS. That's actually better than his 8-81-vers-righties. And that's where this came down to, for me, as I do think Nailer gets the nod.

I don't know if I've got too much of the guard. Hard Dog's hype train in my head a little bit, but I think even righty-lefty platoon splits, because Mountcastle is better versus lefties, I think Naylor just gets the slide edge. And again, you're going to hear this with a lot of the upcoming votes because we have one month of data coming up. But these two guys are so close.

But Naylor, with the... I will be old school a little bit. Homer's RBI? At first base. Got them. That's what we're looking for. I'm not going to flex Nailer's two stolen bases because he does have two caught stealings as well.

Yeah. Mount Castle grades out better on fan graphs, the Vents have run saves, but Nailer grades out better, outs above average. So I think that's why I just threw my hands up and said, enough. About the same.

Who'd Trev take? Trev did take Nailer. Wow. Now I feel like Mount Castle should have got a vote, but I like that we were in lockstep because he was in the running here. Yes. I think for everything we typically like,

like Naylor just edges him out. He strikes out considerably less, and two more homers in one month is going to add up on your slugging rates. At that position, I think that matters. Three intentional walks for Naylor, none for Mountcastle. So those are damaged spots, you know? You know what, though? The Guardians have something weird going on

where they have 11 intentional walks to the lead-off hitter on the season. I think they've played a ton of extra inning games. And that first guy gets intentionally walked a lot on Jimmy's Three Things. I don't even know if I shared this on the episode, but I was looking at that. And I was like, what the fuck's going on here? Like the, they're very top heavy lineup. So they have a lot of intentional walks. A sweep.

Sweep. Congrats to Josh Naylor. How about him, man. Went from that like scary Cheshire cat in the playoffs. Still is scary Cheshire Cat guy. To now all J.M. His brothers around. Maybe that helps him out.

Oh, Canadian. too. People forget. Second base. Speaking of Canadians, we mentioned Eddie Julian. We kind of already mentioned he lost, which is Trev's not going to like this when he's listening. But he is up there with Jose Altuve, Luis Renhifo, from your Los Angeles, Angeles,

and Marcus Simeon, who is a perennial all-JM, second base candidate. Eddie Julian made a late push, which with a couple big home run games, I think even with that, usually it's like we do this conversation of like, man, Simeon's all around game and defensive and he's going to win the gold glove again

and he sets the tone for those Texas Rangers. When you look at the stats next to Altuvae, it kind of ends the fight. Yeah, I mean, Altuve's defensive metrics aren't great, so he needs to be winning out by a landslide in offensive metrics, and he is. And he is. I didn't write any of it.

notes down, I think this can be our quickest one. And I say that as a complimentel, Tauvay. Like, this is just his. It's nuts what he's still doing. 342 batting average 4-1-4 on base. A 596 slugging. Reminder, that's the same as Salvi Perez. Go look at their bodies next to each other.

I'd pay to see it. MLB-only fans. Okay, that's kind of a billion-dollar idea. Congratulations. Get the first one of those days Salvi's over there. Yeah, let's get the picture. Take your shirts off. Congrats to Jose Al Tuvei.

He, uh, start building the statue. One of those AI-sized ones. Jim, you mentioned some can be easy. Uh, I do think we have another one here. Uh, because the American League shortstop position. Gunner Henderson has 10 home runs. He is leading the American League from shortstop. Six stolen bases as well.

God. Jeremy Payne makes the list looking at Bounce. bounce back from that sophomore slump a little bit, 321 batting average. Anthony Volpe, oh! He's had his moments. And Bobby Witt, Jr., who is perennially competing for this spot as well. And I think he probably has the second argument to Gunner Henderson, but Gunner has been all-world. And I said that I like walk rate, walk rate and all that stuff.

Gunner-Henerson has the worst walk-to-walk-rature of these shortstops. far, but I'm not judging only on that. And he's, he's clearly the best option at shortstop. But all of their walk percentage is stink. So they need to get that fixed. And this, this, besides Volpe, he's got the best, but he's not winning or he wasn't even second in my brain here. Gunner has been awesome.

Electric probably has an argument for ALMVP at this point. I could see this one flipping. Bobby Witt has been great. Yeah. If anyone slips up and, hey. Oh, I think this will be a race. Our guy Volpe, man, the defense, he won the gold glove last year. Sometimes that can be a little suss,

but the defense has ticked up this year and the offense. He has an approach at the plate. But right now, you know, he's getting outgoned OPS-wise 200 points. Defensively, it's shocking how little American League shortstop top the charts. It's all National League. If you go like outs above average, giants, Braves, Milwaukee Mets and then Willie Castro sneaks in there, then Diamondbacks, then Dodgers before you get besides the twins, which we're not talking about.

I have notes on Gunner though. Okay. Seven home runs when leading off an inning, most in Major League Baseball. So that's pretty fun. Jumpstart your inning. And the other fun thing I found was when his plate appearance lasts five pitchers or more. So if you're playing the Orioles and your pitcher is in a battle with Gunner Henderson, he has the highest OPS on played appearances that get to that fifth pitch or later.

So once it's a 3-1 count or a 2-2 count, this is the worst batter to be up against once you get there right now in baseball. Ebes, you said it before. Gunner, five hit by pitches. What's that about? Chill out, guys. Trev had gun. Trev had gunner.

Something I just noticed with him because in the past one of his Achilles, kills as a young player was left on lefties this year. How about that? You got one thing to work on? Similar to some Nailer stuff. I just stuck out. Snaps for Gunner Henderson. What are you saying about third base?

Oh, I will say Bobby Witt, Jr. has the third most quality at bats of all American league pitchers. So his underlying efforts to help the team are great. As I said, Gunner is an ALMVP leader. like Bobby Witts kind of right there too. 54% of his at-bats. Quality. American League third base,

we start to get a little grit and grind. This guy actually, these first two kind of aren't. Can I be honest with you? Yeah. I think this is the most wide and sloppy, I can remember, and I can't remember all of them,

of all J.M voting. We have a guy who always ends up there, Jose Ramirez, who had a down month for Jose Ramirez. Esauk Parades, man, go look at the stats from last year and look what he did again this opening month. Like he is a perennial candidate. And then Josh Rojas, kind of a people assumed a throw-in

in that trade to the Mariners. He has been killing it. He's taken over the lead-off spot. Josh Smith, who is a throw-in in the Joey Gallo trade, has been killing it for the Texas Rangers. you'd expect thick-necked Josh Young to be here traditionally. And then Jordan Westberg, who I have to resist calling Jordan West Bug, because that's just the world we live in,

he's been killing it for the O's. Where do you start? I landed on, I have a choice. Okay. For me, Rojas throws out. He's a platoon player. He doesn't face lefties, and I need my pedal winners to... 65 at bat.

compared. So that was the only, and then I was down to four. Usually I can get down the two. And then I was like, I don't, I really don't know what's going on here. Jose Ramirez's walk percentage is atrocious. I know it's not always part of his game, but 3% is like really. And then, I mean, 289 on base, 741. 289.

Yeah. So he was out for me as well. We don't know Jose Ramirez as well. The fits are unmatched and he's a short king. I don't think he wants this pedal. Do you want to know who I, chose. I do.

Also, Jose Ramirez is not drawn a walk in his first played appearance of a game this season. Lowest amount of first played appearance walks. He's swinging. Isak Paratus, also in his first played appearance of the game, he has the second lowest slugging in the American League, I believe, after Jose Ramirez. So two guys, just on the list. Wake up earlier. But on bad list.

I went Jordan Westberg. He's got 57 quality at bats, which is 10th best in the American League. And this is where I really did go. to like, wait, okay, so these guys are pretty even. It's pretty close. What do I actually like value on my team that I think helps the people around him contribute? And I am not 100% familiar with Jordan Westbugs, as you called him, game. Yeah.

But he is getting a daisy out of me. Yeah, I mean, I think the only, and again, these, like we're saying, these stats are very close. Jordan Westberg, one of these Orioles, a guy that would be a top prospect on your team, but the Orioles have had the top prospects that Westberg and Kousers and guys have been overshadowed like that. I think something that will be the differentiator for me is that Jordan Westberg has been able to do it from the bottom part of the lineup. and that's something I valued a little bit.

I've called it my Eddie Rosario effect for years. And for years, that's dramatic, but it's true now. Paredes has mostly been in the cleanup spot, a little three, a little five for the raise, that I think when you come in and you've had to face the raise this year, you're game planning for Paredes. And he has continued to do what he does. that I think the numbers are so split that that's something I'm going to lean on.

So I think I'm going to cast my vote for Paredes. His defensive metrics aren't good right now. Again, I don't fully trust those. But I think he's minus three and outs above average and minus three in defensive runs safe. So both metrics don't like what he's doing out there where Westberg grades out neutral. So that also went into it. But yeah, it's close. I don't, I'm interested to see what Trev did.

I think historically the metrics have left. liked Paredes, but so far this year they have not. Trevor, Trevor did vote Westberg. Wow. So unless you have had a quick change of heart. No, I didn't know if I'd have another person voting him. But good. Cool.

He's been great. He's been great. I know that Westberg and Couser kind of bottom of the lineup has become a part of that team's identity. And it's good for him, man. Good for him. He was, I think he was in a lot. of fake trades and stuff like that because people are just crunching the math on how that infield is going to sort out. And he's been an electric ball player. So shout out to Jordan Westberg.

All J.M. Jordan Westbug. The outfield is ugly. That's gross. I will list off names quick. And it's a reason I've been shout out Colton Couser who's on the list. Mark Kanna for your tigers. Adolice Garcia Always hit the wrong notes in the first name I don't hit the Kwan wrong Stephen Kwan Tyler O'Neill Juan Soto Mike Trout

Kyle Tucker Dalton Varshot Taylor Ward Something you do need to know Is that we Do pick a center field position We do feel that position needs to be treated differently Because it should be Because not every guy can go out

Juan Soto can't go and play center field. So if we had three Wonsotos getting the three outfield spots, you know, that job some guys. But Jake, this is the first time I'm like, do you really have to do this? There's only two guys here. Like, can get it. Trout and Varshow.

Hey, I've got one. I need you to look up. And I know we tried to do this before the show, but I'm just saying a note. Should Riley Green be on this list? Go look at the year he's having. Because I think he blows a lot of these guys out of the water. Centerfield, the two options...

I mean, Riley Green can be on there as an outfielder, but not a centerfielder. He's been playing mostly left. But I still think he might get a vote for me. Centerfield is Trout and Varsho And this is just tough for us Because we just got the Trout knee news And I don't know if that would have changed it

Dalton Varsho Who again, he's also been splitting time Between Center Field a little bit He has gone nuts recently So both of these guys have 500 sluggings It starts with Trout and Varsho Do you have a lean? Trout.

Okay No, I think you're right. I have the... I think that... Unfortunately, the injury is the only thing, but yeah, I mean, as far as production goes and like makeup of vet bats and...

Ten homers, two triples, um, more walks, more stolen bases. Yeah, it, it's Mike Trout. Trev have Trouty? Trev had Varshow.

Wow. I don't know if he knows the centerfield, left field split there, which I think would have swayed him the other way, just knowing, knowing our guy Trev. Well, and as I'd say across the pond, Treve's always been a bit of a wanker.

Yeah. Yeah, well, once you're qualified for the position, I don't care. Like, I don't care that Javarjo played 22. I just think the numbers. It's very easily Trout. Yeah. I'd be interested to see why Trev didn't take Trout. Okay.

With Mike Trout as our center fielder. We need two more outfielders. Oh. There's three options. I'll do it. Juan Soto. Yeah. Juan Soto has been, as Yankee fans,

I guess there were concerns about what the defense would look like. He's been, if solid, you can't say anything worse than that, right? I think he, yeah, I think he grades out neutral right now, too, not even like negative. There's signs, there's been hints on some balls going towards the wall. They're like, oh, shit. But no, he's made plus plays. It's neutral, I think.

And at the plate, it's been a breath of fresh air. And it feels like you're watching a historically good hitter. So, yeah, that name's in the ballot box. Trevor was on Soto as well. Defense, despite how badly advertised it was previously. At minimum, not a problem. Well, he did say he took the whole offseason and really worked on it because he hated hearing himself referred to as 25 years old and terrible.

We'll see as the sample size grows if that changes, but so far so good on the defensive end and the office. is historic as has been his whole car. Have we gotten the GQ article on Juan Soto yet so we could find out like who he is? He's very private. Like he doesn't share any of that stuff on purpose. So I don't, I don't think we will. We need Joe's to infiltrate that.

Um, sign the deal. Where next? Well, I think there's only two options. And then unfortunately for me, Tyler O'Neill had an I-L stint, didn't play enough games. Only 20 games. Only 70 at bats. So he gets, um,

Oh, but hold on. One dot one. Hold on because the guy I was going to go to has only three more at bats. And he has less played appearances. The milkman himself. So go fuck me. So it's either both of those guys are eligible or neither of them are eligible talking to myself here. Okay.

I have O'Neill in play. Well, then. Because if the at-bats are going to be short, that means your counting stats have to be there and they are. Yeah. He's got seven or he's got nine home runs. Couser's got six. One double. Really?

Fenway? They're all going out. I think they're all going out. There were a lot of road games. So I don't know if he's peppered the monster that much. I can tell you, Trev, I think has both of these guys short unplayed appearances and voted Kyle Tucker. Hmm. Yeah.

Okay. I mean, because my, my, I think I have them out. Because there's other guys that have similar production, but have been there playing. Right. If those two were in the end of right now, if they're in. Because Cowser has seven more games, but that's not game started. So I'm guessing he's coming in at the end of games or something because he has less played appearances than O'Neill. So my bad, I wish I would have realized that.

Hey, I'm in on Kyle Tucker. I think I am too. We'll give him one of the spots. You got seven doubles, seven home runs. Five stolen bases again. Like, he does it every facet of the game. 397 on base percentage, 550 slugging, 948. But I do feel like O'Neill and Kouser, it's not about,

it's just they're going to be, this race is going to get messy. I'm not trying to knock them at all. Yeah. They keep that up. It'll be, it'll be messy. If you're looking for a tiebreaker between those two, Kauser, has been fine against lefties, but considerably better verserides,

which I think is part of his. entering or leaving games later. All right. So then that's it. Yeah. Soto Trout Tucker. Yeah. That's actually star-laden.

Yeah. Are we suckers? Well, Stars. Well, yeah. I mean, yeah. I was surprised Trev Went Soto.

I thought we were going to get backlash on that. Just the OPS. Slug. What about it? Couser and O'Neill are higher. Yeah. I guess, yeah, the games played especially early on, or the at-bats early on get a little tricky.

Yeah, Trev definitely looked at that as well then. When Soto's had 140 played appearances. Yes. No, I'm fine with that, but I didn't know we were. I thought someone, one of us, would not care and vote the other way. Would you go Kouser over O'Neill? I'd have to really, like, dive deeper because all the numbers that we have on the sheet are pretty similar. Well, hey, I'm actually a little.

I'm a little psyched for that. That means we might have a couple Silver Daisy potential guys. American League Outfield. Hello. Soto, Trout, Kyle Tucker, which leads us to the D.H. position, Yordon Alvarez,

Ryan O'Hern, who's been great. Giancarlo Stanton and Justin Turner. How about a couple of the old dogs sneaking on the list? Jimmy, I do think we landed in the same area here just because, like we've talked about, with game played there's two guys competing

one of them has played a full slate of games one has not I think it's your Don versus O'Hern Yeah Our Herne's interesting Like he has the highest slugging But But he has

The counting stats aren't there And then that goes to games played How does he have so few I think they platoon them Oh do they Let's see Well I'm out on that. I know you're out on that. Yeah, he's, he has five at bats against lefties this year. He's

0 for five. Then no, he's not even eligible the way I would do it. So I would go, Yordon. Yordaun. Trev voted O'Hern. Out mid. Oh, that was at Trev, not Rhino Hearn. Congrats to Yordaun Alvarez. Okay, so the stars have really started to roll out on the back end. Yeah, and the Astros getting three there. having zero wins on the year. They've been hitting. Yeah. They've been hitting on a per player level.

For the most part, the guys you think would hit are hitting. Again, you could put that as a good thing or a scary thing. Now, for utility, we talked about shaking things up this year and doing it as a kind of best available player, which I think we're going to do. So sorry, you know, Amet Rosario, been floating around this year playing good ball. But like a lot of award shows,

we're always trying to fine tune and get a little better. So with that, who's our biggest miss in the AL right now? I'm trying to look right now. Could be one of the third basemen that didn't get the vote. Paredes didn't win. Could be Mark.

Bobby Witt. Oh, Bobby. Stick out to me. Yeah, Bobby Witt sticks out. What's he got? Canna. Canna's been great. I think I'm Bobby Witt.

Adelaise Garcia, I think, is over Bobby Witt. Okay. Yeah, I would go Garcia over Bobby Witt. Why is that? He beats him in a lot of the slash lines. He's got eight homers, seven doubles, to Bobby Witt's 4 and 8, and then he's got way higher slugging on base and OPS?

Or slugging in OPS? Yeah, I don't know. I think what Bobby Witt's doing with all of those numbers in range, the nine stolen bases and playing shortstop. Well, the position's out of it, right? Well, but I think it's still a factor to how you're playing. We can pick anybody. But because then it's just the best hitter award.

Yeah. I mean, Garcia's numbers are really good. Okay. Is he a terrible outfielder? If he's a terrible outfielder, but if he plays that position, fine. Did Trev vote for a traditional util?

He did a traditional util, so congrats Castro. Go twins go. Yeah, I don't know. I don't have a big lean here. So I think it would be between those two for me. Hannah and Garcia? No, Garcia and Bobby Witt, Jr.

Okay. Come back to it? This is a new territory for us. Yeah, maybe it's a fan vote. There you go. Adelaise Garcia versus Bobby Witt, fan vote. Where's Willie Castro? I'll throw him in there for Trev's.

Golly Castro in there. His 253.3.20-712 OPS. Thank God we're not doing that anymore. Just like that, you guys are in the mix. And another place you can get in the mix. How about Black Box Sports AI, new partner people? And for some of you, you're about to light up. For some of you, you're going to head tilt and be interested.

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We'll get our fan vote on that. Pitching. Those final three. And the pitcher, Jim. Some fun names on here. Ronel Blanco, Logan Gilbert, Tanner Halk, and Terek Skubal. Yep. Easy for me.

Tanner Halk. Okay. Go on. Well, he's got the innings. He's got ERA leader. And then he's got the innings with 39, which is three more than scubal um they both have three shut at three zero and run games out of those six a four a two and a one i believe so like their game logs are very similar um howke has gone nine innings one game

that is uh huge for your bullpen and uh scoogle's uh most he's gone is seven so um i'm going how the only time howck didn't complete this he didn't complete the sixth inning once and he went 5.2. And Scruble's right there. He didn't complete the six inning once as well. He went five. I don't even know if he did he enter the six. But they're very close.

But Howe just has the innings and the results. And the game log is the same, you know. We're like Ronell Blanco's no-hitter helps him out a lot. And I'd rather, when I look at starting pitchers, I'd rather not have like, oh, this is a, I don't mind it. But when judging the top of the top, you could have a nine innings pitch, zero on runs, and then have like a dud,

and they cancel each other out. But I'd rather have just all good than have the one game carry some bad, which run out, Renal Blanco, not really does, he's still awesome. Those other games aren't bad, but it's two that are inflating.

Yeah, I mean, I guess the only thing I would, I would slight counter with is Halk, his nine-inning shutout, where it's complementary. It could also be spun that way. where I think the Scoobel argument, he's got a better whip 0.92 to 0.74, so the innings are a little less messy.

And again, we're diagnosing two of the guys that have been the top pitchers in the American League. I did zero and run. So how can Schoble have one more where they didn't allow a single run than Blanco? So that was where his nine helps him. Yeah, Blanco. They're all very, very similar.

Logil is out. I'll cast a vote for scubel. I like the whip there when we're diagnosing these. You know, Halk has given up 10 more hits, two more hit by pitches, one more walk, so I'll call that neutral. But I think between that. So if Trev has a halk or scuba, he does.

Okay? Well, yeah. I mean, if the whip was, hurting howl innings-wise, that would be bad, but it's not. He's got a better FIPP too. Well, neither of these guys

are really getting hurt. We're at a nitpicking place. They're awfully close and virtually every stat. Treve did vote Tanner Hauk. Tanner Halk, man. He's been so fun to watch too. Incredible. He's always been gross.

He's just kind of finding that third pitch. He's like a... Just... Video game. Yeah. Shout out to the... the whole Red Sox pitching staff. Glad Tanner gets his flowers.

In the National League, bum, bum, boom. The National League catchers, it starts with the Contreras brothers. That's always cool, man. They've both been bawling out in the NL Central. Travis Darno, your backup catcher in Atlanta, has jumped towards the top.

And Will Smith, a perennial NL-catching all-JM candidate. Two guys stood out here, Jim. I think one a little more, but what are you saying? I forget what I saw here. I think I went with William Contreras on the Brewers. I think so too. Will Smith, I feel like we do this every year that there's one guy, just a half step ahead of them in the sprint.

Will Smith is hitting 363, which he edges William Contreras, 348. but after that point, William gets him in on base percentage him. He's got him, well, what did I just say? On base percentage him. On base percentage? Slugging and OPS. What the hell is that?

And B-war. WRC Plus, it's always just a half step ahead. And it's tough with his big bro lurking and darn know, who they come up short on some of our games played, you know, comparing them to these guys. that I am also William Contreras, who's been carrying the Brewer's offense to an electric start. Treve is also on William Contreras.

If we gave out second-place pedals, I don't think there's anybody even in Will Smith's neighborhood. He would be cleaning up. And he is cleaning up. And I, come on, Will Smith. Come on, Will Smith. Keep it up. Slap heard around the world.

Different world, Will Smith, guys. First base. Peter Alonzo, contract year polar bear Pete. Freddie Freeman. Go look at his stat page if you're bored at work today. He's stupid. Bryce Hopper. Oh, I love NL First Base.

And then my guy, Christian Walker for the snakes, continues to do it on both sides of the puck. James? Freeman, I don't think this one's a combo. Is it? He's clearly the best. Yeah, I think when you start, if you get into some of the defensive stats that we've been bringing up,

I think Christian Walker gets love there, a guy that won the gold glove. Freddie's stats are just silly again from batting average, 304, the only guy in the threes, on base percentage, the only guy in the fours. Slugging, he starts to get topped by some of these guys. Only two homers through April, which isn't quite Freddie, but he has the doubles to balance it out, I think. He always has the doubles. It is Freddie, but it felt it felt dirty saying it quickly.

Fourth in quality at bats and leading in like every category. Yeah, that's not a category his teammate leads in. Trev have Fred? Trev had Fred. Trev had Fred. Comment that below. We'll like your comment. National League, second base.

Ozzy Albies Perennial contender Luis Arias Kind of a perennial contender Kattel Marte Yeah And Bryce Terang Who is a guy that had a really tough last year

An electric start to the season Came back down to Earth 13 stolen bases I will cast my ballot first I have Cotel Marte here What he has been doing You mentioned some starting games, his first

inning stats are just silly. I think he's out mauling all of these guys that I'm going with Cattel. I think Ozzie would be neck and neck with him, but Ozzie did play 11 less games because of injury. Yeah. Ozy, yeah, Catell gets it. He's

having a great season, but look out because Ozzy is, you know, if Ozzie's counting stats and games were there, he has all the slash lines besides Slug, I think. And So Catelle gets it, but I think Ozzy's coming. Arise sneaks on here. Technically a negative war, it's always been the issue with his...

He's so bad at defense and he doesn't hit for pop that, like, while I appreciate bat to ball skills, he needs to get good at defense or go to the outfield. The team needs to move him to the outfield and see if he can play out there. They're benching their outfielers anyway. I think he's been tried sometimes. But it's going to suck that he's not going to continue to exist. Yeah.

If he's a second baseman to be that good at. bat to ball isn't and I appreciate the most. I'm like harping for old school baseball, but if he is that bad at defense, that's not needed. He needs to go to the outfield and not suck. Like Juan Soto, if he played second base,

like Arise wouldn't be, you know, go hide. They need to hide him. Can he DH and be successful? He plays with a cement glove. Can he deach and be successful? No, you need pop.

Okay. Kind of same with first, which I think is the only place he's graded out, like all right, but what his profile is there isn't necessarily, is not as big an advantage as it would be elsewhere. More importantly, trade them to the Blue Jays already. They need him. Blue Jays, Marlins, Mariners, they're just a threesome.

With what he does, he needs to be, like, kind of like last three-rung ladder. Mariners and Blue Jays fighting for top rung, Marlins know their bottom. Yeah, they've won that this year. Yeah. Did Trevor have Catelle? Trevor had Cotell. Look at that.

A snaky sweep. For my guy, guy. This is where things get electric. You mentioned National League shortstops before. James, you were talking mostly about defense. We have some young stars of the game, some old dogs of the game. CJ Abrams, the breakout is real.

He is an alien. He wears it on his neck. Mookie Betts. also an alien, leading baseball in everything, except stolen bases where Ellie de la Cruz, also alien, 18 swipes this year with a 980 OPS. And then here's Captain America, Trey Turner, doing a little bit of everything.

So this is tasty. Yeah, I think it ended when you said, Mookie Bet's leading baseball and everything. Yeah. That's a problem. I think you gave it away there. God. You want to list the categories he's leading in, Jim?

Mookie Betts, leading baseball and everything. Let's see. Bold. He's got the most played appearances, the most run scored, the most hits, the most walks, the highest batting average, the highest on base percentage, the highest OPS and the highest OPS plus. And if you want to go deeper into that, he's got the highest quality at bat percentage at 59% of his at bats.

He's doing any of those things. he's got with runners in scoring position he has the best on base percentage it's just there's probably even more categories if I wanted to dive so I appreciate that the other guys are doing well

this is mokey bets it's insane it's absolutely insane what he is doing playing a split between shortstop and second base do they have the Dodgers have other on

they're not going to move them Man, if they could slide him down and get it on, like Muncie, if Muncie could get on base and do the Alonzo or the, um, um, Schwarber leadoff, Mookie's driving in runners. Mookie and Otani need more RBI opportunities. Mookie, Freddie, Otani. Pop Freddy up top.

They've got options. I hope Dave Roberts has fun with it as the year goes on. Again, I, I enthuse everyone. That whole crop of four to look at their stat pages. And what Ellie De La Cruz is doing, 18 stolen bases. Yeah. He's on pace for 40 and 100. He's lost his legs fall off.

It's a good, well, yeah. You could say that. That would be a hindrance. Yeah. I would say that for terrain, too. Snaps for mokey bats. Always snap for mokey bats. It's a rule on this show.

Mickey bats. National League third base, a place that a lot of good ball players, we've seen Austin Riley, Aeronados, Mani Machadoes. He's been D-Hing. I have some fun, fun, like, facts about the winner here if we need to make chew on it a little bit. We love you, Ki-Bryan. We love you, Ryan McMahon. We love you Max Muncie. Alec Bome has been, if Mookie Betts didn't exist, I think we'd be saying he's been the best hitter in the NL this year. Because he has the second best batting average in Major League Base.

baseball and he is split proof he has an OPS of 1.2 versus starting pitchers just crushes them crushes relief pitchers with runners on base he's got over 500 odd base percentage I believe in the quality at bats it goes in the NL it goes mookie show hey boom Freeman Dodger dodger Philly Dodgers so good job Dodgers top of the order's pretty good but boom is up there he's he's hitting every which way right now. Slugging 607. It's incredible. It's incredible. He was a guy that before the season, I don't know, on a stacked Phillies team, when you're looking for either the next step or what does this next iteration look like,

is, you know, does bomb stay at third, boom? And think about even going back to what he was telling his thoughts on Philadelphia and some of the fans that, have now made him an absolutely Philadelphia icon. Snaps for out, boom. Keep it up, dude. Keep it up. The National League outfields. I mentioned I was happy about the stars rising to the top

in the American League. This will be slightly different. Going down the list, the centerfielders, Brenton Doyle from your Colorado Rockies, Michael Harris, too. Brennial. Blake Perkins from the Brew crew. How about it?

In the rest of the National League Outfield, Lordus Gariel Jr., Teoscar Hernandez, Brandon Marsh, Jurekson, Profar, Spencer Steer, Mike Talkman, Jesse Winker. Again, this will

probably have a big shake-up in a month or two, whether it's Ronnie, Tatis, a couple other ballplayers. Do we start with center field again? Yeah, and it's gross. And I did like my underlying stats search for all three of them and no positive numbers came up.

So that was disappointing. It was like, these guys don't take pitches. They swing and chase the most and they don't walk. I was like, oh, shit. I think Brenton Doyle is also your current Babip king. Which again, I don't shame that because we're judging what's happened. But maybe a preview for what's coming.

Can you let you go and Trev go? Because I do not want to really, I hope I'm not a swing vote here. How about this? Perkins, to me, he's got really bad splits home and away to the point where it's like he's half a player. And it is a 418 OPS at home and a 1.068 OPS on the road.

364 batting average on the road, 143 at home. 500 on base percentage on the road, 1,8,9 at home. Is this a kid that is like Adama situation? He just doesn't like the sight lines in Milwaukee. He can't see the ball through all that glass and fireworks smog? He's just a road dog. Hey, I'll cast my ballot.

Maybe there's just a not a lot of times I'm going to be able to do it. Brent Doyle's been great. Brett and Doyle has been great. I think it's going to come back to Earth. I will knock Blake Purtons. You mentioned some of the splits. He does come in a little low games-wise, although the played appearances are close.

But Brent and Doyle, he's got stolen bases on Perkins. Harris has him, but he also has two more caught-stealings. He's got the batting average. He's got on base. He's got the slug. I'm going with Brent and Doyle. What did Treb take? Good news for you.

Trevor also took Brenton Doyle. Awesome. Doyle gets it. Jack Doyle's going to be excited. Or Matt. Or furious. Yeah. Or furious.

Which opens up the rest of the National League outfield. I'll cast a quick one. I think ProFAR is on this team for me. I checked in our resident Padres fan, Ryan Cohen, and I was like, hey, how's pro far been? Like I didn't even want to bait it. He goes, easily the best player on our team. And the stats back it up.

887 OPS. I think that's second highest that we see on this list currently. A 400 on base. He's kind of doing it in every way. Yeah. And Trevor, no, I'm not saying that. So he's on.

Yeah, go pro far as well. I really wanted to give How many played appearances did the AL guys have that we didn't count them? 70 and 73? Something like that, 75 and 78, something like that. 70 for O'Neill, 73 for 10. Yeah, I was reading that. At Bats played, I was thinking about that.

Yeah. You're looking at Mikey T. Yeah. But he got 71 at Bats. Yeah, 88 played appearances. He does walk a lot. It's been great for them. that's the same as Kouser and O'Neill, so I can't do it.

And if, you know, but he's been so good. He has been so good. He really doesn't play versus lefties, but he's also been hitting lefties when he's out there. I think they just switched and he's, like, you're playing, kid. Yeah, they moved him up to second in the lineup. I did on Jimmy's three things. I did the best leadoff hitter that doesn't bat lead off right now. And he was like, hands down.

In his played appearance where he leads off an inning, he has like a. it was like a 520. Controls the zone. He's on that. He's fifth in the National League in the quality of bats. But because I did that with Kouser and. And. O'Neill.

It feels like I can't. You're talking. No, he didn't play versus lefty yesterday, but he's just in that two hole now where he started the year down. Anyway. So I'll go pro far as well. You already got it. And then I got to look through these other guys.

and try to figure it out. Is it is it is it Winker? He's been great. The Jesse Winker resurgence has been awesome. I like Winker. We like him. He's got a couple stolen bases if you're into that kind of thing. Is it T. Oscar?

No. Is it Spencer Steer? Teosker, I think the strikeouts actually do hurt. I know you previewed that at the beginning of the show. And the on basis. comparatively to others on this list. Yeah. Not walking like crazy.

Strike me out the most of guys on this list. I don't know if this is going to hurt your soul even more. I might cast a Talkman ballot. He's just been better than these guys. Yeah, but do I have to go rethink what we did to O'Neill? And Kouser, because they've been better than the other guys that won in the A.L. It's where your morals lie. I think the gap between what they were doing in the AL

compared to Shodoh and Tucker. I think the AL had options then had more. O'Neill needs to get it if that's the case. I mean, he has... I think the A.L. had options with guys that... I'm countering that saying that they didn't. O'Neill has better numbers counting or whatever than Tucker. He's got nine homers to Tucker seven.

Right. I'm saying the gap. The gap between how much. has been played and how you have performed for myself. But I'm casting a Tockman ballot. I would love to. I just feel like that's rude to the A.O. guys who literally didn't get that benefit. I chose other guys over them. Well, then I'll go switch my vote to O'Neill and Talkman then.

Okay. So Tyler O'Neill gains a vote. Yeah, he's got a 1.1 OPS and has nine homers, which is more than Tucker. Yeah. Tucker's got him in stolen bases. A lot of the other counting sets because of that. Yeah, but I, but.

Yeah, no, I cast your vote proudly for Tyler O'Neill. And I will go, Talkman. Trem voted Talkman. Congrats to Mikey T, man. The talk man. The Sockman, local guy? Doing it for his hometown team? Hey, I got to let you know the DH and the NL.

Everyone, they don't want Otani, but it's actually like a really, really close race. It's a two-man race. Schwabes is doing Schwab's things. Machado probably shouldn't even be listed, but nice to know. It's Otani and Ozuna. The O'Boys. Is that what they call them?

Like you said, this This is neck and neck. Yeah, I mean, where do you split the two up? Well, for DH, I usually go look at slugging in RBIs, but the fact that Otoni hits out of the two hole, he doesn't have that many RBIs. He has more runs scored.

Maybe I just add those together and see who wins out. I think Osuna would do slight lean there. It's 51 to 54. No, 4. Yeah. What do you?

51 to 44. 44. Ozuna has him with two more homers, but Otani extra base hits. Yeah. He has more doubles. Has him by seven. Their slash lines are crazy similar.

Is there walking K is messed up on our sheet here? Has to be. Looks messed up on our sheet. A 341 average, 330 average. On base percentage, 406 to 405. That's the same. Slugging 635 to 650, OZuna has them. Azuna has the higher OPS.

These are so close. Let me go check my quality at bat. Oh, Otani's second. And O'Suna's 11th. I think what's going to be the differentiator for me is Shohei Otani does have five stolen bases. Like that's in a... It's beating you in many in different ways. That's in a little.

That's a high level number. Never been intentionally walked. How about that? Their strikeout and walk rates are nearly identical. Both striking out 18% walking over 10. I'll go Otani. I think it is show by a nose, but it's crazy how good Marcelo Zuna has been.

Yeah. Crazy. Who Trev pick? Trev did pick Otani. I would imagine that was a tough decision. And these two, it seems like we'll be competing all year. Well, before we get to our potential fan vote, or we agree for the best player, not on the list.

Snaps for Otani. The N.O. pitcher, I do think we have a consensus on because Glass now has been great. Shoda has been incredible, but his innings end up a tier below these next guys. Where Suarez and Wheeler, the Philly boys are there. I think it's Ranger Suarez, right? Yeah, I think it's Ranger Suarez.

He has... My God. I love Ranger Suarez. He's got one. He's made six starts. He hasn't lost a game yet. Huge. Didn't see that.

Didn't really take it into my vote, but that's cool. He's 5-0. That's cool. Win 20 games, Ranger. The Hauks Scoobel thing before. 132 ERA with 41 innings pitched. I mean,

and Shota's got to pitch more innings, that's all. Yeah. No, I mean, Shodem and Nogga, But as we're doing this month, 27.2 innings to Ranger Suarez, 41. One different start, but still it shouldn't be that much difference. That's a big gap. And in that one start, who knows what could happen.

It could be good, could be bad. Snaps to Ranger Suarez. Is that who Trev? Trev did vote Ranger, yes. Okay. A sweep for him. Congratulations. So for the final spot.

Shoda hasn't broken a hundred. pitches in an outing yet. Why? Is that they're just being very careful? It's probably, did. Ranger hasn't. Rangers only nine and he just cruises. I assume adjusting to five-man rotation and stuff like that. Quick innings for Ranger. Slow play. That's all he

knows. So Jimmy, this utilist spot that's become kind of a best remaining player. You know, a couple of those short stops jump out. I mean, we could just pivot and go to Marcel Osuna? Because I know he said

Best Player, the way he's hitting is crazy. He would be my pick without going back through it. Like, just... I think the two that would give him the biggest fight would be Ellie Day of Cruz and C.J. Abrams. C.J. Abrams, yeah. I.

L.A. de Cruz, 18 stolen bases. Like, what would his OPS Plus be? His OPSS. His OPSS plus would be and a lot of electric. But C.J. Abrams up there, too. See, he's walking more. Striking out way more, though.

30% K rate. I would, Ozone, fan vote for the three? That's what we did in the A. Yeah, Ozuna, Abrams, Daila Cruz would be my three. Yeah, same. Let's fan vote it. You do have the catchers all had really good Opses.

Yeah, like again, Will Smith. Will Smith could be in an honor. Would you rather do Will Smith than Ozuna? No. Okay. I'd rather just add Will Smith. Okay. Why not?

We write the rules, baby. We are the law. All JM in the book. Run through it. Anything else you need to get out there? No. It's one month. There's a lot of consensus,

which is good. And then there's a lot of weird ones. And if we didn't choose your player, it's because we hate your team and you personally. Yeah. And comment it. Yeah. unsubscribe, subscribe right after.

Let that anger out. Let that anger out. Or at least tweet at Trev and tell him why you're pissed at him. Thank you, everyone. What? How did you... What?

He even nominated a Bulljay. He Brian Hayes plays special defense. Alec Baum hates defense. Justin Turner's a Hall of Famer. Taylor Ward...