Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Who We Like, Who We Don't With Peter Moylan!

Episode Date: June 17, 2026

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Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, a very special edition. We're hitting all the big topics from around the league with our friend, our family, Peter Moylan. Let's talk ball. Mr. Moyland, that's... A little soddown. Easy 100. Hello and welcome to Talking Baseball, presented by Fanatics Markets. Where fans trade on sports fanatics markets.

Available now on App Stores. I am Jake Storelli, Rob Seraco, producing, Dalton Feeley. Adding stuff to the sheet. Who knows if me and Pete even look at it. Because we know ball. We know ball. We know life. We are joined by former Brave Royal.

Aussie. Dodger. Yeah. Astro? Spring training. Okay. Tweener. We count those for Trev.

And now Booth, pregame, post game for your Atlanta Braves. Peter Moylan. How are you? I'm wonderful, buddy. I'm so happy to be here. So excited to be sitting across from you once again. It's been a long time since you've done this. Too long.

Yeah. You know, we link up. I didn't even mention warehouse games where you're a famed announcer and player, ball and play champion MVP. People in John Boy Media know. People forget. How you doing? I'm good.

It's been a rough week for my bravos. I'm working a lot, which has been fantastic. Bray's vision's going fantastically well. well. Oh, sorry your Braves had a rough week for the first time this season. Rough week. I know how you guys feel now. I know how this season's been for you guys. Yeah, it's been a tough week. News wise, performance wise, weather wise. It's been awful down here. Oh, yeah. I saw, I saw Drake Baldwin hit a five-mile home run in the middle of a rainstorm. Uh, crazy. How's your oblique, pal? Looks pretty good. Yeah, no shit. If you got that in the tank. Um, yeah, we'll, we'll hit some of the big topics.

I mean, we even did a little CBA before. We did some baseball movies beforehand. We'll see if that pops up. There's a chance it doesn't. I want to start Brave slash NL East, because that's where you are. And, yeah, I was just laughing, you know, going back to the old job boy media before we became corporate MLB sellouts. We're just like, you know, we like this Peter Moyland guy.

We got to get him in the minute. We haven't talked ball in too long. We haven't. We haven't. A nightmare. We'll start doing it more. Let's start with those bravos who have been, you know, I still remember, Pete, the end of the 2023 season, you change the background of your phone to the starting lineup with everyone's

OPSs because it had an argument, which is a ridiculous move. Family man, I don't know, you like golf and stuff, but hey, you were riding or dying with those braves. They died. And then it's been a weird couple of years. that has now led to them basically being the consensus best team in baseball throughout the season. Some of the series record stuff is just insane with what they do every three game, four games set this year. What's been the biggest change?

I think, honestly, there has been until the last couple of weeks, it's been the health of everybody. Everybody seems to be in fairly good health. even the likes of your Aussie Albies who somehow will foul a ball off every part of his body and still continue to play. But he's had a level of health. And I think Walt Weiss has bought a different kind of energy from the get-go. I think there's been some obvious frustrations around the team over the last couple of years. And I think it's just all come to a head this year.

Walt's taken over. He's got a clear message. everybody's bought in everybody understands what the goal is obviously everybody knows what the goal is but the the buy-in from guys and the contributions from guys that you're not expecting like dom smith didi afwentes at in the bullpen um maricio dubon uh pohe meteo these guys uh doing not just showing up and and taking up a roster spot but they're doing something on a nightly basis to help the team win it's great. You and I believe in some of the stupid stuff in life. Do you, do you think that goes back to like spring training where I don't know, every, every team says a lot of the spring trainingisms and it, you know,

do they actually, we're going to run the basis harder this year. Okay. Like that's kind of the goal. Like, do you think it's a Walt Weiss message from then? Do you think honestly, a lot of people point at the Jorge Soler tackle is like, they said the room changed a little bit that day, but I don't know if that's doing fan service. Like what? And then I, I think the other quote that's jumping out in my head right now is that there was a quote that they were talking about the star players this year and how they're not acting like star players, which I don't know if that was shades of yesteryear or again, if that's just a quote that came out and we're doing too much with it. I think that that was on the back end of like a Dompsmith interview

where he says, you know, I walked into this clubhouse and there's a bunch of superstars in here but they don't act like superstars. They treat everybody the same. Whether you're Matt Olson or whoever you are in that clubhouse, everybody has got a number and everybody is on this roster. They're all equal in there. That's, I think, the message that comes through. And it's been, you know, I don't know what the change is, whether it's Walt at the helm or

whether there's a couple of veteran guys, like, even like a Kyle Farmer who's in there, just throwing punches and making sure everybody's nice and relaxed. But, yeah, look, I don't think there's been any egos in there. that's for sure. I'd really love it if we could get the whole roster on the, on the field at the same time. But, you know, right now it's going okay. Well, that's where Pete, you mentioned health there. And I did a little head tilt because Drake Baldwin just comes back.

Sean Murphy has another just like feels a little cursed at this point. Strider, like up and down, it feels like you guys have had a similar injury bug to, I don't know what average is anymore in baseball. I know the Blue Jays have been slaughtered this year. I know a lot of teams would raise their hand. Like you guys have had that, but it clearly hasn't affected the product on the field at all. We just can't get everybody together.

It's either Baldwin goes on the aisle, then we lose Ronald. And Ronald. And then you've got Michael Harris came out of the game last night with back tightness. So Strider knew this news this week. It just, it's like everybody, says, got to stay healthy, got to stay healthy. But it just feels like to this point, the Braves have been able to weather the storm with the injuries.

But it's the last week has kind of shone a bit of a light on the test of the depth. I'll, I'll Chris Rose you a little bit. Is the NL East over? Like, have the Braves won? Okay. No. No. The Phillies are, the Phillies are, they're a team that can get on a run.

and, you know, it's that roster, I thought at the start of the year the way that they were playing, they might have been aging a little too much, but, you know, eventually they were going to find it with the starting pitching, Nola and Wheeler and Sanchez, like, it's a tough sledding. It reminds me of back in the early 09s, 08s, when you'd go in and face a Halliday, a Hamils and a Lee, and he's just like, it's just every time you show up, look at the, who's starting against you, And it's like, holy shit, here we go again. When do we get our, you know, 88 mile an hour right hander that comes in throwing sidearm sinkers so we can tee off?

Come on. That's still hard to hit. If that ball's running. Yeah, true. You're right. Watch out for the slider, too. Got to locate, Jake. Sergio Romo, still tricking them.

Yeah, that was, before the season, I was doing a lot of, and honestly, the way I would phrase it, I was trying to find this year's Braves that it was like coming into. of the season, you're like, this is going to be one of the top three teams in baseball. There's no chance that baseball can happen to this team, and then it happens. The Phillies were one of those that I was doing my darnest. I was like, what if they get a little old? Like, what if Wheeler, who had thoracic outlet that you're like, what if he's not Zach Wheeler?

Even going through that, I was like, man, Sanchez is a victim of all this other armed talent around baseball because he should be talked about so much more. Lazzardo, I mean, he could say that after Sanchez. And now that Wheeler's back, they are the closest to the brave since April 19th, seven games back. And their offense hasn't fully clicked. I know Schwerber's doing Schwerver things. But yeah, they still have like their potential hasn't even been unlocked yet, it feels like. I feel like that as well.

They've got Duran at the back end too, which has just been, he's been nasty. I'm not scared of the Phillies, but I know they're going to be there. at the end, and I think it's going to be a battle all the way through. But also the Nats. Like, where's the Nats offense come from? Curtis Meads up there with an 820 OPS. Come on now. I was wondering when the first Aussie shot I was going to happen.

There it is. The sports being taken over, Pete. Bazaana. Hot in the streets. Curtis Mead. Do they pay you the proper respects for laying the groundwork? Okay. Yeah.

It wasn't just me, but yeah, you know, I'll make sure I'd reach out to these guys and make sure they know they're appreciated for sure. But yeah, these guys are, me, look, Curtis Mead has been on the, on the cusp of doing this, his whole career and has just, in my opinion, has never gotten a full chance to show what he can do. He was with the raise and they were talking about him being, you know, the next coming. And then Camerreux comes up and he kind of gets pushed to the side and then he's with the white socks. and then it's like he just wasn't really able to establish himself anywhere. I feel like we're seeing a kid that is reaching his potential,

but still not even quite there yet. He's always been known as a really, really good hitter, and I think he's showing it now, man, big time. 25 years old. It's one of those things for me that I don't know. Maybe I'll stick Jimmy on it one day, or there will be a good athletic article that's like, there is going to be a new front office role for post-hype guys.

They're like, how is Curtis meet on his third Major League team at age 25? And then I know, like, you know, Ernie Clement. I said that kind of weird. They're like, yeah, I think that's going to be these guys that were legitimate prospects, have the tools and whatever, how they got used in their early Major League careers, whether it was platooned or one injury or whatever. it is. Like, I, I was laughing the other day. You know, Trevor's normally pretty, when it comes to prospects, like a lot of baseball people, like he doesn't, he doesn't

overstep, you know, the game, the game comes for everyone. That I remember, Zach Gelloff, who was on the A's came up and let the world on fire. Trevor's like, that guys, like, watch out. And then an injury. And then you're fighting for playing time. And then you're gone. And now he's back and he's gone nuts recently that, yeah, man, there is, I, I think there's going to be more of a market. I don't know if it's for how the CBA rules have gotten here or the options or whatever it is, but like Curtis Mead shouldn't have been out of the Tampa Bay Rays org.

He's 25. Mickey Moniac. Mickey Moniac. These highly touted prospects that clearly have something, once they get comfortable, it's like, I don't know, I don't know if there's a comfort grade out there, but if you could just figure out how to get these clear prospects comfortable,

somehow the talent will shine. My guy, Oswald Parraza from the Yanks, got limited run, and now he's with the halos and killing it, which we were talking some halos before this, because I think a lot of teams are going to be eyeing them come the trade deadline. Let's wrap NL East a little bit. Marlins' Mets, are you, when you see those teams, what do you see? Well, they just, Mets just took to office in New York.

I saw a team that can be dangerous. Their line-out's pretty dangerous. And the Marlins are just scrappy. They just, they put up a good fight. It feels like every single time. Now, post-trade deadline, I'm not sure what they look like, how they're starting pitching. Even their pen, there's a couple of weapons in their pen

that might get stolen at the trade deadline. But I think anybody in the NLEs can beat the other, the other teams, which is a good place to be. I think the Braves have set the bar early on, but it's not going to be as smooth as sailing as we've had for the first six weeks, that's for sure. I think you're right. And I'm very interested to see how much more fight did the Mets have in them. As we approach, you know, baseball were built on these milestone markers.

Like, we're going to hit that 81 game mark soon. And that's, you know, that's a real look in the mirror. We're halfway through this dance. And it's also that we're. reflection of like as good as things can go for a first half of baseball. Ask the Mets last year. Like the baseball gods can come for you on both sides of it. That that's going to be an interesting mile marker of this season.

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Everyone's looking for pitching and they've, you know, if you read a schoolable article, you'll see Braves in there. If you see any pitcher, the Braves will be linked. Do you think that's the big one? Do you think they're looking at other spots on the field? Because like you mentioned, they've had a little bit of baseball miracle from Dom Smith

and that shortstop position for the Braves has been talked about for years now. What do you see? I think as far as position player goes, I think part of the reason why, and people are probably going to have rip at me at this, but part of the reason why I think the Braves have been so good is there is, there's that love, there's that brotherhood in the clubhouse at the moment. Wait, that matters?

Yeah, no, no, no, no. That's crazy. So everybody is in a good mood every single day when they come in and you can see it. I don't want to mess too much with that as far as position players goes, but if you're going to have some success in the playoffs, you need some pitching. And our starting pitching, we have some prospects that are coming back. We've got Waltrip, we've got AJ Smith Shover, that are a chance to come back before the end of the year. But I think if you're Alexandopoulos, you want to look at potentially getting somebody as a front-line playoff dominator.

to slide in behind Chris Sale. But everybody's going to be looking for that. And it's what it's going to cost you. I think they still have options. They have Didier Fuentes, who's been incredible out in the bullpen. I don't know that you want to mess with that this year because of just how much of a weapon he's been. Ronaldo Lopez has had his struggles this year,

but he might be someone that they have to lean on to get them to the trade deadline. But I think the bullpen's solid. I think if they were going to add anything, the number one priority is going to be starting pitching. find me a team that isn't right. Right. And I guess that's the, I thought that

was my final Braves question, but I guess because you're entrenched in this org. A lot of played with Chipper, played with Ronald. Do I have that right? Played with Smaltz, played with Ronald, played with Chipper, played with Andrew. It's fun man. It's ridiculous to tell that story.

And now you're calling every aspect of the game. I guess at the end of the 20th 23 regular season around the Braves, people were wondering, like, dynasty. Like, are we getting back in this thing? And then it, it evaporated a little bit that now that they're back in this position, like, I don't know, do you feel anything different from the front office? I know those guys, like, aren't supposed to be wired that way, but things got

itchy for a little bit, especially last year. Like, do you, because those young guys, you mentioned, if they get healthy and they're back pitching with the Braves, you could say like, hey, not only could they help this year, but they're going to help for the next four years. Or do you think there's a little more urgency that it's like, if that's scoble, if that's sandy, if that whatever other pitcher is available, they'll press that button.

Here's what I think. I think you're right. After 2023, you looked at the roster, you looked at who they locked up, and you're like, this team's going to be good for a long time. And then there's definitely haven't missed their window, that's for sure. I think they've still got plenty of guys and plenty of weapons to be good for the next couple of years.

But I do feel like with the way that Michael Harris has turned his season around has Ozzy Albies is playing right now. We're seeing guys that have struggled in the last couple of years with consistency be more consistent. And I think as a front office, Alex is never going to tell anybody outside of his group what he's thinking and what he's looking for. But you know that there's a there's a. There's a, not a desperation, but there's a, there is a, help me out with a word here. You're not desperate, but you understand that now's your opportunity.

This could be an opportunity where you've set yourself up with the first couple of weeks in the season, first couple of months of the season. It's go time. And you do, you may go a little further than what you would have, say, three months ago at the start of the season. You may be looking at what this season could end up being and throw all your chips in a little more than you would have. Yeah, my brain. things in dumb idioms. Well, a couple things there. One, you and I both started smiling on the YouTube like schoolgirls because before this, we were joking that the Braves don't have leaks in their

organization and we said that you would be the number one leak if they did. So you and I... That's why I don't know anything. We do not tell Peter anything because it's going to be, it's going to be worldwide. Once one of those Moscow mules comes out, nothing is safe that we start laughing at that. And yeah, I guess that was the weird, one that my brain jumped to was, you know, Anthopoulos was becoming a rock star of the sport a little bit. Like, whoa, this GM's locking up guys and they won and watch out for what's next. Yeah, for me, it was a little bit like the rock band that gets their second look. Like, hey, hey, we're performing tonight. We better perform. Yeah. They're going to be fascinating come

the deadline. And it's, if that scoble guy is available, the way that every team around, baseball is going to daydream about putting him behind sale, behind Sanchez, behind Yamamoto, all of the NL powers, basically. What's it going to cost, though? What? I just don't, that is a fun game. That is a fun game. And who's going to throw the biggest package at him?

Yeah, careful. Hey, now, Bull Durham. I Dalton hit me with one because me and Jimmy we got in trouble online this offseason because we said the trade package for Freddie Peralta should be bigger

than the one for Scoobel because Freddie Peralta makes $8 million this year Scoobel is going to make I think he got 32 set the record or whatever it is so the math that we did in our head was okay good pitcher great pitcher and $20 million

basically. They were like for one year, I think how front offices work, the package would be bigger for Peralta than Scouble. The internet didn't like that. I get it because what scoble could potentially be on the high end is you're willing to risk more for that. So I do get it. I still think there's an argument there and, again, how things have played out this year. That Dahl hit me with the watch trade package would be more. Reed Detmer's, who is kind of breaking out this season, first-round draft pedigree. They arm talent always there,

and sadly with one of the orgs that isn't well-respected in their player development, to say it politely. Two and a half years of Reed Detmer's or half a year of Terrick Schoolable, and that's, again, I almost start tip-tone around it because I don't know. Right. I just know I read in, I forget if it was a passing article earlier this, year, but they were like, you know, the Dodgers, who, again, that's where we're measuring things, and I don't know if we're going to talk CBA in a little bit, but like, you know,

if you're the Dodgers and you can get Scoobble for, again, for a postseason run as well, and it's one of their younger pitchers, and Emmett Sheehan or someone like that, with another legit outfield prospect, because they have about five of them. Like, I don't know, that's a real trade package that if you're a team like the time, Tigers or whoever it is you have to consider that I think it's a real package because guys like scoobble don't just, they're not available ever. I think we're talking about two different, excuse me, two different obviously types too. If you're a team that this is your year, you're probably going to lean more towards scoobor,

whereas if you're wanting to be good for a couple of years, maybe the Redetmer's moves makes more sense because you're not just trying to blow your wad on this season. you're trying to get it, get yourself good for a couple of years. Yeah. Yeah. Are you scared of the blow the one thing? You got me with that phrase. It was a money thing.

What of cash. It was a money thing. Excuse me. Sorry about that. I could tell by your face, you were rattled. Yeah, I know. Dalton's over here, and that's he, I don't think he was thinking of money. the rest of the National League

because you know you see the teams that the Braves are playing and I mentioned it on last week's episode I guess this is jumping to the ale but you saw Braden Montgomery and you're like whoa like watch out for this guy that's just just the first night like you want to make a statement

holy cow just the poise of that kid to come up in that situation and I really liked the swing obviously talent at the ass but yeah I think the white socks have shocked not only me but but everybody with the way they played they took us down they took the dodgers down they're playing a brand of baseball that's

pretty exciting and fun to watch it's it's it's uh they they know their identity and they're not afraid to just bunt after bunt up to bunt we saw two safety squeeze attempts we saw slap bunt later in that game like it's a it's an older school of brand of baseball coming from a young white sox team. Them and the Nats. Like I, you can, if, if those teams played each other 162 times, it would be a blast. It would be chaos. There's enough pitching, but they have real offenses. They're, they're anchored by guys that it'll be interesting in the second half of the season to see, you know, how far can the pitching bring those guys? Will, where the, will their teams buy in? And what does that mean? Because this wasn't supposed to be part of their plan. Um, I've started daydreaming about the White Sox just getting the

purest of rentals, just like those, like bringing Jeff McNeil, and if it works great, if not, bail on it and like, whatever. I think both of those teams need some arms. And I, you just wonder how much of a factor they can really be, because you can't sacrifice the future from what you're seeing from those teams. But you can do something. And like, why not? Especially in the ale?

I want to see how they react to a, like a tough couple weeks. like a nine and a nine and four run where they have to pick themselves up a little bit. I don't know if they've experienced that yet. And that's part of what probably makes them so good is that, I mean, the reason why the Braves are so good is that they don't win two or three in a row. They don't lose two or three in a row. They'll make sure that the losing streak stops at a low single digit. Yeah.

Which is tough to do. Both those teams. I guess any, what other teams have jumped out? Milwaukee. Yeah. Does it? Because we played this game the other day. You think they're better than last year's team?

And is that just Mizorowski or is it the team on the whole or what? They're just good every year. They like the raise. It just feels like they just, you look midway through the season and they're in the fight. The Miz is obviously as exciting as it gets, but they're more than that. You know, Bruce Terang, swing the bat. Great. Pat Murphy, dude.

Yeah. He just guys look motivated, honestly. It's amazing how much a good manager can change. or help a team. And I didn't realize it as I was going through it. Obviously, I grew up with, I played for Bobby Cox. So I knew how good he was. But it wasn't until I spread myself around and saw what else was out there.

And now since I've stopped playing, I pay more attention to the effects of the manager and the impact the manager can make. And I just think it's such an important spot, obviously. Yeah. And I don't know. We end up sounding like old heads, but watching Pat Murphy actually be like a tough manager. Like, again, we interview Booney every week in the Yankees.

have a very different approach and they have a very different team that you know errant erin boone doesn't have to ride garret cole's ass uh because that's that's not going to work well for anyone but seeing pat murphy like manage like yeah talk talking shit to sal freelick although that hasn't necessarily been great this year but the forest gump thing is just crazy force gump like uh i i don't know refresh the way he engages with the media uh is it's just so refreshing, man. He's he's interested in everybody's story, which is, it's, it's hard these days. I mean, these managers are going to deal with so much on a daily basis. And for Pat Murphy to take the time and actually get to know everybody who's in that room, that's what makes him

different. Have you guys played the Dodgers yet? Early on, we went out West and played them. And I think, I think we did okay. That was part of a big long West Coast road trip for the Braves. And that's the tougher assignment is obviously going out there. They've knocked out a couple of Westies. They've got one more West Coast road trip coming up. San Diego, San Fran, next road trip. But then they're done with the West Coast and the Dodgers come and face us. I feel like I'd, and again, everyone knows their teams better than I do.

But it feels like team, I don't know if the schedule makers made an emphasis on that. But I think the Mets, I think they've done four West Coast trips. They may be done. I think the Yanks, like they started on the West Coast that I do think the schedule has done better with that. because that's been one of the things, I think, the closer we've gotten to covering baseball and watching baseball, like the effect that that has on you, I mean, that's, you know, if you're out west for nine days, your body feels that, the team feels that. Definitely.

And I feel like they've also pushed, like, we play San Francisco this week at home and then we go to them on the road. It feels like every time we play somebody who's not in our division, we knock the season out within a week or two. Do you like that? No, I'd much rather, because it depends on when you face these teams. It's not about just showing, oh, man, we've got the Dodgers in August. Well, they might have six guys on the IL when you face it in August, whereas you saw them in April and they were full strength. So it's more than just who you're playing, it's when you're playing, it's who you hit in the rotation. It's like, there's so much that matters. And if a team struggling and you knock them out two times in a week or in a 10-day span, then you might have got lucky.

Let's go player focus a little bit. I like that noise. Who are some players you've seen this year that made you make that noise? You saw the Braden Montgomery debut. I guess who else? You know, I've seen when those late night, Moily and I start to get wide. Who did that to you this year? Well, I mean, first of all, let's take a look at this swing.

Braden Montgomery was pretty impressive. you've just thrown, look at that swing on a change up from Ricella Glacys who, by the way, had gone 32 straight saves before that point and didn't get a blown save because they'd eventually tied it and it was just a loss. So, man, you throw me, you throw me a little bit there. I know. Today's episode is sponsored by Best Western Hotels and Resorts.

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Make the most of it at bestwestern.com. No additional purchase necessary for sweep. See bonus points, terms and conditions, and sweep rules for details. The Cups are a bit of a worry at the moment. When you see a team spinning like that, does that bring back memories? Or like, what's, if you were,

if you had one of those cool special assistant to the GM jobs and they were like, hey man, we assembled this Cubs team. We think we have all the ingredients. For two months, we did have all the ingredients. And then it all went to shit. Like, what do you do? Is it, is it kooky season?

Do you actually, like, kill a chicken in the duck? Like, what do you do? You just try, I mean, it's short of trying to get the boys together and rally around each other and find a reason to, to fight for each other. Maybe it's a night out. I mean, who knows if they even still do that these days? But team dinners, 26 guys. guys, you know, let's talk it out, let's figure it out.

But, yeah, I don't know what you do there. You've got all the pieces in place, and it's just not happening, obviously. Gally. PCA's starting to swing it a little bit. I mean, obviously, he's going to be a huge factor, but there's still, you know, I think the other day when he hit for the cycle and got picked off, it's kind of like a perfect snapshot of what's happened this year. It was literally, I think Big Cap posted it, but someone,

It's an amazing picture because it's a fan in the crowd who's like they were trying to, they're sitting on the first baseline. They take out their phone to take a picture of PCA because he just hit the cycle. And by the time they get their phone out and they take a picture, it's PCA diving back and he's about to be tagged out. And it's like, that's one of those. Because I don't think the Cubs are there yet. There's so much baseball and they're so talented and they showed how good they can be.

they've also had a ton of, it feels like every other game I see a starting pitcher come off the mound holding something for them. Right, right. You start wondering about that a lot. That they can still send things the opposite direction. Got to get Dansby going. Dan spee, I mean, they've got a lot of guys that you look at and you're like, are you the heart of the team? Like PCA, you're kind of the heart of the team. And it's like, well, they brought Gregman in to kind of be the heart of team.

Hap's been the heart of the team. Swanson, when he goes, Warner, like, you're the heart of the team. Like, that's because they're sneaky heart of the team. Like that, yeah, it's, um, that's gotten weird. I don't know what to do with it. The people of Milwaukee were very not happy with me because I did, I did our power rankings. It was right as they started playing and they had the exact same record. And I put the Cubs one spot ahead of Milwaukee and boy, do the Brewers, they have eyes for those Cubs.

They'd hate them. Yeah. And that's good. Yeah. That's good for the sport. There's the pick. There's that picture, yeah. Talk about timing.

Yeah, it's tough. It was a good pickoff move, though. Good pickoff move. Yeah. It's a good pickoff move, and then the Cubs end up losing that game to the Rockies, which is just part of their conundrum. You've got to be, and look, all respect to the Rockies, but you've got to be able to take down the teams you're supposed to win, and it's when you keep racking up losses against these teams that you just look at, you just, it's hard to turn it around. Do you still, what level of?

tabs do you keep on your royals? Because again, you're part of the, tied to that organization. And I know you tried to, and you were like very involved for a little bit, but your brave stuff has kind of gone. So I don't know, just curiosity as a friend almost. I still keep tabs on what they're doing. But, you know, there hasn't been, it hasn't been a lot of highlights for, for the royals this year, unfortunately. Runs seem to be at a premium over there. And just, I talked about the, you know, when baseball feels cursed. Some of, some of those games I watch and it's, it's the one thing that can't happen, happens. And you're just like, how did we, how did we get here? Our guy Vinnie P. coming off the World Baseball Classic, where he's the king of the world. He was struggling. He started bouncing

back. He got hurt. Yeah. You just look. I'd be interested, and I'm sure someone can get this, but does it feel like, or am I just imagining that there seems to be a lot more people on the IEL at the moment than in past years, or is it just the caliber of player that I'm seeing? Dalt's going to start, Dalt just locked in, like we were creating the code for the Facebook. So we'll see what info we can get on that. Yeah, I mean, dude, it's, for me, it's comical and it seems very basic that we're pushing our bodies to a new level and they get to a new level and that's cool, but they don't stay.

And that's, it's, yes, did we probably need to make a step up from some of the, those 90s bodies and a lot of a lot of beers and brats, but those guys played that I, I wonder if there's ever a middle area where it's like, hey, yeah, you should be in shape, but don't push your body to the limit, but that's just not how sports works. Like we, we constantly look for that limit because if you have it and you find Mizorowski and you've got an edge, you're on God, but also, and I, you know, I'll knock on wood because he's one of my favorite players to watch when he's right, but Spencer Strider, who, like clearly push the limits of what that body can do.

And now his body's been in a tough spot for a little while that I guess on the optimistic side, I could point to Jacob de Grom that we used to do all these conversations about. And now, you know, he's sitting at 97 instead of that 101 every pitch. And again, knock on wood, but he's been out there making every fifth day. So I don't even know that wasn't really a question. I just started talking a lot. Yeah. No, I get it.

And I look, I, I came. to this game when it was you had your five starters, you had your long guy, there wasn't the moves every time you needed somebody to, you know, if you had a long guy throw three innings the day before, you just knew that the rest of the bullpen had to cover whatever the game was going to be. But now they've changed that. So if anybody throws two or three innings, it feels like that last guy in the bullpen is going to be moved and they need to bring in a fresh arm to make them available.

Starting pitches aren't going anywhere close to as deep as they were. Um, so it's, yeah, it's, I don't know, maybe the six man rotation might be the, uh, well, that's, and I, it's on the sheet here. I don't, I, because I don't really know where to take the conversation. The Mariners are in a really funky spot right now where they're, they just said they're going to piggyback their whole rotation, basically taking turns. Like, as a, as a guy who spent a lot of days and nights in the bullpen, what? I, I guess, where do you take any of this? because I have nothing. I am trying to figure out how it's going to work,

and I had a look at the notes a little earlier, and it says, each guy will participate for one day. Everyone will sacrifice an inning or two over the next 30 days, keeps everybody on normal rest. Mariners' GM, Justin Hollander said Tuesday. I don't understand how that's going to work. So they've got a six-man rotation,

and one guy every five days has to piggyback one other guy. So I think that's the current game plan. They were doing it with Castillo and Miller for a while. And now they're trying, because I think both of them didn't really love it. So now they're just passing the baton. And I think their bullpen was getting worn out because they were a guy short in the bullpen with the six-man rotation. So I don't know. It sounds like the most first.

world problem, but it's also, I internally laugh a little bit because we still have these like unwritten codes of baseball that this is like, whoa, what's going on here? And like, I don't know, maybe this is brilliant, but I don't, I don't fucking know. I'm trying to figure out, is it to make sure that everybody gets their innings in? Or is it to make sure that everybody gets their rest? Or is it to? Because I feel like if they're still throwing on the same, day is their start, but they get out of their routine, they have to go out and come out of the bullpen. It doesn't matter if you time the warm up perfectly for a piggyback, it's going to be different than what he's used to as a regular starting pitcher. He's going to have to come in from

the bullpen. It could be 10, 15 extra pitches because the inning goes longer. You know, it's, I just, I want to know the why as to why they've decided to do this. Yeah, I mean, I think it's, again, I think it's because they don't want to send anybody down. Is that like I, I, I think, that's what it is. I think there would have been a point this season where Castillo was the guy, but he's the guy that has the biggest contract. So I think they're navigating that a little bit. Well, also, he is Luis Castillo. Like, it's not, he's not throwing 80, 88 up there. Like, there's still something. Yeah. Hey, Pete, come on. Don't make us bring up the WBC. When I saw, when I saw you on that Braves Mountain throwing up, you told me you threw 100 and I was kind of like, Pete,

You know, we're friends here. You don't have to fabricate it. We got video. When I saw that video of you throwing 100, I never looked at you the same way. It'll be it grainy, but it was still video. Let's see. Hollander from the Mariners said, we're limiting their ability. Now we're limiting their ability to stay on any kind of normal routine.

We're limiting their ability to develop a pattern from a high performance perspective of buildup, express your energy, and then taper down and build back up because it's seven days, time, it's five days the next and that's hard on your body. That's if they stayed with the six. I don't know. Look, just let me say, I hope this is the invention that takes injuries out of baseball and every team ends up doing it in five years because it's worked out. But I just don't see how this is going to help in any way.

Mariner's fans, I guess you let us know. They're on top of the AOS, 3836. Cal Raleigh just came back, so maybe there's something brilliant here. Maybe it's like a tryout. Maybe it's like, hey, we've got you six guys. We're trending in the right direction. Let's see how this goes for 30 days. And then we can really press with our top five guys between the end of July and the rest of the season.

It almost feels, it feels, I'll knock on wood some more. I think if you ask the Mariners front office, if they could give one of their pitchers a, I'm trying to think, what's the most minor injury? Like a rolled ankle? Sure. Ingrown, ingrown toenail. Ingrown toenail, carrying venison up a flight of stairs in three weeks out.

Like, I think, I wouldn't say they'd sign up for that, but maybe they'd sign up for that because it's, it's just getting a little. weird out there. This episode is brought to you by Fanatics Markets where fans trade on sports. It's simple. Just pick a game, choose an outcome, like which team will win, which player will hit a home run, and more. Get involved in the action. You buy contracts based on what you think will happen. Yes, if you think it will. No, if you don't. Buy as many as you want. Sell if the price moves in your favor or let them settle when the event ends. And Fanatics markets just got even more rewarding

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LLC, DBA, Fanatics Markets, I-B, and introducing broker registered with CFTC and a member of the NFA. Speaking of a little weird, I guess, Pete, we, you know, we've got you. Let's, we'll get some clickpate for the socials. I guess I think lockout starts about to pick up again. Was texting with an unnamed reporter

who's short and has nice hair and is aging like a vampire, and he mentioned the word. I guess I Again, I would love to be doing this with you at a hotel bar somewhere And us not getting served well, but still having a nice time Where are you at with the lockout stuff? What don't you get? What do you get?

And where do you see this going? Oh, look, I just hate this conversation because of what the potential ramifications are. which is both sides are stuck on a certain subject and that subject is salary cap. And it's the be all and end all it feels like for the owners. And it's also the opposite for the players. So I just think we are in such a good spot with the sport at the moment that there has to be a way that this gets done without that rude word lockout being mentioned. because I just think it's going to do so much damage to the sport if we don't start at the end of March, early April next year.

And I just, I don't know if it recovers with all the options that people have to put their attention to these days. Yeah, that's, I mean, well said. I'm, I still have moments of optimism. And it's going to be so ugly. And Trev gets driven nuts by the media involvement because they have to. and it's it's literally used as a weapon and it's it MLB is pretty good at riling up the masses because then you're looking at the players and it's like how much does that guy make

and then they point back and they're like I you don't like me because I make 20 million a year you should hear what the owner makes and then you just end up in this this whirlpool of kind of rich people fighting that society doesn't love especially whatever especially when they just, they want to put on that game at 7 p.m. and zone out and root and be happy or be mad. I don't know. I'm interested to see where the next steps go

because, like, we will enter a lockout. The MLB is a, it's a bunch of, it's a ton of lawyers that, unfortunately, we went through this a couple times between COVID and the CBA. They're like, literally their school of negotiation is you push everything to the final minute and you hope the other side gives in, which that's what's going to happen.

And I will say the only caveat, like you mentioned, because baseball, we didn't say this last time. I'd have to check the tapes on ourselves, which that's always a scary thought, because I have some weird looks through the years, too. You've just currently evolved. Wherever you've landed is powerful. That mustache. Yeah. My God.

I think it's working. It is. And that's something that you established for a few years. And it's like, damn, that's good. The previous lockouts, we couldn't say baseball had a ton of momentum. Like, again, I'd have to double check ourselves on that one. But I don't think we were hammering the table. Like, I definitely think there was the lockout like you're losing.

If that happens, the potential to lose. Like, that can be the momentum loss and all of that. But where the sport? I still, MLB. front office has done a pretty good job with pitch clock and whether you want to point Yankees, Dodgers, Otani Judge. The new rules have been tremendous. I think they know that the game has enough momentum. And we've done this a few times, but they're trying to get all the TV contracts under one roof, I think, for 2028. That that's where, that's where we

naturally think like, oh, this is going to be, that's going to be the war. Like, keep Keep momentum going for them, and then everyone's going to lock the fuck in. But I also don't know. And you're just worried if one person says one wrong thing or remember, then Manfred go in the Phillies locker room and Harper told them to get the fuck out of. Yeah. You know, when you're walking this tight rope, if one thing goes awry, that's where things get scary. But I think it's a good sign that they've at least established mode of conversation this early.

Like, it may not be going anywhere, but there's been, you know, there's been some proposals thrown out there, albeit, you know, maybe horseship, but at least the conversation has started. And I do want to believe that there's enough people of importance on both sides who want to get this done fairly that I could be completely wrong. but I just, I wish, I hope, and everything, all that I can do, I just hope that we don't have a lockout at all. Not even the threat of a lockout. Like, let's just get it done before Christmas, everybody can enjoy their offseason and get ready for baseball next year. Yeah, you know, I like, I like to live in a happy place, and I don't have optimism for that.

I still think we'll get games and maybe it'll jam up the schedule and we'll do the a bridge spring training like we did in 21. Let me ask you a question. If MLB comes to you and says, hey, we need you to jump ship and come play for a couple of months while the other players don't play. Would you be a scape? Would you go and play in the big leagues?

Now we're talking. I mean, like, in my current state. Like, I'm 36 years old, not good at baseball. Yeah. I'd probably do it for, I'd probably like do it and pin it on the company. and be like, you know, because, yeah, if I could say I played Major League Baseball, absolutely. We, sorry, like, I know that scab word when I, you know, when I hear it from you, Trev, Levins, and I hear, when you guys say scab, it's got a.

Underton. It's got a bite to it. Yeah. That, yeah, I mean, I could deal with that because I kind of get that naturally. So, but yeah, I. Dude, I don't even know, I don't think, because I think our society has become so America, we like watching the best, like, World Cup right now. America's got World Cup fever because it's the best soccer in the countries.

That if MLB, I don't even like get it. Like if you told me the Yankees are playing, but they're playing with AA baseball players, I don't, obviously we have a work obligation now that makes things tricky, but that has zero appeal to me. Correct. Yeah. And I don't even, it doesn't make sense to me. Yeah.

I think it's a little different back in the day, too. I think there's, with all due respect, there's a little bit of a separation between the big league level and the minor league level now that has been established over the last few years. So, yeah, I think it'll be a lot different if that was like, oh, we'll just bring in some new guys. I'm like, who? I'll hit you with one.

You hit me with the scab question, and I accepted. Because I, this is, I remember kind of being in shot, I guess my best way to describe it, it's one of my favorite gifts. It's Alonzo morning. He's sitting on the heat bench, and he's just like nodding his head processing, and he just kind of does a big exhale, and he's like, all right. Yeah. I remember, I asked Trev, I was like, Trev, you get every demand you could possibly want.

like this thank you rob it's it's just i send that a lot it's just yeah and another another this is just a really good jake side note i went to visit my mom in florida this year and my mom you know she's seen sports on tvs because of me but me and my mom we haven't been roommates the past 20 years um i forget what i was watching alonzo morning was in the crowd maybe it was a nick's basketball game and she goes, Alonzo looks good and just walked out of the room. And I was like, what? A, I didn't know you knew who Alonzo Morning was. And then you're kind of like, oh, maybe, maybe Mom likes Alonzo morning.

If I asked Trevor, I was like, if you could get every demand you ever want. I don't know if it, health care, minimum salaries, salary floor, blah, blah, blah, but it came with a salary cap. I was like, you get every demand you want, but there is a salary cap. And it could be massive. I was like, would you take it? And he's like, he just looked at me and was like, no. Like, it's very much a pride thing that, like, do you ever picture this sport having a salary cap? I do.

Only because I feel like the generation of the absolutely no salary cap baseball player is aging, is aging out. Okay. Okay. And I feel like there's a comfort level that comes with. the younger generation that, you know, I don't think they're going to sign a way. And if it's a big enough salary cap and there's, you know, it grows every year as the sport grows, as a percentage of earnings or whatever it ends up being, there's got to be a way that it can be leveled out.

But I, myself, if I was still around, absolutely not. But I think 10 years down the track, 15 years down the track, we could be talking about definitely having a cap and a floor for sure. I really respect that answer because what you're saying makes sense that that that level of pride that I've seen out of Trevor and I've seen some of the players we know I could see that being different with the youth because it's I could see that not being as passed along and that's kind of like what life is right not not to get too heavy at the end of sure no no you're absolutely right though you're right like there's there's certain things that we grabbed a hold of because of the state of the game the time we were playing it you know, the game has improved, I feel like, the last couple of years, not just on the field, but like everybody is invested in a baseball team at the moment it feels like, whether it's college level, whether it's the big league level, whether it's the junior level, like the sport is on fire, especially here in Georgia. Like I drive around here and there's just kids

playing baseball everywhere. So I just think that the different generations could change the way the CBA goes. Yeah, I mean, whatever the hell the the hell the hell the hell the hell the stadiums. Whatever the hell is. Two stadiums in one state. They packed out two stadiums in Kansas City, right? Almost. Yeah, the, what is it, the party animals who were built to be their Jake Scholl. Their right. Jake Skull. Former, former Melbourne Aces, by the way. Real power. Real power. They, uh, they sold out without the bananas. Yeah. So, I think, all right, we've 53 minutes in, now we're really fucking talking.

A couple F bombs, you bring it out of me. Sorry. You know, the whole idea of baseball and Americana that we felt was lost because football's here and NBA is here and now there's a lot of other sports. It does feel like. Congrats on the next, by the way. Sorry, I haven't mentioned anything. I appreciate it.

It's probably a big weekend for the company. I apologize. They, um, the parade is tomorrow. you would have laughed at the real, as you know, I'm in actual leadership meetings that they're like, so what should we do for the parade? Should we allow people to go? And I'm just like itching myself, like, let everyone fucking go. Another ad, I'm sorry.

We'll put a PG-13. But yeah, the city's been electric, dude. I mean, borderline, you know, some of the videos you see and you're just like, oh, I'm not walking down that road. but like every bar being like packed to the gills which we're talking about different generations these gens zers don't drink because they're like let me be healthy and happy no thanks um seeing seeing the city like actually at full tilt never seen it um tomorrow tomorrow is going to be a wild one uh that yeah i was just going into a whole americana that we baseball missed on baseball for a little bit and it feels like it's back.

Yeah. And again, we're obviously close to the sun there that we should want to think that. But like you're saying, you're just driving around town seeing what baseball is again. You know, lacrosse tried to come through during my childhood. Get out of here, lacrosse. I don't have time for that. Although I think I would have been a nice little midfielder, a little little shifty. I'm a scab. And I'm just talking into the mic at this point. You have anything else you need to get off your chest, Pete? Not about the CBA, no. I just hope, hey, let's just everybody come together.

Okay, we can do this. We need it. It would be real nice, you know, new MLBPA leadership. If we're just like, hey, let's, let's tie this on until 2029, and then we can fist fight till then. That would be delightful. I think everyone would be in on that. Peter, you're the best.

What do you, you just every Braves pre-imposed game till you die. The end of time. Yes. Yeah, every single, if it's not a national game, you can expect to see my ugly mug on television. Absolutely. We've got a double dip today. We've got to pick up from where the game got rained out last night at 2 p.m. So I'm heading straight upstairs to throw on my polo and we're going down there to knock out two games today.

Awesome. Awesome. I can't wait. I mean, I'm loving. I'm working every single day. I feel like you. I feel like you guys. You guys have set the tone for me, and I'm just pumped to be in the sport that I love so much, brother.

Last one, this one's mostly for me and Rob. How is this swing? Listen, I played Peachtree on Monday. Okay. Peach Tree Golf Club. If you haven't seen it, look it up. It is as good a golf course as there is in the world. I went as my first ever hole in one.

Really? Mike Plant. of the Atlanta Braves. Oh, this was a couple of days ago if you guys just want to peep the swing. Oops. Hi finish. High finish.

Probably within 10 feet. But no, the swing's good. I feel good. I think the offseason could be our time. I know we've mentioned we've rumored that we're going to get together and play golf. And it hasn't happened in the time that we've known each other. So no more excuses. We have to figure out a way to get us on the golf course.

Rob, you're involved. Let's go. Yeah. Yeah, we get tricky because, you know, the content brain kicks in. I think we need to do one without and then one with. And yeah, I mean, it's a dirty secret from our WBC trip. He and Rob kind of gave Trev the work in Miami. He completely, knowing you have a bad day on the golf course,

Treve had that for a little bit. Coach had the Shanks. Did he? Hustle Rockets. Yeah, it was really, it was bad. This is, and happy birthday, Trev, part of the reason he's not here. It's his birthday, spending time with his family. There may or may not have been a hole where he just took five minutes and hit ball straight into the woods for a couple minutes, just to figure it out.

But just let me ask you a question. How good did it make you guys feel to see a professional athlete struggle on the golf course like anybody else? Rob. I loved it. And then, yeah, later on he goes, he wins a member guest with, you know, Matthew Stafford. Who's that? Yeah, everything. finds a way to come up Trevor.

I had a, we had a dinner during the last, just to go off course completely. We had a dinner during the last ball and play tournament. And I just looked at Trevor and I said, Trev, you're the only guy that I've known that got more show when you retired than you were when you're in the show. Yeah, it's nuts. He lost his like hulking baseball weight.

he's happy as a clam like he couldn't be happier with how his career went and ended and yeah like I think there's one of those I don't think he thought he was going to be like in the twins booth and stuff like I I think he was he didn't know the next stages

and now he fucking looks amazing it's nuts dude happy birthday trip happy birthday we landed the plane pretty nice after talking about mopping him on the course. Peter, enjoy your day at the stadium. Enjoy every day at the stadium. We'll see you in the warehouse or we'll see you somewhere soon. I'll count white guys.

Love you guys. As always, a blast with Big Pete. Go tweet at him. Comment on his Instagram that he's the best. And you guys know that it is Wednesday. So we are sending you out of here with some future baseball markets. It's presented by Fanatics Markets. Fanatics Markets available now in the app stores.

Little Orioles Mariners. I think we've always agreed this is a good jersey matchup. Kyle is being braddish, but his off-speed pitches have been getting rocked this year. So with Cal Raleigh, back with Seattle and George Kirby on the bump, what will that mean tonight? Tune in for that one. They've played five games this season. The Orioles three and two. the Mariners. So let's see what that looks like.

The other one we are looking at, man, if you're looking, one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball, always a tricky term. Gavin Williams for the guard dogs. Look at me the first starting pitcher to win 10 games this season. Yes, Aaron Ashby does have 10 out of that brewer's bullpunk. Give him the sigh. They are facing those brewers. So maybe it'll turn into Ashby versus Gavin racing for the the win total. Brandon Sprope, you know his nickname on this program. The Brewers with the best record against teams who are 500 or better this year, 26 and 13, and you know those guard dogs meet that requirement. Go check out both those matchups

tonight. And again, the fanatics markets, available now in app stores. Go check it out. Thank you guys so, so much. Shout out to Bobby Golf. Shout out, Dalton Feeley. And Coach Shreve, we always miss them. He will be back Friday, as we cover this week's baseball games. You guys are the best. I suck. Share? I don't know.

Subscribe. Follow. Root for Australia. Or no, Australia plays USA. Damn. Soccer. The footie. Glad I didn't bring that up with Pete.

Yeah. I wanted to ask him some World Cup stuff. He's a classy. Atlanta's hosting. Atlanta, they're hosting like at the stadium. So he was talking. about how messy it's gonna be not talking lionel