Talkin' Baseball (MLB Podcast) - Who's Surprised Us So Far?

Episode Date: May 7, 2025

DIRECTV delivers the most MLB games, satellite-free. Learn more on https://directv.com/jomboyGet a $75 sponsored job credit to get your jobs more visibility at https://indeed.com/talkinUse code TALKIN2025 for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: https://seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TALKIN2025. Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discountDownload the DraftKings Sportsbook app and use promo code JMBASEBALLCheck out Warehouse Challenges! https://www.youtube.com/@warehousechallengesCoach Trev and Talkin’ Jake respond to your voicemails with special guest, Swilly!0:00 Intro2:40 What’s most important pitching and hitting stat?7:52 Red Sox First base situation14:32 Tatis vs Carroll for next 10 years22:35 What made NL stronger than AL?27:39 Most likely scenarios around baseball29:24 What team in NL West won’t get into the playoffs36:13 What’s the Mets weakest link?43:16 Swilly is here!46:34 Will being an Angels fan ever get better?52:17 Angels 2021 Draft56:15 Can A’s win the playoffs or division?1:01:13 Bet the Cycle Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello and welcome to talking baseball. We are talking today. Who would you rather have a little bit? How'd the NL get so much better than the Yale? We're hearing from the people today. Let's talk ball. Zach Wheeler. James Wood.

Into the ground. Boom bibles it safe at first. Hello and welcome to talking baseball. Presenting you by Seat Geek Code Talking 2025. Jake Story Ellie, Trevor Ploof, Rob Chiraco, producing. It's Wednesday. We're getting into some different topics with the people, just like the talking baseball days.

And we've got a lot from the people, Trev. How are you? I'm doing great. I always like voicemail episodes because this is what's on the mind of our fans. And we like to go into that a little bit. I did shout out James Wood. Yeah. And you said, Zach, look, have you seen what James Wood is doing this year?

Yeah, it's happening. 928 OPS, 10 homers, already. 22 runs, 23 runs driven in. Hey James. Okay. That's all I really got. I just, I knew he was doing well, but this is like a full on breakout. He's still 22 years old. You look like, for everyone on YouTube today, you look like you should be in a outcast music video and I look like I was cut from White Lotus season three. Yeah, two different, two different movies that we're in. We need to work. better on that.

But it doesn't matter about the fits, Trev, because we know ball. So let's talk ball. Let's get into it. We've got a lot to chew through today. And like I said, it's brought to you by Seat Geek. Today's episode is sponsored by Seat Geek. The MLB season is rolling. Go see James Wood.

Hey, I've been looking at Seat Geek for Saturday because the New York Knicks are going to have a big playoff game. You're going to need Code Talk in 2025 if you want to get in there. My goodness. or whatever event you are looking to go to, seat geek has it. If there's a seat there, they are the geeks. That means they know what they're doing.

Go check it out. NHL playoffs are rolling, NBA, and the baseball season. Green means good, red means bad. You just learned how to use the app. Go check it out today. Put in code talk in 2025. Even if you haven't used Seat Geek before

or if you have used a code, the code's good. So why not save 10% off? Thank you to see geek. Let's get into it. First off, I just want to say thank you, you guys. You helped me get through work every day, and you finally helped me after four years to finally just start my own baseball podcast.

So I just want to say thank you, you guys. And my question would be when looking at pitchers and hitters, what would you say is the most important stat to you personally? If, say, you were drafting your team, the one pitching stat and the one hitting stat that you value the most. Thanks again, guys. Appreciate everything you do. Wow, I'll let you run, Trev.

This one's interesting because I think you think about it differently from a front office perspective and a player perspective. I think coaches and front office differ on this. I'll start with pitching because I think I have one that's clear to me that I really like, and it's whip, walks and hits per innings pitched. I mean, how many people are you putting on the bases? Right. That makes a lot of sense.

Sure, like a guy that can strike people out, has a lot of swing and miss, can allow for more whip because he's able to get out of those situations with the swing and miss, but, you know, just being a player, playing third base. You know, the more traffic on the base is usually the worst things get. And having to rely on swing and miss all the time, I think is a bad thing. So for pitchers, for me, it's, it's whip and I don't, it's kind of easy. Yeah, I think for me, all the pitching numbers go together, right?

Like, it's very rare that if you go to a pitcher's page or if you're just looking at a guy that something's horribly out of line, I do think it's probably the reason that we, you know, the Blake Snell free agency. We've talked about that a decent amount how Snell kind of approach pitching differently. he was willing to walk guys. So his whip was actually out of line with pitchers that had his ERA. I feel across the board, and I think people hear it when we do our all-JM team, but usually the ERA, the whip, the FIP, like all of the pitching stats come together

that sometimes we're looking at home runs allowed or who has more strikeouts as a differentiator that pitching-wise, there's not one that jumps off the board for me. I would say for hitters, I go to OPS. I think it's a pretty balanced way to figure out who is contributing how much offensively. And there's obviously the caveats that, you know, I don't think Louisa Rye should be graded on OPS. Like, right now I think he's hovering a little below 800, and what he's providing with that is different than a lot of other guys. That's the next zoom in point. but, you know, if you told me,

hey, here's your roster and everyone's going to have an 850 OPS, I'd be like, yeah, that's going to be a really good baseball team even if we're kicking the ball around the field. I like that. I also go back and going out to the pitchers, quality starts to me is one that you've got to look at. And I like a couple things that our guy Jimmy does

with when he's looking at stats. I'll go to hitters now. I too. I mean, OPS is the quickest way to look at someone and be like, has this been a good year or not? if you had to you had to break it down into one like I guess old school stat I would still go on base percentage because that to me is obviously how are you seeing the ball if you're not maybe you're unlucky in your batting average and your your bat up is low but you're still taking your walks and you're getting

on base I think that's important so I would lean those two the park adjusted stats to me are interesting because I'm just thinking as a player I got to hit wherever I'm at like I can't like just because I'm in Seattle like those stats the park adjusted stats you're playing in Seattle that's

to make yourself feel better if you're not like performing well look it's not me it's the park it's like no wherever you're at that you know same thing if you're playing at core is like I got a hit this is where I'm at so whatever my stats are my stats are that's how you think as a player

the park adjusts status status to make make your bruised ego feel a little better that's usually what you would look at there guys used to look at Wobah a lot but I think there's I don't know if I love that too much anymore so I guess I'll go I think on base percentage is my favorite stat to the guy then also walk to strike out ratio

that just tells me if you're in a good spot if you're seeing the ball well that's what I'll look at and typically look if you can go one to one holy shnikes you know I'm gonna be talking about you a lot on talking baseball, but the two strikeouts to every walk is usually about average that you don't want to be any worse than that. And in the future, I think people just use OPSS Plus, our on-base plus slugging plus steals that will change and shape the game of baseball.

It should. Why not? Jacob, Trevor, Robert, I'm calling to see what you guys think. of the Red Sox's first base situation. Do you think they go out, get some old guys? Will Jose Ibrahim, Anthony Rizzo? What are they doing? Nothing.

Bring them over. Do we get some BDSM back in Boston? Because who doesn't love Big Dumb Smith moments? Red Sox legend. Do we go internal? Von Grissom, Nick Sogarde. Apparently they're getting reps. Who knows?

I don't know. I don't watch Worcester Red Sox. Or does Rafi get some rips? I don't know. Who knows? You guys might. Craig Bresla might. Alex Cora might.

But I don't. What you guys think? Jake stocks. Spicy. Excellent voicemail. I mean, Big Dom Smith, Rizzo mentioned. What about Logan Morrison? Let's go.

Just keep going through it. Canerco. I think I saw him the other day. Don't, no Canerico slander on this pod. Never would. Red Sox first base, Trev. We mentioned this on the way by on Monday. And yeah, hey, your last three Red Sox first baseman have been Abraham Toro,

Romney Gonzalez, and Romney Gonzalez again. So I guess I probably should have found out who the actual third human was. But, you know, in a lineup that starts off as impressive as any in baseball, Duran Devers, Bregman, Christian Campbell, Wheel here, Trevor's story. The first base thing has become interesting, Trev, that the Red Sox also have the crop of prospects and the whole Devers looming situation.

Is it as easy as that? If Devers went to Cora, this is what Devers should do. Called the PR person, say, set up a session for me. Or just go stand in front of your locker. and just wait for people to come because they're going to come talk to you. And he should be like, I'll play first.

If he did that and was willing to go out there and practice and learn, because first base isn't something you just can throw yourself into. You've got to be a good first baseman. If you go out there and say, I want to do it, I want to help the team, and I'm going to go out there and work as hard as I can. Do you know what their reaction would be in Boston? It'd be incredible. And it would be the best thing for their team.

It would open up the D. and allow them to either bring one of the young guys up or go get some sort of a bat. It just would make their lineup better. That's the solution, Jake. Going outside the organization, sure. Who are you going to bring him, though? John Singleton, let's go.

Bring him over. I like that fit. It's Devers. That is the answer. You know what? You know what? Screw this. Bregman should hold a new press conference.

I'll play first base. and just totally put Devers under the book. Treb, I've got an unfair question for you, but what is happening? Why is Cora doing back-to-back press conferences saying,

no, he's a DH. We've made our decision. What? That's bizarre. You already paid the guy. The guy is paid. 300 million, right? Yeah.

300. Yes. you got no say anymore like dude you got your money now do what we say I don't get it man but it's a shock to me that's the easiest

PR move way to get the fans back with you is just like I'll play first fuck it didn't he want to play the field I you know I know one of our friends originally nicknamed Rafi Raffi Big Scoops two scoops two scoos

And the glove, like, fielding the ball was never kind of the problem. It's felt like a first basement for a while. I was saying this the other day. It used to be Yankees fans' trash talk. Like, oh, move them to first. Now Red Sox fans are clamoring for it. And now they're tripling down on him being a designated hitter. He's not an infielder.

These are Cora quotes. It makes no sense to me. And I guess, Trev, like, what are they thinking? Is it one of the prospects going to come up and they're going to move story to first or something like that? Because I don't, it doesn't make any sense. I don't know what they're thinking.

And it's like, Yoshida is working his way back and he like can't throw right now that he would also be a DH. That I, what's happening? The solution is Rafi Devers at first base. And it's shocking to me that they're like protecting him.

like this. Are they? I can't think of another situation in across baseball where like this would be happening. Like every, like, I think about this, Jake. Bryce Harper

had T.J. D.H. and then learn how to play first base because it was the best thing for his team. Yes. But I don't know. Cora, these are actual quotes. From my end right now, no. We asked

him to become a D.H in spring training in the beginning he didn't agree with it now he's very comfortable doing what he's doing no when cora was asked it approached if he approached devours about playing first base if the red sox intend to ask devors about it no said cora so i mean are they like just trying to put the onus on him to come up and do it or are they possibly they're setting that up maybe they're behind the scenes are like hey bro like you're going to play first base but we're going to make it your idea. That's the PR.

That's the PR move. I mean, that's not typical. Like that, I'm just saying, like, I'm saying this as a, you know, fan fiction almost. That's not like a typical thing that would happen. But who knows, man? I don't get, I don't get it at all. He'll throw Williare over there. He'll figure it out.

He does everything. Gregman's 510 ass over there. Call up Roman Anthony. I can't. Love you, Breg. That was wild. You know what? Sign Rizzo. That's the answer. Next.

Sign Rizzo. Snake fan here. I'm wondering, would you rather have Corvin Carroll or Fernando Pate Jr. for the next 10 years? Please answer it. Thank you. This is a spicy one. Brought to you by DirecTV. Are you ready to experience baseball like never before? Direct TV is the ultimate destination for baseball fans,

bringing you right into the heart of America's favorite pastime. 9 bases loaded. Maybe one of those two stars steps up, or maybe DirecTV steps up with their MLB coverage. And you don't need the satellite anymore. Take the roof off. Watch your favorite team score big with nothing on top. Direct TV has the most MLB games with no satellite dish required.

Visit directtv.com slash Johnboy to stream live MLB games from the comfort of your couch or on the go. Thank you, Direct TV. you're going to go? Yeah, yeah. It's an easy one, right? Tatis versus Carol. This won't make anyone mad.

On a whim, I think my mind straight goes to Tatis. And I think a lot of people will probably say the same thing, unless you're super tuned in as a snakes fan and you just love Corbyn Carroll. I think you say that. Overall, the statistics are glaringly leaning towards Fernando. Titus Jr. Obviously, he's played more games. Glaringly? 550 games,

381 games for Corvin Carroll. I mean, he leads in every single, like, every single category. When you do the stathead comparison on baseball reference, Fernando Tatis Jr. is, leads in everything, except for World Series appearances. How about that? Ooh, shot at.

That's the first stat we look at with these players. Shout up, Padres fan. but Jake when you zoom in a little bit more and I think that's what we're going to do here when you go from 2022 excuse me 2023 on because Fernando Tatis didn't play in 2022 post post pEDs it's it kind of tells a little bit different of a story I mean they are like matched up kind of perfectly so I guess it begs the question who's going to be better from from now on because they've been pretty similar from those three years. Where's your head at?

There's a reason that we're doing this because it's a really good question. Can I give you the stats? Give me some stats, sure. So, let me get it up again. From 2023 on, Fernando Tatease has played less games than Corbyn-Carrel, but the slash line is 272, 336, 477 for the 814 OPS and the 123 OPS plus. Corbyn Caryl in the same time frame, 261, 343, 480 for the 823 OPS and the 124 OPS plus. So Corbyn Carroll has been a better hitter since 2023.

It's razor thin. The B war, which I didn't know if we were going to talk war on stats earlier, because I actually do have some unpopular thoughts on that. Stay tuned. It's who do you really think Fernando Tatis Jr. is? Because when you saw him in the playoffs last year, and he looked like the guy who first came up that couldn't get out against the Dodgers or anyone,

and Corbyn't Carole doesn't have that same feel. Now, Corbyn Carroll, he's kind of been better consistently, and he's younger. Corbyn Carroll had a bad first half last year. He had a great second half. So he's basically had, you know, two bad months of baseball in his career. He currently has the most total bases in the National League, which that's always an interesting stat that doesn't get used a lot. But, you know, how many times have you touched a bag?

That's a good thing to have. and he's got a 943 OPS this year. So we don't know where Corbyn Carroll's going to land. As I'm talking about him being more consistent and he doesn't have the PED thing, I think, and Trev, this is why we talk ball, I think you almost have to throw the stats out and it's a gut check of like,

who do you really think Fernando Tatis Jr. is? Because I do think he's one of the best hitters in baseball. And honestly, I think the difference maker would be defense. What Toddy does in right field is game changing, where Corbyn has had this kind of weird defensive track record a little

bit where it's like, wait, you know, you can run like that. Should you be kind of getting this PCA type defensive war? And he's kind of not that guy. And again, it's not like a negative. It's just kind of you'd assume it. That

God, and then you look in 2023, Corby Carroll's got 53 swipes. Like, that's a different, that's a game changer. So I don't, honestly, I think the stats and everything in my heart would tell me to take Corbyn Carroll. But if it was, hey, Jake and Trev, you've, you've got the keys to the new Portland baseball team and you guys get Tatis or Carol. I think I would just go Tatis. I think I'm going Tatis too. Oh, that's horrible. That's horrible. Look, Corby Carol is great, but I think there is that both these guys have a decent floor because of the different things you mentioned. Corbyn Carroll has speed, Fernando Tatis, his defense, he's got the speed too, but I don't think he's going to run maybe as much as Carol to protect himself.

That's kind of how I see him aging. We're talking about the next 10 years, people. But there's just something about the ceiling of Tatis that I can't ignore. and that was pre-suspension was his ceiling but we've seen him go on these spurts words man he is he looks at the best player in baseball yeah and the other i don't know if i've ever said that about corvin carroll now obviously he's an excellent baseball player

but i don't ever think i've been like that's the best player in baseball i think you could say that from time to time with franion tatis junior i uh i i just think what fernando's doing this year and the baseball references, they obviously tell different stories, and I shouldn't lump Vlad with him. But I've said it before, how last year was a massive year for Vlad. Like, what do you have in there?

Are you the MVP, chasing Vlad Guerrero Jr., arguably, like best first baseman in baseball? Or are you good? Are you a really good baseball player? And that's fine. I think Vladdy showed last year like, no, I am this guy. I deserve half a bill. I think what Fernando is doing this year,

he's on track for that. He is out playing Corbyn this year. And yeah, maybe there's some maturity there. Like 26 is a lot different than 22. Oh, no. What did you just see? Well, obviously the real answer is James Wood over both. That's my guy.

No, but so you talked about Vladie, I'm that guy. Do you remember we talked about like, hey, he's had a couple like 780 OPS years? That's great. And is that who he really is? or is he the upper nines type of guy. This year, 774 OPS. It's early. He had a slow start. It's too late. You already paid him.

Lad's going to be fine. 14 years, 5-Hundi. Next. Hey, what's up? This is Wyatt, long-time listener, first-time caller. You know, what do you guys think caused, if anything, this huge shift from, you know, AL traditionally being a little bit stronger to the NL this year completely dominating, having the top teams, you know, three huge contenders out of the NL West. You got aside from the Braves falling apart, you know, the Phillies, the Mets,

you got serious contenders in the NL where the AL seems to be the stronger league by comparison. What do you guys think is causing that? Trab? The first thing that comes to mind is the ability to make the big trade. that's kind of what's separated. If you look at who's or sign the big free agent, I guess, go get the player.

The NL has done that and the AL has not done that. The New York Mets, they went and got Juan Soto. They went and signed Francis Gould and Doorback. They've been bringing players in. Having the richest owner in the sport obviously helps that. If you go down the line, the Cubs made a big play for Tucker and the rest of the Astros team. They bring him over it.

Now, they're performing very well. the Dodgers went out and signed everybody, the Padres and all the trades they've made for Michael King, Dylan Sees. You know, they've done a lot. Tampa Francisco Giants, we have landed a bunch of free agents.

That's been the difference. They've, they've just got the good players when the good players were available. If you look at the American League team, name me a team that's done that. Yeah. There isn't a team that's went out and got the big player. The Yankees,

they did that, and they made it to the World Series. They went out and got Juan Soto. Then this year, you know, they went out and made some trades for belly for Williams. Those haven't been great, but at least they went out and got players. They're sitting with, you know, top three record in the AL. They're one of the best teams in the L.

The rest of the teams, like, they just haven't went out and got anybody. And we've seen that almost for a couple years now. And the talent level has just shifted. And I think it's as simple as that is they went out and they went out and got players. Yeah. I'm, I mean, the American League, a couple teams that were supposed to be, I mean, The Baltimore Orioles were supposed to be in this window of, dude, they did the full rebuild and is tanking bad for baseball,

but now these Orioles are loaded. Well, they're currently a very interesting case study of what is going to happen next with them, because it looks like losing their best hitter and best pitcher in free agency last year, there is a ripple effect from that. Seattle is kind of supposed to be for the American League. It's why we get frustrated with them. It feels like they have a recipe, and maybe it's happening right now that we can start talking about them differently.

But, yeah, I was going to say ownership in spending money, and I was going to do the San Diego example. Like, San Diego has become a baseball town, and look at the stars they've brought in, and they paid these guys. And like, hey, if your owner can do that too, your team should be good. I changed the statement to good ownership because, you know, some of these angels' contracts. tracks and we're going to be talking Angels a little bit with a new John Boy Media employee Swilly. But it was funny bringing up the top the top 10 in payroll.

I think seven out of 10 are National League. So that's that's something. That has to do with them going out and getting the players. Right. Your payroll's going to go up if you get to get players, right? But also part of that, two teams in the top five right now, your Toronto Blue Jays and the Texas Rangers, Rangers are at 500. and again, maybe they're going to be back involved

and we're going to look at them as a true power. The Blue Jays, I mean, their hopes coming into this year was keep Vladdy and fight for a wild card that, you know, see in Toronto with a 245-milly payroll, it's kind of like that, no one picked them to win the ALES this year. Yeah, I really do. The more and more I look at it, the more simple it becomes. It's like, look, you need to have your organization,

organization provide you with talent you have to you have to build from within but then you have to go out there and supplement talent and you have to go and get the guys that have been proven tried and true the national league has done that so much better than the american league over the last couple years and that is why we're looking at what we're looking at this year where it just seems like there is going to be some teams left out of the playoffs in the national league that would run through the american league and the parodies is kind of just not there this year.

An American League team will probably win the World Series because that's how baseball works, but we're talking through 162, by far the best teams in the National League. American League dominates the All-Star game, dude. Yeah, they do. Heck yeah, they do, bro, because the National League is like the party. They're enjoying their time.

Hey, if you're a baseball freak like we are, and you click around baseball reference. Something that's just interesting, and I know we've said this, and it's just a little more scope to it, they have a playoff odds page, which, again, I think a lot of it's too young and, you know, different formulas.

What's it actually a thousand simulations? Okay, like, I don't know. There's something to it. It's another number. But it's just an interesting thing, because right now it has another box they've added that's called Most Likely Scenarios. Scenarios?

I don't know. In the NL, right now the most likely scenario is it lists the Cubs and the Padres as the top two seeds. So that's an interesting note for a big fan base. It has the Mets winning the East. Dodgers, Giants, snakes as the wild card. So right now, baseball reference simulation is telling you the most likely scenario would have no Braves, no Phillies. And that's before you get... No brewers.

No brew... Like, you got any red stock? Like, the National League is juicy. The National League West, having four teams in the playoffs would be insane. I just... And again, this is where I would fight back at the scenarios of that... I think that's a scenario. I'd like to think that those four teams bump and ugliest for four months compared to

the Braves or Phillies finding a little juice. That's what would be in my scenario. Okay. Next. Hey, this is Brennan with the Arizona Snakes on Instagram. Just had a question, out of curiosity, because the National League West is absolutely stacked. Which team do you think is most likely to lose steam

out of the four teams that are kind of vying for that wild card in a West Division spot? Do you think it's going to be the dimebacks? the Giants, the Padres, or the Dodgers? Or are they all going to get in? Thanks. Most likely to lose. You just said they're all going to get in.

I think there's a clear answer here. It's the Dodgers. No, I'm just kidding. It's not the Dodgers. Got you. Dodgers fans spit out their coffee. It's the Diamondbacks for a couple different reasons. I love the debacks.

I don't want this to happen. But they've suffered. some injuries to the back end of their bullpen, which they'll have to figure out. I mean, Shelby Miller and ginks in the back there right now, I think they're probably going to have to improve on that, although both those guys can

do it, but I think that's an issue for them. You know, having your two best high leverage relievers coming into the season out, that hurts. And then if, for some reason, with this strong National League, if for some reason they're kind of middling,

you know, they have a bad couple weeks or a month and it's around the trade deadline they like some of their starter some of their best players are in walk years and would they would they try to be advantageous and take advantage of what we think is going to be a thin trade market that's the own and I said this I think in 2023 when they went on to the world series like maybe they're going to sell that that would be the only caveat I think the other teams there's the giants aren't selling the Padres clearly we thought they were going to sell. They're not. Dodgers not either. So I think they're the one team where I could see if they were like, oh man, we're like

four or five games from a playoff spot and maybe we reset. That's the only, that's the only reason I would see them not being in the race and kind of falling out of contention. They brought in Corbyn Burns this offseason, man. They're in it. I don't see. I don't see. that. I think I obviously, I love the snakes. Fourth in OPS, fourth in runs scored. I think their pitching is going

to be better, and I wonder if it's going to be a ripple effect that if the starting pitching gets a little better, maybe the bullpen starts to feel that a little more, because their starting pitching should be so much better. 24th in ERA is unacceptable out of that rotation.

That, again, it's so early in the season, I'm going to half glass full that one. I think the starting pitching is coming, and I think the bullpen figures it out. It's a lot of I think, which I don't love out of myself. You can't pick the Dodgers, and neither of us are picking the Padres because they look like they can go toe-to-to-toe with L.A. still.

That for me, it basically becomes a Giants or Diamondbacks question. I would lean the Giants. I guess I just get nervous about that lineup. even for how much I love Jung Huli and how good he's looked. Like, still to do it for 162 is really hard. And there's, you know, other guys in that lineup that I think it can get thin at one point. Like, dude, almost 35-year-old Mike Yostremski took over the leadoff spot and, hey, maybe he rides that out the whole year. Let's see.

But, you know, I'm still seeing some spots in that lineup that make me nervous. and their starting pitching hasn't been too, too great. So, hey, if you're a Giants fan, you're saying, well, our starting pitching is going to be better than that. So, I mean, there's a reason why it's a good question. I would just, God, the Diamondbacks missing out on the playoffs by a half game last year that ended up being the Mets spot where the Mets went on a run.

I know it doesn't work that way, but a Dimeback's team that made the World Series, He's like, I guess I want to believe in that mattering. So you think they keep Zack Gown and Merrill Kelly the entire year and just offer them the qualifying offer at the end of the year? I'm not sure what they do. I think you've got to see what happens with the rest of this season. I think it's a good fallback plan,

but the snakes might have deep pockets now. If I was really going to nerd you out, like Phoenix, Arizona has been one of the top fastest growing cities and the economy. that, yeah, I don't know. Why not do that? And Merrill Kelly, he's got, it's been kind of weird with the cramp stuff he's got going on. And let's see how Gallen finishes this year.

You know, his contract variation is currently pretty big, depending on how he finishes this year. It's going to be big. I mean, it's going to be big either way. But, you know, if he struggled a little bit at the start, if he goes to the full season as the Zach Allen, we know, You know, we start adding zeros to a contract that maybe that is out of the snake's price range. Maybe it's not.

So I don't know. I don't think we've seen the best of the snakes this year. Cole Tucker sent me a house. His neighbor is selling his house. He sent to me. So you want to move to Arizona. Do I trade my aging QB1 in for the young budding media star? Yeah.

What is Cole now? Just a star? Just a star. Cole, then send me that link. Indeed, he did not. Oh, and would you look at that? Today's episode is sponsored by Indeed. Just realize your business needs to hire someone yesterday.

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Indeed.com slash talking. Just go to Indeed.com slash talking right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Indeed.com slash talking terms and conditions apply hiring. Indeed is all you need. Hey, talking baseball. My name is John Luca. I'm a Mets fan. I've been a Mets fan my whole life.

My question is, what do you think is the weakest part of the Mets team right now? I know they're doing really good, but I feel like there's one week part of their team. And if you think there is a weak part, what would you want to improve, like, how would you improve that weak part of the team? Like, would you make a trade, maybe like a mediocre free agent signing? Like, what would you do to improve that weak part of the team? Trev, I know you wanted us to text Jolly to get a Mets fan's insight on that. Was the text sent, Rob?

Yeah, I have it. Okay. What Jolly Olive say? He said Jolly Olive, do you want me to do his voice now? Yes. Right now. Wait, wait, wait. I think we should give our answers.

Oh. I'll give my answer. Oh, okay. you want King Jolly to come in. Okay. Sorry, Rob. I don't want to just like, if we had the same thing, I don't want to make it seem like a hopping jolly.

Wow. You want the street cred. Okay. I think coming into the season, well, shoot, I mean, been wrong a lot about the Mets, starting pitching, all these things. But coming into the season, one thing I really wasn't questioning was the lineup.

And I was like, this is this. I think early on in the season, we even said, Can this be the deepest lineup in the sport? That was a Chris Rose question, I believe. But the bottom half of the lineup hasn't really been it this year. Mark Vientos has struggled. He's had a couple of good games.

Jeff McNeil, 6.53 OPS, Brandon M.O.PS. Brandon, he had that huge game that's kind of like buoyed his stats a little bit. Before that, it was really bad. Like Luis Sanjala-Cunia, he's been okay. Like, I expect more out of him. I just don't think that lineup has been as long as we thought it could be. So if we're looking for a weakness on a team

that's been really, really good, I would say it's the bottom half of the lineup hasn't been what we thought they could be. I like that. I think that's definitely one of the options. I was interested if you'd maybe play a defense card because, you know, depending on the day, like if it's Alonzo, Soto, McNeil,

like you'd... Alonzo can scoop it, You know, I know. And who cares? You need Soto and Pete hitting bombs. For me, and I don't know if this is unpopular or popular with the Mets fans, but for me, I'd bolster the bullpen because when I look at the powers in the National League and I look at San Diego and what they're coming out with out there,

the Dodgers, if they're fully healthy come October, what they have in their bullpen. And how playoff baseball has turned into, I just think at a certain point, it's an arms race. And I know that the Mets are the new Brewers, and they have their pitching lab and they're pitching factory. But, Trev, there's still something to October. I think you need the Jimmy's and the Joe's out there,

and you need some names that, again, I don't want it to be shots fired at the Mets bullpen and some of these new guys who are performing really well for them. but I don't know. I know Max Kranick's been fun, and Brazo band's been twirling the pill for them, but like if it's the postseason and you go through the names in the Padres bullpen,

the Dodgers bullpen, and then the Mets bullpen, and you say, hey, am I willing to lose playoff games because of Kirby Yates? Yeah, man. He's had to want a zero ERA last year. Am I willing to lose playoff games because of Jason Adam, Robert Suarez?

Like, yeah, if, they get knocked around, what do you do? Like, that's the best we can bring, that a couple of these guys in the Mets bullpen, compared to those other guys' resumes, and maybe that's where I'm being dumb and obnoxious, and I need to appreciate them more. But I don't, if I'm the Mets team and I have this magical season

and Soto and Pete and Lendor and the whole thing, and then we lose in four or five, say whatever it is, and it comes down to our bullpen, that would really, that would hurt me. I'm not going to call you dumb it. and obnoxious. I'm not going to do that. Thank you. I just think, I mean, the bullpen's been great.

Like, they've had dudes. I know. And when you get into the playoffs, you know it doesn't have to be a star. We've had guys become stars in the postseason because of what they've been able to do. Our guy ginks did it. How about Daniel Hudson, 2019, Washington Nationals? Does that bring back a little of memories for you? So I don't think, I know what you're saying.

You want guys that have been there and like aren't going to, fade when the pressure comes i i get that but i think their bullpins but damn good i do want to just the starting pitching i'm going to name the names right we've kind of done this before david peterson clay homes griffin canning tyler mcgill and cody senga like that doesn't sound like the best rotation in baseball to me if i'm just saying the names they've made all of their starts they've oh i believe that's they've had uh brumptainting Rosabon has opened two games for them, but they largely just relied on those five guys. David Peterson 352, Clay Holmes 295, Griffin Canning 25, Tyler McGill 25, Codicango,

138. So David Peterson, what is 3-5 is leading or like the worst pitcher, starting pitcher for the Mets. Right. Like they have, they've done it. They're the Brewers. Clay Holmes still hasn't allowed a home run. I love it. What Jolly Bag say?

Right now, at least it's their numbers with runners in scoring position. Guys in the middle of the order like Viantos and Nimmo not doing enough offensively. That or lack of innings pitch from the rotation, they're good, but they're all five and dive. Isn't that like on the manager a little bit? Like by design? A little bit. Shut up, Jolly. What do you know?

I guess that's, I'm putting that. I'm taking points for that because if I can get four or five innings out of those guys in the postseason, that's kind of what postseason baseball turned into. Like, remember the Dodgers wheeling out their full, like when the Dodgers had a lead in the third inning last year, it was like, okay, well, they can pitch out the rest of this game. That I'm going to give myself a fake point for that. Well, you thought you won that? Oh, yeah.

I mentioned Mark Vientos and Brandon Nimmo struggling too. Oh, hitting with rudders and scoring position. That's what every team is. Just give me one second. I'm going up a page right here. I mean, you're talking about a bullpen and starters that have Starters' best ERA in baseball,

bullpen six best ERA in baseball. I don't know, man. Boost it, baby. Mets are good. Mets are good. Is it swilly time? Swilly, swilly, swilly, swilly. Swilly.

Oh, my, that's the first time an angel shirt has ever been worn on this program. All right. We have a special treat today. The newest John Boy Media employee, Angels super fan. Is that? I don't know if you want to be listed that way. Swilly is here. How are you, Swilly? I am so good. Angels won yesterday, so nothing can bring me down. Like, I don't know what you want me to say. I don't know what I want you to say about your angels. I know we do have an Angels voice mail question coming up. For the people that don't know you, we did a mini, a longer version of this the other day, but for those being introduced to you, who are you, Swilly? Yeah. Okay.

So, hi, I'm Swilly. Born and raised in Southern California. Maybe like 15, 20 minutes outside of Anaheim. I've been an angel fan. Pretty much my whole life. First generation, though. So found baseball, found the angels on my own when they were a powerhouse, you know, in the 2000s.

And yeah, love baseball. I played softball since I was 12. played college ball. Now I'm a slow-pitched softball addict. So most of my content is angels, baseball, maybe a little bit of hockey football mixed in and slow-pitched softball. So, yeah, that's me.

Well, the whole office is oddly excited to have you here. Appreciate that. We had you come to a warehouse event, and I didn't realize how popular you were. Like throughout every department, our graphics team, I mean, I know you already know, but Sarah Tepper is like, just created a new best friend.

Don't steal Sarah from me. Sarah and T-Jax, those are mine. No, T-Jax, those are mine. No, Tred, they're both gone. They're on the swilly train. Well, this is the things. Like, we're just, like, singing your praises, all these things. You were, look, I had a great time with you when we met at the warehouse. Yes.

But I got to bring you down a little bit. This is like Mike Leak, straight to the big league. She's been in the office for one day, and she's on talking baseball. Where's the grind there? Three days. This is what the Angels do, bro. Nolan Shannon Shaniel, you're up, kid. I mean, that's right.

Yeah, we just call them up. It's the theme. That's Angels baseball. Ron Washington would not like that. You're right. Are you kidding me? Get out there and use some early defense. Swilly's going to be all over John Boy Media.

Jam baseball. Here, there. Our warehouse challenges, if you guys don't know, we've got a new channel. Our warehouse challenges. Can't miss. challenges, collaborations. The channel's already going. We've got a new video every Monday.

And this is me going off script. It's YouTube. It's the most addictive thing you could get into. These videos, we're trying to catch balls 100 miles per hour coming at us. We've got all, it's literally built for YouTube. If you're looking to melt in the couch late at night or get through the workday, which a lot of you already use this for, go check. out and subscribe to our warehouse challenges YouTube.

Alright, let's get this Halo's voicemail rolling. So excited for that. Hey, what's good guys? Not much good over here as an Angel's fan. So my question is, will it ever get better? Like, ever? That's really? That's all I got. Love the show. Thanks, guys.

Oh, what a sweet soul. Oh, man. Um, I mean, okay, so here's my follow-up question. I mean, how real can this answer get? So real. That's all we do here. We don't, we and Trev don't play games. Yeah.

Okay. So, I mean, I don't really think things change until Artie Moreno is out. That's, that's what I think. I think what I've come to the conclusion as, as a fan, as a person that is watching every game that is diving into the stats every day, I think that's, that's, that, that's, that I think that there is a information recall issue. I think that Artie Marino has trimmed so much of the fat in so many of these departments when it comes to player development, statistics, things like that, that we're just not getting the information that some of these other ball clubs are getting. So as a most recent

example, you can look at Griffin Canning. Griffin Canning was in our organization for a while, recently went to the Mets and has been gross for them. And all they have done has, uh, has, uh, has all they've told him to do was not throw his wall all they've told him to do um not throw his fastball as much throw his slide or more and he's been gross and it's like why is that not a discussion in california but it is in new york so that's what i think it is i think that it's a combination of the two i think that parry is trying his best i think that there are so many players on this team that people love because of parry so uh yeah to be honest with you I don't think things change until those departments get beefed up again and or until already sells the team.

Coach? I wouldn't feel too bad about Griffin Canning because the Mets are just, they're the new brewers. If you don't know that, they just make pitching out of nowhere. You can also say the same thing about the Yankees and not having Clay Holmes be a starter. How about that? So, egg on Yankees fans' faces. Okay. I didn't know.

So they've, they've trimmed the animal. political department down. They trimmed the player development department down while the Dodgers, you know, 40 miles north, I don't know if that's the right mileage, have just beefed up every single department. They have like one coach to every three players in their organization. The angels are going the different way, the opposite way. And I think the Dodgers are kind of doing pretty well for themselves, aren't they? That's crazy. I, it, I like the point. of we get caught up with, okay, Griffin Canning, he's on the Mets now. All of these Mets, they got it figured out, man.

Like, they know they got the pitching lab, and look at Griffin Canning now. And starter, Clay Holmes, sure. ERA is higher than it was on the Yanks. But going back to last year, one that always comes in my head, the team that used to be the Brewers, the Brewers, Tobias Myers. He was from the Chicago White Sox. and they just snagged him. And it's sometimes we focus on these teams that have figured out

kind of a next level of pitching that they get to tap into kind of whatever they want that we ignore. Like, Trev, I already know your answer to this. And so do the talking baseball people. When Reed Detmer's gets out of Anaheim, I, buy, by, bye, like if Reed Detmer's lands in the Mets or Milwaukee or Tampa or New York, like, everyone's in on Redemers, but right now he's what,

sitting in the Halo's pen waiting to get tapped in and throwing okay, right? Oh, no. Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no. No, he has not been good in the pen. He's not, shouldn't be in the bullpen, that's why. I think, okay, I do, to be honest, I agree with that.

I do think that if he is moved to a different environment, he will succeed more. and that's for a number of different reasons. But I think that he just... I hadn't seen Reed's last two outings where five earn runs and four earn runs. In back-to-back games. He was, yeah, he was multi-innings, two five-seven ERA. I was like, okay, Reed.

Yeah. Well, that's tough with bullpen guys this earlier, right? Like, I mean, Kenley had a zero ERA. He had one bad outing and now it's like a five, seven or something like that. So that just that happens. But I think with Reed specifically, his peaks are so high and his values are so low. Like, obviously he threw a no hitter, threw an immaculate inning in his rookie year. That was insane.

And when he starts off hot, he's so good. And then I think he just has a bad start or two and he gets in his head a little bit. Maybe he doesn't, again, maybe he doesn't have the proper support system coaching. I'm not really sure. But you're right. The analytics love him. He's gross. Like he has one of the best curveballs I've seen in an angel's uniform.

But yeah, he's gross. And I think if he ends up going somewhere else, he will be much better. I got one thing. And this is way too much angels talk. No, it's not. No, no. You get used to it, baby. I'm here to stay.

My halos. The 2021 draft. Oh, yeah. The famous pitcher-on. only draft has been not very fruitful. Sure. Stuff like that to me is indicative of an organization that was reeling trying to find a path.

They had no pitching, so hey, let's go draft exclusively pitching. And really nobody has worked out that to me, maybe to your point, like the scouting department, where were they cut then, like who was in charge because you can't miss. You took 20 pitchers and you missed. So the only thing that I'll say about that draft is that part of that draft,

I don't know exactly how many of them, but a lot of them were high school guys that got drafted. Thank you. So you're welcome. So there could be some of that. No, but I agree with what you're saying. Obviously that draft was quite crazy, drafting only pitchers.

Wait, no. I thought it was 19 of 20 were college pitchers. I don't think so. I think there was a... I'm almost positive. I might be wrong. I think it's a lot of college.

Okay. 19 of the 20 picks were college pitchers. They've traded a bunch of these guys away already to get guys that didn't help their organization. But like, you can't miss like that. Well, I don't know. I mean, it happened.

Yeah. It happened. I don't know. That was also 14. years ago, so I don't know. It's tough for me because it's, I don't know, part of me loved this when it happened. It's like, hey, we need pitching really bad. Let's go for it.

We did say that. We're like, hey, at least you did something. But how many, okay, out of a normal draft class, how many major leaguers are you actually expecting to get? Because three guys made the bigs. You know, we love Chase Silsith. Yeah. Love might be dramatic, but.

He's got some girls. Yeah, I don't know. It's a catch 22 because how many other drafts have there been for teams where one or no guys have made it and they did the draft, quote unquote, the normal way? So I see every side. I don't know. Like if you're putting all your eggs in the pitching basket, it really hasn't. In 2021, all these guys should be making their debuts now. Like we should be seeing all of these guys or at least, you know, a handful of them debuting and, you know, helping the organization out.

I just have it. I don't know. I remember that draft and the fact that it went so poorly is just kind of more Angel stuff that we're always talk about. Sure, but it's also, it was four years ago. So, like, I don't know. Like, I agree with you. They should be debuting now. This is, you have to be in the minor leagues. You know, no, no, it's not always right away first two years.

Like you got to go do it in the minor leagues and come up. But this is the time where they should be seeing these guys helping the team out and they just have it. there's a lot of stuff wrong with the angels obviously i mean yes i trust me i'm on your side i completely agree i completely agree with you uh yeah hoping i mean there's quite a few fun guys to watch on this team but there's dysfunction going on behind the scenes and i just think that's why they just aren't playing up to their potential so fair player on the angels go oh zach netto for sure me too yeah i'm a i'm a zach netto truther through and through although I do love Logan O'Hoppy and Ryan Zephyrjohn has also been a really, really fun to watch.

Were you ready to fight, Terrick Scoobel, too? I will, okay, so I'll say this. I'm really competitive, so I love it. I mean, I think it's cool to watch them, you know, jaw at each other and then give each other their respects after the fact. Netto won the first round, Scoobble won the second. I love it. Let's do one more. Let's go, not angels.

We can't end with angels. My question is, do you really think that A's can make playoffs? I mean, their team is insanely young, and their hitting is really good, and they're pitching pretty solid all around. And do you think they even win the division? Thank you. A.L. West Willie, I'll kick to you.

What have you seen from your athletics? That's a fun one. I mean, from a really basic perspective, the A.L. West, minus the Angels, is it's a pretty tight race so far. I mean, obviously we're so early into the season. But they're a fun team. They have a lot of really fun young guys.

You know, Soderstrom is great. I'm a big, I like Lawrence Butler a lot. So I say why not? Like, what do they have to lose? What pressure do they have to go out there and just have fun and play ball? I say why not, especially with the way that the AOS and the AL in general is kind of shaping up right now. So why not? I think they can, but they need to go.

make additions to the starting rotation, maybe even bring in another piece for the bullpen. I think the lineup can get it done. You know, they have a nice blend of, you know, contact and power. And, you know, they've maybe they've overachieved offensively. Maybe I have a little bit of recency bias there. But to me, if they really want to be a serious contender and make the playoffs, they need to add to that rotation. I mean, I know I just did this for the Mets and it was like, oh, gosh, like these guys

are crushing it. but Severino, Sears, Springs, Bito, Ginn, like, it's just, we need more. They've got an interesting little stretch coming up. Yankees, Dodgers, Giants, then the Angels we just talked about. If they get through this stretch, I know it's corny and it's nine games, but, you know, three of the powers in baseball so far this year, that's actually maybe too complimentary for the Yankees. but the Dodgers and the Giants on the road.

Let's see if they are still, right now they're three games above 500, their second in the ALS, that I think being young and dumb is a beautiful thing. I think they have that. I think their hitting has another potential gear in it. You know, everyone loves Kurtz comma Nick that like, let's see what he's got going on. My guy Miguel Anduhar raking back at it. Again, have one Miguel Anduhar stock somewhere hidden in my profile.

What do we call those? Packages. Portfolios. Portfolios even. I think you're right. They would need another pitcher. And I don't know with the pitching and how much of a commodity it's going to be at this trade deadline. I don't know how much the athletics are going to put in to that compared to every other team that's willing to go in.

They just called out, who had a good start, Gunner Hogland. Yeah. Drafted after the first round in 2021. Can we stop? So that's something else. I, and dude, what? I don't know. Is this not the most athletic story ever?

They're going to be playing in 120-degree games. Like, lean into that a little more. Like, when they have a homestand, just be like, welcome to hell. Like, why not? All of them have no undershirts. And we just talk. I go the other way. I play ball here.

Wear long sleeves people are passing out. I don't know. We just talked about that the Ales Week that, I don't know, keep winning some games and make something happen. Why not? Are they going to sabotage the other teams? Like, oh, your water's out. Oops. Yes.

Like absolutely. That would be something that wouldn't be far-fetched, I feel like. There's no rules against them. They might not have. I'm assuming they have water in Sacramento. Sacramento. That's what the people have told me. You're the Sacramento River, isn't there? How about that for?

You two are my Cali girls. I don't know. Sacramento River. God. Not on your, not in your books, Philly? I'm bowing out on this one. I'm going to be honest. All right. Surely. Surely there's a river in Sacramento somewhere. As an A's alum, I'm rooting for the A's.

Let's go, baby. Let's go. Fair enough. All right. I think Swilly, we might kick you. well. I think we've got to do a little draft Kings bet the cycle, but thank you. And yeah, everyone go follow and

check out Swilly. And yeah, I think you're I think if you like John Boy Media and you don't know Swilly yet, you're going to be a big Swilly fan. I appreciate that. So nice. So nice. Thank you guys for having me on. Go Halo up. Go Halos.

Go Lows. Go Lose is crazy. There is a Sacramento River Shit Channel. Thank you, Swilling. Sacramento River. I was right. All right. Thank you so much, everybody who called in.

If you like this episode and you want to call in and leave a voice messel, messel. We're probably going to try to do this regularly if the people like it. So comment below if you like it, you didn't like it, or what you'd like to see more of. We're going to wrap it up like we do with Draft Kings Bet the Cycle. Use code J.M. Baseball when you sign up at the Draft King's Sportsbook. Trev lead us off I'll start off with a single for us and you know what I'm going to do a little

bun little drag here to get on base I think this one is kind of a layup George Springer to record one plus hit tonight versus the Angels he was about in fourth last night hit a homer he's facing Kakuchi he's seven for 16 career off of Kakuchi

and he's been crushing it in May and he's just had a great start to this season that's a layup for me, Jake. Former teammates there. Springer Cacucci going at it. The double, and I don't know. I guess this counts as a double, but the Tigers sweeping the double header

against the Rockies, your best record in the American League heading into Wednesday against your worst record in the National League, teeing it up for two. Tigers take them both. Garrett Crochet for the triple. We're going to go under.

There? Five and a half of kids. I like that bet right there He has struck out 5 plus batters in every start Since his Red Sox debut He struck out four of them But every start after that he has But here's the caveat Jake

He's facing the Royals Like I said And they have the second lowest K percentage In all of baseball He's faced the Royals just one time as a start He went five innings pitch How many Ks? Five

Under the five and a half we're taking that for our triple. Yes, you are bold, but are you daring? Our home run, Freddie Freeman, there's four games against the D-backs. So, you know, this is a little sprinkle to try to hit the home run. And it's Freddie hit in two in one game this weekend against the Diamondbacks. Career at Chase Field, 55 games. Frederick is hitting 373 with 16 homers in a 1.135 OPS.

he likes hitting there. He's already got three homers in May. The homer swing is there for Freddie. One of these games this weekend, he gets a double dip. Just hit a homer against the Marlins, making him the all-time leader in home runs against the Marlins. Jesus. Man, Marlins. I think any stat you look at Freddy's, you're like, oh, that's pretty good.

He's pretty good. Hey, we got our double last week. Again, get in on the actions with Draft King Sports. book code talking. We appreciate them. We appreciate you guys. Hope you enjoyed the midweek. We will be back on Friday. Recapping it. What happened? Apparently, Reid Detmer's got knocked around. Jake sucks. Way too much Angels talk on this app. Hello, it's me, Valentin. What would you ladies like to do this day at the White Lotus? You need a little bit more of a tan. I'd like that. I'd like that. I'd like that.

You did golf.