The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 2: The Baseball Hour (feat. Jason Benetti and Adnan Virk)

Episode Date: July 3, 2025

We celebrate July 4 with an hour all about America's pastime, beginning with the best play-by-play announcer in sports who will regularly join our show, Jason Benetti. He makes a ruling on whether or not Mike Ryan could catch 85 out of 100 fly balls barehanded, discusses what makes Detroit Tigers' ace Tarik Skbual so incredible, and what Droopy Dog's go-to karaoke song would be. Then, it's time for another episode of the Pitch Clock with Jeremy. Can he and Chris successfully name who had the most intentional walks in the 2000s besides Barry Bonds? Plus, Adnan Virk joins in on the fun to talk incredibly fast and give us as much baseball information as possible in a short amount of time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Now's a good time to remember where Tequila's story truly began. In 1795, Cuervo invented Tequila. Cuervo. What are you doing here? Cuervo. Anytime someone says Cuervo, I show up. Well, I do know that to be true, but even during ad reads, like... Cuervo.

I think he could lay out, especially for one of our great partners. Sweet, delicious Cuervo. Since then, Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion. Cuervo. So, enjoy the Tequila that started it all. Cuervo has stayed true to its roots. The same family, the same land, the same passion. Cuervo. So enjoy the tequila that started it all. Cuervo. Cuervo. The tequila that invented tequila. Proximo. Cuervo.com. Please drink responsibly. Cuervo.

Comcast business helps turn the PGA Tour into a game-changing golf experience. It's how courses become automated turf tending, never look so amazing tournament backdrops, how 18 holes becomes up to the millimeter ball spotting technological marvels, and how the fan experience gets turned into mobile device paying unforgettable moments. With leading networking and connectivity, advanced fiber solutions, and expert partnership, Comcast business is powering the connectivity of the PGA Tour. Powering Possibilities. This is the Don Lebatore Show with the Stugats Podcast. This right here is the very best play-by-play person that you will find anywhere in sports who is willing to

regularly join us. Jason Benetti is very good calling baseball games. I believe he has the best team in baseball. I haven't checked their record recently, but are the Detroit Tigers still the best team in baseball? They were the first of 50 wins, were they not? Riding high. It is a thrill a minute for the Tigers right now. They just split a, as we're talking now they just split a as we're talking they just split a double header with the Nationals yesterday so they're 54 and 33 the Dodgers are one game up 55 and 32. Still in terms of baseball surprises is there a bigger one than Detroit? I don't think not for people who assume that a 31 and 11

stretch last year might be a little mirage ish and i wouldn't blame anybody for thinking that can considering the tigers were fifty five and sixty three before that stretch but this organization has it figured out so i i don't think they're gonna get a gonna slink up on anybody uh... anymore for a long while i enjoyed uh... talking to jerry brockheimer but this hour and part of a celebration of america's we send you into fourth of july is gonna be all

baseball in a pitch clock with jeremy tashay and admin work coming up here in a second but i want to ask you some of the things we're talking about earlier in the show i believe jason that these guys are underestimating the kevin mitchell catch a million years ago bare-handed in foul territory. If I had any one of my crew in the outfield try to catch a ball bare-handed, a fly ball. I played high school baseball. Honorable mention. A hundred chances, Jason, to catch a fly ball with their bare hand. I love the resume there. Honorable mention. Wow, I did finish seventh in the spelling bee in third grade.

I did get banana wrong. I mean, my deal is like you give that to a hundred major leaguers and a hundred chances and not many are making it more than 10 times. Consider the ground he had to cover and then reaching back like he overran it. He overran that ball and then he still made the play. So if you take every step that he took and you say, would you have made that catch based on the trajectory of the outfielder? No chance. It's a zero.

I made that catch. I've often said that. Yeah. I'll wait. Wait. Do you say that while you're fishing too? No. I'd have made that catch? You're talking to the only other dude outside of Johnny Bench to successfully hold up seven balls simultaneously. Put that picture up for Jason. Seven baseballs, just to be clear. That is, well, I don't know what steps led to that,

but I'm very excited for you. Mm-hmm. Thank you, Jason Benetti. Benetti has... I don't think he is. It sounded insincere. That's just his voice. I'm going to come right out and say.

Tone matters? Yeah. Does tone matter? Come right out and say it. Jason Benetti is a liar. I think so. I used to like you. In that circumstance.

Well, you know, I appreciate that. You've often said that too, I feel like. No, no, no, no, seriously. I do like you and I like the tigues. Go tigues. Thank you for that. They just discovered Scoobl this week on Monday when he pitched on Sunday night. That guy's good. They just discovered. Good stuff. I'm not kidding you I know we talked about this with you last time but the reaction I had to the first time I saw Scoobl at the beginning of last year was to say that person's more

unhittable than Clayton Kershaw and and obviously I've never said that about any left hander. Yeah, he on he has this kind of special level of anger about batters like he doesn't hate batters but he does study them and he does there's like high intrigue when he faces a guy that's another star and so you off the first pitch of the game, he threw Byron Buxton a change up. Buxton, we've been talking all series on our shows

about how much he ambushes first pitches. He's like 44% first pitch swing. Scoobal threw him a change up. And my buddy, Mike Petriello from Statcast had looked this up before the game. Tarek Scoobel had never, ever, ever thrown a first pitch of a game that was anything but a fastball. He threw a change up to Buxton just to mess with him. And I love that.

Like, we need more of that in baseball. And then they had a laugh about it. Buxton was looked at and basically like, whoa, no fastball? Like, no free donuts today? Scoob-a-doo-ba-doo. Is it correct that every day in Major League Baseball, somebody is climbing the outfield wall to rob a home run? Yes.

I had that thought last night as I was watching Jacob Young from the Nationals suction himself to the center field wall, use the bottom of the wall as a ladder. I mean, really, he stuck his foot in there like he was climbing a tree to rescue a cat and then puts his glove over the top of the thing. It is every night.

Like, I did have this thought during the game. Dan Petrie, my analyst and I, were talking about just like CJ Abrams, James Wood, the young talent for the Nationals, and how big they are and how athletic they are. I'm scared about the new generation of athletes. Like I said this on the air last night, what if Wembe was a baseball player?

What would that look like? Well, a big strike zone. He'd strike out a lot. It wouldn't look like what Aaron Judge is doing. That's true. That's very true. Well, tell me, though, the defense in baseball is how much better than it has ever been.

And for example, the middle of the Cubs infield, not just the middle of the Cubs, the catcher, center field, middle infielders, is it the best middle, up the middle defense that there is in the sport? They're really good. Pete Crow Armstrong is unbelievable to watch. Nico Horner racks up so much war from, you know, just stuff he does defensively.

And this is where baseball got it right. That, it might be the best, I think it probably is the best up the middle in the sport, but this is where baseball got it right. It might be the best. I think it probably is the best up the middle in the sport. But this is where baseball got it right. People do want to see athleticism. People don't want to see baseballs hit directly at folks over and over and over again. And I know, again, we've talked about it a bunch in other contexts. Baseball takes a lot of shrapnel and rightfully so a lot of the time. But the defense we're seeing, I think, is a direct result of the change in rules a couple of years ago.

And I'm glad they did it. Can you tell us whether or not you believe outside of people like you and people that care deeply about baseball, does three thousand strikeouts still mean anything as a number? I think so because I think it's longevity that we're probably not going to see from pitchers. I don't think that's a new take, but I do think the idea that somebody will be around. Kershaw made his debut in 2008. His first strikeout was of Skip Schumacher, who as of last year was a manager in the league.

There is something beautiful about a person spanning generations in this game. And so Clayton Kershaw doing that, I think, is a reminder that we can still have some longevity. And, you know, the plate umpire, Jim Wolfe, is one of my favorites, because when he's over at first base every once in a while, the guy who had the plate last night for Kershaw, every once in a while he'll be at first and somebody will appeal on a check swing. And every now and then, depending on who's on his crew,

they'll go, Wilfey! And yell his name over at first base, which I love more than life itself. Well, we've got a couple of questions that have come up today on that front. Do you believe that there's ever been an umpire daydreaming during a check swing and they just sort of fake it? Absolutely. You gotta go safe. You go no swing, right? If you get caught sleeping, you go no swing, right? Yeah, you absolutely have to. You take a deep breath and you go, yeah, didn't go. What about,

we mentioned how in the NBA sometimes if they don't know a call, they'll like point to the other official. Like you got it here. Like, do you think that would NBA sometimes if they don't know a call, they'll like point to the other official. Like you got it here? Like do you think that would be funny if they're like a third base umpire just like points to the second base umpire? Like you got this. That'd be amazing.

I love when umpires make mistakes and are happy to say it. So they've been working with the umpires, the league has to get the umpires to talk more on the microphones, right? To give us better explanations. And we had one the other day, Dan Isonia, who's been around a while. He's a really good umpires to talk more on the microphones, right? To give us better explanations. And we had one the other day, Dan Isonia, who's been around a while. He's a really good umpire, I think.

And Dan, as he was announcing the call, said the ruling on the field has been over to, no, it stands. He just forgot which one it was and kind of smiled and gave it that look like, oh man, but acknowledged it and kind of smiled and gave it that look like, oh man, but but acknowledged it and was willing to play with it. I think we need more uns seriousness from umpires.

Jason, now that we're kind of in the dog days of summer, we're heading into the All-Star break, but you know, it's a slower time. Baseball tends to slow down at some point. Have you found yourself at any point longing saying, you know what, I miss Angel Hernandez. Like he'd be making this game a lot more fun today. I was just talking to one of the Tigers about umpires and Angel's name came up and this Tiger player said to me, he goes, you know what I miss? I miss Angel's strike call. And I was like, oh, that's very specific. But Angel Hernandez would like ring the bell over his head. Like he'd give you the strike like he was like he was peeling the bell in the tower, you know, at the church.

And I think we need more of that too. We need like more Tom Halleyan retired a couple years ago and he's called Tornado Tom because he'd like turn and give you the punch for strike three. More of that please. And the great thing about Angel's angels strike calls you never knew when it was coming ball strike it could be at any point in time that's what they don't miss the strike call on the balls that's what they don't miss can you give us an example here of something in your sport more outdated than the umpire signaling to the press box official scorer the P for protest by just simply writing it in the air the way that you would on a steamed shower.

Give me something more ancient and fossilized in your entire fossilized sport than that. Oh man, that is such a good question. Oh, man. And that is such a good question. Oh, so, okay. So I would say people who want you to bunt every time there's a runner at first, it doesn't matter who the hitter is. It doesn't matter who the on deck hitter is. There are some people who a runner goes to first and they're

like bunt right like April 15th tax day, right runner Runner gets the first, you should bunt. It could be Aaron Judge at the plate and me on deck. And they'd be like, you got to get them over. Some people think that run score at second base in baseball, that is as antiquated as anything. We're gonna go ahead. I'm sorry. No, no, please. I was gonna say second place. Second place is somebody rubbing the baseballs with that mud. Like somebody taking the whole shebang of the baseballs and just rubbing it up.

That's still somebody's job. We're going to play a couple of games here that we've been talking about during the show. But just as a palate cleanser to get us from the baseball talk to that, I don't know, let's combine a couple of things. Your droopy dog impersonation with whatever it is that droopy dog's favorite karaoke song is. So I was debating the other day during a rain delay in my mind, would droopy dog go full full

sad song or would he go full like thrilled el, would he go, because I'm happy, clap along if you feel like a room without a roof, right? That would be the ideal, like, he's generally that guy, he's like, I'm happy. So would he go Pharrell, or has something happened to him that made him like this, like a relationship gone wrong? And would he go like, you didn't have to cut me off, make out like it never happened and we were nothing. Somebody I used to know from

Gautier, like did that, did something happen to him? Or is there like a, you know, like a sort of longing, like Brandy, you're a fine girl, what a good wife you would be. I don't know, and I need your opinion on what he would choose. Well, I think it would be Chumbawumba. I think that's what he would go. Or Tears of a Clown. I think he might go Tears of a Clown, where it's a happy song, but it's also sad.

It sounds like it's happy. I like it. R.B. Greaves, take a letter, Maria. Address it to my wife. We've got Jeremy Tashay, Adnan Burke in a second on Pitch Clock, but these quick games here in the last minute that we have left, are you Stand Van In or are you Stand Van Out

on the following? Chris Cody, give him Stand Van In or Stand Van Out? Fourth of July on a Friday. Yeah, it's a waste of a weekend. We already have a Friday. Is the big dumper having the greatest offensive season you've ever seen. Yeah, Stan Van Inn, but there are other ones in history. But yes, Stan Van Inn. Threatening to fight multiple coworkers in the office. Stan Van Inn or Stan Van Inn? That's Frank Isola or Ass-Hola.

Isola or Ass-Hola? Isola or Ass-Hola. You can say But-Hola if that's better. No, I mean, I've threatened to fight one coworker, but I think two, I think the multiple is that it's over the line. So, ass hola. Ass hola?

You just wanted me to say ass hola. Assuming people can't catch a fly ball barehanded despite not knowing them from a hole in the ground. Thank you, Jason Benetti. Good seeing you, good talking to you. It's ass hola. Yeah, well. Bye. Jeremy, you know something about me, right?

You know when I'm grilling outside and it's summertime, you know how I supplement my summertime? Of course I do. I make it Miller time. Of course. That beautiful white can. Oh, when it's so hot outside, I just put it right to my forehead, right there. And I just roll it sometimes, right on the forehead, cool my body down, and then I crack it open in some relief, and then that first sip, brother, does that first sip?

That is a top five sequence of events that you can possibly go through. I'm just serenity now when I just imagine that first sip of Miller life. Just thinking about it's making me happy. Dude, the sun is out, it's nice, you have your friend showing up, you got your family there, you just had your first sip of Miller Lite. And you know what? You're happy. You're blissful. You're fulfilled. I've been stocking my cooler with Miller Lite for years and for good reason. It's brewed for taste. Only 96 calories and 3.2 grams of carbs. This year Miller Lite turns 50.

That is five decades of cookouts, laughs, and ice-cold moments that never miss. It's the original light beer, and it's still my go-to. Miller Lite, great taste, 96 calories. Go to MillerLite.com slash Dan to find delivery options near you, or you can pick up some Miller Lite pretty much anywhere they sell beer. Cheers to 50 years of Miller time. Celebrate responsibly. Miller Brewing Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. and 96 calories and 3.2 carbs per 12 ounces. What does Zyn give you? Not just smoke-free nicotine satisfaction,

but real freedom. Freedom to do what you love and choose your rewards. With Zyn Rewards, you can redeem points for premium tech, outdoor gear, and gift cards to your favorite retailers. Find your Zyn and keep finding rewards that fit your lifestyle at zinn.com slash rewards. Warning, this product contains nicotine.

Nicotine is an addictive chemical. Folks, nothing says summer like long days, clutch plays and firing off a few bets on the game. All with Draft King Sportsbook. Never bet baseball before? Hey, it's easy. Pick a guy to go yard, hammer some live odds mid-game, or just ride with your squad and hope for the best. No spreadsheets, just vibes and dingers. Here is something special for first timers. New DraftKings customers bet $5 and get 150 in-bonus bets instantly.

Download the DraftKings Sportsbook app. Use code DAN. That's code DAN for new customers to get $150 in-bonus bets instantly when you bet just $5. Only on DraftKings. The crown is yours. 877897777 or visit ccpg.org please play responsibly on behalf of Boothill Casino in Resorting, Kansas 21 and over age and eligibility varies by jurisdiction void in Ontario bonus bets expire seven days after issuance for additional terms and responsible gaming resources see dkng.co Audio Don LeBretard punctuate this segment with what is your strike three call strike one would be with what is your strike three call? Strike one would be, strike!

And then you stand up and you give a good point to the right. Stugats! That's the same for strike two. But strike three, you get down low, you got your hands behind the catcher, alright? The right arm goes up into the air. Hyah! And then you finish it with a punch. The right arm flings way up into the air.

Hyah! Hyah! And you finish with a karate. I wish I could see that. It's terrible. The audio's great. This is the Don LeBattar Show with the Stugarts. Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the pitch. A two-part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert.

This is the Pitch Clock. It is Guayavera week on the Pitch Clock. Hi, everybody. There's Chris. I'm Jeremy. Taylor's here wearing his Knicks hat. Ethan's over there. He's not on camera.

That's fine. It's time for another episode as we hit July. Adnan Virk will be with us soon as our 2025 MLB expert, but Taylor, we have a new trivia game today. We have pieces of paper in front of us, with every MLB logo. He's like, just he gave us the teams. I'm just really grateful that this, I think means it's not ball, nowhere trivia. Tell us what we're going to be doing today. Yeah, I like trying to connect the trivia with things that are happening in baseball. Aaron Judge on pace to break the Yankees single season record for intentional walks by the All-Star break. So we're sticking with

the intentional walks. The game today is three strikes and you're out. We have the top 20 players with the most intentional walks from 2000 to 2009. You guys are gonna alternate trying to guess the players two to 20 because like a free space in bingo, Barry Bonds, number one, 390 intentional walks. And I don't want any side to have that kind of upper hand. Jeremy, you'll start. I feel like Chris has been going first a lot.

Wow, thank you. All right. All right, my first guess, I'm just trying to get on the board. 2000 to 2009, thank you. All right. All right, my first guess, I'm just trying to get on the board. 2000 to 2009, Alex Rodriguez. 19th. Phew! All right, I got on the board.

A-Rod is 19th with 82 intentional walks. Albert Pujos. That's a good one. Albert Pujos is number three with 198 intentional walks. There's a guy I'm thinking of that I think could be on this board based off what he did in the early 2000s, you know what? I'm gonna take the risk on it. I'm gonna go Sammy Sosa Sammy Sosa is on the list Wow 16th. Oh We're already here. Yeah, I'm gonna go Jim Tomey Jim Tomey 10th on the list. Wow. 16th. Ugh. We're already here. Yeah.

I'm gonna go Jim Tomey. Jim Tomey, 10th on the list. Wow. Why'd you make a face there? No, it's a name I hadn't even considered. I felt really, I felt strong about that one. There's some names in my head. 112 intentional locks.

Okay. I'm gonna go, Raphael Palmeiro. That's gonna be the first strike today. Oh wow. Okay. Damn. Oh wow. Okay, damn. Frank Thomas. That is also gonna be a strike.

What? Oh. Your body language and you're nodding. You're like nodding along. Like I'm thinking, oh, this is, that's an easy one. Our 2025 Major League Baseball expert is here and he's the first and likely only person to join this year's five timers club on the pitch clock Adnan Virk back for a fifth time this

season before we even get to the all-star break we'll see if we can get to 10 Adnan but this is pretty impressive that's the goal Jeremy can I could be a member of the ten timers club and LSM and avid listener not only the pitch clock but also the day on LeBretard show and I just want to let you know as a baseball insider that I am historian that I am I can be a member of the 10 timers club in LSM and avid listener, not only the pitch clock, but also the Dan LeBretard show. And I just want to let you know as a baseball insider that I am, historian that I am, I can confirm for Dan LeBretard that Dave Parker used to have a big black bat. All right. Well, Dan will be very happy to learn that if he listens to this, which based off how he treats me on the show, I doubt he does. Let's dive right into this season, Adnan. It's been about a month since we've had you on the show,

and so all of June just passed. I wanna ask you, which team in Major League Baseball throughout the course of June changed your opinion on them the most, whether that's for better or for worst? For worst, every single team in the AL Central, aside from your adopted team, the Detroit Tigers. Let's go with Royals specifically. I love Bobby Witt.

He was second, obviously, in the MMP race a year ago. But he's not been Bobby Witt so far this season. He's been pretty pedestrian numbers by his lofty standards. Maybe he makes the All-Star game just because he's Bobby Witt. But hasn't been the same player. South Perez is like a 620 OPS, been a real disappointment. Jack Henley-Owns hit the 180 is a big leaguer. That's been a disaster. A ton of strikeouts. I know he's got a ton of promise, but it's been a while to see him get going past Quintino. Again, too much swing and miss.

Their pitching is good. I mean, Lugo has been tremendous as always, but Regan's has been hurt. Waka has been decent. Royals to me, a real disappointment, buddy. My buddy Greg Amstinger at MLB Network had them going all the way to the World Series. That ain't going to be happening. Royals aren't going to play out. Not only did Greg, you did on this show. You said the Royals and the Diamondbacks. Good memory by you that I was always... Yeah, I'm always going to remember that because we said the Pascwatch would be out here winning a World Series MVP. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that's where we're headed.

But you know where we are headed? The Marlins sit at the end of July in the exact same spot that my gritty tides from last year in 2024 did, which is eight games under 500 and eight games back of the final wild card spot in their league. Well, to you, is there any case to be made in your mind that the Miami Marlins could end up being this year's Detroit Tigers? I mean, it's incredible work by you and very

creative. And again, congratulations on winning your latest honor as a South Florida's greatest reporter. There's no doubt about that. But they're 37 and 45. I mean, I don't see them pulling off the Tigers did. But again, I didn't see the Tigers do what they did until it happened. So I'm a guy, I was completely surprised they did it from August 11th on. They're unbeatable. They're hitting over 300, 360 on base, over 500 slugging percents. They're averaging seven and a half runs per game during the seven game win streak collected. Ten or more hits in all those games. Only twice in the franchise's 33-year history have the Marlins had a longer streak of double digit hits. So they are banging right now.

Your boy, Otto Lopez, hit over 430 during a 10 game hit streak. Augustine Ramirez hits the ball hard. Love to see his exit feel. He hits over 500 his last six games. Of course, our boys, Stowers was great when we talked to him, then slowed down, but now he's back again. So the Fishman, I'm impressed how good their offense is,

but I did not expect that to be the strength of this team. It's been startling to see, right. And in the last several years, when the Marlins have had any runs of, of being any good, it's been in large part because the starting pitching has been great and the bullpen has been great. And this season that hasn't always been the case. Edward Cabrera is overachieved, but obviously outside of that, there's been pitching injuries. There's been Sandy Alcontra struggling throughout the case, Edward Cabrera's overachieved, but obviously outside of that, there's been pitching injuries, there's been Sandy Alcantara struggling

throughout the season, although looking stronger and stronger by the day. Maybe he can give the Marlins a second half school bull run. We will see, we will see what happens there, but it's been really fun to watch it thus far as we headed into July. Okay, Big Poppy. Big Poppy is on the list.

He's 17th with 87 intentional walks. I had Big Poppy and I also have Manny Ramirez. I'll go Manny, even though it's weird to have two on the same team. Manny Ramirez is an even better guess. Number four, 174 intentional walks in that decade. Good Lord. You know what?

I'll just go ahead with one of the ones that I was gonna guess and I'm worried that it's gonna be wrong. Chipper Jones. That's a great one. Chipper Jones is on the list. He's ninth on the list. Great.

127 intentional walks. So I'm gonna go with Miguel Cabrera. That's one of mine that I have written down, but he's only started his career in 03. Yeah. that's and he was like plenty of time right? Yeah Miguel Cabrera is on the list. Okay, 15th on the way. That's what I thought 90 intentional Well, I'm really so good What I'm looking for is like guys who were like the only good hitter in their life I know they had some good teams, but he was tied with Sammy Sosa

how about I'm worried this isn't gonna work., but how about Ken Griffey Jr. Ken Griffey Jr. sneaks onto the list at 20. That's crazy. Man, I got 19 and 20. With 76. These are like just a couple of foul tips with two strikes in the count. Like the fact that I'm staying alive there. Wow.

My turn? Your turn. Todd Helton. with two strikes in the count. Like the fact that I'm staying alive there, wow. My turn? Your turn. Todd Helton, that's one of mine. Chris Cody continues his dominance here. Todd Helton, fifth on the list, 164 intentional walks. I'm getting higher guys on the list. That's why he says I'm dominant. Yeah, sure.

You're squeaking into this list. Average depth of list, you're doing better, but we both have one strike. Yeah. I believe Chris Cody's gotten three, four, depth of list, you're doing better. But we both have one strike. Yeah. I believe Chris Cody's gotten three, four and five so far. I might get this wrong, but. So two still on the board, huh? Two is still on the board.

Who could that be? Larry Walker. No, too early. I played in the- Larry Walker is not unless that's gonna be the second strike. I knew it. Ooh. That I've been thinking of.

Jason Giambi. That is gonna be another strike. Two strikes apiece. That's like, I didn't even have that written down. It just popped in my head. I'm like, that's a good one. Yeah, that's a really good one, I would have thought. I'm pretty sure that was one of the first names

off this list. Yeah, that's a really good one. I would have thought. I'm pretty sure that was one of the first names off this list Adnan the trade deadline is at the end of this month of July and It looks like they're going to be a lot of teams in position to buy So I will ask you this question. Who do you think will be the most aggressive? buyer at the trade deadline and as you look around the league, who's the name that you're looking at that you think may be the biggest name moved? A lot of teams are buying, but not many teams are selling.

So this is the downside of the extra wild card. It's that more teams say to themselves, well, we're six games under 500, but we're only three games back of the wild card spot. So then less teams are willing to punt on the season. So I think it's tricky to see which teams will be sellers. I look for guys like Bailey Falter, the Pirates. He's been great for them really under the radar.

Could be a really good pick for a team who wants starting pitching. I'm curious about offense. Ayo Henio Suarez has been great for the D-backs. Josh Naylor could be a name. I think the D-backs should punt. They're about as even, Steven, as you get. They're a 500 team.

They've been average in the road, average on the road. To me, I'm like, if you sell some assets of pending free agents, guys like Zach Allen and Naylor and Suarez, you could get a lot for it. But I think Arizona says to themselves, well, we're only four games back to that third wall card spot, and maybe they don't punt. But there's gonna be lots more scuttlebutt

in the next couple of weeks ahead. And this is the best part about baseball, right? Because you just told me in this episode both that the Royals, who you predicted would go to the World Series, were the most disappointing team to you in June, and the Diamondbacks, who you predicted would go to the World Series,

should sell at the deadline. And that's what makes baseball spectacular, because you never know what's gonna happen in a given season. But let's get to our Golden Era star of the week. I'm actually gonna give you three names here, Adnan, all based off of what they did in June. So Garrett Crochet led Major League Baseball in strikeouts.

Zach Wheeler led Major League Baseball in ERA with, I believe, a.56 ERA in the month of June. And then there's the guy you just mentioned, Yojana Suarez, who tied the big dumper for both home run lead and RBI lead in Major League Baseball in that month. Which of these three stars do you wanna lock in on? Crochet, I think, is a runner up to the Cy Young to Scooble

and Suarez can bang with the best of them. I'm going with Zach Wheeler, I met him last year. And as you know, Jeremy, when they're nice to us, we'll be nice to them forever. That's right. He was a fan of my works, and I'm a fan of his work forever. Let's get this guy a Cy Young, man.

He was runner up in the Cy Young a year ago to sale. He was runner up to Corbin Burns when he should have won. He throws more innings than anybody. He's an absolute horse for the Phillies. He's a two-time Tommy. Remember after you had Tommy John the Matsum, and he goes, don't touch this guy. He goes to the Phillies.

He was absolute steal. Now he's on his second contract. He's still worth all the money. And you're right, he allowed a total of two earned runs and five June starts. He's absolutely spectacular. The thing I love about Wheeler is he just, he wants to finish what he starts.

He struck out 10 in eight innings. Nobody does this anymore. He tossed six hit ball, did not walk a single batter. I'm hoping this guy finally wins a sign. According to the odds right now, he's runner up to Paul Skeens right now in the National League. So let's hope Zach Wheeler, always a bridesmaid, never the bride, hopefully he breaks through this year.

I hope it's this year because it feels like Paul Skeens is gonna win every single Cy Young moving forward. So hopefully Zach Wheeler can get his because he is beyond deserving for the horse that he is and the dominant horse that he is. But Adnan Thank you for your fifth appearance We'll see if we can squeeze five more in in the second half of this major league baseball season

But it is time to get back to our game of trivia between myself and Chris I'm between two names and I'm not really confident in either one of them Based off, Carlos Beltran. Carlos Beltran is gonna be Jeremy's third strike. That's such a shame because I want you to know he wasn't one of the two names I was thinking of. But because I wasn't confident in either of the other names

and then I saw the Mets logo, I went, ah, let me go with that. If you say one of the two names that I have written down and you can, I'm gonna be furious. Chris Cody could walk it off here, or we're gonna go to overtime where it's just gonna be a sudden death round. I have two names here that I feel like they both should be fine.

It's like, which one do I wanna go with? Who had less around him in the line? Man, I actually have three names that I could've gone with. I'm not happy with myself. This is disappointing. I'm gonna go, Adam I could have gone with. I'm not happy with myself. This is disappointing. I'm gonna go, Adam Dunn, terrible guess. Adam Dunn is on the list.

Yeah! Chris Cody wins. Yeah! Hey! Who is number two? Lance Berkman? No, no, give me a hint on number two. Yeah.

Give us like a division, like division. You'll think of him, NL East, but more so AL West. Hold on. Whoa. He went to the AL West early in the 2000s. Just give us initials. We're not even close. Give us something else.

I have no idea what you're talking about. VG. Oh, Vlad. Oh, obviously. Oh man. How did I not think of Vlad? You know why? It's because if I saw Expos Yeah, you're right. I may have thought about it. The names that you guys missed The two spot was Vlad Guerrero the six spot you guys named a Carlos, but it was the wrong Carlos Carlos Delgado Oh classic. The biggest surprise on this list, number seven,

Ichiro Suzuki. No, no, no. I was gonna say Ichiro eventually. I didn't write it down, but I thought of him. I thought about him, but I was like, there's no way, he might've walked a lot, but no way, intentional walk. That's, what a different sport we were playing.

Jeremy, you mentioned him, you just didn't guess him. Lance Berkman, Ryan Howard, Brian Giles. Ryan Howard is an obvious one. Who do I have written down right underneath the Phillies? Chase Utley wasn't on there. Ryan Howard. Man. Chase Utley was not.

The final name that you guys missed was the 18th name on the list, Bobby Abreu. Yeah. That's a good one. Man. This was good. I like this. That's disappointing, but this is a great game. Taylor, you did a great job. After a rough stretch, two in a row for the kid.

Don't let him get hot. Don't let me get hot. I won't let him get hot. Next week is going down. ["The Daily Show Theme"] Hey friends, it's Jarabare here, and I'm here to tell you all about Boost Mobile, which is now a legit nationwide 5G network.

So I must take a break from the jokes here for a second and put on my serious voice. Because I would never ever joke about a 5G network that has invested billions building 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously. Visit BoostMobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more.

The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.