Hey guys, back with another podcast this week.
Nothing really new, besides the fact that the Angels still can't win a game.
We're hurting each other now.
The organization hurting, you know, the best player in the world, then CABBAGE hitting CELCIF.
It's pretty tough out there, but yeah, let's get into it.
That was brilliant, Kenji.
That accurately sums up what I think he's going to be talking about today.
There's a lot of news surrounding the Angels, a lot of injuries surrounding the Angels.
But yeah, welcome to maybe a little more depressing episode of the show.
Two of our favorite teams had huge key injuries this week.
But without further ado, we're going to go straight into Shohei.
That's the big news.
Shohei, did he tear his UCL or was it like some sort of other injury?
What's going on?
I thought it was a tear, but I heard stuff about how there's a chance you might not have to get Tommy John surgery.
It was a partial tear, so it wasn't quite all the way torn.
I think they're getting a second opinion.
They should get every opinion.
They should get every opinion outside of the organization, because the organization is a bunch of bums.
Yeah.
Oh my goodness.
Yeah.
So Shohei needs probably Tommy John.
So we probably won't see him pitch until 2025.
That was my understanding.
Price Harper 2.0.
But he's still hitting.
I guess that's the good news, right?
How's he been hitting?
I know you said he 0 for 4 today.
He actually did pretty good yesterday and the day before.
Because of what?
Right before he tore his UCL, I mean, he hit a home run.
Yeah.
But he has definitely slowed down lately.
Yeah.
He's still hitting around 300 and like an OPS over like a thousand something.
I don't know.
It's unreal what he's doing.
But a lot less.
I would just say it's a lot less entertaining to watch him hit now, but he's still hitting really well.
I mean, I think he went like 3 for 4 yesterday, like two doubles.
Yeah.
And so he's hitting still really solid, just not as entertaining.
I did see the craziest part about the whole injury thing to me was that he started that game, the first game of the double header, and then he got hurt.
And then he came out of that game, got the MRI and knew that he tore his UCL, like knew he wasn't pitching again, but still went out and hit in the nightcap of the double header.
That was like the most like show hay thing I think I could have ever found.
Like he was out there talking to Ellie De La Cruz and he literally knows he's done.
Real. Yeah.
It was so cool. But he like he knows he's done and he's just getting, you know, I thought that showed his character a little bit.
But I think that effectively seals the deal and the angels.
I know we were we've already been kind of out the door on him, but they're done.
Right. Yeah.
No way. Yeah.
We don't have a reliable starter. Right.
Because everyone's up and down.
Gatmers is up and down and he I guess technically he's our best now.
Right. We never is and he's he's great one game and he's horrendous the other.
So yeah, it's still gone to no trout.
Yeah. Trouts back on I.L.
I came out for a day.
Yeah.
Shani well or I want to come to show me well.
Whatever his name is, a new guy. So I mean, he's great. He has like a seven game.
Sick.
I don't know.
Yeah. Not good time in Angel Land.
I did see two so in detriment to his hopes of our angels fans of hopes of resigning him.
Did you see the report that came out yesterday about like how they went about the injury or like in the past little bit.
He hadn't had an MRI done previously or even like any test done while he had like like he came out with some cramps and he was like, I can't some shortened starts.
They never tested his arm.
But and so that was already bad.
But then the the angels came out yesterday.
The GM came out yesterday and said that effectively Shohei and his agent declined like getting any imaging done like the last time because he recommended it after he came out of his last short.
And start and then Shohei and his agent were like, No, I don't worry about it.
So the angels GM just like effectively snitched on Shohei and his agent.
So everybody was like, there's no way he's resigning now.
Angels guys are just going right behind his back.
There's I don't think I don't think he's coming back to begin with.
But I think that's kind of like the nail in the coffin almost.
I would agree.
I mean, I think I think the upper management is a bunch of bums. First of all, I mean, I've watched what one year baseball and I can I can tell.
Yeah, it's pretty bad.
They've been bad for a long time.
So yeah, I just feel bad that Mike Trout has to just stay on this team for as long as he's been there for so long.
Yeah, the guy deserves freedom more than I think.
He deserves a championship is what he deserves.
He deserves positivity in his life in September.
You know, that's what we sat.
Brady, correct me if I'm wrong.
The only time he was in the playoffs was against the Royals, right?
Like 2014 or something.
Sounds about right. Yeah.
Yeah, they got swept that year.
2008 or something, wasn't it?
Or like 2014 was the last time.
Same thing, right? Ages ago.
Yeah, I mean, this is a six year difference.
It's like half a decade.
Ask Juan De Franco about a six year difference.
Oh, man.
Oh, my goodness, Brady.
Welcome to the episode, guys.
Welcome to the episode.
Welcome to the show.
I guess we should do a little check-ins.
We jumped right into show because I know Kenji's not doing so hot.
But I guess it's been a week.
We've still got the same crew here.
Joe, how's it going first and foremost?
About as good as Kenji, I'll be honest.
Rangerland is not happy today.
Rangerland is struggling a bit.
You know, as of today, the 27th, they're playing the Twins.
I'm watching the game.
Actually, it's the top of the ninth.
We're up five to four.
We were up five zero.
But Royce Lewis had a grand slam.
Chris Stratton gave up a bomb in the, I think, the sixth.
So it's another close game.
Yeah.
Didn't need to be close.
But you know, we're hanging in there.
The Mariners are right there with us.
And they also happen to have the easiest schedule going into September.
So it's going to be really tough fight.
But, you know, at this point, I'm just hanging on by a thread.
Yeah.
Yes.
All right.
Day by day.
Rangerland is not doing so hot.
Definitely not.
We're going to talk about the division a little bit later.
Brady, how's it going?
Oh, you know, we're doing just fine.
Phillies are doing it again.
Getting hot in August.
Just in time for the postseason.
But just in time to be a first round exit.
Yeah.
Nope.
Yes, sir.
If you think we're losing to Milwaukee in the first round, I think you're so wrong.
All right.
Okay.
Well, that's going to let's go to Vegas and go bet on that real quick.
First round loss.
Phillies swept by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Who's it?
I'll bet.
Can you imagine?
Phillies do not make the World Series and make a bunch of money on it.
See?
Bet on something like that specific?
I think there's probably some way you could.
The odds are probably high.
So you probably can't make too much money unless you bet a bunch.
But yeah, I just we'll get to the playoff picture a little bit later today.
That's part of what we have planned.
But certainly, I mean, Phillies are they'll be in the playoffs.
Nobody knows what what what will be at those.
So transitioning then this is we're going to hand this off to Joe for a lot of it.
The AOS.
So you touched on it briefly.
West has gotten really interesting, really fast.
Seattle has been on an all time tear of weight.
Houston's had some struggles in Texas.
Your struggles have been well documented.
If you win today, how does that end the eight game losing streak or nine game losing streak?
What are you guys? So so we won yesterday.
It was to to go into the ninth inning and then we managed to score four runs.
I think we didn't even we didn't even.
Oh, yeah.
We're seeing the ninth. Yeah.
Walks sacrifice fly.
Someone got hit hit by pitch.
But hey, that was a dub.
We're still in first place somewhere.
OK. Yeah. All right.
I'm just going to ignore that.
But you know, the AOS is definitely interesting.
Before I knew it, I swear last week and I was checking the schedule.
Mariners were still below 500, but I am so wrong.
And they're clearly right on our tail.
And as well as the Astros, too, I think they're only a game back.
But at first, you know, going in kind of June, July, I thought it was just going to be us and the Astros the whole time.
But now the Mariners, they've been hot, hot.
And so it's just these three teams where it's a dogfight.
I'm going to be honest.
I think we play the Astros again in a few weeks, maybe one or two weeks.
I don't know if it's a four game series or not, but it's going to be tough.
It's the most exciting part of the season, though, that's for sure.
Besides the postseason, this is kind of where is do or die.
It's going to be a lot of fighting and the division.
So I'm excited. Certainly.
I think I'm looking at the standings right now.
So obviously, Texas has to finish their game today and Seattle just got underway against Kansas City.
And I think Houston's actually playing Detroit right now, too.
They beat them 17 to four.
Oh, OK, never mind.
Do they play them in football?
Yeah, they have like 24 or 25 hits.
Is that two touchdowns?
That is.
Two touchdowns is a field goal.
Yeah.
Wow.
Yeah.
And you could tell in his football knowledge.
I'm looking for training.
What's a field goal?
It's worth one point.
No, but you guys are separated by three games.
Seattle and Texas are tied at the top.
Houston's a game behind you guys.
So all three teams separated by one game going down to the wire.
Texas is two and eight in their last 10.
Seattle's nine and one in their last 10.
That's the difference.
I got a question about the Rangers.
Did Will Smith finally lose the closing or the closer job to Chapman?
I hope so.
I really hope so.
Because he's closing right now and he went into ninth inning yesterday, too, with the four run lead.
So I'm guessing Will Smith finally.
And yeah, Chapman is actually he's actually on the mound right now.
Bottom of the earth.
Yeah, bottom of the ninth.
It's five four.
And hopefully he can close this game out.
I think Will Smith after he gave up all those homers against the Giants, against the Brewers, I think.
Other teams.
Honestly, I get why Bochy wanted to keep Will Smith in as the as the closer, you know, because he's been doing so good.
But like when you get a cold streak, it's hard to get hot again to get back on track.
And so I think Bochy is just trusting the veteran Chapman to get it done.
I hope he can he can fill that role that Smith had a problem with struggling to to fill.
Keep my wife's name.
Oh, sure.
Now that's our guy.
That's a good point, though, like if a closer has a hard time, it's probably harder to get out than it is for a starter because you have what?
One inning to pretty much fix your entire or do you think it's easier for like a closer or reliever to get out of a cold?
No, I don't.
You pitch more often.
You will you pitch.
I think the thing is you pitch more often, but it's the first four innings of the game.
You don't feel as much pressure.
I think my opinion when it gets to seven, eight, nine, when your offense doesn't have as much as many chances to score runs, that's when there's pressure.
There's also pressure when someone a guy before you leaves runners on base strike three.
And so.
Thanks, Kenji.
Oh, well, all right.
I just lost my train of thought, but I just see it's hard for relievers.
They really have it tough because, you know, they want to be a starter.
They want to have like the main role on the team, but they have to be consistent in all the late innings of the game, whilst being able to handle the runners they may have inherited from the past pitchers.
So I think it's a really tough position for them.
I would hate to be a closer or to be a relief guy in the MLB.
Because I'm pretty good at pitching, I think I could be in the MLB.
So just speaking from a guy that's.
Totally.
I think.
I think they.
Oh, go ahead, Brady.
No, you're good.
I was just gonna say, I think it was only a matter of time before Chapman got the job.
Like even Atlanta Will Smith wasn't.
Yeah, I feel like.
Isn't solid.
Yeah, I feel like Gabe can attest to ever.
Will Smith's entire career.
He's never been that guy to be in the closer role.
I feel like.
Right.
I feel like he's just not a closer fit guy.
He's definitely an early relief guy.
That's where he was in Atlanta.
Because they had Ricell and Kimbrough and Kenley.
He's just never been in that role.
And so it's been interesting.
Yeah, I mean, I think a premier major league closers Will Smith's name does not come to mind.
I think of I think of Hader.
I think of Bautista.
I think of Diaz.
Like those are the guys that I put at the top of my like a list and I'll be closers.
But Will Smith has been a reliable guy.
I mean, he's getting older.
It's easier to kind of game plan for him because he's just fastball slider.
His VLOS ticked down.
His spin rates ticked down.
And so I think people just kind of figured it out.
And I think it works in the Rangers favor having a guy that is virtually the opposite.
Like Chapman is like fastball.
And he's got a.
Chapman is a heavy slider, but it's completely different in terms of like how he attacks hitters.
So, I mean, I'm curious to see how it turns out.
Chapman in the past couple of years is good for like one nasty blown save in the playoffs.
Just fair warning Rangers fans like he just do for like one atrocious loss a year.
But just hope you don't face Houston because Houston kind of owns that man in the playoffs.
Houston does own that man.
Chas McCormick this year, Al Tuve and was it 2017?
Yeah, I don't really want to talk about it.
Bang, bang.
It's as long as we don't play Houston.
Hopefully like Julio or I don't know, Suarez or T. Oscar.
Don't hit a bomb off of him in the playoffs.
Whatever.
Your division is loaded with really great right handed bats like Seattle with how good they've been playing.
I think Seattle is a worse matchup for you guys in Houston because at least your Don out of the bullpen is tougher for him to get hits from Will Smith or Chapman.
Kyle Tucker though isn't too terrible against him.
Lefty, lefty.
Yeah, never mind.
Gauntlet, man.
You want to be that number one seed.
You've got to be one or two seed because it does not get easy.
But that's the deal with the AL West.
Rangers lost eight straight.
They've since righted the ship hoping to win another one today.
It's yeah, it's not looking so good.
It's not looking good.
I think just balked.
Yeah, just balked.
Yeah, runner on second one out to account.
Live reactions here on the four guys.
No clue.
I'm going to talk briefly.
The other news this week, another big injury.
Felix Bautista had some some degree of injury to his UCL, which is the owner collateral ligament.
That's the injury that people get Tommy John for.
I was watching that game and it looked like it was so weird because he's thrown 101 102 and it didn't look like he super hurt anything.
He just like threw 102 and it was like way it was up and away.
Just looked like he kind of fell off.
And then he immediately like asked for time.
He like goes behind the mound and he's checking up.
He's like flexing his hand, which usually like form stuff usually means like UCL.
And I was nervous from the beginning because there were two strikes and two outs in the bottom of the top of the night.
So I knew that they were going to take him out.
It was going to be something serious.
And yeah, they yanked him out.
Although it was strange because everybody in the clubhouse said that Felix was in good spirits.
They didn't expect it to be anything like crazy long term.
But then the report came out yesterday that he had some degree of injury to his UCL and we placed on the 15 down.
If I'm Felix, I'm like, dude, just shut it down for the year.
I'm like, I don't care if you do TJ or whatever.
Just shut it down for the year.
I'm not messing with it, which it's really too bad because when healthy, he's one of the best closers in the game.
I do like the opportunity for you near canal to take a chance.
Yeah, I don't know.
I'm not going to save today.
True.
But you didn't watch the game today.
Gunner's fault, though.
Gunner Gunner was going to make a terrible throw.
And then Gunner made a horrendous error and then can now got three quick outs.
And it just so happened that the that the runner scored the hit that got the runner in was like a 20 foot like chopper shop rounder that scored the runner.
So he doesn't get charged for that, though, right?
Because no, it's an honor.
Yeah.
I liked Cano. He came in yesterday and did a great job saving the game yesterday.
And I mean, he was an all star for a reason.
He has great stuff.
So I think he's not as good as Bautista, but I at least trust him to hold it down.
I just but it certainly is a huge blow and just means that the rest of the bullpen has to step up, which that'll be.
He's going to take Cano's role.
Do you think who you take as a role or do you think somebody else is going to take Cano?
Maybe they just called if I was going to mention it's going to be my player to watch today.
And I'll talk about it more at the end is DL Hall.
They just called him up from the minors.
He's a big time lefty prospect for the O's for a long time as a starter.
But they transferred him to a relief role in the minors and he throws like 98, 99 from the left side.
He's got a sweeper and a change up.
And they brought him in yesterday in the eighth and he looked pretty good.
So hey, that's a good.
Yeah, I think they have some ideas on what they want to do.
They got some other guys.
John Means is coming back from injury and he threw a no hitter two years ago.
He's been kind of in and out since.
Yeah, he threw a no hitter too and he's not even in the league.
Sure. Never mind.
I guess the point is, is they got some help coming.
So I'm interested to see what they do.
But I think if you're an O's fan, you got to be realistic and think that your title chances just took a big hit with Felix going down.
Because he's like just an automatic guy that you can trust to go in there and get outs.
I was going to ask you that like from a Baltimore fan.
Felix, like where would you put your chances?
Because like we've talked and I've said like I think Baltimore has a pretty good chance to take it this year.
Maybe. But I don't know.
Without Bautista, I don't know.
I'm nervous. I'm not going to lie. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little more anxious.
I think we need bullpen guys to step up.
It's a good thing to have all of September to kind of get settled into their role.
But I need Kenoda to show me that he can handle that ninth inning role and that Fuji can get it done.
Because I know you guys are big Fuji fans.
He just kind of gets rocked.
Like I don't know what it is.
Like he has such great stuff, but he just kind of gets shelled.
It's like everyone knows what he's throwing.
They can just see. Everything is strong.
Even though he throws like what? 98-ish?
He averages like 80, 90, 100.
Yeah.
People just like just see the ball.
I don't know why. I don't know why. I don't know how.
It must just be so flat.
It has to be. It has to be pretty flat.
It's so flat.
It's what he either he either comes in as a relief pitcher gets three K's in one inning.
Strikes out the side or he gets like he goes.
He gets one out, three hits like four earned.
Yeah. One walk.
The craziest part to me is that he'll come in and he'll throw like you said, he'll strike out the first two guys.
And then the very next hitter will just like turn around like 101 for a home run out to left field.
And you're like, what the heck just happened?
You just you don't even know what happened because he looks so good.
And then he just gets shelled.
It's crazy.
If bipolar was a closer or a relief pitcher, that's just how it is.
It would be Fuji.
That's just the reality.
Yeah.
No, I yeah.
But we'll see what happens.
I think the chances take a hit.
But at the same time, injuries is a part of the game.
So if you can't really deal with having injuries to your team, then you don't really deserve to win anyway.
Like you look at Tampa, Tampa is still right in the hunt, but they lost like four or five starters to start the year.
And so Tampa is still right in it.
Texas has dealt with their first year of injuries to both pitching and hitting.
Seattle has had their first year as well.
So I think it just kind of just kind of happened.
It sucks.
But next man up kind of mentality out in Baltimore.
Moving right along, then Mookie Betts.
I know Griff is having a great time today with his fantasy team.
But Brady, maybe you could touch a little bit on how good Mookie has been since the All-Star break, really.
But especially like the trade deadline and start of August.
Isn't it about 300 now?
Yeah.
Well, side note here, we definitely forgot to talk about the only non injury prone team we have right now.
First of all, we can touch you guys.
I have it on my list here.
It's in two.
Oh, yeah, we can talk.
But Mookie Betts has been unreal.
Freddie has the most doubles in a year and we're still in August.
In Dodger history, right?
Yep.
And we are still in August.
Those two are getting real hot, real fast.
They're going to be team to watch if the pitching can stay consistent.
Yeah.
That's their biggest problem.
It is.
Yeah.
But you know, some guys have stepped up for them.
But they got some guys, man.
Lance Lynn has been great.
Yeah.
Like they've got some dudes they acquired the deadline that have been absolutely fantastic.
Lance Lynn, he was a ranger, by the way.
So when was he a ranger?
Go Dodgers.
I think he got traded in 2020.
Oh, my goodness.
Yes.
He was there.
He was their ace in 2019-ish, I think.
I did not know that.
Don't call me on that.
But yeah, he was a ranger before he went to the West Oaks.
The return of Joe Kelly.
Didn't he go on I.O.?
Joe is a dog.
Probably.
Joe Kelly is?
Yeah, I think so.
I think he's on the I.O.
Yeah, he was the mean mug and when he mean mugged Carlos Correa, that was fun.
That was fantastic.
That was fun.
Now, OK, Brady, here you go.
We're just going to bump your guys up so you can feel like you're validated.
That's what we're here for.
The Phillies set a home run record in a month.
Brady, take over.
Yes, sir.
47 home runs this month and the month's not even over.
Most home runs in a month in franchise history just in time for the end of August.
Just in time.
Great time to get hot.
Great time to get ready.
Especially with our chance right now.
I think this last week, since we last had our other episode, we won two out of three
against San Francisco.
We're playing.
We've won two against the Cardinals right now and about to win the third, it looks like.
That's difficult.
Yeah, real difficult here.
And get this, we're not even done.
We get to go play against the Angels to start this week.
So I know Kenji's just in fear right now.
He doesn't care.
He's done with the Angels.
He's done.
He's so far abandoned, but very excited for that.
I moved on to my color goldfish.
Yeah.
Sponsored goldfish.
There you go.
There we go.
Not sponsored goldfish, but you couldn't.
Yeah, then we go back to our division games.
I think we have another set of division, another series against each of the teams and to round
out the year.
Hopefully we can squeeze a few from Atlanta.
Do you play Atlanta again?
When do you play?
I believe we play them at home.
I could be wrong, but I believe we play them at home for a three game set here in early
September.
I need to watch that series.
Yeah, that one will be.
That one's going to be good.
I'm excited.
But then we play, I think we play the rest of the division and maybe a couple other teams.
And then we head in.
So hopefully we can keep it strong.
Looking pretty hot right now.
Let's see if we can keep it going.
Yeah, you get Atlanta at home for four.
August, or September 11th through the 13th.
You have a double header on a Monday.
Yeah, because we had a, we had a postponed game that had to get put there.
Gotcha.
Yeah.
But four against Atlanta at home.
That'll be big series for you guys, especially.
Oh, and then the next week you go to Atlanta.
Oh, you have seven against Atlanta in a week.
Wow.
Yup.
In a week.
That's what I'm saying.
Yeah.
They play them for the 11th, 12th and 13th.
And then they go to St. Louis over the weekend.
And then the next Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, they're in Atlanta.
So it'll be a real fun.
That's going to be fun.
I can't wait to see your record.
You're absolutely plumbing.
Yeah.
I feel like the Marlins are going to take second, the NLE.
Hey, don't count us out against them yet.
We, if I do recall this happened last year too, or we faced them, I think a four game series.
Yeah.
We beat them.
Yeah.
It's a great time to get hot.
We love doing it.
You said that like last year, the Phillies are in like the same spot of like, they got really hot at the end.
Right?
Yeah.
We kind of struggled in the beginning because we got Schwaber and Castellanos.
So kind of the team just needed a form.
And then around August, September, we just turned on the jets and went crazy.
If it's any, if it's any consolation, you do have those seven games against Atlanta, but the rest of your schedule is not
too shabby.
So like you said, you get the Angels to end August.
You have a tough matchup in Milwaukee Friday, Saturday, Sunday, this next Friday, Saturday, Sunday.
And then you go to San Diego, who's playing bad.
You get the Marlins at home who they've been bad.
And after the Brave series, Cardinals, Mets, Pirates, Mets.
That's not bad at all.
So you can easily, even if you struggle against the Braves, you can come out of that like with a really good record.
And then be in good shape.
Yeah, I'm excited.
I think we'll be able to at least compete with Atlanta the way we're playing right now.
If we keep it up, I think we'll play pretty well because they, they're still hot as ever.
But I mean, like your offense is so hot and their pitching is mediocre right now, honestly.
So honestly, you guys could put it on them.
Yeah, it could happen.
And I think it could.
I think we could do it because we got what seven.
My only hope is to.
I have a hope and dream that we would take the seven take four out of seven.
But is it realistic?
Is it realistic?
I do not know.
But that is the that is the hope.
That is the dream.
That's tough, man.
I think it'll be interesting to see Brewers Phillies, though.
I got to be honest, because after all the crap we talked either when we started or before we started about you guys having to play Milwaukee in a wild card, I think that'll be a little sneak peek.
I'm interested.
It will sneak peek of the divisional divisional round.
It'll be wild card.
Yeah.
And you would go to Milwaukee.
So this will be like the setting that it'll be if everything stays the way it is.
Yeah.
Which, honestly, though, I do like the spot, so if it were to end today, I know we're going to talk about our playoffs later, but if it were to end today, we'd have Milwaukee and then the Dodgers, which I don't hate.
I'd rather face either of those than the Braves again.
Yeah.
So it'll be good.
All right.
That's the Phillies update from our resident Phillies fan.
We're going to touch on this briefly and then we'll get into our like firm playoff predictions with one month to go.
Paul Skeens first start in double A Altoona.
Pretty struggled.
I mean, to say the least, he struggled.
It was like two tenths of an or two thirds of an inning.
A couple of earned runs, a couple of walks, not that many punches.
Brady, you're a college football guy and our Paul Skeens expert because he's dating with you.
And there you go. But that's not why we enjoy him.
That was a good detail to add in right there.
Yeah, I know.
Media is interested in him.
I don't know.
What's going on? Is he going to be good in double A?
Is he just like, are they getting married anytime soon, Brady?
You know, I don't know.
I just all I know is that man is really good.
Obviously, he was picked number one for a reason.
But I think he'll find his way up the chain pretty quickly here.
I think it's just one of those where you have to keep adjusting.
You have to adjust. It's brand new. It's a higher level.
Yeah.
You just got to find a way to adjust.
Right. Yeah.
I know, Joe, was it you that on the last episode, you said you think he starts next season in the rotation?
He knows.
I mean, why would I say that?
That was Brady.
Yeah, he's saying they should take it over Keller.
I stand by it.
That's crazy.
You guys see how Keller's been pitching his past like three or four outings?
Brady, put me on it.
You won't.
What Skeens has done before, I think if he starts working his way up, if he is in triple A here in September, I think there's a shot.
We'll see though, after the outing that happened.
We will see.
You never know.
That's a step back, that's for sure. Two steps forward, one step back.
First of all, I like his post today.
What?
Did Paul Skeens have a bad outing?
Yeah, that's what we were talking about.
He didn't throw a full inning.
I wasn't understanding.
He didn't throw a full inning, Kench, and let up a couple runs.
Oof.
I don't think he was really going to throw a whole lot to begin with, but you never know.
I think it was three hits, three earned.
I could be wrong.
Two tenths of an inning, two tenths.
Why am I talking like two thirds of an inning?
Yeah.
I ain't doing math.
Okay, that's our stuff on Paul Skeens.
Those are pretty much the headlines we wanted to go over.
What we really wanted to focus on was almost a who's officially dead and who's going to be in the playoffs.
We did the little tier list last week.
We were talking who might be on the fence, but this week we're going to get really firm with our predictions.
We're going to say this is who's in, this is who's out, this is what the playoffs are going to be like.
If we have time, we'll get to what the actual World Series might look like.
Here I am.
I'll give you guys some context for everybody that is listening and to you three idiots on the call.
I'll tell you what the current playoff picture looks like.
Then what it could look like, like who's in the hunt.
For the American League right now, the two buys would be Orioles and Rangers because you guys own the tiebreaker over the Mariners.
That's it as it stands right now.
The wild card series would be Twins at Astros and Rays at Mariners.
I don't know if it's at.
I have no idea.
It just says versus on here.
Yeah.
But that would be I think it would be in Minnesota for the Astros Twins because they won.
Yeah, I think it's at the higher seat.
So it would be at Minnesota and then at Tampa for those respectively.
So do we think anybody else sneaks in in the A.L. and takes a spot on one of those teams?
I mean, hear me out.
I don't know with the consistency, but I feel like Minnesota.
So I feel like Houston has been very like hit or miss lately.
Like they've been really hot and then really cold.
So I think if they go cold enough, Toronto might sneak in.
Maybe.
OK, both has enough to push, though.
Oh, they don't.
But both are both are so inconsistent.
It's going to come down to here in the next month.
Boston's been hot, too, do we think?
Excuse me. Is Boston out?
Yeah, Boston's out. They don't have they don't have some four and a half games back of Houston for the young.
They're too young.
All right.
I just don't think they're pitching will uphold like even Toronto and Houston like have dogs.
But I just feel like the Red Sox don't like they got rid of you, Volby.
Chris sale.
It seemed to stay healthy ever.
They just don't have pitching.
This is what it comes down to.
You got Kenley Jansen in the bullpen, and that's really about it.
He can give up a lead just as well as he can block it down.
OK, so Boston were declaring officially dead.
Boston's dead.
Is that consensus?
Boston's out completely.
I feel like there's a chance they can make the playoff, but they're not going to go anywhere.
I think there's a chance, but that means that Seattle, Texas or Houston has to be has to be worse than them.
And Toronto has to be better.
And Toronto has to be worse than them the rest of the way.
Then yeah, it's a large push.
I don't have teams that have to be bad enough for that.
Yeah, it's either Boston has to be insane or those teams have to be drastically underperformed.
And even given Texas has been bad lately, I don't see them falling out because Joe like it or not.
Sure.
It's a very realistic possibility that you guys could miss the playoffs.
No, it's like these this 10 game stretch.
I've seen how bad the Rangers can be.
I just like how bad the bullpen can be.
I've also seen how good they can be.
But then again, you can't in the playoffs in the postseason, you can't have a team that's just so up and down.
So bipolar like that.
Yeah, there's a there's a fair amount.
There's a there's a lot of consistency with consistency with the Rays, Baltimore with the Braves Dodgers.
That's what makes them stand out.
That's something that the Rangers are lacking right now.
Maybe be due to injury or just, you know, fatigue from from the long season.
But there's there's something that's just pulling them back.
OK, all right.
Because I mean, realistically, let's be really honest about this.
Texas, Houston and Seattle are all right there.
All it takes is you to get a couple of games back and then Toronto sniffing your tail for that last wild card spot.
And then you guys are in trouble.
And even if if it gets separated, like, say, Seattle continues to take off, then it's between you and Houston.
And it comes down to I don't know what your schedule looks like.
But then it gets close to you have to beat Houston basically for a wild card spot.
I don't know.
Yes. Yeah.
So we I think we got Houston in the three game series.
But the thing is, our last 10 games, yeah, our last 10 games, we play Seattle seven times.
Oh, my goodness. So it's going to be if the if this kind of like, you know, half game, one game back keeps up for about for like a few weeks.
It's going to be real interesting to see the Seattle Rangers series.
Oh, Joe, you know, plays out, man. You guys got a golf.
We got this. I don't know when you'll be of all these going to be back.
I mean, we got the I think we have the angels in between the Mariners.
I think you've all got a schedule.
I think everyone's got a vision.
Even if even if you have all the comes back in the next week and a half, it takes time for starting pitchers to get back on on a roll, which you have all the he's been struggling the last few starts.
So cautious with them, like because he's he's he's he's arms ready, right? Like he's not hurting anymore. But he's he's on bullpens.
Right. But but it's it's the other still being really cautious.
I think they're just trying to test out a lot of the guys like, you know, the new you got Jordan Montgomery, you got Chris Stratton.
Also, just kind of pushing the starting pitchers and also in relief, like who can who can get the job done. And so they're just kind of tailoring them on who?
Josh Young.
No, it's been I think it's been two and a half weeks, almost three weeks since he got his surgery. But I honestly don't think he's going to be he's not going to be 100 percent.
Now here, this is the schedule, Joe, for you guys the rest of the way. So you get the Mets at the end of starting tomorrow, which is that's an easy one.
You should get what you feel like. I feel like we would get swept by the Mets, though. That's like such a ranger thing.
You know what I mean? I have zero faith in my team, guys.
Joe has zero faith in the Rangers. Yeah. But your September respectfully is really hard.
So you guys get the twins again, right? You get the division leading twins at home and then you get Houston at home.
You get a gimme of a series right after Houston because you have a day off and then three against the Athletics.
So you should. That's like a nice little break. But that's the only break.
Because then you go to Toronto for four. That'll be that'll be the Blue Jays chance to like close the gap in a hurry because they'll get you for four.
You go to the Guardians. Guardians are kind of out of it, but that's they're still a little pesky.
Home against Boston, who that might be their last ditch effort is Boston those last two weeks.
Like, yeah, creep in. And then the Mariners at home for three to the Angels and then at Seattle for four.
That's a tough. That's a tough break, man. That's tough.
I don't know why. I don't know why on God's green earth, God allowed that schedule to happen for the Rangers.
But I'm really like that's going to be tough.
Toronto series is going to be really fun. That'll be a fun one because that'll be I mean, essentially, if it stays kind of where we're at, Toronto could leapfrog you in the standings with taking three out of four.
Yeah, it could. So and that would be that would put you guys on the fringe, which would be and I think I think the three game series against Houston to that could be kind of like what sets off that battle with Toronto.
It's either that or, you know, we're we're able to kind of, you know, stay ahead of Toronto.
And that's if we're talking about like, you know, Seattle and Astros not getting cold. They're staying hot the way they are.
We'll see what happens, though. It's Seattle. Seattle could very well bury you the last week.
They could and they might. They probably I think there's a good chance.
Because if you think about it, it's at home. And that's huge. All the guy all the fans are coming. No one's going to know it's at stake. I get four at the end of the year. That's dude. That's a tough break, man.
So this is what we asked for. This is this is what September is all about. It is.
It is what September is all about. All about. It's going to be fun. It's coming. It's fun coming down to the stretch.
So then so officially make your predictions, everybody. We got to be official with this is what we promise people.
I think the Astros are winning it. Astros beat Texas for the wild card like World Series Astros World Series Astros over who?
Who could they play? I don't know.
Atlanta, Atlanta, Atlanta, Dodgers, silly, silly. Oh, who?
Never heard of them. I think I'd say the Dodgers Dodgers.
Houston over. I believe that Dodgers more than the Braves. So Dodgers beat Atlanta.
Brady or Kenji. Yeah, I think their pitching is better than Atlanta's pitching and the way the Dodgers are just playing lately, I think they demolished the the Brits, not demolished, but like
Braves won eight out of the last 10. Yeah, but they're hitting right. It keeps them alive or they're playing bunk teams, aren't they? They're having an insane offense. Yeah, they do.
I mean, the Giants have like the worst offense in the league. They score like two runs, maybe at night on a good night. All right. So there's another 60, 60, 60.
To 63 is like because they're pitching, right? It's just keep some of the flow, but they're essentially Kenji. Do you think it stays the way it is?
Like the Seattle win the division, Texas and Houston, and then Houston just kind of wins out or does Houston win the division? Does Houston like because they're one game back?
I don't know because the way the way the way Seattle's hitting is just disgusting and the way they're pitching is performing is disgusting. Yeah, they had to really, really suck.
Right. To take third place in that division now or in that race. And I think Seattle could win it, but I also have seen them play before and how they look just absolutely terrible.
I don't get it. I don't I don't know, but I just think the Astros are going to win the World Series because their offense is just disgusting. All right. Okay.
Brady, Joe, is there a consensus?
Is this like who's winning the World Series? I mean, I'm just gonna leave it up to you. You can tell me who your World Series pick is, who over who, or you could tell me what the playoff picture is going to look like, who wins the division, who's the wildcard teams, whatever you guys do.
Well, I mean, you know me ALS kind of guy, but just looking at the American League.
Yes.
The T stands for Tampa, by the way, not Texas.
But, I mean, just looking at it.
I think it's going to be the the O's right. I was the number one.
Number two.
I think I gotta say Seattle for this one.
Okay, and then three Rangers for Houston.
All right.
And then Tampa's in there.
Oh yeah, sorry I forgot about Tampa.
Houston's four.
Twins are going to be in there because they're going to win that. Yeah, twins and then it's going to be Toronto. Like I think the ALS is locked in.
Wait, is that is that 17? I think.
Does it sound like seven?
That sounds okay because one of the ALS either has to be Baltimore, Seattle.
And then you got Tampa, Texas, number four.
And then I'll say Minnesota and then the twins.
Sorry, Minnesota and the twins. Minnesota and Toronto.
Okay. Minnesota and Toronto. I think it's locked in.
All right. Okay. We can do the AL first and then we'll go over the World Series.
Yeah. I think.
Brady, what do you think it ends up?
I firmly believe I think one of these wild card teams here is going to drop.
I think Toronto's going to squeak by one of the teams that's in here right now.
I'm not sure which. I would love to say Houston.
I would love to say Houston. Really?
Yes. I would love to say that too. I'm sorry, Kench, but it's going to have to happen.
Who pitches on Toronto?
How about Manoa?
He's going to come out of the minors and just absolutely pitch like a god.
Comes out of rookie ball?
Yes, straight from rookie ball.
Yeah. They have Bassett and Gosman and Kikuchi.
And then they do have Romano. I think Romano is very interesting.
I don't know if I like him or hate him, but I think they'll squeak by Houston
because Seattle is running too hot.
I think Texas will just squeak enough to where they stay in the wild card.
I hope so.
We all hope. And then the rest of it just stays the same.
All right. Well, hey, for the sake of conversation, briefly, what does the Blue J September look like?
Oh, my goodness. This is easy.
Yeah.
Oh, my Lanta. Nationals.
I'm telling you.
Nationals, Rockies, A's, Royals.
Rangers, Red Sox.
Rangers, Red Sox, Yankees, Rays, Yankees.
Yankees will be out at that point.
And the end of September will be kind of tough for the Blue Js, but it's, I mean, their next 12 games.
Jeez, man. They could really do things.
If they can look at the next 12 games stretched like 10 wins or something, I think, yeah.
I mean, look, they got the Nationals, Rockies and A's and Royals.
Gosh, that's a trick.
Wait, where are they playing the Rockies?
At Colorado.
Well, then I think that changes the story a little bit, right? I know the Rockies.
Colorado is bad.
But it's Colorado.
It's Colorado. Come on.
I firmly believe.
The reason why, like.
The least home field advantage team in the MLB is the Colorado Rockies.
Because the ball flies everywhere there.
They play in outer space, yeah.
Everywhere.
So does it really help the home field advantage when everyone just hits home runs and you're pitching sucks?
I thought Colorado plays really good at home is what it was.
I'm sure they do.
But you just can't rule out the fact that teams are just going to hit bombs like crazy there.
Colorado at home this year is five games under 500.
They suck on the game.
I don't want to talk about their 20.
Would actually remember how to hit like he was hitting last year, then I'd have a lot more confidence in the Blue Jays.
OK, that is true.
But Boba Shet has stepped up big time.
Everyone on that team, I think ever since he came back from injury, I don't think he's been the same though, right?
I haven't heard much about him since.
But yeah, I know George is out of his like giant slump and play pretty good.
I do. I do like Toronto a lot for where they would be in their positioning.
You can never sleep on them.
You can never tell them.
I would probably say they'd go up against Texas in the first wild card.
That would be fun.
That would be a very long series to watch.
Who knows how that would end up?
Both have hotter offenses than they do pitching staff.
We played them about a month ago.
We took two games off.
They took one off us, but it was never like, oh, this is an easy win.
Like, I think we won by like a four or five runs one game, but it seemed like we were just like neck and neck the whole time.
So that matchup, if it does happen, well, it's going to happen, you know, in about in about a month.
The Gosman matchup would be insane.
Or Manoa and who sucks? Dunning and Jorhini.
Warren Perez, he's not a starter anymore.
I'd be excited. That's going to be fun.
That'll be fun, man.
Whoever wins that goes to Baltimore.
Yeah. Oh, my goodness.
That would be fun.
That's going to be an electric five game series to that one in Baltimore.
It's going to be a fun postseason.
Who do you think the twins?
Who do you think Minnesota is going to be playing then?
Minnesota will be playing Tampa.
Minnesota right now is playing the Astros.
If everything stays the same, it's twins Astros.
Yeah, I think they'll play Tampa is my prediction.
Rays and Mariners is an interesting one.
Yeah, I do like it a lot.
It could be Rays Rangers, too, is what it could be.
Because Tampa is going to be the number one wild card.
I think that's easy.
I think that is too. So they're going to play Minnesota.
And then the winner of that would go to Seattle.
Wait, hold on. Minnesota is the third seed, though.
Yeah. But so it's how it's set up.
So you have the one in the two seed get buys.
Yeah.
The last division plays the first wild card and then the bottom two play each other.
Yeah. So three plays six, four plays. Yeah. Three, six, four, five. Right.
Yeah. You think Astros is going to be Houston's going to be six then, Rudy?
Houston. No, I ruled out Houston. I said, Oh, I guess actually we're getting confused.
No, I think Tampa, it would be Tampa playing Toronto.
Then it's what it would be.
Tampa playing Toronto. No, no, it's the twins.
Twins are third seed. It would be the last wild cards.
It would be twins.
I think Toronto has shot.
I'm lost.
It would be twins Blue Jays is what it would be.
Yeah. I think the Blue Jays could squeak out of the first round and head right on to the divisional.
That would be in Baltimore.
It is. It is.
I'll be quick with my synopsis.
I think Seattle keeps their spot.
I think Houston gets in.
I think Texas stays in.
I don't think Toronto sneaks in.
I think it stays the way it is.
That's it with the American League.
Nationally, Brady's going to have a lot to say here.
As it stands now, Atlanta, Dodgers, Milwaukee are leading here.
I'll read you the matchups as they would be today.
Hang on.
Yeah. So as it would stand today, the Braves would play the winner of the Phillies and the Cubs.
The Dodgers would play the winner of the Brewers and the Diamondbacks.
Yeah.
I just realized I am the only one who cheers for a team in the National League here.
Yeah. Yeah.
But I mean, we still all watch.
Of course.
I'm just saying I just realized.
But anyway, I'll kick it off, I guess.
All right, Brady.
Let's hear it.
I think the top four stay how they are.
I'm going to leave my biased opinion of Phillies keep the number one wild card spot.
I think that's a lot.
You're four up.
I think that's a safe statement.
Makes sense to say that.
Back in July when we talked about our teams that we thought about the playoffs,
I said both Cincinnati and Arizona are in the wild card there.
I think they stay.
You think the Cubs leave then?
I think Chicago's out.
I think I think they I don't think they have it.
I don't think they have it to keep it on unless they have a really easy schedule.
I don't think I was going straight to the schedule.
If they have an easy schedule, it might change the opinion.
But I think they I think they're out.
OK, Cubs have the Brewers at home to end August.
Then they have the Reds for four.
That'll be big.
At home against the Giants, home against the Diamondbacks, at the Rockies,
at D-backs, home against the Pirates, home against the Rockies, at Braves,
at Brewers.
So it's not it's not bad.
It's tough.
It's not bad.
That's why I think they're I think they'll fall to all of the big teams.
I think Cincinnati and Arizona will take enough away to keep themselves in.
I think I personally would like to rule Miami out, but that's just me.
They're playing terribly right now.
Is there not any dead?
We're calling Miami dead.
The three and seven in the West End.
Yeah, yeah, they're not playing great.
And they're so boring to watch.
They're a few games out already.
I think I don't think they have what it takes even to say.
I mean, he said, yeah, hold on.
Yeah.
If you if you look at the Marlins schedule, they got the Dodgers,
Brewers, Braves.
They are there.
They're there.
They're just have to get like have one of the nastiest months of September we've ever seen.
Yeah.
And even if San Francisco, even if San Francisco does make it into the sneak into the wildcard spot, they're not going anywhere.
No, that's the thing is they they might be my team to pick that has nothing to contribute to the postseason.
I think every other team has a quality of some sort to bring into the postseason.
Like, I mean, I know they have Logan Wade and they have Camillo and their offense is very either really hot or cold.
But OK, here's this.
This is this is the Diamondbacks schedule for so they end August in L.A. against the Dodgers.
Not good. And then they get the Orioles at home.
So you go Dodgers and then O's.
You get the Rockies. Then you go to the Cubs for four who are fighting for a spot with them to the Mets for four back home against the Cubs,
home against the Giants, who they're about to share a spot with at the Yankees at the White Sox and then the Astros to end the regular season.
I don't hate it. That's tough.
That's tougher than the other ones we've seen.
That's it. They play the Cubs seven times.
Yeah, it all depends how that goes.
If it all depends on those seven games go down the Giants, you play the Giants.
Who's schedule is that?
That was a Diamondbacks Arizona.
I think I'm going to stick by what I said in July because I think it'll be hot.
I like it. So you got what it would be is in order.
The three division leaders would be Atlanta, L.A., Milwaukee, and your wild cards would be Philly.
I don't know. In order. Cincinnati, Arizona.
You got to pick an Arizona that determines the matchups.
OK, well, then Cincinnati over Arizona.
Cincinnati over Arizona. OK, we would play.
You would play Arizona or no. Wait, no, you play.
You would play since you play Cincinnati, Milwaukee.
Yep. Which would that would still put us would that put us against the Braves still.
That's right. Right.
I don't like that. I don't like playing.
But I don't either way, it's going to be a dogfight with them or L.A.
So man, the playoffs are going to be fun, man.
It's going to be a good postseason.
But I got to be real honest, Brewers, Diamondbacks, I'm never watching that series.
That sounds so boring. Yeah, that would be so in general.
Brewers, Diamondbacks and Philly's Reds would be fun because the Reds fans would go crazy along with the Philly fans.
But I'm an A.L. guy. I don't think I don't think the National League is going to get interesting until the division series.
Yeah. But even that is going to be like Philly, Atlanta and like L.A.
Milwaukee, L.A., L.A. Milwaukee, L.A. just kind of Milwaukee.
They're going to hammer down on Milwaukee. They're going to run a train on them.
That's why I would love to play the Dodgers, but it doesn't work like that.
I think Dodgers, Braves is the NLCS.
It's going to be it's going to be because then Brady, you would have to win three out of five against Atlanta with three of the games being in Atlanta.
So you would have to win them both at home and get one on the road if you hope to be.
I don't hate it. I don't. I don't. I'm sorry. I don't.
Yeah, well, you don't like it either. You don't like it either.
It's not it's not bad. All right. OK.
I still stand by my the American League is better than the National League.
Yes, the National League is super top heavy.
Yeah, it's very, very, very top heavy because you got Royals, A's.
Yeah. Yeah. Anyways.
OK. Well, so then to quickly like summarize it.
So Kenji already gave us his World Series prediction, but I want to hear from the two of you, Joe and Brady.
What's your World Series prediction?
So you kind of have the brackets, you have the matchups laid out as it stands, as we kind of had it.
Braves play the winner of what would be the Phillies and Cincinnati.
And then the Dodgers play the winner of Milwaukee, Arizona.
That's the consensus we're going. I like Chicago over Cincinnati, but I still think Philly beats either one.
All right, I'll go. I think this is the World Series, right?
Yes. Let's hear your World Series. I'm going to go with I'm going to go with the head to head.
I'm going to say Seattle, Seattle and Atlanta.
What is all up, dude?
Seattle and Atlanta.
And then I think I think Seattle takes in six.
That's just kind of what I'm going for.
OK.
A Seattle World Series.
Seattle, Atlanta. I think Seattle has what it takes.
They OK. Hear me out. They sucked at the beginning of the year.
They sucked. They were not good, but they picked it up.
They're tied for first right now.
The Rangers game is still on the top of the 12th.
So they're still in first for now.
They sell the game, obviously, but they're pitching.
Insane. First of all, all those stars are great.
You know, your hitters, too.
Every single person in a batting order can hit.
They can produce.
And although the offense may not be as good as Atlanta, I think they're pitching.
And they can slow Atlanta down a little bit.
Interesting. All right.
Atlanta, you know, like they're they're pitching is it's a it's good.
It's good. Don't get me wrong.
But it's not like the Seattle caliber.
Interesting. In my opinion.
So, I mean, you know, just like it's October.
Anything can happen in October, you know.
And so I think that Seattle, they can, you know, like because watching them take that wild card spot last year, that walk off home run like that instantly made me like like the Mariners.
You know, I'm saying we're in the same same division.
They're in the same division as Texas.
So I just think that Seattle has what it takes, especially now that they have all the momentum kind of going into the end of the season.
They can make a deep playoff run. Yeah, they can get past they can get past the O's.
O's are Tampa or Houston, whoever is going to be on the on the bottom half of the bracket.
But yeah, that's kind of my hot take. I know.
Seattle Atlanta. Seattle does not have fun with the postseason though. I'll tell you that.
Here. This is. Wow. I just have a stroke.
This is Seattle schedule on its way out since you've gone over everybody else's.
They don't have it easy. They do have the A's to end August.
But then they get the Mets and that's like their last gimme on.
But then they have at the Reds at Tampa Bay for four versus the Dodgers for three at the Rangers for three Astros for three Rangers for four.
That's not like you do have the Angels are sprinkled.
The Angels have a three game set sprinkled in there and then you have another A series.
I guess you find out if they're legit or not.
Yes, you effectively have to be a test.
You effectively have six gimme games where those are just like, OK, you can win.
But then everybody else is against contenders, guys that are fighting for the same spots that they are.
The thing is, the Mariners did sweep the Astros about a week or so ago.
That's impressive.
That was the start of their big streak, though. I don't know if they'll be that hot in September.
Yeah, I mean, they they won series against Boston, Arizona, Minnesota, even Toronto as well.
Minnesota.
O's took three out of four.
Just saying.
They did. But O's are O's.
I took two out of three. What do you mean?
O's took two out of three.
If Seattle does what Joe is saying, Ohtani is definitely going to be in Seattle next year.
Oh, that's a great point.
Kenji, even if they make a run, if they do, I think he will be like, that's my chance.
If I'm in that lineup, that lineup is disgusting.
I think even if they make a run, doesn't have to go there.
Just make a run.
They're setting themselves for great.
And then why are you on that?
Now you guys are on that Seattle train, Seattle postseason train a little bit.
It goes to Seattle.
Seattle fan nature.
So same a very difficult road because they are not they have not had a good track record in the postseason.
Yes, agreed.
That is not change that man.
It's not always on the angels as of now.
That's true. All right.
Good. Brady, who do you want me to go?
Do you want to go?
It's up. You can go.
I'll close it out.
I'll bring it.
I'll close it out.
I'm scared of what Brady's in the cell.
I'm going to be a homer.
Orioles lose to Atlanta in the World Series.
I know it's kind of like an easy one because they're both the one seed, whatever piss off.
But I think Atlanta has shown year in or like this entire season how lethal their offense is.
And that crowd in the postseason is going to be raucous.
I think it's going to be really tough to win a game at Atlanta.
And I know the O's played them there way earlier on in the season and they played them tough.
But I think it's just I think it's brutal.
And I think Atlanta would easily take one or two in Baltimore from us.
And that would leave us losing the series.
O's because I'm a homer, but they lose to Atlanta because Atlanta is an absolute juggernaut.
Yeah, can't argue with that.
Here we go.
I for my postseason take, I am a Toronto heavy guy, but I really I think they are very good and they're going to make a run.
But I don't think there's any way they creep past Baltimore.
I don't.
I think I in my head right now, thinking of Gosman and Bassett, I think with Romano at the end, I think their pitching can go a long way for them.
It just depends on how the bats can sit.
I do.
But I think I don't think there's any way they creep past Baltimore.
And in the National League, I think it is the winner of the Braves Philly series.
I don't think L.A. is going to be either one.
I don't think it loses to either one.
I think whoever runs that half of the bracket gets there.
So for my prediction, since last year exists, my prediction, I think in seven games, the Phillies break it out against Atlanta.
And I see the Phillies Orioles World Series.
How do you leave this chat?
How do you leave this thing?
Philly Orioles World Series.
Oh, my God.
Imagine if we ran that game.
I'm formally announcing my retirement from the Four Guys Still No Clue podcast after hearing this preposterous tape.
I got to go to dinner.
It's almost four.
All I'm saying is if you saw it last year, you'd know.
You can't rule it out.
OK, Brady, who wins?
Who wins?
Come on.
You flip a coin.
I know Gabe said they fall short to Atlanta.
I just don't know how.
Those would be the one seed.
And they would have more home games.
I don't want to give Gabe that hope, though, that I think they would win.
But I don't think you have another option.
This is such a personal postseason kind of call.
I have the Rangers losing like probably before the division, the division series.
Rangers have rained up.
But just like I'm just saying it how it is.
I made emotional and personal decisions.
But after like going through baseball season with Brady and playing fantasy baseball with Brady, now I can fully say that he makes more personal and emotional decisions than I do.
Absolutely.
He would have the angels winning like the ALCS or something.
Hey, the you can't deny that the Phillies were the funnest team to watch in the postseason last year.
We beat the we smacked the Padres in the postseason.
I don't care. Padres are still more fun to watch than the Phillies.
They were not in the postseason.
They weren't.
I do like watching the Phillies play, though.
I will be honest, Brady.
I do like watching the play.
I mean, I like the name.
I think the Atlanta Phillies series will be one of the funnest series to watch all year long.
That series right there, that seven game series will be one of the greatest series to watch.
Phillies Atlanta would be a five game series.
Oh, well, still five.
Maybe four.
I think your offense could do it and everyone's clicking because you do have a lot of great names.
You're pitching. You're pitching.
I just don't trust Phillies pitching.
It's been so up and down.
It has been very up and down.
Either great or horrendous.
I don't see Ranger Suarez throwing any more than three innings against Acuna, Matt Olsen, Albies.
He won't have to throw if we don't want to. We'll have Wheeler, Nola and Lorenzen.
You think Lorenzen is actually good?
Yes, you don't.
Domingo Hermann kind of vibes.
No, he's actually good. He's actually good.
He's not as bad as Domingo Hermann, but I'm just saying Domingo Hermann threw a perfect game.
He did.
Lorenzen had no header.
And so did Framber.
Framber gave up like seven runs to start before that.
You know what I'm saying? So I don't think he could validate a pitcher by if they threw a no-hitter.
I think he's solid. He's had one bad outing since being on the Phillies.
Just one.
He threw eight innings in his first start for him and then the first home start he threw a no-hitter.
So he's not bad by any means.
I think he'll be able to get the job done for at least a few innings to start that game.
At least four, maybe five to start the game.
You know the craziest thing about all this is that Joe, you're kind of staying away from the Rangers because they played bad of late.
But you know what could happen? They could go scorch earth on people in September and then run the table in October.
They could. But I'd rather keep my expectations low and be kind of a downer because if they do happen to make it to the ALCS.
That's all I could ever dream of.
Rangers, Orioles would tear our friendship. So would Phillies, Orioles.
Oh yeah, I would block you on everything.
I would say so many things to you, bro.
Exactly.
I would. I would come knock on your door after like when like game seven or something on a walk off and rub it in your face.
Suck it.
There you go.
That'd be awesome to watch.
Flexing on you.
I do love the approach. You can ask Gabe. That was me all of last year and it turned out incredible.
And it works, right?
It works. It does.
I feel like this year has been just an add on to exactly what we did last year.
The same thing, but we added pieces to make it that just enough better to where hopefully we can get over that hump at the end.
I think you're right about that. The Phillies, you can never sleep. You can never count them out or sleep on them.
But getting past Atlanta is like where I'm kind of like.
I know as we talked about last podcast, we are two and four against them right now, but we play seven games against them later, four of which are at home.
Yeah, I think that's going to be the telltale sign of who's really going to take that series or who's going to have the confidence going into that.
Exactly. I think the divisional series.
I think if Atlanta, I think I agree with Gabe. If Atlanta wins the series, they take the World Series.
But if Philly doesn't, I think it'll be quite the run.
I don't even know if I can give an honest answer, even if I wanted to.
But then Phillies Dodgers would be close.
Like, I feel like I don't know, bro. That's the best part about the postings. You never know.
You never know.
Phillies are you guys are getting high at the right time, but we also have another month to go.
So a lot could change in the next two weeks.
You can never count out Chicago out. You can never count out Arizona out either.
Like we talked about them kind of being low tier, but they're still in the wire.
They're still in it.
They are. That's literally the essence of why the season's so long.
It don't matter until the very end. It's who gets hot at the right time is who's going to run the table.
It's going to be fun.
Now you guys are going to watch the Rangers game. It's wild.
I'll give you guys a little update. It's 6-6 going into the 13th inning.
The runners were on second and third. Someone grounded to third to Ezekiel Duran.
He tagged the guy out at running to third, but the guy on third scored.
So those runners on first, a guy gets a hit. It's first and second.
Carlos Carrera just grounds out into a double play to end the inning.
And it was played by Semien and Seager.
So, sorry, just a little Rangers moment.
Tenge, you got any more opinion on your choices?
Yeah. Do you want to revise Houston over LA or are you sticking with it?
It's the boring answer and I would not want to watch it because I feel like anytime I've actually watched postseason baseball,
I've either watched the Astros or the Dodgers play.
And I love watching the Dodgers play. Not so much this year because I really liked watching Trey Turner and Corey Seager on the Dodgers.
It was just a fun team, right? It's like the same thing as the Warriors.
You can either say, I hate them, but you got to like, in the end of the day, when you watch them play, it's so fun.
It's fun baseball to watch them.
Dodgers aren't fun to me to watch anymore. I would not want to see it.
Seeing the Phillies would be fun. I really would love to see the O's in there.
I really, really would. I don't really want to see Braves, but I would not sleep for the entire month of October.
Yeah, I think it's going to be because I just think Kenji is the only one who will be sleeping.
Yeah, to be honest, sorry, Kenji.
Yeah, well, if the Rangers don't make it, I'll be snoozing from 10 p.m. to 8 a.m. every single night.
He'll be crying all over his pillow.
Yeah, I'll be crying on my Ranger pillowcase, wiping my tears on my Rangers blanket.
On that dang Dodgers.
Your Corey Seeger stuff.
As I'm laying down with my Rangers hat on, I'm just staring at my phone on TikTok with a Rangers case on.
Okay.
It just never ends.
You're good. Well, we're going to let everybody go because I just turned on the Twins and Rangers game too.
And I think it's going to be fun to watch.
Hold on, should we do DFA's and...
No way.
...
Just kidding.
The guy that sucks.
Let's see...
I think Travis Dankowski needs to be cul...
...
Notquis
Rangers games and I watch angels games lately because they're on it at a better
timing. But, uh, yeah. Anytime I feel like I've seen Travis come up in an
important situation, just gets out. I still think he contributes to the team
anymore. Then he just kind of, I don't know.
Jane Caskey. Let's go. Who's your player to watch?
Uh, I haven't thought of one yet.
Okay. We'll come back to you, Joe. Who's getting cut?
Um, I actually don't have a DFA guy, but player to watch, he's up to the, he's up
to bat right now. I'm going to say Mitch Garver. Oh yeah. Mitch Garver's hot.
He's kind of taking over the main starting role. He's hot. The Rangers
catcher. He's really hot.
You're looking.
No.
Good looking guy.
Stop guys.
Oh, guys. I'm, I'm really, really straight. I'm just going to say it right now.
Okay.
What if in like five years, five years, I just like come out as gay rainbow.
This, this real is like put on the internet.
I promise I was straight, but I'm just like, anyways, that's okay.
Going back to Mitch Garver.
He's yeah.
He's, I think he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's, he's,
he's better than Jonah.
I'm hitting wise catching wise.
I do think times a little better.
He's got a better glove than him, but his bat, he's on a hot shake right now.
He's doing good.
He's my player to watch DFA.
Anyone in the Rangers bullpen.
I'm not named or all this Chapman.
He, I know I, I would say half DFA Will Smith make him not a closer anymore.
That's just going to be my, there you go.
I DFA today.
Okay.
Ready?
I like, um, my DFA has got to be Trey cabbage.
It's gotta be.
Yep.
How do you, he's got a good arm.
Got your picture in the head on the front of third base.
I don't have a rocket on him though.
I will say he has a, that was crazy.
demolish his balls.
What if, what if he, what if the angels like put him as like a relief picture?
I wonder if GM is stupid enough to just think of that.
Anyways, keep going, Brady.
Sorry.
Anyway, no, you're good.
I don't know how you can do that and not want to DFA him.
Anyways, um, my player to watch is, uh, Zach Gelof for the Oakland A's.
Did you say like two weeks ago?
Yeah.
Loss been, been a stud.
Hey, it's a nice, you don't have to switch it on.
How many times Travis Jan Kowski's come up in this segment and Trey
Turner and who's and literally who's draft is coming to check out.
Yeah.
Zach Gelof has hit like 315, 310 on the, in the month of August.
He has like double digit doubles.
He's got like a crazy amount of RBIs.
I don't know off the top of my head up for the month, but he's been going crazy
despite having the rest of their team suck.
So Zach Gelof, cool.
Kenji, you got a deal.
You got a player to watch or should I just go?
Oh yeah.
I had one.
You have one.
I had one DFA.
I can't believe you're Joe Ryan, baby.
Joe Ryan, injury.
It's great against the Rangers and he's going to have twins.
Make a push baby.
You watch he, he old Joe Ryan no more.
He healed.
He ready to dominate.
Okay.
Even if the twins make a push, I ain't going to be watching.
I'm going to keep it a buck.
You're watching Joey Gallo for fun in October.
No, no, absolutely not.
Who's Byron Buxton?
Just kidding.
All right.
Well, I'll go my DFA, uh, Adam Frazier.
I've said them before.
I hate them.
Every time he comes into bat, I can't stand looking at stupid face.
Um, I'm glad they sent down Mike Bauman, who I was an honorable mention last week.
Uh, who just, every time I feel like a Washington bitch, he just got shelled.
Um, and he had a stupid face.
Uh, so I'm glad you got, I'm glad he got sent down.
Um, that's a Kenji thing to say, but I'll take it.
It's personal.
Um, my player to watch, I S I kind of hinted at this already earlier, DL Hall,
um, lefty new relief pitcher for the, for the O's.
Um, he's an absolute stud.
He was like in 2016, he was in the system.
So he's been in there for a while.
He was a starter, had some injuries kind of bounce back and forth.
And then they just decided to screw it, dude.
We're making a relief pitcher.
Um, and he's an absolute monster.
So, um, hopefully he does good in the wake of a Felix Bautista going out, but
that is all the content we have.
So, um, these, you three idiots can get out of the chat and, and
get out of the chat and saying stupid things right next to me.
Um, but, uh, yeah, go turn on the Rangers twins game.
Um, a lot of good get serious to watch this week.
We haven't covered that, but a lot of good games, a lot of fun
playoffs stuff coming up.
So I'm looking out for a lot of new content and, uh, we'll catch you guys next week.
So, and we got anything to say?
You already know it's always a bad day to be baseball.
Yeah.
Ready to be Yankee hater.
Yeah.
All right.
Thanks for listening.
Always a great day.
Thank you, Jayden and Ben.