Today's episode of Mound Visit is brought to you by Baseline Boosters.
Feeling a bit flat when the action heats up?
Baseline Boosters has the perfect pick me up, one little fan tab,
and you'll be back on your feet, ready to ride out all 9 endings, even for extras.
No slumping in the stands for you, will keep your energy right where it needs to be.
Use promo code MOUNDPOP for 30% off because every fan deserves to stay in the game till the end.
Swing by BaselineBoosters.com, boost your fandom today.
Thanks for listening to this episode, let's jump right into it.
Another Tuesday, another episode.
This time we're going through Kenji's 2025 Playoff Predictions.
This is going to be a special episode.
I'm going to do mine next time, but this time we're going to go through all of Kenji's picks,
division winners, World Series picks, who's going to win each pennant,
and we're really, really excited.
Kenji's already been teasing it.
I haven't heard these, so disclaimer.
However I react, if I swear, if I run out of the room, if I unplug my microphone,
it's because Kenji said the most blasphemous thing you've ever heard.
But I mean, without further ado, I guess first, Kenji, how are you doing on this fine Monday
evening, Tuesday morning for the listeners?
Spring training's in full swing, and let's get into your picks.
How are you feeling?
Do you feel confident?
No, I do not feel confident, mainly because I decided all this in roughly 30 seconds,
which means that it's as emotional as it gets.
Yes, but there's also like months of you prepping for the season behind this.
So don't act like you just went, oh, Detroit Tigers.
No, he's got months of prep into the season.
So Kenji knows what he's talking about.
He's got his picks.
I'll just tee you up there, Kenji.
Do you want to start with the division first?
We always start with the AL East.
Where do you want to go?
I just want to say that I'm entitled to my opinion changing.
Yeah, of course.
This is what my gut said at the moment, and a little bit of bias of a team that I'd like
to see in the playoffs.
Oh boy.
And the one that I don't really care for.
That's what it is.
Okay?
Okay, you got it.
All right, we'll start with the AL.
We'll start with the AL East.
I have, we're not sorry, the NL.
We'll start with the NL.
We always start with the AL.
So with the AL East, I have the Atlanta Braves.
National East.
In the division.
Did I say national?
Did I say it?
Okay.
Yeah, you did.
It's okay.
National League East will be won by the Braves.
Okay.
I think when I look at that roster, compared to the rest of the teams in that division,
I think it's the best.
Besides, I mean, look at the bottom of the lineup.
You got Sean Murphy, who really didn't do much last year.
He had a great first half two years ago, and ever since then, he's just been pretty iffy.
And you got Jared Kelnick, who again, potential, but he flashes, but just can't consistently play.
And then Orlando Arcia, I think was like the worst hitter statistically last year.
Somehow he still has a starting shortstop position for that team.
So I think they need to clean that up.
I think Arcia, they got to get somebody to challenge Arcia.
And I think they might have a young prospect.
I can't remember.
Do you remember if they have like a young guy who was supposed to play shortstop for them?
Not off the top of my head.
I know, I mean, Arcia was an all-star.
Like he's not a horrible player.
I'm not sure what his OPS plus was.
Okay, well, there you go.
I think statistically, he was actually the worst hitter last year.
Oh, okay. That's good.
I'm pretty sure I've heard that multiple times.
So I think he's mid defensively, but I still think that top of that roster,
and then their rotation is Chris Sale, Ronaldo Lopez, Schremenbach, Grant Holmes, Ian Anderson.
Once you get Strider back in there, I think that's going to be one of the best starting four you can have.
It's a great unit.
So I'm pretty confident, and it's the Braves.
Like Akunya is going to come back.
Maddelson, I think, is going to bounce back.
Riley is going to bounce back.
They got Profar now.
Albies.
I mean, there's just a lot of talent for them to not make it.
So I think this is kind of like their last year of really getting to make a good push until their team kind of has to fall apart.
And Ozuna as well.
So I have them winning the division there.
Okay.
When it comes to the central.
Before we move past that, and at least I want to ask where the other teams fall.
So like, of course, the Mets and the Phillies are probably the next two.
Is there an order you have them finishing?
Who's last?
So I'll go over my wild card after I talk about all the winners of the division so that there's no.
Okay.
So we'll talk division winner.
You're going to go division winners, and then we'll go wild card teams.
And then afterwards, we'll talk about like last place teams for a second.
Yeah, we can do that.
Yeah.
Okay.
All right.
Because we.
Yeah.
Every team deserves to get talked to.
Every team deserves to get talked about, but I don't want to spend much time on the Marlins,
but every team deserves to get talked about.
So I agree.
That makes sense.
Braves win the NL East, move to the central.
Yes.
And like I said, for the central, I got the Cubs winning it this year.
I've been a pretty big Cubs fan and like a Cubs cheerleader for the last couple of years,
mainly because of Suzuki and Shota.
But I don't know.
I just enjoy watching Cubs baseball.
I love the UNIs.
I love their stadium.
There's just something about the Cubs that just makes baseball really interesting.
And I think their roster is really good this year.
You know, I'm a big P Crowe guy, big Seiya guy.
I think they can really put it together, especially with Kyle Tucker there.
And their pitching staff isn't horrible.
Shota, Steele, Pylon.
Is that how you say it?
I can't remember.
Boyd.
Aon.
Assad.
I saw that the Cubs should trade for Alcantara and I thought, wow, that would be
From the Marlins?
Yeah, from the Marlins.
Oh boy.
Marlins are catching strays to start the episode.
But they got to trade them.
But I think the Cubs are the best team.
Obviously the Brewers are going to challenge them.
But I think this year is Cubs year.
Do you think the Pirates challenge them?
Or are we waiting on them later?
The Pirates are a joke.
I think the Pirates have as good a rotation as anybody in that division.
I think they have the best rotation in that division.
But can you name four starting batters for the Pirates?
That's the tough part.
I mean, if I was to do that exercise, O'Neill Cruz, Brian Reynolds, Brian De La Cruz,
Roddy Tullis isn't there anymore.
Cabrera and Hayes, Joey Bart.
Well, you're actually doing this.
Wow.
That was impressive.
I don't know.
But I don't see them contending.
And the Reds, they're close, but I still think they're missing pitching.
And they need a middle of the lineup pop guy.
They're just missing a pop guy.
They got guys who can do all kinds of things,
but they're just missing that middle of the lineup hitter.
OK.
I like the Reds this year.
Yeah, we don't want to talk about the Cardinals.
But I like the Reds.
I agree that the Cubs are probably the strongest team in that division.
But you'll have to wait to see my predictions next week.
Cubs.
OK.
Good call.
I'm excited for them.
And then for the West, I think it's pretty obvious.
I think the Dodgers winning it.
I don't really think it's going to be close.
I personally think that they'll break the win record this year.
That team is just too good.
And I don't think it gives anybody a shock with me saying that.
It'd be a disappointment if they didn't.
If they didn't, yeah.
And honestly, I'm all for it.
I love history being made.
That's why I was a fan of the Chiefs going three-peat when everyone didn't want it.
I love it.
I love when things are not normal things can be done.
That's awesome to me.
And so props to them for doing it the right way and finding the system.
Because loopholes are how you make it in life.
I guess that's how you feel rich.
That's right.
Yes.
Anyway, don't listen to Kenji's advice.
Don't tell your mom you listened to some guy on the radio who said loopholes are the way to win.
It's not true.
I don't know what I'm talking about.
But those are my division withers.
I got the Braves, Cubs, and Dodgers.
And this is where I guess it might get kind of crazy is my first wild card team is the Phillies.
Okay.
I have them finishing right behind Atlanta.
It's just unfortunate.
It's such a competitive division, but their lineup is just still so good.
And their pitching staff is ridiculous.
I mean, Jesus Lazardo was considered to be like a 1A or 2A, no, 1 or 2, like a SP 1 or 2.
And now he's SP 5 for this team.
So yeah, kind of crazy.
Phillies are great.
But I mean, I think it's a toss up in there.
And at least I do.
And so I got them taking like the first wild card spot.
I got the Diamondbacks taking it.
You and I have talked about it.
Oh, yeah.
The Diamondbacks really have a chance to challenge LA.
I looked at their roster and then they're starting line up and you're like,
it's weird.
They seem they play better than on paper than it looks.
Does that make sense?
You look at their team.
It's like, Carroll, Cattell, okay, that's pretty good.
Naylor's all right, good RBIs.
Gurriel, Jake McCarthy, Eugenio, when he hits, he hits.
Pavin Smith, Gabby Moreno, and Geraldo Perdomo.
It's like, you're not blown away by that roster.
But like year after year, they continually become the best offense in the league.
And they're doing something right.
And until they stop doing it right, I'm going to keep putting them high on my list.
And so they're going to be taking that second wild card spot.
And this last one is kind of crazy.
I don't have the Mets making the playoffs.
I have the New York Giants, not the Giants,
the San Francisco Giants making the playoffs.
Wow.
Yeah.
Dude, okay.
Now listen, hold on, hold on, hold on.
That's crazy.
Why don't the Mets make the playoffs?
I think that division is too good.
And I think they're not going to...
In division games, I think they're going to lose too many to the Braves and the Phillies.
And I don't think they're going to make it out of the Dodgers, the Diamondbacks.
There's just too many teams for them to get behind to me in the NL.
But you think the Giants make it?
I think the Giants are a slippery team, man.
I really...
Slippery?
Yeah.
They're not going to win the World Series.
No way.
But I don't know.
There's something about the Giants that kind of intrigues me this year.
And if they would have kept Blake Snell, I would have been like for sure.
I think they would have made the playoffs.
But I don't know.
I think there's something really good going on.
Like a big culture change, especially with Posey coming in.
The team just seems really bought into me.
And Matt Chapman, his second half was great last year.
Elliott Ramos, I mean, he came on out of kind of a nowhere.
Fitzgerald, even if he's like 75% of what he was last year,
I think it's a great player you have.
Patrick Bailey is like the best defensive catcher in the league.
Jung Ho Lee, I mean, if he just...
He could be an OPS machine, same way with Lamonte Wade and Willie Adamas.
It really, I think, kind of comes down to Willie.
He doesn't have to hit homers, but he has to bring in the runs.
If he can be an RBI machine this year and like get the crowd going,
get the whole fan base going, I think the Giants have a really good chance.
And that's crazy.
They're starting rotations a little old and a little too young, you know?
Because you got Webb, who's perfect.
Verlander, Robbie Ray, you don't know where you're going to get.
The 42-year-old and the 33-year-old.
Then you got Hicks, who, you know, couldn't throw past five innings last year.
And Kyle Harrison, who's got all the potential in the world, in my opinion.
And they got this crazy rookie.
I can't remember his name.
Birdsong?
No, the first baseman.
He's like six foot seven.
Eldridge.
Dude, he mashed that home run that I saw.
And Quinn's a big Giants fan.
He's my friend.
And I ask him a lot about Giants stuff.
And he's pretty high on him.
I think he's going to get called up this year.
And I think that DH spot or that first base spot is going to be open for him.
So I sneakily think that they're going to make the playoffs and take that third wild card spot.
So just call me.
Wow.
Well, then I got to, I mean, I have to ask, what about the Padres?
I know.
I've been telling you since ever since the off season, man, there's just something about the Padres.
It's just, you don't like the Padres.
Yeah.
Okay.
I'm a big Padres fan.
They're a great team.
But in the past three years, right, they've had great teams.
And they've only made it to the playoffs once they missed the playoffs with Soto.
Like that to me was really bad.
And they made it last year and they're really competitive.
And now there's just a bunch of owner drama.
I think they're going to be sellers at the playoffs deadline.
I have to train them.
Wow.
Just because of not sellers, but they're going to sell off some pieces that can be sold off.
And again, I love the Padres team.
There's so much talent there and they are so fun to watch.
But there's just something, there's just something weird about them.
There's just something weird going on and I'm afraid it's going to have a negative impact on the team.
And they're just not going to figure it out.
And so I don't have...
That's crazy, man.
That's fascinating.
Giants make the playoffs.
So if I understand you right, then the Phillies would host the Diamondbacks in that wild card series.
And then the Giants would go on the road to who?
Who's like the worst...
Chicago.
To the Cubs?
Yeah.
Okay.
So you have Dodgers, Braves being the two top division leaders?
Yeah.
Okay.
And I...
That's awesome, man.
That's hilarious.
I'm happy to take back my words, but this is just like, it's fun to me and I could totally see it.
Where these are the teams that are...
Quinn's going to be thrilled if he ever watches this.
If he ever pays attention to this.
Yeah.
And I could totally see the Diamondbacks missing the playoffs too, by the way.
Like, it's totally possible to me.
It is such a competitive division.
It's a great division.
Yeah.
Wow, okay.
But yeah, that's the National League.
That's the National League.
Okay, we'll do the World Series at the end.
So now we're going to shift to the American League,
and then we'll do the World Series at the end of the year.
I think Giants are fascinating.
I'm nowhere near as high on them as you are,
as you'll probably see when I do my rankings.
But I mean, the Giants just have a way.
I mean, there was that one season where they won like 108 games out of nowhere a few years ago.
Like, they beat the Dodgers in the division with an old Brandon Crawford.
Like, they just kind of threw it together and it worked.
So if anybody can do it, I believe the Giants can.
I look at that rotation and I'm a little skeptical.
I look at the back end of the bullpen and I'm a little skeptical.
I don't know.
Deval's going to figure it out.
If he does, if he has an All-Star year again, they're going to be really good.
Ryan Walker, yeah.
Yeah, if Deval figures it out, then I like it much more.
The bullpen worries me.
Old guys in the rotation worry me.
Yeah, 43.
I also agree.
I like Kyle Harrison.
I like Bryce Eldridge a lot, the first baseman.
I think the future is bright in San Francisco.
I don't know if it's as bright as you want it to be this year, but that's okay.
I get it.
I mean, wholeheartedly, I think the rest of your rankings make a lot of sense.
I think it's fun having one kind of crazy pick in there,
but I think Dodgers, Braves, Cubs makes a whole lot of sense.
I really do.
Yep.
And I know I'd love to have the Mets in there, but there's just...
Their rotation and their bullpen, just I don't trust.
And I think the hype will get too big and kind of get to them too much.
It reminds me of a Padres team a little bit, but move on from them.
We'll go to the AL.
We'll start with the AL East.
I have Boston winning it this year.
I am...
Gabe is just flabbergasted by that saying, but I am so high on Boston,
especially after the Bregman trade, taking his earbuds off.
He's not even listening to me, but I love Boston.
I think their team is...
I mean, especially offensively, I think it might be one of the best offenses in the league.
It's just so balanced, in my opinion, and there's just so much potential.
They could really just wet the bed, like they kind of did last year,
but there is so much potential for...
This might sound crazy, but in comparison to like two years ago, Braves,
where they have like 13 people go to the All-Star game,
I feel like Boston has a chance of having not 13, but like
over half of their roster be selected to the All-Star team.
They are so good.
They have potential, is what it is, right?
I'm not saying they're going to, but they have potential.
And so I have Boston winning it.
Their bullpen, me and Gabe have talked about it over and over.
It's pretty skeptical. I think they got to bring in something and figure it out before
the trade deadline's over, but I'm all in on their starting rotation.
Tanner and Hal got a great year. I love Walker Buehler, Girolito, I think.
It'll take him a while to figure it out, but it's great.
And Brian Bayo, I mean, he's your SP5.
I'm all for it, and Garek Crochet is pretty awesome.
So I have Boston winning that division.
It's okay, Gabe. It's okay.
And then I got, from the Central, I got the Royals winning it.
This one is a little bit biased. I understand that.
But I do think we have a really good chance.
We put up like 14 runs against the Dodgers in spring training.
So, you know, spring training tells you exactly how your team's going to...
Oh, brother, give me a break.
Jack Caglione with the absolute monster of a home run.
Have you been drinking today?
No, I just, I'm just in a fun mood.
And the Royals are a great team.
But the Royals, it comes down to, can the pieces around Bobby and Salvi pick it up?
If Jonathan India can be an opious machine, we're going to be great.
If he can just get on base.
And if the bottom half of our lineup could not just be Bobby and Salvi,
we're going to be great.
If he can just get on base and if the bottom half of our lineup could not just be
a bunch of morons, we're going to be fine.
So I'm pretty excited for this Royals team.
And yes, that's completely a bias pick.
But it's okay to have a little bit of bias.
And then in the West, I got the Rangers making it.
Again, me and Gabe talked about this.
That roster just looks so good.
And they could really, they could really suck too.
Like Garcia could just be terrible again.
Jonah Hime could just be bad again.
Josh Young could actually be the mediocre prospect that he probably actually was.
But he started off his rookie year really well.
And ever since then, he really hasn't done much.
You know, a lot rests on Wyatt Langford.
Everyone thinks Evan Carter is going to do something.
I think all the metrics show that he is just not going to be a good hitter.
So I'm a little bit skeptical on him.
Their starting rotation, a lot of it kind of rests on DeGrom.
We don't know what version we're going to get.
I hope it's the best version because I personally have never witnessed Jacob DeGrom pitching.
When I first got into baseball, I didn't watch Rangers games and then he got hurt.
And then I started watching Rangers games.
And then I watched him a little bit last year, but you know, I only got to watch a little bit
to watch so much.
So from all the hype that Gabe has told me that he probably is the best pitcher he's ever watched.
I think you've told me that, right?
That he's the best pitcher you've ever seen in your life.
Yeah, I stand by it.
Humble plug for Jacob DeGrom.
I love watching pitching.
I love pitcher's duels.
There's nobody I enjoyed more watching more than like 2018, 2019 Jacob DeGrom.
It was every start was seven innings, like 11 Ks, no earned runs.
He's throwing 99 or 101, wipeout slide.
I mean, I love watching him pitch.
Even when he pitched in that the 2014 All-Star, 2016 All-Star game or something with the Mets,
he had his big long flowing hair.
He was super young, but he's a flamethrower.
I knew then I was like, oh, this guy's legit.
I love watching DeGrom play.
And so I'm stoked to watch Rangers games just for that reason.
I do agree that this rotation hinges on the health of DeGrom for sure.
And I don't know what the bullpen of the Rangers looks like too much.
I haven't dug into it, but I can read it off for you.
You have it pulled up.
I have a fan graphs is crashing.
Oh, well, it's probably a good thing.
They don't want you to look at this bullpen.
Dane Dunning, Jacob Latz, Luke Jackson, Hobie Milliner, Sean Armstrong, Jacob Webb,
Robert Garcia, and Chris Martin is their closer.
38.7 year old Chris Martin is their closer.
They signed him as a free agent from Boston.
I think he was their setup guy last year or something.
Jacob Webb was a free agent from the O's.
Sean Armstrong has been kind of a journeyman.
Oh, he's bounced around quite a bit.
Spores and hurt.
He's injured.
Yeah. He had shoulder surgery back in November, so he won't be ready for opening day.
But maybe he'll come back later in the year.
The bullpen worries me.
It does.
So does the rotation.
John Gray being your third guy kind of scares me.
I heard John Gray might go to the bullpen.
Well, he's their third guy.
There's no way they can.
No, because they're going to bring up who's that rookie?
Who's the young guy from Vanderbilt?
Rocker?
Yeah, I heard he's going to start out on the rotation.
I would like to see.
Gray was going to go to the bullpen just because they're just unsure.
I think it's a great idea.
But I would like it.
We'll move on from them.
But yes, we have or I have the Rangers winning the AL West.
Fascinating.
And then for the wild cards, I have the first place wild card team going to the Yanks.
I think it.
I don't know how close would it be Boston?
The Yankees, it just depends on how these pieces that they brought in around Judge
or to replace Soto, how they play.
I'm pretty high on Goldie and Belly.
I know people really aren't.
But I'm a big fan of those two, like in general in baseball.
I'm also a big jazz fan.
So you like jazz?
To be honest, I'm a big jazz jazz fan.
I'm a big jazz jazz fan.
Like to be to be quite frank.
So I'm going to start tuning out, dude, if you keep saying this crazy stuff, who you
got?
Who's the second wild card team?
The Blue Jays?
Act of the no, I hate the Blue Jays.
But I think the Yanks got a really good roster.
But there are a lot of question marks.
But I think there are more question marks for the other teams that I'll talk about.
Behind them, I got Baltimore.
I got Baltimore making the playoffs.
Now we're talking.
I think Baltimore, New York will be like neck and neck by the end.
Okay, I do give the edge to New York, mainly because of Aaron Judge.
And I think their bullpen is better than yours.
Orioles at Yankees first round of the playoffs will be electric.
Dude, you have to go.
I don't care what Yankee Stadium, Yankee Stadium.
It's gonna be awesome.
Okay.
So I have Baltimore right behind.
Now we're talking though.
Now we now we can have a conversation.
About Baltimore.
Now we can talk.
I'm not a Baltimore hater.
I just look at Baltimore from a very outside perspective.
You are.
No, listen, see kids, that's the nicest way anybody can say they're a hater is I'm not a hater.
I just look at Baltimore from an objective perspective.
I do love Baltimore.
They're so fun.
You got great players.
Whatever, dude.
Dude, Gunner is great.
He's just the second best shortstop in the league.
I'm having the Royals finish last in their division.
Okay.
All right.
You got a lot of unproven things.
Okay.
Adley has to show up.
Jordan has to have a great year.
Jordan really has to step up this year for you guys to really take a step.
Like he has to be a dog.
All of these.
Neon needs to stay healthy.
I understand.
Mountcastle?
Mm-mm.
Holiday?
Who knows?
Mullins?
Gotta learn how to hit again, you know?
So a lot of question marks, but it could really work.
And you guys could easily win the division.
I understand that argument.
I also just think you can say that same thing about every other team.
I mean, the Yankees, their success hinges entirely on an old Cody Bellinger or a 40-year-old Paul Goldschmidt.
Like if both of those guys can go and give you 75% of what Soto gave you, they're in great shape.
But if they don't, then they're in big trouble.
The Red Sox, I don't know if you've looked at their roster resource page, the bottom of that lineup is not good.
It's not.
What are you talking about?
Sedonia Raffaella?
Dude, this guy is a monster.
I'm telling you right now, he is going to be so good this year and you're going to cry every time you see him.
I'm going to cry every time you see him on my fantasy team because I'm drafting him and he's a little off.
He had an 82 OPS plus last year.
That meant he's 18% worse than the average big leaguer.
Trust me, he's going to bounce back.
He's going to be on my team and you're going to...
Okay, please, by all means say it.
I like this.
The top four is fantastic.
I love Duran, Gregman, Demers.
The thing about what?
You need an ace.
You need an ace and you don't have an ace.
Boston's got Crochet.
New York's got Freed and Cole.
You got Zach Afflein and Grayson Rodriguez, Charlie Morton and Dean Kramer as you're starting four.
I'm sorry.
Like it's just...
Okay.
And Bradish comes back, maybe.
Well, Bradish will come back and then they'll have three guys that are kind of in the same tier.
Bradish is not a Cole or a Freed yet, but I mean, Bradish can be great.
We'll see.
I just think all of the teams you mentioned have that same argument of like...
Absolutely.
People have to pop.
They got to pop.
Like if this happens...
But I just believe in them to do it more than I believe in Baltimore to do it.
It's the same thing for the Red Sox.
It's just a bunch of young guys popping.
Yeah.
And I believe in them to do it more than I believe in Baltimore doing it.
That's what it comes down to.
Okay.
All right.
These are your predictions.
I'm sorry.
I got to stop arguing.
These are yours.
And then I got the third playoff card going to the Twins.
I think their roster honestly on a healthy day goes toe to toe with any roster.
Like their hitting lineup is...
It's great.
And their starting rotation is great.
And their bullpen is great.
It's just the fact that they got to stay healthy and they got to get a better name
because it is so hard to root for a team called the Twins.
It's just not intimidating.
It's just so lame to me.
So then you have the Rays, the Guardians, the Mariners and the Astros all missing.
Yeah.
So I think I've kind of made it clear earlier this year too,
but that I'm not really high on the Astros.
I think they'll get close.
But I don't know.
That's why I'm so hesitant on taking Jordan this year in fantasy.
But I just, I don't know.
Something about Houston just doesn't seem right.
Detroit, it was cool last year,
but you got to learn how to hit the ball.
Cleveland, it's cool what you did last year.
You got to learn how to hit the ball.
Seattle, you have a great pitching staff.
You got to learn how to hit the ball.
Toronto, you're a mess.
Chicago, sell the team.
Athletics, we'll see in a couple years.
Angels, sell the team.
Who am I missing?
Tampa Bay, just keep doing your mid-off and I'm sure one day you'll get there.
But that's kind of how the whole division thing goes with me.
Okay, so then it comes out to, who did you say?
Orals at Yankees, twins at who?
Who's the worst division winner in your mind?
So I got the twins going to the Royals.
Twins going to the Royals?
Yeah.
A little ale-scented.
So I got Boston and Rangers fighting it out.
And I got twins in Royals and then I got New York, Baltimore.
You think Boston's like a 100-win team or like a 95-win team?
I think they can get to 100.
Dude!
Everything has to click, but I'm so high on Boston.
Oh my goodness.
I'm so high on Boston, dude.
I'm so excited to watch Boston play this year.
They have the third highest odds for the A-List.
I'm not saying they can't do it, but I'm saying if you truly believe that,
you can make a lot of money in Las Vegas if you go down.
Maybe I will.
You should go down.
Okay.
And then for my World Series prediction, I got Dodgers versus either Boston or Rangers.
The Boston love is crazy.
Dude, I love Boston or the Rangers.
I would love to see the Rangers, but again,
because I think once the Rangers make it to the playoffs,
still be in a lot better position.
They got to get a bullpen figured out.
They need a closer unless sports comes back healthy.
But if all you need is the Grom, Nathan, and then whoever comes out to be,
maybe Cody Bradford is your one, two, three in the playoffs,
I think that's a great rotation to get you through the playoffs.
I think it's a great rotation to get you through the playoffs.
If that hitting can click and carry you, they're going to be great.
But the Dodgers, yeah, they're making the World Series.
Okay. All right.
So then who would you have Dodgers in seven, Red Sox in six?
I would have the Dodgers in five.
Over either one?
Over either one, yeah.
Wow.
Five or, yeah, it's cool because they got to win four, right?
Yeah, you got to win four to win.
So gentlemen sweep five games.
Yeah, I think I'd go five, five or six.
But let's go five.
I'm pretty confident in Dodgers.
Dodgers in five against Boston.
If he's against the Rangers, I could see a six.
Dude, you should go.
I'm serious.
If you're so confident, you should put actual money down on Boston
because it'll be very rich, man.
What's Boston's number right now?
Dude, some crazy odds.
I'll find it really fast.
But like, you could.
Like World Series odds or like division?
Yeah, if you bet for them to make the World Series,
you could make a lot of money.
Even division is a lot.
I don't bet on fan duel, OK, everybody,
but I use it to check the odds, OK?
Don't gamble, children.
Don't do it.
By division, the Red Sox are the plus 440 to win the division,
which means bet $100, win $440 if they win or win $340.
World Series?
Something like that.
League winners, so winning the American League,
they're plus 1,000, which is fourth highest.
It goes Yankees, O's, Astros, Red Sox are the top four.
World Series winner, Dodgers, Yanks, Braves, Mets, Phillies,
O's, Astros, Red Sox.
Red Sox are plus 220 to win the World Series.
So I would only get 220 back if they made the World Series?
No, sorry, 2,200.
Excuse me.
So you bet $100, you win $2,000 if they win the World Series.
I might do that.
But that's enough for me, yeah.
OK, that's pretty good, though.
And you reserve the right to change your mind.
I always do.
It's a free country.
Of course, it is a free country, very free country.
Any last notes then, any other last little caveats
that you want to put on this episode before you sign
your name to these predictions for 2025?
You know, we're excited to watch the most glorious game
ever created by God, which is baseball.
Amen.
I was once lost, but now I've been found to the beautiful sport
once again, and I plan on never going back anywhere else.
And Jesus found the light.
Baseball, you have made us better men,
maybe worse companions to our ladies, but whatever.
Yeah, our women probably don't agree with that statement,
but we agree with that statement.
Yeah, we feel better.
We feel fantastic.
Well, that'll do it for the episode.
Thank you, everybody, for listening.
Next episode will come back.
I'll come with my predictions.
Oh, yeah.
So I'm going to talk about what I think is going to happen,
and I'm going to try and shock Kenji,
or at least prove him wrong, which is we'd like to do that
on this show.
But that's a better up.
So Kenji, you want to send the people away?
OK.
Sorry, I'm just reading some Jeff Passan news.
Passing.
They traded some prospect.
OK.
Oh, I don't know.
We love you, Jeff.
Thank you, Jeff Passan.
Jeff, you're great.
You don't know who we are, and we probably never will meet you.
But thanks for listening, guys, and come back next week
for Gabe's ridiculous next episode.
Wednesday.
Next episode, a way that he can piss me off.
That's going to be the entire theme,
is how he can get in my head.
I could talk for two hours about how to piss you off.
That's true.
You could write a whole book about it.
Your girlfriend could probably do the same thing.
Anybody could do the same thing.
But we love you guys.
Thank you for tuning in, and we'll see you then.
We'll see you in a couple days, everybody.
See you in a couple days, everybody.