1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: Welcome everyone to the Monday edition of Fair Territory. Less 2 00:00:06,800 --> 00:00:09,680 Speaker 1: than two weeks to go in the regular season, and yes, 3 00:00:10,280 --> 00:00:14,240 Speaker 1: we have action. It's not total chaos. We've got some 4 00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,159 Speaker 1: things that are pretty much decided. The AL Central, the 5 00:00:17,280 --> 00:00:21,279 Speaker 1: NL Central, the NL East, the AL East, and the 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:23,720 Speaker 1: NL West are trending that way. They got the Dodgers 7 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:26,159 Speaker 1: up two and a half, the Jay's up four with 8 00:00:26,320 --> 00:00:27,320 Speaker 1: thirteen to play. 9 00:00:27,960 --> 00:00:29,520 Speaker 2: But there's still a lot of. 10 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:32,360 Speaker 1: Things going on that are intriguing and we're going to 11 00:00:32,400 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 1: get into them in this program today. We're going to 12 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: get into a lot of things, including what happens Saturday 13 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:41,560 Speaker 1: night in Milwaukee. Now, let's start with the AL West 14 00:00:41,560 --> 00:00:43,560 Speaker 1: and Wild Card because right now that is the most 15 00:00:43,600 --> 00:00:46,920 Speaker 1: interesting of all the races. They're kind of both connected 16 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:50,639 Speaker 1: and we have three teams in those races, the Mariners, 17 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:53,400 Speaker 1: the Astros, and the Rangers. And if you heard Brewers 18 00:00:53,440 --> 00:00:56,560 Speaker 1: manager Pat Murphy after the Brewers clinched their postseason birth, 19 00:00:57,080 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: he talked about the Pakoda projection system, and he talked 20 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,880 Speaker 1: about how the Brewers were projected by Pakoda to win 21 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:07,080 Speaker 1: only eighty point two games this year. Obviously they've done 22 00:01:07,160 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: much better than that, but the projection Systems actually got 23 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:14,520 Speaker 1: the Al West right, and the projection system said at 24 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: the start of the season that the Mariners, Astros and 25 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:20,880 Speaker 1: Rangers would really be close the whole season. I remember 26 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:24,280 Speaker 1: Mike Petriello of MLB dot Com writing a whole story 27 00:01:24,360 --> 00:01:28,480 Speaker 1: about this, and while it hasn't been the exact path 28 00:01:28,640 --> 00:01:31,160 Speaker 1: that we might have thought, here we are with those 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: three teams really close to each other. Now this week 30 00:01:34,360 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: is going to be huge. The Mariners have taken sole 31 00:01:37,640 --> 00:01:40,880 Speaker 1: possession of the division lead for the first time since 32 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:46,000 Speaker 1: June first, Wow, three months and now with nine straight wins, 33 00:01:46,240 --> 00:01:49,800 Speaker 1: a huge week lies ahead because the Astros, the team 34 00:01:49,840 --> 00:01:52,279 Speaker 1: that's been in first place for most of the season. 35 00:01:52,640 --> 00:01:55,760 Speaker 1: Their next six games are at home against the Rangers 36 00:01:56,120 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: and the Mariners. Now, the Astros they led the division 37 00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: by six games on July twenty third, even with all 38 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 1: their injuries eighteen players on the injured list at one point, 39 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: including I believe it was twelve starting pitchers at the time. 40 00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 1: They still have fourteen players on the il, including Josh Hader. 41 00:02:14,760 --> 00:02:17,359 Speaker 1: So it's been that kind of year for the Astros, 42 00:02:17,400 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: and yet they've held on. They held on without Jurdan 43 00:02:20,040 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: Alvarez for a while without Jeremy. 44 00:02:22,120 --> 00:02:24,240 Speaker 2: Panna, They've had all kinds of things happen. 45 00:02:25,000 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: And yet since July twenty third, they're twenty one and 46 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: twenty six. There are bottom six offense in the major leagues. 47 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,400 Speaker 1: That surprising to me. The Astros are a bottom six 48 00:02:37,440 --> 00:02:40,520 Speaker 1: offense and they really haven't been that much better since 49 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 1: getting Correa, Arias and Sanchez at the deadline and then 50 00:02:44,480 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: getting Alvarez back. 51 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:46,839 Speaker 2: You see the standings right there. 52 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:50,000 Speaker 1: This is the Al West and the Mariners obviously up 53 00:02:50,040 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: by a game on the Astros, up three. 54 00:02:52,400 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 2: Game on the Rangers, three games on the Rangers. 55 00:02:55,440 --> 00:02:59,560 Speaker 1: The Rangers, to me, are the most fascinating team of all. 56 00:02:59,680 --> 00:03:04,040 Speaker 1: For five months, they drove their front office crazy, they 57 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: drove their fans crazy. They underachieved. Only after injuries to 58 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:13,040 Speaker 1: Corey Seger, Marcus Simeon, Nathan Evoldi, and a bunch of 59 00:03:13,120 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 1: others did they finally start to snap out of it. 60 00:03:16,360 --> 00:03:18,720 Speaker 1: And they finally started to snap out of it with 61 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:21,600 Speaker 1: the players that they're TV analyst David Murphy dubbed the 62 00:03:21,680 --> 00:03:22,600 Speaker 1: little rascals. 63 00:03:22,639 --> 00:03:23,639 Speaker 2: Who am I talking about? 64 00:03:23,680 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: Cody Freeman, Michael Hellman, Dustin Harris, who has now been 65 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 1: demoted Alejandro Asunya. These guys, many casual fans have never 66 00:03:31,600 --> 00:03:34,400 Speaker 1: heard of them. They've given the Rangers energy and the 67 00:03:34,480 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: Rangers are in a great spot here. Well, still an 68 00:03:37,480 --> 00:03:40,520 Speaker 1: uphill fight, but in a great spot considering where they were. 69 00:03:41,000 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: Adolice Garcia came back yesterday, he too was injured, and 70 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,880 Speaker 1: Corey Seeger is expected back from his appendicitis or his 71 00:03:48,920 --> 00:03:54,160 Speaker 1: appendix removal, probably the end of this week. So the 72 00:03:54,280 --> 00:03:57,920 Speaker 1: Rangers are in an interesting spot here. And let's not 73 00:03:57,960 --> 00:04:01,640 Speaker 1: forget the Guardians either. The Guardians in this wildcard race 74 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: here they are they're only two and a half out. 75 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:06,160 Speaker 1: You see the Rangers, they're two out in the wildcard standings. 76 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: The Guardians are two and a half out. 77 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:08,480 Speaker 2: Now, with this. 78 00:04:09,880 --> 00:04:12,680 Speaker 1: Late stage of the season, with so few games remaining, 79 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,680 Speaker 1: two and two and a half is a significant deficit. 80 00:04:15,720 --> 00:04:17,919 Speaker 1: It's hard to make it up. Kind of have to 81 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,480 Speaker 1: win every day. But we'll see what happens here because 82 00:04:21,480 --> 00:04:25,320 Speaker 1: it's been unpredictable. And the Guardians they've won nine of ten. 83 00:04:26,320 --> 00:04:29,520 Speaker 1: They two are a depleted team in many ways. Remember 84 00:04:29,560 --> 00:04:32,240 Speaker 1: they've lost Luis Ortiz and a Manuel class A because 85 00:04:32,240 --> 00:04:36,159 Speaker 1: of the gambling investigation, and yet they're starting pitching of 86 00:04:36,279 --> 00:04:39,400 Speaker 1: late has been brilliant. They're reliever Kate Smith, who is 87 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: one of the more underappreciated relievers in the game. He's 88 00:04:42,440 --> 00:04:46,360 Speaker 1: got saves in seven straight appearances. They've been really good. 89 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,760 Speaker 1: So the Guardians, I wouldn't say they have a great chance. 90 00:04:49,920 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 2: I wouldn't even say they have a good chance, but 91 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:52,440 Speaker 2: they're there. 92 00:04:52,640 --> 00:04:56,320 Speaker 1: They're playing meaningful games on September fifteenth, And what I 93 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,240 Speaker 1: always say to fans is that really is the baseline 94 00:05:00,279 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: of what you can ask of your favorite team. If 95 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,280 Speaker 1: they're doing that, you've had a fun season. As maddening 96 00:05:05,360 --> 00:05:08,559 Speaker 1: as some of these seasons can be. Now, let's turn 97 00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,600 Speaker 1: to the National League Wildcard because this one, this one 98 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,120 Speaker 1: is something that none of us saw coming. The Mets 99 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:20,560 Speaker 1: finally ended their eight game losing streak on Sunday. Both 100 00:05:20,640 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: San Francisco and Cincinnati also lost, so they didn't actually 101 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:28,200 Speaker 1: lost ground in this particular situation, so the Mets maybe 102 00:05:28,200 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: have a little bit of breathing room. They're game and 103 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: a half over the Giants right now in the wildcard standings, 104 00:05:33,640 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: two games over the Diamondbacks, who suddenly have slipped into 105 00:05:36,200 --> 00:05:38,840 Speaker 1: this equation, and the Reds are now two and a 106 00:05:38,920 --> 00:05:43,160 Speaker 1: half back. The Mets hold a tiebreaker over the Giants, 107 00:05:43,240 --> 00:05:45,280 Speaker 1: not the Reds. The one with the Diamondbacks would be 108 00:05:45,320 --> 00:05:46,960 Speaker 1: decided by intra division record. 109 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 2: It's complicated. Let's not even go there. 110 00:05:49,640 --> 00:05:53,920 Speaker 1: But the Mets are still tied for the third worst 111 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:59,040 Speaker 1: winning percentage in the Majors since June twelfth, third worst 112 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: tied for the work. It's amazing what has happened here, 113 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:05,040 Speaker 1: and we're gonna get into it more a little bit 114 00:06:05,120 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: later in the inside dish. 115 00:06:07,040 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 2: Obviously, they were forty five. 116 00:06:08,400 --> 00:06:11,400 Speaker 1: And twenty four at one point. Their starting pitching at 117 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 1: that point was the best in the majors. It has 118 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: since fallen apart. We've seen them use their rookies and 119 00:06:17,720 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: actually to pretty good effect. Jonah Thong, I know, struggled 120 00:06:20,760 --> 00:06:23,880 Speaker 1: Friday night, but sprot and McLain were really good this weekend. 121 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:25,160 Speaker 1: The Mets are gonna. 122 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:25,800 Speaker 2: Ride those guys. 123 00:06:25,839 --> 00:06:28,800 Speaker 1: Sean Maniya is now in the bullpen. But as I 124 00:06:28,839 --> 00:06:32,360 Speaker 1: said on Fox on our broadcast Saturday, if the Mets 125 00:06:32,360 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 1: cannot make a twelve team playoff with a three hundred 126 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,839 Speaker 1: and forty million dollars payroll, it's gonna go down as 127 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: one of the biggest flops in major League history. Now 128 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,880 Speaker 1: they should get in. Still, I believe they've got the 129 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: kid pitchers, David Peterson as well. It's not great, but 130 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: it's good enough. But what's incredible to me is that 131 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: it's even gotten to this point. Let's look at the teams, 132 00:06:58,360 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: or talk about the teams that are chasing the Mets. 133 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:04,560 Speaker 2: The Giants, a team. 134 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 1: That's sold at the deadline, a team that sold, in fact, 135 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:11,040 Speaker 1: a relief pitcher to the Mets, Tyler Rodgers. The Giants, 136 00:07:11,080 --> 00:07:14,080 Speaker 1: a team that about two weeks ago people were talking 137 00:07:14,120 --> 00:07:18,600 Speaker 1: about their manager, Bob Melvin not coming back. The Diamondbacks, 138 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:21,440 Speaker 1: this is a team that also sold to the deadline. 139 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 1: Let's not forget Ajohano Suarez, Merril, Kelly, Josh Naylor, Randall, 140 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:30,160 Speaker 1: gritchik All gone, Shelby Miller two, he's now hurt. They 141 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:33,640 Speaker 1: sold in a big way. They're still in contention. And 142 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: then the Reds, who have kind of sputtered along all year. 143 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 1: They're two and a half back. Now they're blow five hundred. 144 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 1: These teams are all hovering around five hundred. Nothing great 145 00:07:42,400 --> 00:07:46,600 Speaker 1: on any of them, but they're in these they're in 146 00:07:46,680 --> 00:07:48,840 Speaker 1: this race as well. And all three of these teams 147 00:07:48,840 --> 00:07:52,040 Speaker 1: as I mentioned, have at least some degree of hope. 148 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:56,520 Speaker 1: Now the Mets have a somewhat difficult schedule, remaining homestand 149 00:07:56,560 --> 00:07:59,480 Speaker 1: continues against the Padres, who are starting to play a 150 00:07:59,480 --> 00:08:02,320 Speaker 1: little bit better, or again albeit against the Rockies and 151 00:08:02,360 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: the Nationals, and then they're on the road against the Cubs, 152 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:06,120 Speaker 1: who I guess would have clinched by the time this 153 00:08:06,200 --> 00:08:09,160 Speaker 1: series takes place. Clinched a playoff spot, I should say. 154 00:08:09,560 --> 00:08:13,440 Speaker 1: And then they complete the season with Miami the Giants. 155 00:08:14,040 --> 00:08:16,800 Speaker 1: They're at Arizona this week. That's a big series. Suddenly 156 00:08:17,320 --> 00:08:21,160 Speaker 1: they've got the Dodgers in LA for four. That's going 157 00:08:21,200 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: to be a big series. They just play the Dodgers 158 00:08:23,200 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 1: and lost two of three, and then they're home against 159 00:08:25,480 --> 00:08:27,400 Speaker 1: the Cardinals and Rocky So if they can hang in, 160 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:30,960 Speaker 1: they end with a fairly easy schedule. The Cardinals, by 161 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 1: the way, they're only four out in the wild card 162 00:08:33,040 --> 00:08:36,640 Speaker 1: Stanleys and they've had not a great season. Then there 163 00:08:36,720 --> 00:08:40,240 Speaker 1: are the Diamondbacks. They host the Giants and Phillies, and 164 00:08:40,240 --> 00:08:42,680 Speaker 1: then they play the Dodgers and they're at San Diego. 165 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:45,280 Speaker 2: They've got a really difficult schedule, and. 166 00:08:45,240 --> 00:08:48,360 Speaker 1: Then Cincinnati at Saint Louis home against the Cubs home 167 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:50,760 Speaker 1: against the Pirates at Milwaukee, which will be lining up 168 00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:51,760 Speaker 1: its playoff rotation. 169 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:55,160 Speaker 2: So there you have it. That's the NL race. 170 00:08:55,600 --> 00:09:00,200 Speaker 1: And again, it shouldn't have ever come to this, but 171 00:09:00,280 --> 00:09:03,040 Speaker 1: here we are, and I would expect again the Mets 172 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:05,559 Speaker 1: have enough of a cushion, even though it's not much 173 00:09:05,600 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: of a cushion, but enough of a cushion to hold 174 00:09:08,200 --> 00:09:10,959 Speaker 1: on here. All they have to do is hit. Yes, 175 00:09:11,000 --> 00:09:13,320 Speaker 1: they're pitching is problematic. We all know that at this 176 00:09:13,400 --> 00:09:17,079 Speaker 1: point they just haven't hit in the way that you 177 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 1: would expect from a team with Peter Alonzo and Juan 178 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,960 Speaker 1: Soto and Francisco Lindor and Brandon Nimo, all of these 179 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: superstar types. Nimo less of a superstar, but a guy 180 00:09:28,000 --> 00:09:31,679 Speaker 1: who's highly paid for sure, and for whatever reason, they 181 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,640 Speaker 1: have not fired. So all right, that is it for 182 00:09:34,679 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 1: the Pennant Races. Now, finally, before we go into our 183 00:09:37,120 --> 00:09:39,960 Speaker 1: next segment, the Inside Dish, I want to talk about 184 00:09:39,960 --> 00:09:43,120 Speaker 1: what happens Saturday night when I accidentally bowled over Scott 185 00:09:43,160 --> 00:09:47,840 Speaker 1: ballas Paulus, the Brewer's team photographer, while I was getting 186 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,120 Speaker 1: out of the way of the Brewers dumping water on 187 00:09:50,240 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: Andrew Monasterium. Now, the ever observant AJ Prazinski joked afterward 188 00:09:56,320 --> 00:10:00,840 Speaker 1: that I looked like Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston. Now, Aj, 189 00:10:01,000 --> 00:10:04,319 Speaker 1: of course, is more experienced in these kinds of interactions 190 00:10:04,320 --> 00:10:09,200 Speaker 1: than I am, and I must admit though, when I 191 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:12,000 Speaker 1: looked at the video when I saw this, I was 192 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:16,160 Speaker 1: surprised at how upset I appeared. I was more confused 193 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,520 Speaker 1: than anything. Now I had to continue the interview. We 194 00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: were live folks on national television. 195 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 2: Couldn't stop. 196 00:10:23,480 --> 00:10:27,920 Speaker 1: And that said, I felt awful about what happened, And 197 00:10:28,000 --> 00:10:29,960 Speaker 1: afterward I went up to Scott, who I've worked with 198 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:33,000 Speaker 1: in Pitts before over the years, and I apologize, and 199 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:36,840 Speaker 1: I apologize profusely, because let's face it, I don't think 200 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:40,000 Speaker 1: that you ever expect knocking someone down is going to. 201 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:44,479 Speaker 2: Happen in any particular situation. So yeah, sure, I apologized. 202 00:10:44,520 --> 00:10:47,000 Speaker 1: And Fox is doing the American League playoffs this year, 203 00:10:47,080 --> 00:10:49,240 Speaker 1: so I won't see the Brewers again unless it's the 204 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: World Series. But if I do see the Brewers in 205 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:54,920 Speaker 1: the World Series, I look forward to working with Scott 206 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: again in the photo pit, and I also look forward 207 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:00,559 Speaker 1: to sharing a good laugh with him over this, Okay, 208 00:11:00,679 --> 00:11:02,000 Speaker 1: The Inside Dish is next. 209 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,000 Speaker 2: Stay with us. 210 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:06,680 Speaker 3: For all of those passionate Mets fans out there, draftneck 211 00:11:06,800 --> 00:11:09,680 Speaker 3: Mark and James Ciano have a show called Mets Up. 212 00:11:09,720 --> 00:11:13,520 Speaker 3: It is super popular. These two watch every single game 213 00:11:13,559 --> 00:11:15,480 Speaker 3: and give you every morsel of what you need to know. 214 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 3: Subscribe to their YouTube channel. It's called Mets Up and 215 00:11:18,559 --> 00:11:20,640 Speaker 3: you can catch them wherever you find your podcast. I'm 216 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,480 Speaker 3: going to steal a ligne right from the top here 217 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 3: about me Undies a cut for every butt. I took 218 00:11:27,640 --> 00:11:30,000 Speaker 3: a line that I feel like you would enjoy, but 219 00:11:30,040 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 3: then you stole my thunder with show and tell. What 220 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:33,679 Speaker 3: do you have there. 221 00:11:35,040 --> 00:11:38,480 Speaker 4: Besides a huge Baduka dunk. This is my pair of 222 00:11:38,679 --> 00:11:41,000 Speaker 4: miundies that I got. I'm not going to show you 223 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:42,720 Speaker 4: the other pair right now because I got them on, 224 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:45,000 Speaker 4: but it doesn't even feel like you have them on. 225 00:11:45,520 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 4: Super soft, flexible and yet holding everything together. 226 00:11:51,080 --> 00:11:53,679 Speaker 3: I love the twenty different styles, one hundred different colors 227 00:11:53,679 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 3: and prints, and the micro modal fabric is what you're 228 00:11:58,000 --> 00:12:02,920 Speaker 3: talking about. Breathable, stretchy, unbelievably cozy and right now. As 229 00:12:02,960 --> 00:12:05,760 Speaker 3: a listener of FT, you can get cozy and spooky 230 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:08,400 Speaker 3: for less with deals up to fifty percent off at 231 00:12:08,400 --> 00:12:11,719 Speaker 3: me undies dot com. Slash foul and enter promo code foul. 232 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:15,040 Speaker 3: That's me undies dot Com slash foul, promo code foul 233 00:12:15,200 --> 00:12:19,080 Speaker 3: for up to fifty percent off me Undie's Comfort. That's 234 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:24,160 Speaker 3: made for fall. Well, well, well, well, well. 235 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:28,800 Speaker 1: All right, Time out for the inside Dish, the part 236 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,360 Speaker 1: of the show where I talk about a story I've written, 237 00:12:31,440 --> 00:12:34,680 Speaker 1: something going on in the game, or something else entirely. 238 00:12:34,960 --> 00:12:38,640 Speaker 1: And I guess today I would classify classify this one 239 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:40,880 Speaker 1: as talking about something going on in the game and 240 00:12:40,960 --> 00:12:44,400 Speaker 1: something I've written, something that's always been interesting to me. 241 00:12:45,120 --> 00:12:49,040 Speaker 1: And the subject is chemistry, team chemistry. And as I 242 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,280 Speaker 1: wrote Friday in a column about Bryce Harper and the Phillies, 243 00:12:52,960 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 1: chemistry can be elusive. It's difficult to capture, it's difficult 244 00:12:56,440 --> 00:13:01,600 Speaker 1: to define, but it is something and I know over 245 00:13:01,600 --> 00:13:03,520 Speaker 1: the years when I used to work at MLB Network, 246 00:13:03,600 --> 00:13:06,000 Speaker 1: I would argue with Brian Kenny about the importance of 247 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:08,760 Speaker 1: chemistry all the time, and Brian would poo poo it. 248 00:13:09,360 --> 00:13:11,600 Speaker 1: He would say, Oh, it's not as important as the numbers, 249 00:13:11,640 --> 00:13:15,240 Speaker 1: as performance. But if you've ever walked into a Major 250 00:13:15,320 --> 00:13:18,079 Speaker 1: league clubhouse, if you've ever covered the sport, if you've 251 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: ever been around the sport in any meaningful way, and 252 00:13:20,440 --> 00:13:23,480 Speaker 1: even if you're a fan watching the games, you know 253 00:13:23,559 --> 00:13:27,640 Speaker 1: that chemistry does matter, and you know that teams with 254 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: big stars often face a different dynamic, and occasionally it's 255 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:38,160 Speaker 1: an uncomfortable dynamic. Now, the subject of this column was Harper, 256 00:13:38,360 --> 00:13:40,800 Speaker 1: and the reason I wrote it because when I went 257 00:13:40,840 --> 00:13:45,400 Speaker 1: to Philadelphia last week a couple of people mentioned to me, 258 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:48,680 Speaker 1: a few people mentioned to me actually that they were 259 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:53,840 Speaker 1: worried or just thinking that maybe Bryce Harper was kind 260 00:13:53,840 --> 00:13:56,280 Speaker 1: of put off or out of sorts a little bit, 261 00:13:56,760 --> 00:13:59,480 Speaker 1: that Kyle Schwarber was getting all the attention because Kyle 262 00:13:59,480 --> 00:14:02,720 Speaker 1: Schwarber fifty home run season, a magical campaign in his 263 00:14:02,760 --> 00:14:06,320 Speaker 1: free agent year, and that struck me as a little 264 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:10,200 Speaker 1: bit odd, but I sort of understood too. Bryce Harper 265 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:13,480 Speaker 1: been on the cover of Sports Illustrated from the time 266 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:15,319 Speaker 1: he was sixteen years old. That was the first time 267 00:14:15,360 --> 00:14:17,760 Speaker 1: he was on the cover, and he's been the center 268 00:14:17,800 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 1: of attention ever since then. He's a two time MVP, 269 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:24,400 Speaker 1: he was the MVP of the twenty twenty two NLCS. 270 00:14:24,960 --> 00:14:28,320 Speaker 1: He is the Alpha of alphas. So when I heard 271 00:14:28,320 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 1: these people talking about that, they thought maybe Bryce was 272 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: in a little bit of a funk because of it. 273 00:14:32,840 --> 00:14:34,720 Speaker 1: I'm not making any of this up. This is people 274 00:14:34,720 --> 00:14:37,200 Speaker 1: telling me stuff. So I go up to Bryce, who's 275 00:14:37,240 --> 00:14:41,720 Speaker 1: always open to questions, and I said, Hey, anything going on? 276 00:14:41,800 --> 00:14:44,240 Speaker 2: Here? Are the Phillies in your mind? 277 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:47,840 Speaker 1: Still your team? And does it matter if they're still 278 00:14:47,880 --> 00:14:52,000 Speaker 1: your team? And the answer he gave was enlightening. At first, 279 00:14:52,000 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 1: he left, he thought the question. He didn't think it 280 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,120 Speaker 1: was offensive or anything like that. He just thought it 281 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:58,760 Speaker 1: was kind of funny. And here is what he said. 282 00:14:58,800 --> 00:15:01,880 Speaker 1: Because what he said again and was revealing, at least 283 00:15:01,920 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: in terms of his mindset relative to Kyle schwarpr I 284 00:15:05,640 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 1: cut the quote down a little bit from the one 285 00:15:07,080 --> 00:15:09,520 Speaker 1: I use in the column, but this is it. I 286 00:15:09,560 --> 00:15:13,280 Speaker 1: think it's everybody's team in here. Kyle is obviously having 287 00:15:13,360 --> 00:15:16,480 Speaker 1: an incredible year in a contract year as well, He's 288 00:15:16,520 --> 00:15:19,760 Speaker 1: going to have that hype around him. I've never been 289 00:15:19,840 --> 00:15:21,520 Speaker 1: that type of guy where I wanted it to be 290 00:15:21,680 --> 00:15:23,920 Speaker 1: my team or someone else's team. 291 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:25,680 Speaker 2: Our main goal is winning. 292 00:15:26,160 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: That's everybody's mindset. 293 00:15:28,760 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 2: Now. 294 00:15:29,200 --> 00:15:31,120 Speaker 1: I don't know that you can answer that question much 295 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:35,560 Speaker 1: better than that. It's practically a perfect answer, right But 296 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,440 Speaker 1: at the same time, just wonder how these things. 297 00:15:39,160 --> 00:15:39,840 Speaker 2: Play out now. 298 00:15:39,960 --> 00:15:43,520 Speaker 1: Right now, the Phillies confidence is rather striking. 299 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,320 Speaker 2: Being around them, you could feel it. 300 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:47,640 Speaker 1: This was, of course, in the middle of their sweep 301 00:15:47,680 --> 00:15:50,000 Speaker 1: of the Mets, which was a great series for them. 302 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:52,840 Speaker 1: But even without Zach Wheeler who's out for this season, 303 00:15:53,440 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: even without Trey Turner and Alec Bohm who are coming 304 00:15:56,240 --> 00:16:00,000 Speaker 1: back but still injured, right now, they have this vibe 305 00:16:00,080 --> 00:16:02,240 Speaker 1: I've been feeling about them. Other teams have it too 306 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: right now. I would say the Blue Jays have that 307 00:16:04,800 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: kind of feeling. They've been really a great team all 308 00:16:08,360 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: season long, most comebacks in the major leagues, and you 309 00:16:11,920 --> 00:16:14,960 Speaker 1: sense a togetherness there. I think you sense it with 310 00:16:15,000 --> 00:16:17,000 Speaker 1: the Mariners too, to some extent. And I'm sure I'm 311 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,320 Speaker 1: missing teams, but when you see it and you know 312 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,080 Speaker 1: it when you don't, and that brings me to the Mets. 313 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:23,920 Speaker 2: Now. 314 00:16:24,360 --> 00:16:27,680 Speaker 1: Maybe the Mets finally snapped out of it yesterday. And 315 00:16:27,800 --> 00:16:30,920 Speaker 1: let's be clear, as I wrote, the biggest problem with 316 00:16:30,960 --> 00:16:35,040 Speaker 1: the Mets by far it's not even close, is starting pitching. 317 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:37,480 Speaker 1: What I said in the first segment rings true. They 318 00:16:37,480 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: were forty five and twenty four with the best rotation 319 00:16:39,880 --> 00:16:43,360 Speaker 1: in the majors as of June twelfth. It crumbled from 320 00:16:43,400 --> 00:16:47,600 Speaker 1: their injuries and effectiveness. All kinds of things happened, and 321 00:16:47,920 --> 00:16:51,080 Speaker 1: this is why they are now where they are kind 322 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: of holding on for dear life in the National League 323 00:16:53,520 --> 00:16:54,280 Speaker 1: wildcard race. 324 00:16:54,840 --> 00:16:56,480 Speaker 2: So that's the main thing. 325 00:16:56,920 --> 00:17:01,880 Speaker 1: But as I also wrote, something seems with them now. 326 00:17:02,520 --> 00:17:05,960 Speaker 1: I don't know exactly what it is. If anything, the 327 00:17:06,040 --> 00:17:11,280 Speaker 1: Mets big stars, Lindora, Alonso, Sodo, they're viewed by the 328 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:15,240 Speaker 1: team by their own people, club officials, teammates, etc. All 329 00:17:15,280 --> 00:17:18,280 Speaker 1: good people, all good guys. No one says this guy's 330 00:17:18,320 --> 00:17:19,520 Speaker 1: a jerk, that guy's that. 331 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:20,879 Speaker 2: Or anything like that. 332 00:17:21,760 --> 00:17:25,600 Speaker 1: But is it all meshing together perfectly? I would suggest 333 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:29,800 Speaker 1: that the evidence says no. Now, the easy target here 334 00:17:29,880 --> 00:17:32,720 Speaker 1: is Sodo. He's the seven hundred and sixty five million 335 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:35,760 Speaker 1: dollar edition, he's the new guy, all of that. But 336 00:17:36,680 --> 00:17:38,520 Speaker 1: he sure seemed to fit in well with the Yankees 337 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,719 Speaker 1: last season, and my goodness, he's having a season that 338 00:17:42,040 --> 00:17:43,560 Speaker 1: is right up there with his best. 339 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,160 Speaker 2: And that's saying something because this is Wan Soda. We're 340 00:17:46,200 --> 00:17:47,640 Speaker 2: talking about. 341 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:50,760 Speaker 1: Forty homers, thirty two stolen bases, nine to twenty one 342 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,479 Speaker 1: ops right there in the top ten, as he always 343 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:56,960 Speaker 1: has been and or is he often has been the 344 00:17:57,000 --> 00:18:01,520 Speaker 1: last two months since August first, he's been absolutely brilliant. 345 00:18:01,880 --> 00:18:04,760 Speaker 1: So if you want to say the problem is Soto, 346 00:18:04,840 --> 00:18:07,919 Speaker 1: if indeed there's a problem, I would push back on that. 347 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:11,240 Speaker 2: But is it possible that some stuff. 348 00:18:11,040 --> 00:18:13,800 Speaker 1: Is going on here now? Only the Mets truly. 349 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 2: Know what is going on in their clubhouse. 350 00:18:16,119 --> 00:18:21,960 Speaker 1: If there is indetention or jealousy or even friction, he 351 00:18:22,000 --> 00:18:25,680 Speaker 1: can't say for sure. But these guys are who they are. 352 00:18:26,080 --> 00:18:28,000 Speaker 1: This is what I want to stress here. They're who 353 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:31,800 Speaker 1: they are because they have massive egos and I'm not 354 00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:34,200 Speaker 1: saying that in a bad way. They have an incredible 355 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,040 Speaker 1: belief in their abilities. They're all alphas, and when you 356 00:18:38,119 --> 00:18:41,480 Speaker 1: put these kinds of players in a room together, sometimes 357 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,719 Speaker 1: it works, sometimes it doesn't. It can be disruptive when 358 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:50,399 Speaker 1: you have big time players who maybe get along but 359 00:18:50,600 --> 00:18:50,880 Speaker 1: just have. 360 00:18:50,880 --> 00:18:52,359 Speaker 2: A wariness about each other. 361 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:56,440 Speaker 1: Again, hard to define, hard to capture, hard to even 362 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:59,800 Speaker 1: talk about because you don't know if it's there. But 363 00:19:00,440 --> 00:19:02,800 Speaker 1: it has just been striking with the Mets that this 364 00:19:02,840 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: has been such a slide for them. And yes, the 365 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,320 Speaker 1: starting pitching is the main culprit, but you just wonder. 366 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,919 Speaker 2: Hey, what else is up with them? So the easy. 367 00:19:12,600 --> 00:19:16,160 Speaker 1: Answer here, the way to erase all doubts and establish 368 00:19:16,280 --> 00:19:17,160 Speaker 1: good chemiratrtry. 369 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:21,040 Speaker 2: We know the answer is. The easy answer is to win. 370 00:19:22,040 --> 00:19:25,080 Speaker 1: And the Mets, for all their troubles, all that has 371 00:19:25,160 --> 00:19:28,520 Speaker 1: happened in the last couple of months, they are still 372 00:19:28,520 --> 00:19:31,520 Speaker 1: in a position where a they can make the postseason 373 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:35,280 Speaker 1: and b they can go on a run. They're fully 374 00:19:35,320 --> 00:19:38,280 Speaker 1: capable of doing that. And if they do do that, 375 00:19:39,000 --> 00:19:41,840 Speaker 1: these questions, all the things that I'm talking about, all 376 00:19:41,840 --> 00:19:45,359 Speaker 1: the things I'm speculating about, those questions will fade. You 377 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:47,399 Speaker 1: won't hear anything about them. You'll hear about how they 378 00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,760 Speaker 1: came together and were always together and it was all good. 379 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:53,960 Speaker 1: But if they don't get to the playoffs, if they 380 00:19:54,040 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: have what I said earlier was an incredibly disappointing season 381 00:19:59,160 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: and turn out to be one of the biggest flops 382 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:05,320 Speaker 1: in Major league history, yes, those questions might only increase. 383 00:20:06,040 --> 00:20:07,879 Speaker 1: All right, so much for the inside dish. We'll be 384 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:10,399 Speaker 1: back with your questions in grilling Ken after this. 385 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:13,480 Speaker 3: Okay, Kratz, I opened up Arena Club, put my own 386 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,120 Speaker 3: money in there, and I wasn't gonna go big. 387 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:16,359 Speaker 1: I know. 388 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:18,800 Speaker 3: We went over the Ruby pack a week ago. This 389 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,520 Speaker 3: time I just went for the low level pack where 390 00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:24,000 Speaker 3: it's an easy entry point. Twenty five bucks. You can 391 00:20:24,000 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 3: get yourself a big boy card. The grail has many 392 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,479 Speaker 3: good options. I slice open the pack. We're looking at 393 00:20:29,480 --> 00:20:31,800 Speaker 3: it if you're watching us right now, and I pull 394 00:20:31,880 --> 00:20:35,879 Speaker 3: a card from the nineteen fifties, super cool. I enjoyed 395 00:20:35,920 --> 00:20:38,760 Speaker 3: the experience looking at it. It's Jim Gilliam, It's the 396 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:41,760 Speaker 3: top set from the mid fifties. It's cool. It's a 397 00:20:41,800 --> 00:20:44,920 Speaker 3: Brooklyn Dodger. But it's worth more than the card. 398 00:20:44,960 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 2: Like I said, I'm gonna sell it back. 399 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,919 Speaker 3: I got twenty eight bucks instantly, so I can buy 400 00:20:48,960 --> 00:20:50,960 Speaker 3: another one of those packs and try and get what 401 00:20:51,000 --> 00:20:51,320 Speaker 3: I want. 402 00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,480 Speaker 4: Absolutely the excitement I heard Kip say before. The excitement's 403 00:20:56,520 --> 00:20:58,840 Speaker 4: in the chase. You sold it back. Now you get 404 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:01,199 Speaker 4: to open another one. I enjoy when you slide it 405 00:21:01,200 --> 00:21:04,119 Speaker 4: across the screen there and the pack opens. 406 00:21:03,880 --> 00:21:04,520 Speaker 2: You know where to go. 407 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,600 Speaker 3: Arenaclub dot com slash foul twenty percent off your first 408 00:21:07,600 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 3: slab Packer card purchase. Get after It. 409 00:21:11,040 --> 00:21:14,679 Speaker 5: Bet MGM players will receive an MLB parlay Boost token. 410 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:17,359 Speaker 5: To use the token at a parlay wager made up 411 00:21:17,400 --> 00:21:20,920 Speaker 5: of entirely MLB bets to your bet, slip and activate 412 00:21:21,000 --> 00:21:23,439 Speaker 5: the token. Score extra winnings if you're a wager that 413 00:21:23,600 --> 00:21:26,480 Speaker 5: was made with the parlay boost token wins. Gambling problem 414 00:21:26,520 --> 00:21:29,200 Speaker 5: more concern, There is help Call one eight hundred. 415 00:21:29,280 --> 00:21:37,800 Speaker 2: Gambler can the part of. 416 00:21:37,800 --> 00:21:40,800 Speaker 1: The program where I answer your questions? Let's get right 417 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:46,760 Speaker 1: to them. First question comes from rpg Man forty five, 418 00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,880 Speaker 1: who asks who's better right now in the AL besides 419 00:21:49,920 --> 00:21:52,720 Speaker 1: the JS They can come back in any game. 420 00:21:53,720 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 2: Very valid question. 421 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,359 Speaker 1: Now, jash Chishom Junior of the Yankees seem to have 422 00:21:57,359 --> 00:21:59,280 Speaker 1: his own answer. This week, he said the Yankees were 423 00:21:59,320 --> 00:21:59,679 Speaker 1: the best. 424 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:01,360 Speaker 2: Team in the US American League. But I would agree 425 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:03,280 Speaker 2: with rpg Man forty. 426 00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,080 Speaker 1: Five that the Jays right now they're in great spot 427 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:08,560 Speaker 1: to finish the season with the best record in the 428 00:22:08,600 --> 00:22:12,919 Speaker 1: league over the Tigers. And yes, those forty six forty 429 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: five come from behind victories are quite telling, but it's 430 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,400 Speaker 1: more than that. It's the kind of team that they've built, 431 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:24,400 Speaker 1: not just stars, but contributing players as well. And their 432 00:22:24,440 --> 00:22:27,520 Speaker 1: deadline move for Shane Bieber one that I wasn't sure 433 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:30,280 Speaker 1: about at the time, now looks like it was great. 434 00:22:30,440 --> 00:22:32,879 Speaker 1: Shane Bieber has pitched wonderfully for them. He could be 435 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:35,960 Speaker 1: their Game one starter. They've got Scherzer, They've got Gossman, 436 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:38,760 Speaker 1: who is hot right now, and their bullpen which has 437 00:22:38,800 --> 00:22:41,280 Speaker 1: been a problem, and Jeff Hoffmin's given up a lot 438 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:44,520 Speaker 1: of home runs. Yes, but they've pitched a little bit 439 00:22:44,560 --> 00:22:47,920 Speaker 1: better of late. And this team just seems to have 440 00:22:48,000 --> 00:22:50,359 Speaker 1: what I was talking about with the Phillies earlier, this 441 00:22:50,600 --> 00:22:53,880 Speaker 1: quality about them, and it's a really good quality Springer 442 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:57,760 Speaker 1: comeback Player of the year I think almost for certain. Obviously, 443 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: they need both Rochette back for the playoffs doing with 444 00:23:00,720 --> 00:23:02,920 Speaker 1: lad Does I love the Blue. 445 00:23:02,720 --> 00:23:03,480 Speaker 2: Jays right now? 446 00:23:03,640 --> 00:23:06,280 Speaker 1: And all that criticism I had of them really for 447 00:23:06,480 --> 00:23:08,520 Speaker 1: I guess a couple of years when I would call 448 00:23:08,520 --> 00:23:11,840 Speaker 1: them the paper Tigers and question whether they had the 449 00:23:12,320 --> 00:23:15,680 Speaker 1: chemistry to be a better team to play to their 450 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:18,800 Speaker 1: talent level, those questions for me have faded now. The 451 00:23:18,800 --> 00:23:21,720 Speaker 1: playoffs were another thing, of course, and that wouldn't be 452 00:23:21,800 --> 00:23:24,880 Speaker 1: nice to see them win a series finally. But yes, 453 00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,600 Speaker 1: they've had amazing and amazing regular season, a magnificent regular season, 454 00:23:29,640 --> 00:23:32,800 Speaker 1: and I would say, despite what Jazz Chisholm might think, 455 00:23:33,000 --> 00:23:35,240 Speaker 1: they're the best team in the American League right now. 456 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,040 Speaker 1: Let's go to the next question. This one comes from 457 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,360 Speaker 1: Henry who asks what is the key for the Mariners 458 00:23:42,440 --> 00:23:44,879 Speaker 1: to make the World Series? And that's a big question, Henry, 459 00:23:45,359 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: because the Mariners were in that incredible slide on that 460 00:23:49,080 --> 00:23:51,320 Speaker 1: road trip to the East a little bit ago, and 461 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:54,680 Speaker 1: now they've won nine straight and they're like so many 462 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:58,000 Speaker 1: teams right now, you don't know exactly what to make 463 00:23:58,040 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 1: of them. 464 00:23:58,760 --> 00:24:00,320 Speaker 2: They're obviously good, and. 465 00:24:00,280 --> 00:24:03,480 Speaker 1: The deadline moves to get Suarez and Naylor clearly helped them. 466 00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:06,320 Speaker 1: They are a team too that has a little bit 467 00:24:06,320 --> 00:24:08,840 Speaker 1: of magic going right now. The walk offs last week 468 00:24:08,920 --> 00:24:12,520 Speaker 1: with Mitch Garver and Henry Ford, the rookie, all of 469 00:24:12,560 --> 00:24:16,040 Speaker 1: these things are good. They're starting pitching has not been 470 00:24:16,400 --> 00:24:19,159 Speaker 1: quite at the level where it's been in the past, 471 00:24:19,240 --> 00:24:23,359 Speaker 1: and that's kind of a concern here. Brian wu is 472 00:24:23,400 --> 00:24:25,160 Speaker 1: a guy who is going to get some cy young 473 00:24:25,240 --> 00:24:28,440 Speaker 1: down down boot votes. He's had a brilliant season. Castillo 474 00:24:28,520 --> 00:24:31,040 Speaker 1: better in his last start, but he's been inconsistent. You've 475 00:24:31,040 --> 00:24:34,159 Speaker 1: got Logan Gilbert Kirby was really good his last start. 476 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:37,040 Speaker 2: They're fine. Obviously they're really good. 477 00:24:37,040 --> 00:24:39,879 Speaker 1: And if these guys get hot, that's the key to 478 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,400 Speaker 1: them getting to the World Series. I still don't love 479 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:46,879 Speaker 1: their offense. It's not what I would call an explosive offense. 480 00:24:46,920 --> 00:24:48,560 Speaker 1: Oh and I forgot to mention that guy with the 481 00:24:48,600 --> 00:24:52,320 Speaker 1: fifty four home runs, Kyle Raleigh. But because of Raleigh, 482 00:24:52,359 --> 00:24:55,520 Speaker 1: in large part, the offense is good enough. And Raleigh, 483 00:24:55,560 --> 00:24:58,399 Speaker 1: my goodness, the fact that he's tied Mickey Mantle for 484 00:24:58,560 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: most home runs by a switch hitter is an achievement 485 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:03,359 Speaker 1: that I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around. 486 00:25:03,640 --> 00:25:04,800 Speaker 2: But for them to get. 487 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:06,920 Speaker 1: To the World Series, I would say it really. 488 00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:10,000 Speaker 2: Keys on their starting pitching. All right, let's get to 489 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:10,760 Speaker 2: the next one. 490 00:25:11,800 --> 00:25:14,639 Speaker 1: This next question comes from George, who asks what is 491 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,679 Speaker 1: Kyle Schwarber's per year value going to look like in 492 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:22,560 Speaker 1: free agency? George, great question, and I would say it 493 00:25:22,600 --> 00:25:25,480 Speaker 1: starts with the three. It's at least thirty million dollars 494 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 1: a year. I would not be surprised if it reached 495 00:25:27,600 --> 00:25:30,040 Speaker 1: thirty five million per year, and I would not be 496 00:25:30,080 --> 00:25:32,919 Speaker 1: surprised if it went four years. Now where do I 497 00:25:32,960 --> 00:25:35,879 Speaker 1: expect him to be? I expect him to be a Philly, 498 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:39,359 Speaker 1: but what the price is going to be, That much 499 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:43,480 Speaker 1: remains to be seen. That's said, Kyle Schwarber pretty much 500 00:25:43,520 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: is going to get a lot of buddy and because 501 00:25:45,240 --> 00:25:48,120 Speaker 1: of his leadership qualities as well as his slugging, he's 502 00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:51,320 Speaker 1: gonna deserve it all right, Thanks and we will be 503 00:25:52,400 --> 00:25:56,159 Speaker 1: joining Thursday Live with a lot of Rivo our usual 504 00:25:56,200 --> 00:25:59,240 Speaker 1: Thursday show, twelve thirty Eastern. Have a great week everyone, 505 00:25:59,400 --> 00:26:01,159 Speaker 1: stay with us. Foto