WEBVTT - Arizona Diamondbacks team preview w/Jesse Friedman

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<v Speaker 1>If you're able to get the best version of all

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<v Speaker 1>these guys, or somewhat close to the best version of

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<v Speaker 1>all of them, it really could be one of the

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<v Speaker 1>best rotations in baseball.

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<v Speaker 2>Here we go back on FT with Jesse Friedman, longtime

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<v Speaker 2>Arizona Diamondbacks writer, podcast host. Great to have you on,

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<v Speaker 2>Jesse Happy almost spring training time and works had to

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<v Speaker 2>keep kind of rolling through team by team previews. But

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<v Speaker 2>how you doing not a bad offseason to cover the team?

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<v Speaker 3>Hey, guys, I'm great, appreciate you having me.

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<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I mean, anytime you swoop in and sign the

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<v Speaker 1>top free agent pitcher on the market, like you're probably

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<v Speaker 1>doing pretty well for yourself.

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<v Speaker 3>So yeah, the Diamondbacks to very much to my surprise.

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<v Speaker 1>Honestly, they've had a pretty nice offseason for themselves for sure.

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<v Speaker 4>Are you mad?

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<v Speaker 5>We just had jameson Tai on on and I asked

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<v Speaker 5>them they have to go play the Dodgers in Japan

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<v Speaker 5>for two games, and I'm like, are you should even go?

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<v Speaker 4>Because they're gonna win every game?

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<v Speaker 5>So as the Diamondbacks in the division have to play

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<v Speaker 5>them thirteen times, the team that beat them two years

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<v Speaker 5>ago knocked them out of the playoffs. And played really

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<v Speaker 5>well against them in twenty four? Should they even play

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<v Speaker 5>the season because the Diamondbacks are trying here. They brought

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<v Speaker 5>in some big moves and did some things we're gonna

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<v Speaker 5>get into. But should the Diamondbacks even try this year?

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<v Speaker 5>Should they just forfeit the games of Dodgers?

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah?

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, You've got two competing narratives here, right, I mean,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean one aspect of this is I think we

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<v Speaker 1>can all agree that, yes, some owners should go out

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<v Speaker 1>and spend more money than they do. But there's also

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<v Speaker 1>an element of the fact that the Dodgers say that

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<v Speaker 1>the Dodgers are pulling in more revenue than the Diamondbacks

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<v Speaker 1>and then a lot of other teams around the league, Right,

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, I think that is not really a controversial

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<v Speaker 1>point to make, and so there are inherent advantages there.

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<v Speaker 1>At the same time, we saw what happened in twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty three, right, That Dodgers team maybe wasn't quite as

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<v Speaker 1>star studded as the team we're expecting to see in

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<v Speaker 1>twenty twenty five, But that Dodgers team was pretty good

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<v Speaker 1>as well. And the Diamondbacks went in there and frankly

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<v Speaker 1>kind of obliterated and humiliated them in some ways. So

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<v Speaker 1>you know, on one hand, there are some inequities in

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<v Speaker 1>this sport that are just kind of inherent to the

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<v Speaker 1>way that the sport runs. And on the other side,

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<v Speaker 1>you've got this element of randomness in the postseason that

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<v Speaker 1>really allows anything to happen if you're able to get in. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>the Diamondbacks very narrowly were not able to do that

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<v Speaker 1>in twenty twenty four. But with the addition of Corbyn

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<v Speaker 1>Burns and the offseason that they've had and how good

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<v Speaker 1>they already were last year, I think they have a

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<v Speaker 1>decent shot in twenty twenty five to get back in there.

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<v Speaker 1>And who knows what happens at that point.

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<v Speaker 2>Yeah, hey, arm health matters. We've seen that be a

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<v Speaker 2>problem for that team many times in the past. It

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<v Speaker 2>could be a problem again.

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<v Speaker 4>We'll see.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, So let's get to business here, and let's

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<v Speaker 2>get Diamondbacks fans and just fans of any team besides

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<v Speaker 2>the Dodgers may be excited with our twenty twenty five storylines.

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<v Speaker 2>Twenty twenty five storylines for the Arizona Diamondbacks. Here's what

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<v Speaker 2>we're gonna run through with Jesse right now. The dreamy rotation,

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<v Speaker 2>which obviously was boosted by this big signing in the offseason,

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<v Speaker 2>the Josh Naylor edition which is sneaky and the p's loading.

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<v Speaker 2>We'll talk Toatel and Corbin Carrol, and then also just

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<v Speaker 2>remind everyone that the Diamondbacks were pretty damn good last

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<v Speaker 2>year too, they just were facing a different playoff field.

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<v Speaker 2>So Jesse Friedman, let's begin with the headliner, as we should.

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<v Speaker 2>Corbin Burns signs surprisingly with the Diamondbacks because we saw

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<v Speaker 2>almost no whispers about this. So when you add him

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<v Speaker 2>to what's already there, do you think this is one

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<v Speaker 2>of the best rotations in Major League Baseball?

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<v Speaker 3>If not maybe the best?

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<v Speaker 1>I think it could be that. You know, that's really

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<v Speaker 1>the best answer I can give on that. I'm hesitanting

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<v Speaker 1>to go too far in that direction, because frankly, you

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<v Speaker 1>look at the numbers a year ago and the results

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<v Speaker 1>were not good for this starting rotation. The Diamondbacks had

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<v Speaker 1>a four point seventy nine starting rotation era in twenty

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<v Speaker 1>twenty four. And yes, there were a lot of factors there.

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<v Speaker 1>You know, Zach Gallon missed a month, plus Meryl Kelly

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<v Speaker 1>missed four months. At Ward, Rodriguez missed four months. Obviously,

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<v Speaker 1>the Jordan Montgomery move did not pan out, to put it,

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<v Speaker 1>to put it mildly, but yeah, I mean, this is

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<v Speaker 1>a team that on paper still had quite a bit

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<v Speaker 1>of talent in twenty twenty four, and you add Corbyn

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<v Speaker 1>Burns to that mix. It's an easy rotation to dream on,

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<v Speaker 1>I guess, is what I would say.

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<v Speaker 3>At the very least.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean, Zach Gallon has been one of the more

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<v Speaker 1>consistent frontline starters in the game for a while. Meryl

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<v Speaker 1>Kelly when he's healthy, when he's been healthy in recent years,

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<v Speaker 1>has been excellent. And Wardo Rodriguez was fantastic with the

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<v Speaker 1>Detroit Tigers back in twenty twenty three. Ryan Nelson really

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<v Speaker 1>came on strong in the second half, a good young

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<v Speaker 1>pitcher for this team. So if you're able to get

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<v Speaker 1>like the best version of all these guys, or somewhat

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<v Speaker 1>close to the best version of all of them, it

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<v Speaker 1>really could be one of the best rotations in baseball.

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<v Speaker 1>I'm just a little hesitant to go too far down

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<v Speaker 1>that road when the reality in twenty twenty four was

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<v Speaker 1>very different from that.

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<v Speaker 6>How hesteron are you to say that Josh Naylor is

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<v Speaker 6>going to be able to fill Christian Walker's shoes because

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<v Speaker 6>Christian Walker kind of a quiet, super productive gold glove

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<v Speaker 6>first baseman. Josh Naylor also productive, not quite the resume super.

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<v Speaker 1>Loud, yeah right, not so quiet with Josh Naylor, they

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<v Speaker 1>are very different personality wise, you know, I think offensively,

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<v Speaker 1>Josh Naylor and Christian Walker are pretty similar. I was

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<v Speaker 1>looking at some numbers earlier today. Over the past three seasons,

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<v Speaker 1>Christian Walker has a one to twenty three ops plus.

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<v Speaker 1>Josh Naylor also has a one to twenty three ops plus.

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<v Speaker 1>So offensively, I think on paper it could be it

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<v Speaker 1>could be, you know, a pretty good swap for the

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<v Speaker 1>Diamondbacks where they can at least get something close to

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<v Speaker 1>what they were getting with Christian Walker. Defensively is a

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<v Speaker 1>very different story. Watching Christian Walker play first base is

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<v Speaker 1>one of the most amazing things about watching the Arizona Diamondbacks,

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<v Speaker 1>or it has been the past three seasons. It's been

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<v Speaker 1>fun for me to to kind of get a front

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<v Speaker 1>row seat to that because he is really good. He

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<v Speaker 1>is the best defensive first baseman in all of baseball

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<v Speaker 1>as far as I'm concerned. And Josh Naylor, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>not to say he's necessarily a liability over there. I

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<v Speaker 1>know the metrics in twenty twenty four we're not great,

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<v Speaker 1>but there's a substantial difference, right, I mean there's a

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<v Speaker 1>reason that I think on baseball reference war, you know,

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<v Speaker 1>Christian Walker has almost twice as much war over the

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<v Speaker 1>past three seasons as Naylor does. Part of that is

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<v Speaker 1>the number of games that the Walker has played He's

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<v Speaker 1>been able to stay healthy. But part of that is

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<v Speaker 1>also that Christian Walker is an extraordinary defender and Josh

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<v Speaker 1>Naylor is not that. But in terms of filling you know,

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<v Speaker 1>Walker's shoes at first base, I think the Diamondbacks did

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<v Speaker 1>reasonably well for themselves. You can plug Josh Naylor into

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<v Speaker 1>the middle of the lineup and and feel pretty good

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<v Speaker 1>about it.

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<v Speaker 4>Jesse, do it with me. Yeah, you gotta rock the baby.

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<v Speaker 5>You gotta learn to rock the baby like Josh Naylor

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<v Speaker 5>does when he hits home runs. Right, you better get

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<v Speaker 5>used to rocking the baby when he gets when he

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<v Speaker 5>comes up and he hits his home run.

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<v Speaker 4>Yeah right, right, rock the baby. That's right.

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<v Speaker 3>It's the Yankee fans. They do it to him back.

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<v Speaker 5>He did a White Sox a lot, so I know

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<v Speaker 5>that pained. You know, we talked about Josh Nayeler. You

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<v Speaker 5>guys have two other studs on your team. One of

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<v Speaker 5>them could tell Marte had a shot to win the MVP.

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<v Speaker 4>Before he got hurt last year.

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<v Speaker 5>And then Corbyn Carroll the rookie of the Year two

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<v Speaker 5>years ago and had a great second half. What can

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<v Speaker 5>these guys do to improve from where they were last year?

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<v Speaker 5>And the Diamondbacks scored a lot of runs last year.

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<v Speaker 5>Can they keep up the offensive surge they had last year?

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<v Speaker 5>And then with the new pitching staff, will that helped

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<v Speaker 5>them get better?

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<v Speaker 1>As far as how they can improve, I mean, Coutel Marte,

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<v Speaker 1>I think it's hard. It's hard to ask the improvement

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<v Speaker 1>there at this point. You did mention he got hurt

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<v Speaker 1>toward the end of the season, which was a turn

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<v Speaker 1>for him. So you know, if he's able to play

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<v Speaker 1>a full one hundred and fifty five games or so,

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<v Speaker 1>that would certainly be a big development. But Kutel was

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<v Speaker 1>outstanding for this team. I mean, he had thirty six

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<v Speaker 1>home runs in twenty twenty four. Had he not gotten hurt,

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<v Speaker 1>he probably would have STD the forty you know, winds

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<v Speaker 1>up finishing third in NL MVP voting. So you know,

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<v Speaker 1>if he's able to just be anything like what he

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<v Speaker 1>was in twenty twenty fours, if he's able to duplicate

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<v Speaker 1>that in twenty twenty five, that would be enormous for

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<v Speaker 1>this team. Corbyn Carroll in terms of improvement, that's where

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<v Speaker 1>the narrative really lies for me. Corbin, as you said,

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<v Speaker 1>was great in the second half. He had an OPS

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<v Speaker 1>over nine hundred, and that came after hitting two home

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<v Speaker 1>runs in his first eighty seven games. The man hit

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<v Speaker 1>two home runs in his first eighty seven games, and

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<v Speaker 1>he finished the year with twenty two home runs. So

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<v Speaker 1>that gives you a sense of just how different of

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<v Speaker 1>a player Corbyn Carroll was down the stretch. And you know,

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<v Speaker 1>obviously this this is a game of adjustments. You guys

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<v Speaker 1>certainly know that as well as anyone. You're not gonna

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<v Speaker 1>just sort of coast to being a superstar player and

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<v Speaker 1>never never face any bumps in the road along the way,

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<v Speaker 1>at least at least not most of the time. And

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<v Speaker 1>it really felt like Corbyn Carroll kind of got over

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<v Speaker 1>the hump in the second half. And you know, I'm

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<v Speaker 1>not sure if he's gonna finish first and MVP voting

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<v Speaker 1>or you know, how much MVP consideration he'll ultimately get,

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<v Speaker 1>but he seems like a pretty safe bet to be

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<v Speaker 1>a lot better in twenty twenty five.

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<v Speaker 6>I don't think many people. I'm sure you know many

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<v Speaker 6>people know that the Diamondbacks last year had five more

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<v Speaker 6>wins at eighty nine compared to the eighty four that

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<v Speaker 6>they won in the year they went to the World Series.

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<v Speaker 6>Is this team built for October but isn't sure how

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<v Speaker 6>to get in or are they just going to improve

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<v Speaker 6>again with the new roster configuration that they came up

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<v Speaker 6>with like they did last year.

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<v Speaker 1>I think they have a shot to be even better

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<v Speaker 1>in twenty twenty five than they were in twenty twenty four.

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<v Speaker 3>I do, And you're right.

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<v Speaker 1>I mean the narrative that the twenty twenty four Diamondbacks

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<v Speaker 1>were a big disappointment. I mean, in one sense, yes,

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<v Speaker 1>like you miss the postseason, you feel like you've you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you feel like it is a disappointment, rightfully so. But

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<v Speaker 1>on the other hand, they did win five more games

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<v Speaker 1>than they did the season prior, and you talk about

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<v Speaker 1>being built for the postseason, It's a little bit hard

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<v Speaker 1>for me to know exactly what built for the postseason means.

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<v Speaker 1>But when there's so much randomness involved, but you know,

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<v Speaker 1>you feel pretty good about you know, Corbyn Burns starting

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<v Speaker 1>a game one, Zach Allen starting a game two, Merrill

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<v Speaker 1>Kelly game three, you know whatever. They'd have a number

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<v Speaker 1>of options after that. This is a team that I

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<v Speaker 1>think could probably compete with anyone in twenty twenty five

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<v Speaker 1>in a postseason series, certainly, And I think a big

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<v Speaker 1>question for them is what does the offense look like?

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<v Speaker 1>You mentioned earlier this team scored more runs than anyone

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<v Speaker 1>else in baseball in twenty twenty four, which still kind

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<v Speaker 1>of blows my mind. I'm still not a direly sure

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<v Speaker 1>how that happened, but that was the reality of the situation.

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<v Speaker 1>This team just absolutely beat the tar out of the

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<v Speaker 1>ball the entire season, and I'm not sure I'm expecting

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<v Speaker 1>that to continue in twenty twenty five. I still think

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<v Speaker 1>they could be a good offensive team, especially if Corbyn

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<v Speaker 1>Carroll is able to take that step forward. But you

0:11:34.720 --> 0:11:38.280
<v Speaker 1>don't have Jack Peterson anymore. Christian Walker, as we said earlier,

0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:42.120
<v Speaker 1>is no longer here, even though they did get a

0:11:42.160 --> 0:11:46.120
<v Speaker 1>solid replacement there, I think in Josh Naylor. So yeah,

0:11:46.160 --> 0:11:48.320
<v Speaker 1>the question is, you know, if you do take a

0:11:48.360 --> 0:11:51.079
<v Speaker 1>step back on the offensive side, which I think is likely.

0:11:51.400 --> 0:11:54.080
<v Speaker 1>How much better can your pitching staff be than it

0:11:54.160 --> 0:11:57.079
<v Speaker 1>was a year ago? And I think it probably could

0:11:57.120 --> 0:11:57.960
<v Speaker 1>be quite a bit better.

0:11:58.040 --> 0:11:58.880
<v Speaker 3>Right I mentioned.

0:11:58.640 --> 0:12:02.160
<v Speaker 1>Earlier a four point seven nine starting pitching eer. With

0:12:02.240 --> 0:12:05.599
<v Speaker 1>some of the names that they have this season, I

0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:08.480
<v Speaker 1>think if you're able to stay healthy, that group could

0:12:08.520 --> 0:12:12.120
<v Speaker 1>take an enormous step forward and ultimately land this team

0:12:12.280 --> 0:12:13.400
<v Speaker 1>in a much better position.

0:12:14.600 --> 0:12:17.040
<v Speaker 2>Okay, Jesse, So let's recap, because then I'm going to

0:12:17.080 --> 0:12:18.560
<v Speaker 2>put you to the test and tell us what we're

0:12:18.559 --> 0:12:23.600
<v Speaker 2>missing about this team. Because we covered Burns, Naylor, Katl

0:12:23.720 --> 0:12:26.840
<v Speaker 2>and Corbyn bringing it this year, and then how the

0:12:26.880 --> 0:12:30.959
<v Speaker 2>team was pretty damn good. Last year was a different

0:12:31.040 --> 0:12:32.960
<v Speaker 2>landscape for them to have to hit, and they just

0:12:33.000 --> 0:12:35.320
<v Speaker 2>didn't get over the hump. I mean, the Mets were

0:12:35.320 --> 0:12:39.079
<v Speaker 2>a pretty surprising team, and obviously the Braves were in

0:12:39.120 --> 0:12:41.679
<v Speaker 2>a weird spot last season. The Diamondbacks were in that

0:12:42.120 --> 0:12:46.560
<v Speaker 2>super awkward position of watching and rooting for one team

0:12:46.559 --> 0:12:49.720
<v Speaker 2>to win both games. Anyway, fast forward to twenty twenty five.

0:12:50.160 --> 0:12:52.640
<v Speaker 2>What are we missing storylines wise that is going to

0:12:52.720 --> 0:12:55.239
<v Speaker 2>dictate the success of the Diamondbacks.

0:12:57.120 --> 0:12:59.360
<v Speaker 1>I think The first thing that comes to mind for me,

0:12:59.400 --> 0:13:03.640
<v Speaker 1>Scott is is are the Diamondbacks done this offseason. I'm

0:13:03.640 --> 0:13:05.600
<v Speaker 1>not sure that they are. I think there's a chance

0:13:05.600 --> 0:13:08.360
<v Speaker 1>that come opening Day this team could still look a

0:13:08.400 --> 0:13:10.240
<v Speaker 1>little bit different. I know they would like to add

0:13:10.280 --> 0:13:13.800
<v Speaker 1>a closer if they can. Obviously, Paul Sewald had his

0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.760
<v Speaker 1>struggles down the stretch last year. He left in free agency,

0:13:17.120 --> 0:13:19.080
<v Speaker 1>so I think that's a hole they would like to fill.

0:13:19.400 --> 0:13:22.000
<v Speaker 1>I could see them adding a right handed bat to

0:13:22.040 --> 0:13:26.320
<v Speaker 1>maybe get some some DH reps as well, So I

0:13:26.320 --> 0:13:28.400
<v Speaker 1>think there are still some things that could be done

0:13:28.480 --> 0:13:31.640
<v Speaker 1>here that The flip side of that narrative is that

0:13:31.800 --> 0:13:33.880
<v Speaker 1>I still think there's a decent chance they look to

0:13:33.880 --> 0:13:36.560
<v Speaker 1>trade someone like Jordan Montgomery in order to free up

0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:40.199
<v Speaker 1>some salary space. Their payroll is inching close to two

0:13:40.280 --> 0:13:43.920
<v Speaker 1>hundred million dollars right now, which is, you know, very much,

0:13:44.320 --> 0:13:48.280
<v Speaker 1>far and away the highest enfranchise history. So I'll be

0:13:48.320 --> 0:13:50.600
<v Speaker 1>curious to see what happens here over the over these

0:13:50.679 --> 0:13:52.720
<v Speaker 1>next couple months as we get close to the season.

0:13:53.080 --> 0:13:55.720
<v Speaker 1>The other narrative that comes to mind for me is

0:13:55.920 --> 0:13:59.079
<v Speaker 1>Ao Henio Suarez, a name that we haven't we haven't

0:13:59.120 --> 0:14:01.160
<v Speaker 1>mentioned yet. You know, if you had asked me in

0:14:01.200 --> 0:14:03.760
<v Speaker 1>the middle of last year if the Diamondbacks were going

0:14:03.800 --> 0:14:07.920
<v Speaker 1>to pick up his fifteen million dollar club option, I'm

0:14:07.960 --> 0:14:10.400
<v Speaker 1>not sure I would have taken the question seriously frankly.

0:14:10.480 --> 0:14:13.840
<v Speaker 1>I mean, you know, he in the first half really

0:14:13.880 --> 0:14:16.320
<v Speaker 1>really struggled. He had an OPS in the five hundreds

0:14:16.320 --> 0:14:19.360
<v Speaker 1>for multiple months, and then in the second half he

0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:21.640
<v Speaker 1>was one of the best hitters in all of baseball,

0:14:21.680 --> 0:14:25.000
<v Speaker 1>had an OPS over nine hundred. He had four four

0:14:25.080 --> 0:14:29.160
<v Speaker 1>hit games in the second half. He was unbelievable. And

0:14:29.240 --> 0:14:32.840
<v Speaker 1>I think I could see a scenario where maybe Gino

0:14:33.120 --> 0:14:35.920
<v Speaker 1>is able to be a great player again in twenty

0:14:35.960 --> 0:14:39.000
<v Speaker 1>twenty five. Or you could also maybe see a scenario

0:14:39.160 --> 0:14:41.960
<v Speaker 1>where as he continues to age, you know, maybe we

0:14:42.320 --> 0:14:44.960
<v Speaker 1>see some regression as we started to see at the

0:14:45.000 --> 0:14:48.200
<v Speaker 1>beginning of last year. So I think he's a name

0:14:48.240 --> 0:14:49.960
<v Speaker 1>to watch in twenty twenty five for sure.

0:14:50.960 --> 0:14:51.160
<v Speaker 4>Yeah.

0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:54.760
<v Speaker 2>It was great pick up, great Dudet, good fella, good fellow,

0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:58.560
<v Speaker 2>good fellow. That Gino Suarez. That's right, Jesse. Great to

0:14:58.560 --> 0:15:00.600
<v Speaker 2>have you on. Thanks for all the insight, man, really

0:15:00.600 --> 0:15:03.680
<v Speaker 2>good stuff, great intel, and we'll have you again on soon.

0:15:03.720 --> 0:15:06.640
<v Speaker 2>Everyone give Jesse a follow at Jesse N Friedman f

0:15:06.800 --> 0:15:09.280
<v Speaker 2>R i E D m A N on Twitter.

0:15:09.400 --> 0:15:12.960
<v Speaker 3>Appreciate you man, Yeah, thanks guys, always happy to do it.