WEBVTT - Time for the Rotation to Howl 0:00:09.760 --> 0:00:10.559 What's up, everybody? 0:00:10.640 --> 0:00:13.360 Welcome back to another episode of Bucko Territory, presented to 0:00:13.360 --> 0:00:15.640 you by the Foul Territory Network. I'm no Oahiles, joining 0:00:15.680 --> 0:00:18.120 me as always on my co host Josh Harrison akaj 0:00:18.239 --> 0:00:20.720 Hay and Platinumkey aka Mark. 0:00:21.360 --> 0:00:23.400 It is Monday, July twenty seventh. 0:00:23.440 --> 0:00:26.840 The Pirates just concluded a big weekend series against the 0:00:26.920 --> 0:00:29.720 Chicago Cubs where they lost the first two, avoided a 0:00:29.760 --> 0:00:32.560 sweep with a big win on Sunday against former Bucko 0:00:32.680 --> 0:00:33.480 Jamison Town. 0:00:33.760 --> 0:00:35.559 Got a little close at the. 0:00:35.560 --> 0:00:37.360 End there, but they hit held on for an eight 0:00:37.400 --> 0:00:40.120 to seven win, and they are set to start an 0:00:40.159 --> 0:00:43.839 equally important series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. 0:00:43.840 --> 0:00:45.800 Who let me check the schedule or let me check 0:00:45.840 --> 0:00:46.240 the standings. 0:00:46.280 --> 0:00:49.199 We're recording this after the Pirates game or the Diamondbacks 0:00:49.240 --> 0:00:52.720 still playing, do we know? Regardless, the wildcard standings are 0:00:52.760 --> 0:00:55.480 still pretty tight. Yeah, Arizona. So they trail Arizona by 0:00:55.520 --> 0:00:58.200 one game right now as of the time of this recording. 0:00:58.320 --> 0:01:02.680 So big series. We're gonna talk about the starting pitching. 0:01:02.920 --> 0:01:05.600 Starting pitching is going to be tested in this series. 0:01:05.640 --> 0:01:08.280 We're gonna see Mitch Keller, We're gonna see Bubba Chandler 0:01:09.560 --> 0:01:12.479 and Jared Jones again, So those will be three very 0:01:12.480 --> 0:01:17.039 interesting starts, all in their own right. Struggles against lefties, 0:01:17.160 --> 0:01:19.760 that was the big takeaway from this past weekend series 0:01:19.760 --> 0:01:23.000 against the Chicago Cubs. They lost both games against left 0:01:23.000 --> 0:01:26.080 handed starters, and that's been unfortunate trend for this team 0:01:26.080 --> 0:01:26.840 throughout the whole year. 0:01:27.000 --> 0:01:28.240 And then we will wrap up. 0:01:28.200 --> 0:01:32.120 Today's show with as always, Platinum Keys Key of the Week. 0:01:32.240 --> 0:01:34.320 So, guys, let's start with starting rotation. 0:01:36.440 --> 0:01:39.959 It's been We've been pretty vocal on this show about 0:01:40.000 --> 0:01:42.920 like that's that's what needs to drive this team in 0:01:42.959 --> 0:01:46.280 the second half. I would say so far, the rotation 0:01:46.360 --> 0:01:48.800 has been fine. Actually, I would say it's actually probably 0:01:48.800 --> 0:01:51.200 been good. Like Mitch Keller looked good in his one 0:01:51.240 --> 0:01:54.240 outing post All Star Break, Bubba Chandler had his best 0:01:54.240 --> 0:01:58.080 outing of the season at Yankee Stadium last week. Paul 0:01:58.120 --> 0:02:01.880 skeins Is, I mean, I don't think he looked horrible, 0:02:01.880 --> 0:02:03.080 but he didn't really look good. 0:02:04.600 --> 0:02:05.760 Well, he looked really good. 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:08.519 In the first four innings and then he kind of 0:02:08.600 --> 0:02:11.480 ran out of gas in the fifth and the velocity 0:02:11.520 --> 0:02:13.480 wasn't good. We'll talk about that. And then there's the 0:02:13.560 --> 0:02:16.160 Jared Jones dilemma. There's there's a whole bunch to get into, 0:02:16.760 --> 0:02:20.920 So I guess I'll open the floor mark when for you, 0:02:20.960 --> 0:02:24.119 when you look at this rotation, what is your biggest 0:02:24.160 --> 0:02:26.960 concern right now? Who are you most concerned with? And 0:02:27.600 --> 0:02:30.000 it doesn't necessarily even have to be a concern over 0:02:30.480 --> 0:02:33.760 a guy not pitching well? Are they using this guy correctly? 0:02:33.800 --> 0:02:35.560 Are they not giving him enough leash? Is this guy 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:37.840 running out of gas? Who is your biggest worry in 0:02:37.840 --> 0:02:38.880 this rotation right now? 0:02:40.120 --> 0:02:43.040 I think I gotta go with Brax and Ashcraft. Maybe 0:02:43.080 --> 0:02:45.960 it's just the recency bias, but you talk about running 0:02:45.960 --> 0:02:49.120 out of gas, this is uh, it's starting to get 0:02:49.120 --> 0:02:52.359 concerning where his last few outings he just hasn't looked 0:02:52.560 --> 0:02:55.920 nearly as dominant as we saw which led to his 0:02:55.960 --> 0:02:57.160 first Alcar nomination. 0:02:58.320 --> 0:02:59.919 So I think that's my biggest. 0:02:59.639 --> 0:03:03.200 Concern right now, is it does seem like the gas 0:03:03.280 --> 0:03:05.960 is kind of running out and he's starting to show 0:03:06.000 --> 0:03:09.160 that he really hasn't gone a lot of Indians in 0:03:09.200 --> 0:03:12.040 his career ever, so that would be one of my 0:03:12.120 --> 0:03:17.080 biggest concerns. Obviously, he's still really good even with not 0:03:17.120 --> 0:03:20.480 a lot of gas. In his tank, but we just 0:03:20.520 --> 0:03:23.400 aren't seeing the same level of dominance that were used 0:03:23.400 --> 0:03:26.440 to seeing from Ashcraft, and frankly, what this team needs 0:03:26.480 --> 0:03:28.320 from him if they're going to be a postseason team. 0:03:28.880 --> 0:03:30.560 What about you, Josh? 0:03:30.600 --> 0:03:33.040 Well, well, I was going to just ask Josh on 0:03:33.080 --> 0:03:37.320 that note, just to maybe talk about, like I'm sure 0:03:37.320 --> 0:03:39.960 you've seen that where you see a young starter in 0:03:40.000 --> 0:03:42.360 his first full year as a starter, have such a 0:03:42.400 --> 0:03:45.680 good first half, but this is a long season and 0:03:45.760 --> 0:03:50.120 sometimes guys, especially guys like Ashcraft who have not had 0:03:50.960 --> 0:03:53.600 an extended like I remember talking in May about what 0:03:53.640 --> 0:03:55.000 are they going to do to pace this guy? 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:57.240 What are they going to do to limit his workload? 0:03:58.280 --> 0:04:01.560 Do you think that that just going off of pure 0:04:01.600 --> 0:04:04.400 signs here obviously because you're not around the team anymore, Josh, 0:04:04.400 --> 0:04:06.720 But does that sound like something that could be happening 0:04:06.800 --> 0:04:07.320 with Braxton? 0:04:09.480 --> 0:04:12.720 Definitely, And it's Baseball one hundred and sixty two games. 0:04:13.000 --> 0:04:16.120 You mentioned it's gonna test you, and that's not just 0:04:16.400 --> 0:04:19.880 physically you mentioned. You know, you get to this point 0:04:19.920 --> 0:04:22.520 of the season, he's had a lot more stressful endings 0:04:22.560 --> 0:04:24.599 than he's ever had in his life before. So when 0:04:24.640 --> 0:04:28.400 you couple that with you know, workload, You know, not 0:04:28.400 --> 0:04:31.120 not only is workload getting up to you now mentally 0:04:31.440 --> 0:04:34.200 you know that there are some things that you know 0:04:34.320 --> 0:04:36.280 cause challenges, and you know. 0:04:36.200 --> 0:04:37.400 It's all the work in progress. 0:04:37.440 --> 0:04:39.320 And I'm sure these guys wild tell you, man, every 0:04:39.320 --> 0:04:40.880 time I grabbed the ball, and I told the rubber 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:42.520 every five days, you know, I feel like I'm going 0:04:42.520 --> 0:04:45.760 out there, I'm gonna get my best start. But realistically, 0:04:45.800 --> 0:04:49.080 you know, a young guy that hasn't been tested for 0:04:49.120 --> 0:04:52.440 a long time throughout the season is not uncommon for 0:04:52.520 --> 0:04:54.240 them to, you know, hit a little bit of a 0:04:54.279 --> 0:04:56.920 wall and it's not like their stuff has gotten any worse. 0:04:56.960 --> 0:05:00.479 It's just it's the nature of baseball. You know, you're 0:05:00.480 --> 0:05:02.839 gonna take some lumps. And it's not even about taking lumps, 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:05.800 it's about, you know, how do you whether the storm 0:05:05.839 --> 0:05:08.000 when you know you might just be missing pitches, something 0:05:08.040 --> 0:05:10.279 feels just a little bit off, or hey, you're throwing 0:05:10.279 --> 0:05:13.560 the ball well, but things aren't going your way. And 0:05:13.600 --> 0:05:15.440 then you mentioned I'm sure in the back of his 0:05:15.520 --> 0:05:17.640 mind he knows workload is going to be watched, and 0:05:17.680 --> 0:05:20.000 then you know, anytime he gets a stress winning that's 0:05:20.000 --> 0:05:21.800 another thing. Oh, I can't have too many of these. 0:05:22.920 --> 0:05:26.400 It's just one of those things where you don't know 0:05:26.440 --> 0:05:28.200 how to get through it until you've gone through it. 0:05:28.960 --> 0:05:32.000 And you know, you mentioned some of his stuff is 0:05:32.160 --> 0:05:34.520 still it is not like alarming. You know, he's still 0:05:34.560 --> 0:05:37.359 having you know, success and still but it's not quite 0:05:37.360 --> 0:05:40.120 what you saw in the beginning. And that's part of 0:05:40.200 --> 0:05:42.560 baseball where you see, okay, is he going to catch 0:05:42.560 --> 0:05:45.000 a second win? Because you know, when I was playing, 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:46.599 it used to be all the dog days of August. 0:05:46.640 --> 0:05:49.520 That's where everybody you know would kind of hit that wall. 0:05:50.160 --> 0:05:53.560 And you know, then you mentioned him being an All 0:05:53.560 --> 0:05:56.120 Star first time. We talked about it before the All 0:05:56.120 --> 0:06:00.280 Star Game. The All Star week is madness. It's made him. 0:06:00.400 --> 0:06:03.040 Even when it's over, you still might take a week 0:06:03.160 --> 0:06:05.760 or two to recover, just based off of where it was. 0:06:06.400 --> 0:06:08.080 You know, how late you knew, If you find you 0:06:08.200 --> 0:06:11.200 find parents, family, it's a lot of going on. And 0:06:11.279 --> 0:06:14.560 I just think at this point of the season, he's 0:06:14.600 --> 0:06:17.360 been tested in ways he's never been tested before, and 0:06:18.800 --> 0:06:23.040 it's not uncommon, but you do have to make sure 0:06:23.080 --> 0:06:26.360 that you're giving him every opportunity to succeed, but also 0:06:27.000 --> 0:06:31.240 the team and if you are having questions about his workload. 0:06:31.640 --> 0:06:33.159 You got to have a plan to make sure that 0:06:33.240 --> 0:06:35.360 he knows it's not due to his performance, because that's 0:06:35.400 --> 0:06:37.800 another thing you don't want a young guy saying, all right, man, 0:06:37.800 --> 0:06:39.880 I was going seven out to keep pulling me after five. 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:44.360 That's stressful winnings. That's also a maybe they acquire something 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:46.040 in a pen that allows them to say, you know what, 0:06:46.080 --> 0:06:49.320 your workload can be lightened or offense you know takes 0:06:49.360 --> 0:06:49.719 care of that. 0:06:49.920 --> 0:06:51.680 But I think it's something that. 0:06:51.600 --> 0:06:54.240 You definitely have to watch because you know, I'm I 0:06:54.240 --> 0:06:57.240 don't believe in the whole sophomore slump and this or that. 0:06:57.240 --> 0:06:59.320 That's just the nature of baseball. It's adjustments. 0:07:00.080 --> 0:07:02.960 There's physical adjustments, there's mental adjustments, and then there's also 0:07:03.080 --> 0:07:06.279 just adjustments to say, baseball is gonna do what baseball does. 0:07:06.279 --> 0:07:08.000 I got to stick to the process and trust the 0:07:08.040 --> 0:07:10.600 grind and know that if I do that, I'll be 0:07:10.640 --> 0:07:13.720 where I need to be helping my team. 0:07:13.800 --> 0:07:16.840 Yeah, I agree, And I think that a lot of 0:07:16.880 --> 0:07:20.480 what you said applies to other guys too, with just 0:07:20.520 --> 0:07:23.560 the longevity of it. I mean, you see certain guys fade, 0:07:23.880 --> 0:07:26.280 you see other guys come on, like Bubba Chandler has 0:07:26.280 --> 0:07:27.840 gotten better as the season's gone on. 0:07:27.920 --> 0:07:30.920 Look how much Jared Jones has improved compared to he. 0:07:32.560 --> 0:07:34.960 Was gonna be my guy that I'm like, do they 0:07:35.080 --> 0:07:37.040 extendedly show on him, like you know what I mean, 0:07:37.160 --> 0:07:40.800 especially after his past couple wildings, And I mean you 0:07:40.960 --> 0:07:43.600 only learn from going through it. Not saying you're trying 0:07:43.600 --> 0:07:46.120 to wear a guy down, but you know, those concerns 0:07:46.120 --> 0:07:48.520 with Ashcraft are opposite of Jared where he's going out 0:07:48.560 --> 0:07:50.720 there and it's like, all right, man, maybe maybe you 0:07:50.800 --> 0:07:52.760 need to let him go another ending and you know, 0:07:53.320 --> 0:07:55.800 not necessarily another inning, let him get another batter, and 0:07:55.960 --> 0:07:58.480 you know, let that dictate it. But at the same time, 0:07:58.560 --> 0:08:00.720 you also understand you got, as in a book, pin 0:08:00.800 --> 0:08:02.520 that you're trying to you want them to work for 0:08:02.640 --> 0:08:05.040 a clean inning, and you also, you know, you want 0:08:05.080 --> 0:08:07.200 your guy that is coming off an injury to continue 0:08:07.200 --> 0:08:09.560 to build off of these starts. But I think there 0:08:09.560 --> 0:08:11.680 are definitely some questions that they have to answer because 0:08:12.280 --> 0:08:14.040 you know, you're gonna need all those guys one way 0:08:14.120 --> 0:08:16.000 or another, and they got to pick each other up. 0:08:17.160 --> 0:08:20.080 I go ahead have it on pretty good authority that 0:08:20.560 --> 0:08:22.760 I think we're going to see the same type of 0:08:22.800 --> 0:08:25.120 workload for Jared Jones for the rest of the year. 0:08:26.480 --> 0:08:30.080 Yeah, and I think that maybe Bubba Chandler would be 0:08:30.120 --> 0:08:32.160 the one guy that could step up and go deeper 0:08:32.200 --> 0:08:34.240 now because I understand. 0:08:33.840 --> 0:08:37.559 It's both him and Mitch's That's that's what I was 0:08:37.600 --> 0:08:40.960 gonna say, mark the ground this out. It's that's their job, 0:08:41.360 --> 0:08:46.200 right The high end guys are Paul, Jared and Braxton. Yep, 0:08:46.280 --> 0:08:48.840 Jared is their best picture right now. Paul Schemes needs 0:08:48.840 --> 0:08:51.400 to be their best picture. He regressed this week, but 0:08:51.440 --> 0:08:53.200 that can just be one that can be a one off. 0:08:53.200 --> 0:08:55.920 He's been getting better as the season, you know, has 0:08:56.320 --> 0:08:58.520 over the last however, many like he looked really good 0:08:58.520 --> 0:09:02.680 against Cleveland Flush the Cubs thing just get better. 0:09:03.360 --> 0:09:04.880 Jared Jones has been great. 0:09:04.880 --> 0:09:08.280 Braxton we already talked about the caveat here is what 0:09:08.320 --> 0:09:10.720 the other two can do. Can the rookie keep not 0:09:10.840 --> 0:09:13.520 looking like a rookie? And can Mitch Keller build off 0:09:13.520 --> 0:09:16.720 of what was probably his best start since April, because 0:09:17.320 --> 0:09:19.280 that's what they're gonna need. They need to win this 0:09:19.400 --> 0:09:22.440 Arizona series. They have to take two of three, and 0:09:23.720 --> 0:09:28.160 the first two games are Mitchell on Monday, Bubba on Tuesday, 0:09:28.640 --> 0:09:31.240 and they're both going up against righty's, so you would 0:09:31.240 --> 0:09:33.560 think they're probably gonna get some pretty good run support. 0:09:33.880 --> 0:09:36.280 And then Arizona's Star, they're all Star. 0:09:36.400 --> 0:09:40.760 Rodriguez is pitching against Jared Jones in the final series 0:09:40.760 --> 0:09:43.600 finale and he's a leftyat so that's. 0:09:43.400 --> 0:09:44.800 Gonna be a low scoring ball game. 0:09:45.240 --> 0:09:48.840 You need to win these first two and your back 0:09:48.920 --> 0:09:51.040 end of your rotation, you're four and you're five, which 0:09:51.080 --> 0:09:52.280 is what Mitch and Bubba are. 0:09:52.679 --> 0:09:57.840 They need. They need to be at the very least serviceable. 0:09:58.040 --> 0:10:01.199 They got to cover innings because, yeah, you talked about 0:10:01.320 --> 0:10:02.320 the depth here. 0:10:02.400 --> 0:10:02.840 Mark. 0:10:03.240 --> 0:10:06.080 The next off day this team has is August tenth. 0:10:06.280 --> 0:10:09.480 They're going to play fourteen games, well there, since their 0:10:09.559 --> 0:10:13.040 last off day was Yeah, it's seventeen and seven seventeen days. 0:10:13.040 --> 0:10:15.520 They're three games into it, so they've got fourteen more 0:10:15.600 --> 0:10:17.920 days in a row. Is at least one baseball game 0:10:18.000 --> 0:10:20.240 barring a rain delay, and you know, maybe they'll have 0:10:20.280 --> 0:10:22.320 two in one day there or something like that. And 0:10:22.960 --> 0:10:27.160 this is in early August trade deadline. These are the 0:10:27.160 --> 0:10:31.400 stretches where the gap starts to widen between the real 0:10:31.480 --> 0:10:34.760 teams and the pretenders the dog days of August. Like 0:10:34.840 --> 0:10:38.880 Josh mentioned, this is the stretch, and I mean you've 0:10:38.880 --> 0:10:42.440 got Arizona, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, and the Mets, so two not 0:10:42.559 --> 0:10:45.800 so good teams, two teams that are pretty good, and 0:10:45.880 --> 0:10:46.679 then the Mets again. 0:10:46.800 --> 0:10:49.000 Right, oh no, Mets, my bad. That ends it. 0:10:49.080 --> 0:10:51.480 So yeah, it's it's gonna be a challenge, but it 0:10:51.559 --> 0:10:55.319 starts with the rotation. That's that's where it's gonna Ultimately, 0:10:55.360 --> 0:10:58.480 if this team's still alive in the playoff standings by 0:10:58.520 --> 0:11:01.360 August tenth, it means it's because starting rotation stepped up 0:11:01.360 --> 0:11:02.000 and kept them in it. 0:11:02.160 --> 0:11:05.600 So exactly, all right, well we're gonna take a quick break. 0:11:05.760 --> 0:11:07.960 When we come back, we're going to talk about another 0:11:08.000 --> 0:11:09.640 area of the team that needs to get better, and 0:11:09.679 --> 0:11:11.920 that's the offense against left handed starting pitching. 0:11:11.920 --> 0:11:12.800 Here on Bucko. 0:11:12.640 --> 0:11:16.880 Territory, Todd Father, are you hitting some games this summer? 0:11:16.880 --> 0:11:17.440 What's the deal? 0:11:18.480 --> 0:11:19.000 Of course? 0:11:19.040 --> 0:11:21.280 And it's real simple, Scottie Braun. 0:11:21.280 --> 0:11:22.760 You know how it is. You go to seat Geek 0:11:22.800 --> 0:11:23.360 and you can. 0:11:23.240 --> 0:11:26.120 Find any deal you want in any section you want, 0:11:26.160 --> 0:11:28.280 even if the game sold out. Go to seat Geek 0:11:28.559 --> 0:11:32.000 and you'll find something that you love. Affordable for your family, 0:11:32.360 --> 0:11:35.880 that you can enjoy anywhere, anytime, at any ballpark and 0:11:35.960 --> 0:11:39.280 stadium you want enjoy it. It's the best opportunity to 0:11:39.320 --> 0:11:41.320 go see a beautiful game of baseball. 0:11:41.400 --> 0:11:44.080 And that's the thing that you can be so last minute. 0:11:44.200 --> 0:11:47.480 Sea geek is the official ticket marketplace of Major League Baseball. 0:11:47.520 --> 0:11:49.920 They have you covered for all of your baseball ticket 0:11:50.000 --> 0:11:53.560 needs the entire summer. They also have over seventy thousand 0:11:53.600 --> 0:11:57.320 events on sea gek that includes concerts, festivals, all kinds 0:11:57.320 --> 0:11:59.960 of sporting events. So go check it out right now, 0:12:00.200 --> 0:12:03.200 ft FAM. The code is Territory ten for ten percent 0:12:03.240 --> 0:12:05.480 off your next set of MLB tickets at sea Geek. 0:12:05.520 --> 0:12:08.600 That's ten percent off with promo code Territory one zero. 0:12:08.679 --> 0:12:10.240 Make sure you click the link in the description to 0:12:10.280 --> 0:12:13.199 download the app, and then the code automatically is added 0:12:13.240 --> 0:12:14.679 to your account so you can use it later. 0:12:16.920 --> 0:12:20.160 All right, So the Pirates lost two games this weekend. 0:12:20.480 --> 0:12:23.320 They lost both of them against left handed starting pitching. 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:26.000 I don't think we need to dive into the numbers 0:12:26.040 --> 0:12:28.360 to talk about how bad that's been. I think that's 0:12:28.640 --> 0:12:31.160 pretty well established that if there is one flaw for 0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:34.120 this lineup, it is that that they don't have enough 0:12:34.160 --> 0:12:37.000 guys who can consistently hit lefties. And even though you 0:12:37.080 --> 0:12:39.880 have Zmerlin Valdez who's been a difference maker, I think 0:12:39.880 --> 0:12:42.199 it's rather clear now that teams recognize that and they 0:12:42.200 --> 0:12:44.440 give him nothing to hit. And it kind of looks 0:12:44.440 --> 0:12:45.920 a little bit like last year, where it's like where 0:12:45.920 --> 0:12:48.360 you only have one or two threats and if those 0:12:48.400 --> 0:12:52.080 threats can be pitched around, you're kind of in big trouble. 0:12:52.320 --> 0:12:55.920 And it doesn't also help right now that some of 0:12:55.960 --> 0:12:59.600 their top players are all slumping collectively. I don't expect 0:12:59.600 --> 0:13:03.240 that to sis, but that also makes it so you 0:13:03.360 --> 0:13:05.680 see the offensive display that you. 0:13:05.679 --> 0:13:06.400 Saw this weekend. 0:13:06.760 --> 0:13:08.520 My question here, and this doesn't have to be that 0:13:08.559 --> 0:13:10.800 long of a segment, is when you assess this team's 0:13:10.800 --> 0:13:13.520 deadline needs. Right this is coming out on the twenty seventh, 0:13:13.600 --> 0:13:16.960 so it'll be one week before the trade deadline expires. 0:13:17.440 --> 0:13:20.680 Obviously you're thinking bullpen, maybe you're thinking starting pitching. There 0:13:20.760 --> 0:13:23.640 is some thought to maybe adding another right handed bat. 0:13:24.000 --> 0:13:26.440 If you're doing that, where is this bat playing? 0:13:26.679 --> 0:13:28.560 Is my question? Who are you trying? 0:13:28.640 --> 0:13:30.320 And we don't have to even think of a name 0:13:30.440 --> 0:13:33.480 right now, but. 0:13:32.400 --> 0:13:34.320 But who where are they going to fit in? 0:13:34.400 --> 0:13:35.720 Yeah, who's who's it? Bats? 0:13:35.720 --> 0:13:38.840 Are you taking away? Like where where are you going? 0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:39.760 Where are you going? 0:13:39.800 --> 0:13:43.120 And finding a guy that slots into this lineup? I 0:13:43.280 --> 0:13:44.800 can think of maybe. 0:13:44.480 --> 0:13:47.320 Two positions where I would consider it, but I'd be 0:13:47.400 --> 0:13:48.839 curious to hear what you guys think. 0:13:48.920 --> 0:13:51.679 We'll start with Josh. 0:13:52.520 --> 0:13:56.080 Honestly, I can't sit here and think of a position 0:13:56.160 --> 0:13:58.040 off the top of my head, but if there was 0:13:58.080 --> 0:14:01.040 one that they would be thinking, I would definitely think 0:14:01.080 --> 0:14:04.679 a corner like infield, maybe third base, But that is 0:14:05.559 --> 0:14:09.680 that that is, you know, a position that we've talked about. 0:14:09.720 --> 0:14:14.280 But obviously Nikki g would bounce around even Triolo unless 0:14:14.320 --> 0:14:16.560 something was to happen. But if you're if you're getting 0:14:16.600 --> 0:14:19.040 somebody to play third base, something has to happen to 0:14:19.080 --> 0:14:21.600 where somebody's expendable, because. 0:14:22.800 --> 0:14:23.320 You know what I mean. 0:14:23.360 --> 0:14:25.920 I think if you're getting a back, you're letting somebody go, 0:14:26.560 --> 0:14:28.600 and it's just a matter of who are you letting go? 0:14:28.840 --> 0:14:32.080 Is that you know outfielder, is that a infielder, is 0:14:32.120 --> 0:14:37.320 that a DH you know, who knows? But it is 0:14:37.360 --> 0:14:40.440 a situation where you obviously know, like you're going to 0:14:41.040 --> 0:14:44.640 the field it's a tough spot to say where you're gonna, 0:14:45.080 --> 0:14:48.880 you know, find you know, a right handed hit or catcher. 0:14:51.840 --> 0:14:54.040 That I mean, you look at the outfield. 0:14:54.040 --> 0:14:56.720 We got a lot of outfielders that you know got 0:14:56.760 --> 0:14:58.520 switch hit or Brian Reuns it's a DH. You got 0:14:58.600 --> 0:15:00.720 make them switch hitter. So factor of them in his 0:15:00.840 --> 0:15:03.800 right handers. You got Esmer Lynn who plays outfield d H. 0:15:04.880 --> 0:15:08.200 I mean outfield, yes, could use some help. But at 0:15:08.200 --> 0:15:10.000 the same time, if that guy's going to the outfield, 0:15:10.000 --> 0:15:12.840 those other guys are slotted to DH where it's hard. 0:15:12.960 --> 0:15:15.400 But I said, if you're finding gay back right handed, 0:15:15.440 --> 0:15:18.760 that's helping. Somebody is going to be out and who's 0:15:18.760 --> 0:15:23.080 that odd man that's still to be seen. But you know, 0:15:23.240 --> 0:15:27.400 obviously you said they scored one run this weekend against 0:15:27.400 --> 0:15:30.560 two lefties, and when you don't see him a lot 0:15:30.640 --> 0:15:34.320 or one, they're not overpowering lefties. That's the other thing, 0:15:35.680 --> 0:15:38.840 you know, So maybe that's the thing where guys a 0:15:38.880 --> 0:15:41.960 little comfortable. But at the same time, you know, uncomfortable 0:15:41.960 --> 0:15:43.720 with at bat sometimes is the worst because if this 0:15:43.760 --> 0:15:46.840 guy is in overpowering, now you're chasing, you might be 0:15:46.880 --> 0:15:47.840 making weak contact. 0:15:47.880 --> 0:15:51.280 But if they're struggling like that against lefties. It's not. 0:15:52.720 --> 0:15:54.960 It's not out of question to want to improve the 0:15:55.040 --> 0:15:57.520 lineup with the right handed hitter, but I think it's 0:15:57.560 --> 0:16:03.080 going to cause for some you know, I can't even 0:16:03.160 --> 0:16:05.440 sit here and say, you know, shuffling or the roster, 0:16:05.600 --> 0:16:09.960 but obviously against lefties, would you slot Nikki g or 0:16:10.040 --> 0:16:12.440 Triolo to shortstop and give Jacob the day off because 0:16:12.440 --> 0:16:13.000 he's left hand? 0:16:13.040 --> 0:16:13.800 Like you know what I mean, I'm. 0:16:13.720 --> 0:16:18.080 Thinking, yeah, it's just so many ways. But it's like 0:16:18.480 --> 0:16:20.680 you acquired this guy, Jacob because I was that. I'm 0:16:20.680 --> 0:16:23.240 sure they're trying to give an opportunity. He's been playing well, 0:16:23.520 --> 0:16:24.280 you know, from a little bit. 0:16:24.360 --> 0:16:26.520 So that's what's that's what's really tough. 0:16:26.560 --> 0:16:28.400 I mean, third base is really the only place that 0:16:28.440 --> 0:16:30.800 makes sense, and your two third basemen are both right 0:16:30.840 --> 0:16:31.520 handed hitters. 0:16:31.960 --> 0:16:34.760 And yeah, I don't think that's the worst thing. 0:16:34.960 --> 0:16:39.720 I mean, in reality, this problem is emphasized because of Azuna. 0:16:39.840 --> 0:16:42.360 If Ozuna was doing his job and this wouldn't be 0:16:42.400 --> 0:16:46.680 a problem. And Mark, I think you're muted, but uh exactly, yes, 0:16:47.360 --> 0:16:49.960 I just see you see you get like preach, you know, 0:16:50.240 --> 0:16:54.480 and it's all silent, But thank you for your support. Oh, nonetheless, Yeah, 0:16:54.720 --> 0:16:57.720 I think Ozuna would be the one you move, or 0:16:57.760 --> 0:17:02.680 maybe you option Callahan or whatever, but yeah, third base 0:17:02.720 --> 0:17:03.440 would be interesting. 0:17:03.560 --> 0:17:05.760 Or maybe you get a guy who. 0:17:06.760 --> 0:17:09.359 Plays second base and you just don't play loud against 0:17:09.440 --> 0:17:12.320 left handers, yeah, or you. 0:17:12.280 --> 0:17:15.040 Get a guy I like. 0:17:15.000 --> 0:17:16.040 It's just the first base. 0:17:16.080 --> 0:17:19.040 I just I o'hearne has still got to play against 0:17:19.080 --> 0:17:19.680 left handers. 0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:20.879 He has to. 0:17:21.160 --> 0:17:23.359 That's that's the one where it's like him and Cruise, 0:17:23.440 --> 0:17:26.119 Like Cruise has hit left he's well this year, so 0:17:26.160 --> 0:17:29.080 like I'm still I'm playing Cruise against left handers when 0:17:29.080 --> 0:17:32.199 he's back. I mean, you're playing Reynolds every day. So 0:17:32.280 --> 0:17:35.800 there's two outfielders right there, and you're playing o'han o'hearne 0:17:35.800 --> 0:17:38.960 at first base. You're gonna have Valdez in the lineup, 0:17:39.119 --> 0:17:42.320 so he's either dhing for you or he's playing right field, 0:17:42.520 --> 0:17:44.480 so either way, so now you have a d H 0:17:44.560 --> 0:17:48.639 spot open or third base, and it's just kind of 0:17:48.680 --> 0:17:51.159 like it's it's it's weird because like they have all 0:17:51.280 --> 0:17:51.879 these things. 0:17:51.920 --> 0:17:55.840 It's just the fit. It's almost like if someone. 0:17:55.520 --> 0:17:57.359 Were to get injured, it would make it a little 0:17:57.400 --> 0:17:59.560 easier to be like, all right, well there's your need. 0:18:00.320 --> 0:18:01.920 They're not wishing that on anybody. 0:18:03.640 --> 0:18:04.800 Yeah, that's what I mean. 0:18:04.840 --> 0:18:06.960 It's just like or if someone just were not to 0:18:06.960 --> 0:18:11.400 be available, it would make an acquisition like this probably 0:18:11.480 --> 0:18:13.880 easier to figure out because it's like. 0:18:13.920 --> 0:18:14.480 How do you. 0:18:16.160 --> 0:18:19.080 I mean, they already have kind of like a convoluted 0:18:19.119 --> 0:18:22.159 lineup structure as is when they get fully healthy in 0:18:22.200 --> 0:18:24.879 the outfield, and it's like third base, it's like, all right, 0:18:24.920 --> 0:18:28.000 well you got to play Gonzalez, so do you just 0:18:28.080 --> 0:18:29.959 make him your second basement against lefties? 0:18:30.040 --> 0:18:31.880 Are you really not going to play Brandon Lau at 0:18:31.880 --> 0:18:33.359 all against lefties? 0:18:33.400 --> 0:18:33.800 Like? Is that? 0:18:33.920 --> 0:18:35.439 Is it that bad? I don't know, Mark, what do 0:18:35.440 --> 0:18:35.960 you have to say to. 0:18:36.200 --> 0:18:40.439 Yes, Triolo actually has been pretty decent against left handed pitching, 0:18:40.520 --> 0:18:44.240 so I feel all right against left handed pitching at 0:18:44.280 --> 0:18:46.760 third base. I think second base is probably where you 0:18:46.760 --> 0:18:49.720