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Speaker 1: Welcome on and all to the Hammer Territory Podcast. My

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Speaker 1: name is Sean Coleman. Hope, wherever you are and wherever

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Speaker 1: you are listening, Hey, you are right now. No matter

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Speaker 1: what's going on, Hope, Paul. It's good to a friends

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Speaker 1: and family. But wherever you are right now, I want

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Speaker 1: to let you that you, yourself, plus the rest of

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Speaker 1: the world, we are in the midst of one of

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Speaker 1: the best stretches of the sports calendar, two of the

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Speaker 1: best days on the sports calendar. We're less than ten

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Speaker 1: days away from Braves Baseball. March Madness is starting, so

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Speaker 1: many other sports are on the horizon to enjoy, and

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Speaker 1: we are glad to be with you once again here

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Speaker 1: on the Hammer Territory Podcast because regardless of what's going

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Speaker 1: on around the sports world and the world in general,

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Speaker 1: Braves Baseball is about to be here to make it

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Speaker 1: all better, and of course, with me is always one

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Speaker 1: of the best when it comes to breaking down the Braves.

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Speaker 1: My podcast partner Steven Tolbert. Hello, Stephen, Listen, I'm gonna

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Speaker 1: tell you this from the heart. If there is one person,

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Speaker 1: and one person only whose bracket I hope is busted,

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Speaker 1: it is yours. It is yours that that's just a

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Speaker 1: simple truth. That that just I hope your rackets tested.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, that tracks, that tracks. I hear that a lot.

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Speaker 1: Yep.

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Speaker 2: What's up, buddy? So one week away. Spring training has

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Speaker 2: moved at a glacial pace, and I know the WBC

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Speaker 2: because of the WBCs here it's longer. And but my god,

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Speaker 2: the last like two weeks. And it doesn't help that

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Speaker 2: like as nothing is happened, that the Braves haven't made any

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Speaker 2: moves other than just cutting guys from camp, you know.

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Speaker 2: And we just reached the dog days of spring training

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Speaker 2: very early, and it feels like we've been there for

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Speaker 2: two weeks. So I'm happy to say we are in

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Speaker 2: the last week of spring training. There's only like three

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Speaker 2: Moore spring training games. I think I think Sunday or

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Speaker 2: Monday is the last one and then they go up

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Speaker 2: to the head North. So we're very close. It's the

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Speaker 2: Today is one of the greatest days of the year.

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Speaker 2: Today's the first day of the tournament March madness of

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Speaker 2: course watching games as we speak. But we are almost there,

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Speaker 2: my friend.

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Speaker 1: At a glacier pace. So you're a Devilware's Product fan.

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Speaker 2: I have never seen that movie that's.

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Speaker 1: That's the most famous source that it uses. That reference.

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Speaker 2: I'm familiar with. I'm familiar with glaciers outside of Devil's product.

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Speaker 1: What's it called devil product? Well Street and Hathaway Evan

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Speaker 1: wonderful the.

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Speaker 2: Ones that are out in the ocean when you.

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Speaker 1: Have two hours where you just want to do absolutely

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Speaker 1: nothing but torture your stelff Ware that watch the devil

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Speaker 1: Wears product because Devilware's product too comes out later this year.

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Speaker 1: Steven Tolbert did not anticipate three minutes into this show

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Speaker 1: we would be discussing the Devilwaar's product.

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Speaker 2: Any who, we are already off the rid. We are

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Speaker 2: two minutes in and we are.

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Speaker 1: Off absolutely crazy training honorar of Chiver Jones. But let's

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Speaker 1: get back on track and let's discuss obviously what's going on.

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Speaker 1: So some notable news from Thursday. The good thing is

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Speaker 1: is that, unlike many other times over the spring training,

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Speaker 1: this news was just simply confirming what we already knew.

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Speaker 1: This did not come out of left field, no pun intended,

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Speaker 1: But the news was was that it was made official

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Speaker 1: by Jeff Passing of ESPN and others as well, that

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Speaker 1: Jerrickson Profar is suspended for one hundred and sixty two games,

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Speaker 1: so a bit to you know, kind of set the stage,

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Speaker 1: you know, back to what all that means. Jerickson Profar

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Speaker 1: has nothing to do with baseball for the twenty twenty

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Speaker 1: six season. He didn't play in the WBC, he's not

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Speaker 1: going to play for the Braves. He's not going to

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Speaker 1: get paid, he's not going to play in the playoffs.

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Speaker 1: He's not in the plans for twenty twenty six for

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Speaker 1: the Braves. He may not be again, that's a story

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Speaker 1: for another time. So this was just confirming what we

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Speaker 1: already knew. The big thing though, that I think comes

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Speaker 1: from this is that what this does mean is that

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Speaker 1: Ken ros th On some others speculated that it could

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Speaker 1: go several weeks into the season before this would be

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Speaker 1: made official. But because this is now official, one thing

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Speaker 1: that is a you know silver lining for the brais

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Speaker 1: even though they're going to be without Jerkson Profar, they

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Speaker 1: are going to recoup the money that he was owed

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Speaker 1: somewhere between fifteen and eighty me and Obuster Only of

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Speaker 1: ESPN has said that it was upwards of eight ME

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Speaker 1: and that the Braids would get back. So the Braves

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Speaker 1: will have additional financial resources to perhaps go find a

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Speaker 1: replacement for jerks and profile on the coming days, in

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Speaker 1: the coming months, what have you, maybe most of the

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Speaker 1: pitching staff in time. Listen, we're not going to get

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Speaker 1: into all that. We've covered all that, but it's always

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Speaker 1: a good thing to have additional financial resources when you

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Speaker 1: can likely anticipate your team is going to need multiple

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Speaker 1: is going to have to fill multiple needs moving forward

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Speaker 1: into a very critical season.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, so we knew this was coming. Listen, the odds

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Speaker 2: of any sort of you know, of this suspicion being

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Speaker 2: turned over in any sort of way, it was very,

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Speaker 2: very low though. I think the last I'm one of

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Speaker 2: these suspensions got even shortened was like ten years ago. Yeah,

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Speaker 2: these appeals are just I mean, they're procedural basically, I mean,

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Speaker 2: the union has to do them because they represent the player.

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Speaker 2: But almost always they just get upheld. And I don't

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Speaker 2: think Profar was looking for like full clemency here. I

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Speaker 2: think he was looking for a just a shortened suspension.

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Speaker 2: You know, I'm guessing in his mind there was some

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Speaker 2: extenuating circumstance about this test. Whatever he had to say.

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Speaker 2: MLB obviously had very little interest in listening and certainly

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Speaker 2: had zero interest in changing anything. So yeah, I mean,

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Speaker 2: we knew this was coming, and it's just at least

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Speaker 2: we have finality. I really didn't want to go into

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Speaker 2: the season not knowing the answer to this, and I

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Speaker 2: really didn't think we would. I thought for sure the

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Speaker 2: league would get through this before the season started, And

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Speaker 2: now we have the answer. He's gone. He's gone for

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Speaker 2: all year. He's gone for the postseason, like he's just out.

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Speaker 2: You know, he's just gone till next spring and then

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Speaker 2: we'll see what happens. So the good news is, you know,

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Speaker 2: this is better than an injury, because with an injury,

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Speaker 2: you still got to pay the guy. Obviously, with this,

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Speaker 2: the money's freed up, right, And I do want to

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Speaker 2: talk about the money for a second, because I've seen

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Speaker 2: a lot of people like disappointed about the Brads probably

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Speaker 2: aren't gonna spend this money or or certainly have it

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Speaker 2: yet and are potentially saving for the trade deadline. When

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Speaker 2: you talk about fifteen million bucks, that's a lot of

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Speaker 2: money to spend at the trade deadline. Like, it's almost

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Speaker 2: hard to spend that much money at the trade deadline

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Speaker 2: because one thing you gotta remember is that when you

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Speaker 2: get to August first or second, whatever the deadline is,

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Speaker 2: players have already been paid two thirds of their contracts,

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Speaker 2: right so if a guy makes fifteen million bucks, you're

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Speaker 2: only trading for five million, So you you kind of

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Speaker 2: got a trade for three of those guys, or trade

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Speaker 2: for somebody making like forty five million bucks, which obviously

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Speaker 2: there's like two or three guys that make that much money.

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Speaker 2: So it's a tough amount of money to spend at

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Speaker 2: the trade deadline. And since they have zero interest in Lucasjulita,

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Speaker 2: or what appears to be zero interest in Lucas Julito,

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Speaker 2: there's not reallybody on the market right now that you

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Speaker 2: are just gonna hand fifteen million bucks too. So you know,

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Speaker 2: we talked when this first stuff first came out that we,

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Speaker 2: you know, we really wanted the Braves to use this money.

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Speaker 2: I don't know how they're gonna use it, honestly. Now

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Speaker 2: unless they make a trade soon where they where they're

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Speaker 2: still responsible for somebody's entire salary for the twenty twenty

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Speaker 2: six season, it's gonna be tough to spend this. And

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Speaker 2: I'm you know, I am curious to see if Alex

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Speaker 2: is gonna speak now that this is official. I think

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Speaker 2: that's what he's been waiting for. I wouldn't be surprised

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Speaker 2: if we heard from the next couple days, because he

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Speaker 2: hasn't spoken since this broke like a couple of weeks ago.

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Speaker 2: So I am very curious to see if Alex has

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Speaker 2: anything to say now that it's kind of at the

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Speaker 2: end of the process.

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Speaker 1: Absolutely, And the other thing that I think comes from

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Speaker 1: this is that, you know, kind of, again going back

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Speaker 1: to Jerks and Profar, it was announced, you know by

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Speaker 1: Why's basically but well not announced, but he made it

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Speaker 1: pretty clear Jerkson Profar was going to be the primary

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Speaker 1: DH for this team entering the season, and so now

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Speaker 1: that he is not in the picture, you know, the

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Speaker 1: Braves don't necessarily have a glaring hole at DH, but

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Speaker 1: they certainly are without a primary option and an option

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Speaker 1: that you had to feel was going to be productive

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Speaker 1: in that spot. You know, regardless of what you feel

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Speaker 1: about Jerkson Profar still has a pretty productive back. So

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Speaker 1: what becomes of DH, what becomes of who plays left

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Speaker 1: field when the Braves play against left handed pitchers, And

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Speaker 1: right now I think that you know it kind of

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Speaker 1: you know I correct me if I'm wrong, Stephen, but

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Speaker 1: you know, all three of Kyle Farmer, Ben Gamble as

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Speaker 1: well as Dominic Smith remain in camp with the Braves.

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Speaker 1: I do think that the Braves have at least one

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Speaker 1: or two more roster cuts to make before they're probably

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Speaker 1: down to who you would imagine would be their forty

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Speaker 1: man roster or you can kind of speculate who would

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Speaker 1: make opening day. So in the next few days, I

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Speaker 1: do feel that of those three Kyle Farmer, Ben Gamble

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Speaker 1: and Dominic's whoever gets cut from that trio, the other

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Speaker 1: two are likely going to make the roster. And then

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Speaker 1: that's going to give you an idea of kind of

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Speaker 1: how DH may be aligned, and from there also how

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Speaker 1: versus left handed pitching left field may be aligned. What

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Speaker 1: are your thoughts on that. I'll give you what I feel,

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Speaker 1: but I want to I feel that you, you know,

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Speaker 1: have a pretty good idea of how this might go.

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Speaker 1: How do you see that alignment?

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Speaker 2: So I feel like it's I think Profar was going

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Speaker 2: to be the full time DH. I think that's what

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Speaker 2: they were going to do. I think Strimpsey was going

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Speaker 2: to play left field against right handed pitching and Eli

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Speaker 2: White was going to play left field against left handed pitching,

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Speaker 2: and Profar was just going to DH the whole time.

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Speaker 2: They never came out and said that directly. I think

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Speaker 2: they were just trying to protect Profar's feelings a little

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Speaker 2: bit because he wasn't all about that at the at

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Speaker 2: the beginning. It seems like forever ago that that came out,

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Speaker 2: But I think that was the plan. So really the

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Speaker 2: question has become who is going to dach against left

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Speaker 2: handed pitching and who's going to dch against right handed pitching?

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Speaker 2: Because I still I think they're going to run a

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Speaker 2: platoon of Yustremsky and Eli White in left field, you know,

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Speaker 2: just based on who's pitching that night. So as we

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Speaker 2: sit here today, who's who's on the team. When there's

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Speaker 2: a righty on the mound. I'm assuming Dominic Smith is

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Speaker 2: gonna be the DH. I mean, Brett Wisely has had

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Speaker 2: a really good camp and he's out of options. But

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Speaker 2: you know, Dominic Smith, I guess he's on a minor

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Speaker 2: league deal. I guess he could go down to Gwinnett.

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Speaker 2: I mean, I guess if they wanted to protect their depth,

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Speaker 2: they could do that. Who the DH is against When

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Speaker 2: there's a lefty on the mound, I have no idea.

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Speaker 2: I guess right now would be like jonah Heim or

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Speaker 2: Kyle Farmer. I guess they could carry Kyle Farmer and

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Speaker 2: he would be him. I really thought they would add somebody,

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Speaker 2: and I said they still might. I mean they still

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Speaker 2: might pick somebody up at the end of the camp.

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Speaker 2: I think they need to. I think they need to

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Speaker 2: add another right handed hitter, if nothing else, to DH

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Speaker 2: when there's a lefty on the mound, because right now,

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Speaker 2: I don't know who it would be unless you're gonna

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Speaker 2: carry three catchers and let Jonaheim do it. I don't know.

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Speaker 2: Do you have an opinion to who if you had

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Speaker 2: to pick right now, who's DA If there's a I

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Speaker 2: think I think on opening day the Braids are gonna

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Speaker 2: face a lefty. So let's just ask that way. On

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Speaker 2: opening day there's a lefty on the mound, Let's assume

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Speaker 2: Eli whitson left field. Who's the DH.

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Speaker 1: I think it's someone who's not in the Braves organization

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Speaker 1: right now. And I don't want to get people. I

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Speaker 1: don't want to. I know that's a bit of a

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Speaker 1: compound answer, and I don't want to get people excited

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Speaker 1: on who that might be. I don't think it's anything significant,

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Speaker 1: but I do think that the Braves are I mean,

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Speaker 1: you know what they have made. What gives me a

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Speaker 1: bit of confidence in that answer is the fact that

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Speaker 1: Alex and Thopless has not been shy of making late spring,

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Speaker 1: even very early started the season moves for guys that

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Speaker 1: he likes. He went out and got Alex Rdugo last year.

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Speaker 1: It didn't work out. Obviously, a couple of years back,

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Speaker 1: he traded a couple of relievers for Orlando Arcia. I

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Speaker 1: think what one or two games into the season. So

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Speaker 1: I think that Alex and Thopless is looking externally to

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Speaker 1: add to it because I think that we hit on

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Speaker 1: the point right, is that when you talk about Jerkson

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Speaker 1: Profar being gone no longer being in the plans for

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Speaker 1: twenty twenty six, against right handers, you have to replace him.

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Speaker 1: So that's one person that you've got to replace. But

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Speaker 1: against left handers, you've now got two spots that you're

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Speaker 1: going to replace because you don't want Yustrmsky, you don't

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Speaker 1: want Dominic Smith to be the guy out there against

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Speaker 1: left handed pitching. So I think that What probably makes

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Speaker 1: sense is that if we're talking about it comes down

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Speaker 1: to Kyle Farmer, Ben Gammo and Dominic Smith, and of

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Speaker 1: those three to make the team. I actually think that

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Speaker 1: you cut to you keep Dominic Smith. You go find

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Speaker 1: the best offensive option against left handed pitching that's out

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Speaker 1: there among reasonable trade candidates or you know, players who

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Speaker 1: are cut from their rosters or basically released or who

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Speaker 1: have opt out dates or whatever. I think you do that.

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Speaker 1: Then you've got Dominic Smith and mike Y Stremsky against

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Speaker 1: right handed pitching. You've got Eli White when what ever

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Speaker 1: external ad you make for the first month or so

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Speaker 1: of the season, and then once you get Hassan kimback,

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Speaker 1: once you get Sean Murphy back, you're able to have

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Speaker 1: better options against left handed pitching. You can move Mauricio

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Speaker 1: Debond around the lineup and around the diamond. So I

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Speaker 1: think that's what you do. I think that you go

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Speaker 1: with what makes the most sense offensively, and that's yeas

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Speaker 1: as well as Dominic Smith against right handed pitching, go

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Speaker 1: add a good platoon option that hits left handed pitching.

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Speaker 1: Will to go with Eli White and platoon at both

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Speaker 1: of the d H and left fielder for the first

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Speaker 1: month or six weeks of the season.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, and all of the changes if they add somebody

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Speaker 2: like tomorrow, and they could add multiple guys. I mean,

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Speaker 2: you know, we're we're so we're at the point. Bowman

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Speaker 2: mentioned this today MLB dot Com be and Beat writer

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Speaker 2: Mark Bowman that a lot of these veteran guys have

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Speaker 2: opt outs and I think Saturday is to day and

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Speaker 2: I think that's all over the league. So I think

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Speaker 2: you're going to see a bunch of people cut or

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Speaker 2: opting out in the next two days, and that could

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Speaker 2: change the equation. So you know, we'll see I I

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Speaker 2: don't think I know people like Dominic Smith against right

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Speaker 2: handed pitching, and I could see a world where that works.

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Speaker 2: I don't love I still don't love it, Like I

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Speaker 2: would love to just go get a DH, just a

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Speaker 2: regular DH or somebody that's good enough that can you know.

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Speaker 2: I mean Profarb was gonna project it like a one

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Speaker 2: twenty WRC plus that's a pretty significant bat that you

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Speaker 2: just lost, Like, I don't know that Dominic Smith, then

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Speaker 2: pick your random, you know guy off the scrap heap

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Speaker 2: is gonna be sufficient for that kind of production. But

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Speaker 2: you know, we'll find out.

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Speaker 1: Yeah, Hey, your whole point about going to get YONDI Diaz,

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Speaker 1: you know, trading for Ryan Mount. So I think all

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Speaker 1: those have sailed. But you know, but again, I think

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Speaker 1: what the Braves are kind of trying to do if

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Speaker 1: they haven't made a move yet, I think they're gonna

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Speaker 1: try to piece it together for the first six weeks,

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Speaker 1: see if Kim and Murphy can come back healthy and

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Speaker 1: be their old offensive sales. What's going to answer a

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Speaker 1: lot of questions. And then from there they'll deep into

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Speaker 1: that additional financial resources further into the season to see

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Speaker 1: what might work out. But you know, we just did

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Speaker 1: a lot of predictions right there on a smaller scale

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Speaker 1: when it comes to how the Braves may manage DH,

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Speaker 1: how they may manage left Field, I don't necessarily know

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Speaker 1: if you would define them as bold, But around the

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Speaker 1: corner we're gonna have plenty of bold predictions, some bold

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Speaker 1: predictions from me as well as some very very spicy

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Speaker 1: So, Steven, are you ready to get bold?

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Speaker 2: Let's get bold?

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Speaker 1: How bold are you feeling?

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Speaker 2: Tone, I'm feeling glacially bold. I don't know what that means. Actually,

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Speaker 2: I just wanted to get the word glacially back into

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Speaker 2: the podcast.

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Speaker 1: You slowly work your way to be in bold. Meryl

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Speaker 1: Streep you give that two thumbs up. Back to baseball, though,

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Speaker 1: Let's go with it like this. So here's what we're

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Speaker 1: gonna do. We're gonna give a pitching bolt prediction. We're

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Speaker 1: gonna give a hitting bolt prediction. We're gonna give a

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Speaker 1: transaction bold prediction, a move that the Braves could make

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Speaker 1: in season, and then a baseball in general bold prediction.

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Speaker 1: Over the next two segments. Let's start with the pitching

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Speaker 1: bold prediction and again everybody's favorite segment of Hammer Territory,

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Speaker 1: the Tobart Takeaways right up there with mix it up

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Speaker 1: the Tobert Takeaways. Steven Tobert, your first takeaway, what is

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Speaker 1: your pitching bold prediction for the twenty twenty sixth season.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, so I thought about going with just one of

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Speaker 2: the Braves pitchers is gonna stay healthy, because I feel

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Speaker 2: like that's like a bold prediction these days. I felt

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Speaker 2: like that was a little too cynical, though, So we're

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Speaker 2: gonna go with something a little more on the button.

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Speaker 2: I'm gonna say that Dideo Fuintez is as high as

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Speaker 2: third on the team and innings pitched in twenty twenty

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Speaker 2: six I think, so this is one of those bold

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Speaker 2: predictions that could be a good thing, or it could

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Speaker 2: be a very bad thing.

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Speaker 1: I agree.

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Speaker 2: If it's because Didier is just so good, then you

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Speaker 2: know it. It could very easy because you know, he

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Speaker 2: threw one hundred and thirty innings and that ended up

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Speaker 2: being like third on the team because a couple guys

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Speaker 2: had fifteen diils and everything still went relatively well. It

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Speaker 2: can also be because everybody else got hurt, or at

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Speaker 2: least most of everybody else got hurt, and Didier was

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Speaker 2: just the first guy up. And I think both of

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Speaker 2: those scenarios are so plausible that if you just combine them,

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Speaker 2: I see it happening. And I mean it's a bold prediction,

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Speaker 2: so it's I guess in the spirit of it, it's

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Speaker 2: something that's unexpected to happen. But if I told you

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Speaker 2: right now that like Diddy or Flinton has got caught

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Speaker 2: up in May because somebody went on the fifteen dil

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Speaker 2: and just never went back down the way that kid

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Speaker 2: has looked in spring, I don't know that I would

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Speaker 2: be like all that. It would definitely mean the season

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Speaker 2: went in a different direction than I thought it would,

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Speaker 2: But I don't know that that's off the table. So

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Speaker 2: Didier flints third on the team, an innings pitched. Remember

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Speaker 2: last year Bryce Elder led the team an innings pitched.

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Speaker 2: Don't forget that little nugget. So yeah, I think I'm

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Speaker 2: gonna I had a couple in my head that I

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Speaker 2: could have gone with, but I think I'm gonna go

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Speaker 2: with that one. Did Dear flint does By the time

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Speaker 2: we get to the end of the year, Didear Flintes

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Speaker 2: is third on the team and innings pitched.

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Speaker 1: So similar but different. Bold prediction on my end. Jr.

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Speaker 1: Richie wins in l Rookie.

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Speaker 2: Of the Year, So that's a bold that's a true bull.

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Speaker 1: I'm going to go with that as a bold prediction

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Speaker 1: because think about it, and I'm thinking Richie potentially taking

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Speaker 1: the cad Horton route from last year. Right, Rays are

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Speaker 1: definitely wanting to be in contention. Jr. Richie seems to

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Speaker 1: be in mind to start the season with the Braves,

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Speaker 1: and besides Sell and you hope Spencer Strider, there's plenty

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Speaker 1: of opportunity. If Jr. Richie is going to make the

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Speaker 1: opening day roster and he impresses, the Braves have every

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Speaker 1: reason to go ahead and keep him in the rotation.

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Speaker 1: I would love would still love they went out and

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Speaker 1: got a guy to where he could start the year

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Speaker 1: in the minors. I think that would make more sense.

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Speaker 1: But to the point of DIDDI ar for Winces and Jay,

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Speaker 1: are Richie kind of knocking on that door where they

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Speaker 1: may force their way into the majors sooner than some

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Speaker 1: may think. I think Richie probably is priority number one

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Speaker 1: of the two rookies to be the guy that they

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Speaker 1: go with, and I think he could impress. I don't

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Speaker 1: necessarily know if he's going to have a second half

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Speaker 1: like Horton did last year, but just think Drake Baldwin

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Speaker 1: had to have a one twenty five w RC plus

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Speaker 1: as a rookie to hold off Horton for Rookie of

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Speaker 1: the Year. Connor Griffin, JJ Weatherholt, I know, Nolan McLain,

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Speaker 1: South Stewart, others are up there. You're going to have

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Speaker 1: more offensive options in the Rookie of the Year conversation

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Speaker 1: this year than you did last year. But if those

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Speaker 1: guys struggle and Jr. Richie is pitching good for a contender,

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Speaker 1: you could possibly see it happen. I gave this is

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Speaker 1: a bold prediction. I don't think that it's going to happen.

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Speaker 1: But I definitely can see Jr. Richie having that type

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Speaker 1: of makeup to where when we get if he starts

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Speaker 1: the season earlier, starts the year with the team, we

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Speaker 1: get into July, we get into August, and I know

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Speaker 1: at that time his innings could be a bitting question.

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Speaker 1: But you could find yourself to where if this guy

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Speaker 1: has thrown seventy five to one hundred innings come late

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Speaker 1: July early August and he's looked good, he could be

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Speaker 1: right in there in that conversation.

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Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't know that he's gonna make the opening

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Speaker 2: day roster. I do think they're gonna go with the

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Speaker 2: guys that don't have options and Elder and Squarez or

431
00:21:44,440 --> 00:21:48,960
Speaker 2: maybe even Martin Perez. I think the fact that obviously

432
00:21:49,080 --> 00:21:52,080
Speaker 2: Richie and Flints can both be sent to Guinnette, it's

433
00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:55,879
Speaker 2: gonna really hurt them to start the year. So I

434
00:21:55,920 --> 00:21:57,840
Speaker 2: would be surprised if he was like a wire to

435
00:21:57,880 --> 00:22:04,720
Speaker 2: wire guy like Baldwin was last year. But on talent, yeah,

436
00:22:04,840 --> 00:22:09,000
Speaker 2: I mean I could see it, like pitching guys come

437
00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:10,479
Speaker 2: out of like it. I don't want to say out

438
00:22:10,520 --> 00:22:12,159
Speaker 2: of nowhere. Because Richie has been a top prospect for

439
00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:14,360
Speaker 2: a while, but like you know, there wasn't that long

440
00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:16,080
Speaker 2: ago that I'd kind of forgotten about g R. Richie

441
00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:19,400
Speaker 2: because he was kind of an injury purgatory and kind

442
00:22:19,400 --> 00:22:21,280
Speaker 2: of down in the miners. It's just easy to forget about.

443
00:22:21,320 --> 00:22:23,960
Speaker 2: So you know, he's had a really strong resurgence. It

444
00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:28,400
Speaker 2: wouldn't surprise me at all, I don't. I mean, it's

445
00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:31,560
Speaker 2: gonna come down that he's gonna have enough innings, and

446
00:22:31,640 --> 00:22:33,240
Speaker 2: some of that is gonna come down to how healthy

447
00:22:33,240 --> 00:22:36,560
Speaker 2: the rotation stays. Again, if Didy, if Wintez and Jerr

448
00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:41,720
Speaker 2: Richie are both pitching a lot of innings, it's very

449
00:22:41,920 --> 00:22:45,560
Speaker 2: possible the season is is going the wrong direction unfortunately.

450
00:22:45,640 --> 00:22:48,520
Speaker 2: So you know, again like Drake Baldwin won the Rookie

451
00:22:48,560 --> 00:22:50,199
Speaker 2: of the Year last year, but the season win it

452
00:22:50,280 --> 00:22:53,880
Speaker 2: up a really poor direction. So these aren't necessarily bold

453
00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:56,880
Speaker 2: predictions that are predicting the team is going to be awesome.

454
00:22:57,160 --> 00:22:58,600
Speaker 2: Although I do think the team is going to be

455
00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:03,240
Speaker 2: very good this year. I'm just with yours and mine.

456
00:23:03,600 --> 00:23:05,560
Speaker 2: It's more about I don't really trust the health of

457
00:23:05,560 --> 00:23:07,480
Speaker 2: the rotation, and I think at some point these kids

458
00:23:07,520 --> 00:23:10,359
Speaker 2: are gonna play a big role. You picked Richie, I

459
00:23:10,359 --> 00:23:12,840
Speaker 2: picked Fintes. I could see both having a major role,

460
00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:15,400
Speaker 2: And if they do have a major role, I'm very

461
00:23:15,400 --> 00:23:18,639
Speaker 2: curious to see what happens in terms of the win

462
00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:23,439
Speaker 2: loss record, because typically speaking, generally speaking, young pitching is

463
00:23:23,480 --> 00:23:26,119
Speaker 2: not the way to win a lot of games. Usually

464
00:23:26,119 --> 00:23:30,439
Speaker 2: you need more season pitching to win games. You know,

465
00:23:30,960 --> 00:23:32,879
Speaker 2: if the Braves can at the very least keep Sale

466
00:23:32,960 --> 00:23:36,399
Speaker 2: healthy and maybe one other guy, I wouldn't I wouldn't

467
00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:38,960
Speaker 2: be as worried. But yeah, if those two guys end

468
00:23:39,040 --> 00:23:41,360
Speaker 2: up picked it throwing a lot of innings, I'm very

469
00:23:41,359 --> 00:23:43,800
Speaker 2: curious to see how the how the overall season is going.

470
00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:49,879
Speaker 1: Absolutely, and and and and again we're kind of predicting

471
00:23:49,920 --> 00:23:53,760
Speaker 1: one or we're we our predictions are based off both

472
00:23:53,800 --> 00:23:56,200
Speaker 1: those rookies. There's also the world to where at least

473
00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,640
Speaker 1: one of them makes an impact, and I think if

474
00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:01,040
Speaker 1: that's the case, that's a bit or indicator that things

475
00:24:01,040 --> 00:24:04,000
Speaker 1: are going as they need to go. But the good

476
00:24:04,000 --> 00:24:05,679
Speaker 1: thing is we're talking about two rookies who can make

477
00:24:05,680 --> 00:24:07,440
Speaker 1: an impact this year for the Braves. You don't want

478
00:24:07,480 --> 00:24:09,119
Speaker 1: them to make a big impact because you want to

479
00:24:09,119 --> 00:24:11,520
Speaker 1: have your veterans starters out there healthy, and making their

480
00:24:11,560 --> 00:24:13,480
Speaker 1: own impact. But at the end of the day, it'll

481
00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:16,040
Speaker 1: be very interesting to see what role for Windys and

482
00:24:16,440 --> 00:24:18,160
Speaker 1: j R. Richie could play this year, and they could

483
00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:21,280
Speaker 1: very much impress in whatever role they take on. Now,

484
00:24:21,320 --> 00:24:23,760
Speaker 1: on the hitting side of things, Steven, what is a

485
00:24:23,840 --> 00:24:26,760
Speaker 1: bolt prediction hitting wise when it comes to the Atlanta

486
00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:27,880
Speaker 1: Brads in twenty twenty six.

487
00:24:30,160 --> 00:24:32,360
Speaker 2: Yeah, I thought about this one too quite a bit.

488
00:24:32,640 --> 00:24:39,159
Speaker 2: So I don't know if I I don't know if

489
00:24:39,160 --> 00:24:42,640
Speaker 2: I truly believe it, but I'm going to say it

490
00:24:42,680 --> 00:24:46,440
Speaker 2: because I think I think it's possible enough. It's certainly unlikely,

491
00:24:46,760 --> 00:24:48,720
Speaker 2: but I think it's possible enough that I'm gonna put

492
00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,240
Speaker 2: it out into the I'm gonna put it out into

493
00:24:51,280 --> 00:24:53,080
Speaker 2: the ether and just see what happens. I think Drake

494
00:24:53,119 --> 00:24:56,760
Speaker 2: Baldwin could be a top three MVP finish year this year.

495
00:24:59,280 --> 00:25:00,800
Speaker 2: You know, I have tried. I had to be very

496
00:25:00,840 --> 00:25:04,040
Speaker 2: reserved and responsible about the Drake Baldwin love because I've

497
00:25:04,320 --> 00:25:05,840
Speaker 2: and I've said it multiple times on the show that

498
00:25:05,880 --> 00:25:08,680
Speaker 2: I you know, sophomore slumps happen and I want to

499
00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:11,400
Speaker 2: see him repeat it. But everything that kid has done

500
00:25:11,440 --> 00:25:15,440
Speaker 2: this spring has said oh no, no, everything that happened

501
00:25:15,480 --> 00:25:18,960
Speaker 2: last year was very real. I mean, he is crushing

502
00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,400
Speaker 2: the ball every time he's in a game. He's got

503
00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:24,160
Speaker 2: like three balls over one hundred and five miles an hour,

504
00:25:25,000 --> 00:25:28,800
Speaker 2: usually in the gap or over the fence. I I

505
00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:30,800
Speaker 2: do need to see it against left handed pitching again

506
00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:35,880
Speaker 2: to believe that that side is real. But the dude

507
00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:38,880
Speaker 2: just looks like an elite hitter. And if he if

508
00:25:38,880 --> 00:25:41,560
Speaker 2: you do that as a catcher, I mean, look at

509
00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:44,239
Speaker 2: what cal Rawly did last year. You can stack up

510
00:25:44,359 --> 00:25:48,040
Speaker 2: value so quickly because it's i mean, obviously a catchers

511
00:25:48,160 --> 00:25:54,040
Speaker 2: is an insanely valuable defensive position. So that is the

512
00:25:54,080 --> 00:25:56,600
Speaker 2: crazy that's you know, that's a crazy one because obviously

513
00:25:56,680 --> 00:25:59,840
Speaker 2: with Ronald and Matt Olsen, if those guys have you know,

514
00:26:00,720 --> 00:26:03,960
Speaker 2: any kind of halfway decent year, they could they could

515
00:26:03,960 --> 00:26:07,720
Speaker 2: split votes. And you know, we're probably talking about a

516
00:26:07,840 --> 00:26:10,879
Speaker 2: less than two percent outcome here for Drake Baldwin. But

517
00:26:13,640 --> 00:26:18,399
Speaker 2: I think he's got it in him. And if he

518
00:26:18,480 --> 00:26:20,960
Speaker 2: repeats what he did, what he did against left handed pitching,

519
00:26:20,960 --> 00:26:23,160
Speaker 2: specific I think he's gonna hit righty's. I'm fairly compid

520
00:26:23,200 --> 00:26:25,760
Speaker 2: he's gonna hit rightys, but he's gonna I think he's

521
00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:28,040
Speaker 2: gonna play every day. I think if he's not, I

522
00:26:28,040 --> 00:26:30,119
Speaker 2: think if he's not catching, he's gonna dhe or he's

523
00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:31,520
Speaker 2: not gonna play every day, but he's gonna play one

524
00:26:31,560 --> 00:26:33,359
Speaker 2: hundred and fifty games, one hundred and forty five games

525
00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:35,639
Speaker 2: at least, and if he hits the way he did

526
00:26:35,680 --> 00:26:38,879
Speaker 2: against lefties last year, I think that guy could be

527
00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:39,880
Speaker 2: an MVP candidate.

528
00:26:42,040 --> 00:26:45,760
Speaker 1: Now that's a bold prediction. That's mine. Mine's would be

529
00:26:46,160 --> 00:26:48,000
Speaker 1: a bit of a level lower, but I am going

530
00:26:48,119 --> 00:26:52,159
Speaker 1: with Austin Riley starts the All Star Game for the

531
00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,360
Speaker 1: for the n L at third base. That is going

532
00:26:54,440 --> 00:26:57,399
Speaker 1: to be my bold prediction. A bit broader skill is that,

533
00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:01,919
Speaker 1: of course you expect for Ronald Acune Junior, who typically

534
00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:03,640
Speaker 1: is among the voting leaders in the All Star Game,

535
00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:05,840
Speaker 1: he'll be in that game. I think the Braves will

536
00:27:05,840 --> 00:27:08,480
Speaker 1: have multiple persition player offensive starters and it will either

537
00:27:08,480 --> 00:27:11,520
Speaker 1: be potentially Olsen, but also Riley as well as Baldwin

538
00:27:11,560 --> 00:27:13,959
Speaker 1: could be in that mix. But I think that Austin Riley.

539
00:27:14,040 --> 00:27:17,640
Speaker 1: I am buying Austin Riley stock for twenty twenty six.

540
00:27:18,040 --> 00:27:20,280
Speaker 1: The let us is flowing in spring training.

541
00:27:20,520 --> 00:27:22,680
Speaker 2: Maybe it's kind of it's a nice haircut.

542
00:27:23,119 --> 00:27:25,400
Speaker 1: Maybe it's kind of like Samson, you know, that haircut

543
00:27:25,440 --> 00:27:28,840
Speaker 1: that you know that that long flowing the long flowing locks,

544
00:27:28,920 --> 00:27:31,520
Speaker 1: or a source of strength. I don't know, but I

545
00:27:31,560 --> 00:27:35,879
Speaker 1: do think that all joking aside, there also is just

546
00:27:35,920 --> 00:27:39,200
Speaker 1: a work ethic and just an absolute desire to get

547
00:27:39,240 --> 00:27:41,520
Speaker 1: back to being dominated again at the plate that we

548
00:27:41,560 --> 00:27:43,680
Speaker 1: all know Austin Riley is capable of doing again. We

549
00:27:44,480 --> 00:27:47,600
Speaker 1: it's well documented how good he gets in July and August.

550
00:27:47,680 --> 00:27:49,960
Speaker 1: You know, he wants to get off to better starts

551
00:27:49,960 --> 00:27:53,600
Speaker 1: moving forward. But my boat prediction he starts the All

552
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:55,960
Speaker 1: Star Game for the National League. I think there's a

553
00:27:55,960 --> 00:27:58,080
Speaker 1: potential he can have twenty plus home runs in the

554
00:27:58,080 --> 00:28:00,400
Speaker 1: first half of the season. And another reason I think

555
00:28:00,400 --> 00:28:02,560
Speaker 1: that's the case is because there's just not you know,

556
00:28:02,760 --> 00:28:05,160
Speaker 1: too many, you know, other candidates who could make sense

557
00:28:05,160 --> 00:28:06,840
Speaker 1: to start third base. I think, you know, you got

558
00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:10,000
Speaker 1: Alex Bregman, you got Manny Machado. You know, maybe someone

559
00:28:10,080 --> 00:28:12,280
Speaker 1: surprises you know when it comes, you know, out of

560
00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:14,680
Speaker 1: the gate this year. But Alex Riley starting the All

561
00:28:14,720 --> 00:28:17,800
Speaker 1: Star Game, I feel is my goold prediction, and I

562
00:28:17,920 --> 00:28:19,960
Speaker 1: do put some faith I know I said Michael Harris

563
00:28:20,000 --> 00:28:21,480
Speaker 1: would start center field for the All Star Game in

564
00:28:21,480 --> 00:28:23,920
Speaker 1: Atlanta last year. I'm a bit more confident in Austin

565
00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:25,879
Speaker 1: Riley because I feel he can get back to the

566
00:28:25,960 --> 00:28:28,639
Speaker 1: level that we've seen him in the past.

567
00:28:29,920 --> 00:28:34,120
Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, the overall third base in the National

568
00:28:34,200 --> 00:28:37,200
Speaker 2: League has really declined in terms of overall talent. I

569
00:28:37,240 --> 00:28:39,600
Speaker 2: mean we saw last year because Bregman was in the

570
00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:42,640
Speaker 2: American League, Machado didn't have the year, Aeronato didn't have

571
00:28:42,680 --> 00:28:45,719
Speaker 2: the year that he wanted. Obviously Riley was hurt and

572
00:28:45,760 --> 00:28:48,400
Speaker 2: it wasn't having the year he wanted. Like, third base

573
00:28:48,560 --> 00:28:50,800
Speaker 2: in the National League has all of a sudden become

574
00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:54,160
Speaker 2: pretty wide open. So you know, Riley doesn't have to

575
00:28:54,200 --> 00:28:58,480
Speaker 2: have some incredible year to accomplish that. So I think

576
00:28:58,480 --> 00:29:01,480
Speaker 2: that's I think that's perfectly fair. I actually think Austin

577
00:29:01,600 --> 00:29:03,480
Speaker 2: is gonna have a good year. He's another guy that's

578
00:29:03,480 --> 00:29:08,680
Speaker 2: look fantastic in spring training. So I'm trying to think of, like,

579
00:29:08,880 --> 00:29:11,280
Speaker 2: I think Bregman would probably be the odds on, Like

580
00:29:11,320 --> 00:29:13,680
Speaker 2: you're betting on this. I think Bregman's probably the favorite

581
00:29:13,760 --> 00:29:15,120
Speaker 2: right now. I think he's had a good spring in

582
00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:16,840
Speaker 2: Chica for Chicago as well.

583
00:29:18,360 --> 00:29:19,479
Speaker 1: Their fan base always.

584
00:29:19,680 --> 00:29:21,680
Speaker 2: Yeah, that's the thing. Is a lot of it is

585
00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:26,240
Speaker 2: voting base versus performance bas But I do think the

586
00:29:26,280 --> 00:29:28,120
Speaker 2: fans have gotten better over the years. But yeah, I

587
00:29:28,160 --> 00:29:32,920
Speaker 2: think I think Riley would at least be a reserve.

588
00:29:33,360 --> 00:29:35,080
Speaker 2: I don't know if he'll start, but I think he'll

589
00:29:35,120 --> 00:29:37,840
Speaker 2: be on the team again. I mean, Michiada could have

590
00:29:37,880 --> 00:29:39,160
Speaker 2: a big year, and Aaron Otto could have a big

591
00:29:39,320 --> 00:29:40,920
Speaker 2: He got traded to the Diamondbacks, so he could have

592
00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,320
Speaker 2: a big year. But yeah, I think I don't I

593
00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,520
Speaker 2: don't hate that, all right, So we got one more

594
00:29:46,520 --> 00:29:49,120
Speaker 2: AD to get to and then at the end, when

595
00:29:49,120 --> 00:29:52,120
Speaker 2: we get back from this AD, I think we've got

596
00:29:52,120 --> 00:29:54,000
Speaker 2: a couple more bold predictions that we're gonna do, and

597
00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:58,000
Speaker 2: then we'll get out of here. Data Center's run twenty

598
00:29:58,040 --> 00:29:59,960
Speaker 2: four to seven, and so do the demands placed on

599
00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:02,600
Speaker 2: your teams. Fasten All helps keep your facility running with

600
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601
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602
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603
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604
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605
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606
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607
00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:34,480
Speaker 1: So, Stephen, now let's talk about transactions, a move that

608
00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,520
Speaker 1: we feel the Braves could potentially make, and it doesn't

609
00:30:37,600 --> 00:30:40,320
Speaker 1: have to necessarily be a trade, right like it could

610
00:30:40,360 --> 00:30:42,480
Speaker 1: be you know, hey, you feel that you know, the

611
00:30:42,520 --> 00:30:46,000
Speaker 1: Braves go withf Wintes and Richie to both start the season,

612
00:30:46,160 --> 00:30:52,320
Speaker 1: you know, in the rotation. Steven Tolbert's bold transaction prediction

613
00:30:52,560 --> 00:30:54,560
Speaker 1: for the twenty twenty six season for the Braves.

614
00:30:56,360 --> 00:31:00,280
Speaker 2: So these are always tough because there's been plenty time,

615
00:31:00,360 --> 00:31:01,960
Speaker 2: especially the last couple of years, where I thought the

616
00:31:02,000 --> 00:31:05,200
Speaker 2: Braves should do something. I thought the Braves certainly would

617
00:31:05,200 --> 00:31:08,240
Speaker 2: do something, and then they don't do it. And starting

618
00:31:08,280 --> 00:31:11,200
Speaker 2: pitching this offseason is kind of the latest example. Bullpen

619
00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:15,160
Speaker 2: last offseason was kind of the latest example. Like, so

620
00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:20,320
Speaker 2: this one's this one's tougher. I think I'm gonna go

621
00:31:20,400 --> 00:31:25,479
Speaker 2: I think the Braves are going to acquire Yeah, I'm

622
00:31:25,480 --> 00:31:28,920
Speaker 2: gonna say so. I think I think somebody in the

623
00:31:28,960 --> 00:31:33,320
Speaker 2: Strider Lopez Grant Holmes group is gonna get hurt again.

624
00:31:34,400 --> 00:31:37,760
Speaker 2: I hate saying that, but I just if you just

625
00:31:37,760 --> 00:31:39,480
Speaker 2: just the odds of all three of those guys staying

626
00:31:39,480 --> 00:31:41,720
Speaker 2: healthy for one hundred and sixty games just feels very low.

627
00:31:42,640 --> 00:31:44,520
Speaker 2: And I think the Braves are gonna see the need

628
00:31:45,440 --> 00:31:48,120
Speaker 2: to not only go at a starter at some point

629
00:31:48,120 --> 00:31:51,680
Speaker 2: this season, but ad I started that's got a upside,

630
00:31:52,800 --> 00:31:55,560
Speaker 2: can be a two or three or one two or

631
00:31:55,600 --> 00:31:59,800
Speaker 2: three in the rotation. B has team control, so somebody

632
00:31:59,840 --> 00:32:04,960
Speaker 2: that can be a multi year solution. I think I

633
00:32:05,000 --> 00:32:08,400
Speaker 2: think the Braves are gonna trade for Joe Ryan before

634
00:32:08,440 --> 00:32:11,080
Speaker 2: the season is over, is I guess you know. If

635
00:32:11,080 --> 00:32:12,960
Speaker 2: we're gonna do predictions, let's put names on it. I

636
00:32:12,960 --> 00:32:14,680
Speaker 2: think the Braids are gonna trade for Joe Ryan at

637
00:32:14,680 --> 00:32:15,000
Speaker 2: some point.

638
00:32:15,400 --> 00:32:15,480
Speaker 3: Now.

639
00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:17,640
Speaker 2: Joe Ryan's got to stay healthy as well, of course,

640
00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:20,000
Speaker 2: and anybody we talk about here has got to stay healthy.

641
00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:22,640
Speaker 2: But I think the Brains are gonna trade for Joe

642
00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:26,160
Speaker 2: Ryan and then try to extend him because I think

643
00:32:26,240 --> 00:32:28,720
Speaker 2: somebody in that group that they have right now is

644
00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,560
Speaker 2: gonna get hurt again, and I don't want that to happen.

645
00:32:31,800 --> 00:32:33,160
Speaker 2: I do want the Braves to trade for Joe Ryan.

646
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:37,320
Speaker 2: I don't want anybody to get hurt. But I mean,

647
00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:40,040
Speaker 2: if you told me to set the odds that the

648
00:32:40,040 --> 00:32:43,080
Speaker 2: the that trio if Pitchers stays healthy all year, I

649
00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:44,440
Speaker 2: don't know what I put it at, but it'd be

650
00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:47,160
Speaker 2: very low. So I think the brains are gonna see

651
00:32:47,160 --> 00:32:49,280
Speaker 2: a need. I think they've always seen the need, but

652
00:32:49,360 --> 00:32:52,400
Speaker 2: I think they're gonna be extra aggressive, especially knowing they

653
00:32:52,440 --> 00:32:56,440
Speaker 2: can replenish their system come July with you know, the

654
00:32:56,520 --> 00:32:59,120
Speaker 2: highest draft order they've had in a long time. I

655
00:32:59,120 --> 00:33:00,840
Speaker 2: think at some point in the season, the Braves are

656
00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:03,040
Speaker 2: going to see they need to go acquire a multi

657
00:33:03,240 --> 00:33:06,280
Speaker 2: year solution in their rotation, and I think they're gonna

658
00:33:06,320 --> 00:33:09,200
Speaker 2: go get it. And for today's purposes, I'm gonna say

659
00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:10,040
Speaker 2: that's gonna be Jill Ryan.

660
00:33:11,080 --> 00:33:13,440
Speaker 1: So I've actually got a two fasceted Bowl prediction when

661
00:33:13,440 --> 00:33:16,040
Speaker 1: it comes to transactions, and I think that it's significant

662
00:33:16,040 --> 00:33:18,400
Speaker 1: moves of the trade deadline. The first one is that

663
00:33:18,440 --> 00:33:21,920
Speaker 1: I feel that the Braves are again we've all talked about,

664
00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:23,960
Speaker 1: we think that the back end of the bullpen is

665
00:33:24,000 --> 00:33:26,360
Speaker 1: the true strength of this Braves team right now, at

666
00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:28,360
Speaker 1: least in terms of an aspect of this. I think

667
00:33:28,360 --> 00:33:30,240
Speaker 1: the Brave. It's to add to that, and I think

668
00:33:30,240 --> 00:33:33,280
Speaker 1: it's a left hander. Both Dyllan Lee and Aaron Bummer

669
00:33:33,320 --> 00:33:35,200
Speaker 1: both may be very good this year, but I think

670
00:33:35,200 --> 00:33:37,400
Speaker 1: the Braves probably will look to go out and add

671
00:33:37,560 --> 00:33:41,160
Speaker 1: a proven option out there. Jojo Ramiro of the Cardinals,

672
00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:43,720
Speaker 1: I believe has one year left on his contract. He

673
00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,720
Speaker 1: was very good last year. The Cardinals are going nowhere.

674
00:33:46,880 --> 00:33:49,240
Speaker 1: A lefty who basically is an e lefty reliever who's

675
00:33:49,280 --> 00:33:51,840
Speaker 1: basically an expiring contract is not someone they're going to

676
00:33:51,920 --> 00:33:54,200
Speaker 1: look to invest in, so they'll probably look to get

677
00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:56,360
Speaker 1: good return from him. With the trade deadline, I think

678
00:33:56,400 --> 00:33:58,200
Speaker 1: the Braves will pay up. We know that Alex and

679
00:33:58,240 --> 00:34:00,680
Speaker 1: Thovlas always goes out and try to add relief for

680
00:34:00,760 --> 00:34:02,720
Speaker 1: the trade deadline, but I think that's going to be

681
00:34:02,720 --> 00:34:04,480
Speaker 1: the second biggest move the Braves maybe get the trade

682
00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:06,880
Speaker 1: deadline because I agree with Steven. I think they're going

683
00:34:06,960 --> 00:34:09,600
Speaker 1: to go out and try to make a move for

684
00:34:09,680 --> 00:34:12,279
Speaker 1: a player that they can control beyond twenty twenty six.

685
00:34:12,480 --> 00:34:15,200
Speaker 1: That could be a significant addition to either the lineup

686
00:34:15,480 --> 00:34:18,000
Speaker 1: or the rotation. The picture that I like if Joe

687
00:34:18,040 --> 00:34:19,920
Speaker 1: Ryan's on the board, is he someone that I think

688
00:34:19,960 --> 00:34:23,200
Speaker 1: many teams could go after Angels starting pitcher Jose Soriano.

689
00:34:23,480 --> 00:34:24,840
Speaker 1: I love how he works at the bottom of the

690
00:34:24,920 --> 00:34:28,240
Speaker 1: zone with excellent velocity, and we know the Braves connection

691
00:34:28,320 --> 00:34:31,200
Speaker 1: with the Angels. I do also think that if shortstop

692
00:34:31,280 --> 00:34:35,160
Speaker 1: for some reason is still a question mark, Alexanthopolis may

693
00:34:35,200 --> 00:34:36,640
Speaker 1: just say let's go out and let's get a long

694
00:34:36,719 --> 00:34:39,879
Speaker 1: term option. Ezekiel Tovar of the Colorado Rockies I think

695
00:34:39,920 --> 00:34:42,879
Speaker 1: could make sense. His power depense, his connection with Ronald

696
00:34:42,880 --> 00:34:45,320
Speaker 1: Accooney Junior, all that could make sense, I feel. And

697
00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:49,680
Speaker 1: then you could always use Hassan Kim and is Durant

698
00:34:50,120 --> 00:34:54,080
Speaker 1: Mill can't even talk. You can use Maricio Debon elsewhere

699
00:34:54,120 --> 00:34:57,880
Speaker 1: as well. I also I don't think it's likely, but

700
00:34:57,960 --> 00:35:01,160
Speaker 1: with Profar out of the equation the money, I don't

701
00:35:01,200 --> 00:35:03,360
Speaker 1: think the Braves are done chicking in on Byron Buckston.

702
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:05,080
Speaker 1: He can make a lot of sense for them to

703
00:35:05,080 --> 00:35:07,600
Speaker 1: go after, especially as kind of that all in move,

704
00:35:07,719 --> 00:35:09,959
Speaker 1: even if the offense is doing well. So a multi

705
00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,120
Speaker 1: year guy that could really add value to the team,

706
00:35:12,320 --> 00:35:15,000
Speaker 1: plus a lefty reliever. I think they made multiple moves

707
00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:17,560
Speaker 1: at the trade deadline with those details in place.

708
00:35:19,640 --> 00:35:22,640
Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean, you know, with shortstop. It's gonna come

709
00:35:22,680 --> 00:35:24,800
Speaker 2: down to how Debond looks. It's gonna come down to

710
00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:27,439
Speaker 2: how Kim looks. I do think the Bond's potentially got

711
00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:30,200
Speaker 2: some long term value if the Braves like him enough,

712
00:35:30,840 --> 00:35:32,560
Speaker 2: but he's gonna have to have a good year. And

713
00:35:32,800 --> 00:35:35,480
Speaker 2: the bottom line is, as it stands right now, the

714
00:35:35,520 --> 00:35:39,040
Speaker 2: Braves don't have a shortstop for twenty twenty seven. They've

715
00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:44,120
Speaker 2: got two guys on one year deals until and Kim

716
00:35:44,200 --> 00:35:47,920
Speaker 2: and obviously Dubond, so I could see that the Braves.

717
00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:49,439
Speaker 2: I do think the Brids is gonnadd a left handed

718
00:35:49,480 --> 00:35:51,040
Speaker 2: reliever at some point. I do think they're gonna want

719
00:35:51,080 --> 00:35:55,239
Speaker 2: somebody of the level of a Glacias and Suarez on

720
00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:57,440
Speaker 2: the left side. Something that's gonna ppend on what kind

721
00:35:57,440 --> 00:36:00,120
Speaker 2: of year Aaron Bumer Dillon Lee has. But yeah, I

722
00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,920
Speaker 2: think a starter is going to end up being I mean,

723
00:36:02,960 --> 00:36:05,200
Speaker 2: it's the most expensive thing to go get at the deadline,

724
00:36:05,239 --> 00:36:09,560
Speaker 2: so you know, there's a reason these are bold predictions.

725
00:36:10,440 --> 00:36:12,879
Speaker 2: But I do think it's going to get to the point,

726
00:36:12,920 --> 00:36:15,040
Speaker 2: and I would love to be wrong. I would love

727
00:36:15,320 --> 00:36:19,120
Speaker 2: for Strider, Lopez and Green Holmes to just make it

728
00:36:19,160 --> 00:36:21,160
Speaker 2: all the way through the season. Healthy. I just I

729
00:36:21,160 --> 00:36:23,480
Speaker 2: can't say that I expect that at this point. And

730
00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:25,080
Speaker 2: I do think the Brids are going to at some

731
00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:30,040
Speaker 2: point get to the point where that starter is is

732
00:36:30,200 --> 00:36:32,719
Speaker 2: a big enough need where they just can't push it

733
00:36:32,719 --> 00:36:34,319
Speaker 2: down the road. They can't kick that can down the

734
00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:34,960
Speaker 2: road any long.

735
00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:38,200
Speaker 1: Yeah, they need to do it. This is the time

736
00:36:38,239 --> 00:36:41,919
Speaker 1: to do it, especially going into the lockout. You may

737
00:36:42,000 --> 00:36:45,000
Speaker 1: find some good deals out there from teams that would

738
00:36:45,080 --> 00:36:48,000
Speaker 1: rather just take on the prospects long term and that

739
00:36:48,120 --> 00:36:51,120
Speaker 1: level of control than some guy who they may control

740
00:36:51,160 --> 00:36:53,120
Speaker 1: for one or two more years, but they're not really

741
00:36:53,160 --> 00:36:56,040
Speaker 1: contending in that timeframe, so they may not really want

742
00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:58,880
Speaker 1: to really go into trying to extend them. Especially with

743
00:36:58,920 --> 00:37:01,440
Speaker 1: the uncertainty around the law out. That may give you

744
00:37:01,480 --> 00:37:03,680
Speaker 1: some deals out there that could make a bit more

745
00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:06,239
Speaker 1: sense than you may have anticipated right now. And again,

746
00:37:06,280 --> 00:37:08,799
Speaker 1: the Brakes have every reason to go all in, I feel,

747
00:37:08,840 --> 00:37:11,680
Speaker 1: for this season and beyond. So Steven, let's brought them

748
00:37:11,680 --> 00:37:13,560
Speaker 1: the scope a little bit. Let's look at baseball as

749
00:37:13,600 --> 00:37:17,719
Speaker 1: a whole. What's your bold prediction for baseball?

750
00:37:18,560 --> 00:37:22,319
Speaker 2: So I want to say, here's what I want to say.

751
00:37:22,400 --> 00:37:23,960
Speaker 2: I want to say the Pittsburgh Pirates are going to

752
00:37:24,000 --> 00:37:25,640
Speaker 2: make the playoffs. That's what I want to say, because

753
00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:29,080
Speaker 2: I want to see Paul Skins and Bubba Chandler and

754
00:37:29,160 --> 00:37:33,040
Speaker 2: Connor Griffin in the postseason. That would be awesome. I

755
00:37:33,080 --> 00:37:36,200
Speaker 2: don't know they're very top heavy. I hope they I

756
00:37:36,239 --> 00:37:38,840
Speaker 2: hope they put Griffin. I hope they put their top

757
00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:43,400
Speaker 2: prospect on the roster for opening Day. I have a

758
00:37:43,400 --> 00:37:47,040
Speaker 2: feeling we're going to see some service time manipulation. But

759
00:37:47,080 --> 00:37:48,839
Speaker 2: I don't know they have enough on the back end

760
00:37:48,840 --> 00:37:50,880
Speaker 2: of that roster to make it one hundred and sixty

761
00:37:50,880 --> 00:37:51,920
Speaker 2: two games.

762
00:37:55,640 --> 00:37:56,239
Speaker 1: Or maybe I do.

763
00:37:56,920 --> 00:37:59,880
Speaker 2: Central is I don't trust anybody in the Central I

764
00:38:00,400 --> 00:38:02,520
Speaker 2: never trust the Brewers, and the Brewers are always good,

765
00:38:02,920 --> 00:38:05,359
Speaker 2: so maybe that's me. I do think the Cubs got

766
00:38:05,400 --> 00:38:10,560
Speaker 2: better with Bregman. The NL East is gonna be so good,

767
00:38:10,640 --> 00:38:12,799
Speaker 2: though it's tough to see like more than one team.

768
00:38:12,840 --> 00:38:15,120
Speaker 2: Come on, you know what, what the hell, it's bold predictions.

769
00:38:15,160 --> 00:38:18,720
Speaker 2: I'm gonna say the Pittsburgh Pirates sneak into the last

770
00:38:18,719 --> 00:38:22,680
Speaker 2: wild card spot with a caveat that they need to

771
00:38:22,680 --> 00:38:25,279
Speaker 2: put their top prospect. They put count Gret They need

772
00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:29,480
Speaker 2: to put what is going to be an unbelievable shortstop

773
00:38:29,960 --> 00:38:33,279
Speaker 2: on the opening day roster. If they do that, I

774
00:38:33,320 --> 00:38:35,800
Speaker 2: think the Pittsburgh Parts can sneak into the last spot

775
00:38:35,840 --> 00:38:37,960
Speaker 2: of the National League walk card.

776
00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:43,440
Speaker 1: So my prediction is that the twenty twenty six World

777
00:38:43,480 --> 00:38:47,879
Speaker 1: Series will not have a participant from either the NL

778
00:38:47,880 --> 00:38:52,319
Speaker 1: West or the AL East. That's my bold prediction.

779
00:38:52,400 --> 00:38:55,000
Speaker 2: And that is because that's show that show Hay in Company.

780
00:38:55,600 --> 00:39:01,440
Speaker 1: Yeah, that's that's no Dodgers. That's no that's no Orioles,

781
00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:03,719
Speaker 1: that's no Red Sox. And when you think about it,

782
00:39:04,080 --> 00:39:06,560
Speaker 1: that's what we've seen consistently the last two of Blue

783
00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:10,000
Speaker 1: Jays Dodgers in twenty five, Yankees Dodgers in twenty four,

784
00:39:10,160 --> 00:39:12,919
Speaker 1: and the Diamondbacks versus the Rangers. So you know, five

785
00:39:12,960 --> 00:39:15,080
Speaker 1: out of the last six participants over the last three

786
00:39:15,120 --> 00:39:17,000
Speaker 1: years in the World Series have come from either the

787
00:39:17,080 --> 00:39:19,839
Speaker 1: NLS or the AL East. My bold prediction is that

788
00:39:19,880 --> 00:39:22,200
Speaker 1: the two teams that make the World Series this year

789
00:39:22,360 --> 00:39:25,880
Speaker 1: will be neither from the AOS or the East. And

790
00:39:25,960 --> 00:39:27,359
Speaker 1: of course you have to hope that one of those

791
00:39:27,360 --> 00:39:30,480
Speaker 1: two are the Atlanta Braves. Stephen, anything else from you

792
00:39:30,520 --> 00:39:33,320
Speaker 1: as we wrap up this edition of the Hammer Territory Podcast.

793
00:39:33,600 --> 00:39:35,880
Speaker 2: No, just making sure my bracket doesn't get busted on

794
00:39:35,920 --> 00:39:39,240
Speaker 2: day one. We got three more days of the tournament

795
00:39:39,280 --> 00:39:44,240
Speaker 2: before next weekend. But more importantly, Opening Day is next week.

796
00:39:44,360 --> 00:39:46,960
Speaker 2: Next week, when we get to Monday, we are in

797
00:39:47,000 --> 00:39:50,360
Speaker 2: a game week where regular season games will be played.

798
00:39:50,760 --> 00:39:52,680
Speaker 2: I think starting next week we're gonna go back to

799
00:39:52,800 --> 00:39:54,880
Speaker 2: like full time, like four shows a week, like we

800
00:39:54,960 --> 00:39:58,240
Speaker 2: do in season, because guess what we will be in season,

801
00:39:58,440 --> 00:40:01,359
Speaker 2: And I can't wait. I am still curious to see

802
00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:03,360
Speaker 2: what the Braves do roster wise. Obviously they're going have

803
00:40:03,360 --> 00:40:05,640
Speaker 2: to make decisions about guys that have in camp. Are

804
00:40:05,640 --> 00:40:08,120
Speaker 2: they gonna make any decisions about guys who are currently

805
00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,800
Speaker 2: in camp. We'll find out in the next few days.

806
00:40:10,800 --> 00:40:15,799
Speaker 2: But Opening Day, which is in Atlanta in Truest Park

807
00:40:15,880 --> 00:40:18,759
Speaker 2: this year, which is not normal for them, is like

808
00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:20,160
Speaker 2: a week away, and I can't.

809
00:40:19,920 --> 00:40:23,920
Speaker 1: Wait, Absolutely can't wait. It's gonna be awesome start to

810
00:40:23,920 --> 00:40:26,239
Speaker 1: the season. We'll talk about some things. One thing that

811
00:40:26,280 --> 00:40:28,600
Speaker 1: we haven't talked about enough is the fact that the

812
00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:31,000
Speaker 1: Braves just don't need to start zero to seven this year,

813
00:40:31,239 --> 00:40:34,279
Speaker 1: and that'll be in schedule. Yeah, yes, that'll be in

814
00:40:34,320 --> 00:40:36,200
Speaker 1: and of itself. A really good thing for Steven Tober.

815
00:40:36,280 --> 00:40:38,120
Speaker 1: You can find it, but be undersquare outliers on Twitter,

816
00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:41,879
Speaker 1: Slasheckt Sean Comin at stats Sac. Until next time, we'll

817
00:40:41,920 --> 00:40:44,080
Speaker 1: talk to you again soon. Go braves, have a great one.

818
00:40:44,160 --> 00:40:45,920
Speaker 1: We'll talk to you soon here in the Hamber Territory

819
00:40:45,920 --> 00:40:46,440
Speaker 1: Podcast