Transcript
Cody Atkinson: Hello and welcome to the Coastal Launch Sports Talk. I'm Cody coming to you from the bayous of Houston, Texas.
Justin Daulton: And I'm Justin coming to you from the magic of Orlando, Florida.
Cody Atkinson: And today we will be your destination for the MLB trade deadline. Yet again, this is our last episode before the before the trade deadline. And it's time for us to check back in on the status of our Bubblicious teams from last week. There have been up to 10 games played for some of these teams and with only 10.
Cody Atkinson: three to four games left before the deadline. Each of these teams really should have an idea at this point of whether they're buying, they're selling, or they're staying put. So we're going to check back in on what we said about them last week. Maybe they've said anything about themselves and we're go to see if we agree with it. So we're going check back in on these teams. This is the last chance we have to say who should buy, who should sell, and and whether this trade deadline will be ah worth it or not, whether it'll be a dud or or a banger. So With our trajectory set, it's time to sit back, lock in, and get started with the rundown.
Cody Atkinson: This is the Coastal Launch, and we are ready for liftoff here on episode 25. Yeah.
Justin Daulton: All right, man. um Good job. We had a pivot today. We were going to have our official wrestling correspondent on this on this week's episode, but he's got some some medical stuff taken care of that he's got to take care of over with his fam.
Justin Daulton: So we wish nothing but the best for the for our boy Mike and his fam. Hopefully everyone's doing all right. But good job throwing together the bones of this episode in, what, less than 30 minutes?
Cody Atkinson: yeah Yeah, I mean, most of most of it was going to be there already.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: Obviously, we do our rundown and our breakdown. So this is just kind of going to be an extended extended rundown. We're just going to go a little deeper than than we usually do, even though we normally go longer than we're supposed to on the rundown.
Cody Atkinson: We're going to go a little bit longer this time. And that's going to be it. No major topic this week. But yeah, definitely thoughts and prayers with with Mike. Hope everything's all right with him and the fam. And ah hopefully we can talk to him again soon.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, we'll definitely have a back on here around November-ish timeframe for Survivor Series, which is was announced, I think, two weeks ago that's going to be in Houston. so ah So right there in your backyard that you're going be able to see how Houston puts on for WWE here in a couple months.
Cody Atkinson: Oh, nice.
Cody Atkinson: That's right.
Justin Daulton: So we'll talk about that soon.
Cody Atkinson: And if you're in need of a vacation, man.
Justin Daulton: I would love to go on a vacation ah to Houston.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah,
Justin Daulton: i don't not Not that I need an excuse to go on a vacation to Houston, but... ah If that doesn't happen, you are for sure coming to Orlando in December. So for for the amazing, I'll say for the amazing bowl game that is the Pop-Turple.
Cody Atkinson: yeah yeah, yeah, we are. For the Pop-Tart Bowl, baby.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, the people's championship as they call it. And I accept that i think that title.
Justin Daulton: yeah i Yeah, yes.
Cody Atkinson: That is the people's championship. I agree.
Justin Daulton: The moment that we can buy tickets, we're we're buying tickets to go to this game. I'm so excited.
Cody Atkinson: Absolutely.
Justin Daulton: um But other than that, man, let's let's hop in. there's ah There's been some big things that have happened since we reported last week. So ah right off the bat, something that probably just would have been a notification, honestly, in a normal episode is that LeBron James has finally decided where he is going to play basketball for the next say at least two years.
Justin Daulton: um and that is the Philadelphia 76ers. Obviously, this is old news in the grand scheme of the the sports climate, sports environment by the point by the time that we're recording.
Justin Daulton: But something that we kind of, obviously, we are self-proclaimed we are not a basketball podcast. Our fingers are not on the pulse of the NBA in the basketball world. But when LeBron makes headlines, we got to talk about LeBron making headlines.
Justin Daulton: So LeBron has said that this is his last stop in his career. He's going to retire as a Philadelphia 76er. The roster composition around LeBron, at least as of right now, a couple months before tip-off, is LeBron, Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jalen Brown, Vijay Edekombe, and then Edgecombe.
Cody Atkinson: Edge comb.
Justin Daulton: Okay. um And...
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, you really made that tougher than it needed to be.
Justin Daulton: I did. I did. I didn't know if it was going to be a foreign name or not on that. And then Anfernee Simmons. i you What are your thoughts? You know, obviously, like I guess said, we're not a basketball pod, but LeBron is LeBron, probably one of the greatest basketball players of all time, at least of our generation, for sure, with him and Kobe.
Justin Daulton: So, you know, any thoughts as LeBron has finally kind of not necessarily just picked the Sixers, but saying that this is also his final stop in his career?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, i mean after for me, I think the bigger news is that this is for sure the final stop in his career, a long tenured career that I think has lasted longer than really anyone ever thought it could or would. i think that's the biggest news is just as these are the last chances you have to watch, um you know, depending on your stance, either the greatest basketball player of all time or at least the greatest basketball player of this generation, depending on where you stand on the Michael LeBron debate. I think that's the bigger news, right? Because like,
Cody Atkinson: Philadelphia fans are going absolutely crazy for signing LeBron. And I understand that to a degree. Like if you sign LeBron, you're going to go crazy. And especially if you sign them for $4 million dollars a year, which is, you know, a backup salary, like that's less than a backup salary.
Cody Atkinson: Like it's such a steal. But at the same time, I think if you look at this roster, this looks like a roster that you would have created in the super team era to try to win. And that's just not what's winning right now.
Cody Atkinson: That's not what the Knicks were last year.
Justin Daulton: Mm-hmm.
Cody Atkinson: That's not what the Thunder were. That's not what the Celtics were. like it's it To me, this doesn't look like a roster that I think wins it all. And so I don't think this is like a huge shake the NBA move. I think they, in my mind, they're not, it just doesn't make them Eastern Conference favorites. It doesn't, you know, make them,
Cody Atkinson: NBA finals favorites, but it's a very interesting place for him to land because I would have assumed he went back somewhere back to Cleveland back to Miami. um And he didn't and we know for sure that his career is winding to a halt and so just soak it up while you can but you know, I'm not expecting lightning from the 76ers by any means.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. I mean, it'd be fun to see one more, one more run from LeBron, honestly, like it'd be fun to to see that conversation piece, especially because LeBron is easily one of the most decorated NBA players of all time.
Justin Daulton: So it'd be, it'd be fun to see one more from him, whether it's the season or next. So, I mean, it just, it's fun to see, right. And anytime that we get to see these retirement tours, you know, if he does, if it is this year or it's next year, whatever it is, the retirement tour that's going to happen is, is going to be legendary because, know,
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: LeBron is that guy. we We were all there when LeBron gets drafted in 2018. We understand his high school this high school side of things. like we were We were very much aware of LeBron when he when he came up and did his hit thing. and so i mean you know It's going to be a story that's studied for generations to come on. like you know Think back on like the decision when he does leave Cleveland to go to Miami and you know the decision to go back to Cleveland and then to go to to go to the Lakers and all that stuff. so you know he's got ah He's got one hell of a career, so I'm happy to see it come to an end because then we can finally close the book on you know this conversation and actually have the the thorough conversation with the with the careers being done of LeBron, Kobe, MJ, and B.A., who legitimately is the best basketball player of all time because then you can actually look at the the entire body of work.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I think that's the bigger the bigger thing, right? Obviously, like you said, it would be really cool to see another run. um There's always the chance that you could, right? like I think this last year, and I really only know this because the only team I follow is the Rockets and not closely, but when it came to the playoffs, LeBron was fresh from kind of coasting through the season and he he went off on the Rockets a little bit and if he's able to do something like that in philly you could definitely see a run i'm not expecting it um but at the same time i think one of the things we've we've learned in this generation of sports is to appreciate greatness right like we can spend our careers hating tom brady because he keeps winning or we can just appreciate that we're getting to watch the greatest quarterback of or at least the most decorated quarterback of all time and it same thing with the brawn right you can you can You can hate LeBron because you're an MJ fan, or you can just appreciate that you got to watch LeBron and that like your grandkids will ask you what it was like to watch him. And so in the, in the sense of that, it's like, just appreciate the final run and and maybe we'll get some magic. Maybe we won't, but you know, either way, it it it'll be fun to, to, to see how this wraps up.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, absolutely. um Going out of NBA um and into the NHL week, it seems to be that the young goat self-proclaimed by proclaimed by you.
Cody Atkinson: we're going from We're going from goat to young goat. That's the transition we're looking for here, Justin. that was this That was the transition. Yes, yes, yes.
Justin Daulton: um the NHL finding a way to stay relevant on this pod over their offseason. Macklin Celebrini, someone that we've discussed quite a bit on this pod from the the Olympics on through the end of the regular season um and then not necessarily to the playoffs this year, but potentially very soon into the playoffs.
Justin Daulton: Macklin Celebrini today signs a five-year, $94 million dollars contract, which averages to $18.8 million dollars a year to year, which now puts Macklin Celebrini as the highest paid player in the and NHL.
Justin Daulton: I'm getting a lot of deja vu here, Cody. We literally just talked about Leo Carlson literally last week.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: The week before, you talked about a lot of contract signings that were going on around the league. before that nothing that reached this 18 million mark but a few that reached out that but I think they were reaching the 10 11 a year contract so aye kudos to you for pointing out last week on the pod I actually listened to the pod because I am in a I'm in a funk of like getting out of a book series so I got back in the podcast recently so listen to last week and just reminded like the staggering number that we're now going to see because of the increase in the salary cap year over year over year year and we're seeing it now like we're we're rewarding Macklin Celebrity last week we talked about Bedard you know talked about Leo Carlson it's it's insane numbers now that were we're seeing from from the NHL and you know what we're going to continue to see now with people you know these franchises really being like you're the face of the franchise and instead of the
Justin Daulton: what was it? The, the 8 million average that Stan coast got at the, at the peak of the lightnings dynasty, right? That was, I remember you and I texting when, when Stan coast on that $8 million dollar deal average over, over his contract, we're like, that is insane numbers for, for an NHL player.
Justin Daulton: But now we're in this $18 million dollars annual average, not even 10 years later.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, there's there's two points on a victory lap real quick and then and then one dark cloud hanging over. One point I want to victory lap is on a solo pod, I said,
Cody Atkinson: um that the carlson offer sheet that the the blackhawks and the sharks would be watching it closely because they don't want the same thing to happen to bedard and celebrini but darlin celebrini become like the next two big names to sign so um i i wasn't going out on a limb by saying that but hey i i was right they were paying attention and they both made sure to get it done before um they had to counter any sort of offer sheet. And then two, um last week I just made the point, you know I gave the stat, like no teams ever want stay the cup with a player making over 10 million. And I said,
Cody Atkinson: be ready for that to to fall apart because this is going to become the norm. And, and, and like you said, we've seen three weeks in a row now. I think it was, I think it was Carlson two weeks ago, Bedard last week and Celebrini this week. So we've seen three in a row. This won't be, the it might be the last this off season, but it won't be the last, might not be the last this off season either. Cause I think I saw something that's in Minnesota was trying negotiate an extension with Quinn Hughes. I could definitely see him getting above as well. But,
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I think this is just a new normal. And and I think the dark cloud hanging over that just something that I heard mentioned on another hockey podcast is um as the sport gets more as a salary cap gets bigger and the sport gets more expensive.
Cody Atkinson: ah We might have we might be in the era where we see the shakeup of of the NHL. The NHL has teams. unlike any other sport in some of these smaller markets, you have Winnipeg, you have Calgary, you have, I don't know if Vancouver is a small market or not.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: You have, even in the U S or you have some smaller city teams like Columbus that you don't see in the other major sports. And and as the NFL gets more, or the and NHL gets more expensive, are we going to see some of them go by the wayside and move to big markets?
Cody Atkinson: I would hope, I hope not. Because I think that would take some of the life out of what's fun about this sport. But but we as these numbers come across, that's something that, like unfortunately, i think we have to be afraid of. like Are we going any... like like is Is Columbus going to move to to Cleveland or Cincinnati? is Is Winnipeg going to move to wherever up north is another big market that doesn't have a team? you know like Are we going see some of these small markets lose their teams because they can't keep up with the finances? Yeah.
Justin Daulton: It's an interesting thought, right? I mean, we see in the current state of affairs with baseball, right? With the athletics moving out of Oakland, you know, Oakland not necessarily being a small market, but ah at least a market that didn't want support the franchise, right? and And building them a new stadium or helping with a new stadium deal.
Justin Daulton: You know, it's the constant conversation in Tampa, right? Where, you know, the new ownership group of the Rays are still fighting the city to to get this new stadium deal off the ground.
Justin Daulton: And everyone from the fans up or for at least from the fans down perspective in the organization wants this new deal to happen. Like the renderings keep coming out. We're all on board with what they're, what we're seeing. Like, this is great. This is, it's putting it in the same area as Raymond James, which is an an easy area to navigate.
Justin Daulton: You know, it's only going to be about 20 minutes from, Formerly Amelie Arena, now it's Benchmark Arena down on a Channel Side off of the water. And, you know, that puts it right next to the highway so it's easy to get in and out.
Justin Daulton: It just makes it a great environment. So, mean, you have that conversation with Tampa that if the city doesn't make it happen, what happens to the Rays? Because the Rays can't stay in St. Petersburg past 2030.
Justin Daulton: So it's not just affecting NHL as the, as the NHL gets bigger, but major league baseball is also getting bigger. and you're seeing that when you look at average attendance at the drop, it's not there.
Justin Daulton: Right. So you, you've got to figure out, you know, what happens?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Do you move the race to Orlando? And now is that an Orlando team? And is it truly built around tourism and, you know getting people with that are here for the parks to also now go to race games while they're in orlando i'm not a big fan of the proposal where they're gonna where they want to build the stadium in orlando because it's not easy to get it out if in and out of it it's right where i used to live it's not great so it's it we're seeing that conversation across all all sports you know nfl got affected by two the raiders move out of oakland you know there's kind you know nba got it with you know the
Justin Daulton: you know We saw it in our time with the Supersonics coming to an end to move down to OKC. OKC, not even really that big of a market either, getting a team like the Supersonics.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-mm.
Justin Daulton: So, I mean, it it affects all all major four. and And I think as the NHL continues to get bigger, you're going to have those conversations naturally of can...
Justin Daulton: a winnipeg support can i think the easy one is can a columbus truly support nnhl franchise and sell out that arena and can the product continue to be what it needs to be to put butts in seats right i think the reason why tampa is successful is because tampa wins and they are able to put butts in seats right so as if you can put a good product out there then you can keep your franchise but you know you've got a tough uphill battle you know that you know baseball wants to go to nashville Nashville not really considered a big market in terms of the other grand scheme of like the Titans struggle to fill their stadium and they're about to launch a new stadium what next season so I mean you know what are they able to do because the product for the Titans aren't great isn't great either so what does that look like with these brand new shiny stadiums that we're building in these not necessarily big markets that we're gonna that we're gonna see in the future
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, no, I think it's a big question. I think for me, it it looms over the and NHL and the MLB, the darkest, right? Like I think part of why I love the and NHL is it feels so old school in the like,
Cody Atkinson: players are playing for the heart of the game like the salaries are the lowest there so these guys are still blue they they still give off blue collar vibes in the way that they play and they carry themselves it feels very like old school for the love of the game in that sense and and i think this is an era where you could you could lose that and i just for myself i'm be i'm just curious how that affects the the enjoyment of the product and then from the mlb like you said not only with Oakland and and Tampa, but also the fact that we're probably not getting an MLB season or at least not a full season next year.
Cody Atkinson: And that's just like a slap in the face of, of you know, just kind of money money running
Justin Daulton: Yeah. Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: the sports right now. And when money runs the sports, the the the fans don't get a seat at the table. It's, it's ownership and it's, it's players and the fans are left to just hope that um whatever outcome occurs just accidentally favors them. Right. Cause nobody, nobody's fighting for what nobody cares or is fighting for what the fans want. So it's just kind of a disappointing thing. And, you know, I, I celebrate the celebrity news, but because I'm a huge fan and the key, I, I think there's every chance when this current wave retires that he he's the next goat that the sport grabs onto, um in my opinion. So I celebrate the signing, but also i hope Hockey doesn't lose kind of its its edge in the process.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I mean, it's going to be interesting to watch. I think hockey has found a way to evolve in their own way over the last couple of years. And it's been natural and it hasn't really been to become mainstream.
Justin Daulton: It's very much been, we're going to do our own thing. And if we get popular, we get popular. And they have, we talked about it last week, but it's almost like it's three a three b with nba andl now because of that so i think i think the nhl is in a good position especially as they look you know there's conversation around expansion again in the and nhl it's like you know obviously we're talking about houston right and we you know houston and austin really being the conversation for the next one so you know it does seem like the nhl wants to get 232 to match the nfl i think that is everyone's arms race right now
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: with the MLB as well wanting to get to 32 with, it does seem like Nashville is the, the leading candidate for the expansion team for the East coast.
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: So it really is, where does it go out West? You know, is it Salt Lake? Is it, you know, it, is it elsewhere? Like, what does it look like out West? So, you know, it's, and who can get to 32 next and that's really the the the league that really has a chance to take the next lion's share of of the sports market outside of the nfl because as we talked about last week the nfl is not giving up their their number one spot anytime soon
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, not anytime soon. And yeah, I have no idea who they would give it up to if they did. It's that big of a gap right now. so
Justin Daulton: yeah i mean yeah it's it
Justin Daulton: them i i think it's still easy to say that baseball is number two um but as we talked about last week with the with the pending lockout and the direct quote this week from jeff pisan uh with espn saying that he's talked to multiple owners this week and multiple owners have said they are not anticipating playing a single game of baseball next season so
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, it's crazy. It's crazy.
Justin Daulton: yeah So, I mean, get ready for it. Obviously, let's enjoy the next you know two months of regular season baseball and then get ready for October. And then ah I guess you and I are just going to live off of just hockey after after the NFL season ends next year.
Cody Atkinson: I mean, i' I'll be living off a college baseball, too. Don't don't worry.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, maybe that's what – maybe I'll have to just actually tune into a full season of college baseball at that point the to get my fix.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah.
Justin Daulton: But once again, that really only gets me to June.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: True. And then, yeah, then it really is just hockey at that point.
Justin Daulton: And then even in June, the June really means the end of hockey too. So.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, there's going to be, it'll be a legitimate dead, dead period. Cause I think the and MLS, even beyond that, like the MLS, I think is changing its schedule next year to match like with premier league and other soccer leagues.
Cody Atkinson: So you won't even have MLS running the whole summer like it is right now.
Justin Daulton: Makes sense.
Justin Daulton: yeah It's going to be interesting. But we don't have to talk about that right now. ah You do have a fun game in here for the Celebrating News. And it's one that I'm interested in, especially as a team like Tampa, that, you know, as we talked a little bit about Tampa, is in this is in this weird spot of do you sell or do you...
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Or do you buy in in the in Tampa? Do you continue to to leverage your future to to be more successful? Or do you start to sell these bigger names to to move into the next phase of the organization?
Justin Daulton: And I think it's a good game to play here. Pick one for your team, right? I know you are staying neutral in the grand scheme of the and NHL right now in the hopes of of a Houston franchise here in the next five years or or so.
Cody Atkinson: Okay.
Justin Daulton: So I will say for the sake of this game, I want you to be, let's say you are the Blackhawks without Bedard for the sake of this game.
Cody Atkinson: okay
Justin Daulton: So I will still be Tampa because I can at least speak for the farm system for Tampa and and in the future of what the Lightning have. So you are the general manager for the Blackhawks.
Justin Daulton: I need you to pick one player to be the captain of your team for at least the next eight seasons to build your team around.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I think they're all, i think all of these guys are five-year contracts, if I'm not mistaken.
Justin Daulton: Five year contracts.
Cody Atkinson: So going to say next five years.
Justin Daulton: Five years. So you have Macklin celebrating as we talked about, but 152 played, assists are doing here? with a hundred and seventy eight
Cody Atkinson: That's just the points, the total goals plus assists there.
Justin Daulton: points i would get total points i was like what are we doing here um And then Leo Carlson, 201 games played, 61 goals, 80 assists for a total of 141 points.
Justin Daulton: And then Bedard, 219 games played, 75 goals, 128 assists, 203 points. So for you, you're now the GM of the Chicago Blackhawks.
Justin Daulton: Congratulations. you not get the money You don't get the money that goes along with it, sorry to tell you.
Cody Atkinson: Thank you.
Justin Daulton: ah But you are you are building your franchise around one guy who you pick in.
Cody Atkinson: Well, given this is this is fitting, given that I have to go to Chicago next week for work. um
Justin Daulton: Hehehehe.
Cody Atkinson: and This is easy for me. um I do. I can hear the argument that Bedard is the is the best value here with the 3.8 million savings and plenty of upside. But I And king of the Celebrini is going to be the goat of of hockey once this current wave of anyone that you might consider a goat retires, right? When when when these guys retire and hockey is looking for a new goat because every sport needs someone to fill that vacuum, it's going to be Celebrini. And I don't care the price. That's who I want on my team.
Cody Atkinson: I think you see it here from the stats perspective too. and in In less games than Carlson, he has more goals. He has more assists. In significantly less games than Bedard, he is nipping at his heels for for goals and assists. and And you can argue surrounding Castell, you want Celebrini hasn't had a lot to play with. The best players on his team are as young as he is and figuring it out on their own as well. I don't care the price. That's not enough savings. I'm taking Celebrini every day of the week.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, i it's a tough argument, right, to to fight against it. You know, if I'm the Lightning and I'm trying to figure out what what to do next, right, you know, Vazzy maybe has a couple more seasons of being a top-tier goalie to compete for Viznas and potentially, you know, playoff appearances and all that stuff.
Justin Daulton: Kooch, the same type of conversation. So really your only youth is coming back to Braden Point, but Braden Point at this point is getting to the the midpoint of his of his prime.
Justin Daulton: as an NHL player so you know I'm looking at someone that can be the captain and really usher in the next generation and someone that I can build around and for me that's where I that's where I'm going lean back towards that Connor Bedard like Bedard has really been someone that in Chicago has been the focal point he's someone that's shouldered the the franchise he's shown that he can lead you know the guys and be that next generation
Cody Atkinson: e
Justin Daulton: where I don't dispute what you're talking about with Celebrini, because i do think Celebrini has that potential in the next you know five years to become Ovi or Sid the Kid or Stamkos or whoever, whatever conversation you want to have about, yeah, McDavid, you know, i and what does it look like for Celebrini in the future?
Cody Atkinson: McDavid.
Justin Daulton: The only question is, can he shoulder the franchise and be that guy? And I think that's the only conversation, right? Because you you mentioned, right, the Sharks are a young franchise. They are still building around what what this core is going to be for the next five years.
Justin Daulton: So i think we're going learn a lot about Celebrini here in the next two seasons as the Sharks become legitimate contenders in that division um over the next couple seasons. So I think from where the lightning you're at, and if I was to build for the next, you know, 10 years in Tampa, if I could get one of these three guys, I'm going with Bedard because he's shown that he can lead
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: you know I could see Hedman handing him the C here in the next couple of seasons. I could see Braden Point being on the same line with him and really feeding him the puck and all that. The dart is just that ready-made leader where just need to see a little bit more from from celebrating.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I can see that. I mean, I think, like I said, I think Bedard is the best. He's he's value here. Like if you're if you're imagining your team and you're imagining cap space and and who you would have to let go, I can absolutely see Bedard. He is is an incredible value compared to like Carlson at 18 million. um but but ah But then again, i think Celebrity's best talent, Bedard maybe best value. um Carlson, if you are looking at, it's hard to argue for him given how bad the ducks fumbled this and overpaid. But if you're looking for playoff success, like he's the only one in this group that that has had that and just came off of that. So you could, if you wanted to look to that, I think that's where you could definitely look to Carlson as well.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. And I mean, it's not discounted Carlson. i meet Everyone on here listened to me talk about the Ducks over the playoffs. Right. you know, I would love to see the Ducks make a run for it next year. i don't know. They've lost.
Justin Daulton: They've lost too many players to to sit back and say that.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: I still think they will be competitive because Carlson is that good of a player. But what's the what is the ceiling for for the Ducks going into 26, 27 this year?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I think Carlson is just the worst value because they let him get to the offer sheet and Philly did them dirty. You know, it's not not a knock on Carlson by any means, but um you would like Carlson a lot better if he was at that Bedard 15 area, not at 18.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. Any last thoughts on the Celebrity stuff before we move on?
Cody Atkinson: No, mean, I think that's good. I think that's, I think if we talk any further, going to start saying stuff that's just wrong.
Justin Daulton: um Okay, cool. i Something that's not, you know, making new cycles quite yet, but something we talked about the very end of the episode last week, NFL training camps have started. Every team has now reported to training camp. Veterans for the Texans reported like four days ago or something like that. and today, actually, as we reported, was the first live reps of preseason football or training camp football for the Texans.
Justin Daulton: CJ Stroud throws five passes today, or he has five dropbacks today. One was a sack by Will Anderson, so Will Anderson already in regular season form. And one was then it was four and four four completed passes, one interception to Kamari Lassiter.
Cody Atkinson: I'll
Justin Daulton: also already in regular season form. So it's looking good for for the defense inside of the ball. um But not yet correct.
Cody Atkinson: take it, man.
Justin Daulton: So not a whole lot of notes to really talk about. I heard the passes looked good, but there wasn't really a lot of cameras allowed today at training camp. So I don't know what they we're going to see come out of it.
Justin Daulton: But CJ Stroud completing passes sounds good to me. So better than what the last time we saw CJ Stroud dropping back and throwing the football. ah
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: so But some news came out this week, something to talk about, at least for the Texans. Jalen Noel starting out on the injured list, and Tank Gell beginning training camp on the side field, just trying to get some live movement with the guys out there.
Justin Daulton: It seems like, and no one's reporting on it, but it seems like Tank Gell is trying to be back in game action at some point in preseason football. So obviously he still has a couple check marks to get on the sheet, you know, before he, before he gets there. But yeah, Everything I'm kind of seeing and hearing is that Tinkdale wants to be ready by that that week two or week three preseason. So that way he can be ready for week one against the Bills.
Justin Daulton: So it'll, you know, let's see and let's hope. in And something you and I were texting back and forth when the when the the news came out about the the state of affairs for the wide receiver room with Jalen Noel.
Justin Daulton: you know, yes, this wide receiver room is deep. There's a lot of talent in this wide receiver room, but starting off with two of these kind of smaller stature players potentially not playing is it's that's a rough start for the Texans.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I mean, i'm to we have talked ad nauseum over the offseason of how big of a year this is for CJ Stroud. Like everyone knows that this will this is a make or break year. Either he's going to get an insane contract extension or he's going to be a reclamation project for somebody else.
Cody Atkinson: and And I really think a lot of that is going to come down to the slot receiver position. I think when we've seen CJ Stroud at his best, he's had a really strong slot receiver. Like in college, if I'm not mistaken, Marvin Harrison was a slot receiver and and him and CJ connected.
Cody Atkinson: In year one, when CJ went crazy, it was Tank Dell going crazy right beside him.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: um And then the last couple of seasons where he struggled, we haven't, we haven't seen that, right? Tank Dell goes down, CJ Stroud's, you know, season kind of teeters off as well. And then last year you're hoping it's Jalen Noel and then, and he doesn't live live up to it.
Cody Atkinson: So for me, this is very disappointing to see on day one, Noel's already out and tank Dell, maybe not as close to being back as we'd hope. You know, I'm i'm with you that I hope he's, He's back in the preseason for for week one, but a guy who hasn't been hit in two years, it's a little nerve wracking that he's not ready to get hit yet.
Cody Atkinson: And so you just wonder what it's going to take to get him there. So I think this, I think this is bigger to watch than it might seem like based on their names, but this position i think is going to be huge to whether Cedar Stroud succeeds or not.
Cody Atkinson: and And I hope one of these guys can be ready to go to take the next step. Yeah. you know, by bi week one.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I mean, regardless, like, you know, we know where you're going to get out of Nico and going into this season, right? Nico's a top 10 wide receiver in the NFL. Can Jaden Higgins become the next guy, you know, to be that 1B over there? We saw spurts of brilliance in the rookie campaign.
Justin Daulton: So can he make the next step in his and in this season? i don't know. I wasn't thrilled about hit Higgins and Noel being the second round and third round picks last year.
Justin Daulton: So I'll be interested to see, you know, does Higgins take the next step? I hope so. I don't, I'm, I'm still out on the Noel experiment. I know that he's the speedy guy. I know he's the pump return, kick return guy.
Justin Daulton: But even when he was back there, he didn't make a difference, unfortunately, last season. So, you know, I hope it's Dell. So that way, you know, a he's a CJ guy. So you at least CJ gets his gets ah gets a homeboy in there.
Cody Atkinson: Sorry.
Justin Daulton: And he's got someone that it's a different language when you when you have your guys in there and playing with you. So I hope it's Tank that's in there with CJ. Because I think the culture around the locker room be will be significantly better with with Tank on that field.
Justin Daulton: And... hey It also helps Niko when you look at the grand scheme of because if you have to pay attention to tank, you know, middle of the field, sideline to sideline, whatever it may be with the speed guy, that gives Niko the chance to go deep on those deeper routes that Niko is...
Justin Daulton: so much better than than anyone else on the roster so if we could free up nico to be that guy instead of like a lot of what we saw last year with the screens to the slant routes to the the inning and the in and out you know type of type of route tree that we saw nico running last year so hopefully knock on wood you know tankdale unlocks a different part of this offense than than what we saw last year
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, we've all seen the Nico tank CJ chemistry when they're all working together. I think best case scenario, you get what you got in that rookie season for them too. but But I would just definitely feel a lot better if I knew Jalen Noel was ready to go in case Tank isn't. The fact that they both might not be ready, that that's just something to consider that has me a little concerned because you really want everything to be perfect for CJ this year so you can know for sure what he's got.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. I mean, we we put a ah brand new offensive line in front of them. You know, you hope that Higgins and Noel have a step up in their production going into year two. Nico is Nico. got a new running back with with with David Montgomery.
Justin Daulton: So you get different tight ends. You get a blocking tight end in there to offset Dalton Schultz. So in terms of what is around CJ this year, it feels like a better team than what we had last year. And this team was already really good last year.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: So CJ be the guy? So I think that's the question that we're all going to be asking as we get to, I think I was watching the the intro video for D'Amico today.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: I think it's what September 13th or something like that is, is week one against the bills. So, I mean, we're, we're real close to, to, you know, put up or shut up time for, for CJ and,
Justin Daulton: You know, it's, it's all the films are going to be in front of us for the next, you know, 17 to 18, you know, games, hopefully more games than that, but at least 17, 18 games.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, hopefully 20 or 21 or whatever its take whatever the number would be.
Justin Daulton: I think it's 20.
Justin Daulton: he's twenty I think it's 20 in the NFL.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, yeah of hopefully 20 then.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. Yeah. Um, uh, pivoting away from the Texans, other notable, notable NFL injuries. Um, Brian Breezy for the New Orleans Saints also coming in hurt.
Justin Daulton: Um, Nick Squarton, uh, also hurt for Carolina, Chris Brazil, the second, um, Brazil, the second.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, Chris Brazil II. these are These are just some guys that that, from what I can gather, got hurt on day one of training camp.
Justin Daulton: Hmm.
Cody Atkinson: And you you you hate to see that for each of these guys, just for for anybody. You hate to see it come in full. All this offseason waiting and they get hurt day one. It's just a massive bummer and just worth noting for some of these teams, Carolina specifically, who took a couple hits there.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, the other names you have on here are Tristan Wurst and then Shamar Stewart. A couple Aggies on this list that you hate to see go down with some injuries going into this into the season.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: i Also, some news I saw come out of Tampa today, Vita Vea requesting a trade out of Tampa. So, that's what...
Cody Atkinson: And ah Baker Mayfield playing out the end of his contract. He is going to be a free agent after this season, I think I saw.
Justin Daulton: Crazy. Crazy that the Bucs aren't going to give him a contract.
Cody Atkinson: He's not not extending.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. I mean, they lost Mike, Mike Evans this off season.
Justin Daulton: So...
Cody Atkinson: You're looking at losing Vita Veya and Baker next off season. It's interesting times with HIPAA.
Justin Daulton: hey I know quite a few Bucs fans down here. The Bucs are the only Tampa franchise that I don't actually follow. And listening to Bucs fans, they're not happy with Todd Bowles and Todd Bowles has needed to be fired for a couple seasons now.
Justin Daulton: And a lot of what you're seeing a lot of what you're seeing in terms of the roster composition is because ah of todd bowles and the decision making he's he's dealing with the general manager so vita vea obviously that's a big loss that they do actually move him before the regular season gets here that's a big guy on the on the defensive side of the on the defensive line with vita vea and then obviously mike evans should have been a hall of famer should have been a one team guy in his career he should have been a buck for the first entire career
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, that's fair.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: And then if you let Baker Mayfield walk, and if you let Baker walk to a Super Bowl contender contending team, Baker has the every bit of potential in him to be a Super Bowl winning quarterback.
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: You know, you look at, it you know, teams where, you know, um, The Rams may looking to move on you know very soon from Stafford if he retires after the season. you know What is the state of affairs with Patrick Mahomes? you know he kill He's coming off of ACL injuries. and you know Is he going to be Patrick Mahomes when he comes back? you know and you know The Texans, you know what does future look like you know with with or without C.J. Stroud?
Justin Daulton: not saying that C.J. needs to be moved on from, but like what if C.J. has a terrible season?
Cody Atkinson: Well,
Justin Daulton: and Then you go get a Baker Mayfield. is I think Baker's good enough. ah Not to say that Baker is an elite quarterback, but i put Baker in the top 15, maybe top 10 some weeks, and that might be serviceful enough to put the Texans into AFC Championship and turn and maybe even a Super Bowl.
Cody Atkinson: well I'll just put it this way. If Baker was the quarterback for the Texans in the playoffs last year, the Texans go to the Super Bowl.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. at least with the with At least with the run that we had, right?
Cody Atkinson: And to...
Justin Daulton: With the
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah. yeah just Just everything the same as it was last year.
Justin Daulton: with
Cody Atkinson: Just swap CJ and Baker. I think the Texans make it too. I'm not saying they beat the Seahawks necessarily, but I think they make it.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. Yeah, absolutely.
Cody Atkinson: So let's say... Let's say hypothetically, and then we can we can move on. Let's say CJ Stroud has a fine season, average season. but However, you in your mind, his season was was was good enough, not great.
Cody Atkinson: You get the end of the season.
Justin Daulton: Better than last season.
Cody Atkinson: in Yeah, better than last season. It was good enough. it we didn't, let's say Texans don't win the Super Bowl, but CJ played pretty well. Much better than his last season. You can't look at it and say it was his fault. Whatever happened, it was a tough schedule, yada, yada, yada.
Cody Atkinson: um you get to the end of the season you have two things in front of you extend cj or sign baker what are you doing
Justin Daulton: Did I make the AFC championship game or did I lose in the divisional round again?
Cody Atkinson: we'll say you made the afc champion well let's say you made the afc championship game but you got pants in it so let's give you a little bit of both there like you made it but it wasn't a good showing as a team not necessarily just cj
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. i
Cody Atkinson: Or I guess let's maybe if this if that's the way you want to phrase it, maybe put it this way.
Justin Daulton: That's tough.
Cody Atkinson: What does CJ have to accomplish for you to be like, it's CJ's my guy, not Baker in the offseason?
Justin Daulton: I think you have to get past the divisional round. i think if the divisional round is where you keep failing, and that might just be CJ's ceiling, at least with Houston, in the current state of affairs.
Cody Atkinson: I mean,
Cody Atkinson: it's the yeah, it's Houston's ceiling right now.
Justin Daulton: Right, correct. So, as a franchise, never made the AFC Championship game, so obviously no Super Bowl. But the current situation with CJ is that he just doesn't have enough to get past that game.
Justin Daulton: And it may be, yeah, you got to have another home game in there, right? You can't travel the entire playoffs, right? Whatever it may be.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: But you will have to win that game. I'm not saying you had to win the AFC championship game. But we have to break through this glass ceiling that is the AFC divisional round. So...
Cody Atkinson: if i'm If I'm hearing you, I feel like what you're trying to say is for CJ to be the dude, the Texans have to not only make the AFC championship game, but at some point in that run, CJ had to be the guy that did it. Like he had to do something. he had to he needed He had to have a game or a moment or something where you just said, we won that because he did that.
Justin Daulton: When you look at, if you look at recent memory and you can look back at just recent as last year, both quarterbacks that go into that game have MVP moments.
Cody Atkinson: At least one.
Justin Daulton: i'm not saying that they win mvp but they have MVP moments. Like Drake may had MVP moments last season that led them to where they were at. Right. When you look at Sam Darnold, he had MVP moments. He did it against the Texans. They were down against the Texans and he brought them back and he held all, held held the Texas off on Monday night football.
Justin Daulton: Right. It's, they have those moments that showcase to me why they are ready to play in Superbowl. cj sans his rookie year has not had mvp moments to showcase why i should spend you know what 200 million dollars on him that a patrick valhomes gets so until he does that and gives me a reason to say yes i don't give him the big contract but if he gets me past the divisional round
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: And he leads us down to games. He plays a whole healthy season. He plays games like an MVP caliber quarterback. He spreads the ball. The offense evolves over over last season.
Justin Daulton: Then, yes, I give him the contract. But if CJ doesn't grow this year, and the first time since Bobby Slug that he's had ah an offensive coordinator for two straight seasons.
Justin Daulton: You know, um the name is escaping me on the offensive coordinator, but they get the other guy from San Francisco to come in with him. um to be
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, Nick Caley.
Justin Daulton: Nick Kaley, he gets the the the guy his guy to come in from San Francisco to be the quarterback coach. So it's the same voice. It's the same messaging going down to CJ from Kaley. So he's hearing it from both rooms that he's in.
Justin Daulton: you know at least it's a consistent of messaging so you can't say it's coaching you know we just talked about it it is the roster composition this is the best roster cj has had in his entire career this is the best coaching staff that cj has had in his entire career so all the chips are on the table this is cj's moment and if he doesn't step up
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: then yeah, you move on. signed Baker and I go win a damn Super Bowl in the next five years because that's the caliber defense that we have that that we have right now.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, no.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I think I'm with you on that. I think i think you you're talking about that if CJ is the dude, i think they have to make it further than they made it before. And I think you have to be able to look at something and say they don't get that far if CJ isn't the guy, if CJ doesn't do this, if he doesn't do that.
Cody Atkinson: um And then if that's the case, then then you have what you need to say he's he's got it. and if he And if he doesn't, then I think you capitalize on a on a free agent market that has somebody like Baker Mayfield in it or you know whatever the other option. You move on and you go elsewhere for either either to pay up for a guy who's proved it or to start the rookie clock over and and keep the salary down so you can pay everybody else.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, absolutely. I'm ready to move on because the Texans are going to get me heated. So I don't know about you.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, yeah, yeah, dude. Yeah, we got to get you off the Texans. We're not we're not ready for, it's not it's not September yet.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. um Something that was interesting, man, that I that i sent you that today as a topic is SEC had their media day weekend last weekend.
Justin Daulton: And some, some Greg Sienke made some headlines. wellll We'll just put it that way.
Cody Atkinson: He did.
Justin Daulton: As he does every year, as he talks about how good the SEC is. But the SEC looking to institute its own rules in conference play that came up last over the weekend.
Justin Daulton: obviously we've talked on this pod about the current affairs of of college football or college athletics at the NIL and all this other thing, to the transfer portal, you name it, you know, the NCAA being a figurehead, not really having power and the courts have more power than the NCAA does.
Justin Daulton: So a lot of people around the the media kind of taking that by saying the SEC is looking to kind of, potentially breaking away from the NCAA and becoming their own entity and just kind of running their own ship and, you know,
Justin Daulton: I don't know what that looks like. I'm not smart enough to understand what Greg Sankey may be doing in the background of, you know, does that still mean that we get a college football ball playoff with the SEC? Does the SEC just do its own thing? Like, what does that look like? I don't know.
Justin Daulton: But there was something interesting in it that you know, there was this pod idea that I sent you today that I saw on Twitter – um of For the SEC to do this, they would need to expand their conference because they couldn't just branch off on their own and not bring in more talent. So the the proposal was that you subsidize the ACC into SEC.
Justin Daulton: um And that would that was pretty interesting to me that you kind of play within your, you almost have like a mini division within, or at least a division within the SEC again, as opposed to this one giant conglomerate and the but so top two teams just playing the conference championship every year.
Justin Daulton: So before we kind of go down these questions that that we put in here, what are your initial thoughts with just Greg Sankey with obviously the rules that they're instituting for just SEC play, but also this potential of the NCAA going away in the favor of the conferences are just sole proprietors of their teams.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I don't know. It's hard to say, right? Like, I don't put a lot of stock in the SEC saying that it's legitimately considering breaking away. i can't imagine.
Cody Atkinson: i i was about to say i can't imagine the average SEC fan wanting that, but the average SEC fan isn't necessarily bright. So, like, i don't know, maybe they would. But, like, Like, I wouldn't want that, right? Like, if you're telling me the SEC off on its own, playing by itself, and then we have the rest of college football playing for a different trophy, like, that's miserable to me. i don't want that.
Cody Atkinson: um like Like, I don't want to watch the sport that I love die. in, in, in crumble to become five different sports that are all not as good as, as they are together, you know? Um, so I don't, I don't put a lot of stock into that. It feels like grandstanding to me, like the sec really doesn't support the protect college sports act that, uh, Cody Campbell's pushing. And I don't think the big 10 supports it either. Um, and so there, I think they're grandstanding to get something different.
Cody Atkinson: Um, I put a story in here as the next point that I won't go into yet, but I think there are other movements in college football right now that are more likely to bring sustained success because I think, I think the answer is like, get don't, the government doesn't need to be involved for us to all come together, just collectively bargain.
Cody Atkinson: allll Join together, collectively bargain, and do what every single other sport you're looking at does because what you're doing isn't working. So just do what other sports do that is working.
Cody Atkinson: um That's my thought. i don't I don't take it very seriously. i don't think it would be successful. I don't think it would be enjoyable. I think it would be i think it would darken. the the great sport that we have right now. And I think we just all need to put pride aside, come together and make a set of rules that's that's best for the sport as a whole and move move forward with the the tradition and the pageantry that makes the sport beautiful.
Justin Daulton: Let me put it this because I think your last bullet point here before we move into the Stanford story that you have in here is what does it look like with or without the Big Ten in terms of sizing and all this stuff? What if there is a future where it was almost NFL style? It is SEC versus Big Ten, right? it is It's not SEC.
Cody Atkinson: I'm fine with that.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, like it's not SEC and Big Ten. It's a different name, right? You can almost phrase it like you can phrase around the NFL, right?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: You can figure out a name. Someone smarter than me will figure out a name on all this stuff.
Cody Atkinson: I mean, it's it's basically like the Southern Division versus the Northern Division. like you just and And I think you would have to, the SEC and the Big Ten, if they did this, they would have to eat some of the the the schools in the Big 12 and the ACC that are worthwhile, right?
Justin Daulton: Yeah. Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: um I thought that was the the funniest thing about the the screenshot you sent me is that they were like, the SEC is going to poach from the ACC and then Miami wasn't on there. Yeah. I was like, are you poaching for the ACC and you're taking Virginia Tech over Miami?
Justin Daulton: yeah
Cody Atkinson: Like, what are we doing here?
Justin Daulton: yeah
Cody Atkinson: um i just thought that was funny. um But yeah, so they would there would have to be some poaching, right? There's some brands you can't leave behind. i But yeah, I have no problem if we end up with, if the if you told me the SEC and the Big Ten both break away and they poach and they take some with them, I can live with that end game as long as it results in standardized rules that aren't being taken to court every 15 days.
Cody Atkinson: um
Justin Daulton: sure i i guess what i guess what yeah no i i don't think break out separately is successful i think it'd be an interesting conversation of how many schools go and i think that's the real conversation that you have and i think you then create this idea of an actual mid-major we talked about it last week with the pac-12 of pac-12 almost creating the mid-major in college football which we've
Cody Atkinson: or 15 minutes really but I can't don't tell me they're breaking off by themselves I can't do that
Justin Daulton: never really had that mid-major... You know, we've always had the little schools that kind of do their own thing and they grow up and they, you know, you happen to have state that can take down a Michigan or you have a Boise that can take down an Oklahoma, right?
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: And those are fun stories, but there's never sustained success from those stories. So what what happens to those little schools that, you know, do you still, do they still do their own thing and they just play out a conference championship and then you figure that out from there?
Justin Daulton: Or do they still get a chance to play these preseason-esque games with an SEC Southern and a you know Big 12 Northern conference-style play? you know Does each conference bring 25 teams each?
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: So you get 50 teams that ve into 25-team playoff. So half the teams from each conference get in to a playoff style and you kind of filter down from there and you the best teams from both conferences play each other every season. So you still get A&M, Texas. You still get Michigan, Ohio State. You still get, you know, these other rivalries happen, right? You get Alabama, Tennessee. You get those games every season, right? And, you know, you you want those games every season, especially as SEC fans. Like,
Justin Daulton: You want Alabama-Auburn. You want Alabama-Tennessee. You want A&M-Texas, A&M-LSU, you know, A&M-Oklahoma every couple seasons. Like, you want those games to happen. So as long as we don't lose that aspect of college football, whatever the future looks like in terms of getting away from the current NCAA and their inability to actually be a governing body for anything, I'm on board with it. So, but I'm with you. The individual breaking away doesn't make sense.
Cody Atkinson: No, no, my hope is that's grandstanding to get the smaller conferences to to come to the table and an go in a different direction than the Protect College Sports Act. You know, I don't know a ton about the act, but I think it's fairly flawed and um some of what it it garners for. So um I'm hoping that's all it is, is that it's grandstanding. i Like you said, if if we can get to a scenario where it's it's two conferences and it's NFL style and we have that we've we've saved enough of the brands that matter, i can live with that.
Cody Atkinson: Although i would um I'll say just for completeness sake in a perfect world, I would prefer to go backwards than forwards. Like, you know, not not in all sense, like pay players, let them transfer under, you know, under certain guidelines.
Justin Daulton: yeah yeah
Justin Daulton: yeah
Cody Atkinson: Like, let's not go backwards there, but like, let's bring the Pac-12 back to what it was. Let's make the Big Ten smaller and the SEC smaller. And, you know, even if it meant A&M going back to the Big 12 with everybody, i i think I would take that over what some of these outcomes are.
Justin Daulton: I mean, I think there's a reimagined conference landscape at that point, right? Where A&M goes back to the Big 12, but maybe it's not Baylor and OK State and all these other little schools that we played throughout the years.
Cody Atkinson: Or in
Justin Daulton: Maybe it is, you know, it is an A&M, it's a Texas, it's an Oklahoma, it's an LSU because LSU fits more in a Big 12 environment than it does an SEC environment, right?
Cody Atkinson: and Arkansas.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. Or in Arkansas, like those, those team make more sense within it where your Baylor is your TCUs kind of fit more with a Texas state in terms of, of capacity, right.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Of what their schools and what they can bring in because you're not getting money into a Baylor or to a TCU, right. Just by the set, by looking at what they have facility wise and the players that they bring in year to year.
Justin Daulton: So let the money sit where the money needs to sit, if that makes sense. And then, you know, let it shake off from there. because i think you can build really competitive conferences. And then you can still have these G5, G6, whatever, however many conferences it ends up being.
Justin Daulton: And they actually have a seat at the table. and they're actually good because they're playing the right level of competition each season and getting ready for hey, a Baylor could step up out of this newfound conference and potentially take a run at it A&M because they've worked to get to that point.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: So it's an interesting point.
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: and I'd almost like to go into NCAA football and almost build what these kind of new conferences would look like because it'd be interesting to kind of see how it would shake out.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, it'd be fun to see. I mean, I think the biggest thing is money has been the the driver of all conference realignment up to this point. So if you could if you could get the conferences to come to the table and collectively bargain in a way that that doesn't make the finances so different conference to conference, like You know, for each, every school would take the the Big Ten or the SEC over where they're at if they're not in one because they immediately get a substantial, you know, cash flow increase.
Cody Atkinson: If you can get rid of that and go back to a regional format where the money is the same so there's no reason to move around, I think it could be. It could be beautiful. It won't go that way.
Cody Atkinson: And and and in the the outcome of apps actually believable outcomes, like I think NFL model, Big Ten, SEC is probably the the the most likely outcome that's that's still somewhat good, you know?
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. You already kind of touched on it, but the story that you had there for Stanford was a few football players or all the Stanford football players are establishing the first ever um chapter of the College Football Players Association to take a step towards unionization and collective bargaining within college football.
Justin Daulton: The union has existed for five years. The standard is the first school to actually reach the membership threshold. and elect our representatives.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: um And then you talk about, is this the correct alternative to break ways? I think yes. I think ultimately, coming to an agreement, everyone everyone having a seat at the table making this an agreement that, hey, transfer windows open two times a year and that's the only time you can move.
Justin Daulton: you know There's a cap on NIL money. NIL money has to come from a certain point. It can't come from you know x Y, and Z. It needs to be through the school. It needs to be done the right way, whatever it looks like.
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: you know Making sure that it's taxed the right way. You're not paying it under the table or whatever agreements are happening, right? So I think this, a CBA within college football makes sense. What ah there, there has to be still some sort of governing body. And I think that's where I'm going keep coming back to more than anything is that there needs to be the player association needs to happen. Yes. But there also needs to be someone on the other side.
Justin Daulton: Maybe it's a Nick Saban that puts together a business and they, they take over for what the NCAA used to be. And now you get this college football, you know, league, and then you get the players association like the NFL.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, yeah i guess that was my my thought process on this, right? if if if what we have in front of us right now is the Protect College Sports Act, which is is asking Congress to to run the sport in a way um or breaking away, um you know, if those are what's sitting in front of us and and over here, Stanford is is using unions to try to build the same structure that we see in professional sports with players associations,
Cody Atkinson: negotiating as a whole against the governing body, then, then, you know, let's, I want to go the Stanford route because I think that gives us the most stability. it It takes the college aspect away from college sports, like, but, but that veil has been torn a long time ago.
Cody Atkinson: um And so, you know, if those are our three paths forward, give me, give me unions and collective bargaining. Cause we see that it works in the major leagues.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. Well, man, that's all I have. So I'm going to kick it to you to to talk about MLB trade deadline.
Cody Atkinson: yeah Yeah, we're going do trade deadline. As we mentioned in the intro, the kind of the big topic of the day, the trade deadline is ah August 3rd. I don't know the exact time of day. I think it's usually around 4 or 5 Eastern time.
Justin Daulton: Like four or five, yeah.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, so you know sometime around close of business on on Monday, the trade deadline will pass. All trades will be final. So we're just going to check in, man. We had 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7.
Cody Atkinson: I think we had 10 or 11 bubble-ish teams that we looked at last week, teams that needed to needed these two weeks between the All-Star break and the deadline to decide what they were doing.
Cody Atkinson: um we We gave them our advice on what we think they should do last week. So I've included last week's advice with these teams, and I've given you an update on their stats here so we can walk through each of these and just decide, are are we are we set on what we said last week or do we want to change things Before we dive into this, I want to ask, do you want to talk about the raise now or do you want to talk about the raise at the end?
Cody Atkinson: Because you we still need, yeah.
Justin Daulton: I can riff. I can riff on the Rays. Yeah, I can riff on the Rays real quick. The Rays are on an upswing because I know that we're going to able to talk about them as a bubble right?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, they are a buyer.
Justin Daulton: We know for sure that the Rays are a buyer. like They are going to buy the trade deadline.
Cody Atkinson: we We hope they're, at least I hope they're an aggressive buyer.
Justin Daulton: It's just one.
Cody Atkinson: I think you're with me on that, but they are a buyer, no doubt.
Justin Daulton: Yes.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, so i mean, we know that they're going to move. it just depends on what the move is. um You're still seeing buzz around Scoobull. And it's the fact that we're still getting to, what, four days out from the deadline, you know four or five days from the deadline at this point.
Justin Daulton: And it's still circulating around Scoobl is, and that's the conversation around Tampa is, you know, what is it going to take to get Scoobl in Tampa? And it's not just Tampa. I'm seeing talks around, you know, the White Sox technically being a competitor for Scoobl.
Justin Daulton: And, and,
Cody Atkinson: I've seen Dodgers and Phillies.
Justin Daulton: Dodgers, Phillies, Yankees, you know, those names, the typical names that we expected to go into this to to to try to go after Scoobble. It really is going to come down to what can what can the Tigers get for Scoobble in return that they're going to feel comfortable with because you're not you're not getting a return back.
Justin Daulton: You may get a comp pick on the back end of it from the league for losing Scoobble in free agency.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, they they they certainly would, but um it's not going to be near as much as you could get back if you let them go right now.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Right. So, I mean, you know, you trade him now, you know, the the Razor is still very much attached to him. The Rutschman conversation is still very much alive. I'm not seeing buzz around it, but the conversation is still alive.
Justin Daulton: You know, so it really is going to come down to... what can this general manager do going into this trade deadline something i talked about last week is that the race have not been aggressive at the trade deadline in many years so what can we do to bolster you know we have a few a few positions that could be you know upgraded catcher shortstop center field being the three positions that really need an upgrade and then you know another quality ace to go around rasmussen and you know, on that but on the on the bump, right?
Justin Daulton: I i watched a Rasmussen game last week and the Rays won 1-0 because Rasmussen threw like 12Ks. It was insane.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: um So, I mean, you know, Rasmussen your quality ace. You know, McClanahan is still in the rotation. So, you got figure if you can get a Scoble in there to be the number two guy or he would be the number one guy, but to be the guy with Rasmussen and McClanahan and that to be a 1-2-3 punch in there, it's...
Justin Daulton: You feel pretty good going into the playoffs with that being your one, two, three punch, especially when the divisional round is still a best of five to to to move on to a to a divisional round or to a CS or whatever the the format is this year because they I feel they changed the format of the playoffs i' seen me every single season.
Justin Daulton: So... But yeah, i mean, the there's a good feeling around Tampa, man. that The Rays are winning right now. I don't have the record in front of you. I told joe was just going to riff because we weren't going to talk baseball today. so But the the buzz around Tampa is very positive right now.
Justin Daulton: Caminero, the vibes are good, man. He laid out a triple yesterday, you losing effort to the Rangers. um But if you haven't seen the clip, like, he was pumped. Like, he is playing very much his style of play that he played with DR in the World Baseball Classic.
Justin Daulton: So...
Cody Atkinson: That's what was going to say. was going to it reminds me of DR.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. Yes. It very much. If you haven't seen the clip of him legging out the triple S or do so, because it's, it is very DR when he pops up, he's celebrating and he's, he's in it. So it's the vibes in Tampa are good.
Justin Daulton: Let's get these other pieces into Tampa and let's, let's ride into August and September. Let's hold off the Yankees. Let's win the division. So we get to be, so we get some sort of home field advantage through at least the first round, maybe even the second round, maybe it is the entire playoffs, you know, leading up to the world series of having the best record in the American league. So, you know, the, the, there's a really good energy around Tampa right now. And, you know, as you said last week for, for the media to take Tampa seriously, we need to swing big for the fences here in a couple of days and, and get some big names into Tampa.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, so going to do some speed round here for you real quick. So just quick answers. Starting, help, bullpen help, a bat.
Cody Atkinson: Can you rank those one, two, three, order of priority?
Justin Daulton: So starter, bullpen, and field. I go fielding would be my number one.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: i would go starter number two, bullpen three. And here's my why. And then we can move into to your Bubblicious teams. There's too many positions that we platooned all season. You know, shortstop and center field being the two that we platooned for most of the season.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: You know, talked about last week, Taylor Walls is a serviceable shortstop. He's injury prone. There's not a lot of guys but behind him that are good everyday MLB players, like they're serviceable, they do the job when it's, it's analytical baseball they get on base they hit they do the right thing right centerfield you know we have some good guys who have names on the outfield they just haven't been themselves it just hasn't worked out so if you can get you know we've talked about byron buxton a lot on this podcast so you know if you can pull off a buyer buxton trade out at the deadline you know and that that helps out i'm not as married to the adley rutchman you know we we've been okay at catcher so
Justin Daulton: if we If you look at me in in a week, right, we're recording the pod next Wednesday because you're out of town next Monday. So if we're recording this pod next Wednesday and you sat there and told me that I've got Tarek Skool and Byron Buxton, how I feel?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah.
Justin Daulton: i feel over the moon because that feels that that that takes care of two holes on this team that immediately puts the raise in the stratosphere that we've never been in our franchise since history.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. hundred every yeah
Cody Atkinson: So is that considering the cost, right? Like obviously the the bigger the name, the more prospect capital it's gonna cost you. Considering the cost, are those your your two number one targets in your opinion? Is it I want Scooball and I want Buxton or are you aimed at at at maybe some more of the value guys?
Justin Daulton: I think knowing the Rays and knowing what we've done in our franchise, I'm okay doing the...
Cody Atkinson: That's not what I'm asking. I'm asking you, what do you wanna see done?
Justin Daulton: Oh, me? hot
Justin Daulton: As we've talked multiple times on this podcast, I will sell everything to win a championship. Like i'm I'm calling out of work and me and Athena are going down to watch the parade in Tampa.
Justin Daulton: So when, when, when they carry the commissioner show me through the streets of Tampa, um, no, but, but if I'm the, but if I'm the reasonable general manager that has to make smart decisions for the future of the franchise, you know, i have to weigh what I would want, right?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: So you don't care the cost you want to see Scoobo and Buxton per se, or Scoobo and Riley Green or whoever.
Justin Daulton: Do I, I would sell for school 100% I would sell for school. I don't know if I sell for Scoobl and Buxton. I think i go I would pay the price for Scoobl and then I find a value guy that makes better sense for center field or shortstop.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Or maybe I get a catch-up. Maybe I do get Rutschman because the asking price on Rutschman is probably lower than most most other pieces that are on the block right now. So I think regardless, and I think the consensus around the league is like everyone is willing to pay the price for Scoogle.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. know
Justin Daulton: It is really what the Tigers are going to come back for and looking for when it when it truly is what do you want back for Scoogle.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, well, and and it's a little bit, it seems like, of of the Tigers accepting that they aren that that that they need to move on, right? like we We looked at them mo year or last week. They were on a run. i think they convinced themselves, myself included, they could convince me too that that they could that they could make a run, that it was legit.
Cody Atkinson: um we'll We'll touch on them here in a second, but it is also going to take the Tigers accepting that they need that that that it's time to move on and that they that they need to go ahead and give up on on any hope they have a building around him or signing him or whatever.
Justin Daulton: and and it does
Justin Daulton: yeah And it does seem that, I don't know if you caught the clip today of when he came off the mound because he pitched today. They had an afternoon game in Detroit. And they give the everyone gave him standing ovation as he left the mound. So it does seem like the general consensus is that he is done in Detroit.
Justin Daulton: So it just is, it's who? what's Who's the right suitor at this point to to to get him?
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah. So I think it makes sense. I think what you're saying makes sense. and And I agree with you. I would love to see at least one blockbuster trade from the Rays just to show the world that they could do it and then make a bunch of value smart moves around it to just sure up weaknesses.
Justin Daulton: Yeah,
Cody Atkinson: I don't need to see multiple blockbusters. Just give me one, get the juices flowing, get the media on your side and and and then make a bunch of wise decisions to round out the roster around that.
Justin Daulton: yeah absolutely. Let's get to the Bubblicious team, man.
Cody Atkinson: All right. Yeah, dude, let's wrap it up with these bubble-licious teams, man.
Justin Daulton: I'm excited.
Cody Atkinson: So this is to be the same order we looked at last week. um Like I said, last week I gave you some stats. i'm not giving you as much this week because we're just looking at what they've done in the last 10 days since we've recorded.
Cody Atkinson: So I'm going to give you what we said about them last week. I'm going to show you what their record has been – the course of these 10 days, what their overall record is and how they sit division and wild cards. So we're gonna start with the Red Sox. Obviously last week, the Red Sox were on this 13 game win streak. I think it ended up getting to 14 before they lost you you You gave them the stay pat. You said don't over don't don't go crazy over a single run, but just stay stay pat and and don't invest too heavy into the season. Since then, the Reds have gone 5-3 in their next eight games, putting them at fifty five and fifty one
Cody Atkinson: ah seven and a half games back of your Tampa Bay Rays and currently the wildcard two. So a second place team in the wildcard. Do you still think they should stay pat or do you think this this has put them into buy like full buy territory?
Justin Daulton: I still think they're in a state pack. I know, and like as I said, listened to last week's episode. i I think you have a compelling argument as to why they should buy and they they should move some pieces around to to better their roster composition down the stretch.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: But I think they're a team that you've been able to dig out of the hole that you're in in in in April. So obviously you have a good enough team to do it i just don't I still don't believe that this team has enough to make it down the stretch.
Justin Daulton: I don't see the ALEs putting up three teams into the playoffs. I just don't see it happening. So, and I don't see the Yankees falling out of it completely. I know we're still waiting for Judge to get back, but I just don't see this division putting three teams into the playoffs. And if you, if you're going to ask me who's the odd man out, it's the Red Sox, because I think there's teams behind them that are going to make better pushes and they're going to get people, they're going to force the Red Sox out.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. Yeah. I mean, the the Red Sox have the least amount of wiggle room. So if you're going to lose one of them, it's probably them, but I do have have more of a belief in the Red Sox and in the ALEs ability to put three teams in the playoff. um I absolutely could see it.
Cody Atkinson: um If I'm the Red Sox, I think I'm i'm buying, but I'm doing so. Yeah. quietly and responsibly, right? I'm not, i' if I'm the Red Sox, I'm not going for Scooboole or a Buxton type or, you know, whoever else might be a major blockbuster. I'm just making small moves to to move depth in order to sure up weaknesses. And I'm hoping that that's enough. I i don't think you go crazy investing in this. Is this a team with an intern manager still?
Cody Atkinson: um And like you said, it's a team that that that lacks still quite a bit, but, is is being benefited by by a week al so i'm not going crazy if i'm them but but i also i don't think i'm fully staying pat if i'm then either so next we got the orioles um orioles we gave the big old sell sell sell to um which is good news for you because that does put Adley Rushman back on the market. um Since then, they have gone four and five.
Cody Atkinson: They are now 53 and 56, three games under 500, 11 games back of the Tampa Bay Rays, and two games back of that third wild card spot. um Do you think, are you still on the sell?
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I'm still on sale for them. like they're They're not in the division race. They're not going to be in the division race. two games back, you're you're a bad week ah from the Red Sox and a good week from the Orioles to be in the race. So there is a chance that selling helps you because then you maybe you can get some smaller pieces that don't make sense. Maybe you get some some bad culture out of the locker room and that helps your team out.
Justin Daulton: But I just don't see this team being competitive down the stretch to either. And it's, you know, once again, if you ask me if there's a team that can, in it's the it's the Red Sox over the Orioles.
Justin Daulton: We're going to talk about another AL East team here in a second. I just don't see the Orioles putting it together. They look like a mess. They look like a mess all season. don't i don't think that's going to stop.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I agree. They were a sell last week. They they proceeded to go under 500. That keeps you firmly in a sell position. um Better luck next year is what I'd say about the Orioles. for something There's something about this team that they've never been able to to figure out and put together, and and I don't think you're going figure it out at the at the deadline.
Cody Atkinson: So we'll move on to the Blue Jays here, who we also gave the sell tag to. The Blue Jays, much like the Orioles, had a very bad week. They went four and six. That puts them at 50 and 59, 14 games back of the division, five games back of the wild card. This has to be sell still, right?
Cody Atkinson: this is They're in a bad position.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, it's it's a clear sell. i just don't know who you sell. and that's i know that's me being repetitive from last week, but I don't know who you sell from this roster because they're this weird mixture of young and old.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: like there's no There's no middle ground. day I don't know who you sell from this roster.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, mean they're going to try, right? There's Dylan Varsha, who's a guy that I've never understood the the market for. I think they overpaid for him when they got him. And I think somebody will overpay for him at deadline. I don't get it.
Cody Atkinson: and Maybe you can move a bad contract. Maybe you can move an older guy like George Springer. But like like you're saying, he's probably too old. Maybe you can move Dylan Cease. He was a big name at the deadline last year.
Cody Atkinson: But not not a ton for them to sell, just a a crazy fall off from a team that probably should have won the World Series last year.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I did see the Astros connected with Springer again.
Cody Atkinson: I don't want it.
Justin Daulton: i i know you don't, but i just I saw it in the headlines today.
Cody Atkinson: I get it. Jim Crane continues to, he continue he he likes going big name hunting, and he loves bringing back a guy who had their prime here. Like he brought Correa back last year. He brought Verlander back twice, I think.
Cody Atkinson: um At least once, if not twice, he brought him back.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: he He brought, I think it was so even bullpen arms. Like Kendall Graveman, I think he traded for three times. Jim Crane loves to bring names back. I would not be surprised at all to see them trade for Springer. I just don't want it.
Cody Atkinson: Alright, twins. So this is your your Buxton. I will say, so we're gonna... This is one where we're gonna have to claim... whether their management is right because the Twins management has come out and said they are buying, which is terrible news for the available players at the deadline.
Cody Atkinson: um The Twins had a lot of guys that could have filled up the deadline, and they are buying. So we said last week they should sell. They went 5-4 this week, which puts them at five hundred fifty four and fifty four two games back of the Central and half a game back of the Wild Cards.
Justin Daulton: I can see the argument for buying. i know we did this blindly last weekend on the sell. I can see it. I mean, we talked about the central division. It's weird division, man, where, yes, the White Sox look good now. Can the White Sox maintain? They're a very young team.
Justin Daulton: You know, we talked about the Guardians a lot. Can the Guardians come back into the conversation the right way? I can see the Twins being ah in the conversation. I mean, only two games back in the division, half a game back in the wild card.
Justin Daulton: Do you feel like this is there's enough there to push this roster in the right way? Potentially. like therere that That possibility is there. So i I can see the argument for buying. I think I'm comfortable enough saying buy for them.
Justin Daulton: i just don't see it. I don't know. I could talk myself either way with it, but I can see the argument for buying.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I think i agree with you on that. I don't know enough about their roster to know if I think they are from a talent perspective close enough to invest in. I don't pay attention to the Twins that closely. But from just where they're sitting perspective, going five and four, getting yourself back to 500, two games out of the division, half a game out of the wild card, have two shots at the playoff there and you have shots at...
Cody Atkinson: At teams like the Guardians who, you know, are are very are good but don't really scare you. And you have a shot at teams like the White Sox who you're still not certain that they're not going to run out of gas. And so i think they're in ah they're in a position to capitalize and I and i get the i get the desire to buy. i don't know if I agree with it, but I understand it.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I'm in the same boat.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, the the Tigers, who are, you know, three and a half games back of the Twins, we did give a bye to. They were on a tear. Last time we talked about them this week, they went five and five, putting them at 51 and 58, still five and a half out of the division and four out of the wild card. So I'll say they did not make up the ground that we hoped they would make up this week, this week and a half. Do you think that's enough for them to go ahead and cut the cord on this one?
Justin Daulton: I mean, we've already talked about it, right? It's, it seems pretty clear that the organization is at least moving on from Scoogle. Obviously there's other names on that roster that, that very well could hit the, that but but the trade block as well.
Justin Daulton: After the Domino of Scoogle falls. So it's, it's interesting. It's going be interesting to see what happens, but I think the body language and the dugout is very much no player safe right now.
Justin Daulton: And it's, it truly is.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: It does seem like we're, the tires are going to sell the, sell the house to, to bolster the farm. And, That might be the right call for a franchise that, for all just purposes, has never really been able to put together axon outside of a couple of World Series runs in our life.
Cody Atkinson: yeah um i i don't think that i'm as full on the side of a full sell right i think tarik skuble is talent enough that you can get enough back just from him to be competitive again next year if you play free agency well so i would love to see them try to stay with just expiring contract sales because with with the Dodgers and the Phillies and the Rays and whoever else we said all competing for Scoobal, you're going to get a King's Ransom that can fill, like like by getting rid of Scoobal, you could fill three other holes in your roster immediately.
Justin Daulton: Sure.
Cody Atkinson: with With some prospects coming up to back it up, I would love to see them not fully fire sell, but maybe just get rid of of expiring contracts and and try to be prepared for for a run next year again.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: Well, I guess in two years, because there's no no baseball next year. um
Justin Daulton: No baseball next year.
Cody Atkinson: So now now we're going to go to my Astros. we had that You had them as a stay put. I had them as a firm sell. last week they are on a tear right now they are seven and one since we last discussed they are currently playing the angels they are up by two in the bottom of the eighth so they have every chance to go eight and one um they they currently sit at 54 and 55 so they have a chance to reach 500 for the first time since april eight or since since april um
Cody Atkinson: And they have a chance. If they win this, they would be one game back of the Rangers and half a game back of the wild card. um The Astros have fully flipped their... ah I'm losing the word i'm looking for. They they have flipped, turned upside down their season in the last eight games. Do you think they should be buying or are you still staying put?
Justin Daulton: I think you can stay put, but, but light by, I think they're, just, I don't know, man.
Cody Atkinson: Mm-hmm.
Justin Daulton: The Astros are, ah are an enigma. You know, they're, I think someone put it the right way. They're a cockroach in a nuclear explosion that they just find a way to keep surviving and living.
Cody Atkinson: Yep. Yeah.
Justin Daulton: And, you know, I'm happy for I'm happy for the Astros and and that they can, they can continue to find success. But to your credit, should they? Probably not. Like, You know, you're you're limping through these seasons with terrible roster composition.
Justin Daulton: If you take her away Jordan Alvarez, are you a successful team? Like, I i don't think you are.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: um The whole book.
Cody Atkinson: If you take away Jordan Alvarez, this is the frigging Rockies or something. Yeah.
Justin Daulton: i think So, I mean, I don't know. I think it's a stay put but light buy. I think you can buy some pieces.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: and don't think you swing for the fence. I don't think you're going to get – you're not going win a Tarek Skubal, sweepstakes. ah You know, if the Twins do sell, don't think you can get a Byron Buxton. I can see you going in and trying to get on the Adley Rettman deal, you know, type of situation. I don't know your catcher situation is, but, you know, everyone can always use an upgraded catcher, in my opinion. – so it's an interesting dynamic in Houston. So I can stay put, but light by.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, and I think that's what we're going to get. So I'm i'm still – I still look at this team, and I think it's a team with too many holes to really go crazy on but I also accept the fact that the Astros are going to be buyers.
Cody Atkinson: They were going to be buyers when I thought they should sell. Now I can see the argument for buying, and they're definitely going to be buyers. If they ever were to swing big this year, um I hope it's Riley Green from Detroit.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: I think he would slot in incredibly on this team. It's just a very consistent bat with ah with with good glove, just a solid – Don't worry about him.
Cody Atkinson: He's got that position on lockdown type player. Our outfield is a mess.
Justin Daulton: yeah
Cody Atkinson: And if you could put some stability in the outfield, that's if you're going to swing big, that's where I want to see you swing big. Other than that, I do hope. I hope that it's just reasonable value moves. I don't want to see them overpay for a Rockies player who only looks good because he plays in Cougars Field. i don't I don't want to see them go for a Tarek Skubal and sell the next five years of the of the franchise in order to do so.
Cody Atkinson: But given that we are now the cockroaches of the MLB, I would love, it would be so much fun to see this team just continue to not die and make like just one of those like fully unexpected runs.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, I agree.
Cody Atkinson: It would be so much fun to see in the year before baseball, you know, dies. It would be so fun to see the Astros just be that team that was that was left for dead in May and and just wouldn't wouldn't die.
Cody Atkinson: um But they will buy. i just hope they do so wisely.
Justin Daulton: hey
Cody Atkinson: All right, let's let's we can wrap this up. We've got four NL teams here. Cardinals have been one of your babies this year. um We had them at State Put.
Cody Atkinson: Since then, they have gone 2-7. They are now one game under.553 and.54, 13.5 games back of the Brewers, three games back of still stay put or are you doing a light sell like this is the cardinals who are who are ahead of schedule they were not supposed to be good this year they were so i think we're both in agreement there's no fire sale happening here they're on the building side but do you do a light sell or do you just stay put and wait it out for next year
Justin Daulton: I think this is where my ignorance of the team comes into play, right? I don't know their full roster. I don't know what they have in terms of contracts and all that stuff. So if they do, if they have bad contracts that they can offload, that makes sense to me. Yeah, go ahead and like sell the bad contracts to to free up because you're going to have to sign and sign these young guys eventually to whatever the salary cap ends up being here in a couple of and at the end of next year.
Justin Daulton: And, you know, kind of figure that out. So i can see a light sell. I think they're smart by staying put. I don't think they need to buy either ahead of schedule if they squeak into the playoffs and that puts in a really good position next year to really be not just competitive in the NL Central, but actually a competitive team in general.
Justin Daulton: and to to make a run and actually be buyers at the next trade deadline, you know baseball next year. So next trade deadline that actually occurs, that's where the Cardinals would actually be buyers and actually be a competitive team for it. So you know I'm happy for where the Cardinals are at. you know I'm glad that I was on that train from this from the work go. So it's it'll be fun to watch them over the next couple of seasons because this is a team that And the way that where that you talk about the Brewers, the Cardinals are going right there with the Brewers.
Justin Daulton: That's going to be a fun rivalry to watch develop over the next couple of years.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, that will be a lot of fun. Yeah, that'll be a lot of fun. I think i think I'm with you, right? do Do you have any aging players who you don't expect to be on the team in two years when you when you want to hit it big? Do you have any contracts that are expiring and you're probably not bringing them back because you're a young guy ready to take that spot? Go ahead and offload those guys, but but don't get crazy with it. You're a year ahead of schedule.
Cody Atkinson: just just Just stick with the plan.
Justin Daulton: Yep.
Cody Atkinson: All Pirates. Pirates, you had a state put. They had a rough week, one of the rougher weeks. i think the roughest or one of the rougher weeks there with the Cardinals. They went three and six this week, 55 and 54 on the season, still above 500. They said 12 and a half back of the Brewers and two back of the wild card.
Justin Daulton: Yeah. I mean, they're they're in the same position the Cardinals are in, and this kind of perpetually where the pirates just live, unfortunately for Pittsburgh fans. So it's really just, yeah, they stay put, but and I could see the light by, I could see them light sell. I, they're really just a middle of the road team and they're,
Justin Daulton: the truer the truest definition of of a state play or a bubble team so you know if this conversation was you know two years from now we're talking about skeins you offload skeins because that's the position you're in because he's not going to stick around so it's the same position the tigers are in now like if you can't put a team around skeins over the next couple of years skeins is going to walk so you know you got figure out what you're going to do with him because skeins has a hall of fame career ahead of them and it doesn't seem like it's likely to happen in pittsburgh
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, it's for for me, I think that's why you buy. I think you have a limited window to prove to Paul Skeens that you're serious about competing. You have a limited window to prove that you can, even if you're serious, that you actually have the ability to put a team around him.
Cody Atkinson: um and And what you have that that the Tigers don't have, right, is you have a collective bargaining agreement that's going to send the sport into a lockout. You have the chance to come out of that with a completely different financial system that makes it more likely for you to keep Paul's schemes.
Cody Atkinson: And I think that's why you have to buy now and you have to do everything you can to make every season that he's there a competitive one.
Justin Daulton: Yeah.
Cody Atkinson: So that if, like, obviously if the structure doesn't change, it doesn't matter. You're not going to be able to afford him. But if the structure does change. and you've got two, three years of proving to him that you can put a competitive roster together, then maybe, maybe you can keep him around. And I think you just got to start buying it. and and And if it doesn't work, it doesn't work, right? If he leaves, he leaves. But you had McCutcheon and you you only got a run or two out of that team. And and if you get, if you get skeins and you can't put a run together, then that's got to be one of the the biggest failures in the sport outside of the angels with, you know, Otani and Trout for however long.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure.
Cody Atkinson: I would love to see them just give it a go. it's ah It's a franchise I would love to see give it a go. Padres, we had them at sell last time we talked. Since then, they've gone 6-3. They are now two games above.500, 12.5 back of the Dodgers, and then a game and a half back of the wild card.
Justin Daulton: I still think they're Cell.
Cody Atkinson: yeah
Justin Daulton: I... They're... the The wildcard situation in the National League so weird to me, man, that you're talking about 500 teams being in competition for it. So it's just, it's weird. It's a weird situation in the National League.
Justin Daulton: ay The one and a half back, I mean, it's in the same spot that ah that Pirates are in. I think it's just a sell. The Padres are a mess. They need to offload contracts. They need to offload Machado's contract. Mason Miller's contract is atrocious just for what you're trying to do. And if the salary cap does happen, there's no way you can afford everyone on there.
Justin Daulton: You have dead money that you need to worry about too. like The Padres are just a mess. You need to sell, get some money off your books.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, I would agree. This is a situationally, I think you could argue buy your hot, your game and a half out of the wild card, but you have, this is a team that's spending too much money as is. They went, if I'm not mistaken, like the team went bankrupt and they got new owners, like.
Justin Daulton: I think so.
Cody Atkinson: you, you, something along those lines that you, I think you have to, you have to take this as a reset, right? Unless you're, unless you're going to be the Dodgers and spend the Dodgers money, then you can't keep buying every year and not producing anything with it. I think you got to reset for the next cycle and figure out. And you have, you have dudes that are going to get you prospects. You have Mason Miller can bring a lot back, a you know, but Machado you Tatis or whoever else is there. like You have guys that that can bring a return. so
Cody Atkinson: Go ahead and and capitalize on that and try to get this this payroll under control because you're paying way too much money to be two games above 500.
Justin Daulton: I didn't even think about Tatis, man. If you move Tatis, it would be such an interesting move.
Cody Atkinson: they yeah I think he's got a ton left on that contract.
Justin Daulton: like
Cody Atkinson: I don't think it's a realistic thing. He's just the only name I can think of, honestly.
Justin Daulton: It'd be interesting because it would fit in Tampa because of that he plays short, he plays outfield. It'd be an interesting move for Tampa to look at Tatis.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah. I mean, I would shoot it. I'm for anything that makes the trade deadline more exciting because there's every chance with the amount of, with the lack of sellers, there's every chance that this is a dud market.
Cody Atkinson: If you got to put a guy like him in the market, maybe McMiller and Tatis get moved and Scooball gets moved. Suddenly you, the Monday is electric. Yeah. Bad day to be in in a a new new hire orientation. I'll tell you that much.
Justin Daulton: I wonder who that could be.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, couldn't imagine. Last one, and then we'll we'll get out of here, is the Marlins. We had them set as a state put to a light by the Marlins. Last time we talked, we're on six-game losing streak.
Cody Atkinson: They extended that losing streak to 12 games and then won three in a row.
Justin Daulton: Mm-hmm.
Cody Atkinson: So they're three and six in their last nine. 55 and 54 in the season, eight and a half back of the Division II of the wild card. Are we still light by, or do you think this – this this run of losses, is it enough to just flip them to sell?
Justin Daulton: I think he's enough to flip it to sell.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah.
Justin Daulton: It's just, it's the a terrible spot to be in for the Marlins. Like you're kind of ahead of schedule, but you're also just not really competitive at the same time. Like it's, it's a weird spot to be a Marlins fan.
Cody Atkinson: Yeah, it's ah it's a weird spot to be a Marlins fan. Terrible time of the year to go on a 12-game losing streak, but um I don't think a team with a realistic shot at anything is going on a 12-game losing streak, so I think you just have to admit defeat and and prep for for next year. This has to go from a light buy to a light sell, at least a light sell in my opinion. you don't You just don't have enough time to to convince yourself it's it's worth it.
Justin Daulton: Yeah, for sure. sure
Cody Atkinson: And that's the end for us, man. that was ah This was, a like like you said, a little bit of a scramble episode, but it was it was a good time talking you know NFL, talking college football, talking trade deadline. I, for one, cannot wait for Monday. um I hope we get a lot of excitement.
Cody Atkinson: Before Monday, I know we saw the... Boston and Washington made a trade already. I saw that the Rangers and the Angels made a small trade today as well. So so the the the trades are moving. Hopefully we'll see a lot by Monday.
Cody Atkinson: Unfortunately, we will not be recording on Monday, but we'll be there Wednesday. All the dust will have settled and we'll have have plenty to talk about when it comes to the the trade deadline and also previewing the Big 12. So I'm looking forward to it. And you know if you're still listening, thanks for joining us.
Cody Atkinson: Like, comment, subscribe, and and and we'll catch you in a week. Peace.
Justin Daulton: Peace.
