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Episode 9: NL Preview
19 Plays2 months ago
The boys wrap up the MLB Primer (with 152 games still left for most teams) with the National League Preview. Which division projects to have the most fun, the most volatility, and "who" we cry out, "who can slay the might Dodgers." Tune in for significantly flimsier logic than the American League preview.
Also, the week of the Masters has arrived, the college basketball season comes to an end with a new champion and the Texans have some really interesting offseason options ahead of the NFL Draft.
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Transcript
Introduction to Coastal Launch Sports Talk
00:00:01
Cody Atkinson
Hello and welcome to the Coastal Launch Sports Talk. I'm Cody coming to you from the bayous of Houston, Texas.
00:00:09
Justin Daulton
And I am Justin coming to you from the magic of Orlando, Florida.
00:00:14
Cody Atkinson
We are your premier destination for the sports stories that move the needle. From the national stage to the grit of the Southeast, we're bridging the cap between our two space cities and bringing you the sports stories that matter most to you. And
MLB Preview: National League Focus
00:00:27
Cody Atkinson
today we are finalizing our MLB preview by showing you what to look out for in the National League.
00:00:33
Cody Atkinson
We are both fans of AL teams. So our heart and soul was poured into the AL preview. But this year, more than any, it is important to take in every ounce of baseball that you can. So we're going to look at what to look out for in the other half of the league with our National League preview.
Men's Basketball and Masters Highlights
00:00:51
Cody Atkinson
Also, the Men's Basketball National Championship is underway as we record. And the best week in golf lies ahead as the Masters kick off. with the par three competition on Wednesday. So we'll take a look at both of those as well.
00:01:05
Cody Atkinson
ah That's it. but te With that trajectory set, it's time to sit back, lock in and get started with the rundown. This is the Coastal Launch and we are ready for liftoff here on episode nine.
00:01:18
Justin Daulton
episode
Tiger Woods' Legal Issues
00:01:19
Justin Daulton
nine man one more week till the till we get to video recording man i' super excited to finally get past two months of doing this with you man officially as we get into our third month of doing this but uh let's get into the rundown man um but can i kick off yeah uh this week uh some sad news coming out of the the golf world we haven't talked a whole lot of golf on this podcast there's uh
00:01:31
Cody Atkinson
Let's get into it.
00:01:39
Justin Daulton
as you know as as As you mentioned, we're getting closer to the Masters week and getting here. But I want to talk to you real quick about Tiger Woods, man. Tiger Woods getting into some more legal trouble last week, getting into a car accident over here in Florida, rolling his car and then failing to do a field sobriety test.
00:01:56
Justin Daulton
um And then subsequently, news coming out a couple of days after that, right, where um he's no longer going to be participating participating in the Masters as he's seeking, quote unquote, help.
00:02:08
Justin Daulton
um to make sure that he can, you know, what we assume is a a whatever whatever the DUI ends up coming out to be, whether it's, you know, drunk driving or if it is under the influence of any other substances, right?
Public Reaction to Tiger Woods
00:02:20
Justin Daulton
um Obviously not the first time Tiger has gotten into this kind of trouble. You know, we can go all the way back to his ex, you know, hitting his hitting his car with what we assume was a 9-iron.
00:02:29
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
00:02:30
Justin Daulton
And then again, rolling his car a couple years later, which ultimately took him out of competition for, I think it was like two, two and a half years. um before we saw him come back to competition. So third instance of this, obviously it seems like he came out of this, this accident relatively unscathed outside of the, outside of the, you know, DUI allegations. Right.
00:02:48
Justin Daulton
um So just, ah just some quick thoughts for you, man, obviously Tiger is such a big pivotal role for, for you and I as golf fans ah earlier on in our lives, right. You know, I can think of watching, you know, master Sundays with my, with my family, you know, i remember watching the shot there,
00:03:01
Justin Daulton
um that the the the trickle in from the chip in that he made off off the green there in Augusta and all that stuff. So, you know, what are your quick thoughts on it as as we kind of got the new slow roll to us over the week?
00:03:13
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, it truthfully, i I think I have a little less um like connection to Tiger Woods from childhood than you have. And I think people that have that connection are having more more trouble with the news than than others. And but for for me, it's just it's an eye roll a little bit. like now that Now that we know everyone's okay, it's it's an eye roll of like Tiger, stop, getting behind the wheel.
00:03:40
Cody Atkinson
under the influence like there. Cause cause like you said, it's like the third time I think and in the previous times there was this idea of like, Oh, maybe it was an accident. Maybe he didn't mean to do it. I think there was one where he got pulled over like asleep at the wheel and and it was like, Oh, it's his back medication.
00:03:57
Cody Atkinson
and and he didn't know it affect him like that. But at this point it's, it's enough of a trend that you're like, dude, just make better decisions.
Tiger Woods' Influence in Golf
00:04:05
Cody Atkinson
You have all the money in the world, hire a driver,
00:04:08
Cody Atkinson
If you take anything in a given day, don't get behind the wheel. wait i It's tough, man, right? Because he is he is Tiger. You do want to see him get better. But at the same time, if he was anybody else, it would be like, get out from behind the wheel.
00:04:22
Cody Atkinson
You know what i mean? like
00:04:25
Cody Atkinson
It's Tiger, but also like, he's lucky that he's lucky that nobody died. and And I think that that has to be it.
00:04:30
Justin Daulton
Yeah,
00:04:32
Cody Atkinson
So i I think you have to remove his name from it a little bit and just be like, this isn't cool. You have the resources to not do it, so stop doing it.
00:04:41
Justin Daulton
yeah for sure. I mean, it's, it's sad, right? But I mean, you do have to talk about the the court of public appeal, right? Where it's, you know, what is that? What does that look like amongst your peers? What does it look like amongst, you know, aspiring golfers?
00:04:52
Justin Daulton
What does it look like to his son who's trying to become a PGA tour member and and make a career for himself?
00:04:55
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.
00:04:56
Justin Daulton
So, there's long-term ramifications obviously on, on all of this. So ultimately, and I think you can agree with me, right. That hope he gets the help he needs, right. I hope he, you know, he can find um the road to recovery and and get better and become the the tiger that we least know that he can be in this, you know, the the late stages of his career. Right. And, you know, we all want him to get to, I think it's 17, right. that I think we wanted to get to the tie to tie Jack, right. And, and be up there in that conversation.
00:05:25
Justin Daulton
So, i mean, we got that, what, three years ago, three or four years ago when he won the Masters again. So, I mean, he obviously has something in the bag still. So, you know, hopefully he can get the help and get back out there on the course.
00:05:37
Cody Atkinson
I mean, even outside of that, it's like, just get, we get right, man. Like I know all these sports at the highest level, they do a toll mentally and physically.
00:05:41
Justin Daulton
Yeah.
00:05:46
Cody Atkinson
And I think it's the thing we try to ignore is like how many of these athletes get addicted to things that they were exposed to as an athlete. Like it was a part of them doing what we all love them for that got them addicted to these things. Um,
00:06:01
Cody Atkinson
And, and we, we kind of try to try to ignore that. And I think this is cases like this are just a, just highlight that fact that we, we can't ignore. So I hope he gets right. Whether he plays another round of golf again in his entire life or not, like I have to just get right and start making better decisions. so you can be a good ambassador for the sport ah for the, so many people that look up to you and for your, for your son and all that, just, just, just get right to do better, just do better.
00:06:28
Justin Daulton
Yeah, absolutely. Well,
Significance of the Masters in Augusta
00:06:31
Justin Daulton
it's a perfect segue. I mean, I guess not perfect, but to go right into Masters talk, man. You alluded to it in the intro there, right? What many consider to be the greatest week in golf, right? And obviously, I think one of the biggest around the world is the Masters, man, over there in Augusta, Georgia, over in Augusta National, right? The golf course there. But you're right, man. On Wednesday, get the part three contest. You usually get to see it's a big family event, right? You get to see you know, the dads out there with either sons or daughters. We've seen a lot more like Bubba Watson brings out his daughter to to play it and all that stuff. So um big weekend for it all, man. and you wrote down some notes for me last few years results.
00:07:10
Justin Daulton
McElroy winning his first green jacket. I believe it's his first. And then Justin.
00:07:13
Cody Atkinson
It was his first, it was huge, huge deal.
00:07:15
Justin Daulton
Yeah, Justin Rose coming in second. Reed and then Sheffler coming in at fourth. um I know that you're not a big PGA Tour watcher. um I've kind of tapered off later on here in my am my am my life over watching sports.
00:07:30
Justin Daulton
But I think you you wanted to talk about some some predictions. So you have ah you have a couple of names to look out for.
00:07:36
Cody Atkinson
Well, I don't. um I wrote down predictions as a, like a, hey, do dude, let's let's get into some research. Because like you said, I don't i don't watch a lot of PGA events, but i I do watch the Masters. I love the Masters.
00:07:49
Cody Atkinson
ah Do the lottery every year to try to get tickets to the Masters. Never been able to go, but um love the idea of of being able to do that one day. um And so I am stoked for the Masters to come back around and and kind of was reminded of of how big of a of a finish last year was with uh with rory rory winning his first masters and and then largely falling off right after that and having a bunch of media beefs because he like he had like this this bright shining moment and then in the next tournaments he he was falling flat and and uh leaving he was like leaving interviews early and and spatting with the media and i it just kind of reminded me of all that and i got too distracted by that to put any predictions together um And i don't um I don't have enough. So it I'm interested to see. like i patch I forget that Patrick Reed finished so high last year. I know he has a green jacket from a few years ago.
00:08:44
Cody Atkinson
um A name that nobody likes but but hangs around. Interesting to see what he could do um this year. It'll be interesting to see how McElroy bounces back. I think his name Justin Rose. um I feel like he is a consistent second place finisher. So exciting to see if he can take the step.
00:09:04
Cody Atkinson
And obviously Scotty Shuffler, Texan here, like big fan of Scotty Shuffler. i'm So excited to see what he can do. But I don't i don't have predictions, man. I'm not going to pretend to know golf that well. And um I didn't, I got too distracted by McElroy to research predictions.
00:09:24
Justin Daulton
you Because if anything, we are amateur gamblers. So let me give you some some odds. This is from FanDuel. um So aren't there right now. The Scheffler at plus 500.
00:09:35
Justin Daulton
Jon Ram at second at plus 950. Bryson DeChambeau at plus 1000. Roy McElroy at plus 1200. and then rounding out your top five is Ludwig Abberg at plus 15.
00:09:47
Justin Daulton
So obviously it looks like that pretty much right where you were just talking about, right? McElroy, Shepard, John Ram obviously being there, DeChambeau being there. So, you know, definitely the bigger names in golf are definitely there.
00:10:01
Justin Daulton
Being contention when it comes to the to the the four majors every cycle, you expect them to be there. um so I mean, ultimately, I think for me, I look at DeChambeau,
00:10:12
Justin Daulton
as someone that I would like to get into those those major wins. And a green jacket, I think, would be huge. A guy that embodies generation's style of golf, right? You know, he's the type of guy that, you know, is shotgunning beers on the 9th, and he's you got a golf cart and all that stuff. So playing golf in shorts, right? You know, he's quite literally embodying, you know, how millennials want to play golf.
00:10:36
Justin Daulton
um Obviously, at a much bigger scale to much larger scale when he plays on the tour. I would love for for him to finally get in there, but i'm with you, man. it's It's hard to not look at Sheffler who, who's on a his historic early on in his career.
00:10:50
Justin Daulton
um If it wasn't for this guy named Tiger Woods, he probably would have early starts in a career ever in, in PGA history. um But it's hard to not look at McElroy as someone who can repeat, but may and yeah I've been watching Masters since I was probably five, four or five years old.
00:11:06
Justin Daulton
I, it's so hard to go out there and and win. So it's so hard to, even try to predict, right? the The top competitors can go out there and that first round, they're plus eight, plus nine, and now they're not even going to make the cut.
00:11:20
Justin Daulton
So it's so hard to predict when it comes to it. um That's what I would love to see DeChambeau go out there and and finally get a green jacket and and be a good sign for the millennials that love to playgue golf and let the play golf way rather than you know the button up and a super strict way of playing golf.
00:11:42
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, for sure, man. there There's a lot of pressure on the Masters, and you see some guys really step up to that, or you see them you see them completely fall apart. it's It's so hard to predict, but it's ah it's a beautiful course,
New College Athletics Bill Discussion
00:11:52
Cody Atkinson
and it is so so fun to watch. So i'm I'm excited to see what shows up.
00:11:59
Justin Daulton
Yeah, absolutely. um and wow One of us wins one year. We can actually go watch the Masters because I would have one hell of a geist trip for you and I to go out there and and watch the Masters.
00:12:07
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. Yeah, that'd be a whole lot of fun.
00:12:10
Justin Daulton
Spend way too much money at the pro shop.
00:12:12
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, it's been thousand dollars for the product. Exactly.
00:12:15
Justin Daulton
thousand dollars at the pro shop, but get but get a $2 ham and cheese sandwich because the concessions are super cheap at Augusta.
00:12:19
Cody Atkinson
Exactly.
00:12:21
Justin Daulton
So it's it's balanced.
00:12:21
Cody Atkinson
exactly
00:12:22
Justin Daulton
It it works out. um Very cool, man. Moving on to something that came up today on my on my Twitter feed that I sent over to you. um I think at this point, the one of our running gags on the show is that Nick Casario, the general manager of the Houston Texans, is a loyal listener and huge fan of the podcast.
00:12:38
Justin Daulton
And obviously, we have a ah say on how the Houston Texans organization is ran, right? um So something that pots across my feet today is that Dexter Lawrence, the New York Giant, um once out of New York, the contract talks have kind of fallen apart over the last couple of months through this offseason, and they can't get the long-term deal done.
00:12:57
Justin Daulton
Dexter Lawrence, obviously, probably top five. de defensetile attack defensive tackles in the NFL, right? Someone that is one hell of a run stopper, not really known to get out to the pass, ah the, after the quarterback, but every once a while is in the backfield, but definitely more so in the run stopping and, and just eating guys in terms of offensive linemen.
00:13:16
Justin Daulton
But someone very jokingly said that the Texans need to jump on Dexter Lawrence. um You wrote down some, some notes for me here and I appreciate it to kind of give me the conversation to start right here. Right. But, you know,
00:13:27
Justin Daulton
what is this What is the cost? you know it's Let's have a little fun here with this conversation because I don't think it's realistic that that the the Houston Texans get Dexter Lawrence as much as it would be great to have Will Anderson Jr., Dexter Lawrence, and Daniel Hunter on the defensive line.
00:13:43
Justin Daulton
i think realistically, he's like he's going to go to you know probably you can look at a Baltimore that's got some cap space, maybe even in a Vegas so they can move some pieces around. Maybe that's a Max Crosby type of situation.
00:13:56
Justin Daulton
But on the Texas side of things, what does it actually look like? you know Is it draft capital? you know What does the contract situation look like? in And if so, like what are we doing long term? What does this mean to the defense that is still fairly young and a lot of guys are going to get paid here in the next couple of years?
00:14:12
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, for sure. so so i was So I was listening to to radio host, a fellow YouTuber, Cody Stutes, big in the Texans earlier today. um So his thoughts on draft capital requirement was um something along the lines of pick 28.
00:14:32
Cody Atkinson
plus early third round pick 69, originally the Giants pick um for Dexter Lawrence, something along those lines. So you go from having, you know, 28, 38, 59 and four picks to having,
00:14:48
Cody Atkinson
um you know just thirty eight and fifty nine losing twenty eight sixty nine um that's one side of the equation The other side of the equation is that Dexter Lawrence is currently making $20 million dollars a year for the next two years, and that's what he's unhappy with.
00:15:05
Cody Atkinson
um So you're looking, if you want him to be, say hypothetically the second highest paid defensive tackle in football because the second and third highest paid are not guys that are listed ahead of him as far as talent on defensive tackle.
00:15:21
Cody Atkinson
Like obviously you said he's top five. These guys are not in front of him in the top five. um So they're guys that you would expect him to want to ah get paid more than.
00:15:25
Justin Daulton
Yeah.
00:15:29
Cody Atkinson
You're looking at paying $27 million a year. Just to surpass, um I forget the two, one of the names was Jordan Davis. I forget the other, they're making $26 million dollars a year and and adding years to that as well. So um with that context, is this something that you, if you have, like, obviously you said it's pretty unrealistic, so it's not something you're counting on, but like, with would you do it?
00:15:56
Cody Atkinson
Like if you were Casario, is this something you would actually do or is it just fun to talk about, but like not fiscally responsible?
00:16:04
Justin Daulton
think I think it kind of ties into a lot of different things here, right? That notification that we haven't talked about that came through after the podcast last week, right? That the contract extension for for Will Anderson Jr. is basically done.
00:16:16
Justin Daulton
It's more so I think they're disagreeing on terms at this point from what I'm understanding that I'm seeing around there, over around Houston. so And everything is pointing to Will Anderson Jr. resetting the market. So I think that alone with the reset in the market rules us out of the Dexter Lawrence conversation unless you're able to do
00:16:27
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
00:16:34
Justin Daulton
deferred money, dead years, and all that stuff. and you know you can you know These GMs are masters at at doing that. right so you know if you're If there's a way that you can restructure deals, whether it be Will Anderson, Stingley, Nico Collins is going to want money soon, Lasseter and Bullock being on their rookie deal still, CJ is the conversation piece around Houston too. so I think the idea of getting Dexter Lawrence for a defense that still for the most part needs to get paid is where I lose the fiscally responsible part of it.
00:17:06
Justin Daulton
I think from a fan perspective, yes, because that's one of our, our biggest needs in here in a couple of weeks, we're going to talk about the NFL draft and what does the Texans need to do in the NFL draft. And I think both you and I unanimously will agree that the, that defensive tackle is a position needs to be addressed in this year's NFL draft.
00:17:23
Justin Daulton
So Dexter Lawrence would check that box, but it would come at the expense of, you know, and potentially getting Will Anderson Jr. long-term, which is not a trade that I'm willing to make.
00:17:33
Justin Daulton
I think Will Anderson Jr. is impacts the best player on the Houston Texans, and it's not even close.
00:17:34
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
00:17:38
Justin Daulton
um You know, i I could see you potentially letting a Derek Stingley walk. He's been injury-ridden over the last couple years. You have Lasseter, who's proven to probably be a better defensive back, and the only only reason why he doesn't get talked about DV1 is because you play on the same team as Derek Stingley Jr. So I think there's – there's this There's a lot there where I think ultimately you're going to have to make contract decisions.
00:18:03
Justin Daulton
And I would much rather pay the guys that have been here and are proving to be these guys that fit this system and fit the culture in Houston.
00:18:06
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
00:18:10
Justin Daulton
um But if we want to have the fun conversation, sure, let's get Dexter Lawrence in here. Let's line up this ungodly you know defensive line that's going to be a menace to every offense that we play this year.
00:18:23
Justin Daulton
right You're talking about allowing less than 100 yards rushing every game with that type of defensive line and the linebacking core that we have. And then you're going to talk about um letting these corners just eat because you're going to be pressuring the quarterback the entire time. So, you know, yes, the fun part is that I would absolutely give up a book first and a third for Dexter Lawrence. I think that's a reasonable ask for, for, for the player of of that stature.
00:18:49
Justin Daulton
um I don't know what he's going to want money wise. I think that 27 is probably low. because I don't see why the Giants don't give him 27 to call it a day. So I think there's a lot.
00:18:57
Cody Atkinson
think 31 32 is
00:18:58
Justin Daulton
I think there's more to it. i think he wants to reset the market. I don't know the market for a defensive tackle, but odd yeah.
00:19:04
Cody Atkinson
Mm-mm.
00:19:08
Justin Daulton
So, I mean, you're going to talk about, if someone wants to reset, you're probably talking about that 34, 35 mark. And I just don't see the Texans pulling the trigger on on that price. And like from a fun perspective, absolutely.
00:19:19
Justin Daulton
But it does mean that you don't get Will Anderson Jr. long-term, you're going to see whether it's Stingley or Lasseter walk, probably even Bullock walk. And now you're going to talk about the fact that, you know, and now you've got to look for safety again. You got to look for d v two and DV3 again.
00:19:33
Justin Daulton
Like there's this, there's too much to give up there. And as much fun as it would be, I just don't see, I don't see a financial way that the Texans pull it off. I will say Casario has proved me wrong before.
00:19:44
Justin Daulton
So if there was ever a time he could prove me wrong and make this all work, by all means, but I just don't, I personally don't see a way that you pull it off.
00:19:53
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I
Houston Texans Trade Speculations
00:19:54
Cody Atkinson
would agree. I think the draft capital of of a first and a third is easy decision. You're like, we have extra capital this year. Happily trade that for um an elite defensive tackle. But i think that the trade-off for what you would have to pay him is is far too much. You're talking, like you said, how does it affect the Will Anderson contract? Or if you do sign Will Anderson, plus what you've paid Daniil Hunter plus what you would be paying Dexter Lawrence. You lose one or both of Stingley and Lasseter. You lose one or both of a Blankenship, who we just signed in the offseason, and Caden Bullock. And account me for somebody who would much rather see
00:20:35
Cody Atkinson
What Casario and D'Amico can do with ah with a rookie defensive tackle um while locking in long term these these defensive backs because I don't want to see Stingley go anywhere. I don't want to see Lassiter go anywhere. um I don't want to see Bullock go anywhere.
00:20:50
Cody Atkinson
Obviously, Blake and Chip, we don't know like that yet, but like I'm excited for him to join here. i I thought that was my favorite move of the offseason. So these are guys that I want here more than I want Dexter Lawrence. And I trust that D'Amico, given that 28th pick or that 38th pick, either one, will find the right guy to get high-level defensive tackle production at a cost that allows us to to keep working to keep everyone around.
00:21:19
Cody Atkinson
then I'd much rather see it that way.
00:21:19
Justin Daulton
Yeah, I hope it comes in the second round, not the first, because the price exponentially drops with a second round contract as opposed to a first round contract. And you don't talk talk you don't talk about a fifth year option, which is what Houston is being plagued with right now. of you know Obviously, Will Anderson Jr. is going to get extended. That's not even a conversation at this point.
00:21:39
Justin Daulton
The conversation comes around why haven't the Texans picked up the fifth year option for CJ Stroud? Like what's going on behind the scenes and what's going on with that? I know the notification that we talked about last week alluded to CJ getting his fifth year picked up, but you know it's almost been a week since we got that notification and it's these things are still not broken in terms of news. So I do wonder what you know is going on behind the scenes. What is Casero working on, especially as we inch closer and closer to the draft? So you're going to want these question marks kind of wrapped up soon. And I think there is a May 5th deadline on those fifth those fifth year options.
00:22:16
Justin Daulton
um So what's going on with with those? But more to talk about that as we get closer and closer to that May deadline. um The next topic that i have that we have, unless you have any other thoughts from the Texans for our weekly Casario, do this thing for us, please.
00:22:33
Cody Atkinson
No, no, I'm all, I think, I think we've, we've said our piece on on, Dexter Lawrence, great player. But the cost would be too high.
00:22:41
Justin Daulton
Yeah. Last week, you and I talked about NIL, transfer portal, all these things kind of wrapped up in college sports. um yeah I'm going to go ahead and go out there and say now, just something speaking on your and I behalf, this podcast, we're not going to talk politics. That is not what this podcast is about.
00:22:59
Justin Daulton
um So we are not going to talk about the politics aspect of this topic, but there is something that's going on a bill coming out of Washington, DC about what can, what can we do to kind of put some relegations or regulations, sorry, into college athletics, um which I think is something that's needed.
00:23:16
Justin Daulton
So there is a bill that's coming out that it's five years to play five and then one free transfer. And then if you do a second transfer, you have the penalty of sitting out a year for that.
00:23:27
Justin Daulton
um So quick thoughts from you as we, you know, as last week we talked about all these legal things of court judges sitting in and making rulings, all these things. So, you know, what are what are your thoughts as you see this bill come in?
00:23:41
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I mean, i I like what this bill has to offer personally. um i am tired of going to the court systems to determine if a player can play a sixth year or a seventh year or an eighth year or whatever it may be. um So I am a personally a big fan of something concrete like this where it's, you know, you have a set number of years and you can play as many seasons as you want within that year. But once that year ends, it's over. Like there's nothing else to figure out here.
00:24:13
Cody Atkinson
um So like, you know, if you are injured for five straight years, like, sorry, life hands your lemons sometimes. um If you need a red shirt, So be it you still have you still it. You can still play four, which is what you would had before.
00:24:27
Cody Atkinson
um So with any new thing, like there's going to be downsides to it. like i the Players will probably be less likely to redshirt. They may be less... um okay with certain medical designations that cost them a year and things like that things where they could could get the year back they can't anymore there will be some issues with it certainly but i love the idea of let's just have a clear cut beginning and a clear cut end so we can get rid of this nonsense um and and there's not a fan in the world that likes a player transferring every single year um it's bad for the sport
00:25:01
Cody Atkinson
You know, it's bad for the fans getting connected with the player, having, you know, this relationship with the player. um And then you follow their whole career. Like, it's bad for that if these guys just play at a new location every year.
00:25:16
Cody Atkinson
And so reins need to be put on this. And I think this would be a really good way to go about it. I doubt that this survives the court system because I think the article that announced this bill also said, like had quotes from lawyers being like, yeah, we're going to challenge this.
00:25:32
Cody Atkinson
And so I doubt it survives. But if it did survive, I think this would be really good step in just kind of put, like you said, putting regulations around this. Players should be able to move. They should be getting paid. But God, we got to we got to rein it in a little bit because it's too chaotic and hard to follow for the average fan.
00:25:51
Justin Daulton
Yeah, I think ultimately whatever happens after signing day and the transfer portal, all those things, yes, I agree that there needs to be these regulations put on and all the thing all that.
00:26:02
Justin Daulton
I think something that we that a lot of people, casuals that didn't play college athletics, don't think about is what does it do to the high school recruit? like the you know You have the underarm or top 150, right? But what happens when you're 151, right? And you're not being highly recruited. You're not the four or the five or the four star, right? You're a three star coming out of high school.
00:26:21
Justin Daulton
And you're not getting a lot of attention because these coaches, even Mike Elko, who we love Mike Elko, but Elko loves the transfer portal. So you're if you're a three-star or two-star, you may not get looked at by a Texas A&M or any of these other power fives, right? So I think this allows you to really look at it as a whole. of We're going to allow the high school recruit to mean something again because of these regulations, right? Because You can't just go and rebuild your team every single year, cough, Texas Tech that are just spending ungodly amount of money every single year to rebuild.
00:26:57
Justin Daulton
um It would make an Indiana story even more difficult, right? Because you're not rebuilding Indiana in one offseason. You're going to have to build it up the right way. And you know you can get these transfer guys, but maybe Indiana doesn't win until the second year on a consistent basis like they would have expected to. So I think this makes the rebuild a little bit more difficult year in and year out.
00:27:18
Justin Daulton
But I think it allows there to be a consistency within college athletics, not just college football, but obviously, you know, all these other sports within college athletics, but obviously college football, the the bigger topic one within all this, because it is every year guys are moving to to a new school, to a new system, to follow a coach, whatever it may be.
00:27:36
Justin Daulton
So i'm I'm with you. I like it. It's going to take a couple of years for for something like this to go into effect. And I i don't think the answer is DC running college athletics. I do think there needs to be a governing body. And we talked about this last week, whether it is a Nick Saban or, you know, an Urban Meyer, whoever may be people that have been around the game for, you for decades now, right. That understand what the game needs to be going forward.
00:28:01
Justin Daulton
I think that's the direction we need to go. and We need to figure out what that looks like for, for college athletics.
00:28:06
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I think that's the point, right? We just we need at the end of the day, we need the rule set to get defined rigidly again. um And we need it to be enforceable because right now there's a rule set. It's not enforceable. So everything's a gray area and the fans are just left.
00:28:25
Cody Atkinson
wondering what's going on and not knowing who's on their team in a given year. um It's just a bit much. And I i think we have to find and a nice middle ground. Let's get a rule set that's fair to everybody.
00:28:36
Cody Atkinson
um Well, I guess to both sides, not to every single person, right? But like a rule set that that that gives the gives the players some some more room than they used to have and gives the the schools some more room. and then And then let's just make it enforceable and let's move forward with a rule set that everyone understands.
00:28:55
Justin Daulton
Agreed. Well, man, that wraps up the rundown. So let's get into the wrap up just real quick as we, before we shift over to our bigger topics of the week. I want to talk about talk to you about Tampa Bay Lightning.
00:29:06
Justin Daulton
um We are officially here on the Colesolana Sports dog Talk talking about one of our teams making the playoffs. Well, that's right. We're going to be talking playoff hockey on the Colesolana Sports Talk. Man, very excited. Yeah.
00:29:20
Justin Daulton
as we were As you were talking there for a little bit, checked the score of the game that's going on currently. We were playing Buffalo. We dropped the game to Buffalo 4-2 with a garbage time goal. So really the final score was three to two We knew this was going highly contested game going into it.
00:29:37
Justin Daulton
Both teams already clinched the playoff spot. So really we're just we're just jockeying for position going into the playoffs at this point. um Kind of recap the week for you. Wins against Pittsburgh and Boston.
00:29:48
Justin Daulton
um The loss came against the Habs. We went two and one before tonight's game, so 2-2 on the week um with losing to the Habs and now the Sabres. Before tonight's game, 76 games played, so now we're at 77.
00:30:00
Justin Daulton
um So with five games left to play, leading the division by two, so now the division is tied. With
Tampa Bay Lightning Playoff Outlook
00:30:06
Justin Daulton
five games to play and trailing Carolina by two, i't I would need to see the results from tonight to see if it's still two or if it is now four.
00:30:15
Justin Daulton
um Week ahead, you have Ottawa. um, Canadians, Boston and Detroit while we record next week. Um, and then, we'll have a couple more games after to that, which will end off the regular season for the lightning.
00:30:28
Justin Daulton
Um, so division is still very much in play. Carolina is still very much in reach. Um, but definitely going to need some help from Carolina for us to start talking about, um, are we going to win, um, or have the number one seat for the East? Sorry. On top of also winning,
00:30:47
Justin Daulton
um the division against the Sabres. So everything's still very much in play for the lightning. and we'll So we'll see as we get into it. But I did want to do a quick little off shoot for you here as we kind of wrap up the regular season.
00:30:59
Justin Daulton
I want to talk to you about and NHL awards because we're we're starting to get into that point where regular season awards happen um before we even get into the playoffs. And so my new players are headlining this conversation, which is exciting.
00:31:12
Justin Daulton
um I won't name, I won't go through every award. I just want to talk to you about a couple Nikita Kucherov is in conversation for MVP of the league. um He's been in conversation for MVP the league for the last two seasons, but it's really been on the back of his goal scoring, where this year it's been goal scoring and assists. So he definitely is a valuable player. He's been a valuable player to the Tampa Bay Lightning, but is someone that is um even more so this year with some players moving on in the offseason and a lot of injuries this year.
00:31:39
Justin Daulton
um It seems, though, that it is a two-man race between himself and a guy by the nathan by the name of Nathan McKinnon. um I don't know if you remember that name.
00:31:48
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
00:31:48
Justin Daulton
um So it's two-man race there. um Some people that you'll talk to, maybe it's a ah three-man race, but it's really come down to those two guys. um And then let's get to category where to go.
00:32:03
Justin Daulton
Shout out to the New York Times for putting this article together for me. um Where is it at? Where it at? Where is at? Norris Trophy, we don't have anyone in the conversation for the Lightning. Darren Radish is down in there, but not going to be in conversation for it.
00:32:15
Justin Daulton
which is best defensive player. Best defensive for Yanni Gord um is in a, is as of two weeks or as a week ago when this article was written is in second place or projected a second place um for, it which is exciting to see, especially when you talk about a year where Darren Radish has stepped up a year that Victor Hedman has been hurt a lot.
00:32:34
Justin Daulton
um And then the other one that I wanted to talk to you about is that Vazzy is quote unquote running away with the Vinza um this year.
00:32:42
Cody Atkinson
Okay.
00:32:42
Justin Daulton
yeah, so This guy doesn't believe it more so because it's off the back. of The old heads are going to vote because of wins and Vazzy has the most wins by a goaltender this season.
00:32:54
Justin Daulton
um But his stats also back up everything else he's done this year. so um shout out to the shout out to the haters hating on Vazzy.
00:33:01
Cody Atkinson
Shout out to the haters.
00:33:02
Justin Daulton
ah And then the other one that I want to give a shout out to is the Rocket Rashad and Art Ross trophy. which Ross's most points, which as of the article being written, Nikita Kucherov 140 to Nathan McKenna 136.
00:33:19
Cody Atkinson
Good God.
00:33:19
Justin Daulton
And then the Rocca Rashad, which is most goal scored, Nathan McKenna at 53 and Nikita Kucherov at 47. So lot of, it seems like a lot of, lot of hardware coming into the way of Tampa Bay down here at Channel Side Drive down there in Tampa.
00:33:34
Justin Daulton
um So good to see that, obviously not the ultimate trophy. Hopefully we'll talk about Lord Stanley as we get into into playoff hockey, which we've won twice since I've been a fan of this team. So hopefully we'll get to see Lord Stanley come back down, come up from South Florida, back up to Central Florida it here in a little bit.
00:33:51
Justin Daulton
um And then I'll do a quick recap for you of the Tampa Bay Rays, and then I'll let you talk about your teams.
Rays' Recent Performance Overview
00:33:57
Justin Daulton
um Rays went three and three this week. um I do want to talk to you because we talked about a lot last week.
00:34:03
Justin Daulton
McClanahan is back. He's pitched in two games this week. Eight and two thirds pitch this week, nine Ks, 1.15 whip. um Really good first week, really good first two starts, honestly.
00:34:14
Justin Daulton
The walks are a little high, um but that's expected for a guy who hasn't pitched in 900 and something days um competitively. So he'll settle down. Defense really seems to be the issue for the Tempe Rays.
00:34:27
Justin Daulton
um The note that I had is Junior Camarino has five errors thus far, and it's the most in ah in ah the beginning stretch of the season in MLB history. So that's fun. um And the other note that i had for you is Taylor Walls is back as of today. So that's really exciting that he didn't end up missing the first full month like we accepted him to.
00:34:46
Justin Daulton
um So we have our starting shortstop and he plays second base whenever we need them as well. So we get our depth back in the in the infield, um which kind of allows the the lineup to kind of solidify and not be all over the place. It seems like we've ran a new a different lineup card out there every single day ah since the regular season has started.
00:35:03
Justin Daulton
So this should help to kind of solidify the the lineup a little bit. And obviously we'll see it kind of move around because analytics and baseball is the thing. um And then the only note that I really want to talk about is that last week I talked about that the fans really talked about the bullpen and it really does seem like it is the bullpen and bad defensive play for the Tampa Rays.
00:35:23
Justin Daulton
We're scoring runs, but we can't keep the other team off the bases and we can't stop them from scoring. So until the Tampa Rays figured that out, um I don't expect us to make any moves. And technically, we're second in the division, but that's because our division at the bottom is garbage.
00:35:36
Justin Daulton
So um it'll be interesting to watch the ALEs tear itself apart, as it always does down the stretch. But um that's all I got for you this week, man.
00:35:43
Cody Atkinson
naturally
00:35:45
Justin Daulton
Yeah. So what do you got for me?
00:35:47
Cody Atkinson
I like it, man. Similar to you. I think I got i think i got one good and one one not so good right here for you. So I've got A&M baseball ah coming off of three and one a week this last week.
00:35:59
Cody Atkinson
um Midweek win over Sam Houston State. Huge win, below out. And then a 2-1 series win over Vanderbilt. ah The offense continues to be electric, which was something I highlighted last week with just a – incredible three games against Missouri. And and then they they do it again this week. So against a quality Vanderbilt team, higher competition than then what you got last week in Missouri. You have eight eight runs on Friday.
00:36:29
Cody Atkinson
or so This was an altered schedule because of both Easter and rain. So this was actually eight runs on Thursday and then eight runs Friday afternoon and 12 runs Friday evening.
00:36:41
Cody Atkinson
a little doubleheader action to finish it. So ultimately A&M drops game one and then wins both games of the doubleheader. This was just a really good sign, a really good feeling for A&M baseball fans. Sweeping Missouri was great, but at the same time it's Missouri. So this is, I think, the first time that you've won a series against what feels like a quality SEC opponent, and it's got people feeling the juice.
00:37:05
Cody Atkinson
A couple of things I wanted to highlight, Jorian Wilson, I know you're not – Tracking A&M baseball super closely, but I'm going to need you to go look this man up soon. he he's eight He's a freshman. He's 18. He looks like Jordan Alvarez.
00:37:19
Cody Atkinson
He's a monster. i have this this This kid, he hit a 45-degree launch angle home run that cleared the bullpen and landed on the train tracks. The 45 degree launch angle should not make it out of the outfield.
00:37:30
Justin Daulton
Nice.
00:37:33
Cody Atkinson
He is big. he is strong. He doesn't, he he wasn't playing travel ball and things like that. So he's, he's a raw product as a baseball player, but it's starting to click and he is going on a tear right now.
00:37:46
Cody Atkinson
So Jorian Wilson named to watch out. for the offense and for the love of God, don't drive on Wellborn if a game's going on and Jordan Wilson has to play.
00:37:55
Justin Daulton
there
00:37:56
Cody Atkinson
Don't do it. ill take Go the long way. Save your car. But but but but pitching remains a concern. So game one, Shane Sadeo, another rough outing. That's why you ultimately lose that game 14 to eight.
00:38:11
Cody Atkinson
ah Weston Moss, also another rough outing in the first game on Friday. But Aiden Sims, your your your number three pitcher, gave you seven innings of scoreless baseball in the second game of the doubleheader. And and and that's that's kind of the thing I think people are leaving this weekend with feeling really good about where A&M can go. Because if you have a guy like Sims who can get you your one,
00:38:33
Cody Atkinson
Then you just have to bite, scratch, and claw for the second game that weekend, and you can take a series win. So I really like – personally, I really like having Aiden Sims in the Sunday spot. So you've got your guy that's better than their Sunday guy, get you your one – and let that offense go get you a second one. We'll see if that changes. Since they've played Thursday and Friday this week, there is the option that they can swap Aiden Sims to either Saturday or Friday and keep him on normal rest. So we'll keep an eye on that. But it feels really good to see him come out of it and start looking good, and then you just kind of hope you see that with one of Sadeo or Moss or Gavin Lyons as kind of this fourth guy who who, if they want to switch things up, might –
00:39:15
Cody Atkinson
might Might come into the rotation, but it's it's going to be important that they do because it's it's heating up SEC baseball. We got ah we got Texas coming to town this weekend. The, the, the rat, the snake is coming back to Olsen field for the first time, since he said he wanted to retire here and then left the next day for the the bitter rival. So we'll see how he gets handled by the crowd. Then we have at LSU.
00:39:40
Cody Atkinson
And I might have this backwards, but i think it's at Florida and then home to Auburn. That's our next four weekends. It's going to get real. um People are feeling good about it. So let's hope, look let's hope there's, there's reason for that.
00:39:52
Cody Atkinson
Astros. Sweep of the Red Sox, your prediction that the Red Sox are garbage, just looking real hot right now. um ah The vibes could not could not have been higher after that sweep of the Red Sox. It was dominant in every phase of the game.
00:40:08
Cody Atkinson
And then we took Thursday off. And then Friday, i think I don't remember the exact timeline, but Friday we get trounced by the athletics. We bounce back 12 to zero on Saturday.
00:40:19
Cody Atkinson
And at some point in there, we also learned that Hunter Brown is going to go down onto the 15 day IL and all hope was lost immediately. We lost Sunday night because team,
00:40:31
Cody Atkinson
Temporary closer can't close. He's an eighth inning guy and can't pitch in the ninth inning, apparently. So we're still waiting for the closer to come back. Last I checked, we you' were losing today eight to three because Hunter Brown was supposed to be starting today. And so you've just got Johnny Fullstaff giving you its best effort.
00:40:49
Cody Atkinson
um it's rough times in Houston. The vibes could not have been higher on Wednesday, Thursday of last week. And I'm not sure that they could be much lower right now. The offense looks incredible. Everything you've been wanting to see from this offense, being patient, playing the situation, just doing what needs to be done and handing the bat to the next guy, trusting that they'll clean it up or seeing this for the first time in what feels like a decade. It's only been like two years, but We didn't see it last year. We didn't see it the year before. We haven't seen this since Dusty was the manager.
00:41:20
Cody Atkinson
and And it's feeling great. And suddenly we lost this this pitching staff that that that could not be lost. we're we're We're losing that. I still like what we have in Mike Burrows. Tatsuya Imae looks hot, but Christian Javier can't throw a strike. He's still struggling to come back from Tommy John. Lance McCullers, after his...
00:41:43
Cody Atkinson
Elite outing against the Red Sox got torched by the A's. And like I said, you got a couple of no names going today, getting obliterated by the Rockies of all teams. So, I don't know, man. Vibes are pretty low right now. you got This team's got to get healthy. The offense has to keep doing what it's doing, and the team has to get healthy um to to feel good about it. But right now, this is it's looking
Astros' Recent Challenges
00:42:05
Cody Atkinson
rough. it's the The team's looking hurt, and you're piecemeal in a rotation and a bullpen together. And and it's it's not succeeding against the the likes of the Athletics and the Rockies as it currently stands. So, yeah, that's what I got for you for the Astros.
00:42:21
Justin Daulton
Not good on the vibes there.
00:42:22
Cody Atkinson
It's rough.
00:42:23
Justin Daulton
um i will I will see.
00:42:24
Cody Atkinson
No, I'm telling you, dude, if we recorded on Thursdays, i would have been through the roof giving you an update.
00:42:25
Justin Daulton
i
00:42:31
Cody Atkinson
Unfortunately, we record on Mondays, and the weekend was not was that good to Astros fans.
00:42:37
Justin Daulton
um i will take your vibes and bring them to Tampa because the one thing I didn't mention in mind is that the Rays won their first game back in Tropicana Field and in in over a year and a half.
00:42:47
Justin Daulton
um because of the the hurricane that ravaged Tampa Bay a couple years ago.
00:42:50
Cody Atkinson
Nice.
00:42:51
Justin Daulton
um So we won that game, and it was a sold-out crowd today, over 25,000 fans in attendance at Tropicana Field. So good to see good to see the boys back on the turf. Good to see the turf. It looked pretty good. I don't know if you got to see anything, but if if you can if you go look over some some pictures and everything in the videos from today, go look at them. The field looked really good. The stadium looked clean and everything. So no way you would have told or could tell that it was ravaged by a hurricane.
00:43:17
Justin Daulton
um a couple of years ago. So good to see the the drop back out there for a, on a, it's going limp to the finish line as, ah as the home of the Tampa Bay Rays, but um good to see it back open and hope to get down there for a game here soon.
00:43:24
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
00:43:27
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. I'll double that, man. Huge for the Rays to be back home. Huge for the Trops to be back open. We just got done with our our series in a minor league ballpark in Sacramento, and we've got to get these minor league ballparks out of the MLB, man. I'm glad to see the Rays are back, and they have a proper home.
00:43:46
Cody Atkinson
Hopefully a better home in the future, but they have a proper home again. now we just need to get the athletics to to to where they live, and and then we can start playing in major league baseball parks again.
00:43:56
Justin Daulton
All 30 teams in Major League ballparks is the goal here in the next couple years.
00:44:01
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, never never did I think we would exist in a world where we had multiple teams playing in minor league ballparks.
00:44:01
Justin Daulton
um Well.
00:44:07
Cody Atkinson
That's just as a little bit of a weird thing. we're all We all lived through and are half living through still, and that's really it talked about a lot.
00:44:15
Justin Daulton
I mean, yeah, it shouldn't be happening, but here we are. That's the world that we live in in 2026. But obviously we still got, what, two more seasons of the athletics playing Sacramento before that ballpark in Vegas is ready.
00:44:26
Justin Daulton
And then it sounds like the Rays will be able to play play in the trop until until they open up what people are starting to refer to the pizza slice um over there in Hillsborough.
00:44:28
Cody Atkinson
Disgusting.
00:44:34
Cody Atkinson
The pizza slice.
00:44:37
Justin Daulton
I don't know if you see the rendering, but they they quite literally look like a pizza slice because it's like connect it's like a convention center in Hillsborough Community College.
00:44:43
Cody Atkinson
That's fun.
00:44:44
Justin Daulton
So um it looks pretty cool.
00:44:45
Cody Atkinson
I like that, the pizza slice.
00:44:47
Justin Daulton
A pizza slice is better than the dump that people call the trop. So it's I'll take that over there.
00:44:51
Cody Atkinson
True. It usually leads to that, though. Pizza slice first, dump later. The rays just did it backwards.
00:44:57
Justin Daulton
Yeah, correct. Well, man, that wraps up the the the wrap up. I'm going to kick it to you, man, to take down the break or do the breakdown here for us.
00:45:08
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, ah we're going to fly through this first one a little bit. Like we said, the national championship, the men's national championship between UConn and Michigan is ongoing as we record. So there's not a whole lot we can say that's going to stand the test of time.
00:45:22
Cody Atkinson
But I did want to highlight a couple of things. The final four games, I wasn't able to watch any of them because we were at a wedding this weekend. But from From what I've gathered, it does seem like the Final Four was a disappointment. I know Michigan-Arizona was most people's de facto national championship. like This is the real national championship. The winner of this is going to win it all.
00:45:40
Cody Atkinson
And it was a blowout, which was a shock for a lot of people to see. Very disappointing. But I think, and at least currently, we we are getting a much a much better championship. national championship game most people will tell you that michigan is gonna win i think it's it's more most likely that they will win they've been a top five team the entire season uh seemingly i don't think they started there but they've been a top five team pretty much the whole season so i don't really need to talk much about michigan i think people know michigan and know what they're capable of and if they're watching the game currently they're seeing what they're capable of so i'm going to talk a little bit about why why youcon
00:46:20
Cody Atkinson
can give us a good game. and And one of the main things i'm going to say is michigan's loss i think Michigan's last loss, or their last loss was in the Big Ten championship game against Purdue. But before that, I think it was February 21st against Duke in a neutral site.
00:46:37
Cody Atkinson
ah Duke won 68-63. And the same Duke team that UConn just took down about a week ago, a game that UConn was not favored in.
00:46:44
Justin Daulton
Thank you.
00:46:46
Cody Atkinson
um Then UConn takes down Illinois in the final four a game that UConn was not favored in. And it it feels to me like UConn was maybe last favored against UCLA.
00:46:57
Cody Atkinson
They took Michigan State down. They took Duke down. They took Illinois down. And so this is a UConn team that's that's that's doing a very well being kind of underrated and underappreciated right now.
00:47:08
Cody Atkinson
and And they've been doing it on the back of this kid named Terrace Reed Jr., who I was not familiar with coming into the tournament. I wasn't familiar with his game, but but let me let me read you these discrete stats that I put in the in the show notes without any labels.
00:47:23
Cody Atkinson
ah Round one against Furman, 31 points, 27 rebounds.
00:47:29
Justin Daulton
Jesus.
00:47:36
Cody Atkinson
That's Low scoring output, but still a double-double. Against Michigan State, 20.5 rebounds. Duke, 26.9 rebounds. Illinois, 17.11 rebounds. um I think at halftime, he had 7.7 rebounds.
00:47:52
Cody Atkinson
Somewhere around halftime against Duke. um This is a guy that's been carrying them, and it's a guy that can continue to carry them. Actually, I said against Duke, against Michigan in the championship game. I think he currently has seven and seven.
00:48:03
Cody Atkinson
um A guy guy that can continue to carry him. Another fun fact, Dan Hurley in the NCAA tournament is 20 and five all time. and That's an insane record.
00:48:14
Cody Atkinson
He has two championships already, as we know. In Final Four and championship games, the three years he's been, he's 5-0, looking to go 6-0. and And this is his third championship made in four years. You cannot undersell how great of a coaching job he's doing. Love him, hate him, respect him, disrespect him, the way he goes about it.
00:48:35
Cody Atkinson
You cannot deny how good this man is at putting a team together and coaching basketball. And then Michigan, one in six all-time in championship games. This is their eighth championship. ah championship game that they've been to as a men's team and they are one in six all time. So if you're if you're if you're looking at at at historical, there's one of these teams that that wins championships and one of these teams that loses championships. And and maybe maybe we see that continue and we get a nice little UConn upset today. I'll be rooting for UConn. like the underdog. I have a soft spot for UConn because they were the first team I ever got right in March Madness.
00:49:09
Cody Atkinson
or in my in my bracket. So I'll be rooting for UConn. I think the world should be rooting for UConn because we like nice things and we like the underdog story. But there's there's how UConn can get it done.
00:49:20
Cody Atkinson
They will rely entirely on historical stats and nothing related to this season except for Terrence Reed Jr.,
00:49:27
Justin Daulton
um not to get not to give away where we're at in terms of timing, but with 12 minutes left in the game, it is 48-37 Michigan currently. And Reed Jr. is 7 points, 3 from 10 in front of the field, with 10 rebounds and no assists.
00:49:42
Justin Daulton
So that's where you're at right now.
00:49:42
Cody Atkinson
I didn't say he was an assist guy.
00:49:43
Justin Daulton
So, ah um
00:49:46
Cody Atkinson
I read two stats and two stats only for a reason.
00:49:49
Justin Daulton
yeah. um So, i mean, if if what you're saying is true, right, that Terrence Reed Jr. is the spark plug for that team, right, the guy that's going to put put the team on his back, ah Michigan has found some way to shut him down and is not allowing.
00:50:00
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, well, they got height and athleticism too, unfortunately.
00:50:01
Justin Daulton
and
00:50:04
Justin Daulton
Sure. So, mean, ultimately that's going to be, if that's what you're, if that's the logic, right. And you're not, you're the logic guy but between the two of us when it comes to college basketball, right. That, you know, if that's the guy that needs to win the game for him he's not winning the game for him right now. So, um but I'm with you, man. I would much rather see UConn team win as opposed to a Michigan team.
00:50:24
Justin Daulton
um I'm not a big fan of of Michigan. I'm not a big fan of the Big Ten as a whole. um So I would much rather see UConn go out there and, you know, prove why they're a much better basketball school than what we've seen from a Michigan. But um eventually the the Power Fives, and the the established the elite portions of the Power Fives are going to flex their muscles from time to time.
00:50:47
Justin Daulton
um Granted, there's still a lot of basketball left to be played in that game, and seven-point elite can be erased in 30 seconds. in college basketball. So um we'll see where that final score is.
00:50:54
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. They just got to get half from three.
00:50:56
Justin Daulton
Maybe it'll, yeah, I am, you know, maybe we can see where that final score is by the end of us recording this and we can give some last second thoughts to it. But yeah, man, it's, you know, I'm i'm with you. I'd much rather see a UConn come out on top as opposed to Michigan.
00:51:09
Justin Daulton
I just don't want to see Michigan have anything to be excited about um these fake championships that they've won over the years. Cough, cough, JJ McCarthy, not doing anything as a,
00:51:19
Justin Daulton
and and beating a TCU school that shouldn't have been in the national championship game that year. So, um yeah, I don't have much else to say about it, man. Hopefully UConn can pull it out over here in the in last couple of minutes.
00:51:32
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, we'll we'll both certainly be rooting for it. But ah in the meantime, i think it's I think it's time we dive into this National League preview we got going here.
00:51:41
Justin Daulton
Let's do it.
00:51:42
Cody Atkinson
Let's do it. I'm going to get kickstarted with the NL West. I'm going to save the NL Central for the end because I think I'm a little bit more excited about that one. I think that's a good wrap-up season. And I'm going to continue my trend of my main goal entirely is to give each of these teams a class for which that they will have to make decisions for the rest of the season, right? I'm going to give them a class and that's going to determine their skill set and they're going to have to go from there.
00:52:11
Cody Atkinson
NL West, that led obviously by the much maligned and much hated Dodgers. um So I have given them the villain class. Also the obvious, because this is obviously the best team in baseball. They were the best team in baseball last year.
00:52:29
Cody Atkinson
They dominated every NL team they played. in the playoffs. And then obviously the Blue Jays gave us a great world series against the Dodgers, but fell just short. And then the Dodgers went out and added the biggest off season signing of the year by adding Kyle Tucker for 60 million a year, because being the highest ah paid club in all of baseball was not enough. They needed to up that by another 60 million. Most of which is probably deferred as per usual. And the Dodgers have broken baseball. They will likely win their third year in a row.
00:53:01
Cody Atkinson
And they will be the biggest talking point for why we don't have baseball in 2027. So they're the villain this year because they are the rich. They got richer and they're the villain next year, because that's why we'll be staring at a blank TV with nothing to talk about in the summer.
00:53:18
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. Any thoughts on the Dodgers before I move on
00:53:18
Justin Daulton
Don't forget, the only other name that you didn't mention that also happened over the offseason is Edwin Diaz going over there as well to be the closer.
00:53:25
Cody Atkinson
Oh yeah. and the s That's right.
00:53:28
Justin Daulton
So Rich gets even more richer, honestly, with probably one of the best closers in baseball as well, at least with one of the best walkout songs.
00:53:34
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, it's disgusting.
00:53:36
Justin Daulton
um But yeah, I mean, Sucker, easily one of the best players, or one of my favorite players in Major League Baseball. and Now I can't even root for him because he played baseball the right way, and now he's not because he played for the Dodgers. um So...
00:53:48
Justin Daulton
yeah I almost have to move the moniker of the evil empire from the New York Yankees to the l LA Dodgers at this point because at least I can pallet the New York Yankees.
00:53:59
Justin Daulton
I can't pallet the Dodgers.
00:54:00
Cody Atkinson
yeah
00:54:01
Justin Daulton
i can't I can't stand what they're doing. They're ruining baseball. I understand that they're they're playing within the system that's written in the CBA that that we have in Major League Baseball, but that doesn't mean it's right. like Finding a way to defer hundreds of millions of dollars at this point between the Otani deal to The Yoshi deal to now Kyle Tucker, Edwin Diaz, um if we Freddie Freeman, if we even get Blake Snell.
00:54:21
Cody Atkinson
Freddie Freeman, Roki Sasaki, Mookie Betts, Tyler Glassnow, can do this all day.
00:54:29
Justin Daulton
like they're Yeah, correct. um I mean, you're going to talk about it. you know If we get to free agency next offseason, if we even get there, um you're probably talking about Tariq Scoble. going to probably going to be a Dodger, uh, because why wouldn't you be a Dodger?
00:54:39
Cody Atkinson
Probably.
00:54:42
Justin Daulton
If you can, if you can go win every world series for from now until the end of time, why, why, why wouldn't you? Um, so i mean, yeah, i it's disgusting. I don't like it. Um, I hope that the little team that could, can go out there and beat them. You know, the, the blue Jays did their, did their best last year.
00:55:00
Justin Daulton
um I would love for there to be a little team that could out there that could, that could go do it. Um, Because, i mean, what, 2020, the COVID year, the the race, play the Dodgers and took them to to six games to beat them. So, i mean, it's possible. i don't know what what roster composition can can be out there to to beat the Dodgers, man, but it's it's disgusting and I don't like it.
00:55:22
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I don't know either, man. I used to believe in it. um And I just like i just don't anymore. I used to trust that that one team would come up and would would take care of the Dodgers and we could live to fight another day. And it's just It doesn't happen anymore because it it happened for, there was I think, five or six years where they were the best team in baseball, the most expensive team in baseball, all this. And they weren't winning World Series. Nobody was talking about it because the Padres would take them out or the Astros would take them out or, you know, the Phillies or whoever it may be. And their response to that was to just double and triple down. And and like you said, nothing they're doing is wrong technically.
00:56:01
Cody Atkinson
but it's that like Jurassic Park aspect. They asked themselves whether they could, not whether they should, and they've they've they've killed the sport in the process. So we're gonna move on from that, because I don't really like talking Dodgers. There's 29 other teams that I'll pay attention to, and then I'll hope that that dot that one of them takes the Dodgers out, but I'll trust that they won't, and we'll have some interesting conversations around the lockout next year.
00:56:23
Cody Atkinson
um
Dodgers' Dominance and Padres' Potential
00:56:24
Justin Daulton
Yep.
00:56:24
Cody Atkinson
Second team in this division, I've got the Padres.
00:56:28
Cody Atkinson
this is not a technical class i'm going to call them i'm going to call the classes the bridesmaid because they were always the bridesmaid never the bride because they're only their only flaw is existing in the same division as the Dodgers. This is a really good team that is anchored by really good young and old stars. I mean, Fernando Tatis Jr. is a budding superstar that we all kind of forget about.
00:56:54
Cody Atkinson
um I know he had his issues with the PD suspension like a couple years ago, but he's really rebranded. and come on strong he's incredible manny machado still doing his thing after all these years that was a huge contract they gave him so long ago one of the original monster contracts i think was machado and trout um and machado's still doing his thing they have core guys that aren't Elite, like a Ramon Laureano, Xander Bogarts, and I think is it's Jake k Cronenworth.
00:57:24
Cody Atkinson
These are really strong guys that help round out that lineup.
00:57:25
Justin Daulton
Yeah.
00:57:28
Cody Atkinson
And they have the best closer in the game. We talked a lot about Mason Miller during the World Baseball Classic for obvious reasons, and he is elite. And that is an elite name to hand it off to um in the back. So I expect the Padres to be good again this year. I've got them number two in this division.
00:57:42
Cody Atkinson
um Obviously there's holes you can poke in them. You know, they had Dylan cease last year. He's not with the team anymore. and I think he's in, in Toronto and, and and you can, you can poke holes in reasons why they would make us take a step back. But, but again, I think their, their biggest flaws existing in the same division as the Dodgers.
00:58:01
Cody Atkinson
Unfortunately, that's just a shame. Anything you want say on the Padres before I kick it over?
00:58:07
Justin Daulton
Mason Miller debuted a new walkout song by Korn to rival Edwin Diaz.
00:58:09
Cody Atkinson
and what did he?
00:58:12
Justin Daulton
If you haven't seen it, go look at it.
00:58:13
Cody Atkinson
Nice.
00:58:13
Justin Daulton
um I would say from both of them open and opening day at home, so they both got to debut their songs, Edwin Diaz and Mason Miller.
00:58:23
Justin Daulton
um The Dodgers decided to do a live performance of the trumpet song for Edwin Diaz. um Not done, but not done by the guy that actually did it.
00:58:29
Cody Atkinson
because they can afford it. There
00:58:33
Justin Daulton
I don't know why you don't just pay the guy that did that did it. And it sounded bad. And Mason Miller debuts the song by Korn to Thunderous applause because it's that good.
00:58:40
Cody Atkinson
there you go.
00:58:41
Justin Daulton
Because it's Korn. So just some, you know, the Dodgers took their first L of the season because they didn't actually go out there and get Timmy Trumpets to do his song um for Edwin Diaz.
00:58:52
Justin Daulton
So that's it.
00:58:52
Cody Atkinson
There you go. Let's put that one on the, I want that one on the record. The Dodgers are playing one 63 this year with one L for not playing to be trumpets.
00:59:00
Justin Daulton
There you go.
00:59:01
Cody Atkinson
And that'll be the only way we can try to nerf them. and nerf them Um, so I'm to, I'm going to fly through these next three.
00:59:05
Justin Daulton
ah
00:59:08
Cody Atkinson
If you got, just throw a hand up if you want to interject, cause these are kind of, I don't think three teams that we are going to have a lot of thoughts on. um So I'll probably try to fly through them, but if you want to interject, just give me a nod and and and I'll give you a pause. So we've got the Giants. I have their class is the case study.
00:59:26
Cody Atkinson
ah And that's because the Giants are the first team to hire a manager straight from college to the pros. I'm very familiar with Tony Vitello because he was the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers when they ah defeated Texas A&M in the College World Series.
00:59:35
Justin Daulton
Thank you.
00:59:42
Cody Atkinson
Closest we've gone. Closest I've been to seeing a men's championship at Texas A&M. As close as you could be having the lead in the seventh inning of the finale. Tony Vitello is an incredible coach at the college level. An incredible recruiter.
00:59:58
Cody Atkinson
But the question is going to remain, can he make the jump to the pros? And so the Giants, I believe I saw at the 10 game mark of the season, had the worst record in baseball.
01:00:10
Cody Atkinson
And all of kind of the reports coming out is that they're already feeling this pressure of the expectations that they have to live up to and the risk that they've taken by by taking the tele on so there's already this pressure mounting behind what they've done and i think what happens with the giants not only this season but just in general but as long as he stays there it's going to be a case study for other teams whether or not you go to college to get a coach i know the lsu coach jay johnson is already getting
01:00:41
Cody Atkinson
you know He's had feelers and interest in him going to the MLB in recent years. And if you see Vitello flame out, maybe that's something that that doesn't come to be because dig the games might just be too different. The way that you have to manage, the way that you can treat the players, the the the way that you motivate the players might be too different. So I think this is a a really important team to pay attention to because there's also the chance that that Tony Vitello just hates it and makes the jump back to college right away. And they scrap this and we never see a coach make the jump.
01:01:09
Cody Atkinson
to MLB ever again. Or if he turns us around and it goes great, we might start seeing a pipeline from college to the pros that becomes very problematic for college baseball, at least from a fan perspective of wanting to hold on to your coach. So that's the case study.
01:01:23
Cody Atkinson
the Diamondbacks I've got as the overlooked um just because I feel like not, not performance based because I don't expect them to be good this year, but just um attention based because I feel like nobody ever pays attention to the time of X, the Diamondbacks,
01:01:41
Cody Atkinson
they had a really good run a few years ago and it was really fun to watch but that run is over i mean they they went 80 and 82 last year and they ah i wrote that they lost josh naylor and a eugenio suarez those were deadline trades for them letting both of those guys go obviously didn't resign them and and they've replaced them with aging names that you know like a 40 year old carlos santana's playing first base for them and a decrepit Nolan Arenado is playing third base for them.
01:02:14
Cody Atkinson
ah It's just not it. Like they're not, they didn't make moves that would open the window back up. So this looks like a complete rebuild for the diamondbacks.
01:02:27
Cody Atkinson
The overlooked, probably a team that you were, you were okay overlooking this year. If you're looking for a team to watch, that's not the team you're rooting for. Feel free to overlook the diamondbacks. and And then we have the Rockies, who the Astros are currently playing, currently losing to. That is the league's bottom dweller.
01:02:43
Cody Atkinson
So in in the AL West, one of the classes that I attributed to the Angels was the bottom dweller. The Rockies get the advanced version of this class, which is the league's bottom dweller, because they are the worst team in the league for a couple of years now, and they will continue to be that.
01:02:57
Justin Daulton
Thank
01:03:01
Cody Atkinson
This year, I think the White Sox did more to upgrade than the Rockies did. I think the Rockies will be better. than they were last year, but I think they will still be pretty comfortably the worst team in baseball.
01:03:12
Cody Atkinson
But there are some fun names to watch. So that's the only thing I'm focusing on with the Rockies here is here's if you do end up watching a game. of the Rockies because they play in Colorado and the ball flies there and it can be kind of fun sometimes.
01:03:24
Cody Atkinson
Look out for Hunter Goodman, a catcher who had 31 home runs last year. Everyone was focused on Cal Raleigh, but that was another catcher slugging last year, Hunter Goodman. TJ Rumfield is a rookie who already has two home runs on the season for the Rockies, so he looks like a guy that could be a little fun to watch.
01:03:43
Cody Atkinson
ah They have Ezekiel Tovar, who only played in 95 games last year. He had a kind of – looked like a rough kind of throwaway year last year, but in 2024 he had 26 home runs. So potentially a fun name to watch there. And then Team Italy pitching star Michael Lorenzen.
01:04:00
Cody Atkinson
uh is on the rockies so uh a potentially fun name to watch it there's a couple names if if you happen to to turn on a rockies game i would suggest would still suggest turning them on before the diamond packs but there's a couple names you can look out for there amongst the league's bottom dweller that's what i got for the nl west
01:04:18
Justin Daulton
Very cool. So is that the order that you have it in? Rockies, Diamondbacks being the bottom two, Giants being three, Padres, Dodgers top two?
01:04:28
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I think so. That was kind of unintentional, but that's that's where I would put them. I don't think the Diamondbacks have much fight in them, but being above the Rockies doesn't take a lot of effort, and I don't think the Giants are so bad that they fall below the Diamondbacks. So yeah, this is probably the the order that I would put them in here.
01:04:45
Cody Atkinson
I think two of those make the playoffs, Dodgers-Potters.
01:04:45
Justin Daulton
Just sucks to see the Diamondbacks. Dodgers and Padres, it's being obvious, yeah. Sucks that the Diamondbacks are in that rebuild era, man, because they just have such good color schemes out there in Arizona.
01:04:57
Justin Daulton
I think last year, maybe two years ago, they they incorporated the purple back into there their color schemes.
01:05:02
Cody Atkinson
the Serpientes.
01:05:03
Justin Daulton
on what Yeah, like it just it's so good when these teams allow some more personality into rather than just being the red and black that the Diamondbacks wore when they did the Nike jerseys a couple years ago.
01:05:15
Justin Daulton
So, just sucks to see a color scheme wasted on a team that's not doing much.
01:05:21
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:05:22
Justin Daulton
All right.
01:05:22
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:05:23
Justin Daulton
um
01:05:23
Cody Atkinson
It's a team i look forward to being good again. And part of the reason I would say overlook them is don't, don't taint it. You know, don't, don't get this taste in your mouth that way when they're good again, you feel good watching them again, you know?
01:05:35
Justin Daulton
Fair enough. I'll take that. um My turn, NL East. um ah this is ah This is a weird division, man. I don't
Braves' Potential and Player Health
01:05:42
Justin Daulton
know how much you paid attention to the NL East over the last couple of years, but this is ah this is a division Um, just to kind of give you, to remind you, <unk> because i always constantly forget what team is in this division.
01:05:52
Justin Daulton
Um, you have the Braves, Marlins, Mets, Phillies, and the Nationals. Um, so there's always a weird eclectic group of teams. Um, very similar to the AL East where you have teams from Tampa Bay all the way up to Toronto.
01:06:05
Justin Daulton
Um, so explain that to me, how that division works in baseball. It doesn't, um, hopefully restructuring here when we go to 32 teams makes more sense. so we can actually do actual MLB divisions. That makes sense.
01:06:16
Justin Daulton
Um, So to dive in, man. The Atlanta Braves is a team that you and i um have a close eye on, I think, at all times, since from our our time being Houston sports fans.
01:06:27
Justin Daulton
um The 90s was not kind to Houston with the Braves.
01:06:30
Cody Atkinson
Not kind.
01:06:30
Justin Daulton
um
01:06:31
Cody Atkinson
The Braves of the 90s were not kind to Houston.
01:06:31
Justin Daulton
And then... No, not at all. um ah My first note that I wrote down for this team is, can they stay healthy to be competitive again? um A team that really hasn't been competitive since they won their World Series...
01:06:46
Justin Daulton
um what was that? were What now? Four years ago now since they won their World Series, right?
01:06:51
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, well, that was 21, right?
01:06:54
Justin Daulton
Yeah, so five years ago now. It'll be five years this year in and and October. um So I mean, still a rotation that's really good. It's still got ah an okay bullpen.
01:07:04
Justin Daulton
um I'm going talk about this lineup here in a second, but I do want talk to talk about Chris Sale and Spencer Strider. It's probably one of the best one-two punches in baseball. I know Chris Sale is getting up there in age, um but Still has the stuff. I watched some highlights from him last year when he came back from injury and looked like Cy Young winning Chris Sale again.
01:07:25
Justin Daulton
Unfortunately, just plays in an era where Paul Skeens is just that much better of a pitcher in the National League. um Probably would have won the Cy Young last year if it wasn't for Paul Skeens. look for him to continue to be dominant over there in Atlanta.
01:07:38
Justin Daulton
But then Spencer Strider right there is the the number two guy in that and and that rotation. And when you talk about the fact that Spencer Strider is your number two, that tells you how good your rotation already is. Because Spencer Strider would be an ace on any other any other roster.
01:07:52
Justin Daulton
um After that, it's kind of lackluster. They they got some guys in there, but not not anything to really write home about on the rotation. um Bullpen, is I think my exact wording here is that they're middle of the pack.
01:08:03
Justin Daulton
Not really names to be excited about. doesn't They don't really have a good back-end guy. So if you want something that's going to plague them, it's going to be the later um later into the game's bullpen, the setup guy, into the closing guy.
01:08:19
Justin Daulton
um But as I'm about to get into this lineup, if you can put up 10 runs on the team, you don't need a closing guy. So who cares? And I think that's just how the Braves want to play baseball. So now let's get into this lineup. um You have two catchers, Sean Murphy and Drake Baldwin.
01:08:32
Justin Daulton
um Sean Murphy already on the 10-day DIL. due to come back soon. um Matt Olsen at first base, Ozzie Albies at second base, Haesung Kim at shortstop the 10-day DL, third base Austin Riley, left field Mike Kosinski, center field Michael Harris, the second and right field Ronald Acuna Jr. um When Sean Murphy is not a catcher, he's going to play DH with Baldwin sliding over to the catcher spot.
01:08:58
Justin Daulton
um That is the stacked lineup, man. um That is all-stars at every position.
01:09:00
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
01:09:04
Justin Daulton
Um, so this is a team, as I stated before, if they can stay healthy, this is a team that can dominate the national league. And if you're talking about a team that's built to beat the Dodgers, this is a team that's built to beat the Dodgers in terms of a lineup.
01:09:18
Justin Daulton
The unfortunate part is, can they stay healthy and can their bullpen, um, in the backup of their rotation stand up against, you know, what we're talking about the the Dodgers three, four and five guy being Blake snail, Tyler glass now, um,
01:09:31
Justin Daulton
and a bullpen day for five or Yoshi at five, whoever you're throwing at five, which is insane because Otani and um I can't think of their number two guy, but um the top half of the rotation or they're all five guys are insane and in LA. But um if there's a team that can do it, I like this Braves team a lot.
01:09:50
Justin Daulton
um But can they stay healthy? that's That's really been their issue for the last four or five seasons. They can't stay healthy. They can't play one a full 162. um Hopefully they can because A healthy Acuna Jr. is great for the game of baseball.
01:10:05
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, that's the thing. It's not only that they haven't been able to stay healthy lately, but it's been those top guys that couldn't. I mean, think Acuna Jr., I think we're running on two years in a row now that he had a major injury and couldn't ah play the whole season. And then obviously Chris Sale, just kind of waiting for him to come back has been an eternity, waiting for him to to to get a full season. If they can get a full season out Sale in Acuna, this could be – a really, really good year. I hate to see that Sean Murphy's already out too. He's very underrated as a hidden catcher, but um yeah, if they can stay healthy, they've, the they're low. The lineup's loaded.
01:10:42
Justin Daulton
Yeah.
Marlins' Unexpected Success
01:10:43
Justin Daulton
Moving on, ah as you as we go through go through mine, i'm I'm building this as some as the season's already gone on. We're 10 games into the season. um The Miami Marlins, um my question to you is, how is this team winning baseball games?
01:10:57
Justin Daulton
Because I don't know. um For all intents of purposes, this team should not be winning baseball games. And they're, I think, either in first or tied for second in their division already.
01:11:08
Justin Daulton
I don't understand it. I did my research on it. The only names that I can give you that are worth anything, Cindy Alicantara and Pete Fairbanks.
01:11:17
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, help you absolutely.
01:11:20
Justin Daulton
ah Those are the only two names I could get for you from the pitching rotation all the way down to the down to their lineup. Pete Fairbanks, um obviously coming from Tampa Bay, being a middle bullpen is going to be closing names for the Marlins this year.
01:11:35
Justin Daulton
um But i really have no one else to highlight for you. and I don't understand how they're winning baseball games, but they are. ah Maybe it's the magic of them wearing teal again, because they brought out the old Miami Marlins jersey.
01:11:45
Cody Atkinson
It might be.
01:11:47
Justin Daulton
um So shout out to the Marlins. um I don't think, based off of what I saw, it's not a team that can sustain their winning ways early on in the season.
01:11:58
Justin Daulton
ah
Mets' Financial Struggles
01:11:59
Justin Daulton
But it's fun to watch, because I like these little teams that can and in a day and age when you're not being able to spend crazy amount of money. So... good on the Marlins, but yeah, I really don't have much else to give you here. It's, you know, in the same way that you talked about the, you know, the, the, the Diamondbacks being overlooked, this is probably right in that, in that same reign of, there's just not much to really, to give in terms of the Marlins.
01:12:23
Justin Daulton
Um,
01:12:23
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I'm trying to look at the roster here. So i see I see Owen Cassie and Jacob Marcy, who I think were both Team Canada outfielders um in the World Baseball Classic. So those are two guys I like. And I i thought Kyle Stowers might be one of the keys to their to their run, but he's not he's on the I.L. He's not even playing. So i I could not answer the question of how do they keep winning. I don't know.
01:12:47
Justin Daulton
It's impressive regardless. We'll see how long it goes. But moving on to next one, the New York Mets, um a team that is right there with the Yankees and Dodgers in terms of spending money.
01:12:59
Justin Daulton
That owner loves to spend money every every offseason. um So the question I ask of you, can the money finally pay off? Can you finally equate some wins to the money that you're spending?
01:13:10
Justin Daulton
I'm going to run you through some some names for you. Freddie Peralta, Nolan McLean look to anchor the rotation. um by the end of the season, you could be talking about the most dangerous one-two punch in terms of rotations out there. Obviously, we talked a lot about Nolan McLean in the World Baseball Classic.
01:13:27
Justin Daulton
Freddie Perrottal obviously been a pretty good stable guy for the Mets last couple years. And just honestly throughout his career. um If you haven't looked at his career numbers, I recommend you do because Deuce has had a pretty steady career for for his entire his entire so time up here in the bigs.
01:13:42
Justin Daulton
um Bullpen-wise, you've got A.J. Minter, Brooks Raley, Luis Garcia and Devin Williams, um, pretty good bullpen, honestly, to, to hand the ball off too. So you got to feel pretty good if you can get five or six out of your starting guy and then you hand off to that bullpen.
01:13:57
Justin Daulton
Um, AJ mentor is starting the season off on the 10 day IL. Um, so probably, you know, I don't know what the injury is, but you'll probably see him come back towards the the middle part of April. Um, but honestly, when he does come back, he's a big arm to give it to.
01:14:10
Justin Daulton
Um, and then, uh, Going into the lineup, Jorge Polanco, Marcus Simeon, Francisco Lindor, and Bo Bichette may be the best infield in baseball, if I'm being completely honest with you.
01:14:24
Justin Daulton
um I would be hard-pressed to find a better infield outside of the Dodgers to talk about. So it's it's pretty impressive what they've been able to build there.
01:14:34
Justin Daulton
And then, of course, in your outfit, you have Soto and Luis Robert Jr. Obviously, Luis Robert Jr. coming over this offseason, spending money. Once again, the Mets way. um Soto already hurt. He's going on the 10-day IL as of last night, um which has been Soto's issue the last couple of years. He can't play a full 162. So not only can the money pay off, but can you keep your big-name guys healthy?
01:14:57
Justin Daulton
Can Soto get the bat off his shoulder? Because that's something he couldn't do in the World Baseball Classic. So can we you know can your guys actually pay off? i My answer to that is no. I don't think long-term the Mets can do it.
01:15:08
Cody Atkinson
so
01:15:09
Justin Daulton
um which is just the way that the Mets have been the last couple of years. But I just don't, I don't see it based off of what I'm seeing on the field as of right now, 10 games into the season. I know it's a long
Phillies' NL East Potential
01:15:20
Justin Daulton
season, but it's a, it's a division that is going to be top heavy and they're not included in the conversation if if I'm being honest, but do you have any opinions on the Mets? Yeah.
01:15:30
Cody Atkinson
yeah no i think my takeaway is the same as yours can the money finally pay off technically yes but i they're already having so many injury concerns, which they've had before. um So I don't really expect it to. And and you you talk about the best infield in baseball, maybe, but Bo Bichette also, I think, is you've got some guys, I think, playing out of position a little bit with this in order to create this infield of names. And and that's something that could that could bite you as well. I i might be getting caught up in the the social media of it all, but I know Bo Bichette's had fielding issues already this year.
01:16:05
Cody Atkinson
um ah But it it is ah it's a list of names that I like, right? Jorge Polanco, underrated. Marcus Simeon, underrated. Francisco Lindor, fairly rated. And then Bo Bichette, fairly rated as well. And then Soto, Luis Role.
01:16:20
Cody Atkinson
The names are there, um but I just don't i don't see it all coming together because it's just that's what the Mets have been doing. they put They put these teams together like they're the Dodgers, but they don't know how to make it all come together.
01:16:34
Justin Daulton
Yeah. Same thoughts here, man. Moving down South a little bit for them. They're the Philadelphia Phillies. um A team that's won the NL East two years in a row now.
01:16:45
Justin Daulton
So my question is, can the Phillies make it three in a row? um Which doesn't necessarily happen a lot in baseball. The parody in baseball has been pretty good as of late. um But this team is stacked. I was impressed to see how they've been able to keep this core together over the years.
01:17:00
Justin Daulton
Your rotation And i'm going to tell you how this rotation is built in a second, but you have Zach Wheeler, Lizardo, and Aaron Nola as your three big name guys. if If I were to read you those three names, would you try to tell me where they fall in the rotation?
01:17:16
Cody Atkinson
I mean, honestly, I would probably guess it's in that order. Wheeler, Lozardo, Nola.
01:17:21
Justin Daulton
What if I told you you were wrong?
01:17:23
Cody Atkinson
I don't think I'd be that surprised. those are All three of those are top like guys with high, high ceilings. So like you could convince me that any of them are believed to be the number one.
01:17:35
Cody Atkinson
Unless there's a fourth name you hid from me.
01:17:36
Justin Daulton
So no, no fourth thing to hide from you. um Zach Wheeler is your number one guy. Lizardo is your number three guy. And Aaron Nola is your five.
01:17:46
Cody Atkinson
is your Who's two and three or two and four?
01:17:47
Justin Daulton
And this road's... I don't have the link pulled up anymore, but I love how the how it's built because if you talk about going into the playoffs and you need to save your you need to save an ace for game four or even a game five in elimination scenario,
01:18:05
Justin Daulton
you're going to talk about that Aaron Nola is going to come out in game four or game five and potentially win a series for you or flip it to come to go back home to then win, ah to win the world series or win an NLCS, whatever it may be.
01:18:18
Justin Daulton
I love how it's constructed. I love this whole notion of that. You can hand the ball to your two and four guy and be like, Hey, it can be a bullpen day. Like you don't need to go out there and pitch five strong innings. You can give me two and a third or three innings. So regardless of who your two and four guy is like you have a one, three and five that can flip a series on its head and, and really do the right.
01:18:39
Justin Daulton
And they really just kind of carry this team through to be super competitive and honestly go towards being three times in a row and probably in that conversation of NLCS conversation.
01:18:50
Justin Daulton
Once again, um other names to talk to you about.
01:18:51
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. I mean, they certainly look like they could do it
01:18:55
Justin Daulton
Yeah. Duran being the only bright spot in the, for all intents purposes, a mid bullpen from what I was seeing. Um, if you wanted to point out an Achilles tendon for this team, it is the bullpen.
01:19:06
Justin Daulton
Um, there really isn't a lot of names to talk about. And then going into the the lineup, uh, JT Romualdo, probably still the best catcher in baseball. Um, I, I, I'd be hard pressed to find someone that can play defense like JT Romualdo does and can still play offense.
01:19:22
Justin Daulton
Um, that's something that you don't see a lot in modern baseball. Um, and then you have obviously Bryce Harper playing first base. We'll play some DH as well um throughout the season. um Didn't know if you knew this, but he's batted by Alec Baum, who also plays second base for them.
01:19:36
Justin Daulton
So the fact that you have two perennial all-stars um at first base and also at second base is insane. And then you're shoring up the middle of your infield with Trey Turner, who is elite. like you don't There's not much to say about Trey Turner.
01:19:51
Justin Daulton
um And then over the offseason, you talked about it last week when you broke down the AL West, Adoles Garcia coming over to be a Philly this season. um that's a big That's a big presence, honestly, for for this team.
01:20:02
Justin Daulton
um And it's someone that's going to bring a lot of pop, a lot of a lot of a lot of swagger to a team that already has a ton of off-field drama and aura, honestly, when you talk about Bryce Harper being on the team. And then your DH when it isn't Bryce Harper, it's Kyle Schwarber.
01:20:20
Justin Daulton
Um, and so like just from top to bottom, a team that's going only to hit for a ton of power, um, and they're just going go to be like, Hey, best versus is best. Let's see what you guys got when it comes down to it. And I like that it's just, you know, it's best on best. It's metal. It's iron sharpers, iron type of mentality there in Philadelphia, which is the way they love playing sports, whether it's baseball or football or even basketball. Like they want to play gritty, gritty sports. And that's what
Nationals' Struggles
01:20:46
Justin Daulton
you're going to get with the Philadelphia Phillies all season long.
01:20:49
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. Yeah. My only thoughts on, on the Phillies, I agree the Achilles tending probably the bullpen.
01:20:51
Justin Daulton
Uh, yeah.
01:20:58
Cody Atkinson
The lineup is they they have a tendency to like players with low average high pop. So like Harper, you know, not a guy that's going to hit 300. Schwarber, not a guy that's going to hit maybe even 250. They're a big, big pop, low average. So my when it comes to the playoffs, my my question would be the Phillies is like, don't don't let the offense hit the death spiral. Because if when the offense is bad, it's going to be bad.
01:21:26
Cody Atkinson
Like if if guys are cold at the same time, you it's going to be lifeless, but when it pops, it's going to be one of the best in the league. um So just kind of kind of, how does that all weave together? Is it is it too volatile? Would be my question, but it but it looks electric.
01:21:41
Justin Daulton
I mean, it's the same conversation we had around the Blue Jays, right? The the run that the Blue Jays went on last year was they got hot at the right time. They were a middle-of-the-pack team the entire season. They lived and died by the long ball up there.
01:21:52
Justin Daulton
And they got hot at the right time in October, and they made a really impressive run and came up two games short of winning in the world Series.
01:21:56
Cody Atkinson
Mm-hmm.
01:21:59
Justin Daulton
So, I mean, I could see the Phillies being the same conversation of can they get hot in October? And, you know, they're going to have to compete with an Atlanta down the stretch or going if Atlanta can stay healthy.
01:22:10
Justin Daulton
Obviously the Dodgers are going to be there. The Padres are going to be there. So, and then obviously you're going to talk to us about the NFL central. So like, what does that look like? You know? So, I mean, they got the rotation to do it. Can they continue to pump the runs and, and be an aggressive team that they want as they want to play baseball.
01:22:27
Justin Daulton
um And then I attempted to break down the Washington nationals for you.
01:22:31
Cody Atkinson
That's
01:22:32
Justin Daulton
I don't know if you, if you're reading my note here, I've got nothing.
01:22:34
Cody Atkinson
incredible.
01:22:36
Justin Daulton
um I've really got nothing. I, i just to give you background on this roster, um every position's backup player is a player that's starting in another position.
01:22:48
Justin Daulton
They have no depth.
01:22:51
Cody Atkinson
that's incredible
01:22:52
Justin Daulton
They have no starting rotation. Their bullpen has no names. They have a closer that I've never heard of in my life. I clicked on their stats. They played for like three teams in the last four seasons. Like there's just nothing to talk about.
01:23:02
Cody Atkinson
you
01:23:05
Justin Daulton
And I feel bad for the people that might be Washington national fans that are tuning into this. But I got nothing to to give to this.
01:23:10
Cody Atkinson
They know.
01:23:12
Justin Daulton
Yeah, I just feel bad. i't i don't know I don't know what else to say about it this team. like They're probably going to be in a conversation with the White Sox and the and the in the Rockies of being in that bottom third, probably even bottom five teams in the league. um I'd have to look to see where they ended last year, but I can't imagine them being higher than 26th in Major League Baseball last year.
01:23:36
Justin Daulton
um
NL East Predictions
01:23:38
Justin Daulton
so unless you have any notes on the Washington Nationals, I'll give you my predictions for the NL East.
01:23:42
Cody Atkinson
I'll just – I'll give you James Wood. um He's the only – there's James Wood and I think Kybert Ruiz um are the only two names that I knew because I saw your note and so I pulled up the roster.
01:23:56
Cody Atkinson
And those are really the only names that stuck out as like young dudes that could become something. James Wood is a guy that – he's on a nice trajectory to be just a strong – upper echelon MLB player.
01:24:10
Cody Atkinson
um And Kybert Ruiz is just a name that I recognize. I don't know why, but I do.
01:24:14
Justin Daulton
yeah
01:24:14
Cody Atkinson
So that's what i that's what I'll give you, James Wood.
01:24:18
Justin Daulton
There you go. My predictions, as I did last week, I'll give you some names to look forward to. My predictions for MVP, well with the caveat, if he can stay healthy, is Ronald Acuna Jr. I think Ronald Acuna Jr. is one of the best players that we've ever watched play baseball.
01:24:34
Justin Daulton
um If it wasn't for Shohei Otani, we'd probably be talking about him as a generational talent. But we live in a day and age where Shohei Otani exists and is doing things that we haven't seen happen in baseball ever. Um, but I mean, Ronald Cunha Jr. is a guy that can very easily be in the 40, 40 club every season. Um, potentially even 50, 50 club like Shohei is.
01:24:53
Justin Daulton
Um, so if he can stay healthy and play a full season, there's no reason why he's not the MVP of the NL East. Um, if for some reason he's not healthy, my tip might have to Trey Turner, um, as a runner up for them the and MVP in the NL East.
01:25:08
Justin Daulton
Um, a dude that can hit for power. hits for contact, steals a lot of bases. And if it wasn't for Bobby Wood Jr., would probably be heralded as one of the best defensive shortstops in Major League Baseball, but Bobby Wood Jr. exists.
01:25:19
Justin Daulton
um My Cy Young for the for the division is going to go to Chris Sale, followed by Alacantara. um Once again, can Chris Sale stay healthy? Obviously, the stuff is there. So as long as he stays healthy, he's going to be there.
01:25:32
Justin Daulton
And that conversation is the best pitcher in that division. Um, but I, I can't ignore the fact that Alacantara is one of the best pitchers in major league baseball, um, and just plays for a team. I'll be, I don't understand how they're winning baseball games right now.
01:25:45
Justin Daulton
Um, but I think once the, once we get into the dog days of the summer, I don't see the Marlins winning a lot of baseball games, but the ones they do win, I think are started by Alacantara. Um, and then I want to give you a one young name to keep an eye on. We already talked about him in this episode, but Nolan McLean, um, someone that, you know, did a lot for, for team USA, um,
01:26:04
Justin Daulton
this year in the world baseball classic um is playing on a team that I don't want to give a ton of credit to the New York Mets, but as someone that I think can step into that upper echelon, unfortunately pitches in the same league as Paul skiing. So I don't think he's going get a lot of sight young love, but I think you you can talk about him as someone that is going to step up this season um and prove why he was on the world baseball blog classic roster.
01:26:27
Justin Daulton
And it's own that can lead team USA in the future. um So my prediction for the division um goes in order of Braves, Phillies, Mets, Marlins, Nationals.
01:26:38
Justin Daulton
um I think those top two are are interchangeable um depending on health and longevity of the other the rosters, but I feel pretty good about that. I think it's a very
Brewers' Consistent Performance
01:26:49
Justin Daulton
top-heavy division, and I think once it all shakes out, the Marlins will start losing baseball games, and I just don't see how this national roster Nationals roster can ah win anything more than 60 baseball games this year.
01:27:02
Cody Atkinson
God, yeah. that's That's rough, I feel, for you Nationals fans. But no, that like you said, it's ah it's an exciting division at the top. Braves, Phillies, Mets. There's going lot of excitement from that. If the Marlins can can keep any of the vibes going, they can make it ah a really exciting division. And I will say the Nationals, they at least started the year off with, ah I believe it was a win over the Cubs. So maybe they can give us at least a few fun games here and there, you know?
01:27:30
Justin Daulton
Yeah, we'll see. Hope I'm wrong, but i don't I don't see a way that I'm wrong on that one.
01:27:32
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. Yeah. I'm not saying you're wrong on that. I'm just, just giving some Nationals fans some hope, but yeah, I don't think anyone's going to argue that you're wrong on that one. We'll wrap it up with the NL central here. So in the last episode, we talked about, you know, the AL East is the big dog, right? That's where like, if you want to watch good baseball, watch the AL East. Yeah.
01:27:56
Cody Atkinson
i'm gonna I'm classifying the NL Central as the funnest division, the most fun division in baseball. If you want if you want to have fun, watch the NL Central because outside of the Cardinals, this this division could go anywhere.
01:28:13
Cody Atkinson
And so we're we're going to kick we're going to kick it off with the Milwaukee Brewers, who I have client who i' have classified as the favorite.
01:28:13
Justin Daulton
Okay.
01:28:19
Cody Atkinson
They won it last year coming off of a 97-1 win season. They won the the National League Central. But they they did have some losses, some names that we've talked about already. Freddie Peralta, who you know you said is anchoring the Mets rotation now, was previously with the with the Brewers. so That's a big loss. And they had Reese Hoskins at first base as well, who who moves on.
01:28:45
Cody Atkinson
But the Brewers just find ways to win. Like I'm not here to talk much about, I'll list some players off for you, but I'm not really here to talk much about players. The Brewers play such an old school, fun brand of baseball. To me, the Brewers feel like the modern day money ball. Like whatever the Brewers are doing is what people need to figure out so that they can compete at the top without the top level talent.
01:29:10
Cody Atkinson
Because the Brewers, you every single year you can run down a Brewers roster and you will be You'll be like, all right, that's just' cool. That's fun. That's solid. And then they rip off 97 wins and you're like, that's, that wasn't, you'll never look at the, you you will never look at a Brewers roster and think to yourself, that's 97 win ball club right there. I see it in the future.
01:29:32
Cody Atkinson
You won't. And then they'll do it. And it is so much fun. and And so that is why I have the Brewers as the favorite, because I have decided that whatever they're doing, they're doing it right. And whatever decisions they made in the offseason were the right ones to make. So they will repeat what they did last year, despite the fact that I don't know all of the names on their team.
01:29:51
Cody Atkinson
They will find a way and they will do it. And I want them to do it because they're fun to watch. So I have decided that the Brewers are the favorite, despite the fact that most people will probably not tell you that the Brewers are the favorite. Don't listen to them.
01:30:04
Cody Atkinson
Listen to your heart, which says root for the Brewers. um they They did lose Freddy Peralta, but they do have a rotation headlined by Mizorowski, who came onto the scene last year, just a flame-throwing young guy.
01:30:21
Cody Atkinson
It made waves getting a late election to the all-star game that a lot of people weren't happy with, but ultimately I think he is that dude. So
Cubs' Overrated Status
01:30:30
Cody Atkinson
I'm excited to see what he will do in a full season. And they do still have Brandon Woodruff as well, a solid capable number two. Um,
01:30:38
Cody Atkinson
I didn't know a lot of the other names, but I trust them. if yeah If you heard the opening monologue lineup, you still have South Freilich was incredible last year. Again, a name that not super recognizable to everybody, but a name to keep an eye on very talented player, Christian Yelich, everyone knows.
01:30:56
Cody Atkinson
um William Contreras, the other Contreras, really good at catcher, Bryce Terang, who was on the, um a Team USA in the World Baseball Classic, strong up-and-coming player as well. They have some dudes.
01:31:11
Cody Atkinson
They have the vibes and they play the game right. And so I trust them. And that's about as much as I can give you on the breakdown there. They're the favorite because vibes and fun.
01:31:23
Cody Atkinson
What else you got? Don't
01:31:23
Justin Daulton
I like the vibes. like the vibes. They did lose two games to the Rays last week. So um I will take the i'll take the vibes ah over there in the NL Central.
01:31:30
Cody Atkinson
don't worry about
01:31:35
Justin Daulton
um and It'll be interesting as we kind of go through the NL Central because this is a division that both you and I know very well. So interesting to hear that the Brewers are but the up at the top. So I'll be interested to hear the rest of your your arguments for the rest of the division. But i like it. i like the vibes.
01:31:52
Cody Atkinson
My arguments are pretty wild. Some of my arguments got unhinged this time. so and that And that is the case with the Cubs as well, who I have deemed the overrated. This is the same moniker that I gave to the Rangers last last week. I'm giving it to the Cubs this week, and and I'm giving it to them for one reason and one reason only.
01:32:15
Cody Atkinson
is i i looked at their opening day game against the Nationals, and I said, The Cubs, that's a World Series contender. everyone you know They were in it last year. Everyone's saying they're going to be in it again.
01:32:27
Cody Atkinson
What's the rotation looking like? And they had Matthew Boyd starting opening day. And that was enough for me.
01:32:33
Justin Daulton
Who? Joey.
01:32:35
Cody Atkinson
That was enough for me. Matthew Boyd is not an opening day starter. I know he had 3-2-1 ERA last year. He
Cardinals' Rebuilding Decision
01:32:41
Cody Atkinson
was on Team USA. He pitched one inning and he sucked and he should have never been on Team USA because he is mid.
01:32:47
Cody Atkinson
And if he is your number one starter, you are not a World Series contender, which means you're overrated because that's what people think you are, is a World Series contender. That's my logic.
01:32:59
Cody Atkinson
Now, i will I will say I'm probably wrong. because they swapped Tucker for Bregman, which is a wash in my opinion. It's one for one. Okay. Maybe a little bit step down on the field, Tucker to Bregman, a little bit step up intangibles leadership.
01:33:15
Cody Atkinson
um And that's largely the only change this team, it's like, when you look at the roster, It's like they swapped Tucker for Bregman and then the guy that was playing third base last year is now going to play in the outfield where Tucker was so Bregman can play third base. And then the rotation is largely the same as it was last year, but they added Edward Cabrera, who is very good.
01:33:40
Cody Atkinson
So by a practical measure, this is a team that won, ah what is it, 92 games last year and got second place in division. And really the only thing they did was add a quality starting pitcher. So I'm probably wrong, but I'm right because Matthew Boyd can't be the opening day starter for a World Series contender.
01:34:01
Justin Daulton
I like the argument I mean I think what you know you say Tucker for Bregman's a wash I think you lose power in in game defense I think Tucker is an average defender where he's but a much better offensive player, where I think when you get Bregman in the field, he's a gold glover at third base.
01:34:21
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:34:21
Justin Daulton
And, you know, he's not like where he was early in his career where he is a silver slugger at third base. that He's not that guy anymore at third base, but you're going, as you alluded to, you're getting leadership.
01:34:32
Justin Daulton
Someone who's won two world series championships um and Houston, obviously probably good for 20 to 30 home runs. And that's, that's serviceable. um especially in ah in a very hitter-friendly park there at Wrigley.
01:34:45
Justin Daulton
um So you do expect him to be in that 20 to 30 range, where Tucker, I think, was above 30 last year playing for them for a full season. um So probably a wash just in terms of, yeah, from an offense versus and defense perspective.
01:34:58
Justin Daulton
I don't know Edward Cabrera, to be completely honest, but, um yeah, I mean, the what you're giving me makes sense, right? I mean, 92 wins last year, you bring back ah largely the same team with the exception of Tucker for Bregman.
01:35:12
Justin Daulton
There's no reason why you you're not 90 plus wins again. um it just really is going to come down to what is the Brewers do. So, yeah, I understand the argument.
01:35:20
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:35:23
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. And the the the logic is basically because I said so, which is the same logic I used for the reverse. So... ah Moving on to the Cardinals. This is my bottom dweller for the NL Central. Every division needs one. And and the the structure of modern day sports is the bottom dweller is usually pretty predictable because it's a team that doesn't appear to be trying to win.
01:35:45
Cody Atkinson
The Cardinals did get fourth place last year, only 78 wins. They lost Sonny Gray, Wilson Contreras, Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado off that team.
01:35:59
Cody Atkinson
it didn't really replace They didn't really go out and replace him. I think this is a team that has just decided that it's time to rebuild. And so they moved guys, and they're prepping for the future. Don't really expect much from them, but I will highlight J.J. Weatherholt, who is a first-round pick from, I believe, two years ago. of i could be wrong. I want to say this is the same draft that had Travis Pazana and um the guy that we...
01:36:30
Cody Atkinson
whatever. There's another name that we were talking. Oh,
Pirates' Wildcard Potential
01:36:32
Cody Atkinson
Jack Caglione. There you Travis Pizana, Jack Caglione, two kind of names we talked about the World Baseball Classic. Same draft as those guys. It was J.J. Weatherholt taken by the Cardinals, I believe.
01:36:43
Cody Atkinson
So that would be a fun name to watch. he He cracked the team this year. It's likely the cornerstone that they're trying to build around, at least offensively. So if you want to watch the Cardinals, watch J.J. Weatherholt and see, watch him develop and see if you can build around that. But Don't expect wins.
01:37:04
Justin Daulton
Fair enough. It sucks because I love watching baseball games St. Louis. The ballpark is beautiful with the with the arch behind it. So they deserve to have a good product on the field. But if there's ever team that I'm going root against in the National League, it is the St.
01:37:16
Justin Daulton
Louis Cardinals because of what they did to the Astros when I was a kid. So they can enjoy the seller for little while.
01:37:19
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:37:22
Justin Daulton
the seller for a little while
01:37:23
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, and there's there's there's a reason I didn't call them the Overlooked. I wouldn't suggest not watching the Cardinals because I think St. Louis puts on a great show when you're watching baseball. It's very fun and lively, and it's a great ballpark. So feel free to watch them, just you know not for the product on the field.
01:37:42
Cody Atkinson
And then I've got – so Pirates Reds are coming up next. Yeah. I could have gone back and forth how I labeled these teams. ah These teams are darn near clones of each other and like my interest in them.
01:37:56
Cody Atkinson
um I went ahead and gave the pirates the wild card. um In this one, I did the same classes that I gave the AL West.
01:38:07
Cody Atkinson
And so I gave the pirates the wild card, ah but I easily could have given them the sleeper and swapped it. these are did These two teams right here, plus how I talked about the Brewers, this is why I say this is the fun division. Because the Pirates are young and hungry, and they they so they spent a little bit. not Not a lot, but they spent a little bit more than you expect the Pirates to spend this offseason.
01:38:31
Cody Atkinson
They added Brandon Lowe and Jake Mangum. We've talked about this trade in and out. I mean, obviously the Astros and the Rays were on the other two ends of it, but I like for them adding Brandon Lowe.
01:38:43
Cody Atkinson
as an everyday player. And I like Jake Mangum as a, a utility guy for them. They, they also went and added Ryan O'Hearn in the outfield. That's some quality,
01:38:54
Cody Atkinson
outside the organization veteran leadership that still plays well. And you have young talent like Henry Davis, a catcher. O'Neal Cruz is getting older, and I know he had his center field mix-ups when in Skeen's first game, ah but he's still a guy that can can develop into something. and and And Connor Griffin, the number one prospect in baseball, didn't break camp out of spring training, but he is with the team now.
01:39:19
Cody Atkinson
There's some excitement there on the offense from the Pirates, but really it comes from the pitching staff as a reason to get excited about this team. Paul Skeens is Paul Skeens. Had a bad opening day start, most like mostly because of O'Neal Cruz, but Paul Skeens is still Paul Skeens. Mitch Keller is a stable pitcher for this rotation, which they need because they got a bunch of dart throws.
01:39:40
Cody Atkinson
they have stable Mitch Keller and then have Braxton Ashcraft and Bubba Chandler who were two prospects coming up behind Paul Skeens that also have insanely high ceilings.
01:39:52
Cody Atkinson
they They are a team that ah if the pitching hits, if Ashcraft and Chandler live up to potential early in the same way that Skeens did, um if Connor Griffin plays well early, they could be a team to really look out for, not in a playoff sense, but maybe in that like last wildcard position, like they could be a wildcard race kind of team.
01:40:19
Cody Atkinson
Also, if these guys don't hit, they could be fighting the Cardinals for the bottom. like There is a swing with this team because there's a lot of young names, but it's names that I think are pretty exciting.
01:40:31
Justin Daulton
Yeah, I mean, think I think all of Major League Baseball is going keeping an eye on the Pirates this year just to kind of see what they're able to do. Because if this team is losing at the at the at the deadline, I think youre eventually you're going to move Skeens.
01:40:45
Justin Daulton
um I think he's in the same line as Scooble where you're going to start talking about um arbitration and contract talks very soon with Skeens. So you're not going to want to lose him for nothing. I think you're going to want to you're goingnna want something you're retiring from losing Skeens.
01:41:01
Justin Daulton
I don't know that's this year. I don't know his contract situation. um I will say, you know, I.
01:41:04
Cody Atkinson
I don't think it's going to be. So he hasn't hit arbitration yet, but I also don't think it's going to be this year because this inability to hold on to players is what they're going to target in the lockout. I don't think Pirates do anything.
01:41:16
Cody Atkinson
until we're back from the lockout and they have an idea of the likelihood of keeping the likelihood of keeping players might change by the time it's time to move Paul schemes.
01:41:19
Justin Daulton
Sure.
01:41:26
Justin Daulton
Sure. and That's fair. Um, I would be concerned with the defense, right? O'Neal Cruz and center field seems like a liability at this point.
01:41:32
Cody Atkinson
It was bad.
01:41:34
Justin Daulton
Um, the, I love Brandon Lau. Brandon Lau was my favorite Tampa Bay race player, um, for the, for, for the last six, six yeah six plus years that he's been with the team. Um, Brandon's issue is he can't stay healthy.
01:41:47
Justin Daulton
Um, he hasn't played a wall a full one 62 since like his second year with the organization. Um, he's always dealt with some sort of injury issue. Um, so you, what do you do when he goes down for his inevitable 20 to 30 game stretch where he's not with the team?
01:42:01
Justin Daulton
and That's obviously broken up throughout the season. So what do you do with that when you don't have your starting second baseman? um Can Skeens give you 20 plus wins? That's where, that's the only thing Skeens hasn't done is give you 20 plus wins in his career.
01:42:14
Justin Daulton
um Regardless of the stable you have behind him, if Skeens can't give you 20 plus wins, you're not going to be in the playoffs. And that's just, that's just kind of where the bottom line is in major league baseball at this point.
01:42:25
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, I
Reds' Sleeper Team Potential
01:42:26
Cody Atkinson
mean, I would say his inability to give them 20-plus wins was mostly tied to the team they put around him, unable to put runs up for him.
01:42:32
Justin Daulton
Sure.
01:42:33
Cody Atkinson
And the team being so uncompetitive, that they were pretty much pitching him like five innings, 70 pitches every week. it was It was pretty disgusting. They were they were they were kind of playing for next year already, like halfway through the year.
01:42:45
Cody Atkinson
So I hope to not see that this year.
01:42:47
Justin Daulton
Yeah.
01:42:48
Cody Atkinson
ah But, yeah, I mean, if he's not putting up wins, it's because the offense isn't performing and we're going to get the bottom – you know, the bottom quartile of outcomes for this wildcard team, which I, you know, and learning what I just learned about Brandon Lau, I feel pretty good about claiming they were the wildcard.
01:43:00
Justin Daulton
Yeah, i agree.
01:43:06
Cody Atkinson
Cause you know, if he goes down the, the bottom drops out of this thing. And if then, and that seems like something that would happen to a wildcard team. So feel good about that. Um,
01:43:17
Cody Atkinson
Reds I've got as the sleeper. i originally gave them the sleeper just because I feel like they get talked about less than the pirates. I think more people were tuned in to what the pirates were doing. that are tuned into the reds. Reds were middle of the pack last year. Strong additions this offseason. So they added Eugenio Suarez, who's going to be their designated hitter.
01:43:39
Cody Atkinson
I think that's a really big addition for them. ah A bigger name than you're used to seeing sign in Cincinnati. So that's really cool. And then Cabrian Hayes comes over from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. He's their third baseman. I think that was midseason acquisition last year.
01:43:54
Cody Atkinson
He's their third baseman. Suarez is going to DH, but Suarez is a natural third first, so there's some flexibility in that. Highly drafted pieces. another that so it's Similar to the Pirates, a lot of this hinges on young dudes living up to potential early.
01:44:11
Cody Atkinson
They have Sal Stewart as a position player. And then the two names that I'm most excited for is Chase Burns and Rhett Lauder. Actually, now that I think about it, pretty sure those are both Wake Forest guys. Wake Forest is a pitching lab in college baseball. Chase Burns is a flamethrower. Rhett Lauder is a little more of a...
01:44:31
Cody Atkinson
that pitchability guy. um But those are really exciting names ah pitching behind kind of the the centerpiece of Andrew Abbott.
01:44:43
Cody Atkinson
ah And if if Hunter Green comes back healthy, which I think he's, last I checked, I think he's out until like July. So once the season, you know, we get towards the the heart of the season, if you have a rotation of Abbott, Burns, Lauer, and Green, I think you can get a lot done.
01:45:02
Cody Atkinson
with that rotation. So I've got them as the sleeper. i think I'm not saying you will see it, but I think you could see a really impressive run from the Reds this year. A Reds team that
Dodgers' Playoff Challengers
01:45:16
Cody Atkinson
quietly made the playoffs last year got bounced immediately, but kind of quietly made it ah much to everyone's surprise. And in I think you could see him do something like that again.
01:45:31
Justin Daulton
Yeah, it's an interesting team there in Cincinnati, right? It's, you know, it's a lot of youth, right? I mean, they've been pretty routinely now calling up for youth to their, to the big league roster.
01:45:42
Justin Daulton
So can it, can it finally connect? And I think that's what you touched on here is, you know, they went out got some pieces that make sense for, for this roster and what they're trying to do. And, you know, it's a division that seems like it's up in the year for the most part outside of St. Louis, right? Like any team can take that step up, right? And I'm not to sit here and tell you that the Pirates and Reds are 90 plus win teams, but,
01:46:04
Justin Daulton
they're capable of being a high eighties, uh, when team of everything kind of, if everything clicks in the right moment. Right. So, i mean, it's, it's going to be interesting.
01:46:10
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:46:13
Justin Daulton
They got a lot of youth, right. Ellie De La Cruz over there in Cincinnati is, is a big, big guy that it's, they're gonna, a lot of their success is going to hinge on him and what he's able to do. Um, so, i mean, it's, it's, yeah, I, he's been a stud since he came up into the bigs, what, three seasons ago, the fact that he's already, you know, he's going to his third full season and in the bigs.
01:46:23
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, he's stud.
01:46:33
Justin Daulton
Like, It's an interesting roster. I'd be interested to see what it can do full time through a full 162. But yeah, it's it's an interesting division, man. I can see where you're i can see where're your head's at by calling it a fun division to watch over the next over the next couple of months.
01:46:49
Cody Atkinson
Yeah. Yeah, i think it's I think it's the most fun. I think the Pirates and the Reds have ceilings that can compete with the floors of the Brewers and the Cubs because the Brewers and the Cubs both have, how would you say, maybe they both have what could end up being fatal weaknesses.
01:47:08
Cody Atkinson
that if you get the downside of the Brewers Cubs with the upside of Reds Pirates, it can be a lot of fun. However, if you get the upside of Brewers Cubs downside Pirates Reds,
01:47:20
Cody Atkinson
It's still fun, but it's only fun for two teams. So, but, but, but it but it could be, it has a lot of potential to be the most fun division.
01:47:24
Justin Daulton
I
01:47:27
Cody Atkinson
And I think it's one of the divisions that's driven the most by youth. And at least for me, it's youth that I know from watching college baseball. so there's a lot of excitement for me and, and seeing where this division goes.
01:47:42
Justin Daulton
like it. um I have one question for you as we kind of get now to the, to the end of the episode. We didn't do this last because I think the American league is more wide open and anyone can win the American league at this point. I think we both have it in our heads that the National League is going to be the L.A. Dodgers.
01:47:57
Justin Daulton
But after this kind of rundown, if there was one team that could beat the Dodgers, who is it?
01:48:04
Cody Atkinson
if there's one I mean, I think the answer is a healthy Braves. So I'll say, I'll give you a few. i think a healthy Braves is probably more your answer than mine because i kind of still have a little bit of that sour taste of how unhealthy the Braves were the last two years.
01:48:25
Cody Atkinson
um For a couple of years there, the Padres were the team that kept bouncing the Dodgers in the playoffs. The Dodgers would get to the playoffs and bounce to the Padres. So that could be fun, but I think they may have lost too much on the pitching side.
01:48:38
Cody Atkinson
um If you're going to give me one and one only, way i think I will go Phillies. And I'll say that lineup, if it gets hot at the right time, they have enough pieces to do it.
01:48:52
Cody Atkinson
But if the Phillies are cold at the wrong time, they they would get bounced disgustingly. But I'll put i'll put my stake on the Phillies. um yeah I also think the Phillies are a team that goes for it every year. So the bullpen is an Achilles tendon, but I don't expect that to be the bullpen they enter the playoffs with.
01:49:11
Justin Daulton
That's fair. Yeah, I think you you you you took my answer from me, right? that it's I think if the Braves stay healthy, that's a big if, it's ah it's a long season, injuries are are bound to happen. But I think a healthy Braves team with the lineup that they have, you know if there's anyone that can get to Otani, to Snell, to Klaas, now to Yoshi, i if you can get to those guys and get into that bullpen and you don't even allow Edwin Diaz to be a factor, you know i that's a roster that i think can beat The Dodgers, right? And it I think it would take all seven games in the NLCS. I don't see that being a of sweep. I think that's in all seven games. And hopefully at that point, the the Dodgers are exhausted and they lose to whoever comes out of the American League.
01:49:54
Cody Atkinson
Yeah, that's the hope.
01:49:58
Justin Daulton
That's the only way that I think it can work at this point.
01:49:58
Cody Atkinson
Yeah.
01:50:01
Cody Atkinson
yeah Yeah, i mean, it it really is. It's going to take the Dodgers having a lot of bad luck or running out of juice or something along those Something is going to have to go against what the metrics and the money and the roster talent say should happen for the Dodgers to lose. and And hopefully we get that. But they're building such a storage, such a a treasure trove that they can survive the ups and downs and unpredictability of baseball.
01:50:33
Justin Daulton
Yeah, I agree. um I'll get my party shot. and I'll let you wrap this up, in this episode up to the fans that listen. If you have not seen Project Hail Mary, and that includes you, Cody, if you've not seen Project Hail Mary, please go see Project Hail Mary. It's a phenomenal movie. And then listen to the book. The audio book is phenomenal.
01:50:46
Justin Daulton
Don't read the book. Listen to the book because the the guy that reads it is phenomenal. That's my party shot for the week. Go see that movie and listen to the book.
01:50:53
Cody Atkinson
All right. I'll let that be the wrap up. That's all we got. Don't forget to like, comment, subscribe, um and let us know what you think and what you want us to cover. Next week, we are looking at a WrestleMania primer brought to you by the one and only Justin.
01:51:07
Cody Atkinson
So ah tune back in with us next week to check that out. I'm Cody.
01:51:12
Justin Daulton
I'm Justin.
01:51:13
Cody Atkinson
And we'll see you next week. Peace.
01:51:16
Justin Daulton
Peace.