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00:00:01
Episode 40 - 2025 Season Preview
35 Plays8 months ago
- Division Projections
- Award Predictions
- Interesting HOF cases to keep an eye on
We cover all the hot topics coming into the 2025 season!
Is Zach really that bullish on the Red Sox?
Will Josh pick the Reds as his sleeper for the third year?
What crazy prediction does Mac have up his sleeve?
All this and more on the latest episode of Championship or Bust!
https://x.com/TheCOBPodcast
Recommended
Transcript
2025 Season Preview Introduction
00:00:03
Speaker
Well, as Frank Sinatra once said, that's life, which apparently we're probably going to hear a lot in the Bronx this year between Eric Holt and Carl Stanton and DJ LeMayhew. What's up, everybody?
00:00:15
Speaker
Welcome to the third annual season preview of Championship or Bust. We got the 2025 season ready to roll And it's going to be an interesting one.
Overseas Season Start & Predictions
00:00:27
Speaker
Season starts next week overseas, and then we'll start up here in a couple weeks.
00:00:32
Speaker
So we figured no better time to start up than right now. ah So we're going to cover the usual stuff we've been normally doing, you know, the team by teams, the divisions, the World Series predictions, the award predictions, and then we might have the little twist for you at the end.
00:00:46
Speaker
ah So I guess let's just get started if there's no objections.
AL East Predictions Debate
00:00:50
Speaker
Anyone have anything to say before we get started? Oh, let's hop right in. Actually, you forgot heel in that ah injury list, by the way.
00:00:57
Speaker
You're right. That was an omission. I apologize. yeah Absolutely right. My bad. as There's so many injuries. I don't know. There's too many. um But I guess what better way to start with the AL East, right? Since we're already kind of on that topic.
00:01:10
Speaker
um Zach was said had planned off pod for months that the Boston Red Sox are going to be his. I don't know if he can or will keep that.
00:01:20
Speaker
So, Zach, I'm going to start with you. What do you have forecasted for the AL East this season? Yeah, coming off this cold news, the Yankees have just been ravaged with injury. so And a shock to nobody. I did pick the Red Sox to win this division. It's a little bit of a you know different pick.
00:01:37
Speaker
I think they've had clearly the best offseason this year. um Their rotation is is really good. Crochet, Walker Bueller, and um oh God, I'm forgetting the guy's name already.
00:01:48
Speaker
Tanner Hawke? Wow. Haktua, yes. Tanner Haktua. Tanner Haktua. But yeah, I have them winning the division. um Fair enough. Where do you have the Yankees finishing?
00:01:59
Speaker
Yeah, give us give us your full ranking. Oh, oh i thought we were going to go. Okay. All right. Here we go. I have the Orioles in second. Everybody taking, you know, everybody took a step back last year, but I really think Adley's going bounce back, and we'll see what Jackson Holiday can do. I know he had a really, really rough time last year, but, you know, their pitching isn't that great.
00:02:19
Speaker
But then again, neither is the Yankees. So I still think the Orioles are a little bit better. have the Yankees in third. Again, injury ravish. the model Wow. Yeah. That's just how I see it. And Blue Jays in fourth always seem to fall short. i don't have much to say. Vladdy's probably going to walk, I would assume.
00:02:36
Speaker
Watch me be completely wrong, and they're going be a wildcard team. But I don't have them in the playoffs as this year. And for the Rays, I'm the last. and Go McClanahan. That's it. Yeah, very happy for McClanahan coming back.
00:02:50
Speaker
Fair. I mean, i'll I'll get to my thoughts in a bit. But, Josh, I'll turn over you first. ah Yeah, i don't I don't agree with you at all on those Red Sox train, my guy. Neither do You know what? I will absolutely say they had a great offseason. They did a lot of stuff.
00:03:12
Speaker
But to sit here and say that Hawk is going to have another season like he did last season, I would not put my money on that. I think Crochet will be good.
00:03:26
Speaker
Bueller, I mean, the guy can't stay on the damn field. And honestly, he was bad. Horrifically isn' bad when he did pitch. To me, the best guy on that on the mound for that team is still Crawford.
00:03:39
Speaker
i really I really will say that. i I think their their pen got a little stronger, and I don't i don't think Bregman is a needle mover.
00:03:51
Speaker
Yeah, they're getting they're getting story back. Guy hasn't played in God knows how long. I mean, they got a lot of got a lot of really young, really good prospects.
00:04:02
Speaker
I just don't know if they're going to make the team this year. Well, we'll see. My rookie of the year is going to be interesting. Probably a spoiler as well, but we'll get to that. I am going to say that I think with the Yankees injury troubles, this is the year at the Orioles will... It's tough, honestly. It really is tough. But I am going to say the Orioles will take the division.
00:04:26
Speaker
i think the Orioles starting pitching is shockingly worse than the Yankees starting pitching. yeahp With the loss of Burns and Grayson Rodriguez... um On the verge of having Tommy John, honestly, at this point, their the rotation is horrific.
00:04:45
Speaker
Honestly, it's it's bad. It's really bad. I think their pen is fantastic. One of the best pens in the league. They have really good guys in the pen, and their lineup is is ridiculous.
00:04:56
Speaker
Honestly, it's really, really good. It was really good last year, and Jackson Holliday didn't. You know, he sucked. So I'm going to say Orioles 1, Yankees 2. Sox, I will say that they will improve, but not make playoffs at 3.
00:05:12
Speaker
ah The Blue Jays are abysmal. Vlad's going to carry a team on his back, but there's nobody else around him anymore. Bichette is over. He's done with it. His career is done. and then I just, the Rays, man, you know, they always seem to have somebody coming up, and I think they have a singular guy, but that's it.
00:05:33
Speaker
There's just nothing else. At all. I mean, at all. So, I'm to say they come in last. Fair enough. I have the Rays in fifth place as well.
00:05:45
Speaker
I am torn between the Blue Jays and the Orioles for third and fourth, actually, because of everything Josh said about the Orioles. I think Bo Bichette's going to have a bounce back season. um And I think Vlad Guerrero in a contract year, I think he'll step up and have an even better season than he did last year. I'm a big i'm a big believer in Vlad Guerrero Jr. That's going come up later on, too.
00:06:04
Speaker
um When it comes to Yankees-Red Sox, I do have them as the top two in the AL East. Part of that's kind of wishful thinking. I kind of want that rivalry to come back a little bit. um I guess I'm the only one who's going to do it, but I have the Yankees winning the division still.
00:06:20
Speaker
Really? i do. Here's why. i just don't think the Yankees lineup is that is that strong. Yeah. But the a I feel like this is a weak division, honestly. Oh, it is. agree.
00:06:32
Speaker
I think this is a team that can pounce on a weak division. If we really think about last year, right? Cole didn't really play much in the first couple months of the season. That's kind of what Luis Heal is doing now.
00:06:45
Speaker
So we have the same rotation issue that we had last year, but we actually have an ace ready to play day one or day two, depending on how it lines up. But Max Fried is here as a full-time starter.
00:06:57
Speaker
And we have... He's not going to have a one-year array for two months like Yiel did. so Sorry, what? He's not going to have a one-year array for a two-month span like Yiel did. But when Yiel gets back, maybe he can continue that.
00:07:11
Speaker
i don't know man I think right now the Yankees rotation is in the same exact boat that they were in this time last year, and it didn't have that much of an impact. I'm not sat very force panicking and screaming.
00:07:24
Speaker
i don't think that it's going to be a disaster. I think they still end up in the playoffs. Do I think they're going to World Series? I don't. Spoiler alert, we'll get to that later. I don't think they're gonna get to the World Series either. My rebuttal your statement is I agree that they are in a similar position as they were last year.
00:07:40
Speaker
However, they do not have the reinforcements coming. Guys are not just going to magically come off an injury. Stanton's done. He's not coming back. I agree with that. He's not coming back. You're not going to get these guys back halfway through the season. Right.
00:07:52
Speaker
Yeah. ah Agreed. I get that, and I understand that we lost Soto, so I get that maybe we're not in the exact same position in terms of the full team. But I think this could be hung in. We have arguably the best closer in baseball besides Class A now.
00:08:06
Speaker
I think people are forgetting that too. If we're up... Gotta get to him, though. If we get to the eighth inning with a lead, you have Weaver and Williams back-to-back. I feel good about that.
00:08:18
Speaker
I understand you gotta get the lead, but I think they can win a lot of games 4-2. four to two three to one. It should be a different team than the one that we had last year. That's a, that's a strong hope that a pitcher like Marcus Stroman is going to go up one run. Now, I was just going to say that after freed, who do you got? I mean, you got road, like a road on trash who, when he's on, he's great.
00:08:39
Speaker
When he's all terrible, terribly streaky. I understand he's streaky. I think right now you have show up for it. I'm not holding out. I'm not, not that i'm not holding out, but I am not giving up hope on the fact that the Yankees might add another arm at the deadline or even before that.
00:08:55
Speaker
Don't worry. Cashman has already said pitching is too expensive and we're just not going do anything. hes He's literally, literally came out of his mouth. It's going to be a smoke screen. They'll see how the team is performing. If they have a slow start, I think a move will be made.
00:09:06
Speaker
Time to sign Bauer. I'm okay with that. Wouldn't mind that at all. So we actually have three different division winners, huh? Yeah, do. Wow. yeah Yeah. Two logic ones and one stupid one.
00:09:20
Speaker
Which one's the stupid one? We'll see. I know. We'll see. I don't know which one, actually. It might be you. Okay. It might be you. I don't know. It might be. I think he's talking about me, but the way you're talking, I don't know. I'm talking about Zach. So now we got it clear.
00:09:36
Speaker
I just don't see the reason that like for the widespread panic. I get that's what Yankee fans tend to do. And understand this is not the team we were last year, and we were a team that heavily relied on skill rather than you know fundamentals.
00:09:50
Speaker
So losing that does hurt. But it's a weaker division. Every team besides the Red Sox got considerably worse or stayed the same. I still think the Yankees currently constructed are better than what Tampa Bay is.
00:10:03
Speaker
I think they're better than what Baltimore is right now. Boston's going to improve. I agree. i have Boston as my last playoff team. But how much are they going to improve? And I think Baltimore took a step back.
00:10:15
Speaker
And Toronto's Toronto. sranna Well, okay, i may ask you guys this. Do you have Yankees, Orioles, Red Sox, all playoff teams, right? I don't. I don't have Red Sox. I have the Orioles out. You have the Orioles out.
00:10:27
Speaker
ah yeah urls out I out.
AL Central and AL West Predictions
00:10:28
Speaker
I wanted to find room for them. I just couldn't get there. I mean, you're going to see where I go with this. um I'm borderline on it. i have I have two teams in the playoffs in each division.
00:10:41
Speaker
Wow. The Central? Yeah, I do. I would just like to say i think there's panic in Yankee land um because the Yankees training staff is sitting around eating potato chips.
00:10:54
Speaker
I cannot believe, and this has been reiterated by countless reporters and you know sports show host personalities,
00:11:05
Speaker
that the Yankees knew that Cole's elbow was not right a year ago. His slider usage is down tremendously.
00:11:17
Speaker
And when questioned about it, he just said, pitching pitching choice. It's a choice. it's I'm fine. It's just a choice. They pulled him in the World Series after 80-something pitches. You don't do that to your ace.
00:11:32
Speaker
But that's the Yankees do. I was telling. I mean, i just... You talk about the whole contract debacle, too. He tried to opt out, remember? Yes, and then he opted out of the contract so the Yankees could just give him the exact same numbers back.
00:11:45
Speaker
They didn't add an extra year, didn't add more money, they just re-signed the exact same deal. he knew his And we all thought, that's weird. That doesn't make sense. Well, apparently it does make sense because they knew he wasn't going to pitch a single inning this year.
00:11:57
Speaker
And not only is he not going to pitch a single inning this year, he's going to pitch half a year next year, maybe. Because instead of having him get the surgery when the World Series ended, they waited six months. They waited until March.
00:12:12
Speaker
So now he can get the surgery in March. I mean, this is just beyond stupid. And this is the Yankees every year. Yeah. And it's the same thing with Stan.
00:12:23
Speaker
turn they They turn around and go, oh, Stan's elbows hurt him all last year. hurt him all last year and hurt him the entire playoffs. Yet he still played fantastic. And suddenly now that it's spring training, he can't swing a bat anymore.
00:12:35
Speaker
You tell him you didn't know that six months ago? Exactly. I mean, come on. If the guy's going to miss the whole year, have the surgery at the beginning of the offseason so he's ready. You're going to have the time to ramp up for the season for the next season. I mean, this is just simple, rudimentary stuff. Crazy.
00:12:54
Speaker
Don't forget, Rizzo had a concussion for six months and they didn't know about it. Yep, that's how it is. Dude, who's hiring these guys? Are we hiring guys out of like community college? i don't I don't get it.
00:13:06
Speaker
I don't know I feel like we could do a better job than them, though. Yep. Literally.
00:13:13
Speaker
and that's my That's my Yankee rant.
00:13:17
Speaker
good Good segue, I guess, for the Yankee – the people who call the Yankees daddy, the AL Central. So – So we have the Tigers, Royals, Twins, Guardians, White Sox. I guess I'll start this one since I went last.
00:13:31
Speaker
That's actually the order I have them in. have the Tigers winning the division. I have the Royals as a wild card team. I think their rotation is too good. I mean, I know they lost um Brady Singer, but Michael Orens had a good season last year. Seth Lugo had the season of his life last year.
00:13:46
Speaker
I like Michael Waka, and I think if they get to the playoffs, he's a guy I trust. Cole Reagans was elite last year, and I'm going to – at the risk of ruining my fantasy plans, I'm going to throw this out there.
00:13:59
Speaker
I have a really good feeling about Chris Bubish this season. and Why did you say that? I'm just going say it. I really – I have a good feeling. His ERA dropped a run and a half.
00:14:12
Speaker
last year. Mike and I are on the same wavelength for fantasy, Mike. Thanks for saying that. He threw 30 innings last year. i know. Is he a ranger? He threw 30 innings. He's a reliever, Josh. gave order He's to be starting because Brady Singer is gone. yeah And look at what they did to Seth Lugo.
00:14:31
Speaker
And look at what they did to Cole Regans. So we're just going to assume that anybody that goes from closing to starting is going good now. right, good. Don't pick him then. You're doing reverse psychology. No, I won't. i really I'm i am legitimately – I'm not doing anything on you. I will not pick this guy. I wouldn't touch this guy with a 10-foot pole.
00:14:46
Speaker
You can have him. Perfect. I'll take him. Thank you. He's following the Tommy John surgery. He's coming back. He's well-rested. think he's make the rotation. If he doesn't make the rotation, I think he'll be in the rotation by May.
00:14:59
Speaker
think he's going to be a hell of a starter for them.
00:15:04
Speaker
So I have them as a wildcard team for their rotation more than their offense. And then I just have the Twins, the Guardians, and the White Sox. I don't trust the Guardians this year. I think they take a step back and that the White Sox are, you know, the White Sox.
00:15:18
Speaker
um My ranking, honestly, I'm kind of with you on this one. Tigers, Royals, Guardians, Twins, Sox. In hindsight, I probably have Guardians over Twins. I don't know what I was doing there.
00:15:31
Speaker
That's the only difference I have between you guys. I have Tigers, Royals, Guardians, Twins, White Sox. Fair enough. Yeah, that's that's what I'm saying. I mean, Tigers got better. Royals got the same.
00:15:42
Speaker
yeah Guardians got worse. Twins are alive. And the White Sox, ah so the team they're a double-A team. Yep.
00:15:51
Speaker
Honestly, I mean, if the White Sox win more than 40 games this year, i to be to be perfectly honest with you. I've never seen a team that's like this bad, but in the same breath, has no prospects.
00:16:08
Speaker
I mean, honestly. I mean, how do you do that? That's a good point. And isn't Benintendi done for the year already? Yeah, and how much is he getting paid? Like 20 mil? I mean, that's your only hitter.
00:16:20
Speaker
not named Luis Robert, and he ain't going to be on the team by June. i mean, he he's gone. If they don't trade him, I'd be shocked.
00:16:31
Speaker
What value does he really have? i don't know. He did horrible last year. He exists. 87 OPS plus, fourteen home runs in a hundred games
00:16:43
Speaker
What value does he have? He could be the Yankees starting DH. ah yeah that I could be the Yankees starting DH. That's great. that off I mean, you asked for a reason. I gave you one. I'm not disagreeing with either of those statements. I have three blue pits and slow pitch softball. Honestly, you'd be better than whoever the Yankees are going put out there.
00:17:02
Speaker
I'm going to go last on the AL West. You'll see why. All right. Sherm, your turn then. Go first. I am going to say Texas, Seattle, Oakland, Houston.
00:17:20
Speaker
Wow. I thought about it. I didn't do it, but thought about it. That was my ranking. However, I do not think Oakland is going to sniff the playoffs. I think the Astros are doo-doo.
00:17:32
Speaker
Wow.
00:17:35
Speaker
Altuve, Alvarez, and Frambois Valdez. Yeah, what that's the whole team. Oakland. Well, that's the whole team. Yeah, but who's on Oakland? Luis Severino. Severino.
00:17:46
Speaker
And Brent Rooker. Mason Miller. Mason Miller. Thank you. Okay, but they got to get them next. ah Yeah, Brent Rooker. Yeah. Lawrence Butler. Okay.
00:17:58
Speaker
And some some excellent players, Miguel Andujar and Gio Urshela. Okay. Yeah, I feel very confident in that team. No, they got Gelof, too, I think is a pretty good player. Gelof is not bad, yeah.
00:18:09
Speaker
And Langoliers is still pretty young. I do like Langoliers. Honestly, the only thing hurting the the A's and my want to watch them is the girl that does the games because she's unlistenable.
00:18:20
Speaker
You see a highlights of these games. You know, somebody gets a home run and it's just like, oh, oh wow. There it is. It's a home run. It's Brent Rooker.
00:18:31
Speaker
And it's like, no. End of call. i think I think my favorite one, i saw this the other day, and it was like, somebody hit a home run. And it was like, and that's going to change the score drastically. It is 1-0. It's like, what? It's a home run the first inning.
00:18:47
Speaker
What are we doing here? but Anyway, that's my ranking. You guys, it's your turn. Okay. Exactly. Also have Texas first. Healthy to Grom this year, and I think they clearly just had a World Series hangover.
00:19:00
Speaker
Healthy to Grom with his innings limit and pitch count. I went Mariner second. They have a really, really um outstanding rotation. I just need the offense to step up this year. um And then I put Astros third, A's fourth, Angels fifth.
00:19:15
Speaker
That's what I got. He is fourth, he is fifth. Okay. I guess this was not as big of a sleeper as I thought, but I'm going to take it a little bit further than you guys think. So in fifth, I have Oakland.
00:19:26
Speaker
um I couldn't ultimately get there. Oh, hold on. Hold on. No. You're telling me that the Angels have a better team than Oakland? Come on. They have Mike Trout for half a season. I'll take that over anyone on Oakland.
00:19:39
Speaker
Or not on drugs. I can't even them Oklahoma anymore. They don't even have a home. They don't even have a stadium. Where are they playing? Sacramento. Sacramento. Sorry, the A's. So you're telling me that the Angels have better team than the A's?
00:19:51
Speaker
The Sactown A's are coming in last. Are you serious? Okay. this this This is crazy. Let's get back. i This is not the important stuff, fellas. They don't have a pitcher on the entire A. There's not one guy that can throw a ball over the plate.
00:20:05
Speaker
They have Mike Trout. I'll take my tro Mike Trout. Yeah, Mike, name a single person on the pitching Mike right field Trout. They can't even put him in center field because he can't even play anymore. Where you get 25 games out of Anthony Rendon. Come on now. Name somebody on the Angels pitching staff. I beg you.
00:20:20
Speaker
Yeah, good point. You got me. You completely got me. Could not name one guy. Nope. Kyle Hendricks on there, isn't he? Yes, Kyle Hendricks is on there. Congratulations.
00:20:33
Speaker
k Kyle Hendricks is on the team. Who? Didn't they sign Kikuchi? Yes, they signed Kikuchi. four part player yeah We got two pitchers. We're good. All right. Now you're allowed to put them ahead of Oakland. okay Kyle Hendricks, who tops out at about 89 miles an hour.
00:20:50
Speaker
Getting into the more important stuff here. I do have the Angels fourth. Don't worry. I don't have any any higher. ah Texas, I have third. Whoa. I have the Astros in the wild card. oh Dude, what are you on? Yeah, what are you doing? I'm not done yet.
00:21:04
Speaker
I'm not done yet. I don't need the Seattle pick. hate the Seattle pick. Seattle's number one. Seattle's number one. Their pitching is amazing. I'm going to spoil it for you. I have Seattle winning the World Series. Okay. I have Seattle winning the World Series. They have no proven offense. We need to get Mike some help.
00:21:18
Speaker
I have Seattle winning the World Series. I was going to do it now. you Michael. Michael. Michael. Who's going to score the World Series? I want you to read Julio Rodriguez's OPS last year.
00:21:29
Speaker
i want you to tell me who is going to score on this team. Julio Rodriguez. You have no infield. u s Well, you guys both had him in second, right? Yes. You agree they're going to either get to the playoffs or have a reasonable chance to, correct? Yes.
00:21:41
Speaker
Yes. Okay. So Randy Rosarena, I understand, is overrated as hell, but the reason why he's overrated as hell is because he hits damn good in October. So you have a guy who has playoff experience.
00:21:52
Speaker
can Can you name me an infielder on this team? What? Can you name me an infielder on this team? ah You don't even need it, but J.P. Crawford. Anyway. J.P. Crawford is on it!
00:22:06
Speaker
You don't need it. All right, can you name me a player on this team? the guy The guy that hit.202 last year. But that's fine. Jorge Polanco, veteran leader. You guys laughed at with the Rangers. You laughed at me again. You guys are two years late on the Ranger train. I'm sorry. I already got there.
00:22:22
Speaker
All right. Okay, all right. You got Mitch Hanager. got Victor Roble. Answer me this. Julio's numbers have been declining every year. That's all well and good. He's going to have a bounce.
00:22:34
Speaker
I'm not concerned. Mitch Hanager isn't on this team. Here's what comes down it.
00:22:39
Speaker
Here's what it's going to come down to. You have five reasons why this team is going to win the World Series. Gabriel Castillo, George Kirby, who hopefully will be back soon, Logan Gilbert, Bryce Miller, Brian Wu.
00:22:50
Speaker
That is – you guys say it's a good rotation. it's It's a top two rotation in baseball in the weak division. they're going to get in the playoffs. But even in a different division, this one to five, I trust more than the Dodgers.
00:23:03
Speaker
Oh. I trust them Dodgers. Listen, we don't know what Otani is going to be when he gets back. We don't know what Sasaki's going to be. Will Yamamoto have a sophomore slump? How's Kershaw going to be? He's like 50. Is Kershaw going to pitch more than 10 games?
00:23:17
Speaker
The only one I trust on the Dodgers Blake Snell. Tony Gonsolin coming back from an injury. There's a lot can go that can go wrong with the Dodgers. I still think they're going to get to the World Series or get damn close. so But I think the Mariner, I think whoever gets there in the AL can beat them.
00:23:34
Speaker
do. do.
00:23:37
Speaker
Okay, we we'll talk about this in the in the postseason section. but Fine. Sorry, I went on a tangent. but I did do agree with the Seattle rotation piece. i just There's no proven track record of their offense whatsoever. I mean, you're assuming they're going to win every game one to nothing. Yeah.
00:23:54
Speaker
I mean, my problem my problem with this team is that the guys that you're pulling out as names of like these guys are going to hit, They are not average hitters. They are home run guys, and they're all or nothing. So you are just going to sit there and pray to God one of these guys connects, and you win the game one to nothing.
00:24:13
Speaker
Listen, I'm not goingnna be one of these losers that goes and predicts the Dodgers. Any fuck do that. But what I'm trying to do is find a team that has a shot that can make things interesting. So I'm taking one of those teams. Remember, it's funny because you just picked the most boring team in baseball. In October, all about gets hot.
00:24:28
Speaker
in october it's all about who gets high They're going to damn tough out, and the AL is weak. We just went through all those teams. How many of those teams do you genuinely trust can contend? How many of those teams could you say that if they don't make the playoffs, you'll be shocked?
NL East and NL Central Outlook
00:24:46
Speaker
Zero. There's not a single team in the American League that's a lot to make the playoffs. None. So, why not the Mariners? I think there are too many teams in the AL.
00:25:02
Speaker
That would beat the absolute living crap out of Seattle. to me to me this thing To me, the thing is that you're regurgitating the same things that they said about Cleveland. When Cleveland made the playoffs last year, they said this team's pitching is too good. They don't even have Bieber. ah starting to doesn't know what to right call and they're And their bullpen is the best bullpen we've ever seen.
00:25:23
Speaker
And they don't give up any runs. They're so great. And they're fantastic. And Klaueh is the best reliever that we've ever seen since Mariano Rivera. And the Yankees absolutely lit them up. Well, that was a stupid-ass take, but I'm saying that... But, I mean, that's basically the same thing we're saying here, is that these guys are just better.
00:25:38
Speaker
I think these guys are significantly better, and when to... is that the Guardians did have a few guys that could hit the ball. Mariners don't have anybody. ah julio y all you got They got Julio Rodriguez, and they got Cal Raleigh, who hits 202, but hits 30 home runs. I mean, you're just assuming this guy is going to hit home run.
00:25:52
Speaker
Just remember that Cal Raleigh had a higher average than Randy Rosarano last year. And listen, even in a rough year for Julio Rodriguez, we all it was rough year, he still had a four-war. oh Oh, you cannot call war at me, sir. I'm going to call war at you. You cannot call war at me, sir.
00:26:09
Speaker
Listen, I'm sorry that it appeals to you and in stupidity, but I'm going to use it. He only hit 11 points lower in his batting average in his rookie year. His OPS was significantly lower. It was. It was bad. He couldn't hit the ball. Yes. Couldn't hit the ball in the infield.
00:26:26
Speaker
Who shows up in October for 11 minutes? That's all that matters. Last year doesn't matter for this. This is not basketball where we can kind of have an evaluation of who's going to show up.
00:26:37
Speaker
Baseball's different. Who's hot? That's what it comes down to. I think the Mariners can get hot. I don't think that Seattle has
00:26:49
Speaker
a guy on their team that's just going to magically figure it out and become God. They're not going to have it at Dolce Garcia, just up here. I think Radio Rosarino in October is that guy.
00:27:01
Speaker
only enough But but but but that's that's the thing, is that they had two guys. They had Garcia and they had Seager, and they had other guys that were doing some small things around them. I heard you guys in lo yeah i don't see the other guys around this.
00:27:15
Speaker
Unless they're going to go out and and trade one of those pitches for some hitting. I just don't see it. that's but That's my final pick. All right, we'll go to the NL. So NL East, this should be interesting.
00:27:27
Speaker
Zach, I'll start with you, because I already where you're No, you don't know where I'm going. You actually don't. ah Really? Okay. This is going to shock you. I'm going to go with the Braves. Full year of Acuna and Striders back. I think this team is is really going to be great this year.
00:27:44
Speaker
what I disagree also, but go year of Acuna. I have the Phillies in second. Their pitching is better than the Mets. Their offense speaks for itself.
00:27:55
Speaker
They'll be a playoff team. We get it, Phillies fan. Yeah, we get it. We get it. Too many question marks in the rotation for me to put them above the Phillies and Braves right now. I still think they have a good lineup, but again, the rotation just questionable.
00:28:07
Speaker
And Nats in fourth and Miami last. And my main question is who is going to trade for Alcantara?
00:28:16
Speaker
So that actually, i have that question answered in this, but Josh, go ahead. Unless you want me to go up to you. um ah Yeah. I'm not goingnna pick the Braves cause I have a brain.
00:28:28
Speaker
I'm going to pick the Phillies. And the Mets at two. and and the method too And the Braves at three with the Nationals at four.
00:28:42
Speaker
I think they they suck, but they will at least be slightly exciting with some prospects. And then the Marlins, you know, they are alive kind of sometimes.
00:28:53
Speaker
Maybe not. I don't know. yeah That Xavier Edwards guy I like on that team, and there's not a single other bat in that lineup that I think is worth four cents to even pay money to watch a game at. No wonder why no one shows up.
00:29:07
Speaker
So if El Cantar is not pitching and he'll probably be off team within two months, yeah, God. i don't know anybody going to spend money on this team.
00:29:16
Speaker
So we have three different division winners again. um I have the Mets under the condition that they trade for an arm, whether it's... Hold on. You can't just make up conditions. No, but that's no i'm I'm picking... I'm making the pick. you No, you have to say that they're going to do it. You can't just make a condition. There's no... no condition right I misspoke.
00:29:38
Speaker
I'm picking them because I'm having that expectation. I'm probably going back off on this stance. I'll live with it if I'm wrong. But I think that they're going to trade for either Cease or Alcantara...
00:29:49
Speaker
Or maybe both. And I think they're going to come in first. I think the big addition, obviously, with Juan Soto is not necessarily even the numbers or anything like that, but the culture. We saw the culture shift with the Yankees when Soto came in.
00:30:03
Speaker
And it obviously sucks that we're losing them. I still think Yankees are going to win division because it's a weak division. But I do think to make a considerable difference for the Mets in a tough division. And I think during those dog days, he's going to be the guy to kind of bring them back up.
00:30:15
Speaker
And you also have Pete Alonzo, who we talked about, know, had a good home run season, but difficult with getting on base. I think having Soto in front of him is going to do wonders for him. You have Mark Vientos, who was a breakout star last year. I think that's going to continue.
00:30:28
Speaker
I think Lindor is going to have another great season. I think it's all shaping up for a very good season for the Mets. ah The Braves I have second. The Phillies I have third. I have all three of them in the playoffs. The Nationals four and the Marlins five. So we're pretty chalk other than the top for us, I guess. All right. My one request is I want Sherm to go first on the Central.
00:30:51
Speaker
Go ahead. I got to figure out what teams are even in the central. Oh, yeah. Cubs, Brewers, Reds, Pirates, Cardinals. So I know where you're going. Yeah, that's where I wanted you to go first. You already know my answer to question.
00:31:02
Speaker
The Reds, obviously. we get it, Cincinnati fan. We get it. We get it. So other little than Hunter Green, wait where's the what's the rotation here? The Reds rotation?
00:31:13
Speaker
Singer. It's green. It's green. I would put Lodolo, too. Yeah, Lodolo. Singer, three. And then probably Abbott, four. And ah they're probably going make Nick Martinez five. I think Nick Martinez is a waste of space. I mean ah cannot stand him. I think he's awful.
00:31:32
Speaker
But I think that's what they're going to doing. I like Lodolo. I just don't trust Lodolo. I like Lodolo if he stay healthy. Right. That's the problem. 5BRA last year is going be your number two starter, and they're going the division.
00:31:45
Speaker
I'm not sold on that. my You know, Lodolo is one of them the guys that he's either going to throw eight shutout innings, or he's going to get absolutely wrecked.
00:31:56
Speaker
And there does not seem to be an in-between with him. Yeah. I'm just, you know, he did not pitch much in 2023, in 2024, was hurt. Right. missed about 10 starts. was hurt right he missed about ten starts so
00:32:13
Speaker
I think he's finally healthy. He's had an offseason where he was able to you know just focus on pitching. i think you're looking at a year where you know he's really good. And at the same time, he doesn't he doesn't have the pressure anymore.
00:32:29
Speaker
you know He's got two other guys around him. Right. It felt like every time he was healthy, Green was hurt.
00:32:37
Speaker
How much is losing India going to impact them? ah Not at all. Fair enough. Honestly, i think the trade made so much sense for the Reds because they needed and you know and another another starter for for having a strong three.
00:32:52
Speaker
And with the return of Matt McLean, who did not play a single inning last year, i think you're going hate me for saying this. I think the Reds have the best double play duo in the league.
00:33:05
Speaker
Really? Yes. ah and I don't hate it. I don't hate it.
00:33:14
Speaker
I'm trying to think. so you're in sammon okay man i go there. top three. don't think you can say no to that. You're big on McLean. hu i don't think you can you can say no to that
00:33:29
Speaker
you're big on mcclein I am big on McLean. i i mean i I was go to say Kim in the rise, but Kim's not going to be there.
00:33:42
Speaker
I wouldn't put a rise there. Yeah, good point. yeah not As much as I love my hitters. I wouldn't even say a rise is the top five second baseman in the league. No, I'm not disagreeing with that, but don't McLean is either.
00:33:53
Speaker
I think the Reds have a legitimate lineup, and they have a legitimate manager. Zach, what year is it? Oh, you mean last year when Josh picked them as a sleeper? Oh, wait. Did you mean the year that? gonna be better When Josh picked them as a sleeper? I didn't pick them two years ago.
00:34:09
Speaker
You said they were going to be better. <unk>d be better i didn't say theyd but I didn't say they'd be good. just said they'd be better. Now I think they'll actually be a good team. It's like Zach's classic Sabre prediction. Oh, yeah. it's one four champion and so Yeah, let's not do that.
00:34:21
Speaker
i think I think this team is significantly better than they were last year. They have a real manager and a real team. I think the only thing that really hurts them is their bullpen. I think their bullpen is not great. Zach, where'd you go with this?
00:34:34
Speaker
Oh, I didn't finish yet. Oh, go ahead. I was going to say Reds, Cubs, Brewers.
00:34:40
Speaker
Oh, that's hard. ah the pirate Hard No, it's not. They're both bad. Yeah, well, I mean, obviously I'm not picking them to make it, but I don't know which team is worse. Yeah. I did go Cubs 1 just because, I mean, Tucker is a big needle mover. Their Cubs pitching is low-key not bad.
00:34:59
Speaker
Imanaga, Steele, and Tyone is a solid. Pitching great. They don't have an infielder, though. ah dan Dansby needs to bounce back. They really they swung for that. I know they lost Bellinger, too. Dansby needs to show up this year.
00:35:10
Speaker
um But, yeah, I went Cubs 1, Reds 2, Brewers, Cardinals, Pirates, and last.
00:35:17
Speaker
We're pretty in sync here, Zach. I have Cubs, Brewers, Reds, Pirates, Cardinals. Cubs, the only playoff team I have getting in here.
00:35:25
Speaker
Not much really say on that. You pretty much echoed everything I have on the Cubs. So we're there. NL West, who wants to go first?
00:35:38
Speaker
We're all going to have it the same way. thank I think you you, Mikey. Yeah, but it is yeah yeahre all is's your turn. is turn. Dodgers 1, Padres 2, Diamondbacks 3. I was actually stuck between Padres and Diamondbacks. yeah I leaned toward the Padres, but I could definitely see the opposite side. and um Actually, now i'm thinking about it, if I'm going with the condition that Cease is going to move, then that would change. But I'm going to stick with what I wrote here. i'll I'll go by that.
00:36:04
Speaker
Dodgers, Padres both get in the playoffs. Diamondbacks just miss. Giants, Rockies. I'm not a big Willie Adamas guy. I don't think that's going to do much to the Giants. I think Adamas is overrated.
00:36:17
Speaker
i agree.
00:36:20
Speaker
I'm thinking. I'm doing this on the fly. ah I'm going to say Dodgers. Obviously, no doubt about it. i think that um the Padres are going to trade somebody that they have in their staff.
00:36:37
Speaker
um So I'm going to go say D-backs to Padres three Giants Rockies.
NL West Contenders
00:36:42
Speaker
Yeah, I have no issue with that at all. I was genuinely stuck on the two them. I think it's tough because everyone talks about, ooh, Padres have such a great rotation, and it's like, so does Arizona. Yeah. They low-key have a really good rotation before they got Burns, and with Burns, whoo!
00:36:59
Speaker
i am ah mildly concerned about their lineup.
00:37:06
Speaker
But i can I can get over it. you I don't think you're going to get the Josh Naylor year that you had before. Yeah. But, you know, Kendall Marte is going to be, you know, an MVP candidate like he is every year. yeah I love Marte. Yeah. um And I think Carroll is going to bounce back.
00:37:22
Speaker
Yeah, he showed a lot of promise in the second half of last season. He did. Went from hitting under 200 to being a candidate for the all-MLB team. Yeah, he did bounce back. And I don't know what it is, man, about the Padres, but everybody they seem to get just underperforms.
00:37:37
Speaker
Yeah. no I don't know what it is. ah We'll just wait and see until ah Jackson Merrill catches the ah the disease, pretty much. Well, hopefully not. He's probably my top player to go see live this year that I haven't yet, so I'm hoping that he does well.
00:37:54
Speaker
Mm-hmm. Yeah, i echo everything Sherm said. I went D-backs too. That one, two, three of Burns, Gallen, and Merrill Kelly is going to be disgusting. And if Montgomery ever pitches like he did in Texas, that's a great number four.
00:38:09
Speaker
um ah I wouldn't even say he's number four. i don't even know if he makes a start of rotation. Yeah, they yeah have they are loaded. They're absolutely loaded. You have Fad and you have Eduardo Rodriguez. Yeah, their pitching is insane.
00:38:22
Speaker
i mean I've always fought a little too high on San Diego, admittedly. This one I think I might have had wrong. I'll give you guys this one. yeah so To me, as long as the D-backs can stay healthy, they'll be pretty good.
00:38:34
Speaker
Yeah. yeah Oh, no, they'll be good. i It's just honestly at the NL, it's so hard because it's a numbers game because I wanted to have them in the playoffs, but then how do I take out Mets, Braves, Phillies? I have to have an NL Central. Let me ask you question.
00:38:47
Speaker
Let me ask you a question now that I'm thinking about this one here. Yeah. Give me a comparison between the D-backs. And the Mariners. Because I feel like these teams are very similarly structured.
00:39:01
Speaker
they They are very structured. Here's the difference. But do D-backs make a run at the World Series with their starting pitching? Yes. However, I actually wrote in my monologue that I did a little very early anticipated.
00:39:14
Speaker
The Mariners, the biggest struggle with the Mariners is getting into October. And after they get into October, it'll be a very tough out. I feel the exact same way about Arizona. If they make it to October, they can win the World Series.
00:39:25
Speaker
But because of the number game of getting them into the playoffs, I couldn't get them in. That's why I didn't have them going further.
World Series Contenders Discussion
00:39:32
Speaker
They're a team that I think if they make the – they might be the team that makes it into the playoffs by a game, goes on a hot streak, and wins the World Series.
00:39:39
Speaker
I feel the exact same way about the Diamondbacks I do about the Mariners. It's just the National League is a lot tougher than the American League, and the National League West is the toughest division in baseball. That's the only difference.
00:39:51
Speaker
Is it the toughest division in baseball? NL East maybe? NL East might be there too. I think NL East better. but I think you you still have to play the Dodgers a lot more than you have to play other teams. You're play the Dodgers more than the Mariners are going to play the Dodgers.
00:40:05
Speaker
yeah They're going to have more losses. The Mariners do have – The Mariners get to steamroll the Athletics. They get to steamroll the Angels. And the Astros. That's true. the Astros. i That's the only reason.
00:40:16
Speaker
If the Diamondbacks – if I could squeeze them in the playoffs, I actually did think about having a Diamondbacks-Mariners World Series. All right. um a Good answer. I wanted to see what you had to say about that. Yep. It's a fair question.
00:40:29
Speaker
you know Looking back, if I could change it now after they're talking to you guys, I probably have the Diamondbacks in over the Padres, and I probably have them losing in the NLCS to the Dodgers just to keep my prediction honest. But I didn't do that, so I'm not going to try and lie about it now.
00:40:43
Speaker
I don't know about you, Zachy, but my opinion is that the D-backs are a better roster than the Mariners. Yes, their lineup is much better. don't disagree with that, but it's not it's not about who has a better roster. It's about who's hot at the right time.
00:40:55
Speaker
I like also don't disagree with that. Yeah. you had your mariners The Mariners have a much easier path to the World Series in general role and then the World Series afterwards. Yeah. Well, other than last year, how many times has the best team in baseball won the World Series? It's probably a lot less than you think. Yeah.
00:41:12
Speaker
So that's why I picked the Mariners. It wasn't about the fact that the best team on paper, they're not. They're just as good as Dimebacks on paper, if not worse. But they have a much easier schedule.
00:41:23
Speaker
They have a much easier division. They have a much easier league. They'll win more games. I can get behind it. So I'm going to abstain from the World Series talk because I already went at it a lot. I did have Dodgers, Mariners, and I had Mariners in seven, if anybody cares.
00:41:41
Speaker
But I'll turn it over to you guys for that.
MVP Predictions
00:41:44
Speaker
Before we continue, actually, um Bobby Witt Jr. apparently did not suffer a broken bone when was hit on the left of the forearm by a 96-mile-an-hour fastball today. We might have to redo this pod, but his timetable is unclear.
00:41:56
Speaker
Are you kidding me? He's expected to avoid a long absence. so that well This is why I hate when we draft early because of shit like this. when this fun But apparently he's not expected to have a long absence, but I just i just saw the breaking news update from Joe Pass, and i'm like, let me get this in.
00:42:10
Speaker
Well, spoiler alert, he was my MVP for the AL. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. We know. So hopefully hopefully he's okay. God. He's good for baseball.
00:42:22
Speaker
But I'll let you guys do the World Series. I'll stay out. um I'm just going to get this over with. I picked the Braves. I went Braves over Texas Rangers.
00:42:33
Speaker
yeah Everybody's joining my ranger party two years too late. I respect it. You're going to have a bounce back here. We'll see. That's all Texas?
00:42:47
Speaker
Yes. Wait, do you have Texas winning? No, I have the Braves winning. Braves beating them. Okay. I can't believe you had Texas making the world serious.
00:42:59
Speaker
I mean, hes weak man they title baltimore they beat Baltimore last, you know, in the playoffs a few years ago. I don't. but so Baltimore has has like 12 year old kids playing. Oh, I know. That's saying. You could pick five teams. If you can pick five or six teams from the AL to make get to the World Series, I would not be upset. think you could pick 10 teams in the AL. I wouldn't be shocked.
00:43:17
Speaker
We can a multitude of different ways. i want to go It's weak, man. You told me the Blue Jays and I'd be like, okay. Yeah.
00:43:27
Speaker
All right, is it my turn? yeah Yes, it is. Since I was called a loser by saying that Dodgers are going to win and stating the obvious, I will change my pick.
00:43:38
Speaker
Thank God. Only it guys. sorry Okay, going to pick the Reds. No, just kidding. That would have been fun. Back it off. Listen, I can't believe you didn't pick the Phillies. All right, calm down. did that last year. did that work out? Yeah, I know you did.
00:43:55
Speaker
I'm going to actually, based on the conversation we just had, I'm going to pick the D-backs. There you go. I don't hate that. Honestly, I could get around i can get behind that after hearing conversations. If we had to vote on one for the pod, i'd vote Arizona after this conversation. would actually agree with that. but i'm I'll stick with my opinion, but if we're doing like a group think, it's Diamondbacks. Yeah, I'm going to say Diamondbacks over the Yankees.
00:44:17
Speaker
Yankees? Yeah, I think Cashman's going to out there and start swinging it around. ah Yeah. Yeah, true. but gonna yeah I told you guys don't panic. We're making the World Series again. are getting, Sherman? Are we getting Alcantara? might. Alcantara.
00:44:31
Speaker
They might. They're not going to. Get me Alcantara. The problem with the Aggies is that they have no prospects to trade no more. Fair enough. Like we said, the AL sucks. right You have a rematch? Yankees-Dodgers? Well, you picked Arizona, I guess.
00:44:45
Speaker
That's right. I picked Arizona to win the World Series. Because I shamed him. But before that, did you have a rematch? ah Honestly, I haven't thought about it until about five seconds ago.
00:44:57
Speaker
So, yeah, I would have had a rematch. I bullied him into two. But honestly, going say something wild here. I think the Tigers are gonna make it to the AL. I don't hate that either. That's not a bad take at all. problem Again, and think yeah they were the team of destiny last year. i think they they got better ah despite getting a shitty second baseman that can't field his own position.
00:45:19
Speaker
I think he will find himself on the bench for Colt Keith within about two months. Yeah. Yeah. But, it's you know, honestly, the Tigers are wild that they're this good when they have the first overall pick, and the guy sucks and is going to be out of baseball pretty soon. That's honestly pretty impressive. Yeah.
00:45:36
Speaker
Or Torkelson. So what what award do you guys want to do first? Well, let's just get al MVP out of the way. Okay. I picked Bobby Witt, but I don't know.
00:45:47
Speaker
right. You can pick again. I can pick. I mean, he's not expected a long absence, so it's not a bad thing to stick with your guns. I'll still with Witt. knows what that means, honestly. With Soto out of the league, and you know I don't know if how much you can say Judge is going to repeat and do what Judge did because Soto's not in his lineup anymore.
00:46:02
Speaker
But I'm going to go Witt just because I was planning to go Witt. Josh, go ahead. and they'll I have a top five that I'll ram through. but Of course you do. You know what I think? I think that this is finally the year, boys. It's finally year. This is that J-Ram finally wins an MVP.
00:46:23
Speaker
Fair. I did this last year. You guys clowned on me for picking him. i Because it's just lasting. I just – because you know what? I think this is a thing. Wit is hurt, right?
00:46:34
Speaker
And I'm going to come out and make it – We're already running with that. I'm going to come out – I'm going to come out and make it something that Bobby Witt is going to miss at least a month worth of the season, okay?
00:46:48
Speaker
Whether it be this injury or another injury, yeah I'm going to say it. Judge, he was healthy last year. That means going to healthy this year. He doesn't have Stan. He doesn't have Soto. i just i He's going to hit 300, but he's going to barely hit 300.
00:47:02
Speaker
i can't see him hitting 50 homers again.
00:47:06
Speaker
Okay. Gunnar Henderson, overrated. I agree. This is the year. Unless Vlad Jr. somehow figures it out again. and I think you're banking on a lot there, this is the year.
00:47:17
Speaker
this is this is This is the year that J-Ram has the chance to finally win it. He's consistently a top five and MVP guy every year, and he says but he's just that he never has that one season.
00:47:32
Speaker
This is it. This is his chance. This is his shot. I had J-Ram five. All right. I had Alvarez four. to Alvarez four. Yeah, buddy.
00:47:44
Speaker
He's going to carry the Astros. And that Astros make the wild card. I think he's going to be the guy carry. What? He doesn't even play the field, right? That's fine. he Shohei doesn't either. But, yeah, I think he finished top five in MVP voting last year, so I had him top five again.
00:47:58
Speaker
um i forget but exactly where he stood, but I remember he had a pretty high finish. Oh, he finished third two years ago, finished knife last was going to say, he did not finish top five last year. So I had Bobby with three.
00:48:09
Speaker
This was before the injury. i have Aaron Judge 2 and number 1. Josh actually kind of alluded to it. I think in a contract year, i think Vladimir Guerrero is going to pop off. He's looking for $600 million. He needs to. He's going to have to earn it. Yeah.
00:48:23
Speaker
I'm going Vlad Guerrero Jr. He's going to need it this year. did you hear Did you hear the craziness about this contract? Yes, I did. Yeah, he's offered him that, oh, he'll take less money to play for the team. Oh, how generous. $500 million. Yeah.
00:48:35
Speaker
Yeah. He's worth more than that if he played the way he played last year. But I think the funny thing is is that I heard a report that said that the Jays offered him $500 million, dollars but they loaded, absolutely loaded the deferrals so hard that reality is only making at $400 million, and he told them to go kick rocks. so Oh my god.
00:48:54
Speaker
As he should have. Yep. And LSU, who wants to go first here? You're going to vomit with mine. I'll go first. Go ahead. I think this is an easy pick.
00:49:07
Speaker
Ellie De La Cruz. No, just kidding. Juan Soto. I think Juan Soto absolutely. I mean, this is this is so easy. If you think Otani is going to win MVP, you know, you're just sitting there.
00:49:20
Speaker
He's not going to play every game. I cannot stress this enough. They've already said it. His pitching is going to be ass. shit It's not to be good. And he's not going to hit every day.
00:49:33
Speaker
he's he's not he's He's only going hit, he's probably only going to play as DH about 120 games this year.
00:49:41
Speaker
i ah you cannot You cannot justify to me if this guy won MVP hitting 120 games and having a mediocre pitching season. I will not vote for Otani simply because he does both picks.
00:49:55
Speaker
I will not vote for him because he does, because he hits and pitches. That is not a good enough reason.
00:50:02
Speaker
Zach? Sherm stole mine. I went with the bold swing. I went with Ellie DeLaCruz. He had a great season last year. I'm hoping he really steps it up this year. What, are you serious? Yes, I am.
00:50:13
Speaker
I thought you were kidding. I have my top five as well. I went with Ellie. I mean, I had him my top five, but I was not going to pick going to pick him. going to pick him up for Soto. We'll see what happens. Wow. All right.
00:50:24
Speaker
Wow, I better take him early in the draft this year. Uh-oh. Number five, I picked Otani just because of the the corollary of, you know, if Shohei Otani's playing and breathing, he's going to get MVP votes.
00:50:37
Speaker
um Number four, I have Eli De La Cruz. Number three, I have Mookie Betts. I think he becomes kind of the alpha dog of this Dodger team again with Shohei not playing every day. Number two, I have Kyle Tucker.
00:50:49
Speaker
And number one, i have Juan Soto as well. Wow. I have to admit there's one guy in your in your top five that im that is that is not in your top five, and I'm surprised. Who?
00:50:59
Speaker
ah The guy that Zach clowned us about. Oh, I thought about him. Don't worry. That's coming later. We'll talk about that as we segue into NL Cy Young. So I guess might as well since Josh already started. I'll go first on this one.
00:51:12
Speaker
Number five, I have Hunter Green. I like Hunter Green. I hope he stays healthy. Number four, I – again – You guys hate on the Reds and just pick two of them. So what are we doing here? I like Hunter Green. You're just doing it for the meme now. You just hate me. Is that what it
Cy Young Award Predictions
00:51:26
Speaker
is?
00:51:26
Speaker
I mean, yeah. The same way you like all five of the Mariner pitchers, but you don't think they're to anything. I feel that way about these. I said they would make the playoffs. You didn't even say the Reds would make the p playoffs. Because they have two guys, not seven. Anyway.
00:51:38
Speaker
anyway Hunter Green, five. I have hopefully stays in the NL. Otherwise, this is already null and void. But have Sandy Alcantara having a bounce back and finishing fourth. Zach Gallin, third.
00:51:49
Speaker
Zach Wheeler, second. Paul Skeens, first. I think Paul Skeens wins it here. He's an overwhelming favorite right now. I think if it's close, they're going to give it to him. I also think Paul Skeens wins But I would be okay if Wheeler wins.
00:52:04
Speaker
It's okay. We're idiots. We think... Yeah, we're idiots. It's fine. the I did go with Wheeler here. He's been so consistent. i think you we're gonna course I did. Of course I did. can see how that works.
00:52:16
Speaker
AL. ah Yeah. No-brainer. Repeat. Repeat, baby. Really? Okay. You both went there? No.
00:52:27
Speaker
Okay. Josh, you're going school ball? Yes, repeat. Yes, I'm serious. Zach? I thought about it. Eric Cole. No. I did go Shane McClanahan, even though he's coming off TJ.
00:52:39
Speaker
Oh, wow. wow That's bold. We're taking big swings. That's bold. We're not going short this year, boys. I love that. Thank you for having some chutzpah. Thank you.
00:52:50
Speaker
No. Just nag with the chutzpah.
00:52:57
Speaker
All right. Number five, I have Tarek Skubel. Josh is going to have... At five? You told me you named four pitchers you're going to have a better year than him. Number four, I have Max Fried.
00:53:08
Speaker
Uh...
00:53:11
Speaker
Lowest ERA in the last five seasons. Michael. I think he steps up when we need him desperately. And if the Yankees are going to make the playoffs or make the World Series like Josh predicted, I think Max Free is going to have to be the guy. He plays at the Yankee Stadium now. I understand that, but he's strikeout pitcher.
00:53:30
Speaker
We're good there. Cole Reagans, number three. That's not a bad pick. Luis Castillo, number two. Like said I said, I'm going to win. ah Yes. Better than Schuble?
00:53:41
Speaker
It's time. I think he has a big season. Are you on drugs? I don't think he has a better – don't think he's a better player. I think he has a better season difference. I think Schuble takes a step back this year, goes from one to five, and then comes back and wins a Cy Young in one the next couple of years.
00:53:58
Speaker
I think they figure him out and he's going to have to adjust. Oh, boy. Number one, I have someone who I think has been long overdue for one. He's always been in contention, never won it. i have Frambois Valdez.
00:54:12
Speaker
Come at me. That's fine.
00:54:16
Speaker
don't know. What's wrong with you? It's a safer pick than Shane McClenaghan, but we're still going with the but go with a little guts. Not quite as much guts as Zach here, but I use my guts in the World Series.
00:54:28
Speaker
I'm still going over the Castillo over school thing. i can't really. I'm very high on the Mariners this year, and George Kirby's questionable right now. comforting good and um I can't quite get there with him. you went Gilbert, I wouldn't be upset. I thought about Gilbert.
00:54:47
Speaker
I think Castillo is you know has more of the track record. Not that track record mattered last year with Scoogle, but that I just kind of went on that side of it.
00:54:59
Speaker
And I have him too. I don't have him winning. I think it's going to a runaway for Valdez. Any other awards you guys wanted to cover? that I figured those were the main four. I'm just hurting me.
00:55:13
Speaker
ah We'll see who's right. I did want to mention quickly, AL Rookie of the Year, Mike Gibbs top five. I have the top two, Roman Anthony and or a Christian Campbell, both Red Sox. Wow, Zach, he loves the Red Sox. I do not. I'm not a Red sockx fan he feel veteran they are egg calleds the red Sox They have a good squad. That is all.
00:55:34
Speaker
i be honest. I haven't followed the rookies as much as I probably should have, but I'll go with Jackson Jobe from Detroit. This is the name sticks out.
00:55:46
Speaker
I'm going to be a homer.
00:55:49
Speaker
Jason DeVegas? The Martian boys. Let's hope so. Let's freaking hope so. I think he's going to be DH-ing by April. yeah I'm not going to calm you, but I hope you're right. Yeah, let's hope so, man.
00:56:00
Speaker
I think he's going to be DH-ing by April. He ain't getting a gold glove, I'll tell you that. Yeah. Is anybody going aside from Sasaki for NL Rookie of the Year?
00:56:11
Speaker
What's the dude, the Nationals? Dylan Cruz? Yes. yeah yes I would go him just because who knows what Sasaki is.
00:56:20
Speaker
um I'm also going pick Cruz just because I don't and i don't like the Dodgers. ah know and I
00:56:30
Speaker
I hate the Sasaki pick slightly less because he is actually young. and mean We've talked about this before. The whole, well, just because he was born in Japan, you get to pick what team he comes to. Crap. I don't like that. Yeah, I think that's ridiculous. about all the guys that are born in the Dominican Republic? What about all the guys born in America? they don't get to pick a team. What about Paul Steen? He didn't get to pick his team. He ended up on the worst team in baseball. It's going to continue be the worst team in baseball for the next 15 years. Now he's stuck there for another five.
00:56:53
Speaker
Yeah. He didn't just get to pick a team that's going to win another World Series for him. Yeah. I mean, it's fair. im If I'm going by who's going to win, I think if Sasaki's borderline, it's his. i mean I mean, I've been told a while to just say that because that's boring.
00:57:07
Speaker
I know, and I agree. But like I said, I'll be straight up. i I followed more of the you know established players than do the rookies. So I'll be straight up on that one.
00:57:18
Speaker
That's really my only reasoning. I think it's going be Kisaki just because that's what they're going to pick. I understand it's boring, but that's my one boring pick while I'm making you flip out and pull your hair out with my Frambois Valdez and my Seattle Mariners.
00:57:31
Speaker
then so be it. Don't worry. McClanahan's got this in the bag, right? Oh, also, wait, side note. We, what do we think about Imanaga? I feel like he, he kind of is in the top five, right? pictures and you know You know, I, I'm going to be honest. I didn't even think of him when I did this, but I do love him.
00:57:47
Speaker
Um, I think it's heavily underrated. I was like, the playoffs. I think that'll help his case and meet division definitely helps. It was weird, though, because on paper, his numbers were better. it's weird, though. I mean, his numbers were better than Valdez's last year. I mean, who would have thought? i But they gave him no love, is my point.
00:58:07
Speaker
No, because his name is not Yamamoto. No one gave him crap. Right. That's the problem. So, like, again, I was going by what I think will happen, not necessarily what I think will happen. He's a team that won 20 games. Yeah.
00:58:19
Speaker
Yeah. i mean He literally only won the games he played. But, no, Imanaga had a great season last year. No question.
Hall of Fame Candidates & Milestones
00:58:27
Speaker
All right, so I'll have you guys run this with me. Feel free to roast me.
00:58:31
Speaker
um But I figured because we tried to do it last year and it edited out because we didn't have time, um what I call the top five guys to monitor for the Hall of Fame this year. Since we do cover Hall of Fame a lot on this show, obviously, if there's a Hall of Famer, um my rule was none of these guys could be on my list currently.
00:58:50
Speaker
And all of them except for one have to be over the age of 30. So it's not any cheap prospects. It's not any random projection guys. And it has to be people that you know are not people you'd really think about in Hall of Fame conversations. But these are guys who can maybe sneak in the conversation over the next couple years.
00:59:09
Speaker
So I have a couple honorable mentions. Jacob deGrom, Blake Snell. Once Cy Young and they're in, I figured that'd be kind of boring. You know, if they get another one, they have three. I think they they're pretty much locked at that point, even if Snell feels weird.
00:59:21
Speaker
um But I wanted to point them out because I think those are guys with the big C's and they could end up with Plax and Cooperstown. You know and I think the perception around those guys will change very quickly if that happens this year.
00:59:33
Speaker
Kind of like Chris Sale last year. I don't think anyone's going to argue his Hall of Fame case anymore. um Fifth, actually have a tie between two pitchers that Zach knows very well. Aaron Nola and Zach Wheeler.
00:59:46
Speaker
So hear me out. I know this sounds crazy. Zach Wheeler entering his age 35 season. Zach Wheeler entering his age 35 season. It's too bad it started too late because he has 35 war, but 25 of those war came from the last four years.
01:00:01
Speaker
yeah um He has two Cy Young runner-ups. I think he needs three more seasons like the one last year to really enter the conversation. But then you could say he has a Koufax-like peak and could maybe push up. So I think this year we kind of set that foundation for him.
01:00:15
Speaker
Aaron Nola is sneaky. He has one All-Star team. He's 31 years old. Two top five and three top ten Cy Young finishes. But what sticks out to me is he has 1,779 strikeouts.
01:00:26
Speaker
He's had 200 or above in the three seasons before the past one and had 197 last year. So if he finishes this year and goes into his age 32 season with 2,000 strikeouts and this would be his seventh 200 strikeout season, you see the path that's coming here.
01:00:42
Speaker
wow If he finishes with two or three all-star appearances like Burt Blylevin and ends up with 3,000 Cy Youngs – not 3,000 Cy Youngs. Oh my god. 3,000 strikeouts. Could that be enough to get him in? It will be a weird case, but if he hits that magic number, are you going to keep him out?
01:01:00
Speaker
So, again, long way to go, but those are some guys that I just thought to monitor. Number four, i used my age below 25 pick here. I picked Vlad Guerrero Jr., contract year, last four All-Star games. I think he's building a case similar to a guy like Josh's favorite, Chase Utley, best first baseman of the last five years.
01:01:19
Speaker
I don't think there's any argument. I want to go back to Nola for a second here. Go ahead. ah No. he If he gets 3,000 strikeouts and he'll have 2,000 – if he has a full season, he'll likely have over 2,000 after this season.
01:01:34
Speaker
He'll be 32 years old going in with 2,000 strikeouts. Is this like a Mussina-like case? That's what I'm saying. I think Mussina had a better a significantly better peak. But I think if 3,000 strikeouts is truly magic number, only 19 guys have ever done that.
01:01:49
Speaker
Yeah, that has to recognized. Kershaw gets it. Let's say you know we don't know if Cole is going to get it now. I don't know if Sale is going to get there. yeah Could that be enough?
01:02:02
Speaker
Vlad Guerrero Jr., I think he has a case similar to Utley so far. um Big peak. yeah Best first baseman in baseball for a solid stretch. Like I said, I picked him to win MVP this year. I think that would be a big spot for him. He would have a shot to reach 200 home runs before the age of 27. Entering a contract year he's going to be paid for about 15 years.
01:02:24
Speaker
he could hit five He can hit another 300 home runs in 15 years. So I just see that being a possibility of a foundation to set. That was my under 30 pick. Now we get to my over 30 picks. Number three, this is going weird one, Corey Seager.
01:02:40
Speaker
Ooh. Hear me out. He's already one of – so who picked in the win the world who to go to the World Series? Me. So let me ask you this, Eki. So Corey Seager has two World Series MVPs, right? Wow.
01:02:53
Speaker
There are four players who have ever done that already. Sandy Koufax, Bob Gibson, Reggie Jackson, Corey Seager. Wow. Now, nobody's ever won it three times.
01:03:07
Speaker
If Corey Seager ends up, if the Rangers end up winning the World Series, because you have them close, if they end up winning four games instead of losing four games and not in November, and he wins the World Series MVP, can you keep him out?
01:03:23
Speaker
As the only three-time World Series and MVP in the history of the sport. I... I don't know. i don't know. i don't know. I understand what the stats are. I'm going to get Call me out. i get it.
01:03:34
Speaker
He's 30 years old. He has 36 war. So he the war came pretty solid. He has 1,100 hits and 200 home runs. I get the numbers aren't close, but he has had three and a half war in each of his last four seasons and 12 war over the last two.
01:03:47
Speaker
He has two top five and MVP finishes, which were second and third. If he has a good regular season, he could have a third MVP finalist. What? Can't stay on the field and you're going to vote him in solely because of World Series. I understand.
01:04:00
Speaker
Yes! Having three is a big deal, but i mean this guy this guy's going to have won World Series MVPs we've never heard of ever again. I understand that, but did they win it three times? No player ever has not... I don't know if I can behind putting a guy in solely because he happened to perform in a seven-game stretch.
01:04:21
Speaker
multiple times his career. Yes, i understand that's huge for a team, and for a team, you can slap that guy on your team Hall of Fame all you want. But for the league, I don't know if I can get behind that. Sorry. Okay, fine, but it would be a second team that he did it with.
01:04:33
Speaker
He would have done it in both leagues. He's the only player currently, I believe, other than maybe Reggie, to win the World Series in both leagues. Listen, brother, I mean, that is a that is a great trivia question.
01:04:45
Speaker
No, I just don't... I can't get behind it. I'm sorry. i'm I'm looking at guys that he compares to, and every one of those guys fell off and and but basically died after they hit 30. He can't stay in the field already. I just i don't see Only player in baseball ever to win a major award three times.
01:05:04
Speaker
You are making such a wild, a wild assumption that this is going to happen. I'm not saying it is. However, let me get to the rest. Let's say he has a great regular season. They don't make the playoffs.
01:05:16
Speaker
He has 36 war right now. So let's say he has a six war season like he did two years ago. He's at 42.
01:05:23
Speaker
Let's say he plays five more years. He can get to around 50 to 55 war. And right now he already has the two World Series MVPs. I think if he ends up close, let's say he ends up finishing with 1,800 hits. By then, Andrew Jones and Chase Utley are already in and broke through the 2,000 hit barrier.
01:05:42
Speaker
The only guys who did it were inner circle Hall of Famers. All right, I will give you stipulations here. if If he can stay healthy enough to continue his career to probably about 38, if he can continue to hit at or near the pace he's currently hitting at,
01:06:03
Speaker
If he is able to accumulate enough war to put himself in the middle-ish area of shortstops, and if Utley can get himself in, it would agree that he would be a Hall of Famer.
01:06:14
Speaker
Okay. But all three of those things have to come to fruition. Conditional. condition I think a lot can happen, again... but again you You specifically asked me when I pitched this segment to you guys to not pick guys that were obvious.
01:06:27
Speaker
My thing – again, my thing with Seager is that he cannot stay on the field. He has not played a complete game in his entire – an complete season in entire career. That's crazy. Neither did Larry Walker, to be fair. I'm just saying, I – Walker was a much better header.
01:06:42
Speaker
Fair. I just – I cannot –
01:06:47
Speaker
and To assume a guy that has not been able to stay healthy is going to stay healthy into old age, I think that's a really big if. I agree with that, but I'm saying only needs to the 14 war to get to 50. And I think 50 is where people start to have that conversation. The stat nerds start to look at guys with 50.
01:07:02
Speaker
And when they see a guy with 50 and you have a guy with two World Series MVPs to go with the 50, this isn't Steve Pierce. This isn't LeVon Hernandez.
01:07:13
Speaker
Can he stay healthy? That's my question. Fair. You don't think he gets another 14-1 his entire career though? He had 12 in the last two. It's tough. it's It's tough.
01:07:25
Speaker
But that – again, I'm going by predictions. I'm using a lot of war here because I know that's what the voters look for. It's more of a projection rather than my own opinion. So my number two is Francisco Lindor.
01:07:38
Speaker
um You could argue he's already there. I think this might have been maybe a cheaper one. But, I mean, he's got two top five MVP finishes. I know how Josh feels about him. He has six top 10 MVP finishes already.
01:07:50
Speaker
He's going to be hitting a lot more balls this year. He's going seeing a lot more pitches this year. For a guy who's not a mean home run hitter, he has 530 home run seasons. He's had a great freaking career, man.
01:08:03
Speaker
Yeah, that's not a bad pick. I don't hate this. He has 1,492 hits through his age 30 season. He's going to finish with over 1,600 hits after age 31. I think this guy is going to end up – if he is the guy you know, with Soto brings the Mets to a World Series for the first time since 1986, they're going to remember Lindor being the guy who put the Mets back on the map.
01:08:27
Speaker
So I think that's going to be a narrative case that helps push him through. Again, a lot of ifs. That's what this game is. But he had a seven-war season last year. He already is at 50-war.
01:08:39
Speaker
And he's 30. I don't hate this one. He might finish with 100-war at the end of his career. correct I will actually agree with you on this one.
01:08:51
Speaker
I think, um comparatively, if you look at his numbers and you look at J-Ram's numbers, they're pretty much the same. So, I was going to put J-Ram on this, but spoiler alert, I have Jose Ramirez on my list already.
01:09:09
Speaker
yeah Yeah. I mean, their numbers are basically the same. i mean, Ramirez has technically one more two more seasons played. But, I mean, he's got about 100 more games played.
01:09:23
Speaker
Yeah. And his numbers are slightly higher because of that. None of you guys were surprised when I went with J-Ram already being in, huh? No, I don't hate that at all. why should i mean Wow.
01:09:35
Speaker
Okay. um Okay, I'm glad. I expected you guys to clown me. I'm actually more surprised Lindor was not already in, to be quite honest with you. Really? Really? i don I know you were big on Lindor. You honestly kind of steered me away, but... No, my thing is that I don't think Lindor deserved to be in the MVP conversation last year because his season was not MVP worthy.
01:09:54
Speaker
Yeah. And to come in second place, I think, was abysmal because there were 10 guys in the American League that hit better than him, but the National League has no huge stars, which is hilarious. I think it isn't a wild... The National doesn't have these huge star hitters, but they're still so much better than the American League.
01:10:11
Speaker
I mean, I guess a lot of people had down years. Harper had a down year. i did Like I said, I could not wrap my head around yeah voting for an MVP of a guy who hit 270 with 30 home runs.
01:10:22
Speaker
Sorry. Sorry. So you're surprised that I didn't already have him on the list? I'm surprised you didn't already have him on the list based on his career. No, I'm not there yet. I'm not there on Bryce Harper yet. You're not there Harper? He's not my number one.
01:10:34
Speaker
Bryce Harper's an influencer now. I think you have to. I think if he retired today, I probably would end up putting him in. i just I have my reservations. The hits number is really low. He has the two MVPs.
01:10:47
Speaker
i have most that I have most of the two-time MVP winners that aren't in on my list, but a couple of them that aren't, I'm not sure where I'm at with him yet. But my number one on this list is actually a two-time MVP, and i'm part of me is thinking about putting him on now.
01:11:04
Speaker
And that's Aaron Judge. oh So here's something that I found recently. um Obviously, Aaron Judge has a 60-home run season.
01:11:15
Speaker
He's one of three clean home run hitters to do that. Judge, Maris, Ruth. The other three that did it were Bonds, Sosa, and Maguire. um If he obviously was to hit a 60-home run season, I know that's a reach, but he almost did last year.
01:11:27
Speaker
He would be the only clean hitter to have multiple 60-home run seasons. And when we look at 50-home run seasons – All baseball history, five hitters ever have more than have three or more 50 home run seasons.
01:11:43
Speaker
Sosa, McGuire, A-Rod, Ruth, and Judge. Ruth and Judge are the only clean home run hitters to have three or more 50 home run seasons. Ever.
01:11:56
Speaker
He might be whole fan right now. but this way. Judge has 50 war. He basically didn't play in 2020. Yeah. And you he started his career at basically the age of 25. can we already know Can we argue that Judge could be in now based on the hitter version of Sandy Koufax?
01:12:13
Speaker
Yeah, he definitely could be. I think he might be in now. But I think another – if he hits another 50 home run season, and i'm not I don't think that's a big if. There would be be hitting eight home runs less than last year.
01:12:25
Speaker
If he has another 50 home run season and he joins Babe Ruth, Mark McGuire, and Sammy Sosa as the only hitters in baseball to ever hit 50 home runs four times.
01:12:37
Speaker
And he's the only post – he's the only post – right now already, he's the only post-integration baseball player who's not tied to steroids who has three 50 home run seasons. Wow. Already.
01:12:49
Speaker
Just let me think about like kind Of what we're watching, we complain about the Yankees so much. We complain about how Judge played in October, but we're seeing greatness, man. Judge is fantastic until the calendar turns to October. We we know that. I know.
01:13:02
Speaker
But it's just so like this all-time stuff. I mean, I thought this one might have been a little cheap because he might already be one, but I think this year can lock him up.
01:13:13
Speaker
He wins the third MVP or he hits 50 home runs or both. i think he's three MVPs already. that's a difference exactly That's the other thing. This should be his fourth if he wins it this year.
01:13:24
Speaker
So that was my five. you guys clown me less than I thought. I don't know. I don't think you deserve to be clowned for the last few picks, but the first ones clowning was appropriate.
01:13:37
Speaker
But though I figured try to go with like guys that you're not traditionally thinking of as Hall of Famers. And I think there are pathways. A lot has to go right for those bottom guys, Seager, Nola, and Wheeler.
01:13:52
Speaker
But I think there's enough of a small little glimpse that I can say it. I'm not making a Hall Fame case for them right now by any means. I'm just saying lot can go right this year.
01:14:04
Speaker
And if a lot goes right next year, we can start opening that door a little bit wider. stand by in my statements about Seager. He's in the hole very great. That's fair. I just think already – I think he's already going to get votes. I think Baumgartner is going to get votes for the same reason.
01:14:19
Speaker
Whether or not we agree with that as a story, we'll get that when we up. interesting case to where that happens, yeah. It's only for nostalgia. But I think – it's not even nostalgia. It's – the name of the game is winning World Series, and if he showed up the most three different times – He won – you could argue what's a better award, the MVP of the World Series MVP. What would you rather win?
01:14:37
Speaker
And if Seager won that award three times and would be the only guy to ever do it, I i think I would put him in with that. I do.
01:14:47
Speaker
I don't hate that. but I need the third one or I would need like you another three very good seasons, even in the short ones that he plays. Manager of the Year.
01:15:01
Speaker
Did you did you just say Aaron Boone? If they win in the division... End the pod right now. It's over. We're done.