October 1, 2024 • 18 mins
Gene Watson, our resident MLB insider and Director of Player Personnel for the Chicago White Sox, joins the show to give out his predictions for the 2024 MLB Playoffs.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Joining us on the hotline, as he joins us each
week to talk Major League Baseball, now Playoff Baseball to
discuss is r MLB insider. That is the one and
only Gene Watson, who's just kind of cruising the highways
and byways of our fair state.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
How are you, GENA good afternoon, Craig.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
We're great, great, doing well. I always want to get
you on before the playoffs start and get your predictions. Now,
having said that one game is near nearly completed, but
I got a feeling it doesn't affect what you thought the.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Way the series comes out. Now.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I know aj Hinch is a friend of yours, and
I also know that you feel really good about the Tigers.
But from what I've heard you talk about the Astros
this year, it would be difficult for me to believe
that you were going to pick against the Astros.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Am I wrong about that?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
No? You know I've said you know throughout the week
that anytime you've gone to seventh straight American League Championship
Series until somebody comes in and knocks.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You out, you are king of the heel.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Now, I will tell you I have a little bit
of concern about this series coming into it, because these
Tigers remind me of the Three Marlins and also the
fourteen Royals.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Just youth and energy.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And when you get a team like that that they
don't know what they don't know, that can be very dangerous.
And if they win this game and you've got Reese
Olsen for Game two, and you've got Jackson job who
stretched out waiting in the bullpen, the advantage swings heavily
to the Tigers, and that would be an enormous upset,
(01:46):
upset in the first round.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Of the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Would it be safe to say for Tigers fans, really,
even for cautious Astro fans, that if there was one
that you absolutely thought the Tigers might get, it would
be Game one. Because of Scooball and how he's been
and win in the Triple Crown of pitching this year.
I mean, the numbers say he was the best starting
pitcher in all of baseball this year.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No question, no question.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I just think that people probably felt like, as good
as he's been, the Astros are incredibly difficult to beat
in that ballpark.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
And you know, I was texting with aj this morning.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I woke up to a text from him and we
texted back and forth, and the one thing that I
said to him is if anybody can prepare a team
to win in that ballpark, it's you, and he has
done that to this point today.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And then the other thing that was we found this
out yesterday or last night, that then the Astros made
the decision that Verlander was not going to be available
for this series and that really slotting in was going
to be your Don Alvarez. And so we saw Alvarez pitch,
(02:54):
but he gave up three consecutive two out base hits
in a three run inning that to this point he
stood now having said that they've just got a lead
off double from Rvaldez, I said Jordon Alvarez because I
was watching him at the plate. But from her Valdez
came in and gave up Paul that Jordon Alvarez has
just had.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
A leadoff, oppose field double in the bottom of the night.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So it's still three to nothing, but Alvarez just double
the opposite way. But from R Valdez was the guy
who's going to the mount, and yet the Tigers were able.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
To attack him in that second inning.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Simple approach, you know, for the way that teams approached
the regular season trying to hit the long ball, trying
to play for the three run home run. It's so
funny how the gears shift when you get into the
playoffs and you know you're facing that dominant starter. It's
really look out over the play stay simple and use
(03:47):
the whole field, keep the line moving. And you've seen
it so many times, year in and year out, where team's
identity in the playoffs completely shift from their regular season identity.
And I think that and AJ basically prepared these guys saying, look,
if you go up and you try to get big
in this ballpark, you're gonna get shut out today. But
(04:07):
Framber's stuff was not great. From pitch one. You could
see that he didn't have great feel for his breaking
ball early. He was a little flat with the fastball.
But so they really jumped on that opportunity early in
this game.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
All Right, all right, we'll keep people posting on.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Right now, Bregman's at the plate, nobody out, and a
pinch runner for Alvarez at second base. It's three nothing
Tigers with the Asteroids batting in the bottom of the ninth.
Now in that one, the other game is underway. And
now going to the top of the sixth inning. What
a pitcher's duel there in Baltimore between the Orioles and
the Royals going on right now. And of course this
(04:42):
is a Royals team that you and others put together.
And now in the top of the six inning here
they are scoreless in Game one with Baltimore, Ibnut.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Your thoughts on this Orioles Royals matchup.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Well, Baltimore's played really good the last ten days and
and as much excitement excitement as there been here, there's
been around this Royals team. They've got great starting pitching,
but really when you get past Bobby Witt Junior and
Salvador Perez, they've really struggled offensively the second half.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
They got Vinnie Pascaltino back today, which adds some presence
to that lineup, but but they've had a difficult time
scoring runs. And second to that is their bullpen has
not been very good at all all year long. So
Lucas Erkseg is going to be a really big part
of this series from a standpoint of when they get
into early leverage and in the case of this game,
(05:36):
late leverage, he's gonna have to really step up and
and and carry the load for that bullpen, because the
bullpen has struggled and they've struggled to score runs in
the second half, and when you run into an offensive
club like the Orioles, that can lead to a lot
of trouble early on.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
So with that in mind, what would be uh, first
of all, roll back on it. Are you sticking with
your pick for the Asteroid to win this wildcard series
of the Tigers?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Let me start with that.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I really am.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
I don't think that there's any panic. You've got guys
in that dugout that you know Jsel too, he's got
twenty seven postseason home runs. I mean, most of the
guys on the Tigers teams don't have twenty seven home
runs in their career, and so I just think that
there's gonna be no panic, no vibration from the Astros,
and that they'll they'll answer the bell and take this
to Game three and probably win it in three games.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
If they don't win this first one.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Because Alex Bregman got an infield single, there's runners on
the corners with nobody out in Yer Diaz is at
the plate as the tying run there in the bottom
of the ninth with fully trying to close it out
for the Tigers. Visiting with Gene Watson, our MLB inside
are talking about game one of these postseason series, these
wild Cards series. Like we said, Baltimore and Kansas City
(06:50):
are scoreless in the top of the six. How about
the final analysis you pick for this series.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I really think Baltimore is probably especially coming off being
swept in the first round of last season. I really
think Baltimore's probably the better team. It might take three games,
but I just think that you know, typically over the
course of one hundred and sixty two games, the things
that keep you from being good and winning the division
(07:18):
and being got an elite organization are the things that
meet you in the playoffs. And I just think the
ability to score runs and the bullpens weaknesses will end
up costing the Royals overall.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
All right, So there that is right now. And by
the way, the Astros just got a huge break. Maybe
not d As may have caught a piece of it.
They'd ruled a foul tip after originally ruling a foul
tip into the mid It was not caught on the
off the tip, which would have been a strike on
aj Hinch asking about it, but not a reviewable play there.
(07:53):
And as it stands right now, it's just a no
to count on Das at the plate with runners on the.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Corners from two out. Royals have a go ahead runner at.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Second base with one out in the top half of
the sixth inning against Baltimore. As they do that, a
base hit by the way by Daz given a second life,
brings home the first run for the Astros And now
the time runs are on runners at first and second,
nobody out. It's a three to one ball game. Is
(08:22):
the Astroids bat in the bottom of the ninth? All right,
we'll keep everybody up to day. Let's jump to the
National League. What a crazy day yesterday? What did it
for Braves, Mets, and I guess Diamondbacks fans chewing their
nails all the way through hoping that there was going
to be a sweep that never happened, and now it
winds up being the Mets and Braves getting those last
two wildcard spots.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
What a great day for baseball.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
And you know, and talking to a lot of Mets fans,
they considered yesterday to be one of the best days
in Mets baseball in a very long time, and it's
what we've said all along.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
When you when you.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Get into these type situations, your best players, your money players,
have to be the guys that step up, and Francisco.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Lindor certainly did that yesterday.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
I thought it was so bizarre to have both teams
celebrating in their clubhouses, and even some of the players
coming out and meeting at home plate from both teams
to celebrate with each other. I thought that was one
of the more bizarre things I've ever seen in the
game of baseball.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
But the Mets are playing very good baseball.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Right now, and they believe in themselves, and they've for
everything they've been through this year, with the injuries and
all the adversities, this is a team that's hot right now.
I would consider them to be the National League version
of the Tigers right now, and they are.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
They're very, very dangerous right now.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Okay, another update, Astros do on a sack bunt have
moved by Pinya, have moved the tying runs in the
scoring position and have runners at second and third with
one out. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, Bobby Witt, junior RBI opposite
field base hit to score Garcia with a first run
of that ball game. Royal is still batting in the
(09:58):
top of the sixth with a one.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Nothing lead on Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, so now with it standing, let me go back
to talking about the Braves, Because when Chris Sale was
unavailable for yesterday's game due to back spasms, the general,
if not cynical, view was, Okay, Brian Snitker is playing
a smart game here.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's a gamble.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
But if he wins this gamble, he has Sale ready
to go for this Division series, maybe even Game one
against San Diego, if not Game two, Well that was
shot down because it was announced he's not on the
Division serial or the wild card roster for Atlanta opening
that series in San Diego tonight. So I mean, that's
that's a huge bite out of Atlanta's hopes, isn't it
(10:45):
not having him available against the Padres.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
For a team that was limping to the finish line
just to get in an incredible blow And the psychology
of what it does to your clubhouse, especially when you're
going into pet Co and playing that team in that environment. Uh,
it's just an enormous blow and one that I'm not
sure they're going to be able to overcome. The Padres
(11:10):
are the best team in baseball. In the second half,
they are out, they are thirsty for blood. They're out
to prove that this is not a fluke. They they
believe that they are the most balanced and talented team
in baseball, and truthfully, they are right now. And there
are a lot of people's pick to win the World Series.
And so it's gonna be a really tough, tough, uphill
(11:32):
battle for the Braves to go in there and try
to pull that off.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Okay, you've talked about the Braves, the Mets, and Padres.
How about your thoughts on the Brewers.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well, you know, uh, the Brewers.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
They there's a lot of people that think that the
Mets can go in there and beat them.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
And this is the most fundamentally.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Sound baseball team I saw all year long, Pat Murphy,
in the way they.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Play small ball.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
They run the bases, they defend, they throw well from
the outfield, they hit the cutoff man, they just play
so well collectively as a unit. But there's a lot
of people that believe the Mets can go in there
and beat them, and that would be the equivalent of
what Detroit could possibly pull off in Houston.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
This week.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
By the way, the Tigers have made a change bow
Briskey out of the bullpen now and ESPN just showed
a graphic general and I bet you'll remember this well.
When teams have entered the ninth inning of the postseason
in any postseason game since nineteen ninety trailing by three
or more runs, they are one and five hundred and
(12:34):
thirty eight one. You may remember this Cubs against the
Giants in twenty sixteen when they rallied back.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Remember remember well, But I'm going to tell you if
there is one team in baseball that can do it,
it is the Houston Astros.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
That isn't incredibly.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I've gone in there four or five times as a
visiting team in October, and that ballpark has never ever
been an easy place to play and win, and certainly
in the not sett in the last seven years. So
it's it's gonna be an uphill fight, and they're certainly
not gonna go a way easily.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
All right.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
You know, how about your predictions on the two National
League wild cards here, So let's start with Brewers Mets.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Your thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I'm gonna go only because I know the Mets have
a lot of momentum. But I really think the Brewers,
just the way they go about in their temperament. I'm
gonna take the Brewers in three games and the other
series San Diego Atlanta. Yeah, I think the Padres, that
the Padres are so dangerous right now.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I think that that they've got a chance to sweep
that one away.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, a sinking liner off the bat of Victor Karattini
was caught for out number two, So the Astors down
to their final out. They have the tying runs. Tyler
Green just made a great running catch on a sinking liner.
So now the tying runs in scoring position, two down,
bottom of the ninth and minute made. It's a three
(13:58):
to one league for Detroit on huge and they've gone
to the bottom of the six in Baltimore with Kansas
City leading the Orioles by a score one nothing. Now,
let me get your thoughts on the four teams that
got buys and how you think it might affect them.
In the American League, we're talking about the Yankees and
the Guardians. In the National League, we're talking about the
Dodgers and the Phillies.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Well, you know, I think there's a little bit more
of an issue on the American League side than the
National League side. The Phillies and Dodgers are so well
versed and so it's their machines, and they're so talented,
and they've got so many guys that have been there before.
There's not going to be a ton of you know,
panic within the time off. But with Cleveland and New
(14:40):
York where the especially with New York, where the expectation
to win this year is so high, it's incredibly hard
to turn it off and turn it back on. I've
said it a thousand times, and that break you cannot
simulate competition, You cannot simulate high leverage pressure. And these teams,
especially these wildcard teams, that have fought for every inch
(15:04):
to get in and now they're going to continue to
fight to get through.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
The first round. Those are the teams that are most dangerous.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And so I think that they're they're probably all four
gonna be fine in advance, but I think that there's
gonna be some issues. There has a chance to be
some issues in the American League.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Okay, all right, And as we always do, Geno, I
will give you the right of way.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
To be able to change and update as we go along.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But as we stand in on October first, who wins
the You've told us, who wins the Wildcard series, who
will win the division series? Who will win the league
Championship Series, who will win the World Series. So start
in the America League. By your predictions, the the AL
Division series would then be the Astros against the Guardians
(15:54):
and the Yankees against the Orioles. Correct, yes, and then
your winners in those divisions series would be who.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I'm gonna go.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Uh, I'm gonna go Guardians and Astros, okay, And I'm
gonna go Philly. I'm gonna go Phillies and and Padres.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Pills and Padres. Okay, No, I'm that sight. Listen, you
picked it last year and you did.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You picked the you pick or two years ago you
picked the Padres to beat the Dodgers.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
They did.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Last year you picked the Diamondbacks to beat the Dodgers
and they did. So that's that's perfectly understand So then you, uh,
then who wins the two America the American League and
the National League Championship Series.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
I'm gonna go off script a little bit, and I'm
gonna go with the Cleveland Indians versus the San Diego.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Padres, Guardians and Padres for the World Series.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
I think the Guardians have just been grinding at it
for so long and they've just got such a great
system there. Steven Votes done such a tremendous job this
year as a first year manager. They just know who
they are as a team and as an organization, and
they're super talented, and I think they're going to find
a way this year.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
All right, and then your World Series champion is.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
San Diego Padres.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Okay, all right, So there it is. You heard it
from Gene Watson himself. All right, And like I said, Gino,
we'll do this every week and I give you, I
will give you the right away to update the predictions
if if, if you do happen the losing the Asters,
by the way, if the bases loaded now with two
down in the bottom of the night, trailing three to one, Gino,
I appreciate the time, and we'll do it again next week.
(17:30):
We'll take a look at it in the Division Series round.
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Areat appreciate you? Take care you bet.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
That's Geene Watson, our MLB insider from the Chicago White Sox.
All right, So yeah, they've gone to the bottom of
the it's in the bottom of the night. There's two
outs the astros of the tying run and winning runs
on bass Bow. Briskey came out of the bullpen. He
got an out but then gave up a walk, and
so the bases are loaded with two down in the
(18:00):
ninth inning. And again they show that number teams are
one and five hundred and thirty eight when trailing by
three or more runs entering the ninth inning. The only
exception that rule the twenty sixteen National League Division Series
Game four where the Cubs came back from down three
to beat the Giants.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's that's the only exception to the rule.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
So right now, Jason Hayward, the former Dodger, at the
plate with two down in the bottom of the ninth
with the bases loaded. We'll update you on it when
we come back here on Sports Radio AM thirteen under
the Zone.
Joining us on the hotline, as he joins us each
week to talk Major League Baseball, now Playoff Baseball to
discuss is r MLB insider. That is the one and
only Gene Watson, who's just kind of cruising the highways
and byways of our fair state.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
How are you, GENA good afternoon, Craig.
Speaker 3 (00:18):
How are you?
Speaker 1 (00:19):
We're great, great, doing well. I always want to get
you on before the playoffs start and get your predictions. Now,
having said that one game is near nearly completed, but
I got a feeling it doesn't affect what you thought the.
Speaker 2 (00:39):
Way the series comes out. Now.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
I know aj Hinch is a friend of yours, and
I also know that you feel really good about the Tigers.
But from what I've heard you talk about the Astros
this year, it would be difficult for me to believe
that you were going to pick against the Astros.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
Am I wrong about that?
Speaker 4 (00:56):
No? You know I've said you know throughout the week
that anytime you've gone to seventh straight American League Championship
Series until somebody comes in and knocks.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
You out, you are king of the heel.
Speaker 4 (01:09):
Now, I will tell you I have a little bit
of concern about this series coming into it, because these
Tigers remind me of the Three Marlins and also the
fourteen Royals.
Speaker 3 (01:22):
Just youth and energy.
Speaker 4 (01:24):
And when you get a team like that that they
don't know what they don't know, that can be very dangerous.
And if they win this game and you've got Reese
Olsen for Game two, and you've got Jackson job who
stretched out waiting in the bullpen, the advantage swings heavily
to the Tigers, and that would be an enormous upset,
(01:46):
upset in the first round.
Speaker 3 (01:47):
Of the playoffs.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
Would it be safe to say for Tigers fans, really,
even for cautious Astro fans, that if there was one
that you absolutely thought the Tigers might get, it would
be Game one. Because of Scooball and how he's been
and win in the Triple Crown of pitching this year.
I mean, the numbers say he was the best starting
pitcher in all of baseball this year.
Speaker 3 (02:08):
No question, no question.
Speaker 4 (02:09):
I just think that people probably felt like, as good
as he's been, the Astros are incredibly difficult to beat
in that ballpark.
Speaker 3 (02:18):
And you know, I was texting with aj this morning.
Speaker 4 (02:20):
I woke up to a text from him and we
texted back and forth, and the one thing that I
said to him is if anybody can prepare a team
to win in that ballpark, it's you, and he has
done that to this point today.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well.
Speaker 1 (02:33):
And then the other thing that was we found this
out yesterday or last night, that then the Astros made
the decision that Verlander was not going to be available
for this series and that really slotting in was going
to be your Don Alvarez. And so we saw Alvarez pitch,
(02:54):
but he gave up three consecutive two out base hits
in a three run inning that to this point he
stood now having said that they've just got a lead
off double from Rvaldez, I said Jordon Alvarez because I
was watching him at the plate. But from her Valdez
came in and gave up Paul that Jordon Alvarez has
just had.
Speaker 2 (03:13):
A leadoff, oppose field double in the bottom of the night.
Speaker 1 (03:16):
So it's still three to nothing, but Alvarez just double
the opposite way. But from R Valdez was the guy
who's going to the mount, and yet the Tigers were able.
Speaker 2 (03:23):
To attack him in that second inning.
Speaker 4 (03:26):
Simple approach, you know, for the way that teams approached
the regular season trying to hit the long ball, trying
to play for the three run home run. It's so
funny how the gears shift when you get into the
playoffs and you know you're facing that dominant starter. It's
really look out over the play stay simple and use
(03:47):
the whole field, keep the line moving. And you've seen
it so many times, year in and year out, where team's
identity in the playoffs completely shift from their regular season identity.
And I think that and AJ basically prepared these guys saying, look,
if you go up and you try to get big
in this ballpark, you're gonna get shut out today. But
(04:07):
Framber's stuff was not great. From pitch one. You could
see that he didn't have great feel for his breaking
ball early. He was a little flat with the fastball.
But so they really jumped on that opportunity early in
this game.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
All Right, all right, we'll keep people posting on.
Speaker 1 (04:22):
Right now, Bregman's at the plate, nobody out, and a
pinch runner for Alvarez at second base. It's three nothing
Tigers with the Asteroids batting in the bottom of the ninth.
Now in that one, the other game is underway. And
now going to the top of the sixth inning. What
a pitcher's duel there in Baltimore between the Orioles and
the Royals going on right now. And of course this
(04:42):
is a Royals team that you and others put together.
And now in the top of the six inning here
they are scoreless in Game one with Baltimore, Ibnut.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Your thoughts on this Orioles Royals matchup.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Well, Baltimore's played really good the last ten days and
and as much excitement excitement as there been here, there's
been around this Royals team. They've got great starting pitching,
but really when you get past Bobby Witt Junior and
Salvador Perez, they've really struggled offensively the second half.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
Of the season.
Speaker 4 (05:15):
They got Vinnie Pascaltino back today, which adds some presence
to that lineup, but but they've had a difficult time
scoring runs. And second to that is their bullpen has
not been very good at all all year long. So
Lucas Erkseg is going to be a really big part
of this series from a standpoint of when they get
into early leverage and in the case of this game,
(05:36):
late leverage, he's gonna have to really step up and
and and carry the load for that bullpen, because the
bullpen has struggled and they've struggled to score runs in
the second half, and when you run into an offensive
club like the Orioles, that can lead to a lot
of trouble early on.
Speaker 1 (05:52):
So with that in mind, what would be uh, first
of all, roll back on it. Are you sticking with
your pick for the Asteroid to win this wildcard series
of the Tigers?
Speaker 2 (06:02):
Let me start with that.
Speaker 3 (06:04):
I really am.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
I don't think that there's any panic. You've got guys
in that dugout that you know Jsel too, he's got
twenty seven postseason home runs. I mean, most of the
guys on the Tigers teams don't have twenty seven home
runs in their career, and so I just think that
there's gonna be no panic, no vibration from the Astros,
and that they'll they'll answer the bell and take this
to Game three and probably win it in three games.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
If they don't win this first one.
Speaker 1 (06:28):
Because Alex Bregman got an infield single, there's runners on
the corners with nobody out in Yer Diaz is at
the plate as the tying run there in the bottom
of the ninth with fully trying to close it out
for the Tigers. Visiting with Gene Watson, our MLB inside
are talking about game one of these postseason series, these
wild Cards series. Like we said, Baltimore and Kansas City
(06:50):
are scoreless in the top of the six. How about
the final analysis you pick for this series.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I really think Baltimore is probably especially coming off being
swept in the first round of last season. I really
think Baltimore's probably the better team. It might take three games,
but I just think that you know, typically over the
course of one hundred and sixty two games, the things
that keep you from being good and winning the division
(07:18):
and being got an elite organization are the things that
meet you in the playoffs. And I just think the
ability to score runs and the bullpens weaknesses will end
up costing the Royals overall.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
All right, So there that is right now. And by
the way, the Astros just got a huge break. Maybe
not d As may have caught a piece of it.
They'd ruled a foul tip after originally ruling a foul
tip into the mid It was not caught on the
off the tip, which would have been a strike on
aj Hinch asking about it, but not a reviewable play there.
(07:53):
And as it stands right now, it's just a no
to count on Das at the plate with runners on the.
Speaker 2 (07:59):
Corners from two out. Royals have a go ahead runner at.
Speaker 1 (08:01):
Second base with one out in the top half of
the sixth inning against Baltimore. As they do that, a
base hit by the way by Daz given a second life,
brings home the first run for the Astros And now
the time runs are on runners at first and second,
nobody out. It's a three to one ball game. Is
(08:22):
the Astroids bat in the bottom of the ninth? All right,
we'll keep everybody up to day. Let's jump to the
National League. What a crazy day yesterday? What did it
for Braves, Mets, and I guess Diamondbacks fans chewing their
nails all the way through hoping that there was going
to be a sweep that never happened, and now it
winds up being the Mets and Braves getting those last
two wildcard spots.
Speaker 3 (08:42):
What a great day for baseball.
Speaker 4 (08:44):
And you know, and talking to a lot of Mets fans,
they considered yesterday to be one of the best days
in Mets baseball in a very long time, and it's
what we've said all along.
Speaker 3 (08:54):
When you when you.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
Get into these type situations, your best players, your money players,
have to be the guys that step up, and Francisco.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Lindor certainly did that yesterday.
Speaker 4 (09:05):
I thought it was so bizarre to have both teams
celebrating in their clubhouses, and even some of the players
coming out and meeting at home plate from both teams
to celebrate with each other. I thought that was one
of the more bizarre things I've ever seen in the
game of baseball.
Speaker 3 (09:20):
But the Mets are playing very good baseball.
Speaker 4 (09:22):
Right now, and they believe in themselves, and they've for
everything they've been through this year, with the injuries and
all the adversities, this is a team that's hot right now.
I would consider them to be the National League version
of the Tigers right now, and they are.
Speaker 3 (09:36):
They're very, very dangerous right now.
Speaker 1 (09:38):
Okay, another update, Astros do on a sack bunt have
moved by Pinya, have moved the tying runs in the
scoring position and have runners at second and third with
one out. Meanwhile, in Baltimore, Bobby Witt, junior RBI opposite
field base hit to score Garcia with a first run
of that ball game. Royal is still batting in the
(09:58):
top of the sixth with a one.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
Nothing lead on Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
Okay, so now with it standing, let me go back
to talking about the Braves, Because when Chris Sale was
unavailable for yesterday's game due to back spasms, the general,
if not cynical, view was, Okay, Brian Snitker is playing
a smart game here.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
It's a gamble.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
But if he wins this gamble, he has Sale ready
to go for this Division series, maybe even Game one
against San Diego, if not Game two, Well that was
shot down because it was announced he's not on the
Division serial or the wild card roster for Atlanta opening
that series in San Diego tonight. So I mean, that's
that's a huge bite out of Atlanta's hopes, isn't it
(10:45):
not having him available against the Padres.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
For a team that was limping to the finish line
just to get in an incredible blow And the psychology
of what it does to your clubhouse, especially when you're
going into pet Co and playing that team in that environment. Uh,
it's just an enormous blow and one that I'm not
sure they're going to be able to overcome. The Padres
(11:10):
are the best team in baseball. In the second half,
they are out, they are thirsty for blood. They're out
to prove that this is not a fluke. They they
believe that they are the most balanced and talented team
in baseball, and truthfully, they are right now. And there
are a lot of people's pick to win the World Series.
And so it's gonna be a really tough, tough, uphill
(11:32):
battle for the Braves to go in there and try
to pull that off.
Speaker 2 (11:35):
Okay, you've talked about the Braves, the Mets, and Padres.
How about your thoughts on the Brewers.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
Well, you know, uh, the Brewers.
Speaker 4 (11:42):
They there's a lot of people that think that the
Mets can go in there and beat them.
Speaker 3 (11:46):
And this is the most fundamentally.
Speaker 4 (11:49):
Sound baseball team I saw all year long, Pat Murphy,
in the way they.
Speaker 3 (11:54):
Play small ball.
Speaker 4 (11:55):
They run the bases, they defend, they throw well from
the outfield, they hit the cutoff man, they just play
so well collectively as a unit. But there's a lot
of people that believe the Mets can go in there
and beat them, and that would be the equivalent of
what Detroit could possibly pull off in Houston.
Speaker 3 (12:11):
This week.
Speaker 1 (12:12):
By the way, the Tigers have made a change bow
Briskey out of the bullpen now and ESPN just showed
a graphic general and I bet you'll remember this well.
When teams have entered the ninth inning of the postseason
in any postseason game since nineteen ninety trailing by three
or more runs, they are one and five hundred and
(12:34):
thirty eight one. You may remember this Cubs against the
Giants in twenty sixteen when they rallied back.
Speaker 4 (12:43):
Remember remember well, But I'm going to tell you if
there is one team in baseball that can do it,
it is the Houston Astros.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
That isn't incredibly.
Speaker 4 (12:51):
I've gone in there four or five times as a
visiting team in October, and that ballpark has never ever
been an easy place to play and win, and certainly
in the not sett in the last seven years. So
it's it's gonna be an uphill fight, and they're certainly
not gonna go a way easily.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
All right.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
You know, how about your predictions on the two National
League wild cards here, So let's start with Brewers Mets.
Speaker 2 (13:13):
Your thoughts on that.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
I'm gonna go only because I know the Mets have
a lot of momentum. But I really think the Brewers,
just the way they go about in their temperament. I'm
gonna take the Brewers in three games and the other
series San Diego Atlanta. Yeah, I think the Padres, that
the Padres are so dangerous right now.
Speaker 3 (13:34):
I think that that they've got a chance to sweep
that one away.
Speaker 1 (13:37):
Okay, a sinking liner off the bat of Victor Karattini
was caught for out number two, So the Astors down
to their final out. They have the tying runs. Tyler
Green just made a great running catch on a sinking liner.
So now the tying runs in scoring position, two down,
bottom of the ninth and minute made. It's a three
(13:58):
to one league for Detroit on huge and they've gone
to the bottom of the six in Baltimore with Kansas
City leading the Orioles by a score one nothing. Now,
let me get your thoughts on the four teams that
got buys and how you think it might affect them.
In the American League, we're talking about the Yankees and
the Guardians. In the National League, we're talking about the
Dodgers and the Phillies.
Speaker 4 (14:17):
Well, you know, I think there's a little bit more
of an issue on the American League side than the
National League side. The Phillies and Dodgers are so well
versed and so it's their machines, and they're so talented,
and they've got so many guys that have been there before.
There's not going to be a ton of you know,
panic within the time off. But with Cleveland and New
(14:40):
York where the especially with New York, where the expectation
to win this year is so high, it's incredibly hard
to turn it off and turn it back on. I've
said it a thousand times, and that break you cannot
simulate competition, You cannot simulate high leverage pressure. And these teams,
especially these wildcard teams, that have fought for every inch
(15:04):
to get in and now they're going to continue to
fight to get through.
Speaker 3 (15:07):
The first round. Those are the teams that are most dangerous.
Speaker 4 (15:10):
And so I think that they're they're probably all four
gonna be fine in advance, but I think that there's
gonna be some issues. There has a chance to be
some issues in the American League.
Speaker 1 (15:21):
Okay, all right, And as we always do, Geno, I
will give you the right of way.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
To be able to change and update as we go along.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
But as we stand in on October first, who wins
the You've told us, who wins the Wildcard series, who
will win the division series? Who will win the league
Championship Series, who will win the World Series. So start
in the America League. By your predictions, the the AL
Division series would then be the Astros against the Guardians
(15:54):
and the Yankees against the Orioles. Correct, yes, and then
your winners in those divisions series would be who.
Speaker 3 (16:02):
I'm gonna go.
Speaker 4 (16:03):
Uh, I'm gonna go Guardians and Astros, okay, And I'm
gonna go Philly. I'm gonna go Phillies and and Padres.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Pills and Padres. Okay, No, I'm that sight. Listen, you
picked it last year and you did.
Speaker 1 (16:18):
You picked the you pick or two years ago you
picked the Padres to beat the Dodgers.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
They did.
Speaker 1 (16:22):
Last year you picked the Diamondbacks to beat the Dodgers
and they did. So that's that's perfectly understand So then you, uh,
then who wins the two America the American League and
the National League Championship Series.
Speaker 4 (16:36):
I'm gonna go off script a little bit, and I'm
gonna go with the Cleveland Indians versus the San Diego.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
Padres, Guardians and Padres for the World Series.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
I think the Guardians have just been grinding at it
for so long and they've just got such a great
system there. Steven Votes done such a tremendous job this
year as a first year manager. They just know who
they are as a team and as an organization, and
they're super talented, and I think they're going to find
a way this year.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
All right, and then your World Series champion is.
Speaker 3 (17:06):
San Diego Padres.
Speaker 1 (17:07):
Okay, all right, So there it is. You heard it
from Gene Watson himself. All right, And like I said, Gino,
we'll do this every week and I give you, I
will give you the right away to update the predictions
if if, if you do happen the losing the Asters,
by the way, if the bases loaded now with two
down in the bottom of the night, trailing three to one, Gino,
I appreciate the time, and we'll do it again next week.
(17:30):
We'll take a look at it in the Division Series round.
Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 3 (17:35):
Areat appreciate you? Take care you bet.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
That's Geene Watson, our MLB insider from the Chicago White Sox.
All right, So yeah, they've gone to the bottom of
the it's in the bottom of the night. There's two
outs the astros of the tying run and winning runs
on bass Bow. Briskey came out of the bullpen. He
got an out but then gave up a walk, and
so the bases are loaded with two down in the
(18:00):
ninth inning. And again they show that number teams are
one and five hundred and thirty eight when trailing by
three or more runs entering the ninth inning. The only
exception that rule the twenty sixteen National League Division Series
Game four where the Cubs came back from down three
to beat the Giants.
Speaker 2 (18:16):
That's that's the only exception to the rule.
Speaker 1 (18:20):
So right now, Jason Hayward, the former Dodger, at the
plate with two down in the bottom of the ninth
with the bases loaded. We'll update you on it when
we come back here on Sports Radio AM thirteen under
the Zone.
Popular Podcasts
True Crime Tonight
If you eat, sleep, and breathe true crime, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT is serving up your nightly fix. Five nights a week, KT STUDIOS & iHEART RADIO invite listeners to pull up a seat for an unfiltered look at the biggest cases making headlines, celebrity scandals, and the trials everyone is watching. With a mix of expert analysis, hot takes, and listener call-ins, TRUE CRIME TONIGHT goes beyond the headlines to uncover the twists, turns, and unanswered questions that keep us all obsessed—because, at TRUE CRIME TONIGHT, there’s a seat for everyone. Whether breaking down crime scene forensics, scrutinizing serial killers, or debating the most binge-worthy true crime docs, True Crime Tonight is the fresh, fast-paced, and slightly addictive home for true crime lovers.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.