October 3, 2023 • 54 mins
The Book of Joe Podcast with hosts Tom Verducci and Joe Maddon gets underway with the multiple managerial openings coming into the offseason. What direction will the Mets be going in with David Stearns being hired? Onto the Playoffs, we look at the Wild Card round and who Joe sees advancing. Wrapping up, we get predictions for who will be playing in the World Series and who will be crowned champion!
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.
Hello there, welcome to the Book of Joe Podcasts with me,
Tom Berducci, and of course Joe Madden. I like to
call it the most interesting podcast for baseball on the planet.
(00:25):
And if you just found us, welcome, Glad you're here.
And if you were with us last week you heard
us talk about the fact that no managers had been
fired in the course of the twenty twenty three baseball season. Well,
my goodness, things changed in a hurry, Joe. We are
now looking at four managerial openings, including the retirement of
(00:49):
Terry Francona in Cleveland, Phil Nevin with the Angels, Gabe
Kappler with the Giants, buckshow Show Walter with the Mets,
all out. I need to get your take, Joe on this,
And first of all, we need to start with Phil
Nevin and the Angels. Obviously he succeeded you there. Whoever
(01:10):
gets that job will be the fifth manager for the
Angels in the last seven years. Your quick take on
the ousta of Phil Nevin?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Good morning, Yeah, I kind of surprised, a surprise, really
surprised by Kapler and with Buck I just didn't know
where that was going to go, almost like based on
mutual considerations.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
But Phil.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
See the thing about Phil and about Cap in particular,
and I think to a certain extent, Buck, although it's
almost hard to believe, is that a lot of this
was controlled by the front offices in both cities. I've
always thought that for Hunt and Gabe were almost inseparable,
and then with Phil and Perry and and Alex in
that group, I thought they were kind of tight two.
(01:55):
And again, when you get so much input from front
offices regarding how to do things, it's almost congruent for
them to fire somebody that's been actually carrying out their
methods or their plans. I know exactly how it works
with the Angels. I know how the day works, I
know the kind of information given. I know how their
meetings are run, and there are plenty of those. So
(02:18):
I again it's hard for me to put it all.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Together again having lived it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Whereas the manager gets takes the blame for a method
that is not even their own, it's it used to
be more I don't want to use the word unilateral,
but kind of where you're able to utilize your own expertise,
your own experience, deal the things that you've done in
the past, and then augment it with the kind of
information that can be supplied to you that's impossible for
(02:45):
you to collect prior to a series, just because there's
so much of it. So again it's I'm kind of curious. Again,
I don't talking about this in the past the method incorporated.
Whereas again too, there's so much noise interference coming from
on top to the manager and then have him take
(03:07):
the blame for everything.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I just don't get it.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, the baseball world certainly has chained that used to
be general managers got one, maybe a second managerial higher
and then it was pretty much they became on the
firing line. I don't think that's necessarily true these days.
Joe aj Preller has gone through a lot of managers
in San Diego with a lot of talent, and the
ownership backed him and Bob Melvin recently that they're coming back.
(03:32):
But let's get back. You mentioned Farhan with the Giants
and Gabe Kapler did seem like they were an entry together,
so that was a little bit surprising. But in announcing
the dismissal, Farhand talked about how he needs to be
more open to other suggestions and methodologies. That doesn't suggest
to me that he's going to go in a completely
(03:54):
opposite direction, But I do think it means that having
a little bit of pushback is actually a good thing
and healthy an organization. Listen, Gabe Kapler got to me
for one reason. They went eight and sixteen in September.
Under Gabe Kapler, they lost. This is unbelievable, twenty eight
of their last thirty four games on the road. Now,
(04:17):
was it just on the manager? No, But as you know, Joe,
you're responsible for the one lost record, especially at the
end of the season. Phillies under Capler a couple of
times did not play well down the stretch in September.
You know, if he has a decent September, maybe he
keeps his job. Was it because of Gabe No, I
think the roster was flawed. I think we all knew
(04:37):
that and it wound up showing up in September. But
as far Haund said, the Giants played their worst baseball
of the year in the times when it mattered the most,
and that's why he was fired. So I think that
does have to be a question of where do the
Giants want to go from here. But listen, I was
surprised only because I thought that two of those were tight.
(04:58):
Farhan maybe surprised some people when he hired Gabe in
the first place. But yes, I do think like a
lot organizations, they need to be more open to other methodologies.
There's not everybody in Dovetail thinking the same way.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, can I agree more with you on that?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And again, when a team fails in September, why, I
know with the Cubs the one year that we didn't
do well my last year there, part of it was
was injuries, and part of it was fatigue when we
got beaten by the Rockies in a one game playoff.
Get we won ninety six games and it's considered a
bad or ninety five and it's not such a good year,
(05:37):
but we get like one day off out of the
last forty five or forty six something with the effect
of the season. What I'm driving at is fatigue. And
I know these are young players, I get it. But
part of the landscape these days and I haven't wasn't
there specifically to see this, but it's the choreography that
occurs before the game. It just seems that everybody wants
(05:59):
or feels it's necessary to do all this on field
work before a game begins order to be prepped for
the game. I mean, back in the day, it was
just primarily batting practice, guys that took ground balls, and
there was even a point where we took infield. I've
always believed, and I've had some teams that've done really
well in the second half to really prevent fatigue, prevent
(06:19):
mental and physical fatigue by not overworking them physically on
the field. I don't even know if the necessity if
groups field it's necessary because a lot of these guys
maybe have not gotten all the training that's necessary in
the minor leagues before they get there. I don't know
whether their inadequacies are or just the fact that we
need to see working to believe that you have earned
(06:42):
the right to win tonight. Things like that, and that's
always bothered me. For me, it's about having a grip
on what your group is all about. It's about keeping
them fresh, both mentally and physically by the end of
the season.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Back when I.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
First began with the Angels, Rick Burrelson pointed out to
me the bat septembers we were having and he thought
it was because we hit too much on the feel.
We used to take one hour batting practice every day,
which coming from the minor leagues at that time, didn't
seem so oppressive to me because you're in the minor
leagues you do things like that.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
But we were. We were not a good.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Later in the season team with the Angels when I
first got there, and a lot of it was if
you keep working them all year long, there is a
point of diminishing returns in everything.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So these are the kind of I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
This would be the first place I would look what
do we do on a daily basis on the field
and even to the extent off the field, where how
much information do we think was necessary in a situation
like the Giants.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I'd be curious to see if.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They felt they needed to give them more in late
August September going into those games and really try to
add more weight to these games and have the players
just think about them differently as opposed to how they
thought about them earlier in the season.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
This is where I would do my deep dive.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I mean, I know the Yankees are wanting to bring
in independent operators to try to figure out what went
wrong with them. I would I would definitely look at us.
I would look internally and try to break down did
we do anything differently at the latter part of the
year where players making more mental mistakes than they had earlier. Example,
are they chasing out of the zone where the earlier
(08:15):
year they weren't chasing out of the zone? Pictures more
walks where they were trying at certain spots and just
couldn't get there. You know, again, mental mistakes on the basis,
That's why I'd be looking to see a lot of
times when you're getting to those mental mistakes.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
A lot of it to me is based on fatigue, and.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
For me, the Giants are just a little too wetted
to process.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
They're a team that loves to mix and match and
they want to throw parades for getting the highest percentage
of platoon advantages. Part of that is because Joe, they
just don't have a lot of everyday players. The guys
you're just sticking in the lineup in the third and
fourth spots, they're constantly pinch hitting. They pinch hit more
than anybody. But that's a function of just not having
(08:58):
guys you trust to throw out there against right or
left so I think it's it begins with the roster.
And I know Gabe has talked about he loves managing
that way. He loves pushing buttons, pulling levers, and I
think you had to do that with the Giants team.
But I do think they're a little too wetted to
the process. And even Frahan talked about when you get
in a big game in September, you're playing the Diamondbacks,
(09:20):
you can't just go about it in the same exact
way right there. He thought there was a little bit
of an edge missing when the team needed it the
most harder to find. I understand that, but again I'll
say a little too wedded to process and trusting process
when sometimes, man, you just got to push that door down.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I don't know how many times I heard about platoon
advantages when I was with the Angels regarding the Giants.
The Angels front office were in love with the Giants
front office and how they did things, and I would
really like we talked about this before. I would implore
us to just develop our own method, our own schemes,
their own system, and don't worry about what everybody else
is doing. Again, it's really based on what you have
(10:00):
and what you're capable of doing. The platoon advantage thing
me gets worn out a little bit also, And again,
is that because that's just the function of not having
enough money, or is that a function of.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
We like to tinker it and we like to become
more involved.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
There's so many different ways of looking at this and
so and I cannot disagree with you, because you're right
and it's true. But also again I think there's something
to be said with that and over attention to process
and at the same time an underestimation of how fatigue
plays into an entirety of a Major League baseball season.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Right, So let's talk about the Angels in terms of process.
You know, Phil Nevin had a one year contract, and
maybe part of that was because at the time Artie
Moreno was planning to put the team up for sale.
He did and then change his mind once the offer
started rolling in. So Phil didn't have a lot behind
him in terms of a commitment from the Angels. He's out.
(10:57):
So where does Perrymandesien go from here? I'm looking at
guys like Benji gill Ray Montgomery who he had as
you or bench coach there, and maybe if he goes
back to his Atlanta roots. He wants to pull off
that coaching staff, which would be Ron Washington, which is
a guy in a different direction than Perry probably wants
to go in terms of a veteran guy who's not
going to be a you know, follow process to the tee. Interesting.
(11:19):
But the Angels, once again, Joe, are in a position
where they're undefined and Perry Mansen is going into his
last year as a general manager. And if your show,
Hey Otani, with the kind of discord that's gone on there,
the lack of stability, and I know you love playing
in southern California, show Hey, how unattractive or attractive do
(11:40):
both of these teams become on the West Coast knowing
that they're both made managerial changes. Talking about the Giants
and the Angels. Your take on the Angels.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I would bet that they go to the Braves.
I bet Perry would go to the Braves.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
You've often spoke glowingly of Wash who's a good friend
of mine. And also I think well Weiss would.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Be a consideration there too.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I talked about the Angels infatuation with the Giants, also
with the Braves and their methods and that we're trying
to em play the same thing. Within the Angels, the
difference would be just the ability on the field obviously
is going to play into that. So if I had
a bet, I would bet that they he would attempt
at least to go first to the Braves, an attempt
(12:22):
only to get one of their coaches, but also a
more exact version of their methods with their meetings that
occur before the game and they're scouting methods, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
That would be my take. Benji Gill make a great manager.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Ray Montgomery was my bench coach for a bit, but
I think, quite frankly, benj you'd be more qualified based
on his experiences managing in the Mexican League. Also, so
I'd be curious. I'd be curious to how this all
breaks down. But if I had a bet, I would
bet on something from Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
As far as the Giants go, I should have mentioned
I think some of the candidates. First of all, you
have to say Craig Council's name. No matter what job
is opening out there, he is to me going to
be the best free agent this side of Shohei Otani.
He has told Brewers management ownership that. Hey, listen, I'm
not ready to commit. I want to see where life
takes me at the end of this season. And he's smart.
He's leaving his options open. He will be in demand.
(13:14):
It could even be that he wants to take a
year or two away from the game. He has two
sons playing college baseball. He'll have his choice. He'll do
whatever he wants to do. But if I'm a team
with the managerial opening, I wait to see after the
Brewers are eliminated or win the World Series, what Craig
Council wants to do. I think he's that good for
the Giants. Otherwise, maybe you guy like Steven Vote. I
(13:37):
know far Han had him with the Oakland A's will.
Vennible is going to be a manager for someone, whether
he succeeds Bruce Bochie one day in Texas or gets opportunities. Now,
those are a couple of names that I would look at.
Let's talk about the New York Mets. To me, Joe,
it was not a surprise. David Stearns comes in as
the new president of Baseball Operations. I believe you must
(13:58):
when you hire someone like that, you must allow him
to work with the manager. He wants to work with.
I think you would agree the most important relationship in
baseball for success is the one between the President of
Baseball op slash GM and the manager. So inheriting a
manager who maybe you don't know, that's not the way
(14:19):
to start off when you get a superstar GM like
David Stern. So I wasn't surprised they made the decision
on Buck Showalter. I don't think it's a fade accomplete
that Craig Counsel is their guy. I don't know if
Craig wants to go to a place like New York
and the expectations he might. I'm not saying he doesn't,
but let's see how that one plays out in New York.
(14:41):
Your thoughts on new management coming in with the Mets, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Don't disagree with that at all. Even with the Angels,
I mean I was not Perry's guy either. I think
that was part of our demids. There was the fact
that even though we did get along well, I thought
we had a couple of arguments, but that's healthy.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
But I still wasn't this guy.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And when you're not the guy, if you go through
a situation like we do, up run right there it's
you don't get the same method of loyalty that you
would have you've been hired by that person.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
So I get it. I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And I think Buck I kind of watched a little
bit of his presser when he talked about not coming back.
I think that was something that's obviously him too, all
of us. I mean, it's you want to be connected
to that guy. You need, You need that support when
things don't go well. Man, you need somebody speaking on
your behalf publicly too, where they defend you. Again, because
(15:34):
in today's game, so much of the decision making is
done not just from the manager's office, and probably more
so from outside the manager's office. So yes, you want
the new president of Baseball Offics is going to definitely
want to bring his own guy in. I'm not disputing
that whatsoever, because at the end of the day, as
a manager, you need to be supported completely by this
(15:57):
this guy in the front office and the ownership in
order to work through some difficult times. The good times,
you don't need any support. You're playing offense all the
time publicly, but when you have to play defense publicly,
you need that kind of support.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Great point, and I'll throw out other than Craig counsel
some possible candidates for that Mets job, because I think
David Stearns, he's already mentioned he wants somebody he can
quote unquote grow with. I think about a couple of
guys with the Dodgers, Danny Lehman, Clayton McCulloch, who could
be major league managers someday. If you want to find
quote unquote the next Craig council. Joe Espata worked with
(16:32):
David Stearns in Houston, Ray Montgomery worked with David Stearns
in Houston, and you have Eric Chavez bench coach for
Buck Showalter this year. My only hesitation there, Joe, all
of them no major league experience. That is tough to do.
To walk into New York. You better know the landscape
and you have, let's face it, a team that's going
to be built to win. I'm not saying they will
(16:54):
win as we saw this year, but expectations right out
of the gate are big. It's not a job you
grow into. As far as learning the New York landscape
and putting w's on board, I'm talking about right away.
You may want to go more experience there, but let's
see what David Stearns does.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yeah, I could understand what he said there.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Also, again, if you're going to pick somebody with that experience,
with somebody that you like and you trust, again, the
biggest the biggest item there for me would be the
support of him David Stearns regarding as manager with things
don't go well, because, like I said, a lot of
this today's world is the fact that there's got to
(17:34):
be a certain amount of control coming from the front
office to the dugout, and you want to be these
guys want to be comfortable knowing that whatever they want
to do is going to be carried out without any argument. Primarily,
so I think the idea of taking somebody that lacks
experience is actually attractive in that regard and that they
could grow together based on probably a common philosophy in
(17:59):
the beginning. Whereas, again, please it's just true that they're
needs to be this this ability or this this way
from the manager to the front office that they're going
to he's going to take whatever they'd like to do
and do it almost you know, latterly from the front
office to them. And with that there needs to be
just this unwavering support, because again, when things go badly
(18:22):
and they're gonna you need you need somebody to step
up and defend what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Oh, that was a lot to dive into, and I
should have mentioned at the top we also need to
talk about the playoffs, Joe. Sure, we're gonna take a
quick break here and we're gonna give you a real
quick rundown playoff preview and picks coming up after this.
(18:52):
Welcome back to the Book of Joe podcast. Yeah, playoff
baseball is here, folks, and let's start with the Rays
and the Rangers. That sound familiar to you, Joe, having
a couple of time ten twenty eleven. The Rangers got
you both times they did. This is a wildcard series
at the trop Give me your off the cuff feel
(19:14):
on this series and the wildcard Rangers at the Rays.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yes, it's a good one. You're right back then, Adrian
Beltri killed us. I think you had three homes in
one game to beat us.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Great tough series, but they had this thing on us
at that time. The Rangers had this thing on the
Rays and we had good teams there and we just
could not go over the top with them. I think
the race playoff experience is going to help a lot
right here. I think they're pitching two because and I
know some guys have been hurt. I understand that. However,
they will do the right thing regarding how to attack
(19:47):
the Rangers lineup. For me, how's the right way to
attack the Rangers' lineup, and that would be to really
try to render Seeger moot. I mean, just really keep
them out of it and almost, like I've said before,
give him the Bryce Harper treatment that we did years
ago with the Cubs versus the National I think he's
the one guy you just really got to know where he's.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
At all times.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
He's that guy on the football field, whereas he had
all times on a basketball court. Where's he at all
the time, at all times when he's at home plate?
Know that, and really make your pitches, make him swinget
what you want on the swing at, and when it's eight,
when you're able to, don't throw them strike, just don't.
So I think they can't. They can do something like that.
They could render him almost smoot and really have to
(20:28):
attack everybody else. And again, I just think the grittiness
of the Rais is going to pay off and their
experience in these situations, is is going to come to
the forefront.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I do, yeah, I agree. Also, the fact that they
have these games at home. The Rays are fifty three
and twenty eight, tie with the Dodgers for the best
home record in the major leagues this year. Rangers, they're
going to have to slug their way if they're going
to win this series. It's a really good offense. Only
the brazen Dodgers scored more runs per game than the Rangers. Actually,
the Rays were right behind the Rangers as well. This
(21:00):
is the best offense the Rays I've ever had in
terms of run scoring. If you gave me Jeffrey Springs,
Rasmussen McClanahan, Jason Adam, all these pitchers not available to
the Rays because they're injured, that would be a World
Series team. I'm not saying they can't get there, but
it's amazing that they're still dangerous. It starts with Glas
Now game one starter. The Rays actually are just three
(21:23):
and six, and his nine postseason starts era over five.
He's got the stuff though, to dominate. The Rays do
not let their pitchers go over one hundred pitches. It's
just the way they operate that bullpen's deep enough to
do that, and a bullpen is advantage. Rays Texas is
the first team in postseason history with more blown saves
than saves and that's a Bruce Bochee team, So it's
(21:46):
kind of odd to say that. So I'm with you.
I'll give the Rays the edge there. The other American
League Wildcard series Blue Jays at the Twins. Twins get
the home field because they won their division. Blue Jays
actually won more games. Give me your take on this series.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Well, from the beginning of the Ys gonna play? Do
we know that yet?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
That's a lot of questions there. Korea Lewis and yeah,
he's probably going to play, but hasn't played much in
the last two three weeks with that plantarveesciitis.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, and that matters. I mean, have you not played?
Have you not played? Can matter both ways. I mean,
could be rusty, but then again he could be arrested
the two rs, right, So I don't know. That's that's
really interesting because of his history and the playoffs, that
would be a big factor, I think. But I really like,
you know, I said this in the beginning of the year,
and we talked about this.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
The pitching the starting pitching with the the Twins. I
really like it. I like it.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I like Gray and I like Lopez, right yep. I
like these guys. And their bullpen's outstanding too. So I
and I watched the I watched the Blue Jays. The
Blue Jay's got a lot of talent, physical talent. They
got some nice then they got some I love. I'm
a big Galsman guy.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I've liked him.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
I wanted the teams that was on to acquire him.
I've liked him for years. Once he came up with
the splitter. But they make mistakes, and I, you know,
I just defensively, there's a Chapman's wonderful. But I even
you know Bashetti's shortstop, I still think he belongs in
the outfield as an example. I mean things like this
that's going to show up. They'reing to show up somehow defensively,
I think. And the Twins, their pitching staff, I think
(23:19):
is going to be strong enough to shut down the
Blue Jays offensively. So for those different reasons, I like
the Twins in the series.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Well, I know one thing, there's gonna be a ton
of strikeouts. You know, the Twins strike out more than
any team in baseball, but they're starting pitchers, you get.
I think they're second or third in strikeout right, I'm
with you on the Blue Jays. They scare me a
little bit. You saw last year against Seattle. They did
not rise to the moment and got knocked out very quickly.
I don't think they have played up to their level
of ability. I think this series is a coin flip.
(23:48):
I will go with Toronto though, because I again I
think the injuries for the Minnesota scare me a little bit.
I don't know at what strength they're going to be
even if the guys are on the field, and the
strikeouts do bother me. A lot of strikeouts in that lineup.
All right, let's switch over to the National League. Joe,
Diamondbacks at the Brewers. Now, the Brewers got some bad
(24:08):
news that Brandon Woodruff, they're really Game two starter behind
Corbyn Burns, will not be pitching in this series. Don't
know if he's out for the rest of the postseason,
but at shoulder injury came back again on his last
start of the season, so he is out in this series.
Diamondbacks at the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Independent of all of that, the Brewers, my experience with
them is that they have a grittiness at this time,
they have a greediness period and I know Craig has
a lot to do with that, but they find ways
to be successful. That's that's why I view this group.
You know, the backside of their bullpens outstanding. The team
on the field is good. There's nothing there's not a
greatness about them, but they do play well together. They
(24:49):
their defense. The thing about with the Cubs that always
they reminded me the Brewers are the Rays when I
was when I was with the Rays in a lot
of ways, because when you hit a ball heart it
always seems like a defender standing right there. It was
very frustrating with the Cubs as the Brewers as send
it that their defense was positioned so well. Mattie Arnold,
I know him, you know, with the with the Brewers
(25:11):
right now in charge. So I there's all these little
ancillary benefits or components of the Brewers that I think
plays and plays well this time of the year.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So that's that's why I like I mean I like
them for that reason. I think a lot of people
are gonna like them for those reasons too.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
But I think really watched the series, balls gonna be
hit well by the Diamondbacks and somebody's going to be
standing right there. And I still think even minus Woodruf,
they're pitching as good enough.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Yeah, I'm with you, and you're dead on about Milwaukee.
They're one of the best two three best teams in
baseball combining pitching and defense. They have a very athletic
defensive team, a younger team. Some of the rookies there
have really helped them out defensively, Terraang and Weimer and Monasterio.
So yes, they have a thin margin of error. They're
(25:56):
not going to score a lot of runs, but neither
do the Diamondbacks. The Diamondsbacks come in with the highest
ERA of any postseason team. They cannot start Gallon in
Game one because they had to use them over the weekend,
so Brandon Fought gets the ball in Game one against Burns.
That's a tough matchup. Goes against Arizona. They did not
hit at all in the last week at the season,
(26:17):
So yeah, I think it'll be competitive, low scoring games.
But you know what, the Brewers love those kind of games,
and with Craig Counsel, they find a way usually to
win those games. All right. The other wildcard series the
Marlins at the Phillies. Now, the Marlins won the season
series seven to six. You can take that for whatever
it's worth. Joe, I'd never put a ton of stock
(26:39):
in this season matchups because you're looking at you cut
down your rotation, you cut down your bullpen. Guys. It's
a different game, you know, in the postseason in the
regular season. That being said, who do you like Marlins
at the Phillies?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Well, I was on the Phillies all year. I think
you know, the Marlins are in that ascending mode. And
on top of that, I mean the Phillies whether they
win eighty.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Nine or ninety games only, yeah, ninety. But that's part
of what's going on. That's what's going on right now.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I mean, a lot of teams that normally would not
have made playoffs in the past are making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Now. There's a again, there's a there's a parody.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Component to all this, and and I think again a
lot of it may be based on methods and how
they're being employed and how teams are going about their business.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And there's a lot of sameness happening right here.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
So having said all that, you know, Obviously, I do
believe that the Phillies are better, more battle tested team.
But again, I do like a lot the late season
acquisitions made by the Marlins and regards to making them
a different group going into the end of the year.
Burger's a good hitter, man, He's a very good hitter
(27:41):
and a belle. I mean he I saw him with
Pittsburgh when he first came on the scene and when
he gets hot. Man, if he gets to one of
those moments heads up in Georgie Solaire where Hey didn't
get a whole lot of you.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Know, press or credit in a sense.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
But he was really big for the Cubs when I
was huge for the Braves, and so you never know.
So overall, I think it's gonna be a good series.
I think it's gonna be a tight series. But I
do like the Phillies a grit. Again, I like to
use that word, a little bit of a battle test that
I think during the rise of the occasion in Philadelphia,
and you know, it's gonna be difficult for the for
(28:17):
the Marks to go into that pit there and breathe
and see how well they can do. So interesting, yes,
but I do like the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
In this moment.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Yeah, I need to know how Luis OLiS is. You know,
he hasn't really played much in the last week because
he turned his ankle. Actually, yeah, he did it on
the dugout steps. After a lot of these ballparks now
they turned the lights down to have these dramatic entrances
for their closers. Tenor Scott was coming in, so they
turned the lights down and on and off and strobe effect,
and that's how he hurt his ankle. I do like
(28:49):
their left handed pitching. You know, Lozardo and Braxton Garrett
will get the ball against the Phillies. But you know what,
the Phillies lefties don't bother them. I know, you look
at their lineup and you see Harper, you see Stott,
and you see some of these guys. But they're actually
they went thirty and twents left handed pitching. I don't
think that by itself is a big deal. I do
agree with you, Joe, that it's such a tough minded
(29:10):
Philadelphia team, especially in their ballpark. I love the way
they've played the last two months of the season. I
do think they're playing their best baseball this season. Marlins
were outscored by fifty five runs in the course of
the season. I don't see a team like that taking
out an offense like the one Philadelphia has. A lot.
To me depends Joe on Aaron Nola. You know, he's
(29:31):
had an up and down year. He had an ERA
over five in September. When he's good, he can dominate.
To me, it all is about his breaking ball. When
he can command and land that breaking ball when he wants.
He is an ace, and I think they can go
really far, but they definitely need Aaron Nola to be
on the better side. So I'm taking the Phillies as
(29:52):
well well.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I just just to say I like Stought a lot.
I love that kid, I love the way he plays,
love his at bats, and of course Harper. So when
it comes to lefties and schwarbs, I mean, think about it.
I mean, Lazard has got a great I understand that,
but that doesn't bother Shore. If he's gonna he's gonna
go up there with a definite plan. If you make
some mistake in his area, it's gonna get hit hard.
Harper is going to battle, and Scott is just a
(30:14):
good hit of Brandon Marsh.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
I don't know what they're doing right there.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
But marsh had a really good year and he's really
come on right now too. And the fact that they
permitted their lefties to face lefties. We're talking about the
platoon advantage earlier regarding the Giants, and you get to
leaving your better players out there all the time and
fighting through learning how to compete better against lefties.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
I think is gonna pay.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Dividends for the Phillies right now. So yeah, there's a
lot of stuff there, and I agree with that. I
think the lefties will handle the lefties. Noah, what's gonna
happen there. Robbie's just going to be very quick with him.
He's gonna have to keep a close eye on him.
Wheeler's the man. I mean, here's the guy. When I
was with the Angels, I wanted I wanted the Angels
to acquire Wheeler first, and I thought if he could
(30:59):
acquire Wheeler, you might be able to get Garrett Cole
because he's saying that the Angels are really making an
attempt to improve right now. So I've been a Wheeler
guy for years. Actually went to his house in Atlanta
and a recruiting trip. I really think he's that good
and I but I just like I said, when it
comes to Nola, I would bet that Robbie's gonna keep
a closer eye on him this time around.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Yeah, I'll double up on Wheeler as well, Joe. I
love the fact that he's a high velocity guy without
max effort. He's got a very smooth delivery. He's got
a long stride. That ball just jumps out of his hand,
sort of like Gerret Cole and Man, he can just
eat up right handers. He uses two seams and four
seams as well as any pitcher around in terms of
(31:41):
keeping you off balanced. There's a lot of fastballs, but
no two actually very much the same. So yeah, I
have no problems with Wheeler. He's a true ace. But
they're gonna need Aaron Nola. Hey, Joe, that reminds me
we're getting this situation now. You mentioned Robbie Thompson. Maybe
getting Nola out won't really stick with him these three
game series here, especially in Game one. If you're a
(32:02):
manager and maybe even the man on the road, getting
your team a prepared to play these games and then
to be running these games, you give me a little
window on how it might be different.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Yeah, you're aggressive state of mind. You have to be.
You can't tolerate, you can't put up with you. And
we're talking about pitching primarily.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
The other thing is if you're really a built on
pinch hitting and the platoon matchup, that may happen earlier
in the game too. You might have to just take
that opportunity of that chance. You're always aware of the
handedness of the.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Closer on that team.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
For instance, if you if they have a lefty closure,
which Texas does, you might be more reticent to pop
your left handed other hitter earlier in the game. But
then again, if you lose that moment, you may be
may become a mood point.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Later in the game.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
So you're just going to be more assertive, aggressive, making
moves early regarding a variety of different things. I mean,
I wouldn't get away from normal patterns. I think that
was about up early. Like, if you run, you run
the same way you ran earlier in the season, run
right now. If you're gonna play the infield in like
you did earlier in the season.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Play the infield in now.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Don't get away from normal patterns, don't become tentative, don't
think you have to do something differently as that's one
of the main things that bring up to my team
to not feel that way. That where you do become different,
I believe is with your pitching staff and your bullpen.
That's what the difference really shows up. It's not a
National League game. The National League game made you possibly
(33:30):
make moves early based on the scenarios I describe with
the pinchhitting. It's probably you're more tolerant now in an
America League or a DH game, but you can't. You
can't be tolerant with your pitching because in this situation,
the soortness of the series and the importance obviously of
that very first game, you just got to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
There's no waiting around.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah, I love that fact. It is a game played
with urgency. There's no question. I always feel like, obviously
Game three, Game Series, Game one is just enormous. It's
important for these teams to, especially on the road, to
try to steal that one. Hey, when we get back,
I know you want to hear it, and we'll do it.
We'll jump right to the World Series. Who do we
(34:11):
have in the World Series this year? Stick around for that.
It's the book of Joe Podcast with me, Tom Berducci
and Joe Madden, World Series winning manager twenty sixteen Chicago Cubs.
(34:34):
And you want to know who's going to win the
World Series this year? Well, it's an interesting postseason field.
There's no Red Sox and Yankees for only the second
time in thirty years. There's no Cardinals, there's no Mets,
there's no Padres. Three biggest spenders will be watching this
postseason at home. So we've got some stalwarts, the Braves,
(34:57):
the Dodgers, the Astros, the Rays. They've been at it
just about every year the last five, six, seven years,
and some newcomers back in the show, like the Orioles
and the Diamondbacks. So we'll see where this goes, Joe.
But I'm gonna give you my World Series picks right
here because I know the chalk is the Atlanta Braves,
and why not. It's literally the greatest slugging team in
(35:18):
either the National League or American League history. Selegged over
five hundred these games. And I know we're both fans
of playing small ball and executing, but these postseason games
turn more on hitting home runs than anything else. You
hit a second home run, you're gonna win about seventy
five percent of the time, and Atlanta just has so
much thunder in their lineup. They can beat you with
(35:42):
five or six hits because two or three of those
are going to be home runs. Have to try to
keep that team in the ballpark. They're going to be
hard to hold down. They have the best player on
the planet right now, and Ronald Acunya Junior. So let
me start by saying they're the Chalk, but I'm going
against the Chalk. I like the Philadelphia Phillies coming out
of the National League. I think they can hit with
(36:02):
the Braves. Obviously, they took them out last year in
a postseason environment. I think the Braves are a little
bit vulnerable injuries to Charlie Morton. We don't know about
the blister for Max Freed. The bullpen is good, but
I think the Phillies bullpen can hang with them. They're
just as good. I think it's a deeper bullpen. Rob
Thompson has this year than last year. So my National
(36:24):
League pick is going to be the Philadelphia Phillies. How
about that?
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Well, I love it. I actually love it.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
God, I mean I know they I'm watching the Rays
at the end of the year and they've been faltering
a bit and they still had to one hundred and
three wins something crazy like that. I do like the
Phillies also, I do. I didn't realize the statistical component
of the home runs in the postseason, because I know
there's so many points in the game that the balls
just got to be moved in order to score a run.
(36:51):
And to what extent if you did that more often,
with the homerun become less important, if teams could actually
create runs. I think maybe with the stolen base this year,
you might see a different method regarding scoring some runs.
But the Philly side of things, I do. I hate
to agree that, I don't hate to agree with.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
I liked them. I I liked them from the beginning
of the year. I liked the Phillies. We talked about that.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I remember early on I was on him, and your
concern was about Bryce Harper being out and how long
he was going to be out?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Uh, And then they did.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
They got off to the bad start, and all of
a sudden they've caught their breath. And I like their clubhouse.
I like their attitude, I like their grit, And not
to say I don't like Atlanta for the same reasons.
But from the beginning I thought this is a possibility.
Uh and right now they're they're playing with that that
that that that fire and their eyeballs. I don't get
(37:42):
to see Atlanta as much. And I know Akuna is
a Kuna. I get that levels and nobody even talks
about him. But why can't you? I mean, I but
I at the end of the day, I have to
say I'm on. I'm on the Philly train right now.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Yeah, you know, listen, Philadelphia's a different team right now.
I said they're playing their best baseball. Part of that,
as you mentioned Harper, you know coming off to Tommy
John surgery, had no power when you got back, but
he's back at full strength. You know, he loves the
big moment. And the difference maker to me is Trey Turner.
I mean, the way he played these last two months.
That's the superstar player they signed. So they're playing their
best baseball. We should mention the La Dodgers, Joe, because
(38:18):
I think it's going to be a different postseason for
the Dodgers, and I think there's tremendous amount of you
want to call it pressure or responsibility on Dave Roberts
because he's going to have to win games with his bullpen,
his starting pitchers, and you can probably mark this down.
I'm not sure if anybody's going to face more than
eighteen batters. He just doesn't have that kind of rotation.
You know, Clayton Kershaw is being really, really good, but
(38:40):
he can only go sixty, seventy, maybe eighty pitches at
this point with the shoulder. You've got Bobby Miller, lights
out stuff, but he's beyond his innings, you know, high
as a rookie. And I just think this is the
way Dave Roberts runs games. In his last twelve postseason games,
no one has gone beyond the fifth inning for the Dodgers.
He's got a great bullpen. He will go to it
(39:00):
early and often. I think it's easy to do early
in the postseason calendar. Don't forget in the Division series
for the National League this year, you play game one,
there's an off day, you play Game two, there's an
off day. Six of his first eight games. Potentially, he
will go in with a fully rested bullpen with days
off before those games, so he can do that. I
(39:21):
think eventually it may catch up to you but listen,
I think this is going to be a theme throughout
the postseason. You're going to see relief pitchers throw basically
as many innings, if not more than starting pitchers across
the board in baseball, just the way it is, and
especially with the off days, the Dodgers will try to
max that out. I think eventually it's going to come
back and catch up to them, but that's their path
(39:43):
to get to the World Series is through their bullpen.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Hey man, you're absolutely right, and I know that would
be part of the meetings that they go through right
now preparing for these different teams. The way the schedule
sets up that there are that many off days, it
is a bullpen series just based on that alone, and
you're right, one hundred percent right, that's why it's going
to go.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And I know that group.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Andrew likes that kind of a method also, so I
believe you're going to see that and the way the
schedule breaks. As a manager there could be more aggressive,
comfortably because you know you're going to have rested people.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Come here next time out.
Speaker 2 (40:19):
So I don't understand exactly why that was made that way,
but absolutely benefits the team that is going to rely
more on relievers and starters.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Okay, let's talk about the American League, Joe. I think
to me, the American League, the way the brackets are
going to fall was set up in the final weekend
of the season when the Texas Rangers had a division
title in hand. They clinched a postseason berth on a Saturday,
and boy did they celebrate. The Astros clinched the postseason
(40:51):
spot and they're like, yeah, we're not done yet. The
next day Texas comes back and I'm not saying there's
a direct correlation, but you got to feel like emotionally
they let down a little bit. They couldn't score a
single run against Seattle. They fell into the wildcard spot,
so rather than a bye in the first round, they
wind up having to fly from Seattle to Tampa to
(41:13):
play in the most difficult place to win a game
in the American League. And that's the drop. That is
a huge downfall for the Texas Rangers. By the way
they lost that last game of the season. Flip side
Houston back as division winners huge advantage with the buye
if they went into a division or wildcard series justin
(41:35):
Verlander would not have been able to take the ball
in Game one because he pitched over the weekend in Seattle.
Now they get Verlander, who was terrific in the last
week at the season, rested for a Game one in
the division series with from Bravaldez behind him. I think that,
to me, set up this entire postseason schedule in the
American League. The Astros and all due respect to the Orioles,
(41:57):
because I think they're actually underrated even though they have
the best record in the American League. They're starting pitching
is way better than people think. I am not going
against the Houston Astros. I saw that in the last
week of the season, Joe. They come off losing a
series swept at home by the Kansas City Royals. So
they go on the road to play at cl in
Arizona and they go five to one and win the
(42:20):
division title. Do not count this team out. Michael Brantley's
back in the lineup. I mean, they just you talk
about pedigrees. They remind me, and I know this is
a little bit of a hyperbole, like the nineties Yankees,
and you remember that team, Joe, no matter what situation
you had them in, they would find an answer. Not
saying they're gonna win and rattle off three championships in
a row. But what I am saying is, don't count
(42:42):
this team out until they're actually out.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Well, I mean, first of all, for the Rangers to
put themselves in that position really hard to imagine.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
It is. It's a great advantage for the Astros.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
It's a great disadvantage for Texas to have to fly,
like you say, from Seattle to Tampa and then have
to play in that ballpark there. That was always my
goal when I was the Raised manager. I wanted that.
I wanted to call it the pit. I wanted that
place to be the pit. I wanted when people walked
in that building they know where.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
They were at. That was going to be very difficult
to win.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
The sitelines are different, Uh, your depth perception is different.
Everything about it, just the barometric pressure felt different. Everything
about that place is different, and it's uncomfortable when you
make when you have to come down.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
And we got beaten there. Yes, the Rangers did beat
us there.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Back in the day because Belcher was so good. But
tremendous disadvantage for the Rangers to have to make that trip,
play that team in that building and forfeit some of
the rest they could have had otherwise. Having said that,
I mean, and you're talking about the Astros, and yeah,
they're they're great, and they're wonderful, and everybody seems to
be clicking.
Speaker 3 (43:50):
But what's up with their record at home?
Speaker 1 (43:52):
I don't get Do you have.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
Any of it?
Speaker 2 (43:54):
I mean, is there any is there any concrete reasoning
behind that, because again, they go on the road go
five and one.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Had they played at home with they've gone five and one.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Which is kind of like again incongruent because it's based
on their history there. I know we've gotten past it,
but the fact that they all the things that have
been going on there, the banging on the trash can,
et cetera, and the advantages they've had there, now of
a sudden it's a disadvantage. I don't understand. I don't
even love to know any kind of theories regarding that.
Having said all that, if you're picking the Astros, I'm
(44:24):
still picking Baltimore. I'm staying with my guys up there.
I'm staying with Brandon, staying with that athletic team because
they do play well in Houston. Also, I don't know
what the deal is with Houston in Baltimore. But there's
something about the Ools right now. They're athleticism there and
again talking about grit.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
They're like the American.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
League version of the Phillies to me, and that'd be
a great replay from years ago.
Speaker 3 (44:48):
Was in the eighties Phillies.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
And the Truth three. Yeah, good travel series too.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
Yeah that it's a tremendous travel series. But I can
see that happening. I don't think Baltimore is going to
back off these guys when he's the frame his team
of destiny. But definitely there's something about him that's so
attractive to me. I think Hyder's done a great job
leading them despite being hider Brandon Brendon Hyde, he's got
(45:17):
the stoic method about him. He's he's one of the
funniest guys that you'll never really realize that he's being.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
He's funny, he doesn't even know he's funny.
Speaker 2 (45:25):
But he's also really bright and he knows, he knows
what he's doing out there.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
He knows what he knows what he knows, if that.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Makes any sense. So there's all these little things going
on there in Baltimore. I think their fan base is
going to show up. So yes, don't disagree. But the
thing the incongruity is about the Houston at Homan on
the road is weird. But I just think that Baltimore
is a team that's going to get it done this year.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Baltimore Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
Yeah, let me first address the Houston thing, because there
was a story that they repainted the batter's eye in
center field there in Houston that might have something to
do that. I think that's baloney. Joe. I don't know
about you, but when I look at home road splits,
they really don't try to explain them. I think it's
just the function of how you're playing at a particular time.
(46:10):
Why would the Houston Astros be a bad team at home?
A losing record at home only to two thousand and
one Braves in a full season ever made the postseason
with a losing record. I don't put faith in those
kinds of things. It doesn't make any sense if you
want to tell me that a right handed hitter is
better at Fenway Park because it's a hitter's park, or
hitting in Colorado. Yeah, over the course of time, that's
going to show up. Why the Houston Astros would be
(46:33):
a sub five hundred team at home. I'm not going
to try to explain it. I think it's an anomaly
and that's it. I think it has absolutely no bearing
on what happens in this postseason.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
There's something in their heads. I mean that would be
the only thing. Nothing that's logical, nothing that makes sense,
nothing that's worth exploring. It's just something that's human and human.
There's something I don't know. There's something that they probably
talk about among each other, and is it something that
they could overcome and get beyond us. There's something legitimately
different about the ballpark that we don't know about, that
(47:07):
they know about. So I'm just curious. I would watch it.
I don't think it's just necessarily going to go away
because they do. They think about it, they've they've heard
about it, they talk about it, So there might be
something minutely different about it that we don't understand.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Yeah, as far as the Orioles, I'm with you on Baltimore.
I think to me they're the best rally team in
the postseason. I've seen them come from behind so many
times this year, and let me tell you, folks, that
is worth something when you get to October. This team
believes that it's never out of a game. They don't hope,
they believe they're coming back. And I think the reason
(47:42):
for that, Joe is they play very unselfishly. I think
Brandon Hyde is really instilled that coret disciplined. In this group,
their superstars are very humble. I'm talking about Gunnar Henderson
and Attlee Rushman. They play team baseball. I think when
they move that fence back and up in left field,
not only did it help their pitchers, who all of
a sudden started pouring strikes over the plate. It's like,
(48:05):
try to hit it out and you can't hit it
out to left field, it has helped their offense as well.
It's not an easy yard to leave to the pole
side for right handed hitters, so that encourages players to
use the whole field, and that to me defines Baltimore
as a great rally team. They'll do what they need
to do. They're not trying to get back into a
game with one big swing. So when you watch the
(48:26):
Orioles play in this postseason, I think they're gonna play
the same way. They will come from behind on people.
My only concern here and I've got them in the LCS,
so it's not like I think they're gonna get knocked
out and jumped early. But the loss of Felix Bautista,
a lockdown closer who punched out about fifty percent of
the batters he's faced, that's big to me. And I
know Cano came in and did a nice job, but
(48:48):
he hasn't been in that role long. The situations get
bigger in the postseason and it moves everybody else in
your bullpen carousel up a little bit. I think push
comes to shove because I've got Uston over Baltimore. Dusty
Baker has more and better options to win a game
(49:09):
late than Brandon Hyde, not a lot more, but Brian
A Bray who has just been amazing to get to
Ryan Presley and a brain who can get out there
and get you five or six different outs, and even
Presley can get you more than three. That's the one
edge I see. And again, maybe that home record for
us to mean something, maybe it doesn't, but I know this.
(49:30):
You put them on the road have to win a
game six or seven to get to the World Series.
They absolutely can do it.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
No question they can.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
But can they do it in Baltimore against that group
just like you describe them I think it's gonna be fast.
That's really interesting to me. I love to see it
come down to that, those two guys playing each other.
And again if the if it in my mind's if
it all works out like I can see it working out,
it'll be like looking in a mirror, Philly looking at Baltimore,
(49:58):
Baltimore looking at Philadelphia. Two very similar teams in regards
to their cities, their fan base, where they come from,
the kind of teams that they have. If you want
to throw back series, if you want to turn back
the clock a little bit, I don't think they get
any better than that.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
I'm with you, sign me up. I would take that here.
I am. I have the Phillies over the Astros in
the World Series, the rematch of last year with a
different result. But man, I've loved watching this Baltimore team
all year long. Two great fan bases and like I said,
can't beat the travel.
Speaker 3 (50:31):
Right now, come on, that's awesome, that'd be awesome.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
Who's your final pick? I mean, we heard about your
Pennant winners. Who you got winning at all?
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Well, like I said, and they're looking in the mirror
and at the end of the day, even just based
on regular season record. I'm taking Baltimore. I'm taking the Orioles.
I'm taking my boy to go all the way. This year,
they won over one hundred games. They did it in
a really good division. They're absolutely battle tested. I think there.
I just love the way their players go about their
(51:02):
business does not be kind of my twenty sixteen Cubs,
and even to a certain extent, the Rays.
Speaker 3 (51:08):
But there's a lot.
Speaker 2 (51:09):
Of young guys there that don't act like young guys,
and there's a couple of just a couple of sprinkled
veterans in there. I don't think they're going to be
intimidated by anything. I think when something bad happens, they're
going to bounce back from it quickly. And I just
think overall, talent wise, what they got going on the field,
I kind of like it.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
You did mention Trey Turner.
Speaker 2 (51:31):
I think he's like he's gonna be like the alpha
thing for the Phillies. He's going to really come once
wrong at this time of the year. I think he's
going to really show how good he is. He's been
showing that, but the people that doubted his abilities earlier
on are really going to see him showcase during the playoffs.
But at the end of the day, I like I
like the makeup. I like the makeup of the Orioles.
(51:52):
I like the way they and I don't dislike the Phillies.
But I really like this when I look at when
I watch them on the gate on TV, when I
see these guys and I hear them talk, I just
there's a humility about them, like you suggested, and there's
an absolute they believe.
Speaker 3 (52:07):
They believe in themselves and each other. So I got Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (52:10):
It's a good call. And boy, I can't wait to
see and hear the energy in that ballpark when it's
been a while. Essentially, you know, a generation of younger
fans who haven't seen your team, you know, win a
postseason series and make a run. You know, they're hungry.
It's a great baseball town. It's good to see baseball
back and alive in Baltimore these days. Well this is fun, Joe.
I mean, let the games begin. Post season baseball is here.
(52:35):
We're gonna have to come back later in the week
and do a very similar preview and pick on the
division series once the matchups are set from this wildcard series.
So to take us out for the start of the
postseason fun. Who do you have for us today?
Speaker 3 (52:49):
I have Jordan Peterson.
Speaker 2 (52:50):
I've really been following this guy a lot from Canadian dude, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist.
Really I love listening to him. He's got a lot
of wonderful points and theories and expresses himself so well.
But again, here it goes because it applies when you
have something to say, Silence.
Speaker 3 (53:09):
Is a lie. You know.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
I absolutely love that, you know, and I think it
happens too often, especially with the advent and the popularity
of social media, we tend to not say things because
you don't want to stir up the hornet's nest or
have this contrived group.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
Against you.
Speaker 2 (53:31):
For some they just combined forces kind of a thing.
So when you have something to say, silence is a lie.
So just tell me what you think now what you've heard.
It's on one of my paintings with the Spy versus Spy.
I love that, and again I really enjoy listening to
this fellaw. I got to get his book. I think
it absolutely resonates for me personally.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
Well said and as usual, well done, Joe. We'll meet
again as we get into the Division Series round.
Speaker 3 (53:57):
You Tube brother, thanks a lot man.
Speaker 1 (54:06):
The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.
For more podcasts from iHeartRadio, visit the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts,
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The Book of Joe podcast is a production of iHeartRadio.
Hello there, welcome to the Book of Joe Podcasts with me,
Tom Berducci, and of course Joe Madden. I like to
call it the most interesting podcast for baseball on the planet.
(00:25):
And if you just found us, welcome, Glad you're here.
And if you were with us last week you heard
us talk about the fact that no managers had been
fired in the course of the twenty twenty three baseball season. Well,
my goodness, things changed in a hurry, Joe. We are
now looking at four managerial openings, including the retirement of
(00:49):
Terry Francona in Cleveland, Phil Nevin with the Angels, Gabe
Kappler with the Giants, buckshow Show Walter with the Mets,
all out. I need to get your take, Joe on this,
And first of all, we need to start with Phil
Nevin and the Angels. Obviously he succeeded you there. Whoever
(01:10):
gets that job will be the fifth manager for the
Angels in the last seven years. Your quick take on
the ousta of Phil Nevin?
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Good morning, Yeah, I kind of surprised, a surprise, really
surprised by Kapler and with Buck I just didn't know
where that was going to go, almost like based on
mutual considerations.
Speaker 3 (01:33):
But Phil.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
See the thing about Phil and about Cap in particular,
and I think to a certain extent, Buck, although it's
almost hard to believe, is that a lot of this
was controlled by the front offices in both cities. I've
always thought that for Hunt and Gabe were almost inseparable,
and then with Phil and Perry and and Alex in
that group, I thought they were kind of tight two.
(01:55):
And again, when you get so much input from front
offices regarding how to do things, it's almost congruent for
them to fire somebody that's been actually carrying out their
methods or their plans. I know exactly how it works
with the Angels. I know how the day works, I
know the kind of information given. I know how their
meetings are run, and there are plenty of those. So
(02:18):
I again it's hard for me to put it all.
Speaker 3 (02:21):
Together again having lived it.
Speaker 2 (02:24):
Whereas the manager gets takes the blame for a method
that is not even their own, it's it used to
be more I don't want to use the word unilateral,
but kind of where you're able to utilize your own expertise,
your own experience, deal the things that you've done in
the past, and then augment it with the kind of
information that can be supplied to you that's impossible for
(02:45):
you to collect prior to a series, just because there's
so much of it. So again it's I'm kind of curious. Again,
I don't talking about this in the past the method incorporated.
Whereas again too, there's so much noise interference coming from
on top to the manager and then have him take
(03:07):
the blame for everything.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
I just don't get it.
Speaker 1 (03:10):
Yeah, the baseball world certainly has chained that used to
be general managers got one, maybe a second managerial higher
and then it was pretty much they became on the
firing line. I don't think that's necessarily true these days.
Joe aj Preller has gone through a lot of managers
in San Diego with a lot of talent, and the
ownership backed him and Bob Melvin recently that they're coming back.
(03:32):
But let's get back. You mentioned Farhan with the Giants
and Gabe Kapler did seem like they were an entry together,
so that was a little bit surprising. But in announcing
the dismissal, Farhand talked about how he needs to be
more open to other suggestions and methodologies. That doesn't suggest
to me that he's going to go in a completely
(03:54):
opposite direction, But I do think it means that having
a little bit of pushback is actually a good thing
and healthy an organization. Listen, Gabe Kapler got to me
for one reason. They went eight and sixteen in September.
Under Gabe Kapler, they lost. This is unbelievable, twenty eight
of their last thirty four games on the road. Now,
(04:17):
was it just on the manager? No, But as you know, Joe,
you're responsible for the one lost record, especially at the
end of the season. Phillies under Capler a couple of
times did not play well down the stretch in September.
You know, if he has a decent September, maybe he
keeps his job. Was it because of Gabe No, I
think the roster was flawed. I think we all knew
(04:37):
that and it wound up showing up in September. But
as far Haund said, the Giants played their worst baseball
of the year in the times when it mattered the most,
and that's why he was fired. So I think that
does have to be a question of where do the
Giants want to go from here. But listen, I was
surprised only because I thought that two of those were tight.
(04:58):
Farhan maybe surprised some people when he hired Gabe in
the first place. But yes, I do think like a
lot organizations, they need to be more open to other methodologies.
There's not everybody in Dovetail thinking the same way.
Speaker 3 (05:13):
Well, can I agree more with you on that?
Speaker 2 (05:15):
And again, when a team fails in September, why, I
know with the Cubs the one year that we didn't
do well my last year there, part of it was
was injuries, and part of it was fatigue when we
got beaten by the Rockies in a one game playoff.
Get we won ninety six games and it's considered a
bad or ninety five and it's not such a good year,
(05:37):
but we get like one day off out of the
last forty five or forty six something with the effect
of the season. What I'm driving at is fatigue. And
I know these are young players, I get it. But
part of the landscape these days and I haven't wasn't
there specifically to see this, but it's the choreography that
occurs before the game. It just seems that everybody wants
(05:59):
or feels it's necessary to do all this on field
work before a game begins order to be prepped for
the game. I mean, back in the day, it was
just primarily batting practice, guys that took ground balls, and
there was even a point where we took infield. I've
always believed, and I've had some teams that've done really
well in the second half to really prevent fatigue, prevent
(06:19):
mental and physical fatigue by not overworking them physically on
the field. I don't even know if the necessity if
groups field it's necessary because a lot of these guys
maybe have not gotten all the training that's necessary in
the minor leagues before they get there. I don't know
whether their inadequacies are or just the fact that we
need to see working to believe that you have earned
(06:42):
the right to win tonight. Things like that, and that's
always bothered me. For me, it's about having a grip
on what your group is all about. It's about keeping
them fresh, both mentally and physically by the end of
the season.
Speaker 3 (06:55):
Back when I.
Speaker 2 (06:55):
First began with the Angels, Rick Burrelson pointed out to
me the bat septembers we were having and he thought
it was because we hit too much on the feel.
We used to take one hour batting practice every day,
which coming from the minor leagues at that time, didn't
seem so oppressive to me because you're in the minor
leagues you do things like that.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
But we were. We were not a good.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
Later in the season team with the Angels when I
first got there, and a lot of it was if
you keep working them all year long, there is a
point of diminishing returns in everything.
Speaker 3 (07:23):
So these are the kind of I don't know.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
This would be the first place I would look what
do we do on a daily basis on the field
and even to the extent off the field, where how
much information do we think was necessary in a situation
like the Giants.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
I'd be curious to see if.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
They felt they needed to give them more in late
August September going into those games and really try to
add more weight to these games and have the players
just think about them differently as opposed to how they
thought about them earlier in the season.
Speaker 3 (07:53):
This is where I would do my deep dive.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
I mean, I know the Yankees are wanting to bring
in independent operators to try to figure out what went
wrong with them. I would I would definitely look at us.
I would look internally and try to break down did
we do anything differently at the latter part of the
year where players making more mental mistakes than they had earlier. Example,
are they chasing out of the zone where the earlier
(08:15):
year they weren't chasing out of the zone? Pictures more
walks where they were trying at certain spots and just
couldn't get there. You know, again, mental mistakes on the basis,
That's why I'd be looking to see a lot of
times when you're getting to those mental mistakes.
Speaker 3 (08:30):
A lot of it to me is based on fatigue, and.
Speaker 1 (08:32):
For me, the Giants are just a little too wetted
to process.
Speaker 3 (08:36):
You know.
Speaker 1 (08:37):
They're a team that loves to mix and match and
they want to throw parades for getting the highest percentage
of platoon advantages. Part of that is because Joe, they
just don't have a lot of everyday players. The guys
you're just sticking in the lineup in the third and
fourth spots, they're constantly pinch hitting. They pinch hit more
than anybody. But that's a function of just not having
(08:58):
guys you trust to throw out there against right or
left so I think it's it begins with the roster.
And I know Gabe has talked about he loves managing
that way. He loves pushing buttons, pulling levers, and I
think you had to do that with the Giants team.
But I do think they're a little too wetted to
the process. And even Frahan talked about when you get
in a big game in September, you're playing the Diamondbacks,
(09:20):
you can't just go about it in the same exact
way right there. He thought there was a little bit
of an edge missing when the team needed it the
most harder to find. I understand that, but again I'll
say a little too wedded to process and trusting process
when sometimes, man, you just got to push that door down.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
I don't know how many times I heard about platoon
advantages when I was with the Angels regarding the Giants.
The Angels front office were in love with the Giants
front office and how they did things, and I would
really like we talked about this before. I would implore
us to just develop our own method, our own schemes,
their own system, and don't worry about what everybody else
is doing. Again, it's really based on what you have
(10:00):
and what you're capable of doing. The platoon advantage thing
me gets worn out a little bit also, And again,
is that because that's just the function of not having
enough money, or is that a function of.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
We like to tinker it and we like to become
more involved.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
There's so many different ways of looking at this and
so and I cannot disagree with you, because you're right
and it's true. But also again I think there's something
to be said with that and over attention to process
and at the same time an underestimation of how fatigue
plays into an entirety of a Major League baseball season.
Speaker 1 (10:36):
Right, So let's talk about the Angels in terms of process.
You know, Phil Nevin had a one year contract, and
maybe part of that was because at the time Artie
Moreno was planning to put the team up for sale.
He did and then change his mind once the offer
started rolling in. So Phil didn't have a lot behind
him in terms of a commitment from the Angels. He's out.
(10:57):
So where does Perrymandesien go from here? I'm looking at
guys like Benji gill Ray Montgomery who he had as
you or bench coach there, and maybe if he goes
back to his Atlanta roots. He wants to pull off
that coaching staff, which would be Ron Washington, which is
a guy in a different direction than Perry probably wants
to go in terms of a veteran guy who's not
going to be a you know, follow process to the tee. Interesting.
(11:19):
But the Angels, once again, Joe, are in a position
where they're undefined and Perry Mansen is going into his
last year as a general manager. And if your show,
Hey Otani, with the kind of discord that's gone on there,
the lack of stability, and I know you love playing
in southern California, show Hey, how unattractive or attractive do
(11:40):
both of these teams become on the West Coast knowing
that they're both made managerial changes. Talking about the Giants
and the Angels. Your take on the Angels.
Speaker 3 (11:48):
Yeah, I would bet that they go to the Braves.
I bet Perry would go to the Braves.
Speaker 2 (11:53):
You've often spoke glowingly of Wash who's a good friend
of mine. And also I think well Weiss would.
Speaker 3 (11:58):
Be a consideration there too.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
I talked about the Angels infatuation with the Giants, also
with the Braves and their methods and that we're trying
to em play the same thing. Within the Angels, the
difference would be just the ability on the field obviously
is going to play into that. So if I had
a bet, I would bet that they he would attempt
at least to go first to the Braves, an attempt
(12:22):
only to get one of their coaches, but also a
more exact version of their methods with their meetings that
occur before the game and they're scouting methods, et cetera.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
That would be my take. Benji Gill make a great manager.
Speaker 2 (12:36):
Ray Montgomery was my bench coach for a bit, but
I think, quite frankly, benj you'd be more qualified based
on his experiences managing in the Mexican League. Also, so
I'd be curious. I'd be curious to how this all
breaks down. But if I had a bet, I would
bet on something from Atlanta.
Speaker 1 (12:52):
As far as the Giants go, I should have mentioned
I think some of the candidates. First of all, you
have to say Craig Council's name. No matter what job
is opening out there, he is to me going to
be the best free agent this side of Shohei Otani.
He has told Brewers management ownership that. Hey, listen, I'm
not ready to commit. I want to see where life
takes me at the end of this season. And he's smart.
He's leaving his options open. He will be in demand.
(13:14):
It could even be that he wants to take a
year or two away from the game. He has two
sons playing college baseball. He'll have his choice. He'll do
whatever he wants to do. But if I'm a team
with the managerial opening, I wait to see after the
Brewers are eliminated or win the World Series, what Craig
Council wants to do. I think he's that good for
the Giants. Otherwise, maybe you guy like Steven Vote. I
(13:37):
know far Han had him with the Oakland A's will.
Vennible is going to be a manager for someone, whether
he succeeds Bruce Bochie one day in Texas or gets opportunities. Now,
those are a couple of names that I would look at.
Let's talk about the New York Mets. To me, Joe,
it was not a surprise. David Stearns comes in as
the new president of Baseball Operations. I believe you must
(13:58):
when you hire someone like that, you must allow him
to work with the manager. He wants to work with.
I think you would agree the most important relationship in
baseball for success is the one between the President of
Baseball op slash GM and the manager. So inheriting a
manager who maybe you don't know, that's not the way
(14:19):
to start off when you get a superstar GM like
David Stern. So I wasn't surprised they made the decision
on Buck Showalter. I don't think it's a fade accomplete
that Craig Counsel is their guy. I don't know if
Craig wants to go to a place like New York
and the expectations he might. I'm not saying he doesn't,
but let's see how that one plays out in New York.
(14:41):
Your thoughts on new management coming in with the Mets, Yeah, I.
Speaker 2 (14:45):
Don't disagree with that at all. Even with the Angels,
I mean I was not Perry's guy either. I think
that was part of our demids. There was the fact
that even though we did get along well, I thought
we had a couple of arguments, but that's healthy.
Speaker 3 (14:58):
But I still wasn't this guy.
Speaker 2 (14:59):
And when you're not the guy, if you go through
a situation like we do, up run right there it's
you don't get the same method of loyalty that you
would have you've been hired by that person.
Speaker 3 (15:09):
So I get it. I totally get it.
Speaker 2 (15:11):
And I think Buck I kind of watched a little
bit of his presser when he talked about not coming back.
I think that was something that's obviously him too, all
of us. I mean, it's you want to be connected
to that guy. You need, You need that support when
things don't go well. Man, you need somebody speaking on
your behalf publicly too, where they defend you. Again, because
(15:34):
in today's game, so much of the decision making is
done not just from the manager's office, and probably more
so from outside the manager's office. So yes, you want
the new president of Baseball Offics is going to definitely
want to bring his own guy in. I'm not disputing
that whatsoever, because at the end of the day, as
a manager, you need to be supported completely by this
(15:57):
this guy in the front office and the ownership in
order to work through some difficult times. The good times,
you don't need any support. You're playing offense all the
time publicly, but when you have to play defense publicly,
you need that kind of support.
Speaker 1 (16:10):
Great point, and I'll throw out other than Craig counsel
some possible candidates for that Mets job, because I think
David Stearns, he's already mentioned he wants somebody he can
quote unquote grow with. I think about a couple of
guys with the Dodgers, Danny Lehman, Clayton McCulloch, who could
be major league managers someday. If you want to find
quote unquote the next Craig council. Joe Espata worked with
(16:32):
David Stearns in Houston, Ray Montgomery worked with David Stearns
in Houston, and you have Eric Chavez bench coach for
Buck Showalter this year. My only hesitation there, Joe, all
of them no major league experience. That is tough to do.
To walk into New York. You better know the landscape
and you have, let's face it, a team that's going
to be built to win. I'm not saying they will
(16:54):
win as we saw this year, but expectations right out
of the gate are big. It's not a job you
grow into. As far as learning the New York landscape
and putting w's on board, I'm talking about right away.
You may want to go more experience there, but let's
see what David Stearns does.
Speaker 3 (17:10):
Yeah, I could understand what he said there.
Speaker 2 (17:13):
Also, again, if you're going to pick somebody with that experience,
with somebody that you like and you trust, again, the
biggest the biggest item there for me would be the
support of him David Stearns regarding as manager with things
don't go well, because, like I said, a lot of
this today's world is the fact that there's got to
(17:34):
be a certain amount of control coming from the front
office to the dugout, and you want to be these
guys want to be comfortable knowing that whatever they want
to do is going to be carried out without any argument. Primarily,
so I think the idea of taking somebody that lacks
experience is actually attractive in that regard and that they
could grow together based on probably a common philosophy in
(17:59):
the beginning. Whereas, again, please it's just true that they're
needs to be this this ability or this this way
from the manager to the front office that they're going
to he's going to take whatever they'd like to do
and do it almost you know, latterly from the front
office to them. And with that there needs to be
just this unwavering support, because again, when things go badly
(18:22):
and they're gonna you need you need somebody to step
up and defend what you're doing.
Speaker 1 (18:25):
Oh, that was a lot to dive into, and I
should have mentioned at the top we also need to
talk about the playoffs, Joe. Sure, we're gonna take a
quick break here and we're gonna give you a real
quick rundown playoff preview and picks coming up after this.
(18:52):
Welcome back to the Book of Joe podcast. Yeah, playoff
baseball is here, folks, and let's start with the Rays
and the Rangers. That sound familiar to you, Joe, having
a couple of time ten twenty eleven. The Rangers got
you both times they did. This is a wildcard series
at the trop Give me your off the cuff feel
(19:14):
on this series and the wildcard Rangers at the Rays.
Speaker 3 (19:18):
Yes, it's a good one. You're right back then, Adrian
Beltri killed us. I think you had three homes in
one game to beat us.
Speaker 2 (19:25):
Great tough series, but they had this thing on us
at that time. The Rangers had this thing on the
Rays and we had good teams there and we just
could not go over the top with them. I think
the race playoff experience is going to help a lot
right here. I think they're pitching two because and I
know some guys have been hurt. I understand that. However,
they will do the right thing regarding how to attack
(19:47):
the Rangers lineup. For me, how's the right way to
attack the Rangers' lineup, and that would be to really
try to render Seeger moot. I mean, just really keep
them out of it and almost, like I've said before,
give him the Bryce Harper treatment that we did years
ago with the Cubs versus the National I think he's
the one guy you just really got to know where he's.
Speaker 3 (20:06):
At all times.
Speaker 2 (20:07):
He's that guy on the football field, whereas he had
all times on a basketball court. Where's he at all
the time, at all times when he's at home plate?
Know that, and really make your pitches, make him swinget
what you want on the swing at, and when it's eight,
when you're able to, don't throw them strike, just don't.
So I think they can't. They can do something like that.
They could render him almost smoot and really have to
(20:28):
attack everybody else. And again, I just think the grittiness
of the Rais is going to pay off and their
experience in these situations, is is going to come to
the forefront.
Speaker 1 (20:39):
I do, yeah, I agree. Also, the fact that they
have these games at home. The Rays are fifty three
and twenty eight, tie with the Dodgers for the best
home record in the major leagues this year. Rangers, they're
going to have to slug their way if they're going
to win this series. It's a really good offense. Only
the brazen Dodgers scored more runs per game than the Rangers. Actually,
the Rays were right behind the Rangers as well. This
(21:00):
is the best offense the Rays I've ever had in
terms of run scoring. If you gave me Jeffrey Springs,
Rasmussen McClanahan, Jason Adam, all these pitchers not available to
the Rays because they're injured, that would be a World
Series team. I'm not saying they can't get there, but
it's amazing that they're still dangerous. It starts with Glas
Now game one starter. The Rays actually are just three
(21:23):
and six, and his nine postseason starts era over five.
He's got the stuff though, to dominate. The Rays do
not let their pitchers go over one hundred pitches. It's
just the way they operate that bullpen's deep enough to
do that, and a bullpen is advantage. Rays Texas is
the first team in postseason history with more blown saves
than saves and that's a Bruce Bochee team, So it's
(21:46):
kind of odd to say that. So I'm with you.
I'll give the Rays the edge there. The other American
League Wildcard series Blue Jays at the Twins. Twins get
the home field because they won their division. Blue Jays
actually won more games. Give me your take on this series.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Well, from the beginning of the Ys gonna play? Do
we know that yet?
Speaker 1 (22:05):
That's a lot of questions there. Korea Lewis and yeah,
he's probably going to play, but hasn't played much in
the last two three weeks with that plantarveesciitis.
Speaker 2 (22:13):
Yeah, and that matters. I mean, have you not played?
Have you not played? Can matter both ways. I mean,
could be rusty, but then again he could be arrested
the two rs, right, So I don't know. That's that's
really interesting because of his history and the playoffs, that
would be a big factor, I think. But I really like,
you know, I said this in the beginning of the year,
and we talked about this.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
The pitching the starting pitching with the the Twins. I
really like it. I like it.
Speaker 2 (22:39):
I like Gray and I like Lopez, right yep. I
like these guys. And their bullpen's outstanding too. So I
and I watched the I watched the Blue Jays. The
Blue Jay's got a lot of talent, physical talent. They
got some nice then they got some I love. I'm
a big Galsman guy.
Speaker 3 (22:55):
I've liked him.
Speaker 2 (22:56):
I wanted the teams that was on to acquire him.
I've liked him for years. Once he came up with
the splitter. But they make mistakes, and I, you know,
I just defensively, there's a Chapman's wonderful. But I even
you know Bashetti's shortstop, I still think he belongs in
the outfield as an example. I mean things like this
that's going to show up. They'reing to show up somehow defensively,
I think. And the Twins, their pitching staff, I think
(23:19):
is going to be strong enough to shut down the
Blue Jays offensively. So for those different reasons, I like
the Twins in the series.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Well, I know one thing, there's gonna be a ton
of strikeouts. You know, the Twins strike out more than
any team in baseball, but they're starting pitchers, you get.
I think they're second or third in strikeout right, I'm
with you on the Blue Jays. They scare me a
little bit. You saw last year against Seattle. They did
not rise to the moment and got knocked out very quickly.
I don't think they have played up to their level
of ability. I think this series is a coin flip.
(23:48):
I will go with Toronto though, because I again I
think the injuries for the Minnesota scare me a little bit.
I don't know at what strength they're going to be
even if the guys are on the field, and the
strikeouts do bother me. A lot of strikeouts in that lineup.
All right, let's switch over to the National League. Joe,
Diamondbacks at the Brewers. Now, the Brewers got some bad
(24:08):
news that Brandon Woodruff, they're really Game two starter behind
Corbyn Burns, will not be pitching in this series. Don't
know if he's out for the rest of the postseason,
but at shoulder injury came back again on his last
start of the season, so he is out in this series.
Diamondbacks at the Brewers.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
Independent of all of that, the Brewers, my experience with
them is that they have a grittiness at this time,
they have a greediness period and I know Craig has
a lot to do with that, but they find ways
to be successful. That's that's why I view this group.
You know, the backside of their bullpens outstanding. The team
on the field is good. There's nothing there's not a
greatness about them, but they do play well together. They
(24:49):
their defense. The thing about with the Cubs that always
they reminded me the Brewers are the Rays when I
was when I was with the Rays in a lot
of ways, because when you hit a ball heart it
always seems like a defender standing right there. It was
very frustrating with the Cubs as the Brewers as send
it that their defense was positioned so well. Mattie Arnold,
I know him, you know, with the with the Brewers
(25:11):
right now in charge. So I there's all these little
ancillary benefits or components of the Brewers that I think
plays and plays well this time of the year.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
So that's that's why I like I mean I like
them for that reason. I think a lot of people
are gonna like them for those reasons too.
Speaker 2 (25:25):
But I think really watched the series, balls gonna be
hit well by the Diamondbacks and somebody's going to be
standing right there. And I still think even minus Woodruf,
they're pitching as good enough.
Speaker 1 (25:36):
Yeah, I'm with you, and you're dead on about Milwaukee.
They're one of the best two three best teams in
baseball combining pitching and defense. They have a very athletic
defensive team, a younger team. Some of the rookies there
have really helped them out defensively, Terraang and Weimer and Monasterio.
So yes, they have a thin margin of error. They're
(25:56):
not going to score a lot of runs, but neither
do the Diamondbacks. The Diamondsbacks come in with the highest
ERA of any postseason team. They cannot start Gallon in
Game one because they had to use them over the weekend,
so Brandon Fought gets the ball in Game one against Burns.
That's a tough matchup. Goes against Arizona. They did not
hit at all in the last week at the season,
(26:17):
So yeah, I think it'll be competitive, low scoring games.
But you know what, the Brewers love those kind of games,
and with Craig Counsel, they find a way usually to
win those games. All right. The other wildcard series the
Marlins at the Phillies. Now, the Marlins won the season
series seven to six. You can take that for whatever
it's worth. Joe, I'd never put a ton of stock
(26:39):
in this season matchups because you're looking at you cut
down your rotation, you cut down your bullpen. Guys. It's
a different game, you know, in the postseason in the
regular season. That being said, who do you like Marlins
at the Phillies?
Speaker 2 (26:52):
Well, I was on the Phillies all year. I think
you know, the Marlins are in that ascending mode. And
on top of that, I mean the Phillies whether they
win eighty.
Speaker 3 (27:00):
Nine or ninety games only, yeah, ninety. But that's part
of what's going on. That's what's going on right now.
Speaker 2 (27:04):
I mean, a lot of teams that normally would not
have made playoffs in the past are making the playoffs.
Speaker 3 (27:08):
Now. There's a again, there's a there's a parody.
Speaker 2 (27:10):
Component to all this, and and I think again a
lot of it may be based on methods and how
they're being employed and how teams are going about their business.
Speaker 3 (27:18):
And there's a lot of sameness happening right here.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
So having said all that, you know, Obviously, I do
believe that the Phillies are better, more battle tested team.
But again, I do like a lot the late season
acquisitions made by the Marlins and regards to making them
a different group going into the end of the year.
Burger's a good hitter, man, He's a very good hitter
(27:41):
and a belle. I mean he I saw him with
Pittsburgh when he first came on the scene and when
he gets hot. Man, if he gets to one of
those moments heads up in Georgie Solaire where Hey didn't
get a whole lot of you.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
Know, press or credit in a sense.
Speaker 2 (27:56):
But he was really big for the Cubs when I
was huge for the Braves, and so you never know.
So overall, I think it's gonna be a good series.
I think it's gonna be a tight series. But I
do like the Phillies a grit. Again, I like to
use that word, a little bit of a battle test that
I think during the rise of the occasion in Philadelphia,
and you know, it's gonna be difficult for the for
(28:17):
the Marks to go into that pit there and breathe
and see how well they can do. So interesting, yes,
but I do like the Phillies.
Speaker 3 (28:25):
In this moment.
Speaker 1 (28:26):
Yeah, I need to know how Luis OLiS is. You know,
he hasn't really played much in the last week because
he turned his ankle. Actually, yeah, he did it on
the dugout steps. After a lot of these ballparks now
they turned the lights down to have these dramatic entrances
for their closers. Tenor Scott was coming in, so they
turned the lights down and on and off and strobe effect,
and that's how he hurt his ankle. I do like
(28:49):
their left handed pitching. You know, Lozardo and Braxton Garrett
will get the ball against the Phillies. But you know what,
the Phillies lefties don't bother them. I know, you look
at their lineup and you see Harper, you see Stott,
and you see some of these guys. But they're actually
they went thirty and twents left handed pitching. I don't
think that by itself is a big deal. I do
agree with you, Joe, that it's such a tough minded
(29:10):
Philadelphia team, especially in their ballpark. I love the way
they've played the last two months of the season. I
do think they're playing their best baseball this season. Marlins
were outscored by fifty five runs in the course of
the season. I don't see a team like that taking
out an offense like the one Philadelphia has. A lot.
To me depends Joe on Aaron Nola. You know, he's
(29:31):
had an up and down year. He had an ERA
over five in September. When he's good, he can dominate.
To me, it all is about his breaking ball. When
he can command and land that breaking ball when he wants.
He is an ace, and I think they can go
really far, but they definitely need Aaron Nola to be
on the better side. So I'm taking the Phillies as
(29:52):
well well.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
I just just to say I like Stought a lot.
I love that kid, I love the way he plays,
love his at bats, and of course Harper. So when
it comes to lefties and schwarbs, I mean, think about it.
I mean, Lazard has got a great I understand that,
but that doesn't bother Shore. If he's gonna he's gonna
go up there with a definite plan. If you make
some mistake in his area, it's gonna get hit hard.
Harper is going to battle, and Scott is just a
(30:14):
good hit of Brandon Marsh.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
I don't know what they're doing right there.
Speaker 2 (30:16):
But marsh had a really good year and he's really
come on right now too. And the fact that they
permitted their lefties to face lefties. We're talking about the
platoon advantage earlier regarding the Giants, and you get to
leaving your better players out there all the time and
fighting through learning how to compete better against lefties.
Speaker 3 (30:35):
I think is gonna pay.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Dividends for the Phillies right now. So yeah, there's a
lot of stuff there, and I agree with that. I
think the lefties will handle the lefties. Noah, what's gonna
happen there. Robbie's just going to be very quick with him.
He's gonna have to keep a close eye on him.
Wheeler's the man. I mean, here's the guy. When I
was with the Angels, I wanted I wanted the Angels
to acquire Wheeler first, and I thought if he could
(30:59):
acquire Wheeler, you might be able to get Garrett Cole
because he's saying that the Angels are really making an
attempt to improve right now. So I've been a Wheeler
guy for years. Actually went to his house in Atlanta
and a recruiting trip. I really think he's that good
and I but I just like I said, when it
comes to Nola, I would bet that Robbie's gonna keep
a closer eye on him this time around.
Speaker 1 (31:20):
Yeah, I'll double up on Wheeler as well, Joe. I
love the fact that he's a high velocity guy without
max effort. He's got a very smooth delivery. He's got
a long stride. That ball just jumps out of his hand,
sort of like Gerret Cole and Man, he can just
eat up right handers. He uses two seams and four
seams as well as any pitcher around in terms of
(31:41):
keeping you off balanced. There's a lot of fastballs, but
no two actually very much the same. So yeah, I
have no problems with Wheeler. He's a true ace. But
they're gonna need Aaron Nola. Hey, Joe, that reminds me
we're getting this situation now. You mentioned Robbie Thompson. Maybe
getting Nola out won't really stick with him these three
game series here, especially in Game one. If you're a
(32:02):
manager and maybe even the man on the road, getting
your team a prepared to play these games and then
to be running these games, you give me a little
window on how it might be different.
Speaker 3 (32:12):
Yeah, you're aggressive state of mind. You have to be.
You can't tolerate, you can't put up with you. And
we're talking about pitching primarily.
Speaker 2 (32:20):
The other thing is if you're really a built on
pinch hitting and the platoon matchup, that may happen earlier
in the game too. You might have to just take
that opportunity of that chance. You're always aware of the
handedness of the.
Speaker 3 (32:34):
Closer on that team.
Speaker 2 (32:35):
For instance, if you if they have a lefty closure,
which Texas does, you might be more reticent to pop
your left handed other hitter earlier in the game. But
then again, if you lose that moment, you may be
may become a mood point.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
Later in the game.
Speaker 2 (32:50):
So you're just going to be more assertive, aggressive, making
moves early regarding a variety of different things. I mean,
I wouldn't get away from normal patterns. I think that
was about up early. Like, if you run, you run
the same way you ran earlier in the season, run
right now. If you're gonna play the infield in like
you did earlier in the season.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
Play the infield in now.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Don't get away from normal patterns, don't become tentative, don't
think you have to do something differently as that's one
of the main things that bring up to my team
to not feel that way. That where you do become different,
I believe is with your pitching staff and your bullpen.
That's what the difference really shows up. It's not a
National League game. The National League game made you possibly
(33:30):
make moves early based on the scenarios I describe with
the pinchhitting. It's probably you're more tolerant now in an
America League or a DH game, but you can't. You
can't be tolerant with your pitching because in this situation,
the soortness of the series and the importance obviously of
that very first game, you just got to be aggressive.
Speaker 3 (33:49):
There's no waiting around.
Speaker 1 (33:51):
Yeah, I love that fact. It is a game played
with urgency. There's no question. I always feel like, obviously
Game three, Game Series, Game one is just enormous. It's
important for these teams to, especially on the road, to
try to steal that one. Hey, when we get back,
I know you want to hear it, and we'll do it.
We'll jump right to the World Series. Who do we
(34:11):
have in the World Series this year? Stick around for that.
It's the book of Joe Podcast with me, Tom Berducci
and Joe Madden, World Series winning manager twenty sixteen Chicago Cubs.
(34:34):
And you want to know who's going to win the
World Series this year? Well, it's an interesting postseason field.
There's no Red Sox and Yankees for only the second
time in thirty years. There's no Cardinals, there's no Mets,
there's no Padres. Three biggest spenders will be watching this
postseason at home. So we've got some stalwarts, the Braves,
(34:57):
the Dodgers, the Astros, the Rays. They've been at it
just about every year the last five, six, seven years,
and some newcomers back in the show, like the Orioles
and the Diamondbacks. So we'll see where this goes, Joe.
But I'm gonna give you my World Series picks right
here because I know the chalk is the Atlanta Braves,
and why not. It's literally the greatest slugging team in
(35:18):
either the National League or American League history. Selegged over
five hundred these games. And I know we're both fans
of playing small ball and executing, but these postseason games
turn more on hitting home runs than anything else. You
hit a second home run, you're gonna win about seventy
five percent of the time, and Atlanta just has so
much thunder in their lineup. They can beat you with
(35:42):
five or six hits because two or three of those
are going to be home runs. Have to try to
keep that team in the ballpark. They're going to be
hard to hold down. They have the best player on
the planet right now, and Ronald Acunya Junior. So let
me start by saying they're the Chalk, but I'm going
against the Chalk. I like the Philadelphia Phillies coming out
of the National League. I think they can hit with
(36:02):
the Braves. Obviously, they took them out last year in
a postseason environment. I think the Braves are a little
bit vulnerable injuries to Charlie Morton. We don't know about
the blister for Max Freed. The bullpen is good, but
I think the Phillies bullpen can hang with them. They're
just as good. I think it's a deeper bullpen. Rob
Thompson has this year than last year. So my National
(36:24):
League pick is going to be the Philadelphia Phillies. How
about that?
Speaker 3 (36:28):
Well, I love it. I actually love it.
Speaker 2 (36:30):
God, I mean I know they I'm watching the Rays
at the end of the year and they've been faltering
a bit and they still had to one hundred and
three wins something crazy like that. I do like the
Phillies also, I do. I didn't realize the statistical component
of the home runs in the postseason, because I know
there's so many points in the game that the balls
just got to be moved in order to score a run.
(36:51):
And to what extent if you did that more often,
with the homerun become less important, if teams could actually
create runs. I think maybe with the stolen base this year,
you might see a different method regarding scoring some runs.
But the Philly side of things, I do. I hate
to agree that, I don't hate to agree with.
Speaker 3 (37:10):
I liked them. I I liked them from the beginning
of the year. I liked the Phillies. We talked about that.
Speaker 2 (37:14):
I remember early on I was on him, and your
concern was about Bryce Harper being out and how long
he was going to be out?
Speaker 3 (37:21):
Uh, And then they did.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
They got off to the bad start, and all of
a sudden they've caught their breath. And I like their clubhouse.
I like their attitude, I like their grit, And not
to say I don't like Atlanta for the same reasons.
But from the beginning I thought this is a possibility.
Uh and right now they're they're playing with that that
that that that fire and their eyeballs. I don't get
(37:42):
to see Atlanta as much. And I know Akuna is
a Kuna. I get that levels and nobody even talks
about him. But why can't you? I mean, I but
I at the end of the day, I have to
say I'm on. I'm on the Philly train right now.
Speaker 1 (37:55):
Yeah, you know, listen, Philadelphia's a different team right now.
I said they're playing their best baseball. Part of that,
as you mentioned Harper, you know coming off to Tommy
John surgery, had no power when you got back, but
he's back at full strength. You know, he loves the
big moment. And the difference maker to me is Trey Turner.
I mean, the way he played these last two months.
That's the superstar player they signed. So they're playing their
best baseball. We should mention the La Dodgers, Joe, because
(38:18):
I think it's going to be a different postseason for
the Dodgers, and I think there's tremendous amount of you
want to call it pressure or responsibility on Dave Roberts
because he's going to have to win games with his bullpen,
his starting pitchers, and you can probably mark this down.
I'm not sure if anybody's going to face more than
eighteen batters. He just doesn't have that kind of rotation.
You know, Clayton Kershaw is being really, really good, but
(38:40):
he can only go sixty, seventy, maybe eighty pitches at
this point with the shoulder. You've got Bobby Miller, lights
out stuff, but he's beyond his innings, you know, high
as a rookie. And I just think this is the
way Dave Roberts runs games. In his last twelve postseason games,
no one has gone beyond the fifth inning for the Dodgers.
He's got a great bullpen. He will go to it
(39:00):
early and often. I think it's easy to do early
in the postseason calendar. Don't forget in the Division series
for the National League this year, you play game one,
there's an off day, you play Game two, there's an
off day. Six of his first eight games. Potentially, he
will go in with a fully rested bullpen with days
off before those games, so he can do that. I
(39:21):
think eventually it may catch up to you but listen,
I think this is going to be a theme throughout
the postseason. You're going to see relief pitchers throw basically
as many innings, if not more than starting pitchers across
the board in baseball, just the way it is, and
especially with the off days, the Dodgers will try to
max that out. I think eventually it's going to come
back and catch up to them, but that's their path
(39:43):
to get to the World Series is through their bullpen.
Speaker 2 (39:45):
Hey man, you're absolutely right, and I know that would
be part of the meetings that they go through right
now preparing for these different teams. The way the schedule
sets up that there are that many off days, it
is a bullpen series just based on that alone, and
you're right, one hundred percent right, that's why it's going
to go.
Speaker 3 (40:02):
And I know that group.
Speaker 2 (40:04):
Andrew likes that kind of a method also, so I
believe you're going to see that and the way the
schedule breaks. As a manager there could be more aggressive,
comfortably because you know you're going to have rested people.
Speaker 3 (40:17):
Come here next time out.
Speaker 2 (40:19):
So I don't understand exactly why that was made that way,
but absolutely benefits the team that is going to rely
more on relievers and starters.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Okay, let's talk about the American League, Joe. I think
to me, the American League, the way the brackets are
going to fall was set up in the final weekend
of the season when the Texas Rangers had a division
title in hand. They clinched a postseason berth on a Saturday,
and boy did they celebrate. The Astros clinched the postseason
(40:51):
spot and they're like, yeah, we're not done yet. The
next day Texas comes back and I'm not saying there's
a direct correlation, but you got to feel like emotionally
they let down a little bit. They couldn't score a
single run against Seattle. They fell into the wildcard spot,
so rather than a bye in the first round, they
wind up having to fly from Seattle to Tampa to
(41:13):
play in the most difficult place to win a game
in the American League. And that's the drop. That is
a huge downfall for the Texas Rangers. By the way
they lost that last game of the season. Flip side
Houston back as division winners huge advantage with the buye
if they went into a division or wildcard series justin
(41:35):
Verlander would not have been able to take the ball
in Game one because he pitched over the weekend in Seattle.
Now they get Verlander, who was terrific in the last
week at the season, rested for a Game one in
the division series with from Bravaldez behind him. I think that,
to me, set up this entire postseason schedule in the
American League. The Astros and all due respect to the Orioles,
(41:57):
because I think they're actually underrated even though they have
the best record in the American League. They're starting pitching
is way better than people think. I am not going
against the Houston Astros. I saw that in the last
week of the season, Joe. They come off losing a
series swept at home by the Kansas City Royals. So
they go on the road to play at cl in
Arizona and they go five to one and win the
(42:20):
division title. Do not count this team out. Michael Brantley's
back in the lineup. I mean, they just you talk
about pedigrees. They remind me, and I know this is
a little bit of a hyperbole, like the nineties Yankees,
and you remember that team, Joe, no matter what situation
you had them in, they would find an answer. Not
saying they're gonna win and rattle off three championships in
a row. But what I am saying is, don't count
(42:42):
this team out until they're actually out.
Speaker 2 (42:45):
Well, I mean, first of all, for the Rangers to
put themselves in that position really hard to imagine.
Speaker 3 (42:55):
It is. It's a great advantage for the Astros.
Speaker 2 (42:57):
It's a great disadvantage for Texas to have to fly,
like you say, from Seattle to Tampa and then have
to play in that ballpark there. That was always my
goal when I was the Raised manager. I wanted that.
I wanted to call it the pit. I wanted that
place to be the pit. I wanted when people walked
in that building they know where.
Speaker 3 (43:13):
They were at. That was going to be very difficult
to win.
Speaker 2 (43:16):
The sitelines are different, Uh, your depth perception is different.
Everything about it, just the barometric pressure felt different. Everything
about that place is different, and it's uncomfortable when you
make when you have to come down.
Speaker 3 (43:28):
And we got beaten there. Yes, the Rangers did beat
us there.
Speaker 2 (43:31):
Back in the day because Belcher was so good. But
tremendous disadvantage for the Rangers to have to make that trip,
play that team in that building and forfeit some of
the rest they could have had otherwise. Having said that,
I mean, and you're talking about the Astros, and yeah,
they're they're great, and they're wonderful, and everybody seems to
be clicking.
Speaker 3 (43:50):
But what's up with their record at home?
Speaker 1 (43:52):
I don't get Do you have.
Speaker 3 (43:53):
Any of it?
Speaker 2 (43:54):
I mean, is there any is there any concrete reasoning
behind that, because again, they go on the road go
five and one.
Speaker 3 (44:00):
Had they played at home with they've gone five and one.
Speaker 2 (44:02):
Which is kind of like again incongruent because it's based
on their history there. I know we've gotten past it,
but the fact that they all the things that have
been going on there, the banging on the trash can,
et cetera, and the advantages they've had there, now of
a sudden it's a disadvantage. I don't understand. I don't
even love to know any kind of theories regarding that.
Having said all that, if you're picking the Astros, I'm
(44:24):
still picking Baltimore. I'm staying with my guys up there.
I'm staying with Brandon, staying with that athletic team because
they do play well in Houston. Also, I don't know
what the deal is with Houston in Baltimore. But there's
something about the Ools right now. They're athleticism there and
again talking about grit.
Speaker 3 (44:42):
They're like the American.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
League version of the Phillies to me, and that'd be
a great replay from years ago.
Speaker 3 (44:48):
Was in the eighties Phillies.
Speaker 1 (44:50):
And the Truth three. Yeah, good travel series too.
Speaker 2 (44:53):
Yeah that it's a tremendous travel series. But I can
see that happening. I don't think Baltimore is going to
back off these guys when he's the frame his team
of destiny. But definitely there's something about him that's so
attractive to me. I think Hyder's done a great job
leading them despite being hider Brandon Brendon Hyde, he's got
(45:17):
the stoic method about him. He's he's one of the
funniest guys that you'll never really realize that he's being.
Speaker 3 (45:23):
He's funny, he doesn't even know he's funny.
Speaker 2 (45:25):
But he's also really bright and he knows, he knows
what he's doing out there.
Speaker 3 (45:29):
He knows what he knows what he knows, if that.
Speaker 2 (45:31):
Makes any sense. So there's all these little things going
on there in Baltimore. I think their fan base is
going to show up. So yes, don't disagree. But the
thing the incongruity is about the Houston at Homan on
the road is weird. But I just think that Baltimore
is a team that's going to get it done this year.
Speaker 3 (45:47):
Baltimore Philadelphia.
Speaker 1 (45:48):
Yeah, let me first address the Houston thing, because there
was a story that they repainted the batter's eye in
center field there in Houston that might have something to
do that. I think that's baloney. Joe. I don't know
about you, but when I look at home road splits,
they really don't try to explain them. I think it's
just the function of how you're playing at a particular time.
(46:10):
Why would the Houston Astros be a bad team at home?
A losing record at home only to two thousand and
one Braves in a full season ever made the postseason
with a losing record. I don't put faith in those
kinds of things. It doesn't make any sense if you
want to tell me that a right handed hitter is
better at Fenway Park because it's a hitter's park, or
hitting in Colorado. Yeah, over the course of time, that's
going to show up. Why the Houston Astros would be
(46:33):
a sub five hundred team at home. I'm not going
to try to explain it. I think it's an anomaly
and that's it. I think it has absolutely no bearing
on what happens in this postseason.
Speaker 2 (46:44):
There's something in their heads. I mean that would be
the only thing. Nothing that's logical, nothing that makes sense,
nothing that's worth exploring. It's just something that's human and human.
There's something I don't know. There's something that they probably
talk about among each other, and is it something that
they could overcome and get beyond us. There's something legitimately
different about the ballpark that we don't know about, that
(47:07):
they know about. So I'm just curious. I would watch it.
I don't think it's just necessarily going to go away
because they do. They think about it, they've they've heard
about it, they talk about it, So there might be
something minutely different about it that we don't understand.
Speaker 1 (47:20):
Yeah, as far as the Orioles, I'm with you on Baltimore.
I think to me they're the best rally team in
the postseason. I've seen them come from behind so many
times this year, and let me tell you, folks, that
is worth something when you get to October. This team
believes that it's never out of a game. They don't hope,
they believe they're coming back. And I think the reason
(47:42):
for that, Joe is they play very unselfishly. I think
Brandon Hyde is really instilled that coret disciplined. In this group,
their superstars are very humble. I'm talking about Gunnar Henderson
and Attlee Rushman. They play team baseball. I think when
they move that fence back and up in left field,
not only did it help their pitchers, who all of
a sudden started pouring strikes over the plate. It's like,
(48:05):
try to hit it out and you can't hit it
out to left field, it has helped their offense as well.
It's not an easy yard to leave to the pole
side for right handed hitters, so that encourages players to
use the whole field, and that to me defines Baltimore
as a great rally team. They'll do what they need
to do. They're not trying to get back into a
game with one big swing. So when you watch the
(48:26):
Orioles play in this postseason, I think they're gonna play
the same way. They will come from behind on people.
My only concern here and I've got them in the LCS,
so it's not like I think they're gonna get knocked
out and jumped early. But the loss of Felix Bautista,
a lockdown closer who punched out about fifty percent of
the batters he's faced, that's big to me. And I
know Cano came in and did a nice job, but
(48:48):
he hasn't been in that role long. The situations get
bigger in the postseason and it moves everybody else in
your bullpen carousel up a little bit. I think push
comes to shove because I've got Uston over Baltimore. Dusty
Baker has more and better options to win a game
(49:09):
late than Brandon Hyde, not a lot more, but Brian
A Bray who has just been amazing to get to
Ryan Presley and a brain who can get out there
and get you five or six different outs, and even
Presley can get you more than three. That's the one
edge I see. And again, maybe that home record for
us to mean something, maybe it doesn't, but I know this.
(49:30):
You put them on the road have to win a
game six or seven to get to the World Series.
They absolutely can do it.
Speaker 3 (49:37):
No question they can.
Speaker 2 (49:38):
But can they do it in Baltimore against that group
just like you describe them I think it's gonna be fast.
That's really interesting to me. I love to see it
come down to that, those two guys playing each other.
And again if the if it in my mind's if
it all works out like I can see it working out,
it'll be like looking in a mirror, Philly looking at Baltimore,
(49:58):
Baltimore looking at Philadelphia. Two very similar teams in regards
to their cities, their fan base, where they come from,
the kind of teams that they have. If you want
to throw back series, if you want to turn back
the clock a little bit, I don't think they get
any better than that.
Speaker 1 (50:13):
I'm with you, sign me up. I would take that here.
I am. I have the Phillies over the Astros in
the World Series, the rematch of last year with a
different result. But man, I've loved watching this Baltimore team
all year long. Two great fan bases and like I said,
can't beat the travel.
Speaker 3 (50:31):
Right now, come on, that's awesome, that'd be awesome.
Speaker 1 (50:36):
Who's your final pick? I mean, we heard about your
Pennant winners. Who you got winning at all?
Speaker 2 (50:41):
Well, like I said, and they're looking in the mirror
and at the end of the day, even just based
on regular season record. I'm taking Baltimore. I'm taking the Orioles.
I'm taking my boy to go all the way. This year,
they won over one hundred games. They did it in
a really good division. They're absolutely battle tested. I think there.
I just love the way their players go about their
(51:02):
business does not be kind of my twenty sixteen Cubs,
and even to a certain extent, the Rays.
Speaker 3 (51:08):
But there's a lot.
Speaker 2 (51:09):
Of young guys there that don't act like young guys,
and there's a couple of just a couple of sprinkled
veterans in there. I don't think they're going to be
intimidated by anything. I think when something bad happens, they're
going to bounce back from it quickly. And I just
think overall, talent wise, what they got going on the field,
I kind of like it.
Speaker 3 (51:30):
You did mention Trey Turner.
Speaker 2 (51:31):
I think he's like he's gonna be like the alpha
thing for the Phillies. He's going to really come once
wrong at this time of the year. I think he's
going to really show how good he is. He's been
showing that, but the people that doubted his abilities earlier
on are really going to see him showcase during the playoffs.
But at the end of the day, I like I
like the makeup. I like the makeup of the Orioles.
(51:52):
I like the way they and I don't dislike the Phillies.
But I really like this when I look at when
I watch them on the gate on TV, when I
see these guys and I hear them talk, I just
there's a humility about them, like you suggested, and there's
an absolute they believe.
Speaker 3 (52:07):
They believe in themselves and each other. So I got Baltimore.
Speaker 1 (52:10):
It's a good call. And boy, I can't wait to
see and hear the energy in that ballpark when it's
been a while. Essentially, you know, a generation of younger
fans who haven't seen your team, you know, win a
postseason series and make a run. You know, they're hungry.
It's a great baseball town. It's good to see baseball
back and alive in Baltimore these days. Well this is fun, Joe.
I mean, let the games begin. Post season baseball is here.
(52:35):
We're gonna have to come back later in the week
and do a very similar preview and pick on the
division series once the matchups are set from this wildcard series.
So to take us out for the start of the
postseason fun. Who do you have for us today?
Speaker 3 (52:49):
I have Jordan Peterson.
Speaker 2 (52:50):
I've really been following this guy a lot from Canadian dude, doctor, psychologist, psychiatrist.
Really I love listening to him. He's got a lot
of wonderful points and theories and expresses himself so well.
But again, here it goes because it applies when you
have something to say, Silence.
Speaker 3 (53:09):
Is a lie. You know.
Speaker 2 (53:11):
I absolutely love that, you know, and I think it
happens too often, especially with the advent and the popularity
of social media, we tend to not say things because
you don't want to stir up the hornet's nest or
have this contrived group.
Speaker 3 (53:30):
Against you.
Speaker 2 (53:31):
For some they just combined forces kind of a thing.
So when you have something to say, silence is a lie.
So just tell me what you think now what you've heard.
It's on one of my paintings with the Spy versus Spy.
I love that, and again I really enjoy listening to
this fellaw. I got to get his book. I think
it absolutely resonates for me personally.
Speaker 1 (53:51):
Well said and as usual, well done, Joe. We'll meet
again as we get into the Division Series round.
Speaker 3 (53:57):
You Tube brother, thanks a lot man.
Speaker 1 (54:06):
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