MLB Preview, Sell The Sox & Fanatics Uni's Suck | Episode 145

Welcome! Lets explore the world of Chaotically Intolerant, make sure to like, comment, subscribe, share, the whole damn thing In this episode, the host discusses various topics related to baseball, including the performance of Scott Boris clients, the struggles of the Boston Red Sox, and the potential of the Houston Astros and Texas Rangers. The conversation also touches on the AL Central teams and their chances in the upcoming season. In this episode, the conversation covers various topics in baseball, including the impact of Trevor Bauer in the American League, the state of the New York Mets, the competitiveness of the Atlanta Braves, the potential of the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds, and St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, the dominance of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West, and the issues with Fanatics and their uniform designs. MLB Preview, Sell The Sox & Fanatics Uni's Suck | Episode 145 00:00 Introduction and Baseball Season 02:05 Scott Boris and Bad Contracts 03:23 Teams Not Playing Hardball with Boris 04:22 Discussion on Dallas Keuchel 05:19 Contracts That Haven't Worked Out 06:09 Discussion on Tampa Bay Rays and Kevin Cash 07:05 Baltimore Orioles and Free Agent Signings 08:05 Discussion on Boston Red Sox 09:06 Recalling the 2013 Red Sox Championship 10:26 Disappointment with Red Sox Ownership 12:50 Discussion on Houston Astros and Texas Rangers 14:47 AL Central 38:47 NL East 44:39 National League Central 50:27 National League West 01:04:20 Fanatics and Uniforms Follow us on: https://www.instagram.com/chaoticallyintolerant/ https://www.tiktok.com/@chaoticallyintolerant https://www.threads.net/@chaoticallyintolerant https://www.facebook.com/ChaoticallyIntollerant https://twitter.com/CI_Podcast_ Checkout our website! chaoticallyintolerant.com Blog: https://chaoticallyintolerant.com/blog Catch Summer Smash Here: https://chaoticallyintolerant.com/summer-smash All Updates on Tecmo Bowl: https://chaoticallyintolerant.com/tecmo-bowl Meet the personalities of Chaotically Intolerant: https://chaoticallyintolerant.com/personalities Meet the Hall of Famers: https://chaoticallyintolerant.com/hall-of-fame

Alex Boyajian (00:18)

Alright, welcome back. Episode 145 of Chaotic Me Intolerant. We have a special guest today. I wonder if I can get him out from under my desk here. Come here. Come here. Get over here. No, no, no. Oh my goodness. He's not gonna... I don't know if he's gonna want to do this. Come here. Right here. This is Butter. Where is he at? This is Butter. Say hi, Butter. Hey, buddy. He's just under a year old.

This is his first podcast. He's watching me do a lot of homework, but a lot of work on the on the show, but he's never actually been on. So I hope he doesn't bark too much. He's hopefully going to leave me alone. But he's he's I think he's under a year old, so he might might make a few audio appearances. I think that's cool. He's a good boy. This I think is the first dog you've had on the show. We've had a cat on the show, a couple of cats on the show before one showed his asshole last week. So.

happen. But I don't think butter's going to do that. But today is baseball. We are officially back. Baseball is back. And the Boston Red Sox have already figured out a way to end their season before it's even started. Lucas Shialito is done for the year, partially torn UCL and they're shutting him down. Jordan Montgomery remains unsigned, although a lot of teams don't want to sign him right now. So I have a strong feeling it's Scott Boris.

And include that also includes JD Martinez, Blake Snell, and I think one other Boris client remains unsigned. Snell Martinez Montgomery Chapman already signed, so he's off the board. He's off the hook. Yeah. Yeah.

But just, I'm not really sure, because like, it feels like the Scott Boris kind of reign could be coming to an end shortly, I kind of hope. Because those contracts are just historically bad. One of our guys wrote a story on it. And like four of the top five worst contracts that are currently active are Scott Boris clients. Like they just historically they underperformed.

Yeah, I mean, was he was was Boris the agent for Dallas Keitel and Kimbrel? I don't know about Kimbrel, but a few years ago was, I think, twenty nineteen where those guys went into like June and they were still on sign. Let's see. I would assume he was. Yeah.

Yeah. And then, so he went well in that season, unsigned. And it was just incredible. I mean, these teams are like, hey, here's one player. We don't need to break the bank for this guy. And Keiko, he hasn't been the same since. I mean, is he still, he's sort of hanging around. I think he was with Minnesota last year, the year before, but.

I don't know. Yeah, I don't know if it's the rain is coming to an end, but like teams are just not playing hardball with Boris anymore. You know, we're at six and the reigning Cy Young award winner does not have a team. I mean, Kaiko, like Kaiko, I brought that up. He was he had won a Cy Young in 2015, maybe. Or was it 17? I don't remember, but he wasn't coming off a Cy Young year. I mean, Snell is coming off his second Cy Young. He's won one in both leagues.

But teams just aren't biting. They just don't buy it and they just don't want to deal with Boris. They don't want to sign him for seven years into his late thirties or whatever. It's, um, it's a bad look. It is. Yeah. Um, just trying to find when he won the Cy Young, Keiko, when Keiko won the Cy Young. Um, can't find it's not showing me on baseball reference. Hold on.

Anyways, but 2015 2015 when they yeah, first year where they really broke onto the scene as yeah, the the most recent story on Dallas kikel was from December 19th 2023 and it has to do with a 200 or 2 .1 million dollar mansion with a wet bar So that clearly shows kind of

where he's at in baseball right now. He was, he pitched for the twins last year. So I just, that when, when has those massive, one of those massive contracts ever worked out? Like, I can't really imagine a time when those players lived up like Albert Pujols. I remember he signed that $500 million, $400 million contract at the angels and he had like a couple of good years. And then it was like, okay, he's old now. Like he's not Pujols on the Cardinals anymore. Right.

I can only hope that happens to a tiny but Yeah, I mean it's also guys that are older these are guys that are Montgomery is the one that's a little surprising still I think in the prime, but he's never been ace like a an ace he's not an ace Yeah, very easy to ease a is a two on a okay team a three on a pretty good Right. I mean Montgomery's 31. So I'm not talking about a kid here either. Yeah, I mean

I mean, he's actually what? He's actually the same age as snow. Just feels like snow has been around longer. Yeah. Well, we can't forget snow getting pulled in the World Series. I mean, that's still the most outrageous thing ever. I don't know how like Kevin Cash still has a job.

Well, yeah, I mean, keeps winning manager of the year, but never winning in the postseason. Yeah. So let's, I want to go into each team. We'll spend probably a minute or two just talking about each team. We're going to start in the Grapefruit League because I'm just looking at the standings. Baltimore Orioles, brand new owner, made another big free agent signing, acquiring, oh my goodness, what's the pitcher's name? I saw him pitch at spring training.

We're talking Corbin Burns. So I'm not a Carl Corbin burns. Yep. Made a big, big splash with that. I love smelly out of all first, right? If we're talking about those free agents. Yeah. I think if it, if it becomes a thing where he'll take a short -term deal, I mean, that's been floated as possibility new ownership, you know, the, the willingness to spend Corbin burns. They traded for is on he's a, he's in a walk here. So this is in, in essence, he's a rental at this point.

And so if you get Snell on a short -term deal, you're, you've suddenly gone from this building this thing from the ground up to win now, but this is where we're here. Yeah. You know, all in year. And, um, I think, I think the Orioles do need another starter right now. I, I don't think Grayson Rodriguez is, is ready. He's, he's not, he hasn't had a full year of the big leagues yet. You know, he was sent back to the minors at one point last year. Kramer's inconsistent. I think there's too much uncertainty around Wells.

Um, around Irvin, I mean, I think they have their ACE, but Bradish is, Bradish is a big question mark because he's, he's had, you know, uh, UCL issues. We'll see what that leads to. I would love to see them get another free agent right now. The worst signing they've made is Craig Kimbrel. He's been awful in spring training. I'm sure anyone could have told you that that was going to happen. They can't use him as the closer. I think he proved that with the Phillies. He proved that with the Red Sox and the World Series. He's not.

You know, Craig Kimbrel of 2014 or whatever. I almost equated when he was with the Red Sox. He almost felt like a Jonathan Papelbaum type because Papelbaum would always load the bases and then you get out. That was his thing. But Kimbrel wouldn't get out of it sometimes. And you're like, motherfucker, like this guy just isn't your you can be Jonathan Papelbaum until you actually give up the rounds. You can't give up those runs every every game in the postseason with Kimbrel was a heart attack.

Like we almost had to go back to Boston for game five against New York in the ALDS that year. Just the only reason we didn't was because our third baseman, I think it was, shoot, it wasn't Devers at the time. I can't remember who it was, but he made it. He made it, just made a great play on a, on a like easy little nub nub ball. And. Yeah. Kimberl almost lost us that series. It was probably Brock Holt who was just, he just took over that series against the Yankees. Yeah.

Let me see. I mean, they won like 16 to 1. They destroyed Severino and they won the two games in the Bronx and then they were playing New York, New York on the boombox after the game. Let me see here. It was...

full cap of uh where is this oh they had bucky dent throw out the ceremonial first pitch in game four of that series that's evil that's evil oh my goodness uh where's craig kimbrough aron judge it wasn't a i know it wasn't a big name it wasn't a big name guy honestly it was like eddie rosario not eddie rosario

Let me see here. Anyways, we can go to Boston here. They're eight and four in the Grapefruit League. So that's the probably the only time we're going to be near the top of the standings and anything. Although the last one, they won the Grapefruit League in 2018. They won the World Series. So if so, back though, we're going on a run now. This Red Sox team is getting calls. The fans are calling for John Henry to sell the team. I mean, this is I would say this is. As dysfunctional, if not worse than in.

2011 -2012 like the end of 2011 and then that entire 2012 season with Bobby Valentine There was just no future there. It felt like there was no future and then obviously they went in 2013 but 2014 and 2015 they were bad, but there was a future like there was okay We have some young guys coming up. Okay, that's just coming up through the system like there was a real feeling of change and 2011 end of 2011 you blow that huge lead on

in September, I'll never forget it and forget the game against Baltimore. Carl Crawford throwing, trying to gun them down at home. And then 2012 was just, anytime I see that 100 -year patch on a jersey, I get flashbacks, just horrible flashbacks, because that was the 100 -year Fenway Park. Yep. Eduardo Núñez, by the way, that was who made Núñez, yes. Never forget. Because he had a big game in...

was it game one or game two of the World Series? He had a big Homer against the Dodgers. And he was throwing his body around like all game night, the 16 inning game. It felt like he was hurt on every play. Yeah, he had gotten hurt the year before in the ALDS. But the Red Sox, yeah, I mean, it's so weird to see them in this position of not spending, that being called out by former players. Devers, current players calling him out. And current players. Yeah, Gialito, I -

That guy's ruined. I don't know. I don't know what I mean. The Angels, he went there. He was in Cleveland last year. I mean, the fact that he bounced around the three teams, I, you know, reading message boards, it doesn't seem like people are too concerned that he's hurt. I mean, not as the person, you know, you feel for him, obviously, and all that, but I'm talking about as the player. They need that. They need another starter. That's just scratching the surface too. I mean, I think they got, you know, the two ex Dodgers they have in the bullpen are really good. Chris Martin and well.

Henley Jansen, I mean, he has his moments, right? He can be good. Jansen had a good year last year. He had a pretty good year. He gets a bad rap for his postseason misgivings, including against the Red Sox. He blew the same in that 18 inning game. But I like Chris Martin. He had a phenomenal year. As always, the Dodgers take these guys and they fix them and then they become incredible. But I don't know. I don't know. Do you see Boston finishing anywhere outside of

anything about fourth this year in the AL East? I mean, barring a big splurge here and free agency. Part of my psyche about the Red Sox is always forever ruined because 2013 they were the, the beer, you know, whatever the hell they call them. My memory about 2013 being 11 years ago was crazy to me. First of all, like that is insane. And I just can't remember a lot of this stuff now. Like I remember the players, but the beer, the

Bearded whatever, basically the idiots part two. They weren't expected to do anything. I mean, that was in, I mean, Johnny Gomes and Mike Napoli were some of the faces of that team. And then in 2021, they weren't expected to do anything. And then they go on a run to the ALCS to beat the number one seed at Tampa Bay Rays at the time and the ALDS. And I mean, they were two wins away. I mean, they were, they were a called third strike away really from the world series that game in Boston.

Um, evolved, he had a call third strike that wasn't, it just didn't get called. Stop looking at it. Um, I, my psyche is ruined. It's always going to be ruined. No matter what, 50 years from now, if the Red Sox haven't been to the playoffs in 50 years, I'm still going to say, well, there's always 21. There's always 2013, right? Um, I could, I mean, it just feels like everything's already gone wrong. You know, you, you should join Montgomery wants to come to Boston. There's reports.

about him wanting to fidget Fenway and be in a Red Sox uniform. Guarantee he would sign with the Yankees. The Yankees would probably pay him more than we would, but he's holding out because he wants to play in Boston. And now you lose Gilito, who is one of your starters. I mean, we traded away Chris Sale, but Gilito is one of those starters we're really looking forward to, although he was on that typical Red Sox two -year deal with the opt -out or some sort of out at the end of the first year.

It's just barring everything else going right.

I could see them maybe finishing third. I could see maybe like a wild card push in July and they end up getting burned. I think our rotation is somewhat underrated. The Red Sox like can't develop pitching. That's part of the problem. But if you can get Tanner Hauck and you can get Nick Pivetta to really stay healthy all year, I think they can find some footing. But again, Tanner Hauck is the right -handed Chris.

He just looks like he is built for Tommy John. Like that's just his build and those guys, they can literally place the ball in the glove from the mound, but they are both extremely in. So.

Maybe third place, I would say. Um, I don't really believe a lot in the Yankees. Baltimore, I think is going to win the division. Toronto is kind of. I feel like every year Toronto gets hyped up. We do it. They're almost the chargers to me. The dolphins. Um, yeah. Dolphins chargers where they get hyped up, hyped up, hyped up, and then they kind of underperform and Tampa last year felt like the year it had to be done last year. But I feel like Tampa's kind of like that every year where it's like, Oh,

They're not going to be that good and then they go out and play really good baseball over here. So they could find their way in the third. I would say maybe sneak into a wild card spot if everything goes right. But I have a feeling they'll be in the wild card race and they won't sell at the deadline and then they'll get burned and they'll fall apart. Kind of like they did last year. They were somewhat in that wild card race in July.

Yeah, my story on the 2013 Red Sox, that was the first time I ever put a big futures bet down and I won. I had a premonition about the Sox that year. And then, well, unfortunately, obviously if you had the marathon bombings and that only solidified my faith that they were going to rally around it. Cause they'd gotten off to a really good start that year, but nobody was buying into it. Everybody still had the memories of, and I got like 30 to one odds and I was like, well, this is cool. I've never done this before. I never did like a...

I always thought of betting. It's like, you got a game, you put a bet on who's going win the game. Right. And then I was like, that kind of got me into this whole futures bet. And then I got really full of myself and I've kind of like broken even over the years on these other bets. Like I had some that came in, some that didn't, but that was like my claim to fame. I was like, there's just, I don't know why they're going to win the world series this year. And then they had that rallying cry. Poppy gave that speech, right. When they came back, Nava hit that home run, Daniel. And I mean, yeah.

You think about like the magic of winning a championship with a team that's not supposed to it's because guys have one off career years that they will never replicate. Nava, Little Middlebrooks and Johnny Gomes and Mike Napoli and Clay Buchholz was like nine and oh at one point that year. He yeah, he got hurt. He was going to win the Cy Young. Like he was almost a lock to win the Cy Young and then he got hurt and he came back and he wasn't quite what he was, but he still was pretty damn good.

And Koji and his high fives, I mean, it was unhittable, that splitter. And what I feel like Yamamoto might be this year, but with 10 extra miles an hour. But I think the Red Sox will be, I think they got a shot. Cause like you said, the rest of the division, Tampa, at some point, Tampa has got to be scarred by all its playoff failures. It's got to know that it just, all it's been doing is overachieving in the rig. Cause they don't spend and the model's great. It's cute. It's all money ball. But until somebody, until a team wins a championship,

actually wins the World Series with that. Not gets there, not gets close, game seven, game six, till they win it. There's just no evidence that you'll ever be like, I don't know. I mean, people say, well, baseball, you can't buy your teams. That's true. But the teams that win, they still spend. The Rangers spend, you know, the Astros, they do spend. The Braves spend, you know, I'm just going back over. Even if it is on the homegrown talent, they spend on their homegrown talent. They lock them down. They also add when they get there.

They add a couple of key pieces. I mean, the Nats, that was a thing. Like when they won it, they felt like an underdog because that was the year they went in as an underdog basically, but they were loaded with talent and they were spending a lot on Scherzer and they'd given Strasburg a pretty big deal, which was expiring. So it's not like in Corbin, they had given Corbin a big deal just before that season. So you have to spend. And so the Rays...

Jays, I admire the Jays for trying to get Otani, even though it felt like that was just all smoke and mirrors was never going to happen. I think Boston can always surprise. I don't think, I think the Orioles, the way I size up the AL East is the Orioles have never, have not dealt with the weight of expectations. This will be the first year the Orioles are expected to be good. And sometimes teams struggle with that the first time they have to do. Last year, the Orioles, well, if they get over 500, it's a big thing. If they get in the playoffs, it's a big day and they go in 101 games.

I think the AL East is more open than people think. Yeah. When Baltimore won their last one, was that 2015? Well, prior to last year, their last division title was 2014. They had 2014, yeah. 2016. And then there's the Yankees, which, I mean, they're so hyped up. They're the favorite of the AL. And there's a team that won 82 games last year. But again, it's...

If you tell the average fan, Garrett Cole, Giancarlo Stanton, Aaron Judge, now Juan Soto, maybe Snell gets in that mix, maybe Montgomery, Rizzo, Torres, LeMay. I mean, the names, there's no question on star power alone, they would be the best team, but it doesn't work like that. And the Yankees have not been to a World Series in a decade and a half. Yeah. The Red Sox have won two in that time.

Yeah, the Yankees in that time have been in the ALCS five times and lost all five times. Yeah. Speaking of Gary Cole, he did just was crying that he gave up a home run in spring training and Vogo back quote took his time on the home run trial. I'm not sure if he's aware that Danny Burgers doesn't have any other speed. That is his like top speed. He's.

He's just running. That's him and he's just complaining about him taking his time. He's the biggest crybaby in the league right now. I mean, at least, right? Because he's always complaining about something. Yeah, by the way, Rodin gave up three runs and three innings today. But I think Garrett Cole is, he has that very pre -Madonna style. He's a Boris guy, of course. That whole thing about where he wouldn't talk after the World Series because he's

was no longer employed by the Astros following the Boris instructions. He's very, he acts very entitled. I mean, remember this is the guy that was the top pick in the draft, all the talent in the world. Yeah. Yeah. That whole thing with them, but there was old thing with him and Alec Manoa, right? I think so. Yeah. They got into a tiff, I guess. But I mean him, the,

The thing that is awesome about him is he just can't perform against the Red Sox. I think no matter what, no matter what, no matter what's going on with these teams, when the Red Sox and Yankees get together, it's just something. There's just something about it. I I don't even think you can say it about the Patriots and their old rivalries now, which obviously we can talk more football next week, but Russ to the Patriots is my favorite pick. Oh my God, I love that.

he's going to play for a league minimum deal. But, um, just, I just, I just always get giddy thinking about Red Sox teams, just something about it. The AL when, when they, he got shelled in the, uh, wild card game in 21, that was awesome. Just fantastic. I mean, and the city was rocking. So that shows like, like baseball is a dead in Boston, which is really frustrating that they, they won't just put in a little bit more.

Because they know like fans are going to show up like fans are always going to show up to Fenway. They're always going to show up to the Red Sox. But if they build a team and especially they're building all these restaurants out around Fenway, they're making it a whole thing now, which is what a lot of teams are doing. They would be making even more money. I just they know people will spend, but they're not going to spend as much like I just don't get it. I really don't. And you have guys sitting out there. You have you have so much opportunity.

to make money with the Red Sox. And I just can't understand it. I really don't. They're too focused on the penguins. Like the Fenway Sports Group. LeBron, actually, I'm placing the blame on LeBron. This is LeBron's fault, because he is a minority owner in Fenway Sports Group now. It's all LeBron's fault. He hates Boston, and that's the only reason he joined. He just wanted to destroy the Red Sox and the city of Boston. So.

Moving on to the next division, I guess. Let's go. Let's talk Astros. So.

What is that? I don't even know what I mean. You lose to the Rangers. You lose the Battle of Texas in the ALCS. Josie Altube seems to be a little reborn to me. That's what's coming out of camp a little bit, I guess.

Uh, yeah, the, the Astros, I mean, they're lack, they're always, well, I don't know about always, but this year they're lackluster in spring training and they always seem to be lackluster in April and May. They, they truly understand pacing themselves in a season and there's no way you win seven straight division titles, win seven straight American league division series without having that, that calm and knowing that the talent is there. The, um, the Rangers though.

could be really good this year. Because it's like the opposite of what's happening in the Orioles where all of a sudden the Orioles have all these expectations because they won 100 games. The Rangers won the World Series, nobody's talking about them. Anybody talking about the Rangers? It's all about the Dodgers in the National League anyway and all their giant additions and the talk is about Scherzer being hurt, Montgomery maybe is gone.

from Texas, you know, and they bullpen problems. Bruce Bochy's teams don't win the year after they win the World Series, right? That's always, they always miss the playoffs the year after. So it's easy to just forget. I mean, because Texas, I don't know, they just, they're not a dynastic team. They hadn't been into the postseason since 2016, but there's a lot of reasons to think. I mean, God, I love, you thought, so they had Simeon and Seeger and everyone talks about Simeon and Seeger. They spent half a billion dollars on those guys.

They were great. Obviously Seager was incredible in the postseason. They got a new duo. They got Evan Carter and Wyatt Langford. And I mean, those two guys and Carter's really looking good in spring training. He's the only guy to get a hit off Yamamoto, but those two kids, I mean, imagine if they play up to their potential and then you couple them with Slein and Seager. You already have Josh Young and Jonah Heim and you know, it's a pretty deep lineup. It's the pitching that's questionable about Texas.

But then there's Houston and it's like, if Orlando could be on the shelf, the beginning of the year, they have a new manager. Oh, they're old, brandly retired. It's like, do we have any doubt the Astros are going to be right there as much as we are tired of it? Do we have any doubt that there and, and they're probably going to do it by winning 90 games, 95 games. It's not going to be, they're not going to, I mean, they've had a couple of those great seasons. I mean, 17, 18 and 19, they were over a hundred wins. And then.

Last, uh, 2022, they won 106, but like last year they, they won the division on the final day, 2021. I think they won 95 games, 2020 joke season, but they had a losing record and still ended up in the ALCS. They literally were two games under. Yeah. So I think they're going to be in it. I was disappointed that Seattle didn't make any big moves. I mean, we didn't hear about them going after each year. Oh, they need another bat. I, I think they should go to your own.

Did I say Ichiro? I meant Otani. They should have gone after Ichiro too. It was also a mistake. Yes. But yeah, I would, we didn't hear about them going after Otani really. I mean, that was it. They were linked as a possible suitor and you know, obviously having had Ichiro that might've set the stage. I mean, Seattle's got some good young talent. They, they won, what'd they win? 88 games, 89 games?

just missed the postseason last year and they were in it. They beat Texas that final game of the season last year. They won that series, but they lost the series before the Astros. Then there's just the angels are so sad. I didn't want to talk about the angel. I mean, they're just, what are they going to do? Or the, or the, or the athletics. I mean, just, oh yeah. How many games are the A's going to lose? Are they moving? They're, they're city that they're moving to. Doesn't even want, they're like, no, like this is not a good idea. Don't come here.

Yeah.

Seattle, maybe without one of its top bullpen pieces for the year now, Matt Brash, it may be done for the year. That could be a big loss. I just see Seattle in that same vein as the Blue Jays. They're good. They might push to win 90 games. They just don't have enough to win a championship at this point. They don't. So to me, the winner of that division is going to be from the state of Texas. And we'll just see which team it'll be. And Texas has not won that division since 2016.

Even though they won the World Series last year. And it says Scherzer and deGrom are aiming midsummer returns, which sets minutes like getting free agent like to two big name free agents basically. Yeah. So they can. If they just keep their heads afloat, I think that's big. Just stay afloat until they get back, get there and then hopefully the crowd can stay healthy to pitch half a season at this point, because good Lord, like the guy just.

He cannot stay healthy and sure, Zuri's getting up there in age, so we really don't know about his health. I thought, and it's interesting, Houston ended up with Josh Hader and they did not need bullpen help. Texas needed a lot of bullpen help. They went out and got a couple of dependable veterans, but the question is David Robertson, Kirby Yates, at this point in their careers, can those guys step in as closers? Can those guys stay healthy for a whole year? That remains to be seen. They were able to patch it together in the postseason. They really rode three guys hard.

to the end, well really Chapman who's gone, LeClerc and Josh Spores, Will Smith's gone, which by the way means the Royals will win the World Series because Will Smith has been on, he's won the last three World Series with three different teams. And then Will Smith won a World Series, the Dodgers Will Smith won a World Series in 2020. So the last four World Series winning teams have had a guy named Will Smith on their roster, just an FYI. But I don't see, I don't know if Texas bullpen, I mean,

Bochi knows how to manage a bullpen and he certainly knows how to in the postseason, but that bullpen almost cost them a ticket to the postseason last year. So that's something to keep in mind. They wouldn't want to. And then the worst division in both leagues, the American League Central. Always, always. They're always the problem. I don't even want to mention the Chicago White Sox. Yeah.

Who's even worth mentioning here? Maybe Cleveland? Possibly? Yeah, the Sensi divisions have not sent a team to the World Series since it sent both teams. Both centrals sent a team in 2016. Cubs Indians, which was... I watched a special on that a couple weeks ago. It was really cool. It was all about game seven and some of the crazy things he forgot about that game. And they had Francona and Madden on. It was like Bob Costas and Tom Verducchi. Anyway.

uh... the central's return to raja davis still doesn't still doesn't get a lot for that home i got that was that

That was epic. He also had an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th. People forget they got them within a run. And if they can hit a gap or there, they tie that game and they're still playing to this day. Uh, I would say that the central, the, the, I just have a problem with baseball and divisions. Like the twins are getting in every year and it's like, Oh, they're the three seed, but they're like the eighth best team when they win the division. It's just cause baseball has to break the teams up by geography.

They don't have to, but they choose to because they want to, you know, whatever, balance out the markets. I guess I get that. But you're talking about the sanctity of really making sure the best teams are playing in the postseason. The best teams are getting home field. The central is always the like the, the, but the, the turd and the punch bowl or whatever you want to call it. Yeah. Of the, of the American league central, could you see any team like surprising? I mean, not.

I'm a little bit bullish on the Tigers this year. I think they've got a lot of young talent. I'm just not sure if it's quite ready to gel, but if not now, like when? There's a lot to like about Detroit, I think. I think they're the only possible team to make the run, I guess. It doesn't really feel like... Minnesota, I would say, what are the odds right now? Well, they're the favorite.

Minnesota to win the debate. Yeah, they're the favorite. So they are I mean, if you're the favorite, like, obviously, you're expected to win that. But I would think Detroit would be the best odds to go on some sort of run and maybe actually represent the AL Central positive. Yeah, Cleveland just bores me. They do they boy, could they use a big bat? To me, they're always a good pitching team. Cleveland, they always have the pitching. Although Trevor Stefan, I mean, that's

keep an eye, he might be out for a little while. He's been one of their best relievers the last couple of years. They've got some exciting young arms and they still have Shane Bieber, Kristen McKenzie. Cleveland, like, but to me the problem is Cleveland is just another Minnesota. Like Detroit, if you're looking for a team that could maybe actually break through and then elevate closer to the other teams with the talent on the roster in the pipeline, Detroit stands out more. But if you look at the odds,

The twins are basically even money to win. I'm just looking at DraftKings. Twins are even money to win that division. And then you got the minus 115. Tigers and Guardians plus 350. The Royals, the Royals actually spent a little money. They picked up a few starters this year. They're trying to beef up their rotation. I mean, I can't see them. I mean, again, though, with Bobby Witt and Sal Perez, they got Michael Wacha. They have Cole Regans, who was great. They picked up Seth Lugo.

As I mentioned, they have Will Smith, so their World Series odds are very much in play. Um, and Jay Melendez, I think the Royals, I don't know. I mean, like, I don't, it wouldn't shock me if the Royals hovered around 500 this year. What I don't think there can really, they're ready to make a run, but in that division, like, you don't even have to be good. You can squeak in and that's what they did right in 2014. They hadn't made the postseason in 29 years. They squeaked in as the wild card and then.

snap your fingers there in game seven of the World Series. So. Mm hmm. Yeah. And then I guess before we go to the National League, who would benefit in the American League from Trevor Bauer the most? I think he's a he's definitely a big piece that I mean, he's just out there and there's so many players that are like they're talking positively about them. They're like they're endorsing him. They're saying, yeah, we would.

I mean, Trevor Bauer would be great to have back in base because he was exonerated from those charges. So he is not guilty.

I think it would be a small market team. I don't think any big market team needs that headache of having him. But I actually think since we're talking about the AL Central, I think one of those teams, Minnesota, Detroit, Kansas City, or Cleveland, I think he'd fit in great there because he can fly a little more under the radar. Is he remorseful? Has he learned anything? Will teammates embrace him? Who knows?

I think some teammates are against him. They say he's annoying to deal with. And then there's others that are like, he's a great clubhouse. We don't obviously we don't know, you know, what what he really is. But he seems like there's like a pretty positive understanding. I'm not 100 percent sure. I guess I personally don't like him. I just don't like like ballplayers and especially like YouTubers like that.

just the way he makes content, but that has nothing to do with his actual pitching because as a pitcher, I mean, you look at his stats in Japan, he had pretty good stats this past year. Like he's, I remember they said, oh, he got sent down to the minors and he was struggling a little bit, but overall he really leveled out and he's seen, hopefully he can return to what he was. Yeah. I mean, I think younger guys would probably be more willing to play with him. I think it might be veteran guys who.

are concerned and preconceived notions and things like that. I think a young team would probably benefit from having him and he could actually have a chance to step in. I think on a team with a lot of stars, it's easy to get caught up in your personality. But I think if he goes to a team like the Royals, he knows he probably has to set a good example, as best he can, moving forward, turnover, and relief. But man, I think he'd still be a good pitcher. We're just talking about Trevor Bauer, the pitcher.

From what I've seen and what I heard he did in Japan and what he was doing with the Dodgers before all that shit at the fan, he's still got it. He's still got a lot in the tank. Maybe not a lot, but he's still got something and would be a real bar. Didn't he say he'd pitch for the league minimum too? Is that him? Yeah, he said he would go for the minimum. Yeah. He said he would go for the minimum. He would. Yeah, I would understand older guys not wanting to be around them. They don't want to be around the cameras. They don't want.

social media stuff, but a lot of those young guys really, they would probably benefit. I mean, I'm sure like building up some guys social presence is good for team morale, you know, and helps you make a little bit more money and sponsorship deals and stuff. Maybe, I mean, one big marketing I could see doing it just because he's cheap are the red sox. Like they need a pitcher, you know, Chile, those gone. They not they don't want to spend money. They could get them on a league minimum deal.

And I think Bauer has come out and he's been pretty positive about wanting to pitch at Fenway. Yeah.

Yeah, that would be definitely not right and it would settle the cheapness part of the Red Sox. So yeah. All right. So the National League. I want to talk about the Mets because one of my favorite Internet personalities is Frank the Tank. Massive Mets fan has season tickets, constantly gets into arguments with fans because he wants the Mets to win and they just care about going to watch the games.

And they had a historic collapse two years ago. Collapse choke. I don't know what you want to call it. There was a big debate about that. And then last year it was, I mean, it was, it was all over. It was literally felt like the Mets were going to win the world series in June of 2022. And then by literally in one year, it was like, okay, they're done. Like it's just the Mets.

Well, I can thank the Mets for the AO West having the epic battle it had because Rolander and Scherzer became Texans. I don't know. I don't know how you fixed the Mets. I mean, they clearly don't seem keen on going back into a rebuild, but yet they're kind of forced into it because I think they made a legit push for Yamamoto. I don't have any doubt. I know that Otani, there was no way he was going to the East Coast, but...

Oh, and what's his name? Senga? Yeah, he's I don't know how long he was out. It's gonna be an extended period of time though. Mets fans probably get PTSD every time there's a, you know, an injury, a picture, you know, deGrom. I mean, think about 2015, almost a decade ago now, scary to think, but Harvey deGrom, Wheeler of all those guys is the one that's been the healthiest and most consistent. DeGrom has had the biggest upside. Sindergard is flamed out. Harvey said,

story just never, it just really fell off fast. So I don't know what the Mets are going to do. I mean, they, they are in a, in a rebuild and then I don't see them competing to win that division. I don't know what, cause if it was maybe just one team and it was a house of cards, but the Braves are a sturdy outfit and they are really, really good. And it'd be, it's hard to imagine anyone, even the Phillies winning that division, I wouldn't count the Phillies out of it, but I see the Braves, you know,

way up here. You've got the Phillies who may be close, but not there yet. And then the Mets and the Marlins are kind of in the same vicinity. I mean, the Marlins made the postseason last year. It was a big deal for them. But they didn't, I don't know, it didn't seem like they're doing much to capitalize on their momentum from last year. Didn't really make any big moves. And then the Nats. I mean, they're in a rebuild, but the Nats...

It looked a one with 70 games last year that Dave Martinez did a great job underratedly great job last year. They got a young core there still a few years away but. They're not gonna be a pushover at the very least I don't think you'll you'll see a team that's just a complete pushover either so it's pretty it's a pretty talented division all things considered. Yeah and then yeah the Braves I mean I think one of the big ones.

underrated ones was Chris sale and that's underrated because This is injury history and but if they make a deep run, I feel like you could definitely have a big impact

Oh, absolutely. I mean, you know, a healthy Strider. You know, favorite for Sion Max Fried in that discussion and Chris Sale really, because I guess Charlie Morton is coming back. He's still in the mix for another year. And then you got these. She's how old is he? Bryce Elder and Dodd. I think Charlie Morton's on the bright. I'm not missing anything. Am I fall off the 40? He's he's no, he's with the brave. So.

pitching is there. I mean, it's been weird to see the Braves. They win the World Series in 21 with 88 wins and then the last two years they have incredible regular seasons and lose to the Phillies in the first round. And so it's, it's just, I mean, the Braves last year were like one of the best offensive teams of all time. They were like borderline there and they fizzle out. Yeah. Well, one short series against good pitching just completely indicates a great lineup, but.

Keep an eye on Acuna's knee and the meniscus problem. The Braves hope that doesn't affect his play this year, but you had him at the top and Albies and Riley and Olson and Michael Harris. I mean, they're loaded. They're loaded. There's no reason the Braves, even with the Dodgers getting Otani and Yamamoto, I still think that Braves can give them a run for their money in the NL. But a lot of it's just gonna come down to pitching. How healthy are they? And the Braves bullpen, it's not been great the last few years. It's not, I don't know that.

When they won it in 21, they really got, of course Will Smith was in the mix, and then you had Matzik and you had AJ Minter all had great post -seasons. But the Braves bullpen the last two years, I don't know. That could be an area where they struggle too. But yeah, I anticipate them winning the division barring a slew of injuries. But don't sleep on the Phillies, because hey, the Phillies have been in the NLCS two years in a row, went to the World Series. And don't sleep on the Phillies maybe getting Snell or Montgomery on a short -term deal. They got your guy, Dave Dumbrowsky.

Yeah, he's going to sell the farm like that. That's if we know one thing about Dave Dombrowski is he will pillage your entire village like he'll come in, destroy everything. But he's going to bring you a title. He'll be there basically until they win a title and then he's off somewhere else. I was watching Moneyball the other day and there's always that scene where Brad Pitt, you know, he goes, Oh, get me David Dombrowski on the phone. I'm like, Jesus Christ, this guy's been doing it since.

Since money ball like that's insane and he just I mean if you win titles, I guess that's good but ruin the team and look where the Red Sox are at after after his reign but yeah All right, so the central to the net nl central Cub the Cubbies are the team that I really like out of the nl central right they uh You know resigning cody bellinger was big um bellinger scott loris client, um, just

Couldn't get the deal he wanted. I want to say he wanted like $300 million and he got 80.

Yeah, I mean, who knows? Poor guy. I don't know why he's going to feed his family on like three years 80. That's going to be tough. You might not get to it. I Good Lord. $200 million. Yeah. I know we were ripping on the Central, certainly the AL Central. The AL Central, the pirates are just a... I forgot what I A joke. They're just a business. They're just a break even, try to make a profit business, right? They're not...

serious about winning. Although they did get a role of this Chapman, presumably so they could flip him at the deadline for. Gorgeous stadium. I'll give that to them. Gorgeous. Probably my favorite National League stadium. That or San Francisco. Yeah. But the Pirates or the Brewers have been good, but they're very Minnesota twinsy. I mean, and now, and trading burns. Like, I mean, I like Joey Ortiz. I wasn't thrilled the Orioles got rid of him, but he was in a log jam and DL Hall has got a great arm.

question is whether he could thrive as a starter or he's bullpen guy. So I don't know that the Brewers even, I mean, even in a walk here for Burns, it was smarter than to pick up a couple of guys, but, and they got Chorio, I don't know how you pronounce his name, that top prospect. So it'd be exciting to see him. But I think the three other three teams in the central are all worth keeping an eye on. The Cubs, they were basically like a drop fly ball away from being a postseason team last year. Sneaky drop to fly ball against the Braves, cost them a game.

They end up missing the playoffs by a game or two. The Reds were right in that same boat. The Reds have a lot of pitching, although now question about, oh God, who was the guy that just was shut down? Was it Lidolo? I think it was Lidolo. But they got some hitters. Jonathan India, very confidently predicting the Reds are going to make the playoffs this year. Of course, this was the guy that was almost traded. And then the - LA -Dela -Cruz.

And they got LA, LA, Delacruz and Spencer Steer. They got some hitters and Cardasio and Strand. Um, so the reds, the Cubs, and then there's the Cardinals who you forget the Cardinals still have. And gold Schmidt in their lineup. They went out, they get sunny gray, who now is starting the season on the IL with a hamstring injury. And, um, they went out, they got Lance, went out Lance Lynn. I don't, he saw him in the post season last year. I don't think you're getting a whole lot. They got Kyle Gibson. I thought he did a nice job for the Orioles. He's not.

He's a middle of the rotation guy, innings eater. I don't know that the Cardinals will necessarily compete for the division, but I think the Reds and the Cubs will have a nice little battle this year. I do. And I think the Cubs quietly picked up Imanaga. So they got themselves, he's not Yamamoto, but he's a pitcher that had success in Japan. They're hoping Justin Steele can build off of what he did last year. Yes, they lost Stroman, so they're going to have to replace that. They got Hector Naris. I like that pickup.

He did. He's been great for the Astros for a few. He was good with the Phillies too, but you would never know it because Philly fans would probably just bring up every blown save you ever had. And then the lineup with, you Bellinger and Swanson and their top prospect, Pete Crow Armstrong there. Yeah, there's definitely understandably some excitement in the Windy City this year. Are the Cubs a World Series caliber team? Probably not on paper at the moment, but the beauty of baseball is you don't know what the trade deadline is going to bring. So.

Yeah, the central will be a little better than the AL central to say the least. Is Paul Paul skeins going to be distracted by Libby Dunn during this season? Because because they are, do you know who Libby Dunn has? No, but I haven't heard of her. She's a LSU gymnast that went viral on TikTok because she's attractive. And she's dating Paul skeins, obviously the big name pitcher.

And when he was in Bradenton, she was at the game and that was a whole big deal. I mean, it was, was whatever. It's just stupid shit. But, um, actually when he was in Bradenton, here's a little to add onto your moneymaking or they treated it as a business. He was in Bradenton. They jacked the prices up for the minor league games. He pitched two innings, I think maybe one inning. Um, he, I think he had two starts. They were promoting it all over the Bradenton Marauders Instagram.

pushing it out, acting like this is like the biggest moment in their history. They doubled the price or tripled the price of tickets and then he pitched one or two of these. And that was like a schedule that was scheduled. That was like a design thing. So just clearly they care nothing about the fans or anything like that. I think the players should easy for me to say, but marry a nice normal down to earth girl. I was like Clayton Kershaw's wife. You know, I mean Clayton Kershaw of course, well now famous.

nice looking guy, but even they got married when they met in high school and she's like a nice, you know, detractive, but normal downer. She's not going to be on the cover of any magazines. And of course, you know, say what you want about his postseason, but he's had a pretty nice career. So I don't know. I don't really believe a lot of celebrity relationships anyways. I don't think a lot of them are real. I mean, obviously there's a few that you just have, like I think Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are, they seem like they actually.

care about each other and love each other. But like a lot of these, like, honestly, you could even probably say that about the Travis Kelsey Taylor Swift, like, yeah, they maybe maybe putting on a little bit of an extra show, like maybe they like hanging out, blah, blah, blah. I'm like, I don't know. I don't know. I'm not going to get too far into it. And then the NL West, the Titan of the National League, the Los Angeles Dodgers just

How much more can they add and underperform? It can't, it almost like it has to happen, right? Like you can't do all of this and not win a World Series. Because if you don't win this year, what else are you gonna do? Well, the thing is, I mean, they're set up for a long time, which is a scary thought. I mean, it's been tough to see. I mean, it's been tough to see this team.

not only emulate the Yankees, but maybe take it even a step further from what they've done. And do they win it this year? Do they win it next year? I mean, shoot, Otani is going to be in the rotation next year. Now we're assuming he's going to be the same guy he's been. I don't see why he wouldn't, but you never know after two Tommy Johns. But yeah, I mean, that's the thing is see the part of me though, thinks that the records in recent years, the Dodgers have always overachieved in the regular season, you know,

They've always been good, but then you look, you're like, are they really a 106 -win team? Is it a product of the divisions? Is it a product of just guys can put up big numbers over long stretches of a season, but not necessarily in a shorter term? I don't know. Or the fact is the Dodgers go into all these seasons so loaded, they don't need to maybe adjust at the trade deadline, but then other teams do, and other teams catch up. The Atlanta caught up to them in 2021 when they made all those.

outfielder trades, right? And then last year, Arizona beefed up its team and it showed in the postseason when they went head to head. And the Padres added what, Hayter and Soto in 2022. And it was like, well, yeah, the Dodgers beat up on them in the regular season, but now they got these guys and match up head to head. It's a little different. I mean, I, again, maybe it's just, you know, the opposite of rose colored lenses. It's hard for me to see them not winning the World Series this year.

And my hope is that someone in the field, as they say they call it, will step up. But yeah, it's insane what they've done. And I mean, they already were a 100 -win team with tons of high -priced talent, Betz and Freeman. Now you add Otani and Yamamoto and Glasnow and Teasca Hernandez. And yeah, it's...

you think about like the Rockies. Look at the Rockies in the NOS. Are they going to go 0 -13 against the Dodgers this year? I don't know. It's like it's hard, especially for baseball because they play so many games. It's like hard to say, yeah, they're not going to be able to beat them once because I mean, any given, literally any given day you can have teams beat other teams. Like that's just, that's just baseball. But that's the most likely scenario I think for this season.

I mean, good Lord, they are the, the, I don't even think they should play in the same league. They really should like that. We need, we got to go to like the soccer style of like have the premier league and, and the Rockies are like in that local neighborhood team. Like that is just so bad. I mean, at least they play a mile high, just another gorgeous stadium. I would love to visit that stadium. Um, the thing with the Dodgers too, to keep in mind is there, if you can look at all the stars.

Their prospects, oh my God. And if you've seen any in spring training, they got guys like Kyle Heard and Andy Pahez, Pahez, whatever, young guys that are coming through the system. Bobby Miller, who pitched last year, they've got a couple catching prospects, Diego Cartella and Dalton Rush. And then they have these guys like all the ex Red Sox that step up for them, Joe Kelly and Ryan Brazier. And last year, Shelby Miller had an incredible year. It's the guys you don't think about.

that just dominate, have the best years of their career. So that's the scary proposition. It's not just like, okay, they got these stars and then there's nobody else. And then all these other guys that have stepped up over the years and came from nothing. Chris Taylor and Max Muncie. Last year Hayward had a renaissance. I mean, it's crazy. I don't know. There's a cheat lab, cheat lab going on there too. It just makes it that much. I would assume Kershaw came back, but she's gonna start the season on the IL. They already shut it down, but.

I would assume he came back because he's like, yeah, this has to be the year. Like, and even like just, it almost feels like the team of destiny when Kershaw comes back. Like he does add that, that wrinkle because he's been there and he's failed like so many times. Like it's been literally there's like tons and tons of stats. You look up just Clayton Kershaw playoffs and insult stats pop up immediately. Right. They have, and they're still chasing their first full season world series in 36 years.

Yeah, they won in 2020, but it feels like they're really trying to prove that they can win a real world series in normal. The further, the further we get away from that world series, I think the more it invalidates it. And in my eyes, especially because the Dodgers are just, I mean, they get swept by the diamond max last year. Like they get, they got, they got their asses kicked in those games too. It wasn't, it didn't even feel like they had a chance in any of them. And it's like, you guys are really telling me that.

They would have done this over 162 game season in 2020. Like they played in total. How many did they play? Like 80 games in total. Like if you include the world series, 78 games that year, they played 78 total 60 regular 18 posts and they beat, you know, I think I did the math. It was like at the time they beat four teams that had had one combined world series win. They beat the Braves in, they came back in three, one in the bubble.

won that series. They beat like a sub 500 Brewers team. They swept the Padres who were just getting back to relevance, beat the Braves and then beat the Rays who as we know don't win championships. So it's like, right. And then the argument then was like, oh, but they played more games at postseason than anyone had. Well, no, now the Rangers have done it. And Corey C was on both teams. Rangers won 13 postseason games and won 11 games on the road in front of crowds, having to travel and do all that.

So you're right, it really invalidates it. The fact that the Dodgers have not been to the World Series the last three years also, I think helps. So every year the Dodgers fail in the playoffs, it is a win for baseball and it is a win for anybody looking to use that evidence of how fluky and how illegitimate that 2020 World Series really was, in my opinion. And people say, if your team had won that year, I wouldn't have wanted the Orioles. You kidding me? That's...

the World Series they're gonna win? Oh my God, no, I'm very thankful it was not a team that hadn't won that won that year because that would have been even worse. At least the Dodgers winning, it's like, okay, well they were good. So it's just their time or whatever. And it's even worse for Tampa because they still got there and they couldn't win. They couldn't even win that. Like that's funnier to me. But yeah, I wouldn't wanna have to win that World Series and then have to defend it for the rest of my life. Like I.

Like every time I say the Red Sox are 10 time World Series champions if they won a 2020 well everyone should be like well like 10 and a quarter or nine and a quarter really like come on and I wouldn't even be able to how could I if the Red Sox won that I'd be like yeah, that was a bullshit World Series We didn't play 100. We didn't play the full season that was designated at the start of the year like that was Just what it was is and that summer camp bullshit that they did and just every I mean the whole thing was

So horrible and I don't want to invalidate the playoff run that the Dodgers had because I would say that was pretty real. I mean, obviously you didn't have they didn't travel when they didn't have to play in front of crowds, but you still got to beat those really, really good teams that did make the playoffs like coming back against the Braves in the NLCS and then beating the Rays. That's those are legit. But factor in, they played 60 regular season games. They played 102 less regular season games. Fatigue is a major factor and.

Fatigue for the Dodgers has been a major factor since then and before that. So, I mean, I would say they're more deserving of a World Series in 2017. We could call that their World Series. Yeah, well, in a sense, I mean, the Dodgers, people forget because it was so long ago, but 1981 was a bit of an asterisk. That was a very unusual year where the strike broke up the years and anybody that had won the first half was automatically going to be in the postseason, but the Dodgers were only 27 and 26.

in the second half. And I think it was something where they may not have made the playoffs, but they changed the format so that they were eligible. And they did play, they actually played a division series that year. So the postseason was a little harder, but again, it was something where they benefited from the shorter season. And so that's two of the last three Dodger World Series that people are like, they're legit, but people will always know that there was something different about those years. You know? Yeah. I think if there's,

If it's not the normal, then you're going to have to put in Hester's son. Yeah. But you just have to. That's it's it's the same thing like the whole there's a hole in one debate of like, is it a hole in one if you're on a part three course? And it's like, if you say, oh, I got a hole in one, but it was on a part three course where you're playing all part threes instead of a full course, it's like, yeah, I got a hole in one, but it was on a part three course. So it's so many more chances. It's an aspect.

rec the minor league stadium, the fences are shorter. It's still a home run, but it wouldn't be a homer and 30 out of 30 MLB ballpark. So, um, as far as the rest of the NL West is to touch on it real quick. I mean, the giants have already been hit with an injury to their rotation. I'm, I'm interested to see if they make a push for Snell or Montgomery. They lost Tristan Beck. They have to sign a big name free agent at some point, right? Like it has to happen. They need to get rid of this narrative that is.

growing every day with like people like Charles Barkley making those comments that people don't want to go there and play there, you know, and Martinez turned down an offer apparently not because of the city, but because it was only for a year or was a certain didn't meet his price. And so, okay, maybe that's true, but players, I mean, in a lot of sports right now are not signing in San Francisco and Giants are still, they play in a beautiful ballpark and they're still a pretty solid team. I think they're a couple of players away from competing. Remember they won 107 games.

in 2021, it was an incredible season. So they're not that far removed from having had success. The Padres, their spending didn't work. Delta Soto, Hader's gone. They didn't get anything for Hader. I mean, they got some guys from the Yankees for Soto. I don't see that. I don't know that I see anybody other than Arizona competing. And then even that, you know, Arizona, I will say I think Arizona getting Erod, having a full year of some of these guys.

Tommy Pham is still on sign, by the way, and he was a big part of their postseason run. But I think Eduardo Rodriguez, Jock Peterson, Eugenio Suarez, they added a couple of power bats to their lineup. They added a potentially pretty solid pitcher to their rotation. I think they'll be in the mix. I think they could probably hang with the Dodgers for half a season in the West. But they know in the back of their minds, like, hey, we finished 16 games out of first last year and kicked the crap out of them in the playoffs, so we just need to get in.

Tommy Pham was at the Super Bowl for the first half and then left. Funny little story. He left and he was like, I'd rather watch this game at home, this game sucks. And then we know what happened in the second half, the game got really, really good. So I bet he regrets that. Maybe he's just sitting at home like regretting it. He's like, I don't want to sign a contract. I just feel so over what we're doing. But yeah. Yeah, I didn't know that. I'm not again.

I'm not a guy to leave any sporting event early. That's not my, that has never been, first I'm like, well, I paid for it. I'm going to stay. I'm getting my, I'm getting my money's worth it. And you never know. You absolutely never know. I've like, I, during the 2013 wild card game, I was trying to go home and then my dad was like, no, we're staying because you're going to either watch them come back or you're going to learn to sit with them and lose. And from that point on, I've always been scarred. Um,

Yeah, most games I've ever left early have come back to bite me. The worst was Patriots were playing the Dolphins on Monday night in 04 and the Pats were on their way to a second straight Super Bowl. And I was just so deflated, no pun intended, because they went up by 11 with four minutes left on the two and 11 Dolphins. And sure enough, as soon as my friend and I left the stadium, that Brady was picked off a couple of times, Dolphins scored two touchdowns, came back. It was one of the...

still one of the bigger upsets in Monday night history and I missed it because I got frustrated that the Pats were just having their way and the fans were being obnoxious on a cold night in Miami. So it was like that happens. Yeah. Yeah. Stick it out, man. You're at the Super Bowl for crying out loud. It was only 10 to three at half time. I don't know what the fan was expecting. I mean, if anything, if it was the 21, 8 to 3 game, I could have seen, all right, well, maybe you leave that, but 10 to 3 at halftime? Come on.

Yeah, that's insane. And then, uh, the uniforms, we got to talk about the uniforms. These things are first off, Michael Rubin going into the public, you know, releasing a statement saying, I don't know why people are getting on us. Like, uh, we're just doing what we were asked. And you know what? I'm going to defend Michael Rubin. Yes. You are right.

Nike approved those uniforms. Those are all Nike's fault and Major League Baseball. They approved the cheap, horrible uniforms. But Fanatics makes, they, first off, they have almost like a borderline monopoly on the sports merchandise market. Second off, they will make some of the worst merchandise I've ever seen. I mean, just look up Fanatics, like product quality, and you'll just see the most negative things. Everyone's hating on them. Everyone hates them.

Their hockey jerseys are especially pretty bad. But like, if you look at the Mariners have a patch on their shoulder or like on the, you know, on the sleep and it's just a Seattle Mariners patch. And before it was an embroidered patch. Everything was embroidered, very high quality. Now it's just like a screen printed patch. They're just like, yeah, we're just, we're mailing this shit in at this point. Um, and they tried to defend it saying, Oh, well last year they wore them at the all -star game and like Mike Trout and these guys loved it.

I'm sure there was plenty of money coming out of their pockets when they were saying that they loved it. These uniforms are just disgusting. And then the ones they're selling to the fans for like 150 bucks, I would rather go to DHK, which anyone, if you want to buy cheap jerseys, go to DHK or Alibaba. You can order them from China. They're fantastic. They're higher quality than anything you'll get from Fanatics. I'm a Fanatics hater, 100%. Everyone at this, you know, at Chaotically Tolerant hates Fanatics.

They are just, I don't understand how they let this happen. How do you let this happen?

I have no idea. All I know is that Fanatic's best move recently was that their sports

I don't know. What's that as bad as like the Jersey patches, the Yankees guys that won't put the Jersey patches on the insurance, right? Who's the guy where Don, he covered it up. Yeah. Uniforms. They should just go back to throwbacks. They should just wear throwbacks all the time or as much as they wear the regular jerseys that would solve. They need to have a little majestic. The problem is majestic. Like they went out of business and then bought out in 2017 and majestic made fantastic jerseys, like super high quality.

great. I still have a Red Sox majestic jersey. They're just gorgeous. And it was like the Nike cool base one. So it's high quality and Nike did make some of the product. But like when you look at like when you see like the old jerseys like the you know, Ted Williams like Mitchell and Nest jersey, those things, that's what they should be wearing on the field and maybe like the material.

might not be the most breathable, but something to that level, like why is Mitchell and Ness making better product than what the players are wearing? Right.

I know Nike has... Nike's ruined the NBA. They've ruined the NBA jerseys. They make those ugly city connect uniforms. Like the Boston Celtics don't need change. The Boston Celtics jersey is like perfect as it is. It's simple. It's, you know, the green and white is perfect. And they have these ugly like gold and but whatever. I don't know what the hell they're doing. The only one is like the Miami Heat one. That's okay. Miami Vice is...

Pretty, I would say pretty good. That style always hits with teams from Miami, but just, I just love hating off an ad. They are the worst, absolute worst. Hate them. All right, well, I think we're going to wrap up there. It was a great episode. Next week, we have a big guest lining up. I'm still not, I think I'm going to announce it on the Monday episode. So listen to Monday's episode.

But we do have a big football guest. We're going to come on, talk combine different players. I'm really curious to hear what he thinks about Daniel Jones. We are going to think about Daniel Jones because reports coming out that the Giants are done with Daniel Jones completely. So I'm curious what he thinks, but we will be bringing him on and make sure to like, subscribe, comment the whole thing. And we will see you next week.