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Saturday, August 3: Full Count Baseball Show
the game. Hello everyone. Welcome back to full count baseball. Uh this is episode two. I'm one of the co host John Luca. Uh Brodice. I'm with. Justin Shin and uh today we're going to be you know of course talking baseball again. So um you know let's get right into it. So John Luca we're going to start off with the J's last. Uh we'll go seven games. Seven games. So they played. They played for a week that they just had. Obviously we'll get to the trade deadline. Uh their moves because they were one of the most active teams 100% a team that made the set. They sent eight guys out. So yeah you know certainly took apart before a bit. Um a bit later. Uh but they had a up and down week kind of they're still I believe they're still around eight games nine games back of a wild card. So if they for sure want to reach the playoffs or have any hope they have to play a lot better pace than this week. Um But Justin they did sweep the defending world champions. Yeah you know what um you know the J's. I don't think many people expected for them to sweep Texas you know Texas is a team that. I mean again you're the defending you're the defending champion right you know you. There's a chip on your shoulder everyone's got a target on your back but the thing is with the Rangers is they. Lately at least we're not you know they weren't doing this year. They're definitely the biggest disappointing disappointing team. Yeah I've been you know I'd considering it's you know you win it you win the first your first title ever and um you know it's just. And now honestly they've kind of disappointed in some way you know that the team has not performed how people have necessarily thought right like if I'm not mistaken I believe they said it's third place in the American League West behind the Houston Astros and the Seattle Mariners who in that division have that divisions just that division is pretty average. Right. Yeah well the well the thing is mainly in the West it's just been Houston in Seattle because they've been starting in Houston's crazy they started last place and the division next thing you know we're looking it's it is August now August 1st officially but you know mid July we're like oh my god they're they take number one they've taken number one but the Rangers you know it's weird because they're only four and a half games back but in some ways it is still a very disappointing year because people thought you know it's the Rangers right and you know when you have a team with guys like Corey Seeger see pictures like Nathan of all the John Gray you know other guys like that it's it's it's it's tough it's tough not to say or it's tough not to have high expectations for a team like that especially a team that recently or that is the defending World Series champions so I think it is you know certainly been a down year for them but you know that being said they're still a very good team and you know what I think I don't think many people thought the Blue Jays would you know take two out of three let alone sweep so yeah but then they were quickly brought down to Earth again against a team that's going for the division it's kind of very makes you very jealous when you're playing meaningful games in August like the Orioles are and the Orioles showed why they're better and they took three or four and they scored double digit runs in two out of the four and yeah just look like the better team well you know what it's it's a very it's a very scary baseball team right that's that that's one thing for sure and you know what the Baltimore Orioles yeah they do get their praises and whatnot but I still think that they are somewhat underrated because you never really see them because I feel like when people talk about the Baltimore Orioles yeah are they on national TV exactly and you know when if you hear if you think of threats you think oh the Yankees are the Dodgers no one right people don't see the Orioles as a first team but you know I think they probably are one of the best teams in baseball right now they've got a very stacked farm system as as we know you know they just recently called up the number one prospect in all of baseball Jax and all of them and what did he do he had a first career all over against I am of course you know I feel like all Toronto teams whenever they go up against like some prospect or whatever they always have their first their first are against Toronto yeah always against Toronto team and wasn't it a long mistake and it was a grand slam right yeah it was he he he had a grand slam he took it yeah well maybe some of the prospects we got back will be there I mean you know what obviously you know we'll get into that in a bit but you know what I think that I think there's going to be some interesting some interesting developments with our farm system yeah so I want to ask you this yeah me and you talked about it a bit last week off camera I said should the Blue Jays trade Vladimir Guerrero Jr. because his value right now on a bad team is probably the highest I mean a couple years ago was probably a bit higher after he came off that second place then almost MVP right it was probably a bit higher than but now it's it's close I mean I mean you know what he's he's proven himself right he's proven that he's he's not a one hit wonder you know if you look at looking at his stats he's you know I'm pretty sure he leads the Jays in just about every offensive category has bumped his batting average to three eleven yeah like his OPS everything the whole thing too is like he's he's gone up honestly ever since he's cut off the dreads ever since he's that's the one thing I noticed ever since he's gotten that haircut he's been he looks younger doesn't he look younger with this haircut yeah you know what you know what some what some what yeah yeah you know what I mean yeah I kind of agree but like yeah you know again it's you know whatever works right and if it and if it if he continues to go on a run and why not keep it all off right like he's hitting again he's hitting three's raised batting average to three eleven he has a 906 OPS and he's 21 homers 70 RBI's he's he's doing everything you could ask for us just again the team around him is not necessarily performing at even half the standards that that Blue Jays fans will up to see right so it's you know in to answer your question personally I don't see the sea with the Jays is they're not that far out right if you think about it it's not like what Baltimore was in 2019 oh yeah they're not like 20 they're not 25 games back no exactly they're not they haven't lost like you look at the White Sox right now for example I believe they're at what like 82 losses or something like that they're they're in contention for one of the worst reasons in major league history yes exactly like the point is is we're not that that far out right but it's expectations right like I'm pretty sure White Sox fans going into the season said yeah they didn't necessarily yeah they didn't they thought this would be kind of a different year you know a little bit of a down year but that's the thing right with the Blue Jays it's they're a team that is very capable of taking anyone on and you know and showing what they can do but the thing is again when that when everyone you can't you know you can't have one guy carry carry a team right and especially in baseball when you have nine different guys in the starting lineup at the same time it's kind of hard for one to just take the reins and pull it out right it's like it's not like hockey where you just get in the same guy out to score three goals or something like that right it's that's why in baseball it's so important to have a good all around team because I feel like you know you do have those one or two superstars but if you have the six seven other guys who can kind of take care of the little things and you know perfect the little things it you know the little things make the big picture right so I feel that's what the J's are but yeah sorry again going off track that's a good answer your question I think that I think that they you know keeping body was a good move because again right they're only a year or two out from becoming a playoff team at least I think so because it's you know again they're not losing 84 games right so it's not like we're necessarily that far out obviously the situation looks worse than with them we all expected as Blue Jays fans but again I do believe that they're going to start off with them a couple of years and I think they'll be back on track so okay should we talk about some of the things they did at the deadline. Absolutely I first want to start off with them trading away Nate Pearson to the Cubs because Nate Pearson you know a year ago or two years ago was looked at a generational guy for the J's you know. And a couple of years you know a starter. Yeah that's really panned out for him. He goes to the Cubs. What do you think about that they've got injected in his first game actually. Yeah he kind of went with a crazy thing he threw he almost threw at a guy's head. Yeah I mean so then he then he like almost hit the guy before that or what exactly happened. I think I think I think it was a brush back and then. Okay. Then I think you actually hit him which is why I kind of got on toss but you know again talking about Nate Pearson you know maybe in some ways a bit of a letdown for Toronto fans you know you think about it. You know the first round draft pick right he was taking 28 overall. In the 2017 then we'll be draft you know he was he was a division one pitcher but then he actually decided to go to the junior college route so that. Well I mean I'm not sure if this was his idea but when you take the junior college route you can get drafted right kids when you play NCAA division. You need to play at least three years so you get drafted 21 he got selected at. I believe he was. I believe he was 21 years old but still it was only a second year at. In college and you already got selected you might have been 20. I think he was 20 or something like that but you know that's still. It's still young but I mean. He was he's a guy who throws very hard you know there were times where he was topping out at 102 103 miles an hour you know he was a guy who would. With a J thought would be the next starter like the next ace. But. You know kind of got hit with injuries and. You know didn't necessarily. It just consistently as. He certainly would have won or the J's would have certainly wanted so. Kind of became a back end bullpen guy but even then it was and. It was hard to trust them in. I lever situations so. Certainly someone who. Not disappointed but. You know bit of a let down. It was his command every time he gets his command was just wow. You can see the you can see the raw talent for sure. He has an arm is a great arm. That's the size the size on in two right it gives such an advantage but the thing is as you said. If you're not if you're throwing you know you could be throwing 105 or 85 if you can't if you can hit his own then. Point just just about both are just as useless right so. Again that's the big thing with him so yeah. Now Justin what do you know about yonderick. So I'll start with Josh Rivera just because I know a little more about him. He was. I believe right now he's playing in double if I'm not mistaken right. Give me one second believe he's playing in the double at least when he was in the Cubs. He was when he was with the in the cub system he was playing double a. He was selected. In the 2023 MLB draft he was. He's a university of Florida product he's a Florida Gator. So. You know it obviously had Florida. Big talent right he's you know could hit. It really well could feel the ball really well he's a shortstop because you could run really well too but. This year honestly it's been it has been a little bit of a struggle. You want me to read off his stats. I have him. It's okay. Oh you got them. Yeah thank you thank you though I. But as I was saying you know this year it's it's been a struggle he's played. He's been playing for the Tennessee Smokies. You know the Chicago Cubs double eight team. He's only been batting 169 with an opius of 537 in 68 games and you know what I think. I think that's a large enough sample size to say. Or to kind of point out the struggles that he's had you know he's. 67 strikeouts and 219 appearances. What do you read the stats off of I'm on sports net. And I have. A 223 average 316 on base and a 345. I'm on baseball I'm on baseball reference. Okay so this sports net might be wrong. Either way the stats aren't impressive either way. Yeah like that's that's the thing right I mean you know what is. You know you feel bad but. Honestly kind of kind of tough right it's. You know it's. He's 23 years old so you you kind of hope that. You know he can get it together because. He's kind of I feel like at least he's kind of getting to his prime. Kind of thing you know it's. You know he just I think with him it's just he needs to figure it out. You know faster than later but. You know and then moving on to. You'll Hendrick off. You'll Hendrick Penango. Okay. Okay. See that's where I messed up. You were reading off Rivera I thought you're. So yeah okay so yeah now I see Rivera. 169 and 260 okay. Yeah so I mean I mean. Yeah yeah. It's okay stuff happens but you know I think Penango is having. Obviously he's having a much better year. He started off the year in. I believe with the South Bend Cubs also you know the Chicago affiliate but that there he was. You raked hit 340. Had an O.P.S. of a thousand sixty one. Not a big Homer guy but. You know when when you're O.P.S. you're you're hitting that much and you're. And you know the batting averages you know they they speak for themselves right. Sorry is South Bend the triple a or a single a. Hi so it's. So the way the minor league levels work it's rookie ball single a high a. Double a triple a major league baseball. Okay so I don't have anything about minor league baseball. Thank you so hold on it's single single so rookie ball. Yeah single a. Hi a double a triple a. Yeah so. After 29 games with South Bend he got. He got promoted. He got promoted to kind of the same team as Josh Rivera the Tennessee Smokies. Yeah. Certainly certainly didn't do the same thing he did in South Bend but I mean it was better than Josh Rivera of course you know he played 55 games so I still think it's a large enough sample size. Uh two twenty three batting average six sixty one and then he just played his first game with the blue J's double the new answer Fisher cats obviously one game. You know you can't really say anything you could go for one or whatever. You know you'll be like oh my goodness he's batting zero it's it doesn't matter right so. Yeah so I mean hopefully they both. They both get better and they both start. You know both get off to a strong start in the Toronto Blue Jays organization so. Hey should we talk about what do you want to talk about next Janssen kakuchi Garcia. There's so many there's so many we can go. We can go with Jimmy because. All right let's go Jimmy Garcia. Yeah so. So this was online. When I first looked at the comments. All most people in like comment sections for post were saying it was a fleecing from the J's point they fleeced the Mariners. They got back Jonathan classe and Jacob is a Jacob yeah Jacob Sharp. Yeah. Yeah so. First off Jimmy Garcia is a reliable guy when he's playing well. Absolutely. Out the bullpen. I'm sure he's going to go to Seattle and I think. I think he already made you know obviously being with the team for at least like a week by now he's made. He made his he made his Seattle debut and he did not disappoint you know I believe he went through a score listening so it was. It was good right so. But yeah Jimmy Garcia you know. At this point or at the time that he got traded to Seattle which was about. You know it's like July 27 to 26 something like that he had just come back from the injured list and. At this point with Toronto. 2.7 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 30 innings and a 3 0 record. He is 33 years old. I think many people forget that he is. You know a little bit on the older side but he's still very effective very very effective he can you know the thing with relievers is you want guys who can shut down. For an inning or 2 at a time right so I think. You know the Mariners certainly got a solid piece considering they are a contending team but. The blue J's also got a couple nice pieces as well. Personally I think Jonathan class say is. A better a better piece than Jacob Sharp you know Jacob Sharp does add catching depth which is. Which will tie into another trade that the blue J's made so. You know this does that catching death you know he was sharp was selected in the 2023 MLB draft in the 17th round. He in his junior in his junior season at the UNLV which is the University of Nevada in Las Vegas he. At 335 and a thousand point two OPS so. This year he has spent his his time at single a with Modesto and he's at 255 with a 773 OPS so. Not bad but. And you know you know baseball America right. Yeah. So you know they do fall sorry baseball what. Baseball America. Yeah they are like the NBA equivalent of like. They pretty much do pro like they they. Yeah exactly. Exactly. Yeah so the thing is Jacob Sharp did not rank and even the top 30. For the Mariners prospects from baseball America so. Really he can yeah he did not actually he did not. When they when they first came out with the list he actually did not make that list so. Hopefully he can come out and then. Jonathan class a funny enough to the same age but because Jonathan class a was signed as an international free agent he was. I think in some ways he had an advantage because he got to develop and professional baseball obviously much earlier right he signed. I believe you know when you look 17 18 or something like that so he's already played 19. He's already played 19 games and he's already yes he already has played 19 games in the major leagues for the Seattle Mariners. He made his debut in April I believe. But he spent most of this year in triple way you know he's hit or with with with Tacoma which is the Seattle triple affiliate. He's hit two seventy four eight six eight fifty six OBS again this is at the time that he got traded so obviously stats will be different because. He is in Buffalo but. You know that that's what he was doing at the time but the thing with him is it's more. It's it's his running ability right he the guy can run he steals his 26 stolen bases and in 59 games right so it's. You know that's not that's not like Ellie did like Cruz type of numbers but you know what he still runs better than. I feel like most most of like the average prospect in in a farm system so that's what I feel but yeah. Who should we any anywhere next you want to go should we go coaching Janssen. We'll go we'll go you know we'll go. Turner. Yeah you know what we can stick with the Seattle because we can stick with Seattle because we'll go we'll go just in Turner. Okay. Yeah so. We got back I can let you I can let you take I'm sorry I didn't let you talk at all in the last little bit but I can let you. Okay. Okay. What do you have so. So for Justin Turner we received. Oh no. RJ. Shrek. Yes RJ Shrek. I pronounced it right. Okay. Who played for New Hampshire. Do you know what their team name is called. The the the Fisher Cats I believe. I think that's. No idea I'm asking you. New Hampshire. New Hampshire is a. It's an. In the globe. But I don't know what they're. If he's playing for New Hampshire right now that it means he is in. Then he's in the Toronto system so it's. Oh right right right right. And then this year. Sorry sorry sorry. Yeah so this year we spent time with Arkansas. Don't know the team name. And you know the Arkansas travelers they are the double affiliate of the Seattle Mariners. And Everett. Yeah the Everett Equisox did a high affiliate of the. So he's played more with. Everett. Yeah. You know what it's. I'll feel prospects. Ninth round pick. Out of Vanderbilt in 2023. You know I don't know about him. He looks good. Maybe potentially could feature in a. He is 24 years old. So he is entering the stage where if he he's going to make a run. At the team it has to be the next couple of years. Yeah it has to be like basically like soon. You know what I mean like at least within I'd say within the next year. He has to do that. So you're right. So. You know but I don't really know much about him but Danny Jan. Sorry Justin Turner. Did you see his post his quote where he said he was like he let a whole nation down. Yeah you know what I. Well you know what some of these trades honestly they bring up a lot of emotions because you know. A lot of people when they come to Toronto they one thing that. You know a lot of players especially in baseball do is they embrace. Being in Toronto and I feel like Justin Turner was. You know in one of those examples right you know right. Yeah. You know what you know what he. And the thing is to is the fan love you right obviously you know you want to perform. But if you know if you don't. If you don't perform right if. You know as long as you say the right things. And you know you have a pretty good attitude just about what you know how everything's going. I feel like in some way that'll help right like we'll get it. We'll talk about that later because this. It ties into another important trade. Kevin or another trade Kevin here my heart but I'm. Justin Turner in Toronto. Honestly considering. He's had a very up and down year honestly his stats are not. Terrible two fifty seven batting average. Six homers thirty one RBI is in the seven twenty four O.P.S. but the thing is is. I think he was a he was a good presence because of his of his veteran status. Right you think about it he's. He's a world series champion. Right and many of the guys who. Play on the Blue Jays. Many of them are young guys so many of them are not. You know obviously they experienced the playoffs for the last two years but even then it was. They didn't win a single game they went on four and two playoffs series but. You look at Justin Turner he's played for. He's played for the Dodger he played for the Dodgers for numerous years and obviously the Dodgers being the Dodgers you know. Made the playoffs. Basically like pretty much every year he was there which was from. Well I'm mistaken it was twenty fourteen to twenty twenty two. So he you know he he certainly played a role there and you know what. That's the thing right it being a veteran presence. In the clubhouse can certainly shift teams around which is why I think the Seattle Mariners got a pretty decent pick up with him so. Yeah. Okay before we talk about Cure Meyer because I want to transition that. To the Dodgers how they pretty much by everyone. Lastly because there's a bunch they did. We don't have to go through IKF going to Pittsburgh. Yeah. Right. We don't have to go talk about Trevor Richards. Let's do kakuchi. Yeah you know what he had a good a fan favorite a fan favorite. Yeah he had a decent year. Kind of. So kakuchi what we got back back for him we got back. Jake Bloss who was a pitcher. Joey Loperfito. He has to be Italian. Yeah. Now another guy man. That's your guy man. Yeah. I'm all welcome to the people going to play for team Italy. In the world baseball class. Absolutely need more of them. And they got back world Wagner. Yes son of son of Bill Wagner one of the best closers. Probably not. Okay. So the I think the most established out of these three is I'm pretty sure. Well the one with the highest ceiling is probably Jake Bloss. I'm assuming. Yeah. Yeah him and well you know what even even Loperfito. I feel because you know Loperfito is a. Loperfito. I think he's. He started with the Astros. Yeah. And you know what he hasn't done. He hasn't done that bad. So it's he's been pretty solid. I mean for right. Yeah for a guy who got called up not long ago. It's yeah. You know what you know you. It's a guy who can certainly get it done right. Jake Bloss is the same thing right you know they're both young. Loperfito's 25. You know and Bloss is. 23 I believe he made his big league debut this year as long as as well as Loperfito. Loperfito he's a he's a Duke product he's a Duke Blue Devils product and you know what he was. Honestly in his in his minor league career he's been. He's been more than solid in the four seasons that he spent in the Houston Astros system. Splitting time between I believe it was single a and triple a so. He pretty much just skipped rookie ball and went through the other teams. Hitting you know he had 281 with an 873 OPS 52 homers and 186 RBI's in his minor league career so. I think the Blue Jays certainly did well with this pickup. And with Jake Bloss as well right you know Bloss. You know he started you know obviously with when you as a pitcher it's different you only started three games. So it's you know and obviously it's normal to have bad starts right you're not going to be on all the time so. But you know he was still he's. He is 23 years old so I think we. You know cut him some slack because he's got stuff he's got stuff right so. And same with Loper Fito being 25 years old so congrats to Joey Loper Fito got his first hit with the Blue Jays. Couple nights ago I believe so. Absolutely good for him but yeah let's go. Okay last one we'll talk about okay Kev. He was one of the many that went to the Dodgers. Oh man an emotional an emotional time for not only Blue Jays fan but Kevin Kiermeyer so. Kiermeyer what a story. He looked good in that he looked good in that black night mode Jersey. I thought yeah all the players have been. He's he's the he is the prime example of a guy who is. You know a man of the people a guy who fully embraced being in Toronto you know. And especially as someone who the Jays played a lot because he was a Tampa Bay for the first 12 years of his major league career. Or sorry sorry for the first 10 years of his major league career excuse me. But you know so Kiermeyer. About earlier last month. Announced that this season will be his last that he will be officially retiring from the game of baseball. You know first off what a great career for him. He's certainly known for. Oh man for go go for go. You know he is he wearing a diamond. Or plat. What's it called. A platinum. Yeah. I don't know if he's one platinum I can't remember but you know what. I think so. Obviously with the bat he hasn't necessarily performed he's even acknowledged it. Himself but you know what certainly one of the best defensive center fielders. I think of all time. You know he's. You know I remember watching Kevin Pilar in 2015 16 this is basically what he's doing all over again at the age of 33 or 34 which is. It's not easy to do right so. You know I think it's definitely it's definitely huge but yeah so. So the guy that the J's got back for Kevin Keirmeyer is a proven major league player. Good old Ryan Yarbrough. A bra. Yeah Yarbrough he was. He was teammates with Kevin Keirmeyer. For for a number of years. They were both in the Tampa Bay. They both play. You see my baseball knowledge doesn't go back. That he was in the race. He played this year with the Dodgers. 67.1 innings 3 74 ERA. Yeah. 25 walks and struck struck struck out 39. Obviously not in it. He's good but he's not part. He won't be part of the long term. Maybe. I mean. I mean I don't see I don't see him as a guy who will be. Yeah if the J's kick is he a free agent coming up. Yeah he will be because the contract that he signed with the Dodgers was one year and 3.9 million so. So he won't be back next year probably. Yeah he'll help the bullpen the remaining of the season if the J's are in. Hot down the stretch you can help us. But let's talk about now. The winners of the deadline and obviously there's one team that added everyone. The Dodgers obviously they added Jack Flaherty. Oh Jack Flaherty. He's had Jack Flaherty. What a year. What a year. Yeah I mean a lot of the you know I mean Rosario going back to the Dodgers because he was actually a Dodger. Before right? Yeah I believe last year he was. I know I don't know what so but. I don't think so no no but he was he was there at least last year. But Rosario is a. You know utility utility guy right it's. Sorry brain fart lost my trying to thought. No he's played he's played you know he's played shortstop he's played second base third base. And he's you can throw him in the outfield too. So he's only he only played for the Dodgers. One year which is last year. He was shifted from I believe it was Cleveland. And I believe he was a Cleveland I believe he played for Cleveland and I got shifted over. You know a guy who can who can swing the bat pretty well and this year you know 748 OPS but. Excuse me hitting real seven. So a guy you could swing the bat pretty well and he's a utility player so he can plug in multiple holes right so. I think that was a huge pickup for the Dodgers you know and certainly one that you know they. You should be very happy to have so. And then obviously Jack Flaherty is having a great year like you mentioned. 295 you are in with with below one. Yeah you know what I think you know the tigers. Yeah I mean you know what considering he was playing on the. Detroit Tigers team that has not had much success. In the last couple of years I think that you know I think it was to some people was kind of surprised that Jack Flaherty even signed with the tigers but you know what. He has certainly you know exceed expectations. At least for me right 75 record of course people will look at that and say you know maybe not the best but again when you're playing for a team that. Yeah. That's does not rank very high with with the bats you know they don't really hit really well so run support is very tough to come by which. In some ways just makes Jack Flaherty better because he's because it shows he can pitch with that with that kind of pressure on his back to know that he has to be the guy to carry. To carry that team to carry his team for that for that game for the day it's I think it's it's an amazing piece you know in the Dodgers. You know pitching is pitching is one thing they can do you know they have. Tyler Glass now clean Kershaw obviously Yoshi Nobu Yamamoto, who's hurt obviously but. You know Otani's her too but he's but he's a pitcher. Obviously still hitting you know. Walker Wheeler. A bunch of other the point is is they're pitching. The depth goes. You know for well I know this is. The rotation next year is going to be disgusting class now. Oh my god you look. You know you're okay you know. Yeah oh man beyond crazy and you know what the thing is I'll tell you right now it's. You know the depth the depth part is something that teams don't baseball teams over the lookout like you look at hockey for example you know goal is right. First we know starting back up third string right if you're looking at the Dodgers pitching staff and that kind of lens. They've got more than third string they've got guys from they got guys probably in triple a double a that could. You know that will take the reins when once older guys retire once guys get traded become free agents so. They're just adding even more guys to their pitching depth and you know what with you with a Yamamoto out and you know with. Some of the injuries and and what not the Dodgers rotation has faced Jack Flaherty I think will be a crucial piece to this rotation and that was such a good pickup because you know what they need him to fill the gaps of. Yamamoto was injured. And then they also traded Paxton to the to the red Sox so. Yeah yeah yeah that's right so they did. You look at it flarity is a great item to Paxton so. You know absolutely absolutely Paxton is aging is right there so. Yeah yeah they are 100% I believe they are 100% better. They're definitely favorites coming out there certainly there's certainly one of yeah internationally they're certainly I think personally in the nationally they are the scariest team on paper by far. In that league. I think I think you know if you can find form. He can be he can be good too but he's a wild part he's not having the best year. And the thing is to it's again right when you play for. I mean it's lost 84 games. It's tough. It's tough for the stats to be good but he's actually. Yeah. If if you were in the bullpen warming up for the white Sox. If you were in the game, what the hell pressure or motivation do you have. Oh, I can't wait we're going to go from a twenty five wind team to a twenty six twenty. Yeah exactly well you mean. And the thing is too is. You know the expectations. Obviously are lower and you know what you're and obviously the team is. You know the white Sox are different because they're not as good. Obviously the Dodgers so. You're going to be there a full time closer I don't probably not right. Michael Copac. Yeah. Personally I don't think so just because there are other relief pieces in there. Like there's Blake trying and. For example that guy. I would hate to stand in the batter's box against Blake trying because not only is it 98 miles an hour to 100 it's 98 to 100 with a sinking movement right he's. He's got that nasty slink sinker plus slider combination. Guys guys nuts guys nuts man but Copac is certainly I feel like Copac if he finds himself. I feel like he can certainly become like a solid set up man right like the guy who comes in before the closer to the number eight. The kind of guy. The closer for this year has been Evan Phillips. Yeah I think really. Based on the stats yeah it's close okay I mean like I'll tell you this I think. I think Phillips is that a bit of a down year. Yeah. Which is obviously it's normal for any athlete in any sport but I think that. Evan Phillips I think I've for for me I personally think that he probably would be better suited to be the closer just because that's all he's done in his life right he's. So you think so Copac is probably going to be a set up man like eight innings. Yeah and the thing is to is. Evan Phillips has only started one one game in his majorly career. One game right so he's been a back end bullpen guy. For as long as he's been in the big leagues and he's been in the big leagues since 2018. Obviously he's bounced around from team to team but. You know that's always known to do right so Copac just became kind of a closer this year I believe his last year. He was a starter until about a month left in the 2023 season. And yeah you know kind of transition to that closer role but I think that Phillips is much better suited just because of the experience right and you know it's. Especially when you're pitching in that kind of environment you know playing for the Dodgers. He's been with the Dodgers for like three and a half four years now so personally. I think that he's better suited towards that role just also because he's been able to pitch in those kind of in that kind of environment right because when you play for LA the expectations become. Ten times it's like playing for the Yankees right. They expect you to win on a nightly basis on a daily basis you know that the. You know with the team that good and the team that has won the World Series they expect. You know sometimes people forget that baseball teams play 162 games a year in that they could lose a few. So I think the expectation is he always has to be on as where. When you're playing for the Chicago White Sox. They certainly lose more than they win. Right and a team that historically has not been as dominant as the Dodgers of the Yankees so I think that's. That certainly plays a bit of a role. I think that's a very I think that's the biggest understatement ever. The White Sox not as successful as the Dodgers or the Yankees. I feel bad for White Sox fans. Yeah so do I I've you know what I've been I've been to the stadium before I was say super nice I would certainly. It's very nice. But their name their name of the stadium confuses me. What's it called? What is something? It's a guaranteed rate guaranteed rate. Yeah guaranteed rated. See when I went there with that was not that was not what it was called. I'm used to being called. Not Bank of America. I went there it was US when I went there. Yeah that's where I went. Yeah that's where I was when it was there. And the white Sox history. Sorry we're going on a tangent. They've been terrible. Yeah. The 2005. Yeah there was the one year where they won the whole thing and you know what even then I think many people. Had no idea. But if you look at like they're like history like they historically. Historically they are not necessarily the best team. Yeah. Okay. Another winner. So. Another winner in my opinion plays in the J's division. Of course we talked about them already the Orioles they picked up two key additions to their rotation. One coming out of the AL East. Zach Eflin who. Yeah you know what. I think. Eflin you know what he's he's had a bit of a down here this year to be honest for sure. But you know what a guy who can certainly turn it around and. And win and win games for you right he's he fills in another starter. Right. And the Orioles that's the one thing that they struggle with. The outside of Corbin burns up like their rotation has kind of been shaky. You know guys have been in and out of the rotation. They actually just de-evade one of their. Starters. Cole Arvin. So he was. He's no longer with the team obviously but. I think with the Orioles is their bats are so scary when you. Who carries a badly. When you put up. Well. Exactly. But but when you put up eight runs a game it's it's it's hard for. Yes. Exactly right. Like they have Adley Richmond they have Gunnar Henderson Jackson holiday who will be. Better you know they brought up Heston curse dad. They have Ryan Mountcastle Jordan Westbrook who's been such an underrated piece for that team. Playing second and third base you know a guy again very underrated. I think he gets very well. They have guys who can. Again there's a few of those guys obviously are stars and stand out more but I again it's. As I said in the before the break. Guys who. Do little things to fill the big picture little roles you know they kind of check every box off. But when you see the team you never really think that you think oh they're just. You know they're just good but when you look at the team in depth it's. Check box check box check box and then you look at the whole list and you're like well no wonder they're so good they got. They've got everything from one through nine and and you know in the order so it's. A very scary team that just got better with a few new acquisitions lately as well so. John would you like to. Talk about that maybe fill us in on those a little bit. I mean I'll talk about they picked up Trevor Rogers to. From them from the Marlins I mean. Similar to the right. Similar to the light socks. Marlins have absolutely nothing going for them. Besides being. Yeah a bit of a tough year. Yeah a tough year. Besides. Was I'm thinking Miami right at least. Yeah. At least. With Miami it's always hot. So the fans. They could enjoy the nice weather where Chicago. To enjoy it. The Chicago besides the summer. Right in April. Yeah absolutely. That's it seasons done. The weather is terrible and September and October. Um. Trevor Rogers he's and he's. He's having an average year. Two and nine. Four fifty three. One fifty one fifty three whip. Which is pretty bad. Um. He'll help the rotation like you said they have. Yeah exactly. He'll be a good. He'll be a solid. So the rotation right now is probably what. Burns. Grayson Rodriguez. Eflin. Dean Kramer. He's Kramer and I guess Trevor Rogers. At fifth role. Or they might have six because Albert Suarez does start quite a bit too. So I think maybe. Okay. They might. They might do. Yeah. They might do that. It could piggyback on both at the same time. So who knows but yeah. Right exactly. And then they also. Got a help. They're bullpen. They picked up. Sir Anthony Dominguez. Yeah. From. From the Phillies. From the Phillies. From the Phillies along with Christian. I feel that. And they also got Gregory Soto. So. Yes. So they certainly got both and help. They're going to be better. Anyone else you can think of. The Marlins. They cleared out. Some. Oh. Let's talk about the big name kind of who went off the board. Yeah. I can't believe we forgot. I forgot. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. The newest New York Yankee. And he has been doing very well. Yeah. You know what he's. He's. It's been very. He has not played. Obviously a lot just because he just arrived in. You know. Just arrived in New York. But man. He's already helped out that team more than enough. What a. What a. Yeah. Oh man. What a great line. The scariest. One of the scariest. I don't know. I don't really watch. Where is he? Where is he hitting in the lineup? Second. First. Second. Because. No. We've seen like he's in like six seven kind of thing. But. Well. Remember too though. Right. When you come from Miami. You know. Obviously just to them is a good hitter and a good baseball player. But when you come from Miami the expectations. The expectations in Miami are obviously not as high. So. I think. Obviously with the Yankees he will still have a role. But it might be slightly less just because they have so many other guys who. Smash baseballs. Really well right. So. That's. That's kind of what I think. That's kind of what I think it is. So it's. But he is certainly. No but he don't get me wrong. He certainly does help that baseball team. They're all hundred percent. I mean. The thing is why I'm surprised with that. Right. He has 23 stolen bases. All right. If he. If he's hitting ahead of Soto judge. Right. Yeah. That's a problem because. With his speed and his base running. Yeah. And. He has so much possibilities that. It's kind of going to be very hard to stop if he gets on base and one of the big guys is up. But yeah. Yeah. You kind of have to prove yourself in a new lineup. I'm sure if he keeps. Absolutely. And especially. And especially when you're in the Bronx right. Exactly. Like you. I'm sure if he keeps doing what he's doing. He'll. He'll get. He'll be just. He'll be just fine. So. Yeah. But the Yankees. They're. They're. And saying their lineup is insane. Any losers. Who's the biggest loser. Oh man. One. The Braves. Because they needed. Yeah. They need to. The rotation depth. Which they didn't really. They didn't. All they really got was. Or a. Or a. I don't know if they got anything else or anyone else. But you know, again, the pitching rotation is something that's. Has not been what it has been in the past. You know, Charlie Morton, for example, a veteran starter has not. He's been honestly, he's been kind of. He's been kind of hit. Pretty hard. Right. And the thing is the thing that scares them to is. He's not. He's not. Hit hard by. By teams that are not very good. Right. So. He's been lit up by team. I'm. Having. A good season. For his. For his standards. No, he is not. No, he's hitting two. And. He's playing play for the San Francisco Giants and again, but this is the thing right when you play for a team that is not very good. It could be tough for them to transition. Just because. You know, the expectation becomes different. It's kind of the same thing is, you know, you know, you know, with the Yankees. Right. As a team from Atlanta, you know, Atlanta, they expect to win. Right. They have high expectations there. They expect. To be winning, which is why I think. You know, it's. You know, it's, it could be looking very, it could be looking tough for that organization as a whole at the moment, just because. Are they going to make the playoffs? I think they should. Based on. I think they will. I think they will, but it'll definitely be a smaller. In a smaller. Kind of not role, but in a smaller expectation. Compared to the other teams that make it nationally, but I still certainly think that they will make it. Um, we're going to wrap up. Let's talk about the J's upcoming games. They have a three game series coming up against the Yankees. And then it doesn't get easier because after that they have three games against the Orioles and then. Yeah. Yeah, you know, just, you know, the few teams that are. You know, just. Kind of whatever, but you know, again, you see the Orioles twice in a row. Or sorry, not in a row, but you see them twice and then. You're facing the Yankees again. Those are two very. Two teams that could very well beat up anybody at any point. It's very scary. So the nice thing with the J's though, or for the J's or that after that, they will face. Like you said, the Oakland Athletics, the Los Angeles Angels, the Chicago Cubs in the Cincinnati Reds for. Well, games total. I'm looking at that 12 game stretch. And I think they have to, if they have any chance at all, making the playoffs, they have to go at least. Oh man, they have to take. They have to win. Again, those teams and, you know, and then they play the Angels. Yeah, they play the Angels for four games after that. Two of the Angels have struggled this year. Obviously, along with those other three teams, but I certainly think that if the Blue Jays do make a run for it, they have to be able to win in that stretch of games. So. Yeah, it doesn't get easier. I mean, sorry, don't mean it. But it doesn't get easier after that because they play five against Boston. They play Minnesota, Philadelphia, Atlanta, and the Mets. And, you know, all of those are all teams that are within playoff contention or playoff contention. So if they are going to turn it around, I would say it has to be. You know, it has to be now absolutely right. So it is 100% what they need to do. All right, we're going to wrap up there. 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