One of the best prospects in all of baseball, James Wood, makes his MLB debut tonight at home against the New York Mets. Ryan discusses this major news as we will be witnessing potentially the next Nats superstar in action tonight at home. It's a Monday, so we give you a Nats stock report; who's been up and who's been down? Lastly, we preview James Wood's debut against the New York Mets as MacKenzie Gore takes on LHP David Peterson.
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It's the lockdown podcast network, your team every day. The time has come for the Washington Nationals as James Wood makes his major league baseball debut tonight. And again, this is the biggest Nat's debut since, I'll tell you after this. And thank you all for making lockdown nationals. Your first list in every single day is we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. And of course, you can check us out over on YouTube, just search locked on nationals there. And while you're at it, make sure to hit that subscriber button as well. And of course, search locked on nationals wherever you get your podcasts, including over on the Odyssey app, wherever you get your pods, Apple podcasts, Spotify, wherever it is, hit that subscriber for us as well. And of course, you can find us over on Twitter at Ryan, Clary, 11, and as well as our show page at LO underscore nationals for all your latest nationals, news, notes, make sure to check us out over on Twitter or X, whatever you want to call it nowadays. It does not matter. And of course, today is the day it is a James Wood debut David number three prospect at all baseball. And really, if you check a different site, he's going to be a top three prospect really wherever you check. This is a huge day. This is the day that we have all been waiting for. So finally, the day is here. What should we expect with Dylan Cruz with James Wood as he makes his major league debut tonight against the New York Mets here at home, nationals park, it is a beautiful day. So in the later third segment of the show today, we'll get into a little stat prediction for James Wood. What can it look like for his debut as he goes up against a left handed pitcher? Well, he's got some good numbers against lefty so far this season down in triple A. So we'll have that preview in those predictions a little bit later on in today's show. But in the second segment, it is a Nat stock report Monday, who's been up and who has been down. We'll get you that in today's second segment. But we start off with again, discussing the news of the day, James Wood makes his majorly debut today. And this is the biggest nationals debut since I'll have that for you. But today's episode of locked on nationals is brought to you by tax network USA. Did you know that it's never too late to resolve your tax issues with the IRS? Don't wait, reduce your tax debt and get help from a team of licensed tax professionals called 1-800-549-1000 or visit tnusa.com/walked on. Today is a big day. This is the day that you guys have all been waiting for, I've been waiting for, and the nationals they have been waiting for for quite some time. One of, if not the best prospect in all of baseball, makes his majorly debut tonight. And that name is the local kid from Rockville, Maryland, James Wood. James Wood, this is the biggest nationals debut in my opinion, since Bryce Harper. Simple as that. This is how big James Wood is, the 6'7" kid who has 70 grade power, he's got 60 grade speed, this is one of those guys who has developed into a legit 5 tool talent. Yes, a 5 tool talent across the board, he's very solid in center field or left field likely will he have been playing in tonight's matchup, he's solid on the base path. So far this season he was batting around 350, he's got the hit tool, he's got 70 grade power again, he can steal bases, he's got a high baseball IQ, he's got a good field for the zone. James Wood has been one of the most impressive prospects so far in Triple A this season. And if you look at his numbers down in Triple A so far this year, there has really been nobody better at the plate. Not a single hitter, not Jackson Holiday, not named that other prospect down in Triple A, it has been James Wood. And so far this season, the nationals they were just kind of kicking this can down the road, when is he going to make his debut, what are they going to call up James Wood? Because we all saw down in spring training that, oh, James Wood is the best hitter that the nationals have right now. Now is he going to make that jump tonight and be the nationals MVP of this season? I don't know at this point in time, we'll have that prediction for you in the third segment so stay tuned for that. But with right now where we are going and where the nationals are headed, you have to feel some type of way, you have to feel really good about this because again, just last Thursday we were talking about this and we've been talking about this all season, the nationals they cannot slug the same their lives. They can't. They haven't been able to so far in 2024. And really the only fix to it at this point was to call up James Wood. Now you may be asking yourself, well, what kind of impact will you have? Well, so far this season, he has a 595 slug and a 1058 OPS and 10 home runs. He is going to impact this team in a massive, massive way so far. And again, if you were to look at James Wood and really kind of what held him back a little bit, Mike Rizzo, Davey Martinez, they were kind of concerned with what he could do against left handed pitching as over the last few seasons, that's where he has struggled against. And really also, if you'll even look at last year, he struck out 173 times across double A and high A as well. That's a lot of strikeouts. But so far this season, he's got 42 strikeouts in just around 50 games and he's got 40 walks. That's an obvious improvement right then and there. But even then looking deeper into it, the concern and the really big overwhelming concern for James Wood was what this guy did against lefties. So you may be asking yourself, but what did he do against lefties this year down in triple A? He had a 1089 OPS against left handed pitching and if he asked yourself, what did he do against right handed pitching? He also had an OPS around 1050. The concern, the question marks that you had about James Wood, they have been fixed. The dream of this guy being one of the top prospects in all the baseball and living up to it has been completed in my opinion. This is going to be the biggest debut since Bryce Harper back in 2012. And no, you don't have to wait until 10 o'clock tonight when there's playing in Dodger Stadium like Bryce Harper did for his major league debut. You get this kid an 80 degree day, sunny blue skies right here at Nationals Park in DC. You get to watch this kid tonight. And again, think about it this way. This is the third prospect to come up from that one Soto trade. You obviously have CJ Abrams who spent about a week and a half down in triple A before getting called up to the majors. And then you have Mackenzie Gore who just started with the Nationals on opening day last year. And now you have James Wood, probably the biggest piece of that prospect call. One of, if not, the face of this team moving forward for the next seven plus years. That is the kind of prospect that we are getting right here and right now with James Wood. And I've seen a lot of different people kind of talk about Wood and what this guy could bring to this Nationals team as we sit here today. The number one thing that he is going to bring is slugging. The thing that this Nationals team needs. They need it right now. They've been cold. You just lost two of three against the Tampa Bay Rays in which you weren't really hitting for that much power. You lost a pretty damn bad series against the San Diego Padres as well last week before that Rays series did not go so hot. And now you finally get back home for this next little home stand all the way through the weekend. We opened up against the Mets tonight. And then you have the Cardinals coming in town for a nice little weekend series as well. And then you have the July four series. This Nationals team, this is what we have been waiting for. This is what you have been waiting for. This is what I've been waiting for. This is the time. And now you finally get to see it as James Wood makes his major league debut tonight. And of course, you'll have all the details on what to expect a little bit later on in today's show. But the time is now for James Wood to make his major league debut. And I can't wait. Thank you all for making locked on nationals. Your first listen every single day is we are free and available wherever you get your podcast. So in the third segment of today's show, James would watch what should you expect? What will his line be tonight against the New York Mets? Because of course, there is a pretty decent pitching match up with Mackenzie Gore against Lieutenant pitcher David Peterson, who kind of did a pretty damn well against the nationals so far this season. But Mackenzie Gore, his first start against the Mets will have that for you because it was not very good. But again, Mackenzie Warren, the bump tonight, James Wood debut today. Thank you, AJ Preller, for making that trade just a few years ago. So let's get into a Nat stock report, who has been up and who has been down before we get into it. Let me tell you guys about some of our very good friends over at prize picks. And guys, when we talk about prize picks, you didn't know that price picks America's number one daily fantasy sports app with over five million active members. Price picks is also the easiest and most exciting way to play daily fantasy sports unlike other apps on prize picks. It's just you against the numbers. 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And of course, it's year round. You know what else is going to happen? You know what else is year round collections season just because tax season is over doesn't mean the IRS will stop coming after you for unfiled taxes in the IRS can garnish your wages, levy your bank accounts and even seize your property. Don't let the IRS target you. Let the licensed professionals and tax experts at tax network USA go to bat for you with over a 14 years of experience in an A plus rating by the Better Business Bureau, tax network USA has saved their clients over $1 billion in tax debt, whether you owe taxes, have complicated matters that require tax planning or finally hit that parlay this season and need help correctly filing. All you have to do is call 1-800-549-1000 or visit tnusa.com/on and be sure to mention locked on nationals at checkout and you'll receive a $250 discount after services and be sure again, mention locked on nationals, tell them I sent you and you'll get a $250 discount off their services. Again, all you have to do is visit tnusa.com/lockedon or call 1-800-549-1000. Now we get into it with a net stock report and again stay tuned in the third segment of today's show. We'll have a James Wood prediction tonight as he takes on David Peterson, the New York Mets, a left-handed pitcher, something that he has been killing so far this season. We'll have that preview a little bit later on in today's show but we get started with a net stock report who has been up and who has been down this is your latest individual performances for your Washington Nationals. So we start up the stock up for shortstop C.J. Abrams. Over his last seven games, he is batting 409 with a 552 on base percentage, a 636 slug and an 1188 OPS. In that time frame, he's always got a home run, he's got a couple extra base hits, three RBIs, five walks and four strikeouts again. If you're AJ Preller right now, you are kicking yourself over that deal just because of what has been happening. What has been transpiring? Mackenzie Gore has been pitching well all season long, looking like a front of the line starter. He still continues to improve and C.J. Abrams so far this season has had an all-star campaign has been one of the better short stops across the national league at the plate. Defensively, there have been some woes here and there but ultimately, I feel very good about where C.J. Abrams is at. This is going to be a legit shortstop for quite some time. C.J. Abrams continues to improve. He was this a month ago today, he was struggling mightily and he has since put those rumors to rest. They sub 800 OPS about a month ago at this time but since then, killing the baseball. Again, around an 850 OPS on the season already, C.J. Abrams is a 23 year old. He looks ready and he looks the part. He looks like a top 10 prospect and all baseball where he was about two years ago today. So stock up for C.J. Abrams, he's been killing it, speaking of someone who has not been killing it. Stock down for Joey Maneses over his last five games, 0 for 17 with seven strikeouts. Now with James Wood coming up, there is going to be an odd man out in this equation. Who is going to see less at bats? Number one, Eddie Rosario, obviously. And number two, Joey Maneses. Put Jesse Winkler over at first base. I need to see Jesse Winkler in the lineup every day and also on top of it, I need to see James Wood in the lineup every day. James Wood is going to be in the lineup and if he's not, then he'll be sent back down to Triple A at some point in time if he doesn't kill the baseball. But I can tell you this right now, Joey Maneses should not be taking at bats away from someone like a Jesse Winkler at this point. You weren't going to be trading Jesse Winkler at this year's deadline and calling up James Wood has certainly secured that at this moment in time. You cannot have Joey Maneses taking at bats from someone like Jesse Winkler because number one, even if you weren't going to trade Jesse Winkler, the obvious answer is to bat the better player. That is the better player. Hell, even at this point in time, if we were going to have a discussion about who would I rather see at the plate, Eddie Rosario or Joey Maneses, I might even lean Eddie Rosario. That might seem crazy to you, but I've seen it from Eddie in times. Joey Maneses, I'm just tired of it, it's over with, it's done. So stock down for Joey Maneses, I cannot see this guy continue to take at bats away from others, so stock down for him and a stock up for the new guy in town, Harold Ramirez. Number one, the glass that he wears, I love it, right off the bat, DFA'd by the rays just a handful of weeks ago, Harold Ramirez went to Triple A, got called up to the majors when he was in San Diego, so over his first five games, nothing too crazy, but he's 5 of 17. He's got a double, he's got a triple, he's got five RBIs, he's got a 765 OPS with the team so far. He looks pretty solid at the plate, he looks polished and again, if Harold Ramirez, this is someone who has had successful seasons in the past, I could see the Nationals finding a role and really kind of carving that out for him. Now, again, having James wood up in the majors, it kind of makes for this weird contention of who should be the odd guy out here, I don't think it's going to be Harold Ramirez at this point, I could see the Nationals getting him a little bit more at bats as he continues to acclimate himself up with this Nationals team and these have been kind of one of those signings where Mike Rizzo has always kind of had weird success with. He finds these guys who disgruntled vets who have been across the majors before, who have had success before recently but ultimately just haven't been able to really kind of get their feet under them with their new team so Harold Ramirez is going to be one of those guys in my opinion where he could kind of fall in that Jesse Winker line. I don't think he's going to be as successful as Jesse Winker has been but I would not be surprised at all if Harold Ramirez does have some success with the Nationals, we have seen it time and time again. So we'll see what the Nationals can do with Harold Ramirez but so far, so good, he is five of his first 17 in his first five games with the Nationals, he's got a couple extra base hits, five RBI's and a 765 OPS with the team so shout out to Harold Ramirez, he has been pretty damn good, stock down four speaking of Jesse Winker. Over his last five games, he's been two of 16, he's got six strikeouts, he's got a 489 OPS, here's the thing with Jesse Winker, I'm not concerned with him whatsoever, this guy has been a net positive for this team so far this season but as we inch closer to the trade deadline and as you have James what up in the majors as well, I am interested to see kind of how Jesse Winker reacts to it because he probably sees the writing on the wall, he knows he's probably going to be traded at this year's deadline, he's a veteran, he's been there before and now you have James Wood up in the majors who you assume is going to be playing left field every single day as far as he's up in the majors and really that's the decision that should be made by the way but what are the Nationals going to really kind of do in this scenario and what is Jesse Winker going to do in this scenario, how is he going to react? That is really what I'm curious with at this moment in time, is he going to be one of those guys who may be a little bit disgruntled and now really open up James Wood with open arms because again it's a little bit of an awkward situation here, James Wood is going to be taking his job in left field more than likely, now I would assume James Wood might DH every now and then because they might want to take a little bit easy with his hamstring injury that he just suffered about a month ago but at this point Jesse Winker should be getting all the at bats that he can and ultimately he just hasn't been himself over the last five games again two of 16 six strikeouts a 489 OPS in that time as well only two hits out of his last 16 at bats so that has not been the most pleasant time to be Jesse Winker maybe with James Wood in the lineup have a little bit of protection there in the lineup you can see Jesse Winker kind of take off yet again but as we get close to the trade deadline you want to see Jesse Winker get hot yet again so hopefully over the next few games you can pick him back up and then we're talking about getting a pretty solid return for Jesse Winker at this year's deadline stock up for relief pitcher Derek Law over his last eight and a third innings pitch he's only given up six hits two run runs five strikeouts he's got a two one six ERA a two oh seven batting average against his slugging is down he has given up a home run and that timeframe as well but Derek Law is one of those guys this year where I think he has had some ups and downs as we know but ultimately this guy has been pretty good coming out of the bullpen Derek Law has pitched in meaningful situations he has pitched in garbage time situations but really when he you call his name this guy comes in and he produces that is really all you can ask for a relief pitch and again the usage rate that he has been so far this season has been pretty much out of control he's been going over an inning pitch he's been asked to do two innings whatever it is Derek Law you call his name and he's going to get the job done so shout out to Derek Law we haven't talked about them all too much this season of lockdown national there's been a lot of other things to talk about other than Derek Law but he gets recognized today a two one six ERA over his last eight and third innings pitch he's been pretty damn good he did kind of have that one little mess up the other day but whatever Derek Law has been relatively solid so far in 2024 now what will James Wood's statline be tonight what will be it will we have a hit we have a home run whatever it is we'll tell you guys but before that let me tell you about our friends over at Fandall and guys I love sports I love them so much I never want them to stop but as the playoffs wind down we get fewer games in the sports aren't sports like I want them to but Fandall lets me keep the sports going whenever I want all I have to do is open the app and dream up bets anytime I'm in the mood and this summer Fandall is hooking up all customers with a boost or a bonus daily that's right there's something for everyone every day all summer long so head over to fandall.com/lockdown and start making the most out of your summer again head over to fandall.com/lockdown and start making the most out of your summer again you're in Virginia tonight or even Maryland or even some parts of DC now go over to fandall maybe splash a little money on the nationals to win tonight's game and also maybe a James Wood home run you never really down so fandall the official sports betting partner major league baseball again just visit fandall.com/lockdown and start making the most out of your summer. malicious, meat nutritious in the snack that packs a real protein punch wonderful pistachios this is ryan ficklestein the host of lockdown mats and I love the no shells wonderful pistachios so I can eat them straight out of the bag whenever I need a boost and my favorite flavor is their sea salt and vinegar but if you're a pistachio purist who loves cracking open every nut they also have great flavors like sweet chili and salt and pepper grab wonderful pistachios and elevate your snacking game today visit wonderful pistachios.com to learn more. Now we get back into it as the day has come it is a James wood debut day what should we expect out of the top prospect in the national system what will his number line be what will he do against David Peterson what will the nationals do will the nationals win with McKenzie Gore on the bump while I'm here to tell you I'm gonna wet blanket this a little bit. I think realistically speaking James wood could struggle that's just the way that I see it and again this isn't a James wood thing this is a top prospect thing making the jump from triple a into the major leagues you have seen it time and time again Jackson holiday gets to call up he's been one of the better prospects in all of baseball for quite some time gets to call up to the majors struggles immensely strikes out nearly every other at that get sent back down has not been right since James wood on the other hand probably the second best prospect behind Jackson holiday in my biased opinion maybe things are different but even looking back to last year L.A. Taylor Cruz a very similar skill set as to what James wood possesses in front of him started off hot and then ultimately kind of cooled off a little bit so for tonight's stat one what do I expect from James wood well does he get a hit I think so is it going to be that mammoth 450 foot home run as 115 exit velocity I don't think so but again if you were to look at James wood so far this season here that highest exit losses by washington is in the majors or triple a this season number one James wood at 115.3 miles per hour number two James wood at 114.8 number three James wood at 114.3 number four Joey manesses at 114.2 number five James wood at 113 miles per hour and number six James wood at 112.8 the kids got power is he going to make that loud crack of the bat tonight is he going to hit a home run is he going to kill a baseball which raw talking about it for the next week unfortunately I don't think so just because of the way that prospects have struggled since getting called up to the majors I hope to God I'm wrong James wood is a little bit of a different cat he's not out there for the flashiness he's not going to be all too open with the media he kind of keeps to himself a little bit more so maybe he's got a little bit of a slower heartbeat tonight says debut it's going to be a packed house sold out crowd McKenzie Warren the bump against the New York Mets at home it'll be a lot of juice in the stadium it's a beautiful night on a Monday here in DC maybe James wood has a bigger impact than what we think but ultimately it could be a little bit of a tough game for James wood tonight unfortunately but the day is here debut time you guys enjoy the game tonight if you're there you're gonna be witnessing one of the net nets superstars here in Washington DC can't wait I'll catch us on the flipside on tomorrow's show we'll have a James wood breakdown yet again as he makes his debut tonight I'll catch you on the flip side have a good one a prime members you can listen to this locked on podcast add free on Amazon music download the Amazon music app today (upbeat music)
