Ben & Woods On Demand Podcast
7am Hour - MLB Waiver Pickups + Adam Jones Joins The Show
Ben & Woods kick off the 7am hour talking about the MLB waiver deadline coming up in a couple of weeks, and if there's anyone else that could be available to help the Padres down the stretch. Then we get to "Don't (And DO) Do This" before we're joined by our pal Adam Jones who calls in from Milwaukee this week and gives us his thoughts on the Padres who are on their best stretch of baseball in franchise history! Listen here!
- Duration:
- 42m
- Broadcast on:
- 15 Aug 2024
- Audio Format:
- mp3
- So theoretically, you'd think that rosters are now set. There's the trade deadlines over. There's no more waiver trades, so. - Yeah, I said it yesterday. - Yeah, these are the teams you have to live with. - You get what you get, you don't throw a fit. - But there is a potential option out there for teams that are still looking for help. Now, if you remember last year, the Los Angeles Angels got to the deadline and tried to make a couple of moves to improve their team, didn't work out. They were-- - They made them buttload them. - Yeah, and they were clearly out of playoff contention, but it was too late. They couldn't trade anyone away. But they said, well, why do we want to keep paying these guys if we're not going to go to the playoffs? And they, DFA'd, Hunter Renfro, and a couple of other players. And now there's some thoughts, and Ken Rosenthal did some reporting on this in the athletic. The Texas Rangers may go the same course this post deadline season. The Rangers who are very Padre-like from last season in their approach to the deadline. They kind of bought on the margins, thinking they got a little hot right before the trade deadline, bought on the margins and have again collapsed and are out of it. They won't be defending their World Series title this year, but they didn't trade off their good players, the guys who are going to be a free agent to be. So now they're just stuck finishing out the string of the rest of this season with no real chance to make the post season, and no way to trade away some of the guys they could have, but they don't necessarily have to pay them. Ken Rosenthal suggested at least that it's being discussed that they may just DFA, a guy like Nathan O'Valdi, who was last year's World Series pitching hero for them, and get out from under the rest of his contract this year, which is only about 2.7 million. He's got a vesting option for a 20 million contract next year, but he's a good pitcher. And he didn't stop there. They said, you know, I Andrew Haney, who's another one of their starters, relievers David Robertson, Kirby Yates, Jose Leclerc, could all be just let go. And the Rangers could save up to like $6 million the rest of this season. They know they're not going anywhere. Why not just save that money? Of course, this would have a huge impact potentially on playoff races in either the National League or the American League, because if they do that, they immediately go to the waiver claim system. And every team based on reverse order of record could put in a claim for those players, including the San Diego Padres. So you never can have too much pitching woods. The problem here though, is that I would think that teams that are now below them in the standings, like the Braves or the Mets or even, you know, the Cardinals would get first crack at all these guys and could bolster their teams while the Padres just watched helplessly. They could put in claims, but I would not get any of these guys. And I, to me, this is not what baseball is supposed to be in the last couple of months of this. Yeah, getting some, you know, if you will, in my opinion, like if you want to get the rental player, that's what the trade deadlines for it, but it's going to cost you. And it's going to cost you more than money. It's going to cost you prospects and, you know, pieces of your future. And I don't know, man. I look, I mean, you ask me if I want Nathan Yavaldi on this team for $2.2 million, the answer is a resounding yes. And I could probably be convinced of Andrew Haney, even Kirby Yates, maybe, you know, I mean, but you just mentioned three teams. I got to imagine St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Mets, they're going to be all over. And it's not like your fantasy football team where you put in one waiver claim and you go to the back of the line, you know how that works in fantasy football. No, you can, the same team could claim three guys. And if they have a worse record than anyone else who has made the claim, they get all of those three guys. No, they'd have to find room on their roster and, you know, potentially send guys down to the minors or DFA their own players at that point. But if they think that they could help and, you know, for a playoff push, we'll see if the Rangers actually do that. I think it's a bit of a betrayal to your fans, even though you're out of it, just to save money. I mean, you can make the argument, hey, we're not going to get there this year. Let's trade for prospects in the future. These guys are free agents to be building for the future. When you DFA a guy, you're only saving money into the owner's pocket. That's right. And the owner can say, well, we'll reinvest that in the team next year. You know, that's an extra 6 million. We will have to play with for our roster next season, but it's still a bad look. - Bro, this came out five hours ago. This piece by Chad Jennings, the athletic and Chris Young himself, GM said, where we are in the standings, we have to start looking to 2025 and beyond at how we're going to bounce back from this. We are starting those conversations. Yeah, I think, you know, look, if we got him, I'd be elated. If somebody else got him, then he came and shot. If the Mets get him and he goes and shoves against us, I'm going to be furious. - But if the Padres, you know, get Evaldi, the Diamondbacks aren't going to be happy about it. The Dodgers are certainly not going to be happy about it. I mean, it's, I guess, all it's fair in baseball, but this is not what the trade, the trade deadline was designed to stop this from happening later in the season. They stopped the waiver trade deadline, so you would have to be locked in for at least a couple of months. Like the team that you're playing in October, at least you're seeing them in September and August, but this throws a monkey wrench into the whole business of late season moves just for teams that want to save money. - Forgive my, yeah, you can, if you get DFA'd now by your team and you get picked up by another team, you're absolutely eligible, 'cause somebody just put it in the chat. Somebody brought up Cody Ross getting picked up by the Giants in 2010. They picked him off waivers to block the Padres. They were behind the Padres in the standings at the time. They won the World Series. Not, you know, Cody Ross turned out to have some big knocks for those guys done, so you are playoff eligible. - Yes, I think there is a deadline for playoff eligibility, but it's not yet, it's September, I think. So, yeah, you'd be able to pitch in the postseason. A guy like Evaldi, it was tons of, you know, World Series experience very recently. Last year, valuable commodity if they decided to let him go, but they can't trade him, they can't get anything for him. They can just save the money and throw him to the sharks whoever wants to claim him. Brandon says, "Who has priority between the D-backs "and Padres, same amount of head-to-head wins?" I don't know that a guy like Evaldi is gonna get to the Diamondbacks or the Padres. I really don't. - So the tie, I don't think so, either. The tie break, if it was today, if they did it today. - Today. - The tie breaker actually goes to the Diamondbacks based on division record. That's why they're listed first in the standings. Now, that won't come into play because there's no way they can finish head-to-head tied. They're five and five, there's three games left, unless one of those games gets rained out in Arizona, which seems really unlikely, given both the roof and the Arizona weather. They're gonna play those three games and someone's gonna win the season series and have the tie breaker between those two teams. But right now, I think theoretically, the Padres would be first in order based on the tie breaker. - Were the Rangers the only team that can, 'cause I know the- - That's the only one that was mentioned. - The Rockies already- - The Rockies could do the same thing. - They are, the Rockies already did it to Diaz. They're captured. He's already been DFA'd. Somebody can pick him up. Ahmed Rosario was DFA'd by the Dodgers. No one's snatched him. - That was more of a roster-claring move and a money-saving move. - For vlogi bats, yup. So yeah, I don't know what's, I don't know how many teams are gonna be interested in doing this, but there could be potentially another arm out there to help you. - Need a contestant for Real or Fake, if you wanna call in, chance to qualify for the trip to Las Vegas, 833-288-0973 down now, 833-288-0973. There's certainly some talk and they probably should have talked about it. Last off, season two, about implementing a rule where you can't just do this at the end of the season. And that may be something that's discussed, winter meetings and putting some sort of procedure into place where teams can't just DFA players to save money and then just throw 'em all out there on the waiver wire in the last couple of months of the year after the trade deadline. But right now, I don't think you can change the rule at the moment. Rangers know what they're operating under and they have the option to do that if they wanna do it like the Angels did last year. - Man, it could be really, really interesting. - I would hate for that. I would hate for a Volde. Even if he was on the Padres, I mean, I'd like it more if he was on the Padres, but for that guy to be like pivotal in a playoff race for a team that didn't have to do anything to get him other than luck into him, essentially. Doesn't feel right. - Yeah, I mean, again, we played, do we play the Cardinals again or no? We did four against the Cardinals coming up. - Mets and Cardinals. - And Mets and Cardinals. - Both coming up soon. You may have to face one of those guys. - I would really hate that. And you know the Mets have money, you know, the Cardinals probably, everyone's got two points. - Even the Padres, I think, have enough. Everyone's got-- - Everyone's got the luxury tax level if they wanted to do that. - Everyone's got 2.2. - Right, Chris Young, come on, dawg. Just hang on to him. Do us all a solid. - We'll pass the hat if you really need-- - Exactly. - You need $6 million or whatever. We'll make it happen for you. We'll sell some t-shirts or something. - All right, that was just an interesting story that I ran across this morning that I wanted to bring up. I see some callers, let's get to it. It is time for a throwback Thursday game of Real or Fake. - Some are here for the compelling sports talk with Ben and Woods. - You can go plow through another donut. - It's time for Real or Fake on 97.3, the fan. Tell the people what they'll win today. - What we're playing for is a chance to win our grand prize at the end of the month. It is a two-night stay at Resorts World Las Vegas and two tickets to carry Underwood, Reflection at Resorts World Theater. Her residency now underway. You can get your own tickets at access.com. That's A-X-S-dot-com and R-W-S-Vegis.com. Paul, you wanna help me pick one? Just anyone, just pick one. - Let's try line four. - All right, caller, who's this? - Josh? - Hello. - Hello. - Hey, how's it going guys? - Good buddy, how you doing? - What's your name? - Josh. - Okay, Josh, you are contested today on Real or Fake. Here's how it works. We've got seven items here. If you can separate the Real from the Fake four times out of seven, you'll qualify for the grand prize. Woodsie's here to help you instead of playing against you. He is your biggest ally in this game today. - Right, I have no interest in winning this, except for you. Like this doesn't do me any good. - All right, Labor Day is just around the corner. It's peak travel season here in these United States of America. I'm on staycation right now as we speak. So today's Real or Fake should be good for the frequent flyers out there. Our game today is a simple one. I'll give you a city name and a three-letter airport code. You have to tell me if it's real or fake. Like if I said San Diego, S-A-N. Woodsie, you would say. - How real? - Real, obviously that's our airport code here. So if I said Los Angeles and I said L-O-S, you would say. - Fake. - 'Cause that would be LAX. You understand, Josh, how this works? - Oh yeah, I work at an airport. - Oh, no, this should be, this should be the easiest game. - This is like when Cliff Kaven history. - Cliff Kaven went on Jeopardy and Cheers and they had like the mail. - Wow, this is gonna be embarrassing if you lose this though. - Josh, now the pressure's on. - If you get one, two rocks. - I think we just need to go to the next call. - Oh no, give me a shot. - Here we go, round number one, real or fake airport codes. Des Moines, DES, real or fake? Josh? - I do believe that is real. - Yes it is, that is fake. (buzzer buzzes) Oh for one. - That's a call, Josh. - kidding, let's go to round number two. - Right, right, right. - Detroit, DTW, real or fake? - That one is correct. - That is real. - It's real. - I was gonna say fake, I thought it was D-E-T. - No, it's not D-E-T. All right, let's one and one, let's go to round number two. Three, San Antonio, S-A-T, real or fake, Josh. (upbeat music) - What, do you got anything? (upbeat music) - San Antonio, S-A-T. - S-A-T, I think that's real. - He thinks it's real, Josh. - I'll go with it. - Have you ever been there? - Yeah, it is real, very good. (bell dings) Remember the Alamo? - All right, that's too correct. - 960 on my S-A-T's. - Yeah, it's very good. - You kinda like this S-A-T better. - Much. - All right, round number four. New Orleans, N-L-A, real or fake? - I'm gonna say fake for that one. - Fake, N-F-Nola is fake. It's actually MSY. - That makes sense. - For the moistant stockyards where they built the airport to begin with. I didn't know that one. All right, that's three, you're one away from a win. Let's try this one. Kansas City, K-N-C, real or fake, Josh. - That is fake. - That is fake. M-C-I, mid-continent international, and that's a win. - The airport, Josh, the worst fake start for the past time. - Quite well. - I like the most airport, Josh, from now on. - Josh, Portland, PDX Woods. - That's real. - That is real? - Yeah, Buffalo. - B-U-F. - Real. - That is real. - All right, good job, guys. Josh, hang on the line, Paul, and he'll get your information and put you into the drawing for the grand prize. Get away to Las Vegas later this month. - Oh, hair in Chicago. - That, okay, so there's two. There's the Midway. Which is M-D-W, and then O'Hara's, O-R-D, right? - O-R-D, there you go. - O-R-D, O-R-D. - O-R-D, O-S-O-B. - You're a Chicago guy, you know that one. - Yep, O-R-D. - All right, we've got a, don't do this, is coming up next on Ben & Woods, and-- - This always does it. - And this always does. Oh, I wanted to bring up the, what happened to golfer Hideki Matsuyama on his way back from the Olympics to the FedEx Cup playoffs that are starting? - I can't wait to hear. - Y'all have a story here. Narly story, so I'll get to that and more. Coming up next with Ben & Woods after a check traffic here on 97.3 The Fan. (upbeat music) - Don't do this. - I gotta lose the prize for your new fan. - Don't, don't do this. - Listen, if I'm, if I'm something bad, I mean, tell me I'm a bad boy, you know, just tell me I'm a bad boy. - Why, just, why? - I get the argument, you don't have to explain it to me. I'm not a moron. - Let me tell you why I am a dumbass. It's time for don't do this. - Don't do this. - On 97.3 The Fan. (upbeat music) - I jump into it, don't do this. Two things that make you shake your head and then a positive. Do do this story at the end. I will begin though. So Hideki Matsuyama, golfer, PGA Tour, just won the bronze medal at the Olympics in Paris and was on his way back to the States. The first leg of the FedEx Cup playoffs begin today actually in Memphis, Tennessee at the, the FedEx in Tennessee. And on his way back though, they stop over in London where he, his caddy and his coach were all robbed. And in the incident, Matsuyama said that his wallet was stolen. - Wow. - And his caddies showed to his, his passports and visas were stolen as well for the coach and the caddy. - They were robbed like a gun going? - So the details don't say if it was like a hold up or if like they were just all in the same like hotel room and it got broken into and stuff that's stolen or something. Or something, they just said they were robbed. And unfortunately because his caddy and his coach had their passports and visas stolen, they weren't able to travel to the United States. They had to go back to Japan to try to get expedited paperwork, but he's not going to have his normal caddy or coach this week for the tournament. Now there's one big piece of good news that came out of this. Matsuyama said that his, his obviously passport wasn't stolen and his bronze medal was not stolen. - He had it, but they didn't get it somehow. So he was able to somehow hold on to the bronze medal, but he's had to now to start the playoffs this week, which of course, three legs of the playoffs, culminating in the tour championship in Atlanta in a couple of weeks. - It's a big purse this week. - Yes, you know, Scotty Scheffler said yesterday that he called the playoffs silly. And I can't imagine the PGA tour likes that, but he's kind of mad 'cause he's always the, he's been the first guy at the end in first place going into the tournament and he gets a little head start. - Yeah, and under a big head start. - But he doesn't play well there, so he never wins the FedEx Cup. And he goes, "So I could win every tournament all year long, but if I like to get a sore neck and have to pull out of the last, I get 30th place overall in the FedEx Cup because it only comes down to, the whole season comes down to one tournament. - It kind of gives me vibes though of, we had too many days off and we got to reset our pitching rotation and we got to give guys rest. - I mean, the PGA tour is trying to create some drama. He is pretty much just pooping on it going like, this is not really the best way to determine a season long champion. - But she's played by giving me a two stroke head start at the end after I've won seven tournaments all year. I get a two stroke head start on the second place guy. But he's not wrong, but it's also bad luck. - Bad luck, yeah. - That's play better. - Woodsy? - Yeah. - You're up. - It's an interesting story here. It's a multi-layered, don't do this. - Tottenham, the English Premier League team has suspended. Tottenham Hotspur have suspended. Eve Masuma for Monday's Premier League opener, Premier League opener. After the midfielder posted footage on his social media of him huffing nitrous oxide. - So this is like the guy in the NFL draft with the gas mask. - Yes, the gas mask. Now, Laramie Tunsel has posted. Somebody else did. - That's right. - This guy on his own Snapchat. Hey, what's up with that? And he's taking shots hits of nitrous. - And so there's a couple different, don't do this. Number one. - The nitrous is illegal. - Yeah. - Or wherever he is. - It's illegal. - Yeah, I mean, unless you're a dentist, I hope to get some today, but I'm going to the dentist. - Do you ask for it? - 100%. - 100%, it's phenomenal. When you're at the dentist solve, that's what it's for. - Just be careful, I've seen a little shop of horrors. - I have not, so I don't know what you're referring to. - Never mind. - All right, so I-- - Have you not seen that? - He posted it, it's a class C drug. And he posted it on his own Snapchat. So again, you're also an elite athlete. Nitrous can have really devastating effects on your body, your nervous system. The more and more you do it. - I was confused. I was thinking helium for a second. When you, their voice changes. - Why would he do that? - Just to be funny? - Yeah, do you post a funny video? - It's my own mistake. - Where you inhale? - Oh! (laughing) - Let's throw a top note. - Well, who would do that? How do you do that without the helium? (laughing) - He can do that, that's amazing. - It's so dumb, dumb. It's a dumb thing to do. It's also a dumb thing to post. I don't get, stop posting your illegal transgressions for the love of God. You're already famous, you don't need the clout. Now you're gonna get suspended. - So, smarting up out there. - I forgot about the story. I wanna hear Woods do a segment entirely and it's so hard to do. - It's so hard to do. - Is it, uh, bubbles? (laughing) - Oh, burble. (laughing) - Oh, yeah, Roman says, Kanye. Kanye, that's kind of what his trip has been the last couple of years. Whatever calms the nerves. - Yeah, this is the same thing you-- - It's gonna get the same thing you-- - You inject into your engine to make it go fast. - You have to, it's got multiple uses all of them illegal. - You cannot listen. - You cannot do that. And yeah, in doing a helium video is very funny. I'll do that at one of the kids' birthday parties or something, but man, dude, it is, uh, it's a bad look. - All right, speaking of bad looks, Chicago White Sox have been a bad look all season. However, we'll give them a little doo doo doo doo. - Dee dee mega doo doo doo. - At least what they announced yesterday, after putting together the quality 29 and 93 record that they have, it was time to send out the old-- - The email. - Renew your season ticket email and to their credit, they did not, they did not raise prices. They did not keep prices the same. They said we are going to lower prices by 10%. We're gonna knock 10% off your bill. That seems to me even a little light than what kind of season they had. - I'm thinking 40 is probably the right number. - I know we had the whole discussion about the Padres, 3% increase, but at least the Padres are 16 games above 500 games. - That's right. - The White Sox are 64 games under 500 right now. - 44 and a half out, I believe. A playoffs on the middle of it. - 64 games under 500. That gets you, that gets you 10% off. Maybe send out some buy one, get one free coupons as well. - Honestly, now that I think about it, - So if you pay $2,000, whatever, for your season tickets, you'll now pay 1,800 next year. I don't know that I still have trouble with that. - Yeah, maybe it's a don't do this, in fact. Maybe you should have gone 50%. - It's not enough. - I don't think, in my opinion, for the Whiteside veterans. - Here's the quote from-- - Don't do this. - Here's the quote from Brooks Boyer, senior vice president for the Chicago White Sox. We understand where all the ticket prices are, whether it's season ticket prices, secondary market. After looking at that, understanding where we are organizationally, we thought it was important that it's something that we do for our season ticket holders who have been very loyal to us. 10% off. - It's not enough, actually. - You know what, if I go and I see a sale like in the window and they say 10% off, I'm just walking straight by. - I mean, I need to see like 30, 40% off before I'm actually like in tree. Oh, really? - 40% off sale, okay. - 50 is a guaranteed buy. - Right, absolutely. - No matter what it is. - Yeah, if I don't even need it, I'll probably still-- - That's too good of a deal to pass up. - A lawn mower, 50% off, I'll take that. - You don't even, I don't even mow my own lawn, so why would I need it? But it's 50% off, so I'd have it if anybody needs one. - But 10% is-- - It's not-- - It's not your right thing. - That should be a good thing. - Don't do this. - But, I mean, you couldn't have gone the other way. You just couldn't have gone the other way. - Well, yeah, you can't, there's no way. - You definitely can't increase ticket prices. - Yeah, I don't want to get that. - That is terrible. - Terrible. - That's don't and sort of do this for a Thursday. - That was don't do this. With Ben and Woods, 97.3, the fan. - All right, so we missed him yesterday. He was traveling to Milwaukee, I believe, is, no. Spoil the surprise of where in the world is Adam Jones. At least I think he's in Milwaukee. - I think so too. He will join us next as we talk to him on a big league Thursday. And then one hour from now, you know, Sarah's will be with us for our smart baseball segment coming up at 8.35. I wonder if he got some thoughts on what the Texas Rangers could do here and how it could impact the playoff races coming up this season. So, we'll have plenty of time for AJ. That is coming up next. Don't go away, more Ben and Woods on the way on San Diego's. Number one, Sports Station, 97.3, the fan. (upbeat music) Before we go and follow up Adam Jones, it is a throwback Thursday. And Pauli has a clip from Adam Jones. This has gotta be what, two or three years ago? - Oh yeah, two years ago. - Two years ago, he was sitting, if I remember, on his veranda, kind of-- - No, wasn't he on a yacht? - No, he was his backyard-- - It was like a backyard veranda. - He was overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. - He had like a spread in front of him, all kinds of stuff. And we had a hot mic on him beforehand, recording. - We had him on Zoom, yeah. And he wanted, Manny had just done something that Manny does. He wanted to come on and record him saying, Manny blanking Machado. - Yeah. - So I was like, all right, let me record, I'll put it in record, and then I can beep it. And while we were still recording, he goes, hey, I can hear him in my ear. He's like, hey, check this out. And he like flipped his camera around, and he was showing us the spread. - The spread, that's right. - And that led to this. - I'll show you. (beep) I'm gonna be jealous, be bastards. - I don't know how much we should camera. Look at this, you fat asses. (laughing) I know you fat bastards want to eat some of this. I'm gonna cut you. You rotten, no good motherf***er. (laughing) In this beer, fire. (laughing) - Tammered. Fat asses. (laughing) Look. - I didn't compare it to Adam Jones. Absolutely 100%. - He didn't compare it to most. But also, you fat bastards. - What? Are you kidding me? I mean, obviously we're boys, we're breaking balls. What boys do? But it laid me out. I need to be jealous. - And bastards. - I don't know how much we should camera. Look at this, you fat asses. I know you fat bastards want to eat some of this. I can't you. You rotten, no good motherf***er. - That's my favorite part. - In this beer? Fire. (laughing) - You fat bastards. That was unbelievable. Say that. - I love AJ. - I was two years ago with Adam Jones. He's standing by, we'll get to AJ. Right after this check of traffic at 97.3, the fam. ♪ California ♪ - Oh, he's got a big spread in front of him right now. It's probably brought worse. It's in fried cheese, curds and stuff. And in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, I believe joining us is the five time All-Star Adam Jones after a travel day yesterday. AJ, I'm sorry we didn't get to hook up and play our golf. It'll just have to be next time you're in town. - Yeah, I mean, a lot of things, everything always just gets busy. Seeing friends, especially this week was tough because it's the last week that my friends, kids, were off to college. So spending time with them, trying to just, ease the parents' minds as their young baby goes away from college. So it's starting to get busy and busier, but it's a blessing that now my friends, kids are going to college and you know, we're in a different generation now. - Yeah, we are, man. And hopefully you'll be back here full time soon. We'll have all the time to play golf as much as we want as long as you take us with you to your country club and we will play and we'll have a great time. You'll always have some golfing buddies in Ben & Woods and Paulie for sure, AJ. - You're always welcome. - Yeah, great. Are you in Milwaukee to what? Watch Dodgers Brewers or what? - Yeah, I came here to watch Dodgers Brewers. See my boy, Quentin Berry, obviously San Diego native, more high school, always represent. But every time I'm in the States, I try to come see him, Sam is not with him now. So the kids went back to school. So come out here and, you know, make them laugh for a few hours and just be around them and head back to these coasts, see the Orioles and then my Guy Marchekis will be getting into the Hall of Fame next week and I'll be there to celebrate him because he's one of my favorites to watch and to play with. - So what a good friend he is. Just going around, seeing all the, all his boys. There was a, and for us as Padres fans, it's really nice to see Quentin Berry and his squad get a win last night. I mean, there has been no give. I mean, really, really, as much as the Padres have won, there's just been no give from anyone else and it was nice, nice to see that, that dub last night. - It was a great win. I mean, it didn't start pretty. Montage gave up three in the first and it didn't look pretty. Viewer loaded the bases up but then Keir Meyer made it unbelievable. - Unbelievable. - Double play. Going to the guy out at home. And that just steps for them and then obviously the scrappiness of the Brewers. They just kept fighting back, kept fighting back, put up two, put up three. Ended up winning the game and that was a great win because obviously the Padres and the Diamondbacks took care of their business. They've been both been playing so well. And again, the Dodgers, they just don't give up. They don't, they don't let up. And, you know, although the Padres have been playing unbelievable, they closed the gap but the Dodgers are still playing solid baseball. - Yep. - All you need to do is continue to play a game. And I'm going to ask you guys a question because I asked this to Lionel Hearn on my podcast and it's a dumb question but it's actually something that if you really think about it, it might make sense. But I only think it makes sense for the Orioles only because the other teams are too close. So winning the division three to four teams last year, they lost, they got eliminated because they had to buy and they had to five days off. So say the Orioles, a younger team, then the Yankees, say they don't win the division. They will still be the third seed. So they get to still host. They only get one day off and then they get to three games. Maybe they don't get time off. They get to keep rolling. Is that beneficial for a team to do? To not win the division but to win, to finish third so that you can keep the momentum going or is it beneficial to take the time off? - We talked about this. - I'm winning the division, that's right. - And we talked about this because we asked you this and what I have a problem with is this. Is those division winners like the Dodgers? I think who else did this? The Braves maybe complaining about the time off. And we actually talked about a combo we had with you and Paulie and I had this combo with the game yesterday and it wasn't Adam's take a couple of years ago like give me the time off, I can't remember. I think that's what it was. - Give me the time off. - Give me the time off and my whole thing is and I said it and I stand by it. If the Padres win the division and then they have that time off and then they go out and get bodied, I'm not blaming the playoff, I'm blaming the Padres. I really am and I'm just like I blame the Dodgers and the Braves and everybody else who, but I don't like this new system. Well, I mean you had time to get rest, get. - Wait after 162 games, don't you, you want that. - You want it. - I think. - I mean you look at it and you see it. - No, it's kind of, it's you don't. Like I think guys that are going into the playoffs, you definitely, it's a second kick of adrenaline. I've been in the playoffs and that adrenaline is crazy. I've also seen where my future was going was today's date, by today's date. So there's different, when you play in last 40 games, knowing that you're about to go on vacation, rather than your 40 games, you're gonna be in the playoffs. It's a little bit different motion. And I think older guys want the time off, I think younger guys mentally might be off. It's such a tricky, tricky thing because we fought, guys fought, they were complaining when we had a one, we had one playoff game, the wild card. - Yeah, that's awesome. - We have only one game, only one game. - Okay, we gave you three. Now on the other side, the other guys are mad at you. They have five days off, it's, there's no making. Everybody happy, it's just a matter of, I think it's great that more teams are gonna have a playoffs out of team with the third wild card. - Here's how I look at it, AJ, tell me if you agree. So we always look at the examples of teams like the Dodgers and Braves, they get knocked out after that layoff and go, well, they weren't able to keep the momentum going. But you never point out a team like, let's say the Mets two years ago. When they got the home three games against the San Diego Potters, they won 101 games, but ended up one game short of the Braves at the end of the year. So then they had to play that wild card series and yeah, they got it at home, but guess what? They were out of the playoffs after three days because they had to risk it in the wild card series, which is why I think you always want to buy. If you've got to buy, you have a 50/50 chance essentially of getting to the league championship series. If you go to the wild card, you got a 50/50 chance that went in the wild card and then another 50/50 chance, that's a one in four chance of getting to the league championship series. So while you may have to always play a team that is hot if you had the buy 'cause they just want to play off series, you're still already there and you're missing a whole round of risk that could take you out of the playoffs. You're missing a round of risk that can take you out of the playoffs. And to me, that's the most valuable thing, even if it does take a little bit of your momentum, saps a little bit of your momentum going into the postseason. And AJ, let me do you one better. Let me do you one better too. And I was talking about this with the fellas and in the locker room yesterday, the Dodgers usually, they're done right now, they're done. They have the division wrapped up, there's no threat. This is actually gonna be interesting to watch down the stretch. They're gonna get pushed a little bit. They got pushed by the Giants a few years ago, but watching them actually have to maybe ratchet it up in September, really for the first time in a while since that Giants push is gonna be interesting. Good teams like that, now they're gonna have to actually, they're gonna have to actually try and go out and execute and win games. That could be an interesting thing to watch down the stretch because usually men, they're on cruise control the last few weeks. - They are, but I was talking to them yesterday. They understand that they can be on cruise control this year and their two pickups were big with Ahmed and Kiermeyer. They didn't add the offense, but they had, they solidified defense at two incredible positions that they've been struggling with. First officer position, they've been struggling at center field, Ahmed has not, you know, bounced back and had a good sophomore year. So they've been able to go get two guys in watching the game last night. Kiermeyer was able to impact the game tremendously on the defense side. He had a good offensive game too, but they made some good moves. So it was just a question that I had. And, you know, like I said, I'm always going for the division. I think that's, when you hang that banner up, I don't want to hang a wild card banner up on the Hangar, the AL East or, you know, West, whatever banner up. And it was just something I was just thinking about because it's going to happen again to a team. And they're going to complain about it again. So it's just kind of get ahead of the complaints and be like, well, we told you, this is what it is. - Yeah, remember 11 of the 12 teams in the playoffs are going to lose. - Yeah, we can't just, we can't just, oh, they lost. It was because of this. It was because of that. Because you got a 96% chance of losing even once you get to the playoffs. 'Cause playoffs are hard. Talking to Adam Jones, the five-time Alistair. I asked this a Brett Boone yesterday and I want to ask you the same question. Padres are playing like literally the best baseball they've ever played. They've never won 19 of 22 games. What do you think, you remember like, what was the best stretch you were ever on a team during your career? And what was like the key? What was the mood? Just how did that all come together? Because this is rare and special what the Padres you're doing right now. - Yeah, I think our year was 14 where we played every game that entire year knowing that we still got a chance. Don't worry about it. Give you down three nothing, down four nothing. Don't worry about it. We played baseball. We moved runners. We bunted. We hit behind guys. We did all the things at the end of the day to say, don't do that. We played baseball. Number one, you have to remember. You're playing a baseball game. You're not playing a numbers game. You're not playing analytical game. You're playing a game of baseball. When those game starts, you have to play and adjust to what you see. And we did that. We wanted to win every day. We sacrificed individual numbers and our numbers were still just as good because if you play a whole season and you can test, you can ask, man, he was there. You play a whole season, no matter what, your numbers going, if you're a good player, your numbers going to be pretty good, if you're healthy. But if you play winning baseball, that is the fans treat you differently. Like, fair the ball to where they love the way they play the game of pure baseball. And the Padres right now are playing that. They're going first to third. I've seen Maryland playing unbelievable, but they're just playing fundamentally sound baseball. It's not a secret. It's not all they're doing this better. No, they're catching a ball. They're getting that foot down on offense. They're pitching really good. They play a great defense. They're just playing over on good baseball. And again, when you smoke, you pinpoint things, just go back to how good are they just playing over a baseball? Are they turning the double plays that should be turned? Are they taking the extra bases that should be taken? Are they scoring on singles that the basics for the man on second base that you should score on? Like, are they doing the little things to play? Now, the great plays, the home runs, the dream of the home runs, all that kind of stuff, it's cool in section. But if you don't play baseball, draw a wall to lay in the game. You know, take that hit by a pitch. It's okay. You got some ice underneath. You know what I mean? Break up that double play. Like, just do look little things. And that's right now what I've seen on the Padres if you also break, they've done all those little things. And then again, bam, you get a big home run in the eighth inning. I keep hearing too on the broadcast. I mean, Jesse and Tony were talking about it yesterday on my drive home from the ballpark about the buy-in. The buy-in, buy-in is key. And I don't know that buy-in has been something that's been here in many, many years. I think a lot of that goes to Mike Schilt, a lot of credit goes for that. But again, I think the presence of a young energetic Jackson Merrill that he has that mentality of I refuse to lose. Did that, did the youngster ever come? Was it Manny that you said, like, when he came in, you're like, all right, here's a little, this guy get a little arrogant, but we know that he can play. And he has injected a little bit of life into maybe some of the vets. There's a lot of credit that needs to go around, but the buy-in from everybody, including Annie and Zander and guys like that, has been pretty incredible. - Yeah, I mean, I would never use the word arrogant with Manny, ever. I would use the word confident. - Arrogant to me is somebody that really, they're just scared to really do it. They just talk a big game. Manny doesn't talk, he does. And that's confidence, he's a Miami kid. If he was from Wisconsin, or if he was from Michigan, and he'd probably be a little bit different, he'd probably be a tool, but he's from Miami, baby. Like, that's just the part, that's the Miami kids. And you know, you can't have a young dude interject your team. And you know, what we came, when we were, he had myself, JJ, Marcheka, his leaders. And then this young kid comes up with a third base, and after like three games, you're like, well damn, all right. Well, you know, well, he got to see that the table, 'cause he is impacting this game from the first pitch to the last pitch, and that's what Jackson Merrill is doing. So he's didn't see that the table. I know he's a rookie, maybe he's not talking at the table, but he's definitely, he's definitely getting himself a seat. And you know, you feed off, especially when you get older, you feed off those youngsters that just are pushing you, 'cause they want to beat your butt, too. They want to be where you are, and you just see yourself in them. So, you know, like a Peralta, you know, who's had the last couple years, not the years that he had in Arizona. He's doing a terrific job filling in for Tatifa. I talked to him, he's like, man, he's playing with narrow dog, he's energetic. He's got so much energy, so much fashion, playing with Pro-FAR, and it's like the energy that these guys play with him. Young dudes can definitely be leaders. The age factor is not a thing. I play with guys who are older, more time, and just straight morons. So, like, couldn't lead themselves to the bathroom. So, I would, like, young dudes, I don't mind young dudes stepping up. Obviously, there's a correct way to do it, and he has better ways to do it. But no, he's, like I said, he can lead right now. Mero's the team MVP. - Last one here, AJ. You mentioned, you know, taking the hit by pitch when you need to. Jerk's been taking like eight of them in the last week. Jake took one, like 87 to the back. What's on the end? - He saw the bruise yesterday. Oh, my God. - In the clubhouse. I don't think I've asked this before. Do you remember the gnarliest hit by pitch you took in your career and who delivered it? - You know, I've been drilled, drilled. I've been hitting the hands. I got hit on the wrist by '98 from Brandon Morrow. I've been hit on the hand. - Remember the head, back, ankles. The number one was by Maryland native. Mom, I'm drawing a blank on his name. He picked for the White Sox, though. And big right-hander. And he hit me in like 2011 or some 10 or 11. And he just hit me in the back. 92, 93 miles on the back. For some of my reasons, for nine or 10 days, I couldn't lift my left arm. Like I never, I didn't want to deal. I tried to, he knew, I don't know what happened. I could not lift my left arm. And it wasn't the hardest pitch I've been hit with or the most painful, but it turned out to be the most lingering. And I'll never forget that one. I was like, oh, this definitely is. - Was it Brian? - And one other one. - Brian Shaw? - Was it Brian Shaw? - No, he was a starter, he was a starter. Big old starter. - Dang. - And another one. - Now the lefty. - No, righty. When I was with the Diamondbacks, you Darvish hit me in the lips. - The lips? - Like, ooh. - Watch the lips. - It watched my lips, it grazed my lips. My lips were burning for three days straight. Like they were on literal fire. I don't know how you didn't get in the mouth. But you look too cool, baby. - It's just too cool if you hit him. - Crazed. (laughing) - Grazed lips, man. And I was like, how do you even get in the face? - Let's stick, what happens? (laughing) - It's never heard. - I have never heard somebody say, I gotta hit the lips. - I gotta hit the lips. And that being the ball just grazed my lips and burned. So I feel like I'm first to be better than him. (laughing) - That is absolute pure gold. - And it, Darvish, like, I'm sorry. So my thing, so my thing, sorry, sorry. I'm like, I don't worry about it, man. You give me the things, I'm like. (laughing) - AJ, appreciate it. - We have a good rest of your trip in Milwaukee and we'll talk to you again next week. - We'll do it, man. We'll give ourself a nice, big old brat. - Yeah, sounds good. - Enjoy it. - Adam Jones, the five-time All-Star, always one of our favorite conversations of the week. Yeah, hit in the lips. - Super coolers. (laughing) (gasping) - It's like. (laughing) Holy cow. - Hope it wasn't the seams, at least. - That's probably what it was, dude. It wasn't the flat part. - Yeah. - It would have to be the seams. - Yeah. - Just the skin off. - Wow. - Oh my God, that is just incredible. - Wow. - I've never disappointed, man. Never disappointed. That was great. - All right, we will come back. We got two hours still to go, well, three hours, 'cause it's around table Thursday, but in our next hour, we'll have Eno with us for some smart baseball as we do each and every Thursday. We have more throwback Thursday as well. Mark Grant. - I'm gonna be making that appearance on throwback Thursday coming up. - Yeah. - You saw mud, didn't you yesterday? - Sure did. - Oh. It happened again. - It did. - It happened again. - Again, we have a picture to prove it. - All right. That is coming up in hour number three of Benawad's next on San Diego's number one sports station, 97.3 the fan. - Trying to figure out what to eat for dinner yet again, with no sides and bullion as you're not so secret ingredient, you can skip the drive-through and do dinner at home. Nor taste combos provide a menu of delicious, affordable and well-balanced meals that you can prepare in 30 minutes or less. 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