WEBVTT

1
00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:02.960
<v Speaker 1>Honored to have Stephen Nesbit of the athletic where they

2
00:00:03.000 --> 00:00:06.919
<v Speaker 1>should can call him on Twitter at Stephen jay Nesbit

3
00:00:07.040 --> 00:00:11.320
<v Speaker 1>to talk Major League Baseball. Four games on the postseason

4
00:00:11.400 --> 00:00:14.679
<v Speaker 1>docket today and it starts with the Tigers at Houston. Steven,

5
00:00:14.720 --> 00:00:16.160
<v Speaker 1>thanks for the time. How are you today?

6
00:00:17.120 --> 00:00:18.559
<v Speaker 2>I'm doing well. Thanks for having me, Matt.

7
00:00:19.039 --> 00:00:23.320
<v Speaker 1>You bet. The Tigers and Astros. I think people should

8
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:25.879
<v Speaker 1>be torn in this if they're even in Detroit because

9
00:00:25.879 --> 00:00:28.600
<v Speaker 1>of how Walt Detroit has played down the stretch. Houston

10
00:00:28.600 --> 00:00:31.000
<v Speaker 1>has played really well since the All Star break and

11
00:00:31.079 --> 00:00:34.640
<v Speaker 1>they have that championship pedigree. How do you look at

12
00:00:34.640 --> 00:00:37.000
<v Speaker 1>this series and what is most important and how it

13
00:00:37.039 --> 00:00:37.640
<v Speaker 1>plays out?

14
00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:40.840
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean there are a lot of factors I

15
00:00:40.840 --> 00:00:42.759
<v Speaker 2>think are going to be really compelling in this one.

16
00:00:44.000 --> 00:00:48.399
<v Speaker 2>You're right to point out the Astros were pretty horrific

17
00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:51.759
<v Speaker 2>in the first half. They almost gave away the division

18
00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.560
<v Speaker 2>that they never give away. Right. This is a team

19
00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:59.000
<v Speaker 2>that's gone to the ALCS six straight years, seven straight years,

20
00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:01.719
<v Speaker 2>and the Mariners had a ten game lead at one

21
00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.840
<v Speaker 2>point in June, so it was it was rough going

22
00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:07.560
<v Speaker 2>there for the Astros, but they figured it out. Now,

23
00:01:08.079 --> 00:01:10.400
<v Speaker 2>what I would point out for Tigers fans, of which

24
00:01:10.719 --> 00:01:16.159
<v Speaker 2>my entire family falls in, that is that these Astros

25
00:01:16.200 --> 00:01:19.319
<v Speaker 2>aren't initially the Astros you're accustomed to. They are currently

26
00:01:19.680 --> 00:01:21.840
<v Speaker 2>sort of fifty to fifty and whether you're not Alvarez,

27
00:01:21.840 --> 00:01:26.040
<v Speaker 2>the big slugger, DH left fielder will play in the series,

28
00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:29.359
<v Speaker 2>and Justin verland Or I doubt is going to be

29
00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:31.719
<v Speaker 2>a factor. So you're dealing with Franver Valdez as their

30
00:01:31.799 --> 00:01:34.560
<v Speaker 2>number one. He's certainly a bona fide ace. They have

31
00:01:34.680 --> 00:01:39.079
<v Speaker 2>a Hunter Brown who's a kid who went to Way

32
00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:41.719
<v Speaker 2>State I believe it was, and to try it, and

33
00:01:42.480 --> 00:01:45.120
<v Speaker 2>you say Kakuchu. They got over from from Toronto. They

34
00:01:45.159 --> 00:01:47.680
<v Speaker 2>have capable starting pitching, but I don't think it's overwhelming

35
00:01:47.760 --> 00:01:50.239
<v Speaker 2>starting pitching, and they have a really good back end

36
00:01:50.280 --> 00:01:53.640
<v Speaker 2>of the bullpen. So I think it's the series where

37
00:01:54.280 --> 00:01:57.599
<v Speaker 2>you would, typically as a neutral party, say the Astros

38
00:01:57.640 --> 00:01:59.359
<v Speaker 2>will get this done. We've seen them do it so

39
00:01:59.359 --> 00:02:02.280
<v Speaker 2>many times with four. But the way the Tigers have played,

40
00:02:03.079 --> 00:02:06.120
<v Speaker 2>it's very hard to deny the momentum they're carrying at

41
00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:09.680
<v Speaker 2>this point. Whether this is vibes based or simply saying

42
00:02:10.599 --> 00:02:14.960
<v Speaker 2>the fact is, as I wrote today, since the Wildcard

43
00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.719
<v Speaker 2>series went to three games two years ago. All eight

44
00:02:17.759 --> 00:02:19.759
<v Speaker 2>teams out of won game one have won the series,

45
00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.719
<v Speaker 2>and in fact, only one of those series even went

46
00:02:21.759 --> 00:02:23.879
<v Speaker 2>to three games. And so when you have Terri Schooble

47
00:02:24.400 --> 00:02:26.840
<v Speaker 2>in game one, I have to go up against fran

48
00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:30.680
<v Speaker 2>Ra Valdez, a pair of lefties. If Scooble can win

49
00:02:30.719 --> 00:02:34.039
<v Speaker 2>them game one, I don't see why the Tigers can't

50
00:02:34.039 --> 00:02:37.039
<v Speaker 2>finish off one of you know, the other two games

51
00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:39.120
<v Speaker 2>going with sort of the chaos pitching approach.

52
00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:43.240
<v Speaker 1>How important is playoff experience in your mind?

53
00:02:45.039 --> 00:02:48.360
<v Speaker 2>It's important, I think, I think a lot of playoff experience.

54
00:02:48.400 --> 00:02:51.360
<v Speaker 2>Certainly Trump's none. I don't know that you know, having

55
00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:54.439
<v Speaker 2>played in one wild Card series before would would change

56
00:02:54.479 --> 00:02:57.960
<v Speaker 2>things wildly for your fortunes. But when you're dealing with

57
00:02:58.439 --> 00:03:01.919
<v Speaker 2>Alex Bregman, Framer, that is Verlander, whether he's in this

58
00:03:02.120 --> 00:03:08.719
<v Speaker 2>or not, Josh Hader, Brian Abrew, Ryan Presley, Kyle Tucker,

59
00:03:08.759 --> 00:03:10.800
<v Speaker 2>all these guys that have been to the playoff year

60
00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:14.039
<v Speaker 2>after year after year, it's Houston that's gonna help. They're

61
00:03:14.080 --> 00:03:17.319
<v Speaker 2>also playing at home. They're comfortable that park. The park

62
00:03:17.360 --> 00:03:20.639
<v Speaker 2>plays rather interestingly right. It's a short porch to left

63
00:03:20.639 --> 00:03:25.199
<v Speaker 2>field with the Crawford boxes they are. They also lead

64
00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:27.400
<v Speaker 2>off with the pitcher in Valdez, who for years has

65
00:03:27.400 --> 00:03:31.759
<v Speaker 2>been the highest ground ball percentage pitcher start pitcher in baseball.

66
00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:33.680
<v Speaker 2>So he knows how to play in that park, and

67
00:03:33.719 --> 00:03:36.840
<v Speaker 2>so the Tigers don't need timely swings and it might

68
00:03:36.879 --> 00:03:38.759
<v Speaker 2>be a two to one, three one game that need

69
00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:39.599
<v Speaker 2>to figure out how to win.

70
00:03:40.639 --> 00:03:43.080
<v Speaker 1>Stephen Nesbit of the Athletic Joiner is here on Exus

71
00:03:43.080 --> 00:03:47.000
<v Speaker 1>and Bros faham on Twitter on x Stephen J. Nesbit

72
00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:50.960
<v Speaker 1>and its st E p h e N j Nesbit

73
00:03:51.000 --> 00:03:54.479
<v Speaker 1>with two t's. The Tigers are probably too young to

74
00:03:54.560 --> 00:03:57.080
<v Speaker 1>even I don't want to say understand, but it almost

75
00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:00.919
<v Speaker 1>too young to even care where the at and just

76
00:04:01.599 --> 00:04:04.360
<v Speaker 1>you know, just play with that looseness. Some people in

77
00:04:04.400 --> 00:04:07.479
<v Speaker 1>Detroit feel like it's house money. I'm not one of them.

78
00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:12.120
<v Speaker 1>Can youthful inexperience almost be a benefit in your mind?

79
00:04:13.240 --> 00:04:16.240
<v Speaker 2>Yeah? I think it certainly. Can. We were just having

80
00:04:16.240 --> 00:04:18.480
<v Speaker 2>this conversation yesterday. It was a ten year anniversary of

81
00:04:18.519 --> 00:04:23.959
<v Speaker 2>the twenty fourteen Royals who had just this epic comeback

82
00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:25.839
<v Speaker 2>victory in the Wildcard and they go all the way

83
00:04:25.839 --> 00:04:28.040
<v Speaker 2>to the World Series then win it the following year.

84
00:04:29.240 --> 00:04:31.439
<v Speaker 2>That's a team to me that had that didn't know

85
00:04:31.480 --> 00:04:34.519
<v Speaker 2>any better, right, they had not been to the playoffs

86
00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:37.480
<v Speaker 2>in forever, just like these Tigers having in a decade,

87
00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:40.040
<v Speaker 2>and you get there and you know who's going to

88
00:04:40.079 --> 00:04:43.120
<v Speaker 2>tell Terry Scoople how to feel today. He's going to

89
00:04:43.160 --> 00:04:44.879
<v Speaker 2>go out and pitch as well as he can and

90
00:04:44.959 --> 00:04:47.720
<v Speaker 2>as long as he can, and a J. Hinch He's

91
00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:50.480
<v Speaker 2>to me like that is a bit of an X factor,

92
00:04:50.480 --> 00:04:53.560
<v Speaker 2>having a steady hand at the wheel where he's able

93
00:04:53.639 --> 00:04:56.000
<v Speaker 2>to have posted an experience with the guy on the

94
00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.240
<v Speaker 2>other side. Joe's bought it. He has experienced in a

95
00:04:58.279 --> 00:05:01.639
<v Speaker 2>different role, but not as a manager. That leads to

96
00:05:01.680 --> 00:05:03.800
<v Speaker 2>me in the Tiger's direction, And maybe that's all you

97
00:05:03.839 --> 00:05:05.800
<v Speaker 2>need as a manager who's been there before, who knows

98
00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:08.000
<v Speaker 2>how to push the right button. It's been the right

99
00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:12.519
<v Speaker 2>dials and let these players somehow play freely even though

100
00:05:12.560 --> 00:05:15.040
<v Speaker 2>it's the biggest games of their to try Tigers lives.

101
00:05:15.519 --> 00:05:18.240
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I agree one hundred percent with that. Obviously, it

102
00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:20.959
<v Speaker 1>doesn't always work out that way. It didn't help Aaron

103
00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:23.920
<v Speaker 1>Boone a year ago, right, it didn't help certain guys

104
00:05:23.920 --> 00:05:27.959
<v Speaker 1>who have that experience, you know, Dave Roberts, for example.

105
00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.279
<v Speaker 1>It didn't necessarily help the Dodgers, but I think it's important,

106
00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:32.560
<v Speaker 1>and I think A. J. Hinch is one of the

107
00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:35.600
<v Speaker 1>best managers in all of baseball. I'm sure Steven volt

108
00:05:35.639 --> 00:05:37.920
<v Speaker 1>will get the American League Manager of the Year, and

109
00:05:37.959 --> 00:05:40.680
<v Speaker 1>I'm not crying about that, but I think A. J.

110
00:05:40.839 --> 00:05:43.079
<v Speaker 1>Hinch has been a primary reason why Detroit has been

111
00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:45.639
<v Speaker 1>able to make this type of push. How do you

112
00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:49.959
<v Speaker 1>handicap the American League teams in general, because I think

113
00:05:50.040 --> 00:05:53.079
<v Speaker 1>a lot of people feel like it's pretty wide open,

114
00:05:53.560 --> 00:05:56.839
<v Speaker 1>considering the lack of health by some teams.

115
00:05:57.920 --> 00:06:00.279
<v Speaker 2>Yeah it is. I'm not looking in the bracket now,

116
00:06:00.279 --> 00:06:02.279
<v Speaker 2>but it's the Yankees got the buy was it Cleveland

117
00:06:02.279 --> 00:06:02.959
<v Speaker 2>who got the other? By?

118
00:06:03.720 --> 00:06:05.040
<v Speaker 1>Cleveland got the other by? Yep?

119
00:06:05.639 --> 00:06:08.319
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean both those teams stack up so well

120
00:06:08.360 --> 00:06:11.480
<v Speaker 2>that the Yankees have. I mean, both teams have obvious flaws.

121
00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:13.720
<v Speaker 2>The Guardians don't have a starting rotation. They have a

122
00:06:13.720 --> 00:06:16.319
<v Speaker 2>couple of guys who have pitched well lately, Tanner Byby

123
00:06:16.519 --> 00:06:20.120
<v Speaker 2>I trust. But beyond that, you know, you know, in

124
00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:23.199
<v Speaker 2>Detroit we've seen Matthew Boyd and a lot of years ago,

125
00:06:23.240 --> 00:06:26.000
<v Speaker 2>we were seeing great innings from him. Alice Cobb has

126
00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:30.560
<v Speaker 2>been injured and coming back. The Yankees have big questions

127
00:06:30.560 --> 00:06:33.439
<v Speaker 2>in the starting rotation because Garrett Cole hasn't been Garrett

128
00:06:33.480 --> 00:06:35.639
<v Speaker 2>Cole right. He's coming off a side young season, but

129
00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:38.439
<v Speaker 2>also coming more recently off of an elbow injury that

130
00:06:38.519 --> 00:06:41.240
<v Speaker 2>kept him out for a couple of months. And their

131
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:44.800
<v Speaker 2>bullpen they've made it work lately, but they're also kind

132
00:06:44.800 --> 00:06:47.160
<v Speaker 2>of operating without a true closer since Clay Holmes has

133
00:06:47.199 --> 00:06:50.480
<v Speaker 2>moved out of that role, and they have some guys

134
00:06:50.480 --> 00:06:53.079
<v Speaker 2>in this bullpend that you would three years ago have been,

135
00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:55.439
<v Speaker 2>you know, in disbelief that they would wind up in

136
00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:59.120
<v Speaker 2>a postseason of bullpen for the Yankees. Other than that,

137
00:06:59.199 --> 00:07:02.240
<v Speaker 2>you know, we talked about Tigers in Houston. I'm looking

138
00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:04.680
<v Speaker 2>around the field. What am I missing? Royals and.

139
00:07:06.519 --> 00:07:10.560
<v Speaker 1>Baltimore Baltimore Oriols Baltimore, So those I have.

140
00:07:10.800 --> 00:07:13.040
<v Speaker 2>I have the Orioles winning that one. But it's two

141
00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:15.800
<v Speaker 2>teams that have played five hundred ball or slightly worse

142
00:07:15.839 --> 00:07:19.000
<v Speaker 2>since July first, right there. Neither of them are coming

143
00:07:19.040 --> 00:07:22.639
<v Speaker 2>in hot. The Royals don't have a bullpen, which is

144
00:07:22.680 --> 00:07:26.199
<v Speaker 2>going to play pretty critically here because they do have

145
00:07:26.240 --> 00:07:28.240
<v Speaker 2>a great rotation, right We've seen them have maybe the

146
00:07:28.279 --> 00:07:31.560
<v Speaker 2>best rotation of anyone in baseball this season as far

147
00:07:31.600 --> 00:07:33.480
<v Speaker 2>as one through five. And they're gonna go with Cole

148
00:07:33.519 --> 00:07:36.399
<v Speaker 2>Reagan's in game one, that's logo in game two, and

149
00:07:36.399 --> 00:07:38.560
<v Speaker 2>they have more options behind that. But you don't have

150
00:07:38.600 --> 00:07:41.040
<v Speaker 2>a setup man, you don't have a you have an

151
00:07:40.360 --> 00:07:43.720
<v Speaker 2>eighth inning man, and you're kind of leaving it all

152
00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:46.279
<v Speaker 2>up to Luke Lucas Versage their their closer. They got

153
00:07:46.279 --> 00:07:49.920
<v Speaker 2>from from the A's and I was just looking this up.

154
00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:53.360
<v Speaker 2>They have. The Royals had the lowest team ops in

155
00:07:53.399 --> 00:07:55.920
<v Speaker 2>September by kind of a bike by a mile, worse

156
00:07:55.959 --> 00:07:57.759
<v Speaker 2>than the White Dogs, worse than all you know, everybody

157
00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:00.839
<v Speaker 2>there at the bottom, and it was it was Bobby

158
00:08:00.839 --> 00:08:02.959
<v Speaker 2>Witt with an eight hundred something OLPs, which is, you know,

159
00:08:03.199 --> 00:08:05.519
<v Speaker 2>above league average, and no one in the seven hundreds

160
00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:07.920
<v Speaker 2>that everyone else is six hundreds of lower, which is

161
00:08:07.959 --> 00:08:10.800
<v Speaker 2>well below, well below average. That is a team that

162
00:08:10.879 --> 00:08:12.839
<v Speaker 2>runs on you know, a couple of starting pitchers in

163
00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:15.800
<v Speaker 2>Bobby Witt, and that scares me. When you're facing Corbyn Burns,

164
00:08:15.800 --> 00:08:18.040
<v Speaker 2>who is good, Dac Efflyn, who I think is certainly

165
00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:21.319
<v Speaker 2>capable of winning a postseason game as he has before.

166
00:08:21.680 --> 00:08:24.079
<v Speaker 2>And a lineup that, to me in Baltimore one through

167
00:08:24.160 --> 00:08:27.519
<v Speaker 2>nine is just significantly stronger, is going to find a

168
00:08:27.519 --> 00:08:31.160
<v Speaker 2>way to chip away at what's happening in Kansas City.

169
00:08:31.680 --> 00:08:34.519
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. I think Baltimore has the best lineup in the

170
00:08:34.559 --> 00:08:38.159
<v Speaker 1>American League, and outside of Philadelphia, might have the best

171
00:08:38.159 --> 00:08:40.720
<v Speaker 1>lineup in baseball. That's just my opinion. I think they're

172
00:08:41.080 --> 00:08:44.799
<v Speaker 1>really deep. I don't think Anthony Santander gets nearly enough credit. Yeah,

173
00:08:44.840 --> 00:08:46.919
<v Speaker 1>I think I think Baltimore is a scary team. But

174
00:08:47.360 --> 00:08:49.360
<v Speaker 1>you know, from a pitching perspective, I think if they

175
00:08:49.360 --> 00:08:51.480
<v Speaker 1>look back, they probably wish they would have gone and

176
00:08:51.519 --> 00:08:55.879
<v Speaker 1>gotten some pitching help at the trade deadline. When you

177
00:08:56.600 --> 00:08:59.879
<v Speaker 1>in your staff go into these types of you know,

178
00:09:00.279 --> 00:09:02.559
<v Speaker 1>editors fortunate to make these predictions. I'm sure a lot

179
00:09:02.600 --> 00:09:05.279
<v Speaker 1>of you guys don't like doing it. But when you're

180
00:09:05.320 --> 00:09:13.279
<v Speaker 1>forced to do that, do you take into account pitching, hitting, coaching, fielding,

181
00:09:14.240 --> 00:09:17.279
<v Speaker 1>what is most important to you? How do you prioritize

182
00:09:17.799 --> 00:09:21.440
<v Speaker 1>how a team looks or is or ranks when you

183
00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:24.919
<v Speaker 1>make these types of Synopsis of the series.

184
00:09:26.240 --> 00:09:29.120
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, it's a it's a little a little bit of everything.

185
00:09:29.159 --> 00:09:31.480
<v Speaker 2>I mean, I picked the Tigers in part because I

186
00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:33.200
<v Speaker 2>thought maybe no one was going to pick them, and

187
00:09:33.519 --> 00:09:37.200
<v Speaker 2>then you're always opening up yourselves up to get made

188
00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:39.519
<v Speaker 2>fun of on social media. Plus I would make my

189
00:09:39.600 --> 00:09:42.799
<v Speaker 2>dad happy if I picked the Tigers, And so it

190
00:09:42.879 --> 00:09:44.320
<v Speaker 2>turned out a couple of couple of people to pick

191
00:09:44.320 --> 00:09:46.440
<v Speaker 2>the Tigers. But you're it's all those things that I'm

192
00:09:46.480 --> 00:09:49.759
<v Speaker 2>considering when I when I do it. But also, momentum

193
00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:52.440
<v Speaker 2>is a real thing, right. I give the Mets a

194
00:09:52.519 --> 00:09:54.720
<v Speaker 2>much greater chance to win right now than I would

195
00:09:54.759 --> 00:09:57.840
<v Speaker 2>have you know, had to been coming in on a

196
00:09:57.960 --> 00:10:01.720
<v Speaker 2>five hundred stretch and August and September and coasted down

197
00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:05.399
<v Speaker 2>the stretch. There are teams that don't make sense that

198
00:10:05.440 --> 00:10:07.720
<v Speaker 2>win in October. That's what we saw last year with

199
00:10:07.759 --> 00:10:10.600
<v Speaker 2>the Texas Rangers. So we saw last year with the

200
00:10:10.639 --> 00:10:13.840
<v Speaker 2>Arizona Diamondbacks, who very nearly made it back to the

201
00:10:13.919 --> 00:10:15.639
<v Speaker 2>Dance this year. It would have been a dangerous out,

202
00:10:15.720 --> 00:10:17.759
<v Speaker 2>I think had they made it back as the highest

203
00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.879
<v Speaker 2>run scoring team in the Majors. So it is a

204
00:10:20.919 --> 00:10:22.679
<v Speaker 2>little bit of everything. As I look at the Tigers,

205
00:10:22.759 --> 00:10:25.960
<v Speaker 2>I'm telling you I'm making this decision based on Google

206
00:10:26.120 --> 00:10:29.919
<v Speaker 2>because that I mentioned about how important is the win

207
00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:33.120
<v Speaker 2>game one. When I'm looking at a team like the Yankees,

208
00:10:33.120 --> 00:10:36.200
<v Speaker 2>I'm seeing kind of all the different ways that could

209
00:10:36.200 --> 00:10:37.919
<v Speaker 2>beat you, particularly the Phillies. So I think are the

210
00:10:37.960 --> 00:10:40.320
<v Speaker 2>most well rounded team in a field of teams that

211
00:10:40.399 --> 00:10:43.279
<v Speaker 2>are imperfect. I picked them as the winner, but I

212
00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:45.879
<v Speaker 2>could make an argument for the Yankees, or the Guardians,

213
00:10:45.879 --> 00:10:48.279
<v Speaker 2>who have the best ball playing baseball, or the Dodgers.

214
00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:51.559
<v Speaker 2>Let's let's count. The more ways you have to beat me,

215
00:10:52.240 --> 00:10:54.559
<v Speaker 2>the more likely I am to pick you in that series.

216
00:10:54.600 --> 00:10:58.039
<v Speaker 2>And so I think that's sort of the way I

217
00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:58.559
<v Speaker 2>look at it.

218
00:10:59.440 --> 00:11:01.960
<v Speaker 1>I like that your publication yesterday had a good one.

219
00:11:02.519 --> 00:11:07.200
<v Speaker 1>It said I didn't realize this that Houston they have

220
00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:11.440
<v Speaker 1>a pitching staff that is I mean really good, right,

221
00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:15.279
<v Speaker 1>I mean it's been really good. But their lineup has

222
00:11:15.320 --> 00:11:18.960
<v Speaker 1>been fantastic too. And Hunter Brown owns the league's third

223
00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:22.600
<v Speaker 1>lowest ERA since May fifth. That is not a small

224
00:11:22.679 --> 00:11:24.639
<v Speaker 1>sample size at all. That's phenomenal.

225
00:11:25.559 --> 00:11:28.279
<v Speaker 2>No, I completely forgot to mention Hoseel today when I

226
00:11:28.440 --> 00:11:30.600
<v Speaker 2>listed all those astros earlier. Yeah, this is a team

227
00:11:31.000 --> 00:11:33.960
<v Speaker 2>with so much posted and experience. Hunter Brown's had experience

228
00:11:34.000 --> 00:11:37.559
<v Speaker 2>but not necessarily one of these critical roles. And how

229
00:11:37.600 --> 00:11:39.360
<v Speaker 2>nice to be in opposition. We're able to sort of

230
00:11:39.480 --> 00:11:41.840
<v Speaker 2>usher this guy in and that can go around, I

231
00:11:41.840 --> 00:11:45.480
<v Speaker 2>think in the postseason and is not walking in blind

232
00:11:45.519 --> 00:11:46.120
<v Speaker 2>to the situation.

233
00:11:47.159 --> 00:11:49.840
<v Speaker 1>Hey, just a couple more. I could keep you all day,

234
00:11:49.879 --> 00:11:52.200
<v Speaker 1>but I know you've got stuff to do too. A

235
00:11:52.200 --> 00:11:57.000
<v Speaker 1>couple more. I truly believe, and I said this just yesterday.

236
00:11:57.840 --> 00:12:02.360
<v Speaker 1>Pat Murphy's been done an unbelievable job in Milwaukee. People

237
00:12:02.519 --> 00:12:05.080
<v Speaker 1>just it's one of those teams and nobody gives enough

238
00:12:05.120 --> 00:12:08.799
<v Speaker 1>credit to They had the most comfortable win of any

239
00:12:08.799 --> 00:12:11.720
<v Speaker 1>division winner, whether or not you feel like the division

240
00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:15.879
<v Speaker 1>is worth anything, but Pet Murphy's been incredible. How do

241
00:12:15.919 --> 00:12:17.679
<v Speaker 1>you handicap the National League?

242
00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:22.519
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, I mean I think it's a good point about Murph.

243
00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:25.960
<v Speaker 2>And Cody Stapenhagen, who covers the Tigers for US, just

244
00:12:26.080 --> 00:12:28.600
<v Speaker 2>had a future come out on Murphy. That's a really

245
00:12:28.639 --> 00:12:33.039
<v Speaker 2>good one. Look when you trade away your eighth or

246
00:12:33.200 --> 00:12:36.240
<v Speaker 2>last offseason for two guys who I think will be contributors.

247
00:12:36.720 --> 00:12:40.480
<v Speaker 2>Joey Orchiez has helped them this year in deal Hall.

248
00:12:40.559 --> 00:12:42.879
<v Speaker 2>They anticipate will down the road, but really not not

249
00:12:42.879 --> 00:12:44.960
<v Speaker 2>two guys who I think are making or breaking the season.

250
00:12:45.360 --> 00:12:48.240
<v Speaker 2>That's your eighth there. You just gave away for one year,

251
00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:50.399
<v Speaker 2>and then you lose your manager, which is a large

252
00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:54.600
<v Speaker 2>record contract with the Cubs, and you're able to backfill

253
00:12:54.639 --> 00:12:59.120
<v Speaker 2>with Murphy, who is an extremely beloved figure in coaching

254
00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.679
<v Speaker 2>circles and was a long time before he got this job,

255
00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.080
<v Speaker 2>and you basically end up with the same results despite

256
00:13:06.080 --> 00:13:08.879
<v Speaker 2>the fact you lose Christian Yellis, who's having a great season.

257
00:13:09.440 --> 00:13:12.759
<v Speaker 2>You don't have Devin Williams, your incredible closer for half

258
00:13:12.799 --> 00:13:16.200
<v Speaker 2>the year, and your rotation has made up of Freddie Peralta,

259
00:13:16.240 --> 00:13:18.919
<v Speaker 2>who has been a known friend and trusted agent of

260
00:13:18.960 --> 00:13:21.519
<v Speaker 2>the Brewers' rotation for a bit. But you don't have

261
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:24.120
<v Speaker 2>your two or three from last year, or two of

262
00:13:24.159 --> 00:13:27.720
<v Speaker 2>your top three pitchers, and you're making it work with

263
00:13:27.759 --> 00:13:30.480
<v Speaker 2>Tobias Myers, who is a rookie, and a couple of

264
00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:32.559
<v Speaker 2>veterans they brought in this year, like a handful of

265
00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:35.559
<v Speaker 2>different veterans who are we're not doing particularly well elsewhere.

266
00:13:35.600 --> 00:13:37.799
<v Speaker 2>The Brewers just have a way of figuring that out

267
00:13:38.279 --> 00:13:42.399
<v Speaker 2>and have a bullpen that rivaled I think only the

268
00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:46.279
<v Speaker 2>only the Indians and the Guardians apologize in terms of

269
00:13:46.360 --> 00:13:49.720
<v Speaker 2>depths of that bullpen and the impact they can have

270
00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:52.360
<v Speaker 2>on a series like this. So I have Milwaukee winning

271
00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:55.399
<v Speaker 2>their series. There, help me up with the matchups. I'm

272
00:13:55.399 --> 00:13:56.200
<v Speaker 2>going a blank on them.

273
00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:00.360
<v Speaker 1>Well, you've got the Mets going up, you got the

274
00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:03.360
<v Speaker 1>Braves going up against the pod Rays, the Mets going

275
00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:04.320
<v Speaker 1>up against the Brewers.

276
00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:07.480
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, so I have I have Brewers over Mets. But

277
00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.559
<v Speaker 2>that's the one I could see more likely to flip

278
00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:13.360
<v Speaker 2>the Mets taking now one. They're playing such good baseball lately,

279
00:14:13.799 --> 00:14:16.919
<v Speaker 2>and they don't have a great road pitching staff. You know,

280
00:14:16.919 --> 00:14:19.679
<v Speaker 2>I ranked them as the worst, the second worst among

281
00:14:19.720 --> 00:14:22.120
<v Speaker 2>the playoffs field, the worst National League a couple of

282
00:14:22.159 --> 00:14:24.000
<v Speaker 2>weeks ago. But the truth is, if Sean Man and

283
00:14:24.039 --> 00:14:26.799
<v Speaker 2>I and and Louis Everarino can pitch the way they have,

284
00:14:27.519 --> 00:14:29.320
<v Speaker 2>uh and they you know, you only need a couple

285
00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:31.279
<v Speaker 2>of bullpen arms to finish the game. And they have

286
00:14:31.360 --> 00:14:33.000
<v Speaker 2>Edwin Diaz who has been one of the best closers

287
00:14:33.039 --> 00:14:36.120
<v Speaker 2>in baseball. But I do have I do have the

288
00:14:36.120 --> 00:14:39.480
<v Speaker 2>Brewers in that one. As far as the Braves Podrays,

289
00:14:40.000 --> 00:14:42.600
<v Speaker 2>I think I think the Braves are just I have

290
00:14:42.720 --> 00:14:46.600
<v Speaker 2>won too many losses, right now in terms of what's

291
00:14:46.600 --> 00:14:50.000
<v Speaker 2>available on the roster, They've been without basically everybody at

292
00:14:50.000 --> 00:14:52.440
<v Speaker 2>some point in the season, but they're currently without Austin Riley,

293
00:14:52.440 --> 00:14:55.480
<v Speaker 2>they're all star third baseman, and uh, you know the

294
00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.799
<v Speaker 2>the m V p Ronald Lecunr, who's they're both going

295
00:14:57.879 --> 00:15:00.559
<v Speaker 2>to be out for the playoffs. And now Chris Sale

296
00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:03.039
<v Speaker 2>was supposed to start the elimination game on Monday, and

297
00:15:03.120 --> 00:15:06.000
<v Speaker 2>instead they had to turn to a bulk bullpen arm

298
00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:09.120
<v Speaker 2>Grant Holmes because Sale is dealing with some sort of

299
00:15:09.440 --> 00:15:11.559
<v Speaker 2>injury which we could sort of see coming right. His

300
00:15:11.799 --> 00:15:15.000
<v Speaker 2>velocity has been down lately, his stuff's been take worse,

301
00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:19.720
<v Speaker 2>and now his available availabilities in question, and I just

302
00:15:19.759 --> 00:15:22.519
<v Speaker 2>think too many questions going on. Let the Braves have.

303
00:15:22.879 --> 00:15:25.279
<v Speaker 2>Plus put on top of that, they're exhausted. They just

304
00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:27.840
<v Speaker 2>had to play eighteen and on Monday that were all

305
00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:30.720
<v Speaker 2>critically important that they pitched. They had You had to

306
00:15:30.720 --> 00:15:32.799
<v Speaker 2>pitch in the first game as if you were about

307
00:15:32.840 --> 00:15:34.559
<v Speaker 2>to win that game, and take it easy in the second,

308
00:15:34.919 --> 00:15:36.919
<v Speaker 2>and all of a sudden, you know, a couple of

309
00:15:37.039 --> 00:15:40.240
<v Speaker 2>incredible mets comes back come back there made it so

310
00:15:40.320 --> 00:15:43.440
<v Speaker 2>that both games were more vital to get into the postseason.

311
00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:48.480
<v Speaker 2>So the Padres are so deep in that pitching staff,

312
00:15:48.960 --> 00:15:51.720
<v Speaker 2>and they have the sort of stars in the lineup

313
00:15:51.720 --> 00:15:53.559
<v Speaker 2>that I think can carry them. But I think the

314
00:15:53.559 --> 00:15:55.960
<v Speaker 2>Padres are going to probably make pretty quick work here

315
00:15:56.360 --> 00:15:58.440
<v Speaker 2>as long as they can get to Max Freed. I

316
00:15:58.440 --> 00:15:59.759
<v Speaker 2>think probably winning two games.

317
00:16:00.120 --> 00:16:01.960
<v Speaker 1>Yeah, I don't disagree with that, and that would set

318
00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:04.519
<v Speaker 1>up another shot at the Dodgers. Quick thought before I

319
00:16:04.600 --> 00:16:07.360
<v Speaker 1>let you go, and I only got a minute. Pete Rose,

320
00:16:07.759 --> 00:16:10.360
<v Speaker 1>the loss of Pete Rose. I just love the way

321
00:16:10.399 --> 00:16:13.679
<v Speaker 1>he played the game. I understand what his legacy reads,

322
00:16:13.720 --> 00:16:15.720
<v Speaker 1>not just all time hits leader, but also banned for

323
00:16:15.759 --> 00:16:19.559
<v Speaker 1>life from baseball, but as a player, as a seventeen

324
00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:22.799
<v Speaker 1>time All Star in twenty four year Vet, what's your

325
00:16:22.879 --> 00:16:26.000
<v Speaker 1>lasting impression of your knowledge about Pete Rose.

326
00:16:26.679 --> 00:16:29.759
<v Speaker 2>Yeah, well, I wasn't born during his career, and I

327
00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:31.960
<v Speaker 2>haven't been in the business since he was really like

328
00:16:31.960 --> 00:16:36.519
<v Speaker 2>in the headlines for anything relevant. But you know, I

329
00:16:36.519 --> 00:16:39.000
<v Speaker 2>was doing a story last night, just a roundup of

330
00:16:40.080 --> 00:16:43.559
<v Speaker 2>people's reactions to his death, and it's incredible the list

331
00:16:43.600 --> 00:16:47.080
<v Speaker 2>of accomplishments and not all I mean, imagine the world

332
00:16:47.080 --> 00:16:50.159
<v Speaker 2>in which a player coach is still a player manager

333
00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:53.120
<v Speaker 2>is still a thing. Three thousand hits. I just talked

334
00:16:53.159 --> 00:16:55.440
<v Speaker 2>to Wade Boggs the other day. Three thousand hits and

335
00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:57.279
<v Speaker 2>is an incredible thing. You can you know you're a

336
00:16:57.279 --> 00:17:00.360
<v Speaker 2>Hall of Famer because of it. Four thousand hits. There's

337
00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:02.720
<v Speaker 2>nothing like it to play for twenty four years, you know,

338
00:17:02.840 --> 00:17:04.839
<v Speaker 2>looking like an average guy. He didn't look like a

339
00:17:04.880 --> 00:17:07.359
<v Speaker 2>spectacular athlete, but he just knew how to put back

340
00:17:07.400 --> 00:17:09.680
<v Speaker 2>to ball and get on base and hustle like nobody else.

341
00:17:09.720 --> 00:17:12.559
<v Speaker 2>It's the video clips are pretty incredible to watch, even

342
00:17:12.559 --> 00:17:13.640
<v Speaker 2>though I didn't get to watch it live.

343
00:17:14.119 --> 00:17:16.200
<v Speaker 1>Yeah. I don't know if there's ever been a more

344
00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:21.319
<v Speaker 1>appropriate nickname for any athlete in any sport than Charlie

345
00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:24.279
<v Speaker 1>Hustle for Pete Rose stephen Nesbit. We know how much

346
00:17:24.319 --> 00:17:28.519
<v Speaker 1>you hustle. We appreciate all your work, appreciate the knowledge

347
00:17:28.519 --> 00:17:31.720
<v Speaker 1>here this morning. Continued success at the athletic and thanks

348
00:17:31.720 --> 00:17:33.599
<v Speaker 1>for your time today. Enjoy the playoffs

349
00:17:34.160 --> 00:17:34.799
<v Speaker 2>Thanks to Peter