Around the Bases: Pop Culture and Sports Podcast
Around the Bases: Pop Culture and Sports Podcast
Around the Bases 2.11: 2025 MLB Season Preview with Special Guest Nicholas Pepin!
Baseball fever is in full swing as we dive into our annual MLB season preview with special guest Nicholas Pepin from Pop Culture Roulette joining hosts Charlie Semar and Tim Sternberg. The excitement is palpable as we count down to Opening Day and dissect what promises to be another thrilling season.
Tim kicks things off with a spring training highlight, recounting his thrilling encounter with Juan Soto that resulted in a coveted autograph amid a chaotic crowd. This leads to passionate discussions about the biggest offseason moves, including the Mets' blockbuster signing of Soto and whether this positions them as serious contenders in a stacked NL East.
The conversation takes a fascinating turn as we analyze Mike Trout's transition to right field and whether this change might finally help him stay healthy enough to reach the playoffs with the Angels. Nicholas provides insider perspective on the Angels' prospects, acknowledging last year's franchise-worst 99 losses while maintaining cautious optimism for improvement in the weakest division in baseball.
We leave no division untouched, debating whether the Dodgers' unprecedented spending spree guarantees them another championship, if the Orioles' young core can continue their ascent, and which Central Division team might surprise everyone. Along the way, we share candid assessments of stadium experiences throughout the league, with Tropicana Field earning unanimous derision as baseball's most dismal venue.
The episode culminates with our sleeper picks for breakout stars, including Mark Vientos, Logan O'Hoppe, and Bobby Witt Jr. (a bold MVP prediction), providing listeners with names to watch as the season unfolds. Whether you're a casual fan or a baseball obsessive, our blend of statistical analysis, personal experiences, and passionate debate captures everything that makes Opening Day one of the most anticipated moments on the sports calendar.
Subscribe now to ensure you don't miss any of our upcoming baseball coverage throughout the 2025 season. What team are you most excited to watch this year?
Follow Nicholas, along with his buddies Jeremy and Jordan over at their podcast "Pop Culture Roulette!" https://open.spotify.com/show/52b53b3eRwMyp1PQpsNtGN
#GameShowLegends #Jeopardy #HarveySilkovitz #ParkinsonsAwareness #DealOrNoDealIsland #PhilipSolomon #Survivor #ChaoticTribal #MLBJapan #TheFloor #TomHanks #PopCulture #RealityTV #Baseball #Podcast #PopCultureSports
Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthebasespodcast?igsh=MTBrOTVidWgxOXFvbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthebasespodcast?_t=8jM5zsj7zAs&_r=1
Socials:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aroundthebasespodcast?igsh=MTBrOTVidWgxOXFvbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Tik Tok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aroundthebasespodcast?_t=8jM5zsj7zAs&_r=1
Welcome to Around the Bases. The Pop Culture and Sports Podcast special annual Major League Baseball season preview special with our very special guest from Pop Culture Roulette, Nicholas Pepin, and your host, charlie Seymour. And I'm Tim Sternberg. Hit it fellas, we are here, it is, baseball is upon us. How excited are you? Welcome, nicholas Pappin from Pop Culture Roulette. Buddy, what's going on?
Speaker 2:Oh, just good to be here. Talk baseball, I mean nothing better. This time of year is just amazing.
Speaker 1:It's like Christmas.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Maybe even better.
Speaker 1:Charlie likes it. It's Christmas, right, Charlie? I mean, it's absolutely Christmas.
Speaker 3:And what better way than for one of Nicholas's favorite players, mike Trout final Cactus League at bat with a double Well there you go, let's go Trouty, let's go Trouty.
Speaker 1:You know, I really do. I'm not an Angels fan by say, as we've known and talked about, obviously hello, um, but I'm not a not a fan of the angels and I really want, you know, trout to at least get into playoffs. I mean, I'd like to see at least that for him, because he's how, how long? How many more years does he have on that contract with the angels?
Speaker 2:like. I don't remember exactly how many. I know we signed him to like a 15-year deal, but I don't remember how many years ago was that that was so.
Speaker 1:They're not trading him. I mean no, they're not he is going to retire.
Speaker 2:An angel, I mean. I think technically, like if memory serves, like when he signed the deal, like like if you did the math, you're like he could maybe play a year or two more after that contract. But yeah, it seems.
Speaker 3:He's an unrestricted free agent in 2031.
Speaker 1:I knew you would look that up.
Speaker 3:Wow this one is confirmation.
Speaker 1:Hey, there was rumors. I heard of rumors a couple of years ago. There were rumors that possibly he would be traded to like the Phillies. Since he's from New Jersey and as a Met fan, I wasn't having it. I just I couldn't.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no, no. And first off, I believe that there's a no trade clause. Yeah, and I know that Trout has said that he intends on finishing out his contract as an agent.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he does have a full no trade.
Speaker 1:I mean, I compare it to another sport of Trout real quick. I think about Dan Marino, who spent all those years with the Miami Dolphins and never saw a Super Bowl. Who spent all those years with the Miami Dolphins and never saw a Super Bowl, but he's, frankly, one of the more revered quarterbacks, I would say.
Speaker 3:Laces out.
Speaker 1:Yeah, now mind you, he. You know, I mean, yeah, it's the Dolphins. But you know, shout out to our buddy Andy big Dolphins fan, anyway, this is not a football special. But you know, I always to our buddy Andy big Dolphins fan, anyway, this is not a football special. But you know, I always think when I think about Trout, I think about Marino and not having that opportunity. That's why I want Trout to have that chance.
Speaker 2:I mean, you know, maybe a more apropos example would be like Cal Ripken Jr.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, that's another great one. Well, more apropos for sure, baseball-wise Rosie's favorite player, number eight, number eight, I love Ripken too. Um, but there was a tree. I don't know if you know this. Uh, nicholas, uh, I told Charlie on jeopardy. A buddy of mine played jeopardy, uh, about a little over a week ago, and there were category, the entire category was hall of fame baseball plaques. So it was questions about. I got every single one right, um, but the question. There was a question, it was a hundred dollar question and it said, uh, the, the did not. This number of strikeouts was, I mean?
Speaker 1:this number of uh consecutive games executive games was played by this player and I was like, oh, luke, eric. And. And the guy my friend who was playing said cal ripken jr is just off by one. You know I mean more than one, because Ripken played more beyond.
Speaker 3:Right, it was the number of games, the previous record held, and then Ripken went more than 500 past it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so, speaking of so, we're excited. Obviously I've, I've, I have to show you this. I've been attending, as you probably see, a lot of spring training games and I met probably the biggest signing in the offseason right there, juan soto um, which I sent you guys, both of you, a text of that, because I was so excited um.
Speaker 1:That's crazy that was a get, let me tell you that experience though I got. So. So we're all like it's in the backfields in in West Palm beach where the nationals and the Astros play. So the Mets were playing the nationals, but the Mets luckily for me we're practicing and we went back in the backfields and we're up against you know these, these metal fences, how they have a concert, concerts and stuff, and so we're just waiting there. Well, erica and I erica and I waited there for like an hour how many people were waiting.
Speaker 1:This is the thing during the time about 20 and I would turn to my my, my, uh, my colleague I don't know what, I'll still call him fellow fan who was standing next to me and goes, oh there's nobody here. I'm like no watch, because once soto comes out of that and we knew soto was, was was practicing once soto comes out, they're gonna all come like cockroaches where were they like?
Speaker 3:waiting in the parking lot?
Speaker 1:no, we were all kind of waiting next to the. So it's basically like a field and and there's like a holding area, like a metal fence, that you can kind of watch them practice, and so so we were all just waiting there and, you know, I tried to get Alonzo. Alonzo was there too, which I would have loved. But you know I said, well, watch, you know, when they all come out, we're going to just get inundated with people, and we were right up against the fence.
Speaker 3:But what I'm asking is where did all the extra people come from?
Speaker 1:That's the thing I don people come from. That's the thing I don't know, because when ron soto came out, literally my wife erica and I were pushed into the fence so bad that I reached my arm over with my pro the program I just showed you to get his autograph. So to grab it, grab my marker. Signed it. I need to find that marker to that feeling while it's happening.
Speaker 1:Probably I was like oh my freaking god, I'm getting soto's autograph and I'm like, oh my god. And then so erica wanted to get an autograph for charlie, because I I've been trying to get autographs for charlie but they were pushing her no, that's not worth anybody's safety appreciated though I, I, I think I was like I just had to grab her out of there.
Speaker 1:I was like and so this dude, he's like pushing against her. I'm like I almost got a little because I'm like you need to stop pushing. And he's like I'm not pushing and literally his body is on. So I grab Erica and just bring her out of there, cause it was becoming a situation. Yeah.
Speaker 3:They're going to mob around people like Soto.
Speaker 1:But yeah, um, they're gonna mob around people like soto. But erica wasn't hurt, was it worth?
Speaker 3:it 100.
Speaker 1:Yes, it was absolutely worth it because I story forever on soto. I mean only like I, literally the biggest signing of the off season and I met and I I was like, oh yeah, nice, um, so yeah, this program is full of signatures of um many nobodies Juan Soto, a couple others like Tyler McGill, you know, my favorite pitcher on the Mets.
Speaker 3:The starting pitcher on the playoff clinching game of the Mets? Is that right?
Speaker 1:There, you go. I was very nice to him. I said Mr McGill and his mom ended up following me on social media after because I posted a picture of it. So that was pretty cool too. So you know, spring training is almost, almost upon the end of it.
Speaker 1:We got Charlie going off to see a couple of games of his cubbies and the Cubs regular season game regular season games, but the Cubs just played a couple of regular season games in japan and I think they held their own against the dodgers. I really do, I am not. I I'm not the expert, of course. Charlie, how did you think your team performed?
Speaker 3:I mean I couldn't get a clutch hit to save their life. But I mean to point they were in both games A couple big spots. They just didn't come up with a clutch hit. The first game would have been obviously both teams were missing players and the Dodgers players are far better. But two of the three runs the Dodgers scored in the first game early. If Nico's there, he turned, he cleanly turns that double play and those two runs don't score.
Speaker 1:But that's neither here nor there yeah, I think, you know, I think for two games, you, your team, did as best as they could and we all knew it was going to be up a hill, uphill battle, I mean dodgers are going to beat a lot of, it doesn't hurt to get them out of the way.
Speaker 3:That team is pretty damn good. I was rooting for the.
Speaker 2:Cubs. I don't know how much the Dodgers were going to let themselves lose in Japan, with Shohei being on the roster.
Speaker 3:Not to mention that weird not overturned fan interference call.
Speaker 1:Oh God what the hell is that they're like? Oh wait.
Speaker 3:Shohei could get a homer. We'll just keep it as a homer, it's fine.
Speaker 1:That kind of reminded me of that call last year at Yankee Stadium. Well, the call was good, but the fans, oh man. So yeah, the Cubs, of course, lost two games against the stupid Dodgers. I don't like the Dodgers, I don't care. I don't care how good they are, Charlie Nicholas, I still hate them.
Speaker 3:As you do, as you guys do too, I'm right there with you, I mean that's fair.
Speaker 1:I just, you know well my hatred goes back way before the dawn of any of our times when, uh, they left brooklyn for los angeles and my broke my dad's heart. So, yeah, uh, that's why it's not dodger blue, it's mets blue. I'm just saying, um, so, speaking of the year and in the, and I, I think our special guest should go first, and if we're talking about the los angeles angels, formerly known as the California angels and formerly known as the Los Angeles angels, and California angels and Anaheim angels and all that stuff, Los Angeles, angels of Anaheim.
Speaker 1:And the Los Angeles angels of Anaheim. Don't forget that one. What makes you? I cannot forget that one? What, what makes you happy, positive about the team this year? Nicholas?
Speaker 2:That we actually went out and spent some money in the offseason. You sure did. We didn't spend nearly as much money as, say, the Mets.
Speaker 3:What are you talking about? The Mets might have outspent the whole league combined.
Speaker 2:With one player. I mean, we didn't necessarily do as much as I was hoping, but we did a lot in some very strategic moves. You know we picked up a couple of players to fill in some holes and then you know, obviously know, obviously, you know injuries have plagued the angels the last couple of years rendon let's not talk about him yeah, we can skip that.
Speaker 2:But you know the I was hoping to get a couple more. You know well, maybe like one more starting pitcher wish we had picked up, but you know, I don't know. I mean, we'll see. And I think having a healthy trout, um and and a and a trout who's definitely fully engaged and and moving him from center to right, um is, is to help. I mean picking up Jorge Soler.
Speaker 1:I like Soler Former Mad, former Marlon, absolutely Former Cub.
Speaker 2:Original Cub.
Speaker 1:Well, he was on your World Series team, right?
Speaker 3:No, he was gone in 2015.
Speaker 2:He was on the team the year before. Got it. But I mean, obviously you don't, obviously you know you don't necessarily want him playing in the field. He's a bit of a liability out there. But you know, it's not, you know, it's not His power's in the box.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but you know he could go out there occasionally giving you know, or you know Trout can go DH and then giving you know our, you know trout can go dh and then you know, maybe soler comes off the bench for you know some, you know some time here there. I think the big question is going to be, uh, some of the injuries we have to start the season, uh like who uh netto?
Speaker 3:Netto.
Speaker 2:He's a shortstop, zach Netto is you know when he's going to be fully available, because nobody really knows the extent of what that offseason injury was.
Speaker 1:I was going to say what kind of injury did he have?
Speaker 3:shoulder surgery didn't he?
Speaker 2:yeah, he had shoulder surgery right at the end of the year, so they were hoping that he'd be back. But uh, you know, because obviously you know him and we have a lot of really good young players with netto and chanel and, and, uh, you know, a couple other people oh happy, oh hoppy I love.
Speaker 2:Our hoppy is a great catcher I'm so glad we didn't trade him. I mean, I was afraid when we picked up travis darno we would, you know, former matt. But uh, you know, having having going out and picking up somebody like darno and bringing him in as a backup to, oh hoppy, who was already becoming one of the the you know, the better, stronger catchers in the league, bringing in somebody like Darnot to help kind of maybe push him over the top, yeah, you know, have that veteran leadership in the team. Ron Washington has done some things and you know, I know, last year was the worst year in franchise history.
Speaker 3:Not as bad as the White.
Speaker 1:Sox I was going to say. No one knows that though as bad as the White Sox.
Speaker 3:I was going to say. No one knows that, though, because of the White Sox.
Speaker 2:Well, you know and that's the thing I mean when you talk about that but like, the worst year in franchise history was 99 losses. We're the only team in Major League Baseball history who's never lost 100.
Speaker 3:And didn't they need to win the final day of the season to keep that alive?
Speaker 2:no, we had locked that up. Oh, okay, okay, I mean, that was, that was one of those things. Like it was one of those, like we had done it a couple of days ahead of time and it was like, oh well, as long as we don't lose every game for the rest of the year, we won't know when we pretty much you were doing the reverse magic number.
Speaker 3:Yeah, one more win to avoid a hundred.
Speaker 2:That's right, and so we did that. And then we just I don't, I don't, I don't know. I mean I'd like to say that we're going to be competitive this year. I think the American, looking at the you know doing some you know predictions and writing some stuff down, today, looking at doing some predictions and writing some stuff down, today, the American League West is hands down the weakest division in all of baseball. I mean I think it's the Mariners division to win. But I mean the Astros are going to struggle and a lot of people are still picking them to win the division because I think history they lost a lot.
Speaker 1:They lost a lot. They lost a lot of players and they picked up nothing. They lost Bregman's gone.
Speaker 3:I mean they basically have Altuve and.
Speaker 1:Tucker.
Speaker 3:They made two moves that I think could work out better than people give them credit for because of the fit in the stadium, but I still think that they lost a lot overall.
Speaker 2:Well, and it wasn't necessarily just the type of players that they lost. It was who they lost, yeah, and they've lost a lot over the last couple of years as well. I think losing Bregman is going to hurt them in ways that Clubhouse guy. Yeah, altuve is the leader of the team, but you know a lot of those other guys were, you know and and so and he's, uh, he's, he's having some adventures out in left field it's uh yeah, I just like altuve another one.
Speaker 1:Um. So going back real quick to your angels, and I will say I was upset as a mad fan when darno was no longer with the team and went to the braves. Um, I was, I like darno very much. He was great with the braves also. I think that was a huge pickup for you guys. As far as, like you what you said, that veteran help for a hop, a hoppy I can never pronounce his name, but I I, I think you know that guidance and leadership is gonna be awesome I think honestly he could dh a good amount there too, I think he can hit pretty.
Speaker 3:He should play at least 100 games, assuming healthy agree yeah well, I just I don't know.
Speaker 2:I mean I don't, I don what the the you know, because Ohapi is so young, he's going to be able to be a starting catcher a lot more than you know some of the other guys.
Speaker 1:But you know, At least once a week.
Speaker 3:He's got to get in there Right, Find the plate.
Speaker 2:And you know, like, like you said, you know, with Solaire being kind of a liability in the field, I don't know how much playing? Time other people are going to get at DH unless Soler's bat doesn't come around. I mean, I think. I mean, did they say that Rendon's already done for the year? Yeah, yeah, okay, I mean at this point.
Speaker 3:And also, let's also not forget I will be shocked if Jorge Soler plays 162 games. He gets hurt a lot, so you got to kind of.
Speaker 1:there's a reason why it's been traded so much yeah.
Speaker 2:I mean we have with with Rendon finally just off the table, and once we get Neto back, we have a solid defense.
Speaker 1:So you have Taylor Edwards, chanel Trout Soler, ohop Moncada.
Speaker 2:Rangifo, rangifo. Sorry, oh, rangifo. Yeah, and Rangifo is a Swiss Army knife.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he is. He's like a Zobrist. I like him a lot.
Speaker 2:Good basketball guy was. It wasn't. No, there wasn't. I was about to say last year, but they didn't play in milwaukee last year, so it was the year before um I went. I went to one of the games and he was in right field. Like I said, there's a really cool restaurant and I was about to say miller, but it's not that anymore AmFam Field. Amfam yes, gross, I have to check out that park there's a really cool restaurant in Wright Field where you can buy.
Speaker 2:You have to buy, I think, six tickets because you've got to buy the whole table, but you get a table right up against.
Speaker 1:There's some outdoor seating and there's a window I have to check that out and it's it's.
Speaker 3:I mean, it's a little pricey that's in right field or left field is it the old where? The tgi fridays used to be yeah, it might be left that's left field. Yeah, it's in the left field corner.
Speaker 2:Wow, yeah, it's, it's in the. It's not a friday's anymore, it's actually it's a j lining cools like barrel yard. Yeah, um, the food is actually really good, but like the tickets come. The tickets are a little pricey but they come with like 25 each of like uh food voucher.
Speaker 2:Oh so you're eating, yeah, so like you, you get, and so you, you know you're like you're basically locked into spending a certain amount of on food anyway, right, and you know. So I mean, and the really nice part about it is is like, so you've got a private table, so you don't have, like you know, people pushed up against you, but, like, because you're in a restaurant, you also have essentially a private bathroom yeah, oh, that's a, that's a huge plus, yeah like I mean, you have to, you know, so it's, it's just, it's a really nice deal.
Speaker 2:So, when the angels come to town, so for for my birthday this year, even though the game's not until september um, for my birthday, my in-laws bought us, uh, a table at at one of the games.
Speaker 1:That's awesome, that's awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's awesome and then, um hell, I was out with to dinner. My parents moved to town a little while ago and my dad was like, well, we, I know you're already going to that game, what about the one of the other games? He's like, yeah, sure, let's go. And he's like, well, what about? Sure, let's go? And he's like, well, what about the Thursday game? And I'm like, funny thing you say about the Thursday game. Dj Diesel, aka Shaquille O'Neal, has a post-game concert.
Speaker 3:What's the date of that game? I haven't really heard about that.
Speaker 2:Like September 17th or something like that, that's awesome. Yeah. So my dad was like let's go to that one. It's like, yeah, let's go, so that'll be fun because you know he'll be throwing out the first pitch. Oh yeah, that's awesome.
Speaker 1:Oh, you can't miss him on the field.
Speaker 2:Well, no, I mean he'll be towering over everybody.
Speaker 1:There's not I mean there's not a cooler freaking person in sports right now. Shaq, shaq is just a cool dude. I love him.
Speaker 2:I know, looking at all the projections, everybody's projecting the angels to, you know, finish not necessarily in last, but you know not very, you know not. They're just projecting them to not be very good and I I get it. I mean, you know the last handful of years they've not been very good and it might be, you know, the optimist and a bit of a Homer pick in in that. You know I'm not going to say we're going to win the division. You know I, you know, but I don't. I have no faith in the Astros. I have absolute hatred towards the Texas Rangers, with all passion, but I also don't have.
Speaker 2:I also don't have much faith in their ability. I mean, I know they're like, oh well, we got to draw him. Yeah, he'll get injured again.
Speaker 3:The Grom will last maybe a month. He's like a fragile little little John Gray just got hurt too.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and I know you know one of the one of the trendy picks right now is the athletics, because you know they made a couple of moves, which is funny. You know they, they got.
Speaker 1:Yeah, what I'm hearing is that the sports reporters are saying they're going to make the playoffs.
Speaker 2:They think Right, they are going to literally move to a new stadium. They're going to struggle. They will literally move to a new stadium. They're going to struggle. I know they're playing in a minor league park.
Speaker 1:They are, but so is everyone else. They're playing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so is everyone else they're playing. You know who's going to have a monster season.
Speaker 3:Brent Rooker really he hit 40. Let me tell you why. He hit 40 homers 39, 40 homers last year and the old coliseum was one of the toughest parks to hit. And he's going from hitting almost 39 or 40 homers in his home park to one of the easiest parks to hit home runs and as his home park now. So keep an eye on him. This year I think he's gonna have big numbers yeah, but I don't, I don't know.
Speaker 2:I mean, I know they spent some money, which is funny because they spent no money when they were in oakland and now that they're in, you know are have they decided if they're gonna be just called the athletics, or are they're gonna be called the sacramento athletics?
Speaker 1:I think just the athletics. Yeah, because I didn did notice that it was weird.
Speaker 2:I was looking at the schedule and I kept seeing ATH. I'm like who is ATO?
Speaker 1:Who is ATH? Nobody. What are?
Speaker 2:we talking about.
Speaker 3:Atlanta-Tallahassee combo.
Speaker 2:Are we talking about? No, you spelled Atlanta wrong.
Speaker 1:Vegas is going ahead with the park.
Speaker 2:I mean that is full steam ahead, so they are definitely that's a done deal.
Speaker 1:I mean, that's already locked and loaded, it's I love the location yeah, I mean, it makes perfect sense, I mean it, you know, vegas, las vegas don't like it, though, because of the traffic there, because it's right next, right across from new york, new york and mgm grand, and they there are. I talked to like last time I was in vegas last summer I was asking about it and they're like yeah, we don't like the idea of it on the former tropicana site because they're worried about the traffic in down and on the strip, and I get it, um, but it's a great location for us people that are coming from out of town, you know yeah, and I mean it's, it's.
Speaker 2:I don't has, charlie, I'm guessing you have. Well, I don't know if you've been. Have either of you been to where the nationals play? Yes, I have he has, I'm sure I mean, it's a really nice park, but it is a terrible location where is? It, um, it's, it's, it's in a very odd place in DC, um, and basically like, if you try to go to a nationals game, take public transportation.
Speaker 1:Yeah, take the train. Oh the train. I love the train in Washington.
Speaker 2:Yeah, take the train and then walk the little bit from from the Metro over to the stadium, cause there's next to no parking. It's, it's not. I don't even know what the parking situation at wrigley is, but I know if I've ever been to wrigley.
Speaker 3:I just take the train because yeah, yeah it's in the middle of the neighborhood, but it's not, there's not a lot can we talk about how freaking hot it gets in washington too in the middle of the summer?
Speaker 2:I mean it gets hot in washington the humidity in bay and yeah, living in dc for a handful of years. I mean technically DC, I lived in Virginia, but we just said DC.
Speaker 1:Every time I've gone there, erica and I have gone there. It's been a summer, I don't know why, but it is so freaking hot. We were at Arlington and I was ready to pass out oh yeah, it's hot, sorry.
Speaker 2:It's just you know, know. So I mean vegas. You know they, the traffic is not going to be an issue, because most of the people who are coming into vegas are going to stay at the hotels and they're either going to be able to walk over or they'll just, you know, uber over yeah, it's literally right across from mgm grand and there I'm hearing the stadium itself is going to have a casino and it's going to have some hotel rooms too, so they can literally stay there if they want.
Speaker 1:I don't know, that'll probably be extremely expensive, but I love it. I mean, I like going to vegas and so you know, if the mets are in town it's less chance of me gambling and actually going to baseball and enjoying baseball and actually not being upset about traffic after the game and wanting to leave early and staying.
Speaker 3:Unless you gamble at the baseball game because you have a casino.
Speaker 1:They are, and that's something.
Speaker 2:It's like the Raiders. I mean the Raiders. I guarantee you, every home game for the Raiders is a home game for whoever is visiting them.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah, you know, the raiders is a home game for whoever's visiting them.
Speaker 2:Oh yeah, you know, the raiders have no fan base in in las vegas, I mean, unless people from oakland are driving or, you know, coming to town which isn't a bad drive, yeah but I mean, you know, like if green bay is playing in in, oh, in vegas, the people of of this area are going to go to Vegas. They go to Vegas all the time anyway.
Speaker 1:Same here.
Speaker 2:So you know, and you've given them an excuse to go, you know, watch their Packers play, yeah, it's the same thing. It's going to be the same thing with that. You know, the Golden Knights were weird in that they figured out how to put a winning hockey team together in the first year of their existence, so they built an actual fan base. That's pretty decent and they were an expansion team, so they didn't have a fan base to drag along with them.
Speaker 1:Oakland had mad fans that they're leaving to be fair, whatever they get in Vegas is going to be better than Oakland, I mean you're, you're basically just drag, you know.
Speaker 2:Basically you're, you know you're asking for, you know most of that stadium is going to be wearing the opposing teams jerseys, at least for the first couple of years, because it's just you're giving it, so you're giving people an excuse to go to Vegas for three or four days.
Speaker 1:I always found that the giants got a bigger draw than the, than the athletics did. So you know, and Oakland and San Francisco are so close together that it it didn't make sense for that particular location to have two MLB teams, nevermind the fact that California itself has four, you know. So they have five. Well, that's right to have two MLB teams, never mind the fact that.
Speaker 3:California itself has four, you know. So they have five. Well, they have five.
Speaker 1:That's right yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, I mean.
Speaker 3:They still do Sacramento, yeah, that's true.
Speaker 1:I mean five, A few more years.
Speaker 2:Well, and I mean there were probably times where Oakland did outdraw San Francisco, but over the last you know however many years that that stadium has just been falling apart.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I mean how?
Speaker 2:how many stories can you hear from the opposing play callers talking about the raccoons that are living in the booth?
Speaker 1:And, to be fair, you know, speaking of your angels, they're not Los Angeles. So anybody who's from that area, anaheim is nowhere near los angeles, it's a drive yeah, I mean well, and and as an, as an shout out andy again as an angels fan, I have never liked being called the los angeles angels.
Speaker 2:I still will refer to us as california or anaheim.
Speaker 1:That's how I think of them, the old reggie jackson, california.
Speaker 2:Angel, yeah, or I just call them the angels, like I don't like to acknowledge I'm I. I hope that moreno gets over the because he was going to sell the team and then he changed his mind and you know, I'm hoping that once the team gets sold to somebody who actually, you know, gives up oh, I can't use those words on this. One you can use it.
Speaker 1:No, you can use them OK.
Speaker 3:A rat's ass. How was I going to say Rat's ass?
Speaker 2:Well, I was going to use a slightly stronger word. But we'll go rat's ass, you know. But we'll give, give you know, an owner who actually cares. Um, I'm hoping that the new ownership, one of the first things they do is go back to anaheim or go back to california. But yeah, I, I think you know. Obviously there's also going to be moves throughout the season, you know, be you know, until the trade deadline. So I'm hoping, if we show any kind of promise and do some stuff, that you know, maybe we go pick up a pitcher here or there from some teams who are going to give up quickly and, you know, make a push.
Speaker 1:Which there will be plenty yeah. I'm hearing Sandy Alcantara is going to be there.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's going to cost a lot.
Speaker 1:He's going to cost a lot of money, but let me tell you he did not finish the season as a Marlin We'll talk about the Marlins in a little bit, but he's not.
Speaker 2:So I mean, there's a potential that we maybe make a run at the division just because it's such a weak division. Maybe take a run at the wild card card, given that there's way too many wild cards now. Um, but I you know, I don't think we're going to be as bad as the 99 loss team from last year I don't think so either.
Speaker 1:No way you're pitching.
Speaker 2:Pitching is highly upgraded yes, yeah, and I and I think now, having had a full, a full year under Ron Washington, the system will be in place now and hopefully Trout can stay healthy for the whole year, I'm hoping.
Speaker 1:Moving to right field should help?
Speaker 3:I think yeah, A healthy Mike Trout?
Speaker 2:And you know, I don't know, I mean you know, and again it could be be. As a diehard angel fan, I I want to believe, but you know that's the beauty you got a whole fresh season of belief right unless you're the white socks you've got to go into this year thinking we have a chance.
Speaker 3:That's true. Their season's already over look at this.
Speaker 1:I mean look at the, the knocked balls on heads for the white anyway, we'll talk about that in a minute. Um, a little rotation for the Angels. I mean you got Yusei Kikuchi. I mean, come on, tyler Anderson, jose Soriano, kyle Hendricks, jack Kukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukukuk jack coke. Nah, well, wits, k-o-c-h jack. That's what this, that's what mlbcom has is a potential starting location c excuse me, k-o-c-h-a-n-o-w-i-c-hand pitcher. Oh, he wanted their prospects oh, relief pitcher, oh no, right-hand pitcher, yeah, so I guess he's going to make the majors. That's what they're thinking.
Speaker 3:Interesting.
Speaker 1:And Kikuchi we all know Kikuchi, I mean, he's going to be your starter for opening day and Detmers so it might be Detmers might move to the bullpen. They're saying which is interesting, um, hmm, speaking of well, we'll talk move. There's some moves from the bullpen to the you want to play?
Speaker 3:that's a good segue. You want to go?
Speaker 1:we can start with the mets. Um, I will say, you know, in in the segue uh, for the mets, I will say this I am ultimately confident about our lineup. I love and don't here's the negative 10s coming, here comes um, I'm oh, I'm really, I'm really positive about our lineup.
Speaker 1:I mean, we signed 750 million dollar, juan soto, we signed a protection back 65, don't short him 15 million 65 765 which, by the way, if you have a chance on youtube, the mets released two parts of the part one and part two of this documentary. I mean, mind you, I'm a med fan, I'm a little biased, but it gave me goosebumps, it is so. It is such a good documentary about how they signed Juan Soto. Um, but yeah, we signed Soto, we re-signed Pete Alonso, which was a huge deal for protection for you know, just for that lineup.
Speaker 1:And Pete Alonso, mind you, is going to be highly motivated to do well this year because he wants to opt out and have a bigger contract. Uh, of course, we have the great Brendan Nem emmo. We have the team's leader, who has really come to come to his own as a met in francisco lindor. Uh, we have up and coming mark vientos, who I think is going to have a banner breakout year this year. Um, we have baby, who's going to be highly motivated to um perform well, otherwise we're not going to see baby anymore.
Speaker 3:Let's definitely have a solid lineup.
Speaker 1:We do. Here's my thing.
Speaker 3:It's always a but yeah, I'm waiting for that.
Speaker 1:I'm very concerned about the rotation. I don't think it's the best rotation in the NL East at all. I think the Phillies and the Braves both wipe us with that rotation. I love the fact that I think Seanmaine will be back very soon. I don't think he's going to be out very long and I love the fact that we resigned him. I love the fact that we have former Yankee now pitching in a rotation and I'm I gotta say I think the Mets like main four is pretty damn solid.
Speaker 3:If I'm being honest. I'm just worried obviously injuries are huge and if one or two of them go down I I could see a concern from a depth standpoint. But as far as assuming health, I think you guys have a very, very solid four I, I just I.
Speaker 1:Sanga concerns me the way and and I know I'll get over it, it's just the way they quickly, abruptly, brought him back in the playoffs and what happened? Really kind of when I was like, ah, you know, because he did not have a good performance coming off of injury in the playoffs, I think he was rushed to come back.
Speaker 3:No, he absolutely was. They were in the playoffs, they were going for a ring and that was super risky.
Speaker 1:Andler. I love tyler mcgill, just met him, really nice guy. I'm concerned. I've always had in the back of my head that he's more of a relief pitcher, not not kind of your starter, and it's still concerned about that and about, obviously, david stearns, who makes a lot more money than I do, has confidence and is he?
Speaker 3:has he been given the fifth spot? Is that official? I think he's going to be, and that's my feeling, because he could be in the sixth spot too.
Speaker 1:He could be the swing guy yeah, um, and of course, david peterson. I like, um, I do like peterson, I I just I don't know, I'm just I I'm like if, if there's one thing that you know I don't, the one thing that will not make this team invincible is the pitching. That's what I'm concerned about. I think we'll have the run support. It's where we have the support of not having the other team make so many runs. That's the thing. So that's my concern with the Mets.
Speaker 3:But I'm very optimistic. I'm expecting a pretty pretty good season from Clay Holmes as well.
Speaker 1:I, I, yeah, I really do. I know you, charlie. You know I've talked to my apprehension about Clay Holmes. My apprehension is much more subsided now. In the last two outings I've seen of him, uh, in spring training, and I really think that, uh, they, the Mets, saw something with him and plus I think he he feels very motivated to prove himself as a starting pitcher. He worked very hard in the offseason so I think that's going to be a really good transition. I'm not too concerned about that, I just, you know, listen, I come from the past couple of years with the Mets where you know, you go back two years ago where we had Scherzer and Verlander and you know, and we had DeGrom before that and everyone's getting injured and injuries and then sanga got injured last year and that happens in baseball, we know. But it just made me really apprehend. It makes me apprehensive on the pitching.
Speaker 3:I'm apprehensive on you know a lot of things and you know also, don't forget, after a few weeks you'll get montas back too yeah, frankie is gonna come back, oh that's why I think it would probably push McGill to six, we know.
Speaker 1:I think so yeah. Montez Senga, peterson, peterson, mania yeah, so we go to six well after five games in the season.
Speaker 2:If they start kind of poorly, you're going to have to talk them off a ledge again anyway. So yeah, for sure you remember that?
Speaker 3:oh and one the ledge will already be have to pull. Sure, you remember that.
Speaker 1:0-1, the ledge will already have to pull him from. I remember that I'm a pretty positive guy. And then Charlie goes, except when it comes to the bets.
Speaker 3:I just quit. It's hard, but you gotta remember it's a marathon, not a sprint.
Speaker 1:I know, listen, I'm more positive than I was last year, right, I mean? It's pretty easy yeah, I mean I'm extremely happy and he happens to be a really good guy. I mean, you know, going back real quick to that signing day he was. He stayed for every single person that was in with an earshot to get an autograph. He is really a decent guy.
Speaker 3:And everybody should have stopped pushing, and then everybody would have been fine.
Speaker 1:People can be such assholes, just pushing, pushing, pushing, um, but yeah, I, just I, I I had a I on a personal level, a newfound appreciation for him after that because, listen, $765 million dollar guy doesn't have to sign autographs if he doesn't want to, and he did. You know, I mean, he has like money, he doesn't like, he's sold.
Speaker 3:but he wants to build a relationship with the fan base. You can also make the case that because he's a 765 million dollar guy, maybe he does have to sign a little bit well, I do agree.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I agree with that, but I'm saying from his perspective, right, right, totally.
Speaker 3:I hear you.
Speaker 1:But to your point though, I think he literally wants to build a relationship with the fan base. He's making a valid effort and from that documentary I saw, the big thing for him is family, and Steve Cohen's wife speaks Spanish fluently and he brought her and their son into the conversations before Soto was signed, and I think that was a big turning point for Soto is the fact and listen, Hal Steinbrenner is not. I mean, I don't mean to be biased about it, but Hal Steinbrenner is no Cohen. You know what I mean. Like there's a difference there, and you know I think I think we're listen, be realistic. The Braves are going to put up a tough fight for us, Akuna is going to be back in May or late April, and, and the Phillies I mean God, that lineup is killer. Like you, look at the Phillies lineup with Harper, with freaking um Schwarber, with uh, I mean Turner Bome, turner Bome, I mean that's that's a freaking, that's a killer lineup yeah.
Speaker 1:So the Phillies, the, the Phillies, not the Marlins, the. Phillies the Phillies, the Mets and the and the Braves are going to be battling.
Speaker 2:And then you know you also have to worry about are a baseball team.
Speaker 1:I'm not worried about the Nationals.
Speaker 2:I'm not worried about the Nationals and the Marlins. I don't think the Nationals or the Marlins are worried about the Nationals or the Marlins.
Speaker 1:So let me Speaking of the Marlins. I want to touch on the Marlins real quick, since we're in the East and we're talking about the National League East. The Marlins are really pushing. I can tell you well and Nicholas knows the Marlins organization Well, you've lived in South Florida I will tell you the Marlins are pushing real hard for their marketing efforts to try to get people to come to the park, but they have absolutely nothing to offer and I've been trolling them on their Facebook and social media because I am so annoyed with Bruce Sherman not spending any money and thinking that he's going to get people to come to the park.
Speaker 1:Will I go to the park to get a Jeff Conine bobblehead? Absolutely, but that's the only thing that's going to get me to come to the park is bobbleheads In the Mets. In the Mets, yes, in the Mets. You're right. I'm flabbergasted that you're going to not trade anyone and then expect people to come to a park. That people are you, as you know, nicholas not already attending. Meanwhile, the savannah bananas play at the lone depot park and sell the place out. The tampa bay rays can't sell out a minor league stadium for opening day, but the freaking savannah bananas are selling out a football stadium up there. Um, I, I, I. There's something off with the Florida teams and and did did. You're not building a fan base product, but that's a listen.
Speaker 2:I could do a whole podcast on that. I think the Marlins are going to do what the I mean. Well, when I lived there and I granted it was it.
Speaker 1:I mean, I just there are better team Um.
Speaker 2:I figured out that I I left Florida 20 years ago, this summer, so you know I it's been a while since I lived in South Florida. I left in 2005.
Speaker 1:So they just had been a world series team two years earlier.
Speaker 2:Yeah, um, but even then, like even as a world. So you world, you know they had won the world series in 97 and then they won the world series one of the years I lived there. Oh, three, um, they struggled to fill the park even then. I mean, um, but that's the thing, like whenever certain teams came to town they're gonna pack that park because south florida is a commuter. Uh, yes, you know, you know's, there's not a lot of people who live in South Florida, who are from South Florida.
Speaker 1:No, I could tell you, the Yankees, the Cubs, the Mets, those are all teams that fill up quickly, cause there was, those people live here.
Speaker 2:When I lived there I had bought a season, not a seat, not a seat, not a full. It was kind of a flex pack to the florida panthers oh yeah um, it was like a mini season ticket package. It was like I think it's 20 or 40 like games, but you could use them like any way you wanted to. So like, if you wanted to take 40 people to one game, you could, or you know whatever oh wow, I wish I knew you then um, but basically it's just me and I would take me and one other person and we would go in, and it was.
Speaker 2:I figured out real fast that, like if Buffalo or either the New York.
Speaker 1:Oh yeah.
Speaker 3:Sabres.
Speaker 2:Basically any of the you know the teams from that area of the country came to town. Don't try to go, just stay away from whatever they were calling Rangers Islanders yep yeah, anybody else? Sure, whatever, you could get in pretty easily and sit wherever you wanted. But now I'm guessing it's a little harder now that the Panthers are actually putting together a oh yeah, they won the Stanley Cup. But it's the same with the Marlins. I mean, you know you get a west coast team. You're you.
Speaker 1:You know you have the dodgers you, you get the run of the park. Now the dodgers probably sell more because of who they are now um and when we played the angels we sold a lot too because of trout and otani when they were on a team yeah, but you know, I'm guessing, if the the rockies are in town, you can.
Speaker 2:You know you and the five people who go to the game can you know sit wherever you feel like that's when the giveaways happen.
Speaker 1:By the way, that's when it's fall ball day at the park. Everybody gets a fall ball yeah, that's when zach hempel's in town, unfortunately, um it's so good. So did you live near Sunrise? Were you close enough to the Atlantic Center?
Speaker 2:I lived in Boca Raton. Okay, that's not too far Well, I mean, I lived in Deerfield we talked about this. Yeah, I lived in Deerfield Beach and then Boca. So like I mean, I drove because it was cheaper, I drove to a lot of the minor league games, um Palm.
Speaker 1:Beach Up in Port St Lucie and Palm Beach yeah.
Speaker 2:You know the Palm Beach Cardinals and the Jupiter Hammerheads sharing.
Speaker 1:Oh, jupiter, yeah.
Speaker 2:They. I don't know if they do it anymore, but at the time they do. Uh, Thursday night was like two for one ladies night.
Speaker 1:Oh.
Speaker 2:And a good friend of mine. She was a big into baseball as well. Um, so we could get in for like seven bucks. Oh wow, what a cheap date and thursday. Well, it wasn't a date, but okay um, but it was like seven bucks to get into the game. Parking was free. Thursday nights also happened to be like dollar dog night, so, like you know, you could go get a couple of dogs and a soda for, you know, super cheap.
Speaker 1:And that stadium, roger Dean, is awesome by the way.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was a super nice stadium. Neither of us cared who was playing, we just liked seeing baseball. Yeah, so it was. You know it was way more. It was a lot more fun than going to the Marlins. You're a true fan, that, and it was way more.
Speaker 1:it was a lot more fun than going to the Marlins. You're a true fan. That's exactly it. That's what it's about, and you're right it is. I mean, have you been to Lone Depot Park?
Speaker 2:No, I've not, so you were at.
Speaker 1:Joe Robbie and Harvard.
Speaker 3:Stadium.
Speaker 1:It is a beautiful stadium. I will say this since I know it's on Charlie's list too. It's a beautiful baseball stadium, since I know it's on Charlie's list too, it's a beautiful baseball stadium. The thing is there is and having gone to Wrigley this last summer there is no fan experience at all. Like there is so little of that.
Speaker 1:You know what made for me, what makes a baseball game other than the nine innings of baseball is a, is what goes on in between innings and what happens. You know, even through us we saw some of that and what happens during the fan experience, like Charlie getting picked for mound ball those little things that happen make it more fun, like follow the ball, follow the little shell, all that stuff that the Marlins, for whatever reason and trust me, I've tried to get a job to overhaul their fan experience. They just don't do it and and your team can suck. But if you have a decent fan experience, you're going to get some people to come to the park. Not everyone goes to the park because they're hoping that team will.
Speaker 1:Of course we hope the team will win, but baseball can be such, as you guys will know, baseball can be so much better of an experience. I mean, I just listen the Cubs for how long right were not the greatest team in the world, but the Cubs fan base is loyal. The experience at Wrigley is unmatched from what I've seen and the closest park that comes to that experience that I've had is Camden Yards in Baltimore. It just it's. I haven't gone to as many parks as you guys, but it just it's a different, like animal, and it pisses me off to be a south florida resident and for the marlins not to make any effort at all to support their garbage team with a better fan experience.
Speaker 2:Sorry soapbox, but yeah, I mean you're not wrong, I mean that's soapbox, but yeah, I mean you're not wrong, I mean that's and that's the. That's the problem with, like tampa. Tampa puts together, not this year, but tampa puts together, you know, uh, good baseball teams the last you know decade or so, yeah, but rather than build a new stadium, they're just going to fix the one that they're.
Speaker 1:You know, they've got ruins and I know people who haven't been to tropicana field are excited that tropicana field is going to be rebuilt. But once you go to tropicana field you're going to wish you never went to tropicana field, because tropicana field is a dump it is. The rays deserve so much better than that I've been to 23 different parks. That's the worst one, right, am I right?
Speaker 2:Hands down.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 2:The only one that was worse and I haven't been to the new one was Veteran.
Speaker 1:That's what I've heard.
Speaker 2:Veteran's Park was awesome. Have you been to the Coliseum Oakland? Yeah, no, I didn't make it to that one, okay.
Speaker 1:I heard that was bad one. Okay, I heard that was bad too.
Speaker 2:I heard that was but veterans park, where the phillies, where the phillies used to play, was one. It was awful, but not to mention the philly fans but but that one at least had somewhat of an excuse because of how ancient it was tropicana. They built it, and they built it bad, like it was just awful.
Speaker 1:It smells in there, doesn't it?
Speaker 2:It smells, it's just. My sister lives in the Tampa area, so I talk to my brother-in-law every so often and the reason that most people in Tampa don't go to the games is because it's so hard to get to it is. It's inconveniently located. It's so hard to get to. It's just it's. It's inconveniently located, it's not easy to get to, it's you know, the parking lot sucks too, right it's just it's awful.
Speaker 2:So most of the you know like, even if, even when they're winning and like putting together a team that is competing for the world series, fans don't want to go because it's an awful experience to get there. Listen, dude, I still live in florida and I've been there one time. That was it, that was all I. Fans don't want to go because it's an awful experience to get there.
Speaker 1:Listen, dude, I still live in Florida and I've been there one time. That was it. That was all I needed, although, if Charlie comes to Florida, I told Charlie I'd meet him up there, but he did just the one time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and and so you know I, I know there's some rumor we had, we talked about it.
Speaker 2:You know on on our text chain that there's a rumor that maybe they'd and I I think they're gonna move out of state if they move that might not be the worst idea, you know, like you know, and it's, it sucks for the people at tampa because you know they have a baseball team. But you know, if, if the this, you know, I don't, I don't, I just can't believe that when they built that park, they, you know, they, purpose built that park and then they still got so much of it wrong yeah, I, I just it is.
Speaker 1:Listen, I love the rays. I think the rays are a great organization, I mean, except the ownership and what's going on right now, and I'm not related to him at all, sternberg, um, but I, I, they deserve so much more and I don't want the race to move. I like the fact that Rays are in Tampa. Um, I, I just, you know, I feel bad for the Tampa residents, I feel bad for the Miami residents. And same thing about Lone Depot Park. Lone Depot Park, if you know geography well, you know, uh, nicholas, lone Depot Park is where the old Orange Bowl site was and that's all the way in downtown Miami. It is.
Speaker 1:For me, and, living in Broward County, that is a drive Like I don't want to drive all the way down. I only go really the lone Depot park when there's a bobblehead I want to get, or there is a the Mets are playing. That's it, like that's the only time I will go and it's unfortunate, but that that's the experience and it's different. Like wrigley is at least an accessible location. I mean, there's other parks that are, but even even camden yards, when I went there, is a very accessible, walkable location in baltimore and it's by a beautiful, you know, aquarium and there's a whole bunch of stuff going on and and it's just, if you walk around the area by Lone Depot Park you kind of want to look around, it's not?
Speaker 1:the greatest area, but yeah, so sorry to go on and on, charlie.
Speaker 3:You're stepping off the soapbox now officially.
Speaker 1:I'm stepping off, buddy. I'm going to take a steep back and I want to hear all about the Chicago Cubs and what makes you. You're a very positive guy. What makes you positive this year?
Speaker 3:I mean it's hard to not get too excited about getting one of the 10 best hitters in the game. Kyle Tucker is a big addition. I think their biggest problem last season was mostly April and May was the bullpen, and they certainly address that with many nice pickups. They have a potential rookie of the year candidate and Matt Shaw, and here's a name that I'm excited for that is probably not being talked about enough, I think is Matt Boyd. He came back from injury last year. Cleveland signed him. When Cleveland signed someone you know they're they're pretty good with their analytics. He was great for them down the stretch and then he was amazing in the playoffs. He was like practically unhittable.
Speaker 3:So I think he'll be pretty solid in the Cubs number four slot in the rotation. So I'm expecting a nice season from him.
Speaker 1:So you got it, you got a good. You got a good season from him. So you got it, you got a good. You got a little good preview of of of what the team is kind of gonna be like this year. I think I I don't know about you I expect another gold glove from me. And hap, I mean he has made, even in spring training, some unbelievable catches already, and spring training, you know what I mean.
Speaker 3:Yeah comes, defense is gonna be great, that is a certainty. They've got four different players who already have won a gold glove and peter armstrong probably will when he plays enough games. I mean, if you hit anything anywhere in any of the gaps he's catching it. He's so fast he's fun to watch out there in center you guys stole him from the.
Speaker 1:Don't get me started again.
Speaker 3:Hey, we gave you a very nice parting gift in the last two months of hobby bias um, I always have to make it about me sorry.
Speaker 1:Um, so I'm excited for the clubs I and so biggest competition in the nl central is I'm going to guess where nicholas is located currently.
Speaker 2:Definitely Hands down, although I will say the biggest competition to both of those two teams is a team that hasn't made a lot of noise but has built a franchise over the last few years and they have a lot of young talent Cincinnati.
Speaker 3:Okay, I wasn't sure if you were going to say Cincy or Pitt.
Speaker 1:I was hoping you wouldn't say Pitt.
Speaker 2:No, I mean other than Skeens.
Speaker 1:They're going to mess up.
Speaker 2:Skeens, who, unfortunately, will be playing for somebody else in a couple years. Correct, cincinnati has a lot of young talent that they've been drafting and developing and that team is poised to make a run. And if they, you know, hit this, hit the, hit their marks in the right way, they could make it life very difficult on Chicago and Milwaukee.
Speaker 3:Their rotation is still a little suspect to me.
Speaker 1:I think Hunter green could be a guy, but he's had a lot of Hunter green has had a lot of um, a hype and I don't think he's ever really quite matched up to that hype that he's had.
Speaker 3:He hasn't quite put it all together but he showed signs down the stretch last year and, as you know, Sam's real high on him and probably going to have a nice year if he stays healthy. Yeah, I mean and that's just.
Speaker 2:I mean, I mean, I don't know their pitching as well, but I know a lot of that batting. And then Ellie Dayla Cruz, if he can.
Speaker 1:He's fun to watch he is I mean? Super.
Speaker 2:But they have kind of slowly and quietly over the last two years, put together a franchise without doing crazy big moves and spending a lot of money. Sounds like Braves, kind of like what Tampa had been doing the last decade or so. I don't know it, you know it's, I don't know I. I just I think that if cincinnati gets some breaks, I think that they could make a run, you know, and make life very difficult. I know a lot of people are counting out milwaukee because they lost willie adamas.
Speaker 1:But I never count out milwaukee yeah, I can't count them out.
Speaker 3:Devin williams is a pretty big loss too, but you can't count out Milwaukee.
Speaker 2:But Devin Williams wasn't there for most of the year last year and they still won 93 games last year.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 1:He'll be playing his own.
Speaker 3:He came back like at the end of June. Right, he still threw a decent amount of innings, I thought.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean he wasn't there, but I mean he wasn't the closer.
Speaker 1:By the time he came back they had kind of you know, kind of had opening day. He'll be playing his team, old team.
Speaker 2:So yeah, I'm not, I'm, you know, I don't know. I mean it's, it's. It's hard to say with milwaukee, because you know, every year everybody wants to count them out, but every year they, they, just they, they plug and play. We lost this guy and we just put another guy in.
Speaker 1:You still got Jelich, you still got Chirio. I don't like to say some of these names because, yeah, former Philly, oh yeah, what's this? I forgot his name. My brain. You know who I'm talking about.
Speaker 3:Evan Williams pitched in 22 games last year and had 14 saves.
Speaker 1:He pitched in an amazing game against the Mets and Peter Lonzo. I can't forget that.
Speaker 2:I'd like to, but.
Speaker 1:Sorry.
Speaker 3:It sounds like he was tipping his pitches and the Mets picked up on it. That's what I think happened.
Speaker 1:Peter Lonzo kind of alluded to that. He kind of had the gist of up on it. That's what I think happened. Pete Alonzo kind of alluded to that. He kind of had the gist of what was happening.
Speaker 3:John Boyd did a breakdown about it too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so yeah, I wouldn't count Milwaukee out at all. I mean, you have a decent team. I'll say that.
Speaker 2:And then the Cardinals. I know Charlie hates the Cardinals.
Speaker 1:The Redbirds. What's going on with the Redbirds?
Speaker 3:They might be the one team you can count out.
Speaker 1:That's what Charlie's hoping.
Speaker 3:I hate to say it to one of my friends who's a big Cardinal fan listener.
Speaker 1:I met her. They're in trouble, I met your friend.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean they are, but they're still the Cardinals. You know, as somebody who's come to you know, at least follow the Brewers. I'm not going to call myself a Brewers fan. I'm never going to. You know, I'm an Angels fan, but you know.
Speaker 1:That's your National League team, though, right.
Speaker 2:Well, I don't. I kind of subscribe to the theory that if you're not the Angels, I want you to lose. I like that, yeah it's. But you know I don't mind going to Brewer games and you know, like you said, I'd rather see them win. So, like, if they're not playing the Angels, then I guess I could say they're my National League team. But I grew up in Memphis so the Cardinals have always been in my life. You can never count them out. There's a reason why they have the second most World Series and you know Major League Baseball, you know they are a franchise that, generally speaking, knows how to put together a winner.
Speaker 1:Well, you'll have a team to root for in a couple years, because I think Nashville's going to get a team. So you grew up in Memphis, you know, so that area will have baseball teams.
Speaker 2:Memphis is closer to St Louis than Nashville.
Speaker 1:Well, I know, but it's still Tennessee. I don't know the geography. I'm trying to get you away from the Redbirds. That's all I'm trying to do. I don't like the Redbirds either.
Speaker 2:No, I just. I mean, there's not a fan base. That's more, you know, Obnoxious. No, there are a lot of them.
Speaker 1:We love your friend thoughlie.
Speaker 2:I will say so yeah the cardinals fan base is is up there. When it comes to loyalty and intelligence, that's true, yeah, definitely you know and and they've got some promising players.
Speaker 3:Still, I like mason when he had a real solid rookie year as long as it's not against the Cubs.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I mean you can get a hit and a four-run loss.
Speaker 2:It's fine, but I mean you just can't. That franchise tends to know how to put together winners, and so you know they might look bad right now, but all of a sudden they get out on the field and they you know yeah, it's just Will Nolan.
Speaker 3:Arenado be wearing a Cardinal jersey by the deadline.
Speaker 2:I don't. It depends on if they're winning or not.
Speaker 3:They've been trying to train him, even if they're winning.
Speaker 1:Is that one of the teams he is accepting to go to who? Because doesn't he have like a choice, Arenado, of what team he?
Speaker 3:is a five team and he's already beat out.
Speaker 1:I know the Mets were one of them, but the Mets weren't having him.
Speaker 2:I think the Angels were one of the five right.
Speaker 1:I believe so, but yeah, the Mets, the Angels, the Cardinals, yeah.
Speaker 2:But I don't know. I mean, I would say, you know, looking at what they have on the field right now and what they, you know, I don't count spring training wins and losses, I don't care, I don't I genuinely don't care what your record is. I look at you know kind of who the roster is and what it was doing.
Speaker 1:It's a practice and they're they're putting minor league players in there all the time and there's so many squad games.
Speaker 2:Yes, I want to see, I want to know what you have coming up. You know, I would say it's. It's easy to say, you know the Cardinals and the Pirates are going to be bad, but you know and the White Sox. Well, I think honestly other than me, I think, if you're looking at at, I think honestly other than me, I think, if you're looking at the league, the White Sox are looking to maybe make a run at their own record.
Speaker 1:I don't know, the Marlins might give them a run for it. The.
Speaker 2:Marlins are going to be bottom, they're going to be cellar dwellers the entire year.
Speaker 1:Maybe not as bad as the White Sox.
Speaker 2:The Rockies are going to be right down there, towards the bottom as well. Poor Chris Bryant yes talks, but the rockies are gonna be right down there towards the bottom as well.
Speaker 1:Poor chris bryant.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah but everybody else. You know you just never can tell. Like you don't know, I mean it's, it's. That's the beauty part about you know. You know march in april is that every team still has. You know, I mean you know, as, like I said, as angels fan, like I'm not going into this year going, this is the year we're going to win the world series. But you never know.
Speaker 1:In 180 something games you never know. You just got to get into the dance.
Speaker 3:You just got to be a wild card game.
Speaker 1:And be hot at the time you get in.
Speaker 2:Now that there's six teams that get in the playoffs instead of just four. There's six teams that get in the playoffs instead of just four.
Speaker 1:The Mets can attest to that right. Look what happened with the Mets. We were nowhere near the Phillies or the Braves, and we beat both of them. So right.
Speaker 2:So you know, get hot at the right time and you know make it happen. But yeah, I mean there's, there's a couple of teams I think you could easily say they have no chance, because they clearly have. You know, like the white Sox. The white Sox lost 121, 122 games last year yeah, 121. And then traded the only good player they had with the Marlins are about to do that too.
Speaker 1:Like once they get rid of, like jazz and burger. It's like Alcantara is a.
Speaker 3:That's it, so I'm expecting he was on the Yankees last year.
Speaker 1:No that's it. So I'm expecting. Oh, jerry's is long gone. He was on the yankees last year. No, I I'm saying, once I got rid of jazz and burger, it was like that, was it? I mean sandy, and the only reason why they didn't get rid of sandy last year is because he was out because of tommy john. I mean, it's not, it's just a matter of time. I I that that owner only likes to collect checks.
Speaker 2:Uh, that's it he wants to get revenue. I think the marlins are known as uh, the new york yankees minor league system correct.
Speaker 1:Unfortunately, this is true. I think that's why jeter went to the organization as president for a couple years. Um, I I will say this what? So, speaking of like it will twist it around a little bit what, what, what teams do you guys think will kind of be really, really good? Like, what do you? What are your top picks, as far as maybe in each division? Like, we'll start with the American league, wes will say probably the Mariners, right?
Speaker 2:For lack of any other team being, you know, worth talking about it. Yeah, the Mariners, I mean, I think they. They have a fairly good you know friend, you know team, you know solid players, um, and they're in a weak, weak division, you know I, you know I think it's it's kind of theirs to lose at this point. You know, I don't think the other teams in that division are going to be as competitive. I'd like to see the Angels do something, but I'm hoping for at least a 500 club out of that team so we have something to build for next year. I'm more looking to put together a team that is on the right track for for next year.
Speaker 1:Absolutely Build, build forward.
Speaker 2:Build forward.
Speaker 1:Are you on the same?
Speaker 2:Maybe lightning catches. You know bottle and you know.
Speaker 1:I mean, I'm hoping for that for trout, Like I said earlier in this podcast. Are you on a Charlie? Are you in the same kind of with the Mariners too?
Speaker 3:I think the Mariners are very solid. I mean, they were right there last year. Their pitching is great. I think the better question is the offense.
Speaker 3:Their pitching is phenomenal, especially their rotation. It's just the offense is the question, If Julio Rodriguez can take another step forward and be that guy for more of the season. He seems to have like a, you know, really bad month, bad six weeks and they don't really have the offense that can afford that. If he can pick it up, maybe a Rosarena bounces back, but I don't know, Be wary of of making trades with the Rays, yeah.
Speaker 1:Rosarena was already kind of on the down when he was traded. I felt like he was not the Rosarino that when he first came up with the Rays, I don't know.
Speaker 3:I think the Orioles could be interesting again. I think a lot of those young hitters could take another step forward. I was a little concerned. They actually just made a move earlier today. I don't know if you guys saw it, but they signed Kyle Gibson. Oh wow, a starter that, I was surprised, kept lasting. He's you know, he's a guy who can give you innings.
Speaker 1:Well, you know how I feel about the American league East. If the Orioles can, I mean if the Orioles can beat the Yankees, or I mean I would be blue. Jays could be beat the Yankees.
Speaker 2:I have. I actually have Baltimore winning that division. I don't buy the Yankees, I really don't.
Speaker 1:Oh, I don't either.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and you know the amount of injuries that are going to be long-term season, long injuries that have happened already for that team.
Speaker 3:Like Garrett call.
Speaker 2:Yeah for that team. Like Garrett Cole, yeah, I don't buy Aaron Judge, I don't Not without Soto there next to him. No, stanton and Judge are going to miss good chunks of the season and they're going to strike out 200, 250 times.
Speaker 1:Stanton has the worst contract in baseball. Thank you, marlins, by far.
Speaker 3:We'll see. Stanton is a big question mark right now. Is he considering surgery in both elbows?
Speaker 1:That's what I've heard.
Speaker 3:He might not, he might try to play through it.
Speaker 2:Frequently injured, with no Soto and no Stanton, judge is going to strike out 300 times.
Speaker 1:Right and Stanton's frequently injured. It's always been an issue. I mean, you look at Baltimore, for example, like we were just talking about, you have Gunnar Henderson, adley Rushman, you have like the Holiday, jackson Holiday. You have like a young, young, young, young, ready-to-go lineup.
Speaker 3:Because they were so bad for so many years. A few more too. You didn't even mention Colton Couser Jordan.
Speaker 1:Westberg. It's a great lineup. I agree with you. I'm really big on. I'm also big on the Blue Jays. I think the Blue Jays, I think you have a very motivated Vlad Guerrero Jr, because he has a contract coming up and he thinks he's going to get 700 million. I don't see it for a first baseman at all, but that's what he thinks he's worth no, he said 500, he wanted 500.
Speaker 1:I read something today that said seven. I was like because he thinks he's going to get soto numbers and I'm like no, not for first base.
Speaker 3:I thought that he had said 500 was his magic number and the oh, is that what he said?
Speaker 1:maybe I misread it, um, but he thinks now, I mean, I listen, he's gonna get a lot for first baseman. Is he gonna get soto money? No way, um. And the blue jays I don't. Well, is that the right move for them, though, I wonder? Is that not to sign him? I, I kind of think it's not the right move I they should have negotiated with him. I think, um, you don't want him kind of leaving and that's never.
Speaker 2:It never works out, um, almost never um, I think, I think boston's a wild card in in terms of like of a team that's probably gonna get a wild, but also a team that could go either way.
Speaker 1:They spent some money in the offseason. Obviously they did the Red Sox.
Speaker 2:But that franchise is also a mess right now.
Speaker 3:I think the Rays could be a sleeper as well. Again, people aren't talking about them anymore. Their rotation is deep and good and that new ball hitting in that new ballpark. The dimensions are a little better, a little warmer. I think that's going to help a lot of those guys. I think they could be a quiet, make some noise that no one's expecting.
Speaker 1:American League East should be competitive, I think.
Speaker 2:Tampa the Rays are playing steinbrenner field the whole season yes, yes, didn't. Didn't george build that stadium? Like to like the like yankee field dimensions?
Speaker 3:it's like a yankee stadium junior, basically short porch to right field, which is good for both Brandon Lau and Josh Lowe, even Aranda. They got a lot of lefties in that lineup.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, I think the Rays are going to have the same problem that the Athletics have. Is that, yes, playing in a minor league stadium all year is going to help you out for your home games, but it's also going to help the other team out a lot too Exactly. But it's also going to help the other team out a lot too Exactly, for sure.
Speaker 1:And the Yankees are very familiar with that, so that'll be interesting when the Yankees come to their own and they're not.
Speaker 2:they're the visiting team.
Speaker 1:So all right. So we we talked to American league East, we talked to American league West, american league central.
Speaker 3:We're just missing the AL Central and the NL West.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so AL Central, we already eliminated one Tigers, guardians, guardians, royals and Twins, Honestly I think any one of those four could win the division.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, I mean, I know the Royals, uh, you know, they were in the world in the playoffs last year. Um, I don't, I do have bobby witt jr. As as for my, uh, looking at, it mvp pick for bobby witt jr he's such a I like it.
Speaker 1:Oh, my god, I mean now granted, I think.
Speaker 2:I think you know guerrero jr. Is he going to make a run for it too, because he's in a contract year? And he's going to try to put up some massive numbers. I just don't know what the Royals are capable of outside of Bobby Wade Jr, I think, the Guardians and the Tigers. I mean well, I mean you had three. Didn't all three of them make the playoffs last year? Yeah, all three of them make the playoffs last year.
Speaker 3:All three of them, they did and the Twins finished over .500 as well. Yeah, but the White Sox lost 121 games, so take that for what it's worth.
Speaker 2:That's not going to get better. That division might be one of the more competitive. Both central divisions are the most competitive.
Speaker 1:Yeah. The National League East is pretty top, that's going to be pretty competitive between the three teams. It's pretty top-heavy between those three teams, but the other two are garbage.
Speaker 3:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:I think the Guardians have a really strong team. I thought they had a really strong team last year and they're only going to get better. Um, the tigers with with scooble and you know everybody else, I think you know they're going to be tough.
Speaker 1:The twins have you know and they got flarity back jack flarity, love jack flarity, yep I'm actually hitting up minnesota I.
Speaker 2:I went to the metro dome. I haven't been to their new stadium target field. Yeah, I haven't been in target field, uh, but my dad's never. You know he. He is from the minneapolis st paul region but he left before they had a team.
Speaker 1:So they're playing the angels in the last week in april can I tell you guys how jealous I am that all these parks are within driving distance of you guys and I'm like what do I have?
Speaker 2:The closest outside of Florida is the Braves Anyway it's about a five, five and a half hour drive from here.
Speaker 1:Yes, not bad at all.
Speaker 2:And so my dad was like we're where I want to go. So he bought tickets and so we're going to go.
Speaker 1:I took a couple of days off work and and we're gonna go catch a game. That's awesome, that's really awesome. So you know, yeah, I'm not jealous or anything. Um, no, there's a little. Every you know when ballpark chasers, you know those groups, when I see people going around to different ballparks, you literally can just do that circle and see so many ballparks within your midwest area. It's awesome. Uh, yeah, just a little jealous. I do have a question. I was gonna say do all right, I mean it's basically the dodgers and the padres, right? I mean?
Speaker 3:although I mean it's the dodgers, and then a hundred yards and then the padres.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I it's a different team than it was last year.
Speaker 2:My my thing with the Dodgers is this is obviously they're the odds on favorite just to win at all, I mean hands down. I mean, it's annoying but going into this season, it's, it's you know, on on paper and so far, what they've done, Money. They've done.
Speaker 2:Money talks right, they, they look like they, you know, yeah, I mean, they've spent all the talk, they spent all the money and, and you know, I'm hoping that with the collective bargaining agreement coming up, that some of the more sketchy things that the Dodgers have done in the last year or two gets taken out of baseball because this, you know, deferred money where they're paying show. Hey, like that's ridiculous, that should not be allowed taken out of baseball because this, you know, deferred money where they're paying shohei, like that's ridiculous that should not be allowed.
Speaker 2:That, no, if you're gonna sign him to that sort of contract, it should hurt you immediately right, it's unfair, you know bobby bonilla day, you know for the next 30 years. Oh, it's so stupid um, I don't know about the Padres, because I just think they're going to find a way to screw up. They always do.
Speaker 1:I mean, you got Arias, you got Machado, you got a still decent lineup.
Speaker 2:I think the Diamondbacks could honestly give the Dodgers a real run for their money.
Speaker 1:I think so too.
Speaker 2:I think ultimately, what could cost the Dodgers is one or two injuries, and I don't know what the team chemistry is going to be when you have a room full of billionaires.
Speaker 1:Are they going to play together, like you know, where you've got a team like the Royals, who you know collectively aren't making as much as shohei is in one year, you know it's very lopsided, you know, I I never even looked at it from that perspective, but if you look at just a dodgers lineup and pay the pay variance between, like a will smith and a shohei otani it's not even the the.
Speaker 2:You know the difference between what those guys are getting paid. It's just I don't know that team is just there's not. A lot of times where you buy a world series you know the 97 marlins, you know notwithstanding, and you know a couple years with the yankees. But I would say, more often than not, the team that spends that kind of money doesn't win the world series.
Speaker 3:I I agree that money can't buy a world series, but I do think it can buy you a division title yes, it does help. Yes, I mean I I like arizona a lot. I think arizona is a playoff team, but as far as the division goes personally I'm throwing a little cold water on that. I think the dodgers won that division over them by nine games last year and the dodgers got way better.
Speaker 2:Right, no they did. Absolutely, and that's why I think they won the World Series last year and then they went and got better. How can you not pick them to win the World Series again this year?
Speaker 3:Oh, I don't. You can pick whoever to win the World Series. I just don't see a scenario in which the Dodgers don't win the West.
Speaker 1:Okay, Can we talk about how much the Yankees sucked during the World Series, though? I mean, they didn't even give the Dodgers a competitive no the. Mets gave the Dodgers a much better.
Speaker 3:The Mets were much better.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Well, I think, the rest of the American League, and that's without Soto, by the way, I think the rest of the American League did themselves a couple of disservices by the way they played against the Yankees in the playoffs. I think had they pitched around Stan and just walk him and pitched, you know, made you know.
Speaker 2:I don't. I didn't understand while I was watching the game, like Stanton is hitting all the home runs and coming up with the hits, walk him it. Basically, barry bonds him. Walk him with the bases loaded, who cares? Give up one run Because Judge ain't going to do it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he's had a rough postseason career so far.
Speaker 1:I mean, look, he dropped the ball.
Speaker 3:And they lost.
Speaker 1:Soto for that reason.
Speaker 2:I think they lost.
Speaker 1:Soto because of how bad they were.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I just wonder. You know, I mean I would agree. I mean you know the Dodgers are going to win that division. It's going to be. You know what's the record for most wins in a year?
Speaker 3:One. They need to hit 117. 117? Yeah, 117 and 45 would be the record, Much to.
Speaker 1:Charlie Sigrin. They already have two.
Speaker 3:I was going to say they really only need to go 115 and 45. Yeah.
Speaker 2:It's not outside of the realm of possibility.
Speaker 3:They're also up two on the win column for the division. Sorry, buddy.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's not outside of the realm of possibility. That's true, they're two games ahead.
Speaker 1:That's weird.
Speaker 2:They could make a real run at that record, um, but I could also see that team just going out and falling apart, yeah it happens you know I, we've seen it happen. You know, you know it. Just you know I don't. I can't necessarily come up with a team off the top of my head, but it's just. I can't necessarily come up with a team off the top of my head, but we've seen the Yankees many, many times spend all the money and go out and not even win the division.
Speaker 1:I personally feel with all my heart that the Mets are going to be contenders in the National league title Again. I strongly feel like that. You're going to see them, in the very least, at the national league title game. Um, I think you might even see them in the world series this year. I just I feel that, despite the pitch, I think.
Speaker 3:I think it's hard to make those predictions. I think it's easier to just get predictions, I think it's easier to just get in.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm a fan.
Speaker 3:I'll just say I think the Mets are a playoff team, without a doubt.
Speaker 1:I think the Cubs are a playoff team, honestly.
Speaker 3:Personally I think so too.
Speaker 1:Even I mean look, they played the Dodgers. That doesn't take away from how good they are. I mean, it is spring training, but they won.
Speaker 3:I think the three East teams get in. The Dodgers are a lock. I think that leaves two more spots for the NL Central winner and then one more wild card.
Speaker 1:I think the Brewers are going to be up there again.
Speaker 3:We'll see Cubs, brewers, reds, diamondbacks, padres, that group of five. I think two get in yeah.
Speaker 2:I would agree.
Speaker 1:And I think the Mets and Phillies are going to be battling for the NL East. I think the Braves are going to come on later on. I don't think they're going to start off strong, but I think they're going to be contenders too for the wild card, I think all three of those East teams could win the division.
Speaker 3:It wouldn't shock me if the Braves won. To be honest with you.
Speaker 1:I don't care if the Mets win the division or not, as long as we get in the wild card, that's all I care about.
Speaker 3:Because keep in mind that when we're talking about the Braves 2024, they won 89 games and they were, without arguably, one of the MVP candidates in Acuna, and they're also out with one of the Cy Young candidates in Strider. They get both of them back.
Speaker 1:Well, not right away with Acuna Strider. They get back. I mean, they're going to be back by May Probably.
Speaker 3:Both of them are back. Those are two massive additions. Whatever, Charlie, I'm just saying don't write the credits.
Speaker 1:Whatever, charlie, it's ironic that all three of us met and went to tourist to see games in my least favorite team. But so any other, any other things you want to kind of wrap up with this?
Speaker 3:uh, fellas how about a sleeper picker too? Yeah, let's do it.
Speaker 1:That nobody's talking about player wise, player wise you start pick the guy. Why do I have to lead the way?
Speaker 3:you don't.
Speaker 1:You don't have to lead the way, I'm just saying um, I think honestly and I've said this before and again I'm going to make it team centric. I think mark vientos is going to have a breakout year. I think he had a great year last year, but I think you're going to see really, really good Pete Alonzo type home run numbers out of him this year. I think his power is going to come into fruition. I think he's feeling really good about himself and I think you, brett Beatty, might finally make a name for himself on a team. So for my team, if I'm going to make some sleeper picks, I will say those guys. I also think you're going to have Holiday, have a breakout year with the Orioles. I'm not just saying all these guys because they're on my fantasy team or anything like that, but I'm just saying you know what about you, nicholas?
Speaker 2:I think having Travis Darnot there is going to have Logan Ohapi, who's already one of the better catchers in the American League, take a real big step up. Um him being healthy and starting the year. Um, I think nolan shanawell is, is you know, gonna make? You know, make people actually know how to pronounce his name? Um, you know, I I think there there's there's a couple of really you know young players on that team that you know are. Are you know?
Speaker 1:so you know, maybe make some noise I, I, I like it, I like it, I think, uh, I think I'm, I'm in agreement, I think, I think. Look logan's on my fantasy team too, I'm just saying, but I think he's going to have a breakout year too. I agree. And Charlie, what about you, charlie?
Speaker 3:I'm going to name a couple people from some teams we have talked about, but not personal teams. How about a Reds player we were talking about the Reds earlier that we didn't mention? I think you could see a big jump from matt mcclain this year. Oh yeah, oh yeah, I'm putting him in the mix. Um, uh, my american league team. A player we did not mention, I think on the pitching side, who could have a very big breakout year, is taj bradley. Oh, he'd keep that name in. I think he could flirt with 200 strikeouts. And I also really like obviously everybody likes Scooble, but I really like Cole Reagans in Kansas City. He is just a really, really solid lefty. He's got great stuff. People don't really talk about him or know him Not a household name.
Speaker 2:Tanner Beebe yes.
Speaker 3:I like him a lot as well in Cleveland.
Speaker 1:One other thing I forgot to mention. I think Sproat from the Mets is going to make it to the bigs at some point this year and I think you're going to see some amazing things out of him. Brandon Sproat.
Speaker 3:I like that. He's the Mets' number one pitching prospect. Brandon Sprote I like that. He's the Mets' number one pitching prospect. Yes, he is. And then one other name I have to mention. I'd be remiss to not say it, but there are rumors that he might break camp with Houston. But Cam Smith, cubs breakout prospect who went in the Kyle Tucker trade Keeping an eye out on him because I was always real high on him. You were out on him because I've all.
Speaker 1:I was always real high. You were high on him. I remember that.
Speaker 3:You got up, you got to pay. Sometimes you got to pay a big price to get a guy like Kyle Tucker. And we know not. Every prospect is a is a for sure thing.
Speaker 1:So so do you think that the Cubs work it out to try to sign Tucker?
Speaker 3:I mean, I mean it out to try to sign tucker I mean. I mean he's gonna be a big. I think it's certainly possible, but I think he's gonna go to the market.
Speaker 1:He's too good not to. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And you know, the pockets of the central teams unfortunately are not as large as your big market east coast teams, unfortunately yeah, so we'll see. But looking forward to baseball.
Speaker 3:We're less than a week away from domestic opening day.
Speaker 1:Yes, you know we all all three of us we chat and text and how excited we are. I remember Nicholas saying something in December about how many days it was until baseball. We all that's, our lifeblood is baseball.
Speaker 3:Can you?
Speaker 1:believe it. We made it to less than a week. We did it, love it. You know, just think about the, the summer nights and the popcorn and the hot dogs, and it's just just just enjoying a game going out or even just watching it on tv. But it's more fun to go in person.
Speaker 2:Snow on opening day. I mean no, that's just no longer. I don't know what that is. They have a dome.
Speaker 1:Yes, they do, but yeah, I'm excited. So, nicholas, thank you so much for joining us Now. Nicholas has an awesome podcast called Pop Culture Roulette that Charlie and I have both had the honor of being on. Can you you want to give some information about that, nicholas? And? How people can find you.
Speaker 2:We were anywhere. You podcast is available on any platform. Pop culture Let. Easiest way to reach out to me is either on Facebook. Facebook is the easiest way. Instagram at pop cult roulette, because they wouldn't let me have those extra three letters. Um and um, yeah, one of those two is the easiest way to get a hold of me. Um, we talk about anything and everything. Uh, we just the episode that's coming out. Well, it'll be out by the time this episode comes out. We, we read we did a bracket on monster trucks. We, oh, I love brackets. Oh, yeah, we, we debated what. We you know who, who had the coolest monster truck?
Speaker 1:so I'm thinking gravedigger is up there maybe I don't want to give anything, oh okay no, we want to listen to it. All right, we're gonna listen to it. I love gra. We're going to listen to it. I love Grave.
Speaker 2:Digger Grave, digger Bigfoot, you know Backwards Bob.
Speaker 1:I love Monster.
Speaker 2:Trucks yeah.
Speaker 1:Nice.
Speaker 2:Yeah, nice.
Speaker 1:I love that. It's different. That's like you know, charlie. We've been talking. We need to copycat a little bit and do a bracket. Sometime We'll figure it out. At some time we'll figure it out?
Speaker 3:we will. We will have to bring nicholas back on when we do. You don't like college basketball, so I didn't know if you were a bracket guy.
Speaker 1:I don't uh real quick. You know college basketball is happening. I know that's your guys. Uh, you guys love your college basketball and, um, I'd be remiss real quick if I great, one great guy. But yeah, george foreman, um, nicholas, we're gonna follow you, we're gonna well, we already do, charlie and I, but you know everyone follow pop culture roulette. It is a great podcast. It is a lot of fun, uh, nicholas and the boys talking about a whole bunch of stuff and just shooting the shit, and it's just fun to listen to. And I I always laugh out loud when I'm listening you guys, and for a good reason because you guys are funny, um, but it's a great show. Thank you, nicholas, for joining us oh, thank you for having me this has been around the bases.
Speaker 1:The pop culture and sports podcast annual major league baseball preview edition. Special guest nicholas pepin of pop culture roulette and your host charlie seymour and I'm tim sternberg. Until next time, let's play ball. Bye everybody, thank you.
