Pitching Greatness + Baseball’s New Era

This episode breaks down the heated National League Pitcher of the Month race between Cristopher Sánchez and Jacob Misiorowski, comparing their dominant performances, electric stuff, and impact on their teams. We dive into the numbers, the narratives, and which ace truly deserves the recognition. Then, we shift into one of the biggest changes baseball has seen in decades: the introduction of a new MLB salary cap and what it could mean for small-market teams, superstar contracts, and competitive balance across the league. From clubhouse reactions to fan debates, this episode covers how the future of baseball could be changing forever.

Transcript

SPEAKER_03 0:02

Hello and welcome back to season two, episode six of two average guys. Today is a little bit of a different episode because Sawyer and I are not in two different places. We're recording together for the first time. Sawyer actually is sitting next to me. Sawyer.

SPEAKER_02 0:18

Yeah, surprisingly, I'm here.

SPEAKER_03 0:21

And not only do we just have Sawyer, we also have the man, the myth, and the legend, Aiden Dooley, who was actually supposed to be the third guy in the podcast to begin with, but he faded us for so long. And he's finally here to join. Dooley, you want to say what's up?

SPEAKER_00 0:42

What's going on, y'all? Aiden Dooley Hopper University, certified ball knower.

SPEAKER_03 0:46

Aiden Dooley has a lot of ball knowledge.

SPEAKER_00 0:48

Sadly, a Yankees fan, though.

SPEAKER_03 0:50

He is a Yankees fan.

SPEAKER_02 0:51

But we're unbiased in this, bias a little bit towards this.

SPEAKER_03 0:55

We're also friends with the Mets fans, so I mean we make everything work. Um Dooley brings a lot of just stats and just he knows everything. But, anyways, the conversation for today is gonna be mostly Christopher Sanchez versus Jacob Mizarowski for the NL Cy Young, as well as the MLB proposing a new salary cap rule. So Sora, I'll let you take it away.

SPEAKER_02 1:23

Yeah, so I'm gonna start with like the man, the mythologic for the Philz, Christopher Sanchez. I mean, 44.2 innings scoreless. Insane. Amazing. But again, me and Dooley were having a conversation earlier. He was saying that Mizarowski has a lot more strikeouts than him. The difference is five, by the way. Christopher Sanchez is second in the MLB. Okay, month of May is fair. Yeah, I guess that's fair enough. But still, I thought it was way more overall, but it's a lot closer than I thought. But that's just my argument.

SPEAKER_03 1:57

This will be arguably the greatest NL pitcher of the month like duel ever. I mean, Christopher Sanchez has a zero ERA, and Mizorowski had a 0.3. He's given up one run in the month of May.

SPEAKER_00 2:16

I don't know how many starts it's been, but I probably now he has 11 starts in the year. Right. Month of May, we're done. Pitches every five days, probably has around five starts.

SPEAKER_03 2:28

Right, like four to five starts, one run. Sanchez, I think, had five starts, and he didn't give up a run.

SPEAKER_00 2:41

He has pitched 33.2 in 60.

SPEAKER_03 2:44

Right. That's definitely five starts. Yeah. Um, which is incredible. I mean, I I'm not sure there's ever been a better pitcher of the month like race. Yeah. And I what Mizorowski has more strikeouts. Five. No, but in the month, how many? In the month. In the month, Mizery.

SPEAKER_00 3:03

Sanchez pitched 39 innings, he had 36 strikeouts. Mizorowski pitched 31 a third and had 49 strikeouts. So it's a 13 difference over about the same amount of innings. In fact, Sanchez had eight more innings.

SPEAKER_03 3:17

And I want to say Mizorowski had a lower whip, a lower batting average against less hits allowed, but Christopher Sanchez didn't give up a run.

SPEAKER_01 3:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 3:27

So in every statistical category, it looks like Mizorowski was better, except Christopher Sanchez didn't give up a run. And to me, that's huge.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

That's how you win. The whole conversation that me and Sawyer had was based on dominance versus like efficiency. Mizorowski was more dominant, and I feel very confident saying that. But Sanchez did do a job. Like the description of a pitcher is a stop run. Right. And Sanchez did a better job of that.

SPEAKER_03 3:54

Right.

SPEAKER_00 3:54

So if that's your main metric, then Christopher Sanchez is your guy. But if it's the best pitcher of the month, I think you have to consider more things than just ER.

SPEAKER_03 4:03

I think they might give pitcher of the month to Mizorowski just because you know 50 strikeouts and five starts is averaging like it's also because Sanchez has had a way better year.

SPEAKER_00 4:14

So they're gonna give Mizorowski the less significant award. Right.

SPEAKER_03 4:18

Sanchez is on pace to because Sanchez is he's the top leader for Cy Young.

SPEAKER_02 4:23

Yeah, I mean, I think it I mean, personally, again, I'm biased, of course, from Phil's fan, but I mean, him breaking the Phil's record, I mean, a hundred year over a hundred year old record for a scoreless streak, I feel like that's a big thing. And also, whoever wins this should be the all-star game starter, in my opinion.

SPEAKER_03 4:42

For the NL, easily.

SPEAKER_02 4:43

I don't think that's a like hot take at all. I think that's I mean, yeah, I think like this month is easily whoever it is. And I again I I really would find it so surprising if Christopher Sanchez is not starting in. Right.

SPEAKER_03 4:55

The All-Star Games in Philly, you would think that the Philly's gonna start.

SPEAKER_02 4:58

But that's I think it's who who should ever win this.

SPEAKER_03 5:01

But I would be very surprised if also not even mentioning Shohei Otani, who went six uh six innings yesterday and didn't allow a hit. He did give up a run, so his ERA jumps to 0.82, I believe. You know, jumps to 0.82.

unknown 5:22

Correct.

SPEAKER_03 5:22

But he gave up one earned run in six innings. I don't think he gave up a lead-off Homer. Yeah, yeah. He like struck out one in the first inning, didn't allow a hit, comes up, first pitch he sees, goes yard.

SPEAKER_00 5:35

Um six innings, no hits, one run on four walks.

SPEAKER_03 5:39

Yeah, he did walk a couple guys. I mean, you give up a run without a hit, you're gonna have to walk a couple guys. I think the run was scored on like a ground out or something. But I I mean, you have a guy that has a sub-1 ERA over 55 innings.

SPEAKER_00 5:54

And the the thing that sticks out about Shoei the most is that if you look at like the past five games that he has appeared in, the Dodgers have allowed, in order, three runs, one run, three runs, six runs, and one run. So if you're keeping teams to sub-three runs, that's a recipe to win a lot of games.

SPEAKER_03 6:10

With a lineup like the Dodgers, they should win so many games because that is the greatest lineup, arguably, of all time.

SPEAKER_00 6:18

They're also having some extremely good players have some very down years, some very unexpected like progressions. Like, for example, I was looking at today, Kyle Tucker, having very he's not doing good at all. I think he's the most mediocre player in baseball right now. He has 243 average, like four home runs, 20-something RBIs. No, completely overpaid. Yeah, 60 million a year. 60 million a year, and he has like a 730 OPS, and the Dodges are still what second best team in the league are second for power rankings. Power rankings that were released today at 7 in the morning have them at second behind the Briefs. Yeah. Yeah. And they have a valid argument to be first.

SPEAKER_03 6:54

Neither of those teams have the best record in the MLB, which belongs to the Tampa Bay Rays. Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:00

Coming out of nowhere.

SPEAKER_03 7:00

They're like 34 and 19 or something. After they just got swept by the Orioles, which is actually insane because the Orioles have been not good recently. Not at all. And but they showed a stat. I was watching the Orioles game because I had someone over who was an Orioles fan. And I was watching the game, and the Orioles have had the Rays like number for like the last year and a half.

SPEAKER_00 7:24

Like they're like they match up very well.

SPEAKER_03 7:27

They're like 10 and 1 or something against them in like the last three times these teams have played. It's like insane.

SPEAKER_02 7:32

I don't use the speecher on uh the Rays again. Uh what's his handlop? Yeah. He had sorry, sorry, sorry. He sucks at stealing packs. Did anyone see that stat? Yes. Like it's like horrible. Adley, like, I saw like a clip. Okay, it was a dot throwback. Hadley sucks at defending. And he threw a dot. Yes, arguably, in my opinion, Adley is a below average defender. You can, I don't care.

SPEAKER_03 7:57

Let me guess, you want Caden Bowine to start over Adley Rushman. Yes, I like Caden Bowen. Of course.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

Switch hitting catcher, amazing. But Adley Rushman is also a switch hitting catcher. Yeah, I know. I know, sadly.

SPEAKER_03 8:08

Oh Sawyer, you're not biased at all.

SPEAKER_02 8:12

Yeah, I'm a little biased.

SPEAKER_00 8:13

If you want to see a very similar if you want to see a very similar comparison to the Orioles having the raised number, I saw a stat today. The Yankees have beaten the Royals in their past 14 matchups. They're 14-0. 14-0 in their past 14 weeks.

SPEAKER_03 8:25

That's actually insane. Yeah. But we're getting a little bit off topic. Christopher Sanchez versus Jacob Mizrowski, a story. That's going to be something we're telling the grandkids, man. We're going to be telling them about that. But to continue with what we were saying about the Dodgers, the new salary cap that the MLB kind of just talked about putting into place. I don't know the numbers that they put for the maximum and the minimum.

SPEAKER_00 8:52

I believe it's about 270 is the cap.

SPEAKER_03 8:54

Right. I think the maximum was like 274 or something.

SPEAKER_02 8:58

I don't remember what the minimum is 171.2, and the maximum would be 245.3.

SPEAKER_03 9:06

Oh, 245. That's what they proposed. So from 171 to 245, which can one of you guys look up the payrolls for teams who that would be over.

SPEAKER_00 9:22

And there's a whole lot of teams that are on. Yeah. The teams that are over are your usual suspects: Mets, Dodgers, Yankees, Jays, Phillies, Braves. But there's only about five teams that are in the middle ground. And the only team I remember off the top of my head is the Diamondbacks that are compliant.

SPEAKER_03 9:37

Seems like a middle team.

SPEAKER_00 9:38

Yes. The teams below are kind of surprising. The Guardians. Guardians are below.

SPEAKER_03 9:45

Why do you remember the Guardians are below?

SPEAKER_00 9:47

Because, bro, they don't spend any money. And they win games.

SPEAKER_02 9:49

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 9:50

It's crazy that there is a lot of. J Ram not getting a huge contract. J RAM? Or is that just like that team?

SPEAKER_02 9:58

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 9:59

He's so good. Oh, he's good. Underrated super.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

We were debating about like who's like the greatest. Yeah. And like I and then we talked about J Ram's up there. Well, yeah, yeah. J-Ram is probably top. But then we talked about third basemans. I think overall, Arenado takes that. In my opinion.

SPEAKER_00 10:18

I would probably I would put your J-Ram up.

SPEAKER_03 10:21

Your top three has to be Arenado, Machado, and J-Ram.

SPEAKER_00 10:24

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 10:25

I'm not sure there's another another guy that's up there is Chapman.

SPEAKER_00 10:29

But overall wise, no. I'd be going to repeat with before all of those guys.

SPEAKER_03 10:33

I think Matt Chapman would probably be my four. I don't think he's in the I think he's a level below those three. You think he's a solid tier two? But I yes. Like I would say those are like S tier, and Chapman's like A tier. There's not that many good third basemen.

SPEAKER_02 10:48

Third baseman? I mean Alec Bowman up there, buddy.

SPEAKER_03 10:51

Whoa.

SPEAKER_02 10:51

That's I hate Alec Bone. I'm an Alec Bone hater.

SPEAKER_03 10:54

I mean, if you're going straight like defensive, I think S tier has to be Key Brian Hayes. Because Key Brian Hayes is one of the best fielding third baseman, like I think he's a back-to-back gold glove. Or platinum glove last year.

SPEAKER_01 11:12

Isn't he having a bad season though hitting this?

SPEAKER_03 11:13

Yeah, he's hit he's hit like he's hit like a buck third.

SPEAKER_00 11:15

Yeah, it's not. Well, here's the thing, it doesn't matter because the pirates have a top seven offensive baseball.

SPEAKER_03 11:19

Right. So very weird season.

SPEAKER_00 11:22

They make it work. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 11:23

I mean, keep but keep Ryan Hayes has been awesome.

SPEAKER_00 11:25

Oh, yeah, in the field. Yeah. Also, let's go back to the uh payroll thing. The teams that are below the payroll, there's a lot of them. You have Orioles, Mariners, Royals, Reds, Brewers, Rockies, Twins, Pirates, Rays, Cardinals, which was very surprising to me. Athletics, Nationals, White Sox, Guardians, and Marlins. Why did the Cardinals surprise you? The Cardinals surprise me because they always tend to have large, they like to lock their players up for long times. Jordan Walker's on a pretty lucrative deal. I remember Alec Burleson's on an actually unexpectedly large deal. Donovan's on a large deal. But they just spread out over so much time. And also, the Cardinals are always consistently like solid. I never believed the Cardinals would be like, you know what, these guys are terrible. And people forget that I believe it was four years ago they were in the CS. The Cardinals are a sneaky good playoff team when they make it. They weren't in there four years ago.

SPEAKER_03 12:16

That was 22.

SPEAKER_02 12:17

Yeah. They were not four years ago.

SPEAKER_03 12:20

Yeah, that would have been the Phillies and the Diamonds or the Yeah, yeah, and we beat them in 21 and not the Diamondbacks. Uh 2022 was was the Phillies and Months.

SPEAKER_02 12:32

It was months. We played in the months. Oh, not in the CS. Oh, the CS was Diamondbacks and was it the Diamondbacks that we beat to make the No, we didn't make it to the CS. We lost in the divisional series in 22.

SPEAKER_03 12:43

In 22, we made the World Series. Am I blinking?

SPEAKER_00 12:47

My timeline was a little bit off. It was 2019 that they made the CS.

SPEAKER_03 12:51

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 12:52

But they usually make the wildcard game and then they run into very good teams. 22 was our World Series.

SPEAKER_02 12:56

Am I really messing up the dates?

SPEAKER_00 12:58

Yeah, it's 22. The Cardinals lost that. The Cardinals lost to the Phillies in the Wildcard Round.

SPEAKER_03 13:02

Cardinals lost to the Phillies in Wild Round and Wildcard games. That's when uh Gene Seguro slapped a ball that was in the other batter's box into right field for a single two FBI single.

SPEAKER_00 13:13

Mariner's legend, Gene Seguro.

SPEAKER_03 13:14

I so remember that. Like so vividly in my mind.

SPEAKER_02 13:17

I was watching it with my pops on the Captain Ice Scream. I remember that day. Who did we beating in?

SPEAKER_00 13:23

It was Cardinals. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:27

Padres. Oh, was it the Dodgers?

SPEAKER_00 13:28

Yeah, it was the Dodgers. You guys played the Dodgers and the DS.

SPEAKER_03 13:31

I thought it was Cardinals. I thought it was Padres with the C S.

SPEAKER_00 13:33

Yeah, Padres was the CS.

SPEAKER_02 13:34

No, we played the Braves. Oh yeah, we did play the Braves.

SPEAKER_00 13:37

Yeah, we did play the Braves 2022 and 2023, where you all lost to the D-backs.

SPEAKER_03 13:41

Yes. Yeah. It was Cardinals, then it was Braves, then it was Padres, because Harper had the swing of his life.

SPEAKER_00 13:46

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 13:47

And then we went and crapped the bet against the Astros.

SPEAKER_01 13:49

I mean.

SPEAKER_00 13:50

However, the Astros are a very good team. Except right now they have the worst pitching staff in the MLB, which is makes my day.

SPEAKER_03 13:57

They have the best hitter in the league.

SPEAKER_00 13:59

Yep. Thank you. Obviously, I think that Corbin Carroll is having a better offensive year than Doron Alpha.

SPEAKER_03 14:05

Corbin Carroll is batting 20 points lower on average. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 14:10

I fear as though it does. I think that batting average is the least important of like the major offensive categories.

SPEAKER_02 14:17

It depends what we're looking at. Like MVP, probably you're looking at most valuable player. Who's like the best? Average is how you rank an overall player, but not how they contribute to your team, of course.

SPEAKER_00 14:26

If that's your argument, then Luisa Rise is the greatest of all time.

SPEAKER_02 14:29

Well, I'm not saying that. Yes, yes. But I'm saying you have to look at it in different things. Like average for MVP is worth a lot more, in my opinion. But also you have to have great stats of.

SPEAKER_00 14:43

What like recent MVPs make you think that average matters?

SPEAKER_02 14:46

I mean, you could argue Aaron Judge.

SPEAKER_00 14:48

Aaron Judge didn't win MVP because he batted 300. But he won MVP because he hit 60 bombs.

SPEAKER_02 14:53

And also bat at 300 doing it. That's insane.

SPEAKER_00 14:56

Yeah, because his OVP was like 460. His OPS was a 1-1. It's not based on his average, it's based on all everything else.

SPEAKER_02 15:05

It helps a lot though, in my opinion. And 20 points is a very huge difference.

SPEAKER_03 15:09

I mean, I I I checked roughly earlier. I think Jordan's around 312, and I think Corbin Carroll's 295.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Uh 312, 293. 293. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 15:20

Which is 19 points. Yeah. I mean, I I don't know. I haven't heard much news on Corbin Carroll. I can't say I follow the Diamondbacks a lot.

SPEAKER_00 15:29

But Corbin Carroll has been like one of the hottest hitters of baseball over the past couple weeks.

SPEAKER_03 15:34

Right. But I think Jordan Alvarez has like all like just been good all year.

SPEAKER_00 15:37

Yes. Like Jordan Alvarez has a 202 of his place. So he's 102% better better than the average hitter. What's Corbin Carroll's, do you know? 165.

SPEAKER_02 15:49

So Jordan.

SPEAKER_03 15:51

So Jordan's like 40 higher.

SPEAKER_00 15:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 15:54

I don't know. I mean, they're also two completely different hitters.

SPEAKER_00 15:57

And they're also 60 games in a year.

SPEAKER_03 15:59

Because Corbin Carroll runs like a really fast 60, and Jordan Alvarez runs a very slow 60.

SPEAKER_00 16:05

And Jordan Alvarez has never ran in his life.

SPEAKER_03 16:07

Right. Jordan Alvarez just hits the ball 117 miles an hour. And then jogs himself to second or Corbin Carroll just like slaps triples down the right field line.

SPEAKER_00 16:16

Corbin Carroll had uh two triples in one game two days ago. Really incredible.

SPEAKER_03 16:20

Yes. But I I mean you're comparing two different players. I think personally, Jordan is the better hitter so far.

SPEAKER_00 16:28

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 16:28

Um, but I would not be surprised if Corbin Carroll ended up being the better player.

SPEAKER_00 16:32

I also think that for the MVP defense matters for the rule.

SPEAKER_02 16:35

Yeah, I think okay, I can also put that into place. Like it's hard for a day issue with an MVP.

SPEAKER_03 16:38

Right.

SPEAKER_02 16:39

Like, okay, Jordan doesn't Jordan doesn't play. Otani did do it, but that's also a pitcher.

SPEAKER_00 16:43

Yeah, he saw good when Otani went 50.

SPEAKER_02 16:46

Yeah. I'm saying like doing stuff like that is what wins you an MVP. Doing 50-50, yeah. Also, yeah, that's crazy.

SPEAKER_03 16:52

But that's an issue for me because J Ram's like almost always 40-40. That's true. But he's also and he's never an MVP.

SPEAKER_00 16:58

But you can also think J Ram finishes about, I think J Ram has four career third place MVP finishers.

SPEAKER_03 17:03

You call so already. He's like the best like third to fifth place finisher.

SPEAKER_00 17:07

J Ram has ran into some of the best years at Aaron Judge's league.

SPEAKER_03 17:10

That's true. He's ran into 62 bomb Cal Raleigh, who actually didn't win. And then you have how how how many MVPs is Aaron Judge on? Two? Three. Three. Should be four. So you have three-time MVP Aaron Judge, who probably were also were during some of J Randall's.

SPEAKER_02 17:27

Can I say one also one argument? Like also put out there, like the Guardians are like not the greatest team. Like I feel like comparing Shohei and Judge, like Judge has the Yankees. The Yankees have been very good the past couple years.

SPEAKER_03 17:37

I don't think you can compare team success.

SPEAKER_02 17:38

I think you could as an MVP. I think you should that.

SPEAKER_03 17:41

One player can't win you a baseball game.

SPEAKER_00 17:43

MVP, MVP in the MLB is significantly different than any other sport. Because if you look at the at the MVP and the NFL, it typically goes to the best player on the best team.

SPEAKER_01 17:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:54

The MLB is not like that at all.

SPEAKER_02 17:56

Well, I just think it should be an aspect that it's looked at.

SPEAKER_03 17:58

But one player can't win you a game.

SPEAKER_00 18:00

You only make up 11% of your team.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

If you're a pitcher, you really play in like 20% of a game.

SPEAKER_00 18:05

One every five days.

SPEAKER_03 18:06

And if and if you're an offensive player, you can only make a play if the ball's hit to you. Yeah. Like you have no say on strikes or balls. All you you get a hit once every nine that like once every two to three innings.

SPEAKER_01 18:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:19

Like I I don't think that it necessarily, I don't think MVP should correlate with wins like at all. I think the most valuable player should be the best player.

SPEAKER_00 18:28

Anyway, going back to Jose Ramirez, his MVP finishings follow in this order. 17th, 3rd, 3rd, 2nd, 6th, 4th, 10th, 5th, and 3rd. Yeah, it's insane.

SPEAKER_03 18:39

It's just crazy to me that he hasn't gotten one, bro, because he's so consistent.

SPEAKER_00 18:44

The year that he finished second was 2020 when they gave it to Jose Obrega.

SPEAKER_03 18:48

Yikes. Which it's fine.

SPEAKER_02 18:51

That year didn't you?

SPEAKER_03 18:52

Which they probably should have given the JRAM. Was that a snub?

SPEAKER_00 18:55

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 18:55

Snub.

SPEAKER_00 18:56

Jose Obrego had a great year.

SPEAKER_03 18:58

He did, but like, I just I guess because Jose Ramirez is just so consistent, but he's never had like an exceptional year.

SPEAKER_00 19:06

I also believe that Jose Ramirez has been the most feared hitter in the league a couple years. He led the league in intentional walks back to back years. Right. And do you want to really sad about that? Two of Aaron Judge's best years. 2022. Yeah. Which was the year. Right. And then 2023, where Judge was only played in about 100 games because that's when he had that turf toe injury at Dodger Stadium. But he still hit. So Pete teams didn't really value it as much.

SPEAKER_03 19:31

Right. I just like, I don't know. I I never realized that he stole like easily 30 bases.

SPEAKER_02 19:38

Yeah, I mean, isn't he top five right now in the last match? I think he already has.

SPEAKER_00 19:42

I think he already has 20. He's leaving the league. Yeah. Oh, he's not leading the league. Yes, he is. This year? This year immediately, I'm looking at the left.

SPEAKER_02 19:48

Yeah, usually top five last time we looked at it.

SPEAKER_03 19:51

Yeah. Bro, I thought we just checked like last episode, and Nassim Nunez on the on the Nationals had 21.

SPEAKER_00 19:58

Yeah, wait, you might be. Are you sure? I'm telling you. 2026, Cleveland. Under stolen bases, 20. It's bolded.

SPEAKER_02 20:06

He's leading the league or look at ESPN.

SPEAKER_03 20:08

Cleveland.

SPEAKER_02 20:08

Yeah, look at ESPN. I don't think it's clear.

SPEAKER_03 20:11

I wonder if Nassim Nunez doesn't have the number of qualified ABs to count.

SPEAKER_02 20:14

Yes, I will look this up.

SPEAKER_03 20:15

Because I still have never heard of that man in my entire life until I looked at stolen bases.

SPEAKER_02 20:21

Random guy on the nationals. Can you go on ESPN and look at this? This is not a qualified hitter. He's not qualified.

SPEAKER_00 20:27

He's 22 qualified hitter. Jose Ramirez is a two. So he was qualified hitters. Who's one? Oh, okay.

SPEAKER_03 20:34

So he's one, but out of qualified hitters, Jay Ram is one.

SPEAKER_00 20:36

Yes. Ramirez a second overall.

SPEAKER_03 20:38

Right. Behind him. But he's the only qualified.

SPEAKER_00 20:42

For reference, Ramirez stole 44 bases last year and 41 the year before that.

SPEAKER_03 20:46

No, yeah, he he's like easily like over 35 bags a year.

SPEAKER_00 20:50

Now, here's something I didn't know about Jerem. I knew he was a tiny guy. 5'8, 195 pounds.

SPEAKER_03 20:55

I thought he was 5'9. Is he 5'8? You might be right.

SPEAKER_00 20:58

5'8, 155.

SPEAKER_03 20:59

5'8.

unknown 21:00

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 21:01

Yep.

SPEAKER_03 21:01

I thought he was bigger than that.

SPEAKER_00 21:03

He has 60 career war.

SPEAKER_03 21:06

Already? Insane. How many years has he been in the league?

SPEAKER_00 21:09

He was drafted in 2013.

SPEAKER_03 21:11

More than four years. And how many how many years has he been over 30 bags?

SPEAKER_00 21:17

Give me one second.

SPEAKER_03 21:18

Such an interesting.

SPEAKER_00 21:20

One, two, three, and he's on pace for four this year. But he did have a year where he finished with 28, over 27, over 24, 22.

SPEAKER_03 21:26

So he's like consistently over.

SPEAKER_00 21:27

He has 307 career stalls.

SPEAKER_03 21:29

How many home runs? Career.

SPEAKER_00 21:31

Career 293. So he will hit his 300th home run this year.

SPEAKER_03 21:35

So he's going to be in a 300-300 club. Yes. It's guaranteed.

SPEAKER_00 21:39

There's a chance he gets 400-400 if he goes ballistic.

SPEAKER_02 21:42

If he gets 400, 400.

SPEAKER_03 21:43

Well, but you you think he if well he's got to be what 34?

SPEAKER_00 21:48

No.

SPEAKER_03 21:48

Right now, he's got to be older.

SPEAKER_00 21:50

He's younger than Short. He can't be. Okay, same age.

SPEAKER_03 21:55

If he's 33, you're you're thinking in a couple years he's not gonna be able to steal 40 bags.

SPEAKER_00 21:58

Yeah, but here's the thing. All he has to Do is steal 40 bags two more seasons.

SPEAKER_03 22:02

Right. And then steal like 10, 10. Yeah. And then he's at 400.

SPEAKER_00 22:05

Yeah, he's at 307 right now. He's stolen 20 already. Let's say he finishes here with 45, that puts him to 330. Right. 35 bags over two years. Like 35 bags once. Like, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 22:15

And he can still club 35 bombs a year.

SPEAKER_00 22:17

He can just become more of a like power hitter. Power hitter. Right.

SPEAKER_03 22:20

Which is a transition that a lot of us easily hit 400, like 400, 400.

SPEAKER_00 22:24

If you look at Barry Bonds, start out as a power speed guy, then tilted into just being the most disciplined, best hitter of all time. And then stop stealing the and took PEDs. Yeah, that's why you had that big head.

SPEAKER_02 22:34

However, second highest career war ever. Behind, I think it isn't a babe roof. Walter Johnson. Are you sure? Or hitters-wise, hitter-wise. No, I I literally saw a stat today. I think it's Babe Ruth.

SPEAKER_03 22:51

This was supposed to be about salary. Yeah.

SPEAKER_02 22:53

Yeah, I know. Good point. But yeah, I think I think I'm right. I saw a stat today about this.

SPEAKER_03 22:57

You know what, guys? This is what happens when you put me, Sawyer, and Dooley in a room and just tell us to talk about baseball because we just go down a rabbit hole. Like when it's just me and Sawyer, I guess we can stay on track. Or at least a little bit better, we can stay on track. But you bring Dooley into the mix and we just jump right down the rabbit hole and continue down the rabbit hole.

SPEAKER_01 23:18

Barry Bonds is actually fourth all time.

SPEAKER_02 23:27

Yes. Yeah. What are you talking about? Bonds is war career war. Or like highest note single season war.

SPEAKER_03 23:32

Did you see Shohei Otani's on pace to have the second best single season war of all time?

SPEAKER_02 23:36

Yeah, sorry.

SPEAKER_03 23:37

He's on pace right now to have, I think, like a like a 13 war.

SPEAKER_02 23:40

Okay, the greatest of all time is 14, I think, with the it was Babe Ruth.

SPEAKER_03 23:44

Yeah, it was Baby Ruth in 1923.

SPEAKER_02 23:45

Sorry, that was the stat.

SPEAKER_03 23:46

That was on the Babe Ruth in 1923. I just saw the same Instagram. Yes, yes, yes. Sorry, sorry. Otani's on pace for like a 13.0 war. Babe Ruth had like a 14.3 in 1923 or something like that. Um and Barry Bonds is the record for post-2000 with like with like a 11.6 or something.

SPEAKER_00 24:06

Okay, so fun fact for war, the three best single seasons all belong to me. Oh. Call your Strzemsky is fourth. Roger Horns being fifth. Babe Ruth then has the sixth spot, as well as one, two, three. And then you have Barry Bonds, who tied with Lou Garrick.

SPEAKER_03 24:22

The great Bambino. The goat.

SPEAKER_00 24:26

I'm trying to find the most fun name on this list. All right. Should we should we go back to Salary Cap?

SPEAKER_03 24:30

Yeah, I guess we probably should go back to Salary. Do you have a fun name before we go back to Salary Kal? Back to Salary Cat. Yeah, okay. So it's gonna every team's gonna have to be between 100 and what do we what did you say? 170? Yeah, 171 and 245. 245. Yeah, 240. So that's a $74 million range where every team's gonna have to be between. And right now you have a range of probably $300 million that teams are between.

SPEAKER_02 24:59

And then you have teams like the Dodgers that are like Right.

SPEAKER_03 25:01

Teams like the Dodgers who are over $400 million, Julie.

SPEAKER_00 25:04

I will fact you that, but I believe so.

SPEAKER_03 25:06

I think you looked it up after our game today. It was $413.

SPEAKER_00 25:09

Yeah, $413, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:10

$413 million in cap or in salary. That's gotta be cut down almost in half. Oh, it's has to be cut.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

I guess not almost.

SPEAKER_02 25:22

It's going to be I I don't think I don't think they're gonna cut players. They will have to trade.

SPEAKER_03 25:28

Also, does I think they're gonna restructure does Shohay's deferred 68 million then not count for it?

SPEAKER_02 25:34

Yes.

SPEAKER_03 25:34

It wouldn't count?

SPEAKER_01 25:35

No.

SPEAKER_03 25:36

Okay. So it's only it's payroll. Payroll. So Shohay's only contributing two million.

SPEAKER_01 25:41

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 25:42

But like Cloud Tucker's contributing 60 million. So they'd have to restructure that and defer money.

SPEAKER_00 25:48

Yes. But I don't think that he's gonna want to do that.

SPEAKER_03 25:50

So are do you think that you do like do you guys just think that we're gonna see a bunch of like deferred money contracts?

SPEAKER_00 25:55

I think you're gonna see a lot of trades.

SPEAKER_03 25:57

I I I deferred money's not gonna count as a couple of things.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

Oh, you're oh you're saying are we gonna see more deferred contracts?

SPEAKER_03 26:02

No, I'm saying like like because when 10 years from now, Shohei's like 68 that he's getting paid, that's not gonna count towards the salary.

SPEAKER_00 26:10

Uh it should.

SPEAKER_03 26:12

Will it? It will. It will. That's that was my question. Because you're paying a player based on your yeah, it should so like it in five years, the Dodgers are gonna have to be paying Shohei 68 million dollars a year. That's gonna cut into now they can only spend less than 190 million on the rest of their team.

SPEAKER_00 26:30

You now have to ask the question Is this going to be the end of Super Teams?

SPEAKER_03 26:37

I I fear it would almost have to unless superstars just take a huge pay cut.

SPEAKER_02 26:42

I think there's just gonna, I think it's gonna like slowly go into like the sport, you're not gonna see like big contracts anymore, of course, because no one's gonna pay. No one's gonna pay anyone.

SPEAKER_03 26:50

It's gonna be like Juan Soto's $760 million contract.

SPEAKER_02 26:54

And you're yeah, you're not gonna see yeah, big contracts like Soto, like you said, Shohei, like any of those guys. You're not gonna see that anymore.

SPEAKER_03 27:01

Even guys like Schwarber, you can't sign for $150 million.

SPEAKER_02 27:05

Yeah, like $10 million, I think, is gonna be huge contracts soon. Like in the future, at least with the salary cap. Like, you're not gonna be seeing like $20 million a year, it's like Aranola gets paid.

SPEAKER_00 27:18

But yeah. Here's where it gets even more interesting. If players are gonna be taking shorter contracts with less money, do you think that is going to lead to a lower amount of player loyalty? Because if team if players are gonna be making less money, it's gonna be on less like yearly deals. So they're gonna have to be re-signed every three or four years. This is just gonna lead to a revolving door of players.

SPEAKER_02 27:41

I mean, I'm gonna well going off that, I mean, I think pe players are gonna like people, at least if you're good enough, like they and they could choose between a bunch of teams. I feel like they're gonna choose like they're gonna think more of just like playing baseball, maybe. Like they're not like rich, like they're gonna probably think about other are they are all rich, are still getting paid a couple million dollars a year, of course.

SPEAKER_03 28:00

You would like that and you look at Soto. I think you have to see you almost have to see more journey, man. That's like I think I agree with you. You're gonna have to see guys that are you because you could go to the Dodgers, but they can only offer you $15 million a year, and then you know, the White Sox come in, they can give you 20, and then another team come in and give you 22, another team come in and give you like 24, and you're just gonna take more money because you can't make more money. Exactly. You can't sign a $700 million contract. You have to sign for the maximum that you can get, especially in a world where everything is going up so quickly in price. Like, I get it, $24 million is is like enough to definitely live your life on.

SPEAKER_00 28:45

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 28:46

But these guys are greedy.

SPEAKER_00 28:48

I mean, you guys are are they are accustomed to a certain lifestyle, right? And their lifestyle is gonna have to change with how this works. Right.

SPEAKER_03 28:56

You're you're gonna have to have MOB players behaving like NBA or NFL players who do have a salary cap in place.

SPEAKER_02 29:04

Like you they they have to live, they can't live a luxury lifestyle because they're not gonna be making well they can still live a luxury life, they'll still get paid a lot. Not their I get what you like ultra-high net worth, right?

SPEAKER_03 29:20

Not their what they appreciate is a luxury lifestyle because they're gonna be making a third of what they make right now. Like Soto's contract has to be restructured. They can't afford to what how many years is it? I believe 11. 11 years, 760 million? That's like that's so much money.

SPEAKER_00 29:41

Yeah, that is for a player that's getting outplayed by Ben Rice. That's my guy making an 850k this year.

SPEAKER_03 29:48

Right. Like they didn't know a little bit. Right. Can you can you divide like 760 by 15? Like, how much is he making per year? I unfortunately can't do that method.

SPEAKER_01 30:02

About 51 million.

SPEAKER_03 30:03

Right. So they're paying him 50 mil, and they're paying Bobachette 42. Yep. So but yeah, but okay, he's gonna opt out. He's gonna opt out. But but as right now, yeah, they're paying 92 million dollars for Juan Soto and Bobachette. And Bob is very down here. Right. That I mean Juan Soto's actually been good really good recently. He's been very good recently. He was hurt. Yes. Coming back, he's been good.

SPEAKER_00 30:27

You also have to consider he's always hurt.

SPEAKER_03 30:29

But Bobochette's just terrible.

SPEAKER_00 30:31

Bobuchette has had one good year in the entire animal. Last year. Where he had 311.

SPEAKER_03 30:37

But like outside of that, like, I I mean, he was like he was like batting sub 100 for quite a while.

SPEAKER_00 30:44

Bobochette is a massive reason in my brain that batting average does not matter. It's so luck dependent. It's all babub dependent. Batting average on ball.

SPEAKER_02 30:53

Okay, I I don't think I think luck is a I wouldn't.

SPEAKER_03 30:57

Batting average on balls in play? My GOAT Brandon Marsh?

SPEAKER_00 31:01

He has a great batting average on ball play.

SPEAKER_03 31:02

He's like, he's like top five.

SPEAKER_00 31:04

Yes, because all time. Yes, because his exit video is great.

SPEAKER_03 31:08

Because he's the greatest player of all time.

SPEAKER_00 31:10

Oh yes. You were saying something like last year.

SPEAKER_03 31:14

Hey. Post all-star game. Well, 2025 all-star game because he's been good. Yeah, Brennan Marsh has completely changed my mind on Brandon Marsh.

SPEAKER_02 31:27

I I I I've always loved him. But yeah, first.

SPEAKER_03 31:29

I hated him when he first came.

SPEAKER_02 31:32

I didn't mind him. I've always like I've always been a pretty good fan of him. I've never like really like hated.

SPEAKER_03 31:38

I'll be the first to say I did not appreciate Brandon Marsh. And you know what? He's completely changed my mind. Completely changed my mind.

SPEAKER_00 31:44

Right now, Brennan Marsh is fourth in the league in Babu. This season? This season, 2027. Yeah, because he's the goat. Do you want now? Do you want to know one of the names ahead of him? This is why I think batting average doesn't matter. I don't know if I do. Troy Johnson? Tell me where he plays. Tell me where that brother Troy plays.

SPEAKER_03 32:01

Oh, he's either on Colorado or Pittsburgh.

SPEAKER_00 32:03

How I'm very surprised that you got that.

SPEAKER_03 32:06

I saw that name the other day. I think he's Colorado?

unknown 32:09

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:09

I'm the goat. No, what about the guy right behind Brandon Marsh? Otto Lopez.

SPEAKER_03 32:14

Yes.

SPEAKER_02 32:14

Otto Lopez. He's fantastic. He's a dog.

SPEAKER_03 32:17

I have to get your opinion on the first the other day. Best middle infield in the MLB. The Marlins. Right now. This season. This season. This season. Xavier Edwards, Otto Lopez, best middle infield. Yes. Right. I'm not sure it's necessarily that close.

SPEAKER_00 32:33

I don't think it is. There's been a big disparity between how good shortstops are and how good their second basemans are. Right. And Miami's found a great out. Right.

SPEAKER_03 32:41

No, they're they're both. I mean, they're one and well, they were one and two in the league at hits.

SPEAKER_00 32:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:45

Like they're really, really good.

SPEAKER_02 32:48

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 32:50

I think that's the best middle infield combo in the league, and I'm not sure it's that close.

SPEAKER_02 32:53

Yeah. And also, well, they're gonna have they're gonna have to sign. I mean, they're gonna have to sign a lot more people because Marlins are under the salary.

SPEAKER_03 33:01

Or they just give their guys more. I mean, they they they're young.

SPEAKER_00 33:04

They have a good team. Also, Lopez and Edwards are first and third, respectively. Lopez is one, Edwards is three. Edwards is actually tied for second, I lied to you. He's tied with the rise for seconds.

SPEAKER_03 33:15

Yeah, they're one and two. And they're uh like I was trying to think of other teams in the last episode that I thought could have a decent middle infield, and I didn't really come up with anything.

SPEAKER_00 33:27

Who is right now the Reds second baseman?

SPEAKER_03 33:31

No shortstop's Ellie. Their second baseman. I'm pretty sure it's a young guy. It might be. I think it used to be TJ Friedel. It did. And he's not very good. I don't know who their second baseman is right now. For the Reds. Because that would that might be an argument if I don't know how good this guy is. I don't think he's that good. No. If we can't come up with his name, I don't think he's that good. Oh, he's actually decent. Matt McLean's solid. He's actually decent.

SPEAKER_00 33:54

Matt McClain's a good one.

SPEAKER_03 33:55

I don't I guess that's probably my number two right now.

SPEAKER_00 33:57

Actually, never mind. Matt McLean's betting 199 this year.

SPEAKER_03 34:00

No, but like he's normally solid.

SPEAKER_00 34:01

And there is still a hundred games for him to write the ship to figure out.

SPEAKER_03 34:04

Right. Like he's normally like a like a I feel like he's like a 260 hitter. About. Right. I I think, but I don't know. Salary cap is gonna be interesting. I don't know what year they said that they were gonna put it into effect.

SPEAKER_02 34:18

It would be half because they have to MLB has to have agreement with the teams after this season. So it would be for the next season.

SPEAKER_03 34:25

So it would be for next year.

SPEAKER_02 34:26

Yeah, because they all have to come to an agreement. That's why there might be a lockout due to that issue.

SPEAKER_03 34:31

This could be one of the most hectic offseasons coming up. I get it, we're in the first half of the year, but I mean, looking forward to the offseason, this could be a top one off season of all time. There's so much that's gonna happen. Yeah, it's gonna be insane. But that's all gonna come up in the offseason. See if they end up changing salary capital. I'm sure they'll they'll fluctuate the numbers a little bit. I'm sure it won't be fully stuck there. Um, it'll bounce back and forth between numbers. They gotta talk to owners and and yeah, and settle on numbers that everyone agrees with. Yeah. I wouldn't be surprised if the range gets a little bit bigger, goes from 70 mil to like 100 mil. I believe it will. You know, I believe it will. Like a 160 to 260 range. Um yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_02 35:26

I thought you said like 160 and two. Okay, I get what you mean. No, no, like 160 to 100. Yeah, with the spread.

SPEAKER_03 35:32

Right. Yeah. Like uh like minimum 160, max 260.

SPEAKER_02 35:36

Oh, oh, you're saying 100 mil spread.

SPEAKER_03 35:38

Right, like a hundred million dollar range. Because right now it's like I think they could increase, I guess.

SPEAKER_02 35:43

I think they should increase it to like 150 personally, spread. But then right now, I think right now is a massive, it is a massive change to the whole league of what people would have. I think I think they have to change it to a bigger spread or range, yeah.

SPEAKER_03 36:00

I don't know. I I think they have to change it to bigger, but I'm not sure 150 million. That's a lot of money.

SPEAKER_00 36:06

It has to be bigger, but I also think that they should wait another year before.

SPEAKER_02 36:10

Well, they have if their contract ends, all the MLB's team at contract ends, so it has to be for next season.

SPEAKER_00 36:16

Which is unfortunate. Yeah, it rushes a lot. And you're gonna see a lot of restructured deals, and you're gonna see a lot of trades and you're gonna see a lot of things. That's what I'm saying.

SPEAKER_03 36:24

That's why I think this offseason could be electric.

SPEAKER_00 36:27

Yeah, there's also a couple good free agents this year.

SPEAKER_03 36:29

Yeah. Uh I'm Jordan! I'm really looking forward. I'm pretty sure he is. No, he's not. We signed we signed him for like four years. I think we signed him for like, yeah, like five years, 150 million or something. Hey, my goat Kyle Higashioka is gonna be a free agent after this year.

SPEAKER_01 36:46

Oh y'all wanna. No!

SPEAKER_03 36:47

Y'all wanna uh well also make it moved. Pretty high chance.

SPEAKER_02 36:56

Yeah, I did see that. Uh okay, that's that's enough of that talk.

SPEAKER_03 37:02

That'll be a different episode. But as of right now, Mizarowski versus Sanchez looks to be the pitcher duel of the NL. I would say for the league, but Cam Schlittler's the best pitcher in the league. He's having a phenomenal season. Cam Schlittler's the best pitcher in the league, in my opinion. I think Cam Schlittler is, if there was a most improved award, oh yeah, you need to get him. I think number one for me personally, trying to not be biased, number one is Cam, number two is Sanchez, number three is Mizorowski, number four is Otan. That's me personally.

SPEAKER_02 37:38

I would be Sanchez one. Yeah, I'll be biased and say it, but yeah.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

And it's also because of quality of opponents. The Yankees haven't faced any like electric offenses yet. But a Yankee fan admitted it. I mean, yeah, we haven't played many good teams, and we're doing what we're exactly supposed to do. We're beating bad teams. So and that's okay.

SPEAKER_03 37:55

Uh I I yeah. But I think Schlitler runs away with the AL MVP. Or AL Cy Young.

SPEAKER_00 38:02

I don't think it's going to be close. No. I think he should run away with.

SPEAKER_03 38:06

Or someone like like a Dillon Sease just cranking it up 150%.

SPEAKER_00 38:12

He tends to do that.

SPEAKER_03 38:13

Sometimes.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

Yeah. Except I'm pretty sure he's on the Blue Jays right now, and their starting pitching staff is not good.

SPEAKER_03 38:19

He is on oh, I can tell you he's on the Blue Jays. Yeah, but he's always he's up over a three ERA. Like he, I mean, Cam's sub-16, I think. I don't know, off the top of my head.

SPEAKER_00 38:30

I believe he's a 1-8, but I can also he was a 1-5.

SPEAKER_03 38:33

I don't know if he had a bad start.

SPEAKER_00 38:36

See, that's the fun thing about him. He doesn't have bad starts.

SPEAKER_03 38:40

What is he right now?

SPEAKER_00 38:41

Oh, he's even 1.5.

SPEAKER_03 38:42

That's what yeah, he's 1-5.

SPEAKER_00 38:44

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:45

So, but yeah, Mizorowski versus Sanchez is definitely something that we will keep an eye on and keep you guys updated with. And looking ahead, salary cap is also something that we will be keeping an eye on for the off season.

SPEAKER_04 38:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 38:59

I think that about wraps up the episode. Dooley, thank you so much for coming on. It's been a pleasure. And Sawyer.

SPEAKER_02 39:06

It's gonna be interesting. Well, we'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_03 39:09

Yep. See you guys.