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00:00I think at some point you can say, well, we believe in the group and they'll hit.
00:05It's been a long time. They have scored more than five runs once in the last 27 games.
00:13Once in the last 27 games, Ryan. That's insane, Joel.
00:16That is putting extreme pressure on that good pitch.
00:21Yes.
00:22It's a drive by Derry Dawson.
00:25Jeff Chisholm goes deep.
00:31Hello, welcome to the Pinch Strait Post. We're back.
00:33Joel was off for the all-star break, but we're back.
00:35The Yankees play the start of their second half, a three-game set against the Dodgers.
00:38They lose two out of three to the Dodgers.
00:41And we're excited to be talking baseball again.
00:43Joel, I hope you got to enjoy some time off.
00:45And as always on a Monday, how are you doing today, sir?
00:50Good. Up here at MLB Network, got a couple of shows this morning.
00:54Then I'll be back at the Yankees tonight.
00:56I was at the doubleheader yesterday, so a lot of baseball in about a 48-hour period.
01:01But I certainly wanted to see the marquee matchup of the Dodgers and Yankees.
01:06And in a perverse way, I got two games that I wasn't expecting.
01:08I was only expecting to cover the finale.
01:11So I saw a lot of it.
01:12And so let's dive into it.
01:14And it's obviously a moment where, yeah, why don't we dive into it instead of me soliloquy on it.
01:22So what's on your mind?
01:24So, yeah, look, I think, Joel, there's a lot in Yankees fans' mind, right?
01:27Like, we're three weeks away from the trade deadline.
01:31We know how the Yankees want to attack, at least we think we do, from all the reporting that you
01:35have done and others.
01:36But before we get into the trade deadline stuff, I want to talk about what we saw over the weekend.
01:42I think fans like myself are really curious what you have to say because I know everything has been so
01:49focused on the bullpen and pitching and pitching and pitching how the Yankees, they have strong pitching, but the bullpen
01:55needs to be fixed.
01:56But I've got to be honest with you, Joel, with Judge, the news that we got before that series started
02:02that there was some healing, but it's not fully healed, and he still has time to go before he can
02:07be clear for baseball activity.
02:10He's not anywhere close to returning.
02:12I don't know when Stanton's coming back.
02:14So the reinforcements you want for your lineup are not going to be there, the big bats.
02:18This lineup, as it's currently constructed, does not hit.
02:21It just doesn't.
02:22So I'm curious, do they need to be more aggressive at that lineup?
02:29And ultimately, what are you seeing right now from this lineup from 1 through 9?
02:35Yeah, Ryan, well, there's a lot there, and I assume that we'd be tackling this a lot because it's so
02:42clearly.
02:42So let's talk about a few things.
02:44Number one, I think early on, multiple shows early on in Judge's injury, I kept saying to you, don't expect
02:51him for a long time.
02:52I just, this idea of, like, oh, he has an injury, it is much more a football injury than a
02:58baseball injury.
02:59He's a very big guy who does things with great force.
03:04And you know my rule when it comes to injuries in general and injuries with the Yankees who are a
03:09little squirrely, always about injuries, is I'll believe a guy's playing when a guy's playing as opposed to whatever your
03:15projected timeline is.
03:16I have some real, like, doubts about Stanton playing this year again, like, you know, just his injury history, the
03:25fact he's re-injured himself, the fact that he's been, it appears to me the second time through doing very
03:32little.
03:33Yeah, like, when I see it, I'll believe it.
03:37I will take the Yankees at face value that Judge will play again this year, but, like, play again on
03:43August 15th, September 1st, September 15th.
03:45They're going to have to win a lot of games without him, even if the goal is to make sure
03:49he's upright for the playoffs.
03:51First off, you have to make sure you get in the playoffs.
03:53And I understand that's still a 90% likelihood, but it was a 90% likelihood of the Mets at
03:58about this time last year also.
04:01And they kind of went into a nosedive at about the same time the Yankees did, and they couldn't quite
04:06pull themselves out.
04:08The Yankees' run prevention, at least from the pitcher's mound, is very good.
04:12They lead the major leagues in ERA.
04:14I want to repeat that.
04:15The New York Yankees lead the major leagues in ERA.
04:18They actually have formed, for all the talk we've done about the bullpen, they have formed a four-man unit,
04:25you know, Bednar and Cruz and Paul Blackburn and Hedrick.
04:31And, by the way, it's only five games, but am I curious about Angel Shavihi?
04:37I am.
04:38He's been really good.
04:39I expect we're doing this on Monday morning.
04:42The Yankees had to use their A bullpen so much to win a game in the second game that if
04:48they need a guy tonight, even though Shavihi also pitched some extended yesterday, that he's going to get the ball
04:53again tonight.
04:54They're not in a great bullpen situation today because of the doubleheader.
05:00And, you know, you simply can't give the ball to Camilo Duvall in any situation pretty much except for up
05:07big or down big.
05:08So, they got, you know, some stuff today.
05:11But, like, I still think as a baseline, Ryan, as of yesterday, the Yankees very much are add at least
05:20one or two bullpen arms and add a righty hitting catcher.
05:24Like, that is, I feel like if you said what's par for their trade deadline course, I would say that's
05:31par.
05:32Now, what else do they have to do?
05:36I think at some point you can say, well, we believe in the group and they'll hit.
05:41It's been a long time.
05:43They have scored more than five runs once in the last 27 games.
05:49Once in the last 27 games, Ryan.
05:52That's insane, Joel.
05:53Putting extreme pressure on that good pitch.
05:57Yes.
05:58To, like, we saw it with Garrett Cole on Friday night where it's, like, Cole's best start since coming back
06:05from Tommy John surgery.
06:06You know, like, we could talk about should Boone have left him in?
06:10You know, should Wells have challenged a pitch?
06:13Right.
06:13Right.
06:14Ultimately, like, ultimately, they scored one run.
06:17They scored one run.
06:17And, by the way, it was an unearned run.
06:19On two errors, yeah.
06:20Right.
06:20It was an unearned run.
06:22So, it's like, like, could they have won a game?
06:24They did.
06:26Here's what I would say encouragingly from the weekend.
06:29Right?
06:30Cole pitched great.
06:32Yeah.
06:32And the Yankees overall held the Dodgers to two runs.
06:36In game one yesterday, while Schlittler was really, like, we saw why the Dodger lineup is so much better than
06:43the Yankee lineup is they forced a really good pitcher with good stuff yesterday.
06:48Absolutely.
06:48Schlittler had good stuff.
06:49I mean, Pahez fouled off eight two-strike pitches in his first two at-bats yesterday.
06:57The Dodgers fouled off 15 two-strike pitches in the first three innings.
07:01They just worked the hell out of Schlittler and got him out of the game.
07:04Having said that, until the ball got to Jake Bird and Camilo Duvall, it's a 3-1 game through seven
07:11innings of guys who you expect to be on a postseason pitching staff.
07:16And Bird isn't on the pitching staff anymore, and I'd be surprised if you see him the rest of the
07:20year unless there's dramatic injury.
07:22I assume Duvall will not be on the pitching staff on August 4th when this is all said and done.
07:29And so they held him to three, and then they held him to one run with a really, you know,
07:34like Boone decided, and this says something about his offense, the Yankees are down 3-1 going to the top
07:42of the eighth yesterday.
07:44And Boone decided not to chase it with his offense and go to any of his A relievers with a
07:51second game to go.
07:52And he was hoping and praying that Bird and Duvall could do something for him to the finish line to
07:58keep them close.
07:59So if somebody bops a two-run homer, you got a shot.
08:02And then all of a sudden, like I think if they did, then all of a sudden you'd see Cruz
08:06and Bednar, etc.
08:07The next game, that is really, I know a lot of Yankee fans spent a lot of time early this
08:14season talking about why Ryan Yarbrough and Paul Blackburn are on the team.
08:18But Paul Blackburn has been one of the like 15 best relievers in the American League this year.
08:22It's been a revelation, Joel.
08:23And Ryan Yarbrough gives them major league extended depth when it's needed.
08:32Like, is it perfect?
08:33Again, do I think Ryan Yarbrough has at best the 50-50 chance of being on the roster on August
08:394th?
08:39Yeah, like I think that's it.
08:41But like Blackburn has become Luke Weaver.
08:43He's a guy who was a starter who they brought into the bullpen, has been really good.
08:47And the Yankees held the Dodgers to one run.
08:50So it's two runs on Friday night for a really good Dodger lineup.
08:54Three runs until you bring in two guys who aren't going to be part of the staff on August 4th.
08:59And one run yesterday with the best of your relief group and Ryan Yarbrough really doing a good job to
09:05get into the third inning and stay away from having to bring Elmer Rodriguez into the game for length, which
09:12was the plan if they needed it, if Yarbrough can do it.
09:15So the optimistic view of the weekend is, hey, the Dodgers are kind of like the elite team in the
09:23sport.
09:24And the Yankees' better pitchers, not named Deval and Bird, held them down all weekend.
09:30They did a great job.
09:31Now, the bad news is the Dodger pitching held the Yankees down to a higher level even.
09:39And usually I would say, well, the Dodgers are really good pitching staff, except for, again, they have scored more
09:46than five runs once in the last 27 games against all different kinds of pitching.
09:50And so, like, I don't see it as, hey, a weekend problem or a Dodger problem or a short-term
09:56problem.
09:59Now, I don't know what – there is no magic potion out there if Cody Bellinger isn't going to hit.
10:05Cody Bellinger is in a period where he had more RBIs in the All-Star game than he has in
10:11the last three weeks, right?
10:13And so his at-bats were a little better yesterday, I thought.
10:16And so is he coming out of it?
10:20Has Paul Goldschmidt, like, been played into oblivion at 37 because they needed him too much?
10:31You know, Jazz Chisholm literally said after the second game yesterday, I've sucked this year.
10:36And so, to me, can I talk about this in a larger way, Ryan?
10:41I – Paul O'Neill once said something during the great Yankee run.
10:47He said, when you win a championship, everybody had a good year.
10:51Right.
10:51And what he meant by that is when you win, you go back and you're like, hey, remember that night
10:57that Jazz hit the homer and kind of – it stopped us from being swept by the –
11:02in other words, you'll find the reason to say Jazz Chisholm had a good year.
11:06But I do feel some of these Yankees, if it is capable – they're capable of doing it.
11:12Chisholm, Austin Wells, Caballero, Ryan McMahon.
11:21Like, you've got to in some way brainwash yourself.
11:23The season starts today.
11:25There's no way to pretty up some of these numbers.
11:28Like, Jazz was talking 50-50.
11:30He can't get to 30-30.
11:32But you know what?
11:33What's it matter?
11:33If you – if we remember that post-All-Star game for the other four to five or six weeks
11:40they play without judge, that Chisholm got hot, or that Bellinger got hot, or that Goldschmidt refound himself, or Austin
11:49Wells remembered he's allowed a hit in the major leagues, or Caballeros, you know, started having better at-bats, or
11:55Anthony Volpe, or fill in the blank.
11:57They have two guys.
11:59An opposing coach said something recently to me that really stuck out.
12:02He said, when we face the Yankee lineup, this version of it, he said, besides Trent Grisham and Ben Rice,
12:07nobody drags in at-bat deep and makes us – forces us into the zone, and we feel we could
12:13win in the zone against the other guys.
12:15Like, those are the two hard at-bats in the lineup right now.
12:18Well, you're not going to win if your two hard at-bats are Ben Rice and Trent Grisham exclusively.
12:24You've got to get more than that.
12:27I still believe that Bellinger will be part of that.
12:31That would get you to three.
12:32Can you get to five or six?
12:34I'm not sure with this group.
12:35I don't think you can.
12:37So I think – so the expanded thing that you're saying right here, Joel, if – sorry to interrupt, but,
12:41like, the thing that you're saying here is all pointing to where I'm trying to point this discussion a little
12:47bit.
12:47Like, I got you.
12:48The two reliefers that they need to get at the deadline and a right-handed catcher make sense.
12:52But should they be prioritizing a big-time bat?
12:56And I don't know who it is.
12:57I don't.
12:58I know I'm being, like, you know, that Yankees fan, Ryan, go find that big bat on the store.
13:03I got it.
13:04But, like, at the end of the day, what you're saying right now and everything that's happening, the evidence that
13:09we're seeing, they don't have enough in the lineup to win.
13:12And I don't know, even if with a banged-up judge, that you don't know what he's going to be
13:15when he comes back and who the hell knows what Stanton's going to be when he comes back, they don't
13:19have enough in this lineup to actually win.
13:23Does that make sense, Joel?
13:24Like, should they be prioritizing a big-time bat?
13:28So, Ryan, let's take that into two segments.
13:31Yeah.
13:31If Aaron Judge does not come back and come back well, the Yankees are not winning a World Series.
13:37100%.
13:37Okay?
13:38Like, they could do, they could have the greatest deadline in the history of baseball.
13:43Like, they need Aaron Judge.
13:45They, everything feels different.
13:47If you've noticed, they've been unplugged in the first inning, like, two months.
13:52They used to be a first-inning take-the-lead thing.
13:54They go down one, two, three, and ten pitches now almost every game.
13:58And, you know, we're talking about a guy, Judge has a career.
14:01He had over 90 homers in the first inning.
14:04He has over a 400 on-base percentage in the first inning.
14:08So, like, you hardly ever got a one, two, three first inning against the Yankees to open.
14:13Like, they always put some duress on the pitcher.
14:16And Judge could put points on the board right away.
14:18And I thought one of the real positives about Trent Grisham is, Trent Grisham's eye is so good, he would
14:27draw walks in front of Judge.
14:29Like, leading off a game.
14:31And I'm like, if I'm an opposing pitcher, I don't care if I have to throw an underhand to Trent
14:36Grisham.
14:36I don't want to put a guy on base in front of Judge to open the game.
14:40Like, and could possibly be down 2-0 before I even really breathe.
14:44So, I always thought that was a real positive about Grisham.
14:47And so, that, so let's deal with, if the Yankees trade a lot at this deadline to try to win,
14:56I would really then believe Judge is coming back.
14:59And they believe Judge is coming back in full.
15:01Because I've got to think they believe that if they don't get Judge back, nothing they do in the next
15:06two and a half weeks, two weeks or so, to the deadline, is really going to matter on a championship
15:12level.
15:13So, like, let's take that.
15:14They need Judge.
15:15Having said that, I think that, you know, like, Ryan Jeffers' name has been thrown around a lot.
15:23Our colleague John Heyman recently wrote that the A's would at least talk about Shea Langoliers.
15:29Like, like, they've got to get more production out of catcher.
15:33And, and I thought that Austin Wells caught a genius game in the second game of the doubleheader yesterday.
15:41When you want to say what is his value, like, to the five different pitches, he had an umpire behind
15:48the plate.
15:48I've seen Jordan Baker umpire a few times this year.
15:51He misses a lot of calls.
15:52And so, you've got to have a catcher who's really on top of it.
15:55And he stole a lot of strikes for the Yankees, Austin Wells, by challenging some real borderline stuff and turning
16:02some counts around.
16:03I thought he did great.
16:05It's what he's one of the better defensive catchers in the league.
16:08He had a couple of homers before the break.
16:11He hadn't been, when you and I talk positively about him in years past as an offensive player,
16:16it was because he was constantly getting into good counts, among other things.
16:21Do I say, like, he hadn't walked in, like, three weeks before he drew two walks yesterday.
16:27So, do, are the homers and the two walks breadcrumbs that, because, again, Ryan, there's no way for that guy
16:35to make the final numbers on his season look good this year.
16:38But from second half forward, can he have a 720 OPS?
16:45720.
16:46Just, that would only bring him to probably, like, 600 for the season.
16:50But a 720 OPS where he pulls a couple of balls into the seats and draws some walks and lengthens
16:56innings and puts the rest on the other.
16:58The term Boone kept using yesterday is we're not having heavy at-bats.
17:02And heavy at-bats mean to me, like, even if you make an out, you drag the count to three
17:07and two, you hit the ball hard, which all of that messages to the next at-bat.
17:12It puts work on it.
17:14The Yankees are being too easy at the plate.
17:17They're not scoring runs, and they're making it.
17:19It's like the fifth inning, and you look up, and you go, wow, the Yankees have one base runner in
17:24five innings.
17:25The opposing pitcher's thrown 47 pitches.
17:28It's too easy.
17:29And so, like, from here forward, can some of their more talented players, and I do think Chisholm and Wells
17:37stand out because I think they're talented.
17:39I think Chisholm is super talented.
17:42I don't know that he can concentrate fully for long periods of time.
17:46I don't know that he kind of, like, can do it.
17:49But he has so much at stake with free agency coming up and whatever will be remembered about him as
17:55a Yankee.
17:56And I don't think he's afraid of the moment because he's had a lot of big moments this year within
18:00a bad year.
18:01He's had big hits for them.
18:03And so I just think they need a couple of these guys.
18:08And while I agree with you, I think they have to find a bat.
18:12I think it's really tricky.
18:14I think every team is looking for it.
18:16Right.
18:16I think that the jumble of teams that are close in the American League is making it more problematic to
18:25find it.
18:27But, you know, the Astros are doing a lot of losing now.
18:31With the Astros, again, their history, their owner has said, we'll never trade at the deadline.
18:40You know, we're not a seller.
18:41But, like, they're really bad right now.
18:44And they just might be really bad.
18:46And they just traded McCullers, too.
18:49Right, right.
18:49Yeah, well, McCullers was a salary dump for them because they included somebody who the other team liked.
18:55That was – that's a salary dump.
18:57They think addition by subtraction because it was hard to disrespect the guy who had won a couple of championships
19:03with them.
19:03Like, he hadn't been pitching well.
19:05And Milwaukee wanted the guy, the other guy, Gordon, and the price was to take on $2 million of McCullers.
19:12So that was salary dumping something else there.
19:15But, like, would Jeremy Pena ever get in the market?
19:18Like, I think the Yankees would have to think seriously about it if he did.
19:22Would Houston even deal with the Yankees?
19:24How many teams would do it?
19:26I think a lot of the other stuff is pie in the sky.
19:29I don't think the Yankees and Mets can make a big trade.
19:32I don't think Francisco Lindor is getting traded at the deadline.
19:37I know there's a lot of Rafael Devers stuff.
19:40I don't – you know, the Yankees, I don't think, want to A-lock up the DH spot in that
19:48way because, like, I think it's a Ben Rice, Stanton, whatever.
19:52You've got to be careful about adding too many useless players.
19:56Plus, you don't know what the financial rules are moving forward.
19:59Okay, so the financial reasons I would understand what you're saying there for the Devers.
20:03The part I would argue back with you is that I'd rather – I know Ben Rice is the worst
20:07defensive player compared to Goldschmidt.
20:09But Goldschmidt's given you absolutely nothing offensively the last couple weeks.
20:13And who knows?
20:14He might have had his little spurt.
20:15But you have to add, for Paul Goldschmidt, not – forgive me because I don't have it in front of
20:20me.
20:20But I think that Devers has roughly eight years left at about $250 million, like a lot of money.
20:25Yes.
20:26He has proved to be a problematic player in two places who, once the season was over for the Giants
20:34this year, now he's hitting.
20:35Like – and I just think that this is the moment where you make – we make bad decisions in
20:41relationships all the time, including our baseball relationships.
20:45Rafael Devers is as distressing an asset as there is in the sport.
20:49Like, there's a lot of years left for a non-position player who does the opposite of help you in
20:57a clubhouse, who has battled weight issues, and to solve a short-term problem for the rest of the season,
21:05I could – like, Ryan, if you're really sitting in a front office, can you really turn to your owner
21:11and general manager and say,
21:12I recommend this player who, for most of the last three years, since he got his money, has been mostly
21:20a disaster, but is so talented that he's going to hit some – this year he started hitting once the
21:26season was over for us.
21:27I just can't recommend that.
21:30If Rafael Devers was a free agent at the end of the season, I would say hold your nose and
21:35go do it.
21:36Okay.
21:36You know?
21:37But you've got to live with him for seven more years.
21:40You're just going to repeat whatever the back end of A-Rod was, whatever the back end of Stanton is.
21:45You're just going to do that because this second you're uncomfortable.
21:50I just – and you're going to lock up DH for a long time when the reality is watching Ben
21:58Rice play first base is he's probably got to be the DH a lot.
22:02And there's going to be, like, the fact that every time Judge gets hurt in right field, you say, shouldn't
22:07there be 50 DH games a year for Judge, especially once Stanton is gone?
22:11And so I am not going to create a 2027 to 2033 problem just because I have an itch today.
22:21That is not how I would do it.
22:25Again, if he was a free agent at the end of the year, that's a different situation.
22:31But he's one of the most distressed assets in the sport.
22:35Again, I'm not sitting with his contract in front of me, but, like, I'm guessing right.
22:39It's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven.
22:42He's got seven years after this.
22:45After the –
22:45Okay, seven and –
22:47Right.
22:49Seven and, like, let's say $210 million.
22:51Does he make $30 a year or so?
22:52He makes $33 million a year for the next four years after this, and then it goes to $31 to
22:59two years after that.
23:01Okay, so he's – so it's seven years at $32 million, so it's, like, roughly $7 to $220.
23:06If Rafael Devers was a free agent after this season, what would he get?
23:10He wouldn't get that.
23:11He wouldn't get that.
23:12But also, we don't know –
23:14He wouldn't get in that ball.
23:15Well, we don't know the financial rules, but let's say the financial rules stay roughly the same.
23:20He might get, like, four years at $110, considering what, like, has gone down.
23:27So his contract is over – underwater by over $100 million.
23:31Can you really turn to your owner in good conscience and say, hey, I have an itch that needs to
23:37be scratched today.
23:38Can you take on $100-plus million in dead money, understanding what you had to deal with on the back
23:45end of A-Rod, what you had to deal with on the back end of –
23:47By the way, after A-Rod, Yankee officials said, we'll never do a 10-year contract.
23:53We'll never do a contract like that again.
23:55It took them less than a year to go get Stanton, right?
23:59And now they're sitting and probably saying, man, there were a lot of opportunity costs, right?
24:05Like, think about the things and hopefully we're doing this show in 2027, 28, 29.
24:11We go, yeah, you know, we'd love for the Yanks to be able to spend the money to do this,
24:15but, like, maybe there's a salary cap.
24:18And you have Raphael Devers on your books.
24:20You just can't – Ryan, I get how sexy the name is, but that guy has been a problem for
24:26two franchises now.
24:28And he just started hitting when the games didn't matter, and he's not in shape constantly.
24:37He's zero benefit to a clubhouse.
24:40In fact, the other way, I just – I can't imagine that, you know, like, are the Giants going to
24:49eat $100 million?
24:51Probably not.
24:52What about a guy – what about his teammate?
24:53And even then –
24:54What about his teammate, Luis Arias?
24:58Oh, well, yes, he's a free agent at the end of the year.
25:01But, like, if you do a rise, you do have to give up Chisholm.
25:05Like, but either to the – like, someplace, unless you're putting a rise at first base, which he said he
25:10desperately doesn't want to do.
25:12Okay.
25:13You know, would he do it in a pennant race?
25:15Maybe.
25:16And you're, like, playing a rise at first.
25:18Rice is your DH.
25:19If you make that move, if you make that move, and I would seriously consider that one.
25:26I would seriously consider that one, especially if you can make multiple moves where Jazz is moving out and Arias
25:33is the second baseman.
25:34I think the Yankees are better that way.
25:36But even if a rise becomes your first baseman in that situation, you are committing – and I think this
25:42is fine because the mystery around Stanton is the mystery around Stanton – that Stanton is no longer playing for
25:48you, at least this year.
25:50Yeah.
25:50Right?
25:50Because Rice has to be the DH.
25:52Completely agree.
25:53Rice has to be the – he's earned at-bats every day.
25:56So, like, if you lock yourself – that's why I would probably try to stay away from the first base
26:02one just on – because I want to – I know I could always DH Rice and feel comfortable.
26:09I think there might have – what if part of the judge thing is there has to be some DH
26:14days?
26:15Sure.
26:16Yeah, it makes sense.
26:17You know, like – so, I would like to solve this second, short, third – like, can I find a
26:26player there who's offensive?
26:27That's why I keep bringing up Pena because I get the best of both worlds.
26:31He's an exceptional defender.
26:34Exceptional defender.
26:36He's a very good base runner, though he's had leg injuries this year.
26:39He's had multiple injuries.
26:40It would scare me.
26:41You've got to do a real deep dive on if you think he's going to be healthy from here through
26:45October.
26:47If you're a contending team.
26:48And I know he's a – he's not a great hitter, but he's an above-average hitter who has performed
26:54in the postseason.
26:55Yeah.
26:55You know, he was – he was the ALCS and World Series MVP at one point.
26:59So, so, I – I would think about that one.
27:05Like, I think about guys whose contracts run out this year or next year.
27:11More than, like, the Corey Seager, Francisco Lindor, Rafael Devers, when I don't know what the financial situation is for
27:18the league moving forward.
27:20And, you know, it's going to landlock me in other ways.
27:23And I have some questions about some of those guys off the – you know, like not – you know,
27:27clubhouse stuff.
27:29And I just – I got an itch right now.
27:32I've got to improve my offense and I have to, in my heart, believe Judge is coming back to really
27:37improve the offense because no matter what I do, if Judge doesn't come back, I'm not going to win.
27:42Right.
27:43So, like, part of this has to be how do I thrive and survive for another 30 days, 40, whatever
27:50it is for Judge.
27:52But I – Ryan, I just believe they need Judge.
27:57Because Judge makes them – being around the team a little bit.
28:01I also just think Judge's presence is menacing to the other team.
28:09Like, they make – like, it's the Grisham walks always make me feel that, which is – like, there's something
28:14unnerving about Judge in the on-deck circle that creates confidence for his team and something where the other team
28:24doesn't pitch quite as well.
28:26Like, again, the ease with which teams are going through the Yankee lineup right now is startling and worrisome.
28:37Yeah.
28:37And the Yankees either become – and Ryan, I am agreeing that they need to find at least a singular,
28:45if not a plural, bat in this marketplace.
28:48Yeah.
28:48One of them must come a catcher.
28:50100%.
28:50They can't – this can't be it.
28:52So, you wrote over the weekend some names.
28:54Got to do better.
28:54Can you talk about the names that you mentioned over the weekend about those potential options, what they could be
29:00for Yankees to look at for a catcher to target?
29:04Yeah, I mean, I think there's – there's several.
29:07And the one they're most associated with and makes the most sense is Jeffers.
29:12If Langoliers is really available, I think you've got to do that.
29:17But I – you know, like, there's some – I would not do Francisco Alvarez if I were the Yankees.
29:24I don't think the Yankees are real interested there either.
29:27And as much as I like Luis Torrance, and I think Luis Torrance is a winning baseball player, I think
29:32the Yankees need a little more offense in that position than Torrance.
29:36Who, though, I think Torrance is kind of like a big moment hitter.
29:39Like, he's not afraid of a moment.
29:41And I really love the player.
29:43And, I mean, he's just great in the clubhouse.
29:46He's a – you know, like, you can't run against him.
29:51You know, and the Yankees obviously have a lot of familiarity with the player.
29:56Yeah, I'm going to hold on to one name because I'm going to write about him today.
29:59Okay.
30:00For a plus tomorrow that hasn't really come up.
30:04That's fine.
30:05What about the guy in Colorado, Hunter Goodman?
30:11So Goodman is – I think that – see, I think Goodman and Langoliers are available in this way, Ryan.
30:18It's just this is my experience, and I called a couple of other teams to ask, and they said, yeah,
30:24I think you're right,
30:24which is the A's and the Rockies are saying, sure, make us an offer.
30:30Like, there is a difference between out and out shopping a guy.
30:34Like, Luis Arise must be shot.
30:36He's a free agent at the end of the year, right?
30:38And then there are even guys who have some control years, but teams are like, we know now we're not
30:44signing them long term.
30:46And then there's guys like Langoliers and Goodman who I think the Rockies and the A's would say, well, I
30:54haven't hung up yet, but I'm not telling you what I want.
30:58You've got to make the initial – if this is poker, you've got to throw something in the middle of
31:03the table so I can judge your level of seriousness before I counter it and understand the amount of pain.
31:11Catching is terrible in the major leagues.
31:16Offensive catching is incredibly difficult to find.
31:20And so you've got – like, tell me the thing that is going to pain you greatly, and then we
31:28can discuss if these players actually could be moved.
31:31So I think that's where – I don't think David Forrest with the A's, I don't think Paul D. Podesta
31:39and Josh Burns with the Rockies are hanging up a phone, but they're not saying it's going to take A,
31:46B, C, and D.
31:47They're saying you go.
31:49You go.
31:50Like, because we don't – like, those are players whose value does not change an iota in the offseason.
31:56Right.
31:56Or by next July.
31:59So to move them today when both have, especially Goodman, a lot of control, you're going to have to say
32:06to me, what?
32:08Right.
32:09What's going to make me hurt as the Yankees to give up?
32:11Like, stop taking – and if the Yankees begin with, well, we're not going to put this guy and this
32:16guy in it, they're going to go, okay, click.
32:18Yeah.
32:20Like, I'm about to trade you somebody you can't replicate on the open market, an offensive catcher.
32:27Stop telling me who you won't give me for it.
32:30And so –
32:31And I'm curious, Joel.
32:33Go ahead.
32:35No, no, you go.
32:36I was going to say, I'm curious your thoughts because you've mentioned so much about how difficult it is to
32:41transition from one team to another,
32:43especially as a catcher, about learning the signs, learning how they get to call a game, how each pitcher responds,
32:49how hard that transition would be.
32:51I know Jeffers would be an easier one because of the familiarity with the system, but for a guy like
32:56Goodman or maybe even Langoliers,
32:58how difficult that transition would be to come to the Yankees offense, be an impact bat, and at the same
33:04time,
33:04you have to call a game really well for one of the best pitching staffs in baseball, you would think.
33:09Yeah, very difficult.
33:11I wrote over the weekend, you know, I think it's possible Brian Cashman has made more trade deadline trades than
33:16anyone in the history of the game.
33:18Depending on how you count them, it's about 130 of them since he became the general manager in 1998.
33:27And you can find pretty much all shapes and sizes.
33:30He only acquired a veteran catcher once.
33:33It was Pudge Rodriguez about 20 years ago, a future Hall of Famer, and for Kyle Farnsworth.
33:40So it was a – and he was ultimately left that trade thinking, I never want to do this again
33:47because even – and this was 20, 25 years ago when there was not as much game planning,
33:54individualized game planning, when the stuff wasn't like the stuff is differentiated and powerful and moving with all the different
34:02pitchers.
34:04When there was no, how do you handle ABS and all this.
34:10So I – and so I think the last thing that Brian Cashman would want to do is acquire a
34:17catcher.
34:17I know he left that trade deadline.
34:19I've talked to him about it shortly after that season.
34:22He said, man, I never want to get a catcher during the regular season again.
34:25And yet he knows that this is not good enough.
34:30And they can't – they probably can't – like they had a lot of faith.
34:35By the way, Ryan, this is like something that should – I feel like I should say.
34:40Sure.
34:41If you brought on five executives randomly, you know, and you literally pick – let's pick one from the NL
34:49West, the NL East, the NL Central, AL West, AL – whatever.
34:52And said, what did you have on Austin Wells?
34:57They – I'm telling you, few things are 100%.
35:01So at about 85% to 95%, all of them would say they are shocked he's not hitting.
35:07Because I keep asking that question.
35:09Because I – you and I – like I thought he'd hit.
35:12I thought he was going to have problems catching.
35:14And so the Yankees, I think, doubled down and tripled down on a player that the industry also thought, come
35:22on, man, he's going to hit.
35:23This is his profile is to hit.
35:25And I think that now enough plate appearances have gone by where they're like maybe there's still a 50-50
35:34chance he'll hit, a 40-60, a 30-70.
35:37But we're trying to win a championship and we just – we've got to get somebody else here who can
35:43do at least half the catching and bring a little more offense than is being produced here.
35:52And I think the Yankees probably have an A-tier.
35:56That's the Jeffers, Langoliers, Goodman.
36:01And let's see what happens in the marketplace.
36:03And I bet you they have the August 2nd and 3rd, we've got to do this group.
36:11That's another step down that's like it's better than Ali Sanchez and a guy who we think can start a
36:19playoff game and could hit a little better.
36:22And could have a 700 OPS because, man, that would be 200 points over what we're getting.
36:27Yeah.
36:28Joel, it's so funny where this team has positioned itself.
36:32And, again, I go back to what you're talking about.
36:34You're encouraged by what you saw from the bullpen and the four men that they're going to.
36:39I'm encouraged by what I'm seeing from the rotation.
36:42Max Freed had his first rehab start.
36:45It went well from all we've read.
36:47He's going to have another one, so he should be coming back soon.
36:50I know Rodon is working his way back.
36:51Clark Schmidt's working his way back.
36:53They have, I think, what was potentially a World Series winning starting rotation.
36:57And the bullpen, for all intents and purposes, besides Duvall and Bird, they have the second best ERA in the
37:03sport.
37:04The Red Sox have caught up now number one after winning 13 straight, which is crazy to think about.
37:09But it's, for me, as a fan, after more and more I'm seeing of this offense just faltering and faltering
37:15and not producing, I know it's tough.
37:18It's tough to find that impact bat.
37:20And I know it's all going to come down to Aaron Judge.
37:22I guess, am I crazy to think about?
37:24I keep going back to 2018 when the Braves lost Ronald Acuna Jr. to a torn ACL.
37:29They went on to win a World Series.
37:31And I know it was a collection of a lot of players, but I just wonder, is there something there
37:37where the Yankees can find some more offense and find impact bats?
37:41Is it just the internal, you've got to have to have better returns from the guys like Jason Dominguez and
37:48the guys that you mentioned in Austin Wells?
37:49Can Ryan McMahon turn into a nice player?
37:51I don't know, Joel.
37:53Like, that's where I'm starting to get a little frustrated as a fan.
37:58So, Ryan, I think the answer is yes.
38:01Yeah.
38:02They need judge back.
38:04They need the internal guys to do better, and they need an outside influence or two to create this.
38:12And what the Braves did that year was magical and is, like, in a way, getting a four-of-a
38:20-kind in poker.
38:21Okay.
38:21They, like, got four supplementary players.
38:24The idea that anyone is going to do – and by the way, I think if you had Alex Anthopoulos
38:28on, who is an exceptional baseball executive, but he's also an incredibly honest guy and said, could you replicate that?
38:38He'd say, not in a million years.
38:39Like, all four guys who are supplementary players are going to all perform at this very high level and, like,
38:48create, like, multiple players and looks, righty, lefty, batting average on base percentage power.
38:56Or, you know, like, it's – like, some of those guys never – it got Jorge Soler money.
39:02Like, Jorge Soler never got close to that again as that kind of player.
39:06Eddie Rosario never got close to that again as that kind of player.
39:10And so I think that there was a little magic there.
39:15And if you're going to win a championship – we just saw this with the Knicks.
39:18Yeah.
39:18You're always going to need a little magic along the way, like, where stuff goes right.
39:24The Yankees are going to need a – so I think they've got to win in the three buckets.
39:28They're going to – they've got to get it right.
39:30Like, they've got to be honest, the judge is going to come back in full, even if it's for the
39:33last 30 games.
39:35Like, they're going to need it, right?
39:38And they're going to need a better version of, you know, pick three.
39:42Wells, Dominguez, Chisholm, Caballero, Volpe, Bellinger around Rice.
39:50And I think Grisham is playing well.
39:51Yeah.
39:52Like, how he ran on Friday night, we can have a conversation about.
39:56But I think he's a tough at bat right now.
40:00There's lots of walks.
40:02And I think over the last two years, you could put him up with – certainly anyone on the Yankees
40:05and many in the league.
40:06He's had as many big hits as just about anybody.
40:09So, like, those guys are doing fine.
40:13They need more.
40:15And they need to win a trade or two beyond the probably needing two relief pitchers.
40:22Yeah.
40:23Well, so they're going to have to get – they're going to have to get a catcher right.
40:27Yeah.
40:28And I think – I think they might not think, but I think they need another bat.
40:35Like, if they left this trade deadline, would Ryan Jefferson, Luis, arise?
40:42I would go, yes.
40:44It would make sense, right?
40:45Like, you know, like, that kind of thing.
40:47I mean, you know, just – you're trying to make it tougher.
40:52Like, think about the Dodger lineup yesterday in that first game against Schutler.
40:55Tommy Edmunds hitting .345 and batting ninth.
40:59Tommy Edmunds comes off the bench in game two and hits a homer.
41:01Yep.
41:02Like, they've just got a lot of length.
41:04And having said that again, the Yankee pitching did really well against them.
41:07Yeah.
41:08Aside from the two guys who aren't going to be on the team.
41:11Yep.
41:11In two weeks.
41:12And one of them isn't on the team now.
41:14So, like, the Yankee pitching is in a good spot.
41:17Joel, David Bednar has been an incredible closer for us.
41:20Like, that's another thing that you talked about.
41:22You're like, can this guy be a version of – forgive me, I'm now blanking on the name in the
41:2790s.
41:28Wetland.
41:29Is he John Wetland?
41:30Wetland.
41:30And he's been incredible for them as a closer right now.
41:33Yes, he's been really – like, he's been good.
41:36I think Hedrick's right up there among the best lefty relievers in the sport this year.
41:42I think that Paul Blackburn has been – you know who Paul Blackburn's been?
41:49Jonathan Loisaka's best version.
41:51That's a good comment.
41:53The ball's on the ground all the time.
41:56Like, he's – and he's shown to be somewhat durable doing this after he's had some – he had a
42:01lot of injuries with the Mets.
42:02And he's been durable doing this.
42:04So, like, it's been – he's been really good.
42:07Cruz is – always worries me because I just hate guys who walk a lot coming out of the bullpen.
42:12And he's always going to do that.
42:14On the other hand, he was beat yesterday.
42:15He hadn't given up a homer since April 24th.
42:18It had been about 140 batters.
42:20So, like, every once in a while, especially Yankee Stadium, a lefty is going to pop you.
42:25But, you know, essentially those guys have been good.
42:29Tim Hill hasn't been as good as the best version of him.
42:31But I still think he's somewhat trustworthy because he's not going to be afraid.
42:35If he's, like, your 13th guy on a staff, you're fine.
42:40But, like, if they can improve on that, they should try to improve it.
42:43I would give the ball for the next two weeks to Shafihi.
42:47I hope I'm pronouncing his name right.
42:49It – maybe it's – maybe it's five games and he's a pumpkin.
42:54But, wow, when he – the thing – the question on him was, one, could he throw enough strikes?
43:00These five games he has thrown a lot of strikes.
43:02And, number two, can he win with his fastball?
43:06Because the thing was he needed to get to his changeup.
43:09And for some reason, even though he threw in the high 90s, his fastball got hit a lot in Colorado.
43:16He was throwing fastballs by good Dodger hitters yesterday.
43:19Yeah.
43:19I mean, throwing it by them.
43:21So, he's – it's too small of a sample to say, hey, that guy should be part of a championship
43:28bullpen.
43:29But, again, you need a little magic along the way.
43:32And I would give him a lot of chances for the next 10, 12 days just to see it.
43:38Because if it's real – I mean, the stuff – the fastball changeup is real.
43:44Now, the league is going to go to school on him because it's real and the Yankees are going to
43:50use him.
43:50And we'll see.
43:52And that's why I would use him just to see, like, hey, everyone's going to set up their traject machine
43:56to have a little of him in it.
43:58And let's see what that looks like after a while.
44:01But for the area that we probably spent the most time saying they got to fix, they got to fix,
44:08they got to fix, it's possible.
44:11Again, I think they'll make at least one trade for a reliever, if not two.
44:14But, like, if Shafihi is real, if they get Clark Schmidt back, if they get all their starters back and
44:20they put either Weathers or Warren into the bullpen, they can self-improve in this area in a way that
44:29they can't on offense.
44:30I completely agree.
44:30Like, it's got to be the current group.
44:32I completely agree with you.
44:33It's got to be the current group.
44:34Yeah.
44:35Plus Judge, plus at least a catcher, and I would bring in a Jeremy Pena, an Arise.
44:43Like, somebody, by the way, like, Jeremy Pena helped you on both sides of the ball.
44:47This version of Luis Arise, like, I don't know what to make of it, has played great at second base.
44:51Like, Jazz's second base play has not, that's the other thing.
44:54It's like, it isn't that Jazz has just failed on offense this year.
44:58He isn't playing well.
44:59He's not playing well as a player.
45:02His concentration comes and goes.
45:04I just, is it just who he is?
45:07Is free agency weighing on him?
45:09Like, at some point, that all has to go into the garbage, and it's got to be coming about a
45:13championship.
45:14And, again, I go back to the Polo Neal thing.
45:16If you win, everyone had a good year.
45:19So, like, what you've got to do is play a mind game with yourself.
45:24Jazz Chisholm is talented enough to have a really good two months.
45:30He's really talented.
45:32Do I think he can, will do it?
45:34I don't.
45:35I think he's got a concentration issue.
45:38You know, I think he's got a, sometimes a style over substance issue.
45:42Yeah.
45:43But, if you just said on pure, could he go off and hit 15 homers the rest of the year?
45:49Steal 20 bases the rest of the year?
45:51Have an 800 OPS the rest of the year?
45:53That is not outrageous for his skill level.
45:56It's in there.
45:57It's in there, Joel.
45:59My last thing for you, Joel.
46:01Is Mason Miller, any of that real?
46:03Like, I saw those rumors over the weekend.
46:06I think it's the right, Ryan.
46:08I think it's the right question.
46:09So, I think the Padres are in a, if you started ranking, who are the fascinating teams 1 to 30
46:16in the majors?
46:17I don't know if the Padres are 1, but they're damn close to 1, right?
46:22So, consider some of the factors for them.
46:25They are drawing fans at a way they never have before, because they've gone for it, and they're the only,
46:33of the four major historical sports, they're the only game in town once the charge is left.
46:38So, like, what this new fan base has experienced is contention, and big names go for it, build apparel.
46:48So, you have that.
46:49So, it's hard to turn around and say, you know what we're going to do?
46:52We're going to trade it, even though they did it one time, but it was in the offseason with Soto
46:58to the Yankees, right, where they were willing to do something like that.
47:02So, there's that.
47:02There's new ownership has taken over there.
47:06Does the first thing new ownership wants to do be to piss off the fans by selling?
47:12Now, I would argue the best thing the Padres can do for their fans is sell.
47:17The Padres are, like, 27th in, like, offense.
47:21Their starting pitching and their offense is so bad.
47:24That's, like, one of the things is every once in a while we use the word, I use the word
47:27here, myopic, when it comes to the Yankees.
47:29Like, ultimately, the Yankees have the second best record in the American League and about a 96% chance of
47:34making the playoffs and still probably a better than a 50% chance of winning the division.
47:38And, like, you do every once in a while have to say, if the Yankees have a lot of problems,
47:43imagine what everybody else has.
47:45So, the Padres, who have a gigantic payroll, especially for them and their market, and real problems coming because they're
47:52into Manny Machado forever.
47:54They're into Xander Bogarts forever.
47:56If Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis don't start playing better, they're into them forever, and they're just good but not
48:02the great players they thought they signed.
48:06And they've used so much of their farm system to go for it.
48:10I would argue if you level with your fans and say, look, I think as you and I are talking,
48:18they're like 49 and 50.
48:19They're a game under 500.
48:20I think Fangraphs gives them about a 9% chance of making the playoffs this year, just making the playoffs.
48:25Of course, the Dodgers are playing 162-game preseason.
48:29They've already clinched the NLS, whatever.
48:31So, you've got to be one of the three wildcard teams if you're somebody else in the NLS.
48:35I would say the most fan-friendly thing they could do is say, we're going for it next year.
48:40And one of the ways we're going for it is we've got to restock a little bit.
48:44We're really short in a lot of areas.
48:46And the best way to do that would be to trade Mason Miller, would be to trade Adrian Morahan.
48:51And if he could get healthy in this short period, and he's on a rehab assignment, Jeremy Estrada.
48:56And if he gets healthy in this short period, I don't think he will, Jason Adam.
49:01Because I think all four of those relievers, if healthy, get you a ton back in this marketplace.
49:07Because the one thing the Padres have is a good bullpen.
49:09And I would just say, I'm going to try to rebuild my bullpen in the offseason, but I'm going to
49:13rebuild it with these new 12 prospects.
49:16Like, we went from one of the worst farm systems to one of the better ones.
49:19We became more cost-efficient.
49:22I think the worst thing you do, never lie to your fan base.
49:26Say, we do not think we're good enough this year.
49:28But what we've tried to show you these last few years is we always go for it.
49:32We have a very aggressive general manager.
49:34And the second the season ends, we're on the pursuit again of trying to be the best team possible in
49:402027.
49:41Our payroll is not going down.
49:43But we needed a better base.
49:46And I think if they went out with especially Miller, they could recreate a lot of that.
49:51To trade Miller, Leo DeVries was in the trade to the A's.
49:56Leo DeVries today is MLB.com's number two prospect in the major leagues.
50:01So, like, that was the cost.
50:03And Mason Miller was probably worth it.
50:05You could argue he's the best relief pitcher since August 1st of last year.
50:09Him or probably Yon Duran, who also got traded.
50:12Right?
50:13And David Bednar is probably in the top 10 someplace.
50:16And Louis Varlin is probably in the top 10.
50:18All four of those guys got traded last year.
50:19And they've all been great for their team since they got there.
50:22So, I would just say to the San Diego Padres, that's best from 20,000 feet.
50:29And some of your fans are always going to be upset if you give up.
50:34But you should give up.
50:36Because the team isn't good enough.
50:37If your aspiration is championship, you just don't have enough starting pitching and offense.
50:44You know, like, you don't like the Yankee offense?
50:48Go check that out.
50:51And so, to me, I think that's the most fan-friendly thing they could do, actually.
50:56Because you're thinking about your fans for the next five years, not just the next 50 days.
51:01And so, will the Padres come to that?
51:06I think it's in play.
51:07I think that's why they're so fascinating.
51:09I think it's in play.
51:10And I think if it's in play, the Yankees will be one of those teams that's standing there.
51:16And if it's not for Miller, and I think they'll be in for Miller, it will be Morahan, who's a
51:21power lefty, who's a free agent at the end of the year.
51:24If it's not Morahan, and they're healthy, either Adam or Estrada, I think the Yankees will be in play for
51:30it.
51:30Sure.
51:31So, I think the Padres are one of those teams that if I were a Yankee fan, I'd be going,
51:37God, I hope the Yankees win today and the Padres lose.
51:42Because you want them in the market.
51:45Yeah, it would create definitely more resources for them or more opportunities to potentially go after.
51:52Again, I wonder what that cost would be.
51:54Like you said, Joel, it is a hefty price for someone like Mason Miller.
51:59It will be like, look, again, DeVries is the number two prospect in the sport.
52:05I think it's hard to tell the Padres you can't have Lombard.
52:10Even though you're hoping Lombard can somewhat be your shortstop, maybe later in the season.
52:15Right, you would have hoped DeVries was going to be your shortstop, right?
52:20So, again, if you're a Yankee fan, this is one of the things I always do also.
52:25Don't be the general manager for your team.
52:28Act like you're the Padres.
52:30If you were the Padres and you were trading Mason Miller, and by the way, the Rays with a better
52:35farm system than the Yankees will be in for Mason Miller.
52:38The Red Sox.
52:39The Brewers with a better farm system.
52:41The Red Sox.
52:43Like the Dodgers.
52:44Why would the Dodgers stop?
52:46Can you imagine having Miller and Edwin Diaz for the last six outs of a game?
52:51So there's going to be great.
52:52And that's, again, why I would do it if I was San Diego.
52:55I'm not going to lack for people.
52:58Because Miller, proof of purchase has been shown with Miller.
53:02If you have him, there's few things more valuable for 162 games or trying to win what you have to
53:10win the October than when you should win, you do win.
53:14And Miller and Duran are two of those guys that got traded at the deadline last year.
53:20And so I think the Yankees might line up and they might even say take three of what you want
53:27and still not win for it.
53:30It's a fascinating time.
53:32Like we said, three weeks from today, we're at the deadline.
53:36And I know the Yankees got to get through these baseball games and figure out more if they internally can
53:40get better offensively.
53:41I think, and I think you would agree, Joel, they have the pitching, hopefully, to get them where they need
53:45to be.
53:47Reinforcements are even coming to that pitching staff, you would hope, if everyone stays healthy.
53:51But still, baseball will be played.
53:52We appreciate you, as always, Joel.
53:54Hopping on here, giving us all your Yankees insight and opinion, man.
53:57And we're looking forward to catching up with you next week.
54:00No doubt about it.
54:01I'll just end with this is I do wonder if the lingering item from the weekend against the Dodgers, this
54:09would be the best outcome for the Yankees.
54:11And I think it's a possibility is it was the beginning of a run by Cole.
54:16That would be something, man, because he was lights out.
54:19Because I thought the stuff was so good on Friday.
54:22Like you could have convinced me that was Garrett Cole pitching on Friday night when I was watching it.
54:28And it was an aggravating loss for the Yankees because it was about Grisham's running.
54:34It was about Boone's decision.
54:36It was about only one run scored on an un-earned run.
54:39And it got lost because ultimately Cole ended up the losing pitcher.
54:45He throws a cement mixer to Muncie and to Homer.
54:49If that was the beginning of a run, which I think it could possibly be, where it was like, oh,
54:57Cole has now finally figured out what he's got in this version post-Tommy John.
55:02I think that no Yankee fan is going to like that they lost two out of three to the Dodgers.
55:09But that's the kind of guy who could then, again, pitch against the Dodgers in the biggest games of the
55:14year or against whoever they have to pitch against, where suddenly you're saying, I could start him.
55:19I could start Schlueter.
55:20I could start Freed.
55:22And really, it was the strength of the team in March.
55:26It's the strength of the team now.
55:27If they get to that point on October 1st, it is a way with even just a little better offense
55:34to get through.
55:35I agree.
55:36That's what's so frustrating about seeing this team offensively go through what they're going through right now.
55:42Joel, we appreciate you, man.
55:43We can't wait to catch up with you next week.
55:45Appreciate you.
55:46All right, Ryan.
55:47All the best.
55:48Thanks, everyone, for watching.
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