00:00You and I talked about the Rays yesterday, Rays taking on the Mets.
00:03We did think that the Rays would bounce back in that spot yesterday, even with Peralta
00:09on the mound.
00:10And while we were on air, you called it.
00:13I think one of the first pitches that the Mets saw was, was it Lindor?
00:18Was Yard.
00:19Next thing you know, it's 1-0.
00:20We had runs early in games all day yesterday.
00:24But ultimately, the Rays were a little too much there.
00:27Throughout the game 6-2, they ended up winning it.
00:30I think Jax is back on the mound for him here tonight.
00:32No idea what the Mets are doing for pitching.
00:36But again, I don't know that I'm running to the window or lay $1.80 either with the Rays
00:40here.
00:41But maybe another under in this spot, unless you think fireworks are coming.
00:46I think a lot of bullpen action today.
00:48I don't think Griffin Jax goes deep, this kid for the Mets.
00:50I don't think he goes deep as well, maybe four or five innings from him.
00:54So yeah, it's just kind of one of those games.
00:56The Mets, I saw one of the reporters covering the Mets say that Jonah Tong is
00:59going to start for them next week.
01:01Mets are in now September full experiment mode at this point.
01:05So I think you're going to see a lot of that today.
01:08You may not even see Juan Soto play every day the rest of the season.
01:11But you're right.
01:12Delay minus 180 with Jax, who I don't know if this is his first or second start since
01:16coming off the injured list.
01:18But you certainly can't count on 100 or so pitches, I don't think, from him today.
01:22So it'll be a bullpen game.
01:23And who's got the better bullpen?
01:25I mean, clearly it is the Rays.
01:26So it could be a close game, could go right down to the end.
01:29Not something that I would want to get involved in either.
01:32But certainly, maybe not the worst idea to take the Mets plus a run and a half.
01:37But beyond that, probably a no play.
01:40Simpson was your call yesterday on the show, if I'm not mistaken.
01:44He had a great day at the plate.
01:45We said maybe over a couple of one and a half total bases there.
01:50Maybe even a stalling base.
01:52I think you're on to something and him not being 100% earlier on in the season.
01:57But he looks pretty good here.
01:59So does Diaz and everyone else.
02:01Caminero did not have a home run in that game.
02:04But he is tied with Jordan Alvarez for the most in the American League.
02:08And of course, Jordan is going for that triple crown, something we haven't seen since 2012.
02:15So still a lot of baseball left to go in that one.
02:19But I think it's safe to say, Rays win the American League East.
02:24White Sox win the Central.
02:27And talk me off of Houston winning the West.
02:29That's how I see it.
02:30I don't think anything happens between now and the end of the season, Greg, where we don't have those three
02:36as your division winners in the American League.
02:40I think so.
02:41I mean, Joe, we're going to have and I don't know if this is good for baseball or bad for
02:45baseball.
02:46And I certainly think the new collective bargaining agreement is going to make us sadder because I do think we're
02:51going to add more playoff teams.
02:52When right now, we can't even really afford to do that.
02:55But more money is out there.
02:56And, you know, I was looking up, you know, what the postseason is going to look like, Joe, the last
03:01couple of days, just sort of glancing at some of the broadcasts and who's covering it.
03:05You know, the one thing that I didn't realize and I'm kind of straying from the point here a little
03:09bit, but I'll get to my point, which is that ESPN does not have the postseason anymore.
03:15So NBC and Peacock is broadcasting, Joe, all the wildcard games.
03:21And if these are a big success for them going into this collective bargaining agreement, NBC and Peacock can be
03:27raising their hands like, you know, it's OK.
03:30Give us Baltimore at five games under next year.
03:33We'll put them in the playoffs.
03:34I mean, we could be headed toward like an NBA playoff system with Major League Baseball.
03:38I hate that.
03:39I think we have enough.
03:39I don't think it needs to be changed, but it's already has that March Madness feel.
03:44What am I trying to say?
03:45It's the same thing we've been talking about all week, Joe.
03:47This American League, I mean, we're going down to the end, man.
03:50You and I are going to be sitting here at the end of September.
03:54I'm going to be saying farewell to you on a Thursday because I'll have the Marlins Friday, Saturday, Sunday against
04:00Atlanta.
04:00We're going to be going into that final weekend.
04:03And I'm going to say, Joe, who's your guess?
04:05Who gets in?
04:06When I see you back on Monday, who's going to get in?
04:08And we're not going to know going into the final week of the season.
04:12I think at least two spots in the American League and probably one in the National League.
