TRANSCRIPT: Ep. 30: Jesse Finds Catharsis as the NL Central Tightens

Text Transcript of Ep. 30

00:00:00 – 00:05:00

Woah to. Welcome to the new best rivalry in baseball. Hey, hey, welcome to another ninety miles podcast. And it’s been rough rough go for the cubs brewers Lali. This is ninety miles from Wrigley to Miller park, all cubs brewers, and yeah. You know, cubs been kinda scuffling and I don’t know. I’m still like change. I think we should change the podcast and talk about two different teams this week. Yeah. Twins. The twins out the Braves. The cubs are playing the mound Braves. No. Don’t care for the Braves that much anyways. Well, I liked them when they were in Milwaukee, even though I wasn’t alive. Right. I could root for Baltimore. They were the nineteen o one will walkie brewers. That’s something. Yeah. Talk about that. Terrible week. I guess we’re gonna talk about. We got, you know, we got a couple of younger pitchers doing a few things for both the teams are gonna talk about them starting some games, desparation mode. We got head to head contrary versus grand all. So that’s e- contrarius hands down Granville. Yeah. Right. Okay. So that’ll be fun. Then we got actually talk a little bit about, then I’ll central because basically. Yeah. I mean, any any team I mean, even even in an extreme situation, if the reds are pirates on absolute tear, they could be in first place with this bad as everyone’s been doing their six games out there, both six games offers place. That’s crazy. Broke away. The brewers are the cubs had the best African Unity to break away of any teams in neither could do it. Yep. Does then the pitching falls apart, the haters can’t hit, everybody’s running so western play baseball. It’s it’s Casten heroes in the minors. I’m let’s talk about the Baltimore Orioles. Seriously? Yeah. It’s a lot easier to talk about somebody else being bad than it is to talk about your team being bad. Yeah. And we can’t even talk about teaming bad in the central because they’ve, I mean, I mean, the reds pirates are under five hundred but they’re only six games out, so, you know, and they’re not even the worst of, you know, when you look at all the majors they’re quite a few more teams worse than them. So I don’t know. Well, no. The division division. We thought was going to be really good right now. It looks like everybody’s kind of the same mediocre is kind of how it feels I still think between the brewers and the cubs, there’s more talent there. And there’s a better chance for one of those two squads to make a run. Probably the way the bruise of implying in the starting pitching been going. Yeah. Yeah. You’d might have to give it to somebody like, don’t know the cubs, but. Whatever. Burs aren’t done going through their pitchers. They’re just about done going through all their pitchers to see if there’s any starters left, but the good news is the trade deadline’s coming up from the walkie. There are some available pieces, but the systems a little thin we were talking about the Al central we might as well, just do you want to do the tweet of the week now should we jump in and do it backwards today? I mean I guess that’s all right. Well, we already talked about the central right? There’s a lot of things going on right now. Now, let’s just do what we were going to do. We’ll get to. Okay. Sensual has some, the central has some messy stuff happening wanted to talk about the two young pitchers pitch on them here. You know, for better for worse, I guess we’re kind of saying that is it for better for worse for the teams that, that these guys are starting games? We got advert house lay and Adrian Hauser for the brewers. Yeah, I don’t know if it’s for better or for worse, but it’s definitely for desperation, that’s how I feel about it with the. Houser has he’s been decent as a starter in the minor leagues. Nothing nothing. Outstanding some pretty good stuff. He’s been very, very good this year out of the bullpen. He’s been really lights out from the bullpen side. But now with every single pitcher, Milwaukee’s thrown out there as a starter, except maybe Brandon Woodruff. They need somebody to step up and to start a game without giving up three runs in the first inning against the reds like they did three times this week, which was boggling back to back to back games that could happen.

00:05:01 – 00:10:01

You know what I don’t know a lot about ads lay though. So we’re going to try and head to head or kind of for better for worse. Compare these guys, right? Feel about the cubs having to start ads late. I mean it’s it’s it’s because mainly because Kyle Hendricks. And you know it was earlier in the year was there was. I mean he’s he’s basically a top pitching prospect, you know, he’s a starter in the minors shirt, Taylor. And, and so there was talks about. Well, how are we gonna there’s some way, we can get them? Get ’em. Somme J-League experience this year and you know, and then you got injury to Hendrick so that kind of open up opportunities, so they call them up, and he did you know, they have given them. Well, he’s got eight point two innings logged. He did four innings kind of following up chat, would, you know on the on June twentieth? And then June twenty fifth just yesterday. He started first major league start for point two innings pitched one run. So. You know he gave up a few walks as well. Right. So it wasn’t like it was a lights out performance. But sounds like it was pretty solid from what I four walks or strikeouts. But you know you know he threw eighty seven pitches, but yeah, I mean you you’re going to expect that he’s first major league start. I mean, let’s see what he doesn’t is fifth starter. If he if he does, you know, like, Kerry, wood, his fifth major leagues. No. I that’s a obviously. Yeah. Yeah. You dream a lot and you dream big. We all love about just. -tunities to mention, you know, Kerry Wood’s league stars. The best pitching performances in major league history. But anyway, so, you know, a lot of things can happen, you know, early in the career, but. That’s not going to happen. He’s not carry what he does not have carry would stuff. Let’s just move on with our lives a little bit. He’s a little bit of a different pitcher. But, but yeah. A little bit. But yeah, it’s, it’s so anyways, there was some expectation that he may come up and pitch a little bit this year. So that’s where the object cut opened up. So I don’t for better for worse. I in fact, you know, it’s not good that Hendrix is injured. Of course. To bring you up some depth. I would say that’s for better age league again. Yeah. Given given the circumstances, I, I’d rather I definitely would rather have him, come up gets a major experience. And despite what the performance might be add rather, he’s in there than than like chat would or Montgomery starting games. I you know, at this point I you know Montgomery. I don’t know what’s going on with him. He’s, you know, he he used I used to feel a little better about him coming into games than I do. Now, that’s for sure. But sure anyway. And well, you know. But that’s right into get into my side of it, too. Yeah. For worse Hauser I know we’re comparing and contrasting the two guys a little bit. But it’s two totally different situations. The cubs needed a guy to come up and fill in the cubs have generally speaking, very solid starting staff Milwaukee was counting on some young guys to perform this year. It just hasn’t worked out. You know, Corbin burns did not work out, real well in either the bullpen or the rotation the way they handled him. Maybe wasn’t the best. Maybe he should’ve gone back down, but hindsight’s twenty twenty. It was good to try again in the pen because they needed bullpen help badly chase Anderson hasn’t worked out real. Well, if you go down further and you keep thinking about it. Jimmy Nelson didn’t really pan out, Freddie. Peralta is really up and down a lot of the guys. They’ve been counting on to pick up some of the slack expect before the season. We talked about the expected or I did at least three out of the five guys, the panel that were in the starting rotation ULA seen should be around a four point. Oh, ERA guy, he hasn’t even been that good. You should have had one or two of the other young guys would drifts the one. That’s panned out. Woodruff looks like a potential future ace if he can just close the door. He has one bad inning game. Basically, once he gets through that. That he’s going to be ace material long story short in a four better or for worse segment. You can’t really do for worse with Adrian Hauser. I mean really it has to be better really think you only think about it is he’s not stretched out. Well, yes. Going to be something that’s a little different. So he’s almost more like like an opener issue or you know. Yeah. Yeah he did. He did have one start where he was the basically the opener. He had two scoreless innings. Looked really good. Basically, he treated it like a relief role as a in the majors this year.

00:10:01 – 00:15:09

He’s got a two point two seven ER as got thirty one and two thirds innings pitched, a one point two whip ten point two strikeouts, per nine innings really solid. Reliever numbers is able to stretch out. No, I don’t know. But they’re gonna give them two shots at it. I’m thinking what else? No, I’m looking at this. And I. Yeah. I mean as reliever he’s been very solid. He’s got a one point five year. A twenty five point two innings pitched as a reliever as a starter. Just six innings pitched seven point five yard. You know, I guess as an opener, you know, I mean as reliever. Yeah. Searching out. I mean, if he did an open a couple of innings that looks good at his other start than what he went Horning start for innings, and I think five runs five runs, basically his entire era for the most part is eaten up by that very first appearance in the big leagues this year, which was a start, I think, in April or may I don’t recall. But I had it pulled up here, but long story short. Yeah, what other choice to the Bruce have nobody else’s working out? We’ll give them a shot in the rotation. Very I mean, what might have made sense to try to kaikal but, you know, or something. Thing. Well at that point in time, we had talked about it. This team isn’t built to handle a big long term contract for a guy that’s going to be what top thirty percent starting material. I don’t know that Keiko’s any better than that. At this point locking up a lot of money. I think the way they’re looking at it. You’re gonna want to maybe look at trying to sign a grand doll type a move stock as type after the season, the money, open some other guys. Well, here’s the thing. They, they expected these g. I know it’s been bad. It’s been bad. Starting pitching for about the last three weeks and there’s no question about it. They could help out there pitchers and score a few more runs, you know, that optioning Travis Shah and bring up Casten hero right here. People are going to be, well, then how are you gonna, you know, who’s gonna play first base when there’s a left handed pitcher. Don’t worry about that stock is at third here at second and let let Jesus hit it. First and split with things. It’s not complicated. You don’t have to tune everything. Well, no, I peaked in on some arguments. You’re having with some brewers fans on, you know, on Twitter stuff, and I, I do tend to agree you know if the pitchers give up seven runs. I mean you’re you’re I mean, I don’t care if you bring up here, you can’t score more than seven runs a game. You know, you’re not. Nine six with. Yeah. Yeah. Right. But hey. Yeah. Number games that might not even be enough though. You know I mean with the way the pitching, especially the star starting pitching. What’s the harm in having him on the field? Okay. That’s not the only hole is all I’m saying that might be enough because, you know if the cubs go on a tear or he got the cardinals go on a terror. I mean you’re gonna need more than just just here. I mean you know the pitching. It’s it’s been bad. It has been bad and the two games that they won. They held the other the opponent five runs. Right. You know, they’ve been giving up a lot of rice six seven eight a game. Here’s a game where they, you know, against the Padres, they only gave up four runs. They couldn’t win that either a game against the Padres. They lost by two to nothing. Do you think cast in here in the lineup might helped you know losing to the giants? When they only score three or four runs the argument that hero can’t help a team that’s got bad pitching is ridiculous. It’s ridiculous. Pitching needs to get fixed. There’s no question the pitching these it gets fixed, and hopefully how’s your can be a part of that fix. But there’s no reason not to score more runs when you have the opportunity. That’s asinine. Oh, you know what? It doesn’t matter. If you’re is up because, you know, the score one point two more runs a game, it won’t matter if you’re pitching sucks, you’re right. It won’t matter if the pitching, absolutely sucks. But every win counts and it’s huge. They’re in a slump right now having hero up allows you to win one or two or three more games that you might not have at this point until the pitching figures itself out. Yeah. That’s my argument and oh my God, have gone on a tangent. I’m sorry. I knew that tell him frustrated. But yeah, how about that? Advert. Annals league. I. Yeah. Yeah. Well, no. I mean, I think that that’s kinda I think we want to touch on that. So I mean, I you know, I think in the case for better for worse for the brewers. I mean obviously agent Hauser’s is a much stronger much stronger reliever. But what, what can they do? I mean, I think it’s it eight shows a whole whereas ads lay. It’s more of. Well, there’s an injury, so I mean, that’s a different thing, and it’s kind of actually, it’s like okay, well might as well turn a negative into a positive and give this kid some major league some big-league spirits.

00:15:09 – 00:20:07

But go no for sure. The burs. They have to do what they have to do right now. And the cubs had to bring somebody up, it makes perfect sense to give him some time in the big leagues. Yeah, we’ll see what happens. You know, Meyer Yamin is still win as many games as you can even when you do have problems, which means you need to score more runs. But anyhow, yeah, that’s, that’s totally different argument. Today’s thing I think both moves are for the better, the Bruce have nothing to lose by putting Hauser. There’s an argument that you lose some really good relief. Help at the back end. But the whole staff is in disarray. You can’t give up three runs every first inning and expect to win games either. So why not use the opener theory? Go Tampa Bay throws out there for two or three innings. Don’t even worry about stretching out get it to Freddie Peralta, for a few start piggybacking. Do whatever you gotta do to get through the stretch. And maybe you can pick up a starter or a longer reliever at the deadline or bit of both. Right. Yeah. Do the cubs have anything they need to pick up at the deadline anything you’re thinking would be nice to have since I keep referring to that wasn’t really it wasn’t really on the outline today, but it’s just a thought. I you know, it’s at this point hard to say, I still feel like they could use a little more depth offensively or some of the haters getting their crap together and, and hitting hitting the ball with runners in scoring position that would be helpful. I mean with kimbrough with kimbrel. Now, I you know, I feel like they’re in pretty good shape. Pitching wise in general. I feel alright with that, you know Hendrix, when he comes back, I thought I saw something maybe around all-star break, maybe rate, after that kimbrel kimbro might he could be on the team as early as the last game against Atlanta potentially interested in a couple of days. So yeah, yeah. Yeah. Because we’re recording this on Wednesday, Wednesday, so by Friday, and a couple of days, he could be on the team so that I think that will be helpful because there is still a little bit nervous tension. And and you know things with you know in the later inning. So I mean that we are talking about all that. How that’s going to help move. Everyone into better spots as far as the the relievers. So that’s coming up. So, yeah, I mean, you know, Hayward’s been showing some some fire again lately. So that’s been good contrary has been on a tear which I guess could transition us rate to control versus grand all head to head. We wanna do a little bit because at least a couple bright spots on the teams here. Yes. Yes, it’d be nice to talk about something that doesn’t involve desperation EM rotation for Milwaukee. Yeah, I got a little a little excited. There. The I call me down talking about, you know, some of the good stuff. Well, let’s talk about grand doll and contrary. You guys have some pretty similar things. Pretty similar seasons. And you know, and, and actually very to have such production at the at the catcher position is, is a huge, huge. Plus, so, at least that’s a, that’s a bright spot for sure. You know well without grand doll. I have no idea where the bruise would be right now. Yeah. Choson granddaughter? Yeah. Yeah. Good pick to free agent signings. Yeah. Huge pickups. You’re paying them boatload of cash versus control us, but to get that kind of production out of there. I mean, not everybody, you don’t have that many catchers, you can home grow that are putting up the kind of numbers that Wilson controllers putting up. Sometimes you got to pay for that kind of production. And that’s what the bruise went out and did. Right. Right. Yeah. Yeah. And, and no Katrina says worked out very well. I mean he’s he’s, you know, been great grand. All I mean, I, I remember, you know, see it. I mean, the cubs of seeing the dodgers a lot, the playoffs last few years. So, you know, and then just seeing the your I, you know, I pay attention, you know, being near LA, or in or living in L A last number years. I’ve paid maybe slightly more attention to the dodgers as far as non L central teams. So Ben familiar with strand all. But, but yeah, he’s having a career year this year for sure. If the brewers picked a good time to sign him. This was probably the best possible year to sign him since his rookie year in twenty twelve he has not run with a higher batting average. He has not run with a higher Opie s the switch any catcher has figured out how to hit from the right handed side, which is something that the dodgers never seemed to be able to figure out.

00:20:07 – 00:25:03

I love what I love about the grand ole signing is not only did the Bruce bet on them for a season but grand all bet on himself. And he is performing very well. He may get himself rewarded with a very fat very fat contract at the end of the season. Although he is a thirty year old catcher, so it will probably be a shorter term one contrast. They’re putting up extremely similar numbers. So from twenty sixteen to twenty nineteen grin Dahl and contrasts are eight twenty eight twenty four respectfully on Opie s granddaughter. Has hit more home runs, but control. I think I think sixteen was his rookie year might not mistaken for home runs for contrast wasn’t twenty sixteen twenty sixteen. Yes. Because I’m looking at the game’s grand all does have more plate appearances. He is ninety home runs. The fifty nine home runs. You know, he’s out slugging him by a bit. But that’s twenty sixteen to twenty nineteen really similar number. Then there that they should be the two selections for the all star game. The out, Brian McCann is at a nice season. Yeah. Don’t you talk about contrast a little bit. I feel like I’ve talked a lot this episode. Yeah. I mean he I mean he’s, he’s just what’s, what’s great about Tuesay’s got such a fire too. I mean he’s just like you know, very enthusiastic very athletic catcher. I mean, you know, I mean even you look at I mean, not only solid catcher great offensive numbers. But I mean he can, you know. Base running and just kind of being in there, just in general. He’s, you know, he’s really. You know, a lot of energy for a catcher. I mean it’s just like I mean, you, you know, I and actually I think he has put them in the in the outfield even you know, he’s played actually he’s played some left field. I mean so he’s. Yeah. And his arm. He’s got one heck of an arm lots of, you know, he can throw out baserunners. He does he can he throws over to I you know, an and has gone some assists that way. He’s got what he’s aggressive. He’s got seven. He’s aggressive from behind the plate. He is. Yeah he’s not afraid. He’s got seven assists to first base this season already thirteen last year eighteen into the in two thousand seventeen so you know, that’s sure that’s pretty good. And what that, that does also put him in position to occasionally commit some airs. He’s, he’s leading the league as far as or at least the National League. Catchers, go for errors committed with nine that’s not a rip but necessarily because when you’re that aggressive you’re gonna have moments where you throw into right field. Yeah. Or you know the first basement maybe should made a play. But. You get the throwing error right, right. He’s. He’s got fi- five of those nine are throwing airs. That makes sense and then grand only has the four errors on the year. But you know that’s middle of the pack as far as catching runners, you know, turning double plays Grenfell’s got four turned as a catcher. I don’t see I don’t see control us on that list. But when you look at a couple other things where was it I had a number in front of me here? He’s right up there for caught stealing percentage at thirty eight percent. Real mutual leads the league at forty nine percent. I don’t see grand doll on that list, but he’s been solid. But Kern, shares is the better arm at this point in their career you talked about flexibility being able to play some outfield. Grendel has played plenty of first base and his actually hit leadoff for the last three or four nights from Milwaukee. And that has been interesting to watch basically Milwaukee’s been a little desperate to get the leadoff spot rolling. Well, when you got a guy on bass at a three eighty four clip, it makes them sense. The put them there, even if the wheels, aren’t what they need to be, you know, Lorenzo Cain hasn’t been what he was last year. He hasn’t been what he was in his career. It’s been an odd years has some thumb issues. So why not throw money grand all in the leadoff spot? So it’s kind of a kind of a Kyle shore Brin the leadoff spot comparison away, and how they operate a little better batting average for. Yes. But. It’s a some interesting stuff. These guys are neck and neck on their numbers across the board to point to war this year for yeahs two point one for contraire. Well and put these guys head to head tight contrary nine forty nine oh p s grand all nine twenty seven opiates plus, which I’ve been digging into a little more.

00:25:03 – 00:30:02

I guess we’ll have to do that. You know, grandma’s got one thirty six oh, PS. Plus, so he’s you know, thirty six percent of average for the position batter than average. You know, and Wilson shares one forty one opiates plus. Yep. So just so folks know at opiates plus kind of means basically, they take your opiates, and they adjust it to the average rate across the major leagues. If your well above it, that means you’re x percent better. So one thirty six thirty six percent rider than the average Energi at that position. And it’s justed for ballparks to correct. So it’s kind of an interesting number, we’re going gonna we’re going to try and bring more of that kind of stuff. Yeah. Able, I know I did do. Some research I used at brew maths brew underscore maths to do a little research on Adrian Hauser. I didn’t really drop it in the earlier segment. But he, he was expected to be about the third best quality of pitch out of the Bruce bullpen this year. Ironically, Josh hater was last so that tells you that not all sabermetrics are created equal, but these ones that we’re talking about with controls in grand doll. I think they ring pretty true. When you start looking at their value to their lineup in their team. Yeah. And, you know, I think I mean okay if we look at controls, versa grandpa. Well, it it’s not totally fair in the sense that I mean continuous you know, twenty seven years old, correct value on obviously contract wise. I mean contraire as is, is, you know, you know, in, as I think, as a lot of upside, he’s continually improving, you know, he had a little rough year little bit of a rough year last year. He just had a seven thirty. Oh, PS, yet, ninety four Opio. Plus to forty nine batting average. And he admitted you know, he’s, he’s from regression. Well, yeah. Well he he admitted. Well, then he’s you know, he’s getting back to his mean this year because obviously doing a lot better. He did it he, he is from Venezuela. And he did admit, you know, he, he, I think was kind of distracted with what’s been going on over there? And and he just something slipped. But he made some big adjustments big improvements in offseason. And now this series avenue, huge year could be his best season yet, you know, his numbers are career-best for sure so far. So and he’s been picking up the last couple of weeks. He’s just been he’s been really good. So as, as grand ole he’s been carrying the squad. These two are, if you wanna talk contracts that is an interesting way to kind of do the head to head for this. I don’t know that we’re gonna come to a conclusion on which will address better the better. I mean I don’t know man. For what Milwaukee needed, for what Milwaukee needed grand all was a superb fit. He’s a great pitch framer. He’s part of the struggles with the staff may have come from grand all having to learn a brand new staff after being in the dodgers system for number years to pitchers are handled. A little differently out there. I’m sure probably a little more successful. If you wanna look at history now but grand all for the price to upgrade your offense at that position by that much, and not lose anything really serious defensively. That’s a huge pickup. Like I said, with grand all the brewers would be arguably sub five hundred. Five hundred. Well, I can see that. Yeah. I mean, look at I mean consider this, I mean, the last nine games. The cubs are three and six. And. In control us in the last nine games. He’s batting three ninety four with seven fifty eight slugging one point two oh to Opie s he brought his opiates from nine await to nine fifty two in that stretch. And sure he’s got three home runs, twelve RBI’s. And yet the cubs you know, obviously have other issues besides that. But, but yeah. He’s been really good lately. I think if he keeps it up and the rest of the team can get get it together a little better. And you know that’s that’s gonna be huge. But well that’s that’s baseball. I mean obviously. Yeah. It’s like me saying show if he ever gets his stuff together, or I mean. I mean Milwaukee we had this discussion go back and listen to last week’s episode, by the way because we talk about the depth of the lineup for each squad, and that all plays a role in this because you had control says what your four or five best contributor? Yes.

00:30:02 – 00:35:01

I had to have grand all in my top three Ryan. I didn’t have a great case for anybody after that. Yeah. He was expected to have a bad ass line. I mean just by Ben. Okay. Yeah. Just by the numbers. I mean contrivances his higher than for the thing is, is the cubs got Rizzo Bryant and bias in which when the year comes in. I mean those three are going to be be up there. So to have control us also putting up those the similar numbers be fantastic, especially from the catcher position. Now, you know. You know, Schwarzer and, and, you know, Hayward he might end up. Well, okay year he gets hot again in may. You know and gets you know he had a good start to the season. And you know, but yeah, anyways. Yeah. Well the long and short of it head to head. These two guys are having very, very similar years. They’ve had very, very similar past four, seize contrary. Shes contract is obviously more beneficial to the cubs. The brewers went out and got grand all because they thought there are a couple of pieces away from making another World Series run, or at least the deep deep playoff run, if they don’t get stuff together in the lineup that’s not going to be the case. But I do think, you know, yes, is earn some extra money, somebody’s gonna pay that man next year. And maybe it’s the bruise. Maybe it’s not. But there’s no question that they have been big contributors to their squad. Yeah. Think it was smart of the bruised ego get grand all. And obviously was the cubs have done a great job developing controllers. Yeah. Well, I think what more we want to get into on concluded confers is better. So now we can move on. Grand all is the hero. All right. Oh. Eating. All I thought heroes the hero, but well he would all his ass out. Asa. Not that I’m bitter. Right. Right. Absolutely not. Yeah. Okay. All right. Let’s get to tweet of the week. And, and it leads us right central because I think we need a little time to talk about about this. So. Sure. Want you bring it in for us. Okay. Well tweeted the week is Philip gray being at t h n D racquet, and it’s actually replied to UK reds at UK reds MLB, so, yeah, the reds are really excited about their prospects. If we went by run differential day are so, so, yeah, I, you know, I mentioned just imagine if the season started on Tuesday, April ninth so reds, didn’t lose eight of the first nine games, NL central would be cubs forty and twenty eight reds. Thirty five thirty two cardinals thirty five thirty two Milwaukee thirty four thirty three pirates thirty one thirty six, you know, Philip graving then replied to that thing or imagine for us path the Gordon win loss which we talked about. We just released that stretch episode where we talk about Ron differential now. So if. If you don’t you don’t know what that is. Check that out because we dive into that. But using the gore in win loss, which takes a new car around differential cubs would be forty five thirty three reds would be forty three thirty three cards, forty thirty seven brewers at five hundred thirty nine thirty nine in pirates thirty one forty five. So it’s, it’s an interesting division. I guess the, the teams are, are all kind of rate in there. It’s all there’s what a six six game spread from first to last six games. Yes. Which is pretty tight, especially now that we’re getting close to. Well, we are half way at right? Aren’t we? We are. Yeah. Yeah. We are on the right on the yes and thirty seven for Milwaukee. My quick math, forty plus thirty nine seventy nine games or a couple of shorter eighty one. Right. So and then close it also break as well here. So. That’s pretty tight. And, and it’s you know, I guess looking at the the gory win laws. It’s just the teams some teams are under performing some are overperforming some are lucky, some are where they could be expected. They’re winning. Well, it’s, it’s. Winning the way they’re winning games is, is different not in the end. They’re all within six games. So in the end, it’s like, well, you know, the whole UK reds thing, just imagine if the season started on Tuesday. Hey how about I play that game? Just imagine if the brewers didn’t get blasted by the Marlins won game. They’d have sixteen more runs is soon as you start cherry picking these stats.

00:35:01 – 00:40:06

They become totally useless. I mean they’re, they’re borderline, they’re borderline usable. And they give a good projection of what teams really are at times granted the Pythagorean win loss for the brewers make some sense, because the pitching staff is really struggled, and they haven’t had the run scoring that they should so they look about five hundred. But then when you factor in some clutch hitting from grand doll, some clutch hitting dacas. You know, I don’t know one of the best players in the world, you know, Christian yelich, and then Josh hater at the back end of the bullpen. Yeah. You’re gonna win more games that are a little tighter, than you’re gonna, you know, whatever. Anyway, I thought it was funny. I think it’s, it’s interesting to look at it that way. I just. I don’t understand. So imagine if the season started on Tuesday, April ninth will great, let me take out the last twelve games for the brewers, and that’s redo the numbers that way whatever. Yeah. Well, it’s, you know what’s interesting is looking at, you know versus. Versus a central. Brewers are pretty good. They’re twenty and twelve. So there anything, they’re beaten up the most on their opponents, but they are six and eleven against the west to five and interleague eighteen twenty one the road drug alled it’s almost like they built their lineup in their structure to be really good against the teams that play the most. Yeah. Well, sensible is that doesn’t doesn’t seem to be. Until they’ve, they’ve just stunk against some teams that this should beat. And it’s really, yes. It’s really it’s really come on in the last three weeks. You know the Marlins. Yes. Of where it started. And right. Well there it’s been three and seven a rough stretch for the pitching and seven three seven last ten ten and ten last twenty and fifteen fifteen last thirty. I mean a five hundred sure club when you look at the last thirty games. Well that tells you, they bad they played bad teams there that should. That’s why it was vitally important to get through April. The way they did. In fact, they’ve been fortunate that they got through on really a big plus side coming out of April, which was unexpected but baseball baseball, and they’ve struggled against teams they should beat. It’s frustrating fan. Yeah. Good thing. You’re really, really digging in this season, you know, since we’re doing this podcast, it’s been probably a lot of fun for you. Hey, no, no, no, no, no. There was a stretch last year where I was just as frustrated the five games in pirate. They lost the next game after the all-star break. It was well the way they’re losing to the pirates to that red series started out the same way. Just there was a stretch games. The couple three before the red series and the red series the way it started where just felt exactly like that. Except kinda worse, the reds would you know a home. Run ball off the top of the fence and a home. Run ball off the fair poll in the same game as just, you know, the fire blows a strike call puts guy on first base. Of course. The next guy hits, three run, Jack off the foul pole. Oh my God. Yep. Well, wow. I’ve been really frustrated this week. This has been cathartic talking with me Ryan. You’ve been pretty nice. I’ve been surprised even harder on myself. Yeah. Well, takes the pressure of me, I guess, and you know. I have my complaints about the cups. I’m excited for kimbrel. That’s going to help a lot. Sure, I’m excited for Hendrix comeback. That’s gonna make a big difference. And I’m excited to see, you know, see a little more power from Bryant, you know. And just in general the offense starting to hit with runners in scoring position that would help. But, but yeah, I mean looking at the rest of the central I mean, the cardinals somebody, the brewers could run away with this division to the cubs could ran away with the stuff. Yeah. In the past two and a half we s I think that’s one of the things that’s so frustrating, the Casten hero thing, bothers me, not only because of what the numbers are. And what they say could be. And it’s not necessarily you know one hundred percent guaranteed. I get that. But it’s frustrating to watch when the team struggling when you know the cub. Are struggling. And you know there’s something you could do about it. And you don’t do it. That’s yeah. Because. Well, yeah, you’ve got that with the birds that’s extra frustrating. I mean, you know, would you know you can’t really the cubs kinda have done what they can. I mean offensively. I think they’re okay, it’s cups half and frustration, you know, other than control us lately, low frustration offensively and then and then otherwise it suspend waiting for kimbrel.

00:40:06 – 00:45:11

So that’s gonna tighten everything up there, I would say, I would go this far. I’d say Milwaukee won the off season. And a lot of ways, and I would say that the cubs are winning the NC’s in when it comes to front office maneuvering like that. Well, yeah. Milwaukee obvious there’s been some unfortunate luck. Well kimbrel. Yeah. But even kept him away from the brewers, right? Getting cargo. Yeah. What I would say is losing Canabal is unfortunate not have. Ving any of these young guys turn into anything other than Woodruff who I kinda thought would outside of those guys not developing. That’s some bad luck. So it’s, it’s fun as it was the do these podcasts in February. It’s really interesting to see how the seasons developed ’cause you could never see half of this stuff happened now. And yeah, ozzy’s. I mean jeez. I you wanna talk about not expecting one thing. I mean the cubs let Tommy Lee Stella. Yeah, right. Yeah. That’s you know, but you know what? You can look at that, and it doesn’t really matter because he wouldn’t have been in a regular starting role with the cubs anyways. So I mean great for him. He’s at least he’s a you know in the American League with the angels. So whatever get him some playing time. Yeah. And and but yeah, he’s, he’s having a sick season. Eight sixty to Opie as batting three hundred. He’s got sixteen home runs. I mean that’s just ridiculous. I mean, he was kind of, that’s probably how I felt you, if you go back to three years. That’s probably how I felt a little bit about Milwaukee letting scooter Ginette go turning into a home. Run machine for Cincinnati. You know, hitting over three thirty in season. The thing is sometimes that change of environment is a big deal. Yeah, I mean, yeah, he, he hit in from two thousand fifteen to two thousand eighteen with the cubs. He hit nine home runs. He’s got. Right. Yep. You know. I mean he he was an incredible pinch hitter. Very good. Pinch hitter. Kind of we kinda missed that we don’t really have that, you know, not like as good as he was. So but, but anyways, yeah, I mean again, looking at all this, this stuff, you know, Goldschmidt, it’s not been so great. So, but of course, I just did one before we get to far into the break down there just want to say, I love most of what David Stearns has done. I’m just really frustrated with one thing, and that’s it outside of that. I think he’s done a fantastic job. I’m not here just. Yeah. Whining, and moaning about everything. He’s done going out and getting Ben Gammel, looks really brilliant right now. You get a left handed bat off the bench comes in plays. Great defense, an upgrade for the bench. If you wanna talk benches. That was a big upgrade for the Milwaukee bench over Domingo Santana, although Domingo’s Santana last down the stretch last year head some huge pinch hits as well. Yeah. I did just want to get that in there. I am David Stearns fan. I’m just really annoyed by the situation with the lineup. No. I can’t say anything bad about THEO. Obviously, you know, maybe he’s well, I mean, you know, come on. I mean he’s, he’s hall of fame caliber, you know. I mean go read, so I had that role I’d have a fifty fifty shot at being hall of fame, caliber to come. Wow. Okay. Maybe now. All right. We like to pretend were GM’s here. Just a couple of fans. Duke it out. Yeah. So at least today I got to express my frustration. I feel so much better. I’m surprised it was kind of a kind of fearing the podcast. But I feel a lot better now. I’m glad I’m glad I could help. I, I you know, I don’t know. It’s I I’m to some degree you’re -tated to see see. I mean the cubs should a broke away here. I mean it it just so I can’t, you know, I’m not in a way. Same way as as easily. But, but in any case. The cubs. The cubs are. Yeah. Yup. In I they are a seventh if you look at all major leagues, you know, just as far as win percentage you know, so they’re in. They’re up there with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. They got these four games against Lanta which that’s going to be a good test while they’ve played to they got to more, you know that’s that’s good. You know, dodgers are are at the top and the twins and the Yankees in Houston. They’ve sure you know been rolling cardinals down and thirteen while, you know, when you look at all everything that’s gone wrong for everything that’s gone wrong for Milwaukee in the last three weeks.

00:45:11 – 00:50:01

They’re still the top wildcard. Okay. And they’re only a game. That’s where you’re frustrated is only a game ahead of me off because, you know, if they put their stuff together, it’s going to be a race again it’s been amazing that the entire central division. I mean, the I guess. Berg Cincinnati are six and four over their last ten but the entire division is struggled Saint Louis, yes, it’s about same. See what happened Jordan. See that. So Jordan Hicks. That’s cute at is going to be tough for them to deal with. So he’s going. Yup. Tommy John surgery for Jordan Hicks. The guy that consistently throws one hundred to one two torn UCLA. He was. He was running with a three point one, four ERA thus far this year. Real tough guy to hit cards, still have Andrew Miller. They slept breath. Be the big one to step up. But that’s a huge blow. Yeah, yeah, that’s, that’s a Corey naval type of blow to that. They don’t have that shutdown guy, you know, anymore, and I know you know, the cubs going without that. I mean that’s why I’m excited for kimbrel to come in it. It makes it tough. They’re going to have a tough situation now, having to, you know, put put their relievers in positions that maybe they’re not gonna best succeed in and yeah, it, it really that I think that’s a huge blow. I don’t wanna see injuries ever, but you know, it’s like, well I mean. More more problems than that, though. They’ve also have have pretty underperforming offense in particular Goldschmidt, seven seventy Opie as I mean to fifty six batting average. I mean, you he’s only got fourteen home runs. I mean you gotta expect there’s gonna be some progression. His mean at some point, which is a little scary. Well, yeah, because he’s who would you rather have right now? Who would you rather have right now? Josh bell of the pirates playing first base for you. Oh, goldschmidt. Yeah. Josh bells, Ben. That’s how good Josh bell is the other side. The flip side. The Anna three eleven. He’s batting got an opium of one point zero one three twenty home runs. We haven’t talked about a much on this podcast, but between him and FREDDY Freeman. Yeah. Those are kind of your to first base stars. I know rizzo’s on the ballot tube but those who have I’m sorry they’ve had superiors Rizzo thus far resolve fine player. But yeah, you think about it Goldschmidt or bell? I mean long term, I think Paul Goldschmidt, s- going to be dominant again by the end of the year but Josh bells having an incredible season. But yeah, that’s another thing hurting that cardinals lineup big time is not having the anchor, they expect right? His numbers were you’re going into his numbers. I thought. Goes interrupted you. Oh, yeah. Yeah. No I mean I was just mentioned. I just mentioned. I mean, seven seventy oh S is, you know, I mean, he should be nine hundred plus for sure. Right. So P S. So I mean you Goldschmidt is he should definitely be. I mean at least at least Rizzo rizzo’s nine fourteen Opie s he’s got nineteen home runs. I mean he really is having a good year. I mean Freeman as you mentioned twenty one home runs. He’s got a nine ninety one Opie s and yeah, like like you mentioned with Josh bell already his, his numbers. I mean, you know, sir. Yeah. Yeah. So. Yeah. I mean, that is a tough both of the cardinals have such an underperforming ultimate, so I that’s fine by me. Yeah. We’re not. Yeah. Keep them healthy and keep him suck. That’s fine. Yeah. I didn’t wanna see Hicks. We wanted to wrap up on Hicks to. I didn’t wanna see him. No. Because actually really enjoyed. I enjoyed watching Bruce hit off of him. Yeah. Now granted, it’s always tough. But well that high heat yellow chips that it’s fun to watch him hit against some of the best pitchers granted, you don’t hit it every time. But it was it is disappointing to see that hat. I mean as much as I hate the carton. Yeah. Don’t wanna root for that. Consider consider this the cardinals for qualifying starters offensively. They don’t have anyone over nine hundred Opie s at all in their lineup. Awhile, and they only have to over eight hundred everyone else’s below eight hundred including Goldschmidt, Molina’s six seventy nine Opie s. Yeah. I mean that’s, that’s not. I don’t think that’s often sake. We’re expecting especially adding Goldschmidt. I mean ozone Duda, and Paul Dejong are the only two over eight hundred Opie s so I mean ozone ah.

00:50:02 – 00:55:04

You know, he’s well he was hot earlier. He’s, I guess he’s eight thirty seats. He’s, but he’s got twenty home runs. And I think that tells a big story, we keep talking about Pythagorean puts oriented wins losses easy for you to say, yeah. Runs scored run differential Saint Louis as a plus eleven run differential. They’re literally rate were they’re supposed to be. But when you start talking about their lineup. That’s tells a different story. I almost tells a story that they’ve overachieved at times this year. When you think about the offense, they’re putting up. Yes, no, I that granted they’ve had they’ve had pretty decent pitching three hundred and forty seven runs against put somewhere in the middle. But what is not a that is not a team that I fear here? I think that’s why the Jordan Hicks thing is such a huge blow. I mean, in some ways him being a piece in allowing that those relievers to lay out the way they should is probably the only thing that’s been keeping him a float. And now you lose Jordan Hicks. And if the offense continues to scuffle I mean, there, hopefully they get buried, there’s been there’s been some Saint Louis fans that haven’t been happy about the way that pens used to begin with rice. Right. This’ll be enter this’ll be interesting to see how it lays out Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh’s being Pittsburgh. Their minus seventy six run differential, but only five games under five hundred. Yeah. Kind of interesting as well, really? They should be much much other there. Look air lock. You might have passed. The gory unlock is five plus five for them. Whereas Cincinnati dragged if seven so they, they they’re kind of opposite stories, yet they have the exact same record, you know, thirty six and forty today. So that’s interesting. How despite the different make-up’s that they have the same record right now. Well into to dig in one thing on Cincinnati. To the brewers lost Derrick Johnson Cincinnati. They’re pitching coach. He went over there this year. There are they’ve given up two hundred ninety one runs. The Milwaukee Brewers have given up three hundred ninety nine runs their, the Milwaukee pitching staff is just about in shambles. Cincinnati staff seems to be hanging in there doing quite well even though the Bruce seem to take Louis castio when they do get hold of. There is more and more grumbling, especially on the fan side, that maybe you and there was before the season two, we talked about losing Eric Johnson. We didn’t know what we’re gonna get. You’ve got a rookie pitching coach first year in the big leagues as a pitch in code. Yeah. To keep the staff together, it may be a bigger factor than we want to admit it’s hard to say. But Derek, Johnson’s obviously done a nice job in Cincinnati. It’s hard to keep that many runs off the board in that ballpark. So right anyway. Yeah. Anything else you want to add and the NL central breakdown that was a long one for. Yeah. Dug in a little girl, you know we’re getting close halfway through the season. It was worth looking also just because it’s six games. Six games separating. Yes. The entire division is pretty crazy. So I yeah. Well, the thing is all five of these teams are capable of going on a ten game winning streak and it’d be in first place potentially at the end of that whoever it was even if it was Pittsburgh. Yeah. All of these teams are capable Josh bells ridiculous. Pittsburgh has an okay starting staff. I can see Cincinnati. Putting some games together, no doubt about it. Derek Dietrich not liking that guy much and stick your elbow somewhere else. That boy, cathartic park. Yes. Yeah. In better. Yeah. Let’s get the prediction. Yeah. Let’s get done here. So predictions, I guess while we got a couple to conclude here. I made that prediction about you Darvish, his last start that he’d yet a ws he’s pitched didn’t didn’t happen. You had. Well, you had one as well. Yeah. I had one that ended this week. It was I was really this was more of a betting with my heart than betting with my head’s. Right. Well, that’s what I did with the with the Darvish one too. So that’s why we’re so good at this right, right? Yeah. Well, we make ridiculous predictions and see what happens last week, I predicted in the next six games, Braun, Sean themes, would combine for six home runs. So they’re sort of on June nineteenth that concluded that they combined for two so Braun head one and Shaw had one. Socia- basically hit the longest bomb of his career and didn’t do anything else, and then Braun was actually very solid and across the week in general. Just only had the one home run a ilar themes did not take one out of the art.

00:55:04 – 01:00:09

Yeah. So that’s a fat L for me. I and I guess it should give the numbers to on the that Darvish third. He, he went six innings, not seven and Ota, gave up four runs six strikeouts. Two walks he did give up two home runs. So yeah, that’s, that’s what happened there. I you know. I guess. I guess we gotta make some predictions. Yeah. We, we do have to make some predictions. I don’t know where you are at as far as being ready. If you got one, you should definitely get it out there. Oh here quick. I don’t have one prepared at all. You know what I was going to do? Okay. And I know what I’m gonna in. It’s actually I haven’t made made an end of season prediction and a very long time. But I actually I’m going to basically, I’m going to double down, you know, on the contrary grand all thing you made that prediction, and episode twenty seventy said grand all will lead catchers in the National League in war and have twenty eight plus home runs you made that prediction. I’m I feel very confident that could actually happen even though that is a bold prediction. It’s bold send us season. And, and, you know, so you made that prediction, and basically, I, I’m so convinced that’s not gonna happen that. I’m gonna I’m actually going to predict. That, that. I’m gonna go ahead and predict that contrary as is going to lead. The National League in. In war war ups based on that. You just copycat another prediction of mine. The double down. Yeah. So basically what will happen is all win my prediction. You’ll lose your it’s just like you know, the brewers losing. And then the cubs winning. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It’s a full game. Right. Right. S-. So that’s doing here. Homerun wise, you know. Let’s. I’ll go ahead. I’m gonna duplicate it. I’m gonna say twenty eight plus as well. Okay. Well, that seems reasonable, both these cancers are on pace to have right borderline careers. I would say, it’s, it’s exciting to see some, some really great catching in the division here. Again between these two guys. Yeah. So that’s, that’s the other the other clubs have some okay except that, that prediction. It’s, it’s. Yeah. That’d be much the same exact thing Myers, just contraire as. Yeah. How can I argue again right there? Yeah. We just discussed. They are and and besides for one or the other of us is going to be a full full full game. Swing essentially, so or we both over both wrong. That’s true. It is. I don’t forsee but it’s right. So I think he’s actually leading in war last time I checked, which actually that might have changed now. But, but yeah, that could be. Okay. Well, I’m gonna I’m gonna make a prediction here, and I kinda wanna tie it to the Adrian Hauser conversation. The hard part, here’s, I’m not sure exactly how they’re going to use them. So you’re going to have to help guide me through this a little bit. They are promising. Basically, they’re promising him to starts. I’m expecting he’ll go maybe three innings tonight. And maybe four or five on July third, if that’s his next expected start unless they bump into the fourth. I’d like to predict that he only gives up one earned run in his two starts combined. Whatever that is if that’s used as an opener. I don’t think it is. I think they’re trying to stretch him out. But I I’m betting on desparation along with the brewers here. Open that this is. Yeah. This is going to be one that will work out. So one earned run in two starts for Houser. However many innings however many innings he pitches. I don’t expect him. My expectation is that he goes, three maybe four tonight and they try and search him to four maybe five in second start. But it hasn’t been made perfectly clear what the plan is there is the possibility. They only use them a couple innings both times, and they bring somebody like Peralta out of the pen, a Jimmy Nelson pitched last night. So I wouldn’t expect him to be the piggyback if they do, do the piggyback thing which frankly might be kinda smart right now with how the seasons going, but is that bold enough? Or do you want me to do something a little different than that? .

01:00:11 – 01:05:04

Boy. Is it bowl? Nuff. I feel like one earned run for a guy that gave up five the last time he started. Well, when they tried to stretch him to four or five innings he gave up five when he did an opening job. He only gave up he didn’t give up anything. Right. Right. So it could be if it’s the opener situation where they just run them out there for two innings both games. I can seize euro earned runs, not being that bold. Because he’s a reliever right? Kind of. Yeah. Well that’s that’s stretch him out. That’s if they’re stretching him out, which I expect them to do because they need a starter. Right. That’s true. He’s been a starter all the way through the minors. If that’s not bold enough. I have a backup prediction. That’s unrelated. Let’s see, so detailed, again, one earn running his next. His next to start. For anybody else. That’s not been an opener. That’s pretty bold. It doesn’t matter if that’s clean. No, I agree. I agree with that. You know what I’m used as an opener because then that’s not all right? Let’s put a minimum. Things pitched. Yeah. There let’s put a minimum number of. Let’s say you ask the pitch at least five innings in the two starts combined with only one is that enough? How about six five innings total six? Yeah. Yeah. Six innings with only one earned run. Yeah. That’s three equality or. It’s hard to predict a quality start telling me that a guy over two separate games. How minimum innings pitched, I’ll meet in the middle five and one third innings. Minimum one earned-run. Yeah. All right. Fine. What? All right. All right. Yeah, that’s fine. Remember, if he gives up two run home run tonight, the whole thing shot. Anyway. So it’s that would be six innings one earned run for any pitcher on any given night. Very bold. Yeah. All right. I’ll go without going over to starts pushing it five and a third minimum okay? Because if yeah. If they use them as an opener, he won’t go five in a third he’ll go. All right. Right. So you should be safe if that’s your fear. That is my fear. All right. Well, I think that was pretty. Yeah. Predictions, we’ve wrapped them up, by the way, we’ve also got a giveaway going on. Make sure you go to ninety miles podcast. The more people we have subscribe, the better the press, we’re definitely ramping up to possibly raising the level. Yes. We’ve got we’ve done pretty well. Keep telling your friends, let him about if you enjoy the show. Yeah. If you enjoyed the show, leave us a review, whether it be what are your favorite streaming site? Yep. Yep. And yeah. Then out of. Yeah. And. Spread the word on the on the on the contest, as well or the, the giveaway thing. So, and if you if you’ve been hearing us talk about it, and your regular listener, and you haven’t signed up, yet, don’t forget to do that times running out. So do it. You know, that’d be good. Absolutely. The other thing we haven’t talked about much is Howard, treating the stretch episode. Hello. Yes, we’re stretching out the stretch episodes a little bit. We’re going to do one every couple of weeks or so inbetween Ryan, and I are going to try and get some blogs up to kind of fill some space that way as well. We hope you enjoy it. Please leave us some feedback on what you like about what we’re and what could be different. Also, we do need to come up with something, and I think we should put a term on it. I haven’t talked to you about this. Okay. We need a we need a consequence for losing the prediction. We do. We do need that. I mean, we got some time we did have one we do, but I think we. Should be able to talk about what’s going to happen. Why don’t we come up with something by the all star break. If you have an idea out there hit us at Twitter. I’m at at brew crew winning Ryan where you at wraps cubs win. Hit us with your ideas, and maybe we’ll put up a poll, and what is the loser at the end of the season going to have to do to embarrass them. I mean, we do have some time to figure out because it will be won’t be when the season ends, it will be probably late November before we actually this season, all comes in, because it looks like well, I’m looking the last things we will that will need to be put to bed are Cy Young votes, which I think have been mid-november typically so so it could be decided before, then based on record.

01:05:05 – 01:05:39

Sure. But, you know to feel fischel. Got actually occur. So, but we’ll yeah. We’ll we’ll figured out and but yeah, let’s, let’s get outta here. Okay. Sounds good Cup suck. Cubs. They’re the best. Worst best. Okay. All right. We’re side by.