Feeding the world and the Green Revolution

All right limits the pirates think against lefties. That's been a real problem a real problem So tell us who we got going today. What's the lineup? 1230 start He's on the phone now. That was on the phone try to open phone. Yes. Here's the lineup Nick and Zalas will lead off and play third. Yeah Brandon Laugh against the lefty is gonna bat second. Hmm Brian Reynolds third Valdez will bat clean up and play right. Oh, her and will play first today in bat fifth Guess who's in the lineup batting six Joe and D. H.ing the Azuna our cello. Yeah triolos at shorts The password is in center field and Henry Davis will catch All right, so I don't look at that as a horrible lineup. Do you guys? No, it's a good lineup against the lefty. I think as the best you're gonna get at least you're now as triolo with such angst Yeah, have you noticed that? In my just the way that I talk about triolo. I just don't you should have seen limits at the game last night When true came up there's a good thing there wasn't a microphone on me because I would have been dumped multiple times This this has this right has the writing of a Hank O's do know both hit a home run today O'suna's going to hit a home run today Matt. I keep moving Matt Clementson studio here with me for this whole hour I just keep imagining what this lineup could look like if everybody's healthy and That just sort of underscores my idea that that this really needs to be about this season It really does like trade some high prospects if if it makes sense obviously don't just do it for the sake of doing it But if you have a chance to make a big move if you have a chance to really help yourself They've got you put that team in the playoffs with how out whatever order you want Let's say they're going against let's say they face Rod Rigg isn't in a playoff series Griffin Horowitz Reynolds Wow magician Oh hern The list just keeps going Did I mention Gonzalez who's like fourth in the majors and hitting it's a great not a good It's a great lineup they could have to go with some serious talent high-end starters if you add a bullpen to that If the pirates make the playoffs they could legitimately make a run do you agree with that? Absolutely and they're gonna make moves. I really think they are that the trick to tricky part is like You know the prospects you're giving up you got to make the right move. Let's think of the last time they really did this in a real sort of way When they're trying to make a run it was a Chris Archer deal and you gave up prospects So you you ought to be willing and I know you are because I've heard you say it But everybody's got to be willing like that if this doesn't work out and the guy we grab doesn't work out to be to be that good and You give up a Murf Gray or a Florentino or somebody like that and they turn into a store like I mean if you think about it Look what glass now could became and and actually meadows right away was was pretty dang good and bazas still a starting picture Yeah, you know, so that's the last time this happens. So that's that's the flip side of the let's give them up But I I don't disagree and I feel like they're going to do it I think that like you said though. It's got to be within reason. It's got to make sense and unfortunately for Charrington who hasn't made a lot of great decisions like at the deadline like ones that have been impactful whether he's been allowed to or not You know his his trades and some of these other little ones like the Horowitz and this this raise one for a lot is like a the jackpot of all It's like the archer the opposite way right and and you know, but he's he's he's sitting in a situation where you know He has to make the right decision and it has to make sense for them And I don't mind it being I think it should be the focus like he said and like you're talking right now the focus should be on this year's team because it has a chance So you said you were coming in today armed with some names not necessarily huge blockbuster deals But but names arms that could help this bullpen who should he be looking at in that respect because that's what needs to happen first and foremost Well, I think before the Padres like Renaissance, which is my biggest worry in this playoff Wild card pushes us Padres team because the Padres might make more moves than everybody now that they're in the mix because Preller's showed that he's not afraid to do that You know, I didn't think Mason Miller had any chance of coming here ever I kind of said that we're looking at Yankees No chance that the pie that the pirates are gonna the Mason Miller the pirate no chance they could leverage Harry Callis's relationship with Miller and maybe use that that's the only reason I give that's the only reason I give it a little chance That's the only reason But I feel like he was just too much like here's the part of this trade thing that that has to be accounted for yeah Especially bringing in a Mason what we'll use Mason Miller's example here. Yeah, so you're gonna You're about ready to dish out the highest ever first year arbitration money to Paul schemes at 10 million If you trade for Mason Miller, you're about to you're gonna about the dish out the highest ever for closer He has like his numbers this year or just so ridiculous somebody read him to me yesterday. Yeah, so then Cruise is gonna get a major bump in arbitration whether he plays another game this year or not Now all of a sudden your Jared Jones arbitration number They don't care that he was hurt last year these arbitration numbers They're gonna care what he did he had a really good rookie year Yeah, and if he continues to do what he's doing right now. He's getting a major bump Not to mention Maginski if he sticks around he's gonna get a bump. It's not gonna be as major But you're okay, you're getting rid of allow off the books. You're gonna make a bullpen move in here. That's probably gonna Eat up the losing soda probably You know, so does eight million but some move in here is maybe trade Keller plus you have Ozuna's money gone 12 million and you get the magician at a decent number Yes, you're gonna have the magician a decent number, but I there's there's a lot of pieces that fit into this whole equation Yeah, but I but I feel like Charington is armed to make these moves if they make sense and it's it's Exciting like I thought like Estrada and Morazon from the podra's were much more likely than Then Mason Miller because they're set up guys really good set up guys You know, we talked on Monday limits and I talked about you know Kirby eights with the about just a veteran dude like him He's 39 years old. He has some closing experience. Maybe doesn't come to close But maybe like a veteran dude in that pen that's been through penit races and and All the stuff in the world down there to add and I keep going back to the angels They have chase still Seth is a as one of their younger relievers that they have that's having a good year Second year bought a control on him having a good year. We talked about Daniel Lynch with With the royals. Yeah with the royals a lefty who's in his fifth year, but making a million dollars lefty that's doing very well There's I think you could go through every roster and say this guy and this guy makes sense and and of course the guy You know, I think Luke Weaver still makes sense and Brazobon maybe both of them in a package makes sense Also again, you have to give some people up. Is it gonna be prospects? Is it gonna be somebody here? I think the ozuna Keller Situations like gonna be added on to it and some creative way you might be picking up some salary back of a hit or whatever the case may be I still think the guy that then they aim to look out for that. I'm not saying he's going to be I'm not saying they should the name to look out for if you're gonna make a big move as Maginski I think he carries a ton of value. Hmm. Obviously it's been choppy his usage whether it's him whether it's Donnie whether it's Keep them stretched out whether it's piggybacks whatever the case may be there's there's enough choppin This to his role since he's went down there and I think teams good or bad can say we need a fourth starter He'll be our fourth or fifth starter next year too Let's let's make this move. He's he's young. He's in his first year of arbitration He's not gonna be getting paid a ton and Maginski's probably it You know not that he has the choice whether he's up for it or not But that would give him what he him and his agent once so I think that's the one name that could really it's not the Murf Gray or Florentino They could get it But I also think that some of these some of these lesser prospects Can get the job done for some of these people you put in there I'd just love to see him get a closer that they knew was their closer who all the sudden might be Montgomery right now maybe That kind of kind came to fruition. I think we talked about that is this the like the Okay, he can throw the hardest he can strike people out this he looks like a closer Let's give him the chance in his first. He is he is their closer right. Yeah, where's the problem? Here's the thing that's happening. That's almost surreal as Bob smysic tweeted today It's that the bullpen's been pretty good since the all-star game in these 11 games that says two four two five four ERA They've been great in this series the biggest series of the year Well, they give up one one-on-one run in eight innings yesterday. I wonder Something like that in the day before they were even better. Yeah, because the the run that was given up in both of the extra inning Frames were unearned. Yeah, the runner starting on second the problem right now Matt is the rotation last five starts for all these guys Jones has been great 210 Keller 462 Chandler 533 schemes 533 553 and Ashcraft has disappeared at 7.71 Do you think that the rotation bounces back? I'm like I'm saying it has to first off it has to bounce back if you want to be a playoff team They have the right parts. I'm not there's not a lot of blood again And if we traded for a starter, you know, where it's not like an obvious like up, he goes right there and that guy goes in the pen. That's the rotationist thought of at least that way. Yes, it's been disappointing since the break. And I feel like schemes, I agree with you. What we saw from schemes the other night shows that he's still on the right track. He still isn't schemes of last two years though, but it doesn't matter. Scheme's isn't even a part of the equation. Like he's going to be there. Catching Jones, you're right. Jones is Jones is the best starter they have right now. It's not even close. Ashcraft is a is a is a worry. And I'm hoping that Sunday outing like we talked about early, maybe getting that W in a weird give up some runs sort of way gets him gets him back on track. I've said all year Jones and Chandler are they are what they are. And and sometime and you hope that by the end of this thing, you're catching lightning in a bottle with them. You're seeing it out of Jones right now. I think you're on the verge of seeing that out of Chandler last night was a bump in the road. I'll be interesting to see what happens. His next next outing because he has been pretty good. Let me ask you this. The Cubs just DFA James and Tyon. I like it. Could you bring him in as a bullpen guy say come back home, pitch out of the bullpen for us. I don't hate it. I actually talked about that with somebody yesterday when it came up and he got DFA and his V.L.O. was down. He's coming off the injured list. He's been hurt forever. Knows what he's doing. We'll appreciate what he's coming back to here. He got to do a little bit of postseason like sniffing around with the Cubs. But like come back, he was a part of the part of like this rebuilding process. As long as you aren't paying that monster contract. As long as you're bringing him back on the cheap, I don't hate it. And I wouldn't be surprised if they're at least like peeking at it. Let me see. Do you like that idea? I picked out of the bullpen. I wouldn't hate it. Now, I wonder if his stuff would play up in the bullpen. That's kind of my concern. There's been a lot of hard contact off him and we saw that Sunday against the pirates, especially maybe give him maybe give him 10 days here. The Cubs would come off an injury. He definitely doesn't look like right now. I mean, he's given a millions of homers. The Cubs, I think, would need to eat some celery. Oh, my God. Yes. They need to all the stuff. Well, the pirates don't even entertain if they're not eating celery. Right. It would have to be a trade because I think it'd be interesting. He's making 18 million this year. I mean, is it a solution? Is it a solution? No. But when you get to this trade deadline, why I like veterans here, it's how many times the Cardinals are famous for this. They bring a guy in. It's at the end of his career. And next thing you know, he's winning the, he's in the, he's the NLCS MVP. And then then he's playing two more years and getting a contract. Like he plays above his, plays above his skis. Like he plays above how he's playing right now. He's a veteran dude that has that, that's, that's, that's time on, right? It's, it's a lottery ticket. If it doesn't work out, you just DFA. I'm three, 10 days later or 12 days later. Maybe you catch lightning in a bottle with a dude that knows what he's doing. It's been through the battles before that, that'll like step up because it really matters right now. I can't say that it doesn't really matter in Chicago with what he just did. But again, he's been hurt the whole time. You're, you're kind of not sure yourself, whatever the case may bring him back. Give him 10 more days to get healthy. Throw him out there, see what happens. I like auto tickets like that. And I think you might see amongst these moves, everybody is like predicting how many moves they're going to make amongst these moves. There's going to be some kind of a veteran guy that we're all going to be sitting in here and saying, what are we picking him up for? He's batting 220 with whatever in his OPS is bad and everything else. But those are the guy and the guys. I think about my Cubs team. We brought in and Erasmus Marra's on that trade, but we also brought in Kenny Lofton and Randall Simon all from the parts. And I think the reliever we brought in was like Dave Veer's from the Rockies. Those guys were huge in us in that playoff run. Absolutely huge. And you wouldn't have thought that Randall Simon would be huge for a playoff run for the Cubs team or whatever the case may be. And Kenny Lofton was at the end of his career at that time. Those guys were huge. And some honestly some of my favorite teammates I've ever had. Now Ramirez was the big ticket in a trade as somebody that's where we're talking like this guy that can help us years down the road. Hopefully you're grabbing somebody like that in these trades. It's going to be a Lodolo would be in the rotation next year, the left in a rotation. Dehrmers would be in the rotation. Maybe that's the kind of guy. But those guys just make such a difference in the clubhouse. And they just when you have a veteran guy like that, they have the potential to really show up. Yeah. Well, it's like Jay hap when the pirates got him to nobody thought much of it. Exactly. That's he was great. That's what you have to take some swings out here. And I think that chairing team's going to and they're probably some of them aren't going to be popular. Was Jay hap a popular pick up that year? Probably not. No. No. And he carried them down the stretch. And then I look at some of these. Let's talk about this next. Some of the big fish that are out there like scooble. Where is he going to go? Some people saying Milwaukee. How would that be limits? You'd be crying that day. Yes. More than I've already cried this week watching the pirates and other things. Right. Scoobles go into one of three places. Milwaukee, New York Yankees or Dodgers. That was a three team. I know which team doesn't fit though. Milwaukee. Well, and Milwaukee, if I think it's the podraiser getting back in this to the Mason Miller each day is being less likely to be traded. I think that's a very logical destination for Mason Miller. The race or the brewers, if not the Yankees. Well, why the rays and the brewers and not the pirates? Because the rays and the brewers have this history now of knowing how to handle those situations. Bring them in. Give them a big deal. Two years later, even if he's the best closer in the history of all baseball. Right. Parlay him into something else. Gone. The pirates should be doing. Gone. They have a couple of prospects that were really good at picking prospects and putting them in the big leagues. That's what's going to happen. That's what they're going to give them. Onial crews and two of your top five prospects and bring in Mason Miller. Then Parlay him and other guys a couple of years down the road. I don't hate that strategy. I don't hate that strategy limits. Not entirely. It's not happening. What do you mean? Well, why answer me this? Why can the rays and the brewers bring in Mason Miller? What do the pirates who are in the same market can't? It's organizational philosophy. I just don't see it. Change their philosophy. Well, I love it. Listen, when I say that Mason Miller is unlikely or not, but everybody wants Mason Miller. Like, whoever gets Mason Miller, their team's going to get a lot better. I know, but you're not the first one mentioning the rays and the brewers. The brewers are being mentioned prominently. I just don't get why the pirates can't get in on that. I think that those two organizations. If it's possible. Those two organizations have a more sustained track record of being able to draft and develop players and just be smarter than the pirates. So I don't think that's why the pirates would take that risk. You know, like they know how to acquire diamonds in the rough. I know. And the pirates really don't. But the pirates have also drafted in a row here, schemes, which you could say is a no brainer, even though it wasn't. A lot of people said they're going to take crews, Connor Griffin with the ninth pick, and then her and his. Right. They must have some smarts to them. Yeah. Stupid. They just ripped off the rays and the deal that Matt mentioned, the reverse archer trade, but the and the Horwitz trade. That was a new trade. The brother. The brother. How complicated is this? Organizational philosophy. Mason Miller is out there. If I want to make that deal, I'm giving you some of my best prospects and a major league player to get the deal done. Why can. Why can't I don't understand why Tampa and Milwaukee could do it, but not the pirates? Well, basically what I was saying with that is, you want to talk about the brewers, they ripped off the red socks for Kyle Harrison. They made Jake Bowers into this all-star stud first basement that hits 24. So they're full of the logical leap from that as they can get Miller, but we can't. No, the reason why I'm saying that is I think that they have a better way of being able to backfill the talent and find other pieces than the pirates would. The way they can find other pieces is you trade like Matt said, you trade Mason Miller in two years the way the brewers trade good players all the time while they're still good and have years left on their deal and everybody gets pissed off in Milwaukee. Freddie Perolta. They turn it around and around and around and around. Who's a shortstop that went everywhere? Well, Freddie Perolta is the lot. Yeah, Perolta is the great guy. Abram or Adamus. Adamus. Yeah. And many others that they've done that with. It's just. It makes sense. Your question makes sense. I think the brewers are so locked in right now. The brewers are like the killer for the new CBA right now because they're showing you mean that they're showing you can do it. You can do it in a small market and do it really well and be really good and be really creative. The brewers and arrays are there. They've shown they've shown they can do it. They don't need a salary floor. They don't need a salary cap. They're competing with the big boys. The best record and the best record nationally, other than the Dodgers, probably I'm sure right now. And the now the one thing the brewers haven't done, they can't win a playoff series. Right. And that's the one thing that maybe this year, it's rental time for them because they have this build up of all these prospects. You've mentioned multiple times. They have more guys that come up and do good. Maybe this is here we go, rent scuba. I just read. It was a pass and or only. one of those guys said the Brewer's farm system right now is an embarrassment of riches. That's what they're dealing from. Yeah, and look at the Dodgers. They have nine top 100 prospects. If you could even believe them. That just isn't furious. Doesn't make any sense. They've got a top of spending 800 billion. They've got a great farm system all the time. There's a lot of teams. How about Shelty and the job he's doing this year? Yeah. They're gonna be a buyer. They're 500 in Minnesota. I prefer Shelty. I don't think they've got rice. I don't think they buy. Really? They'll hold. I think the nationals don't buy. I don't think the Marlins buy. I don't think the twins buy. But the twins are another team. They just, they cut the line when it's, they'll, Karea gone. It's not a good year as you alluded to Matt to prove that if you're low payroll, you can't win. And if you're big payroll, you'll always win. The bottom 12 payrolls in baseball. Brewers 67 and 40. Twins right in the playoff race. Pirates right in the playoff race. Raise 62 and 44 with the seventh lowest payroll in baseball. Nationals, a game out. I think they might be tied for the wild card. Chicago White Sox, one of the best stories in baseball. And then the bottom two, Miami and Cleveland, both at 500 are better. Is Cleveland leading their, whose leading that division limits? I know. They've got Wildcarts poppet, Shelton's twins or half came back. And then you look at some of the top payroll teams. Number one is the Mets. No, they're there. They are. They're number one. They stink. Toronto stinks. But giants aren't good. Houston, a game under San Diego, a game over, Detroit, six games under. Those are all your $200 million perils. Well, there, there's also some really good teams in there. The Dodgers, the Yankees, Boston, Phillies, Texas. Yeah. San Francisco. The 11th biggest payroll, 17 games under 500. Toronto's a team to look out for here. Because they're, they're going to, I think that they're going to sell, but they're going to sell with the eye on this team. We expect this team to win next year. So it's going to be a kind of a, in between, their, their clothes are, Varlan's been like, absolutely unhittable since the playoffs, since they got him last year from the twins. I think they got him from the twins last year to deadline. And he's been unhittable the whole time there. And it'll be interesting. Would that be somebody that they'd try to grab a couple of prospects or somebody that fits, they need us, they need a starter. You know, they're, they're hurting, they're hurting in that rotation. I've seen Lodolo and Debtmer's connected to them too. You might, you know, who might sell now, Matt St. Louis, they've lost eight out of their last 10, including their last three. They're now a game under. It's possible. Wait a second. They're going to sell, but they're one game in the lost column behind the pirates or definite buyers. They're one game separated. And then the lost column limits. I think expectations coming into the year for St. Louis, where they were just going to be a middling team that maybe had a chance to make the playoffs, like they've overexcited expectations to this point, I think. So of the pirates, they're trending. They're trending rock. No, they haven't. The pirates were, the over under in Vegas was 79 games. We predicted them to win 85. You said 86 games. They're right on our expectation. We aren't Vegas though. The pirates have exceeded expectations. Not mine and I'm not going to be satisfied if they don't make the playoffs, but it's inarguerable that they have exceeded expectations. Exceeded expectations with all the players have been hurt and a bullpen that has just been historically bad. It's amazing that there are two games that are 500. So to me, that is exceeding expectations with the circumstances make it even better that they're exceeding. I was going on. Many games have they played limits. The pirates have played 109 games, eight games. Why won't my calculator work on my cell phone? It's giving me an option to buy. But if we're talking about James Bond buying something, right, Matt? They always want us to buy something. I just want to use the calculator for God's sake. If we're talking about day one, opening day, start of the season, my expectations were that they were going to be three or four, five games over 500. So that's where they are right now, basically. Yeah. So they haven't exceeded my expectations. Mine neither. But if we, now you're moving the goalposts, how am I moving the goalposts? I specifically saying that my expectations were. The carnal's have exceeded expectations. Now they're a game under. I don't even know what you're saying. So now they're a seller, but the pirates are a buyer. I don't think the carnal's, I mean, everybody knew they weren't expected to be a playoff team this year. What is that? There's supposed to be a rebuilding year for St. Louis. And they're, I think they're now falling back into what they were supposed to be. And I don't think they're going to be buyers. I think that the pirates were supposed to be still rebuilding too. They're over under. No, they were not. They were not. This was supposed to be the year that they went for it. Right, Matt? This was supposed to be the difference. For me and you, yes. Nationally, they were predicted to over under with 78 or 79. And then we all say that we thought that was outlandish after what they did to add to their offense. And also, they're impatient when they're coming in. They're four games ahead of their Vegas pace. Matt, your thoughts? I'm happy right where they are. And I'm not. That's the thing. Yeah. But I think, but I agree with Joe. They have exceeded expectations because the expectations nationally were low. Of course, here they're high. And it's it was kind of a bridge year for them, not a rebuilding year. It's like a step above the rebuilding year. You're bringing Griffin into the fold. Yeah. Yeah. You know, you have all these young starters. You don't know when Jared Jones is coming back. You don't know if Majinski can start. Well, let me refine my statement. They have exceeded national expectations, Vegas's expectations. But limits is right in that. My feeling from the beginning is they better be a lot better than that. They better be a lot better than that. And yet they did suffer the injuries that you and I talked about and limits and Bob, whenever he's here, which is very rarely. And we said, Matt, you sat in here. You and I and Bob, who's hardly ever here and limits said that when Griffin and Cruz and Horowitz all went down, man, if they can just sneak into the trade deadline above 500, we'll sign in blood. I think we said 500, not even above. Right. We said 500. Right. Limits forgets all this all the time. And then he claims he didn't say it. I never claimed that. I know. Matt, what's your thoughts? No, I mean, I think it's been this year, let me ask you this. If they were in Shelty's division, that'd be in first place. And would you be saying they exceeded expectations in that division right now? Yes. They've kind of caught a bad break with how the division has been overall, you know, with St. Louis being so good early on. And if they were in the AL Central right now, would they be in first place or they'd be a game out or they'd be close when they'd be close? But here's the other question, regardless of anything we've said, what Limit said made sense, the expectation goes up as the season goes along. Should they have a couple more wins than they do? Yes, they should. Well, it's easy to say that with the, when you throw those, if I said no, they lead the league and blow, say, if I said no, and you, and you, and you, you throw that on the table, the, the, the bullpen stats, right? It's impossible not to say they should have more wins than they should have. They should. They should have blown games that nobody should ever blow. Yeah. And I think that that's the, there's a lot of, there's a lot of give and take with the rotation, the rotation and the pen, the pen not being as good. You know, short, we talk about, we're talking about this pen. The pen's been pretty good lately. But, you know, Boba Chandler's run scored when he came out last night, I believe. Schienz is to run score when he came out yesterday on whatever day he pitched. Yeah. Yeah. So those runs are gone. The stars when you're talking small chunks of time period, it's just been a give and take with this rotation. The rotation hasn't went long enough. It may put more stress on this bullpen. The bullpen, you know, hasn't been good some of the times. There's, there's just, there's just so much that the, the mix and the sink of this pitching staff. Well, let me ask you this. Hasn't been great. Let me ask you this. If they don't make the playoffs, it's the season of failure. I'm going to say yes, unless they get to like 89 wins and somehow don't make it, they need to make the playoffs. They said it. Travis Williams said it. They need to make the playoffs or the seasons of failure. I'm going to say if, if it's 84 wins, it's, it would be disappointing not to make the playoffs, but I wouldn't call it a failure. If this, if this lands right at 500, I'd call it a failure. Wonder twin. I think it's a failure unless they win 88 games or 87 games, but it's a failure. They have to make the postseason this year. There's no excuse. There's no exceptions. They have to make it. I just, I disagree. It's just like you're talking, you think about like Vegas is in business for a reason. They're, they're pretty good at making those numbers. That was the prediction. Who cares about what Vegas thinks? Well, we're taking 10 games over. You're saying 10 games over here. But, but if they, well, how much the white sausage is the trade deadline happens if they make a big acquisition or two, then that Vegas thing is out the window because Vegas didn't know the pirates would add like that. True. Both are true. It's, it's just, I, I think that there's, this is, this is a year. I think it's encouraging to hear, chairington say the focus is on 26 because I don't, I think if you go back to spring training and they were all in a room and you'd be talking about the trade deadline, I don't know if they'd say that all at the trade deadline, the focus is going to be on 26. What do you think? This is a part of that. This is a part of it. part of a This is a part of a process to get this to bring these young guys the Jones the Chandler Skins into his and there's prime Connor Griffin up You know all these these young guys, but they're only gonna have schemes for two more years before they trade him So the process it got to be sped up. I understand and you get Lao you've a her and you have you've some agent guys around this team But you're brought in Lao you brought in Lao to help this team get better with knowing he's only gonna be here for one year You didn't bring it again. Yeah, I'm bringing Lao as a long-term solution. Why can't you resign him? I just I wouldn't resign them, but that's why at the start of the year You would think they'd be buyers at this time because they brought in Lao for one sole purpose to be good this year And make a run to go to the playoffs this season Let me ask you a question. I was saying so no wait no, yeah Let me ask you a question Matt a fan brought this up last night and I actually started to think about it If everybody's healthy and you're not gonna have Lao anyway What about parlaying Lao at the deadline to bring in a major bullpen piece at a prospect sweeten up that deal You've gone so at second and you've got you've got a lineup serious lineup still what about that idea? Hypothetically not a bad idea I just The reason you're in this position is because of Lao So to take that bat out of the lineup right now in the matter what you did To me, he's won too many games. He's hit too many big home runs early. I think you're playing with fire with that move You know, but by getting rid of them it makes sense because you're not bringing them back and everything else But you're you're really risking the public opinion Ban wagging on that one Maybe if it's Mason Miller bringing back or somebody like that that kind of a big piece with to bring back somebody's You know Stud set up man. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I don't think I'd recommend it Lao is means everything that you just said he means to this team Why can't let's talk about this coming up next we're running out of time Alright, Matt we got one out in the second inning Jarrah Jones has only thrown 14 pitches What do you like about this guy? Huh? He's just attacking he's doing what he's a bulldog. He is doing exactly what you asked for Bubba Chandler to do He is trying to punch you out every every bear that walks up there right now and doing it with attitude. Yeah, and I think when Bubba Chandler I have a feeling that Bubba Chandler was like that in the minor leagues and he's like that sometimes in the big leagues and there's again There's another one And again, there's nothing wrong with where Bubba Chandler's right now. I'm not criticizing them. It's just like getting that Getting to that part of you become a big leader the game I remember when I was younger each league I went up to for a single way to Dubboa Dubboa to trip away trip way up. I even say this about JV basketball Dervorcy basketball to college basketball the game moves really quick when you first get up there and then when it finally slows down for you Yeah, this is what happens and it's and and when you have somebody like this who's who's so much on the extremes Like Jarrah Jones is with his like attitude and everything else. Yeah when it clicks it clicks in a way like this I mean, I know that's he at least has three punch outs out of the five outs and he only has what? 17 pitches. Yeah, and he's controlling his slider and oh wow It's Nolan Aaron Otto the greatest defensive third baseman you've ever seen. I so much fun to watch play the play He made was that last night? He made the play where you drew him off the bag just a little bit a little bit What a play. Yeah, and he was somebody I know when we were dreaming of all these trades back in April He was somebody when we were thinking Arizona might be out of it. They would have been like a what a fit That's that's the kind of guy I'm talking about you bring a veteran in there's there's got to be somebody out there and This is the you bring a veteran in like him. Yeah, then then all of a sudden like he has like a historic That's what happened with Kenny Lofton and Ramirez when they brought it like I was talking earlier They have a historic like August and September and basically carry you into the playoffs There's a couple wild cards out there. Hopefully they grab somebody like that. I'll tell you another thing that's happening for me anyway An unexpected consequence of the ABS system Is the umpires are unbelievable in this sport? How do they do it with the ball moving the way it does at the velocity it does How incredibly accurate they are and do you agree? I agree and how hard it is now to be a pitcher Like this has really made life hard on the pitchers because you have to throw in that zone Yeah, they can challenge it if it's not in that zone you don't get the the easy one here and there He's just mowing through people he's just blowing these guys away Was that the first thing you looked at when you knew your pitching is who the home played umpire would be and did you have an idea then of what your strike zone would be? I looked at who the home who the home played umpire was the day When the minute the series started I counted where they were going from he was on second base He was coming to third he'd be at home like I that was one of the first things I looked at when I when the series started not Not when the not the game I was pitching that day I knew two days but prior like who that umpire was going to be especially for like a three game series because Does that meant that meant a lot there's a big change in confidence where that doesn't matter as much anymore honestly It doesn't really matter anymore All right, you had a couple things Matt Clement that you wanted to get to here in this segment that you mentioned during the break Please the floor is yours well I think that one thing to look at here when we're talking about this trade deadline and what's chairing team gonna do and please add and all this stuff I think I think there's a he kind of owes it to the players Like let's let's just talk about you brought up Brian Reynolds and how he's like like Brian Reynolds has suffered through these his whole career I think he's the longest 10-year player that hasn't played in a playoff game. I heard that last night I thought that stat came up last night and Like just think I'll disappoint and it will be to Brian Reynolds if he doesn't add here. Yeah, or he doesn't try to push this over the top Right, you know like like these guys in this clubhouse They're expecting it don't he's expecting it so that's why I think that something's gonna go down now We're all gonna be in here on Monday Talking about how it wasn't enough or wow. This is awesome or whatever the case may be but but the the effort has to be there And I think the effort will be there When you talk effort from chairing tin. Yes. Yes. Okay. The effort from chairing tin will be there And it might not be exactly what we want it to be but it's gonna it's gonna be there I would be I will be very shocked if they say well the bullpen's been pretty good the last 10 days It's all changed. We're gonna just stick with this bullpen. I just can't see that being the case at this point All right, mean either it better not be the case The fan hotline presented by Sullivan super service Pittsburgh's trusted plumbing and HVAC provider for over 50 years the trade deadline as we're talking about Is fast approaching has those who know about it in this game yet limits because he is going to hit a home or nothing It's nothing nothing. He isn't bad if it be one nothing if he was bad lawyer exactly Who's buying or selling 93 seven the family of up-to-date moves across major league-based ball trade coverage on the fan is presented By globe airport parking Here's another reason why I think that yesterday was a good day for the pirates I had fun at the game. They made an unbelievable comeback and this guy was still in line up the magician I mean I did not I don't know what you thought when he got hit the night before Matt. I thought we're talking weeks His reaction I thought I thought he was definitely going on the aisle when you when you saw the slow-mo And where it hit hit his armor. Yeah, it hit his armor and not like his wrist or his hand. Yeah, made me feel like that That's just the instantaneous reaction you kind of lose feeling in your arm and that scares you And like the nerve you know everything like scares you and you think you think worst case scenario It wasn't like absolute pain. He was in. I'm sure it doesn't feel good. Even though you have that armor on So for him not not only did not go on the IR Or the aisle but also be in the lineup Then the miracle the next day was was gigantic because this team just they whether he keeps this pace up Which is probably improbable They need his presence in the lineup because it's been it's been such a presence that that's kept this team afloat What do you think of his prospects moving forward? What tells you that this is definitely for real? See the pitch and we're not allowed to talk live action But now it's not live anymore the pitch he just took from Rodriguez Even when he's not going well He's drawing walks his at bats usually look professional To you is he's not going to sustain a thousand OPS But is this sustainable what he done what he's doing as far as being a good major league hitter I think he could be a good major league hitter Let's let's all at first off when we start talking about him if you're going to talk about anything Like he is the reason they're in this race right now. He is he has been amazing And everything else but I also have to be realistic like He's on like a toward pace right now and I'd say the one thing that is concerning Amongst the taking the good pitches not chasing He's he struck out 56 times in a higher 30 at bats Is that somewhat offset by the high number of walks though 19 walks Still upset is it is it offset maybe towards agree but that's that's part of it and and I kind of like You know the league is gonna the league is gonna make their adjustment I say this a lot. Yeah, the league is gonna make their adjustment. What's he gonna do with it every time it seems like he's getting on I think he had like two or three games where it kind of look like really bad last week Every time it happens He gets a home run and then he gets going and I So so like it's been incredible and and I hope it stays this way because if he does he it's it's historic for the pirates to have this guy Like you're locking him up next spring. Yeah, but people said lock up. You don't need to lock him up yet You can wait till the sample size ghost your spring training next year then you can think about that kind of thing is it sustainable? I don't know if it's sustainable. There's not many, many hitters that came in as hot as he came in right now and just kept it going his whole career, maybe Soto, you know, one Soto. Like there's so few of them. It's hard to imagine it's sustainable, but it doesn't mean he can't be a good majorly hitter. It can't meet doesn't mean he can't be a 25 home run a guy game, but it also could mean we're seeing the best of the best right now. It's part of it. But it's awfully exciting to have them, especially when they're weakness right now is hitting left handed pitchers and he killed and right handed power and he feels both those needs big time. 93 seven the fan trading cards brought to you by the baseball card. Castle your go to destination for sports cards collectibles and memorabilia. The limits cards are flying off the shelves according to the general and they don't even have the mustache yet. Do they know they don't know they have to be an update series for an update series. Two these cards have picks and stats of the fan host you can pick them up the baseball card castle and cranberry anytime around the community sunny and high is 79 Larry Brown, a low 66 Alan fanica fan weather brought to you by secure money advisors looking to retire soon. Let's secure money advisors get your retirement on track. Matt, that was a spectacular appearance by you way more than a quality start today. That was an eight inning shut out with 13 strikeouts. We appreciate it. And I did learn something today that if the pirates aren't 16 games over 500. It's a failure. That was the that's the my new thing I learned today. I can walk out of here with actually 17. That's what limits said the seasons of failure if they're not at least 16 over 17 over. Can I address one other thing that was brought to my attention yesterday on the station. Yeah. There is a smear campaign that is out there being put forth by Andrew Filipone and Chris Mueller right now on you and the smear campaign is towards me yes because you cheated in your wiffle ball. So yesterday and Matt was as well aware of this and I wanted to bring this up with Matt. Okay well respect former big leager on the air with us a patriot of baseball in this area and I want his opinion. So I was called out shamed by pony and Mueller yesterday and they brought the captain of the camels. Cody Flavill the team that my team the firebirds and the ball and wiffle ball semi finals. I'm supposed to play coming up in the playoffs sure there was a miss calculation and an over exaggeration from pony that I would like to clear up. So our regular season is set to nine weeks and they're very standard the only thing that changes them is rain the playoffs as it says on our graphics at the very start of the year. And answer if this is fair or foul Matt the playoffs are subject to change based on availability for teams and rosters can you feel enough players can you feel the best players as he's currently showing Joe something a calculator or whatever. I'm just confirming at 16 games over 500 not 17. Okay just making sure. What is being thrown out there is that I am intentionally rigging the scheduling of these games to benefit me. I have not followed anything that you've said so far what what's happening you run the wiffle ball. I run the league you're rigging the playoff schedule to benefit you. That's another team one out there but are you not I am not no now this is the camels first ever appearance in the playoffs. I'm happy for them but they don't know the rules apparently. Because the other playoff series the other semi final series there are other top players that are out due to vacations that we have moved it back three weeks from now so you're moving your series is also moved similar to ours the camels. My our series against the camels yes so this might not have been very easy to fall follow but it is well within the rules that the captains have set at the beginning of the season that playoff dates are subject to change and they're not set in stone. Well Matt my question is did you figure out what was going on with the other one. So you could use as a smoke screen to benefit yourself not at all I knew this was the case at the start of the year great question because you know vacations are set months in advance so we've said even by like week six hey if we're in this position so when the playoffs yeah. We'll have to move the series to another day and it's not like it's not like we can just pick up on a Tuesday night at 4 30 or five o'clock we play three games of seven innings sure and what's the series against the camels. When are the camels it's going to be in mid August. Which sounds like it's a very long way away because it is but we can't pick a week day and just. Pick it up and play five hours people work there's daylight we don't have any we don't have any lights that come on at the field sounds a little sketchy. Yeah it does to me too I thought you were going to defend my honor I don't know what the hell you were just talking about I'm not going to lie to you I'm not going to lie to you that was really hard to follow yeah but but it's a fact there now just nodding just nodding and you have a series will be played with everybody from each team available. It's intended well your way of of justifying the move is that all four teams are going to be at full strength correct. I think that's justifiable yeah I'll give you that Matt who would be your lead off hitter when the pirates are if the pirates are completely I thought you're going to ask me about the camel yeah the camel's great group of people on the camel's by the way what's your team's name the firebirds give us the other teams in the league the black bears and the bandits will play against each other in the other semi finals who's the favorite in what series who does Vegas have as the favorite overall favorite well the firebirds my team is the number one seed yeah the bandits are the number two seed the bandits firebirds was the match of the championship last year. Do you know I corked a whistle ball bat when I was a kid Matt I like that yeah I put styrofoam and cheat and trying in the end of it styrofoam and by the way did you heard anybody with it. No it was like it was bent at the end and and if I hit it right I corked a bat in little league baseball sports illustrated had a story norm what was his name a player from a long time ago and they had a step by step had a little ball for the back so I went over to Pete and us bombs house is that had all the tools in the basement we shaved off the top of the bat. I put little rubber like a rubber ball that was shredded in there plus cork and then wood glue and then glued the top back on I went used it in games that it didn't make any difference. and a cup. You're afraid of a court fact. Probably. Harry Callis was even calling me out on Twitter saying it doesn't Austin claim to be the best player on his own team? No, I've never said that. Oh, Harry Harry has to put words I think that enjoyed I did enjoy Harry's commentating of of of your game. Yeah, can we hear one of your at bat's limits? Yeah, it wasn't bad. Let's hear it. Well, takes more than five seconds to me to find it. It shouldn't. You're the beat writer. Oh, that's just how it goes. Mark Cabali coming up next, by the way, as we wait with baited breath for one of limits is at bats. Thank you for more 12 year old. All star all star. Mark Cabali back told also a member of 93 7 the fan producer of the pomp and Joe show week days from 10 to 2. The most popular radio station in Pittsburgh. Line drive to left field and up the wall. It hit off the very top of the wall. Stasian played to Foco gets it in a long single for Austin Bechtold. I thought that ball was gone. Did Harry research all the other players in the league before he asked everybody questions before the game. That's a quick turn on you. He did a quick turn on you. He he supported you there and then he called you out. So he went back to what he usually does. Yeah, subtle shot at the end. Thank you, Matt. Thank you, Matt. been in pleasure.