A Full 2026 Playoff Preview

0:00Welcome, welcome to the Red Boone Podcast. Explore the mind of MMORB All-Star, Silver Slugger and Gold Club winner, Brett Boone. As he sits down with his friends from the world of professional sports. Now, up to that, Brett Boone. Welcome to the Red Boone Podcast. I am Brett Boone. Today I'm joined. He's a regular on the podcast since its inception years ago. We break it down several times a year. Senior baseball writer for the athletic author. One of my favorite guests. I get to talk to you a couple of times a year, kept ladies and gentlemen Tyler, keptner. Yep. Thanks for coming on. Boone, love it. Annual postseason preview show. Yeah, because we're still on point. Aren't we? Are opening season? We do an opening season podcast. However, we both liked Boston this year and they came roaring back.

1:00They did eventually make it. Yeah. Yeah. Our little housekeeping before we get to our postseason break down here. Verlander Scherzer, their final starts. You know, I'm not a romantic and like these things at the end of the season. I'll tell you what though. I look at Verland. This is my take on it. He, he pitched good. You know, I think he pitched five and a third punched out six. Scherzer pitched grade one seven. I think he punched out seven. Both teams won the game. Verlander's daughter came out at the end. And when I really thought about it, I thought, you know, this was pretty cool for me. I saw Verlander and I thought he's probably, he's probably the premier pitcher of this particular generation. A guy that has taken the ball throughout his career, one Sai Young's one, one World Series. And I thought it was pretty cool. The way it wrapped up. You're take on on Verlander and Scherzer at the end of the season.

2:03Yeah. Boone, I mean, we can't underestimate how or can't overestimate how great these guys were. I mean, if you think about the longevity that you need to get 200 wins and 3000 strikeouts, plus multiple Sai Young's, multiple No Hitters, multiple World Series championships. Everybody wants to do those things. They're the only two pitchers in baseball history who've done that. Multiple No Hitters, Sai Young's and World Championships with 200, 200 wins and 3000 strikeouts. It's pretty mind-blowing that they, you know, they could have ended on the same weekend. They're the two oldest pitchers and two oldest players in baseball right now. And I don't know that we'll see their kind again. The way pitching has trended. After maybe Garry Cole and Chris Sale, well, we have anybody left to get 200 starts.

3:03I mean, 200 wins. I don't know. But these guys really care too about the starting pitcher. You know, I had to chance to talk with both of them for about 45 minutes each late in the year. And we had a really lengthy discussion about, you know, how pitching has changed and how they want to bring the starter back. That's probably another conversation. But Justin has some rules that could govern starting pitching usage that he thinks could bring it back. But the way it is now with everything prioritized on being, you know, as hard as you can as nasty as you can from pitch one, it's usually five, six inning start at the most. And the game has changed since they started about 20 years ago. Yeah, I do think they are really that throwback. I mean, they have the mentality of how pitching has always been throughout the history of baseball, which they're not going out there to get five innings. The mindset is nine innings. Now you usually don't go nine in today's day and

4:04age that usually the clubs won't allow you to. But the mentality, and I always talk about that not only on the pitching side of the ball, but the hitting side of the ball. It's not the result. It's what was our thought process. That's what you got to get right. The results are going to be the results. But what do you think and what are you trying to do in this particular bat? Just like pitching. I'm not saying I need you to go nine innings today, but the mentality is I'm going nine innings. I'm here to keep my club and win a game for my ball club. Back in the day, it used to be very important to starting pitchers to get through five. And there was controversies when that if it was a two to two game, three to two game in the fifth inning, it's almost like it was unheard of to take a pitcher out in the fifth when he didn't hadn't qualified for the winner, the loss at that point. Now it's just part of the game. Pitchers, it's it's like the RBI or average as a hitter. The win loss. Yes. I still think it's it says something when when not

5:07too many people win 15 games, 20 games, but it's not something that that is a metric that they're judged on like they used to be. And I think these are two of like you said with Cole coming up, Chris sale. If I think to a younger generate, I think of a scoobles, scoobles, kind of that old school mindset is I'm going out there to pitch a complete game, whether I do it or not, that's different, but I just thought it was a nice send off at the end. And I hear sure, sir, he hasn't even decided where there's your time. Right. Right. He could, I mean, he if you're coming off that last outing, you probably make man, I could do this. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, he had some good performances late in the year. And so I don't know. I mean, I hope he comes back, you know, and he's the last one standing of this group. Cause few years ago, we had a grinky and Kershaw and Verlander and Shers are all at the same time. And those are four guys who won 200 plus games and almost 3000 strikeouts for grinky and the others have it. So all side young winners, I want to see him,

6:07you know, as long as he wants to keep pitching. But if that was it, they both had really cool send offs with their families there. And their kids old enough to always remember that too. And I know that for ball players, that's often a thing they really want to do is play long enough to where their kids can remember it. Cause I tend to have younger kids. And you can, you know, that like some of those Shers are kids and Verlander's daughter, they'll have that memory forever. And that's really important. I thought it was cool. Have it as daughter come out, you know, maybe the baseball terrace, that's no place for it. I thought it was cool. I think a lot of us as players, when you have the level of career that Verlander has, you get to do certain things like they think have your daughter come out. I thought it was cool. And I thought it was, I thought it was a great moment. Great for the game of baseball. Okay. Let's get into it. Brewers, Tampa Bay. Would that be a hit for fans? I would love it. You know, I never worry about ratings. I think,

7:14I think it would be incredible baseball because of the way that those teams play. And I think it would be, it would, it would really undercut MLBs, you know, argument that they keep making in public all the time, which is that they need a salary cap because these small market teams have no chance of winning in the post season. We hear that all the time. And yet you look and who are the three of the four teams who have buys right now? It's Cleveland and it's the Brewers and Tampa Bay. So three small markets and Tampa Bay and Milwaukee have the most wins. So I don't know. We'll see how the post season plays out. Maybe once again, it'll be the big money Dodgers with you can afford to have snow and glass now, miss half the season or more because, you know, just to be magically ready for October 1st, maybe the whole Dodger thing will work again. But maybe the cards will break right. And one of these small market teams will win. I would love the Milwaukee and Tampa Bay. That'd be great. Well, I think just for my personal, I think Milwaukee's the best team in baseball.

8:16Just the they're overall game. They don't have a weakness on any side of the ball. They play the game right. They run the bases. They do the little things. They don't, they're not star studded, but they've just got a bunch of really good players. Tampa Bay are they just, they've been in this position a lot of times making it into the post season and everybody wants to say they're not built, they're built for the regular season, not the post season, brewers. They've won that division a bunch of times. They've gotten to the post season bunch of times. People say the same thing. They can't, but they're not good enough to go all the way and win the World Series. What are the reasons for Tyler Keppner that that matchup can't happen? Well, the reason it can't happen is just because you never really, I mean, no baseball like you never, no one team is more likely than the field to win. So like there's always so many random chances of something that can go wrong. But when you're talking about in general, like why can't it be Tampa? What factors would come in? I mean,

9:20I don't know. Like if the big money stars do show up and do their thing, right? If they're at their best, the coal, freed, Rodon, combination, then Schlitler's a young guy. But you know, if the Yankees pitching just rolls, I could see that maybe. Or if the Dodgers star power just all kicks into gear. But I mean, the Dodgers team, it didn't have anybody with more than 30 homers. You know, their offense is kind of, you know, is old, I guess. And they brought in Tucker who was not very good for his standards. So I don't think the Dodgers are as intimidating a lineup, but they certainly have that in them. And since they do play the long game from spring training on really, they're sort of optimally rested and optimally built to be at their best right now. So now they could always be Dodgers Yankees again. But the way Tampa plays and the way, especially

10:20Milwaukee plays, I would love to see that on the biggest stage of all because it's beautiful baseball when they when they're on their game. Yeah, I'll tell you, they're really fun to watch. And Tampa Bayes not star studded either. I love the guy at the top of the rotation. And I love the Cam and arrowkid. He's going to be an MVP candidate. And I think he's going to fall behind Alper as, but he's had a great year. But they just have a bunch of really good baseball players. And you mentioned the Dodgers. I thought a lot about the Dodgers. Now you got Yamamoto, you got scoobal, you got snow, and then you go to that scrub glass now in the four spot. I mean, that's as good as it gets. That matches anybody on the, you know, on the playoff, in the playoff picture pitching wise. Now as we know, we go through this every season. And somebody always pops up that we didn't see that coming. The one thing I think the Dodgers do have, and it's an

11:24tangible that is earned. It's nothing you can teach. They've won back to back world series. I've been on a couple teams come to mind in 1999 Braves team. I was on where I think we rolled one 104 games. And I remember that particular year taking the field. And my opponent, I could feel it coming from them like they knew we were going to win. They just did till we got to the world series. And then the Yankees kicked our butt. But I felt it then I felt it with that 2001 Mariner team and won all those games. I just felt throughout the course of the season. We would take the field and our opponent would fold because of how at the clip we were winning games at. That's the one thing I think the Dodgers have aside from great talent. Is that intangible that that not too many people can can be on a field and look at their opponent say, you know, we just won two world series in a row. And they know that. So I think that's an intangible no matter how your season's gone, good, bad. You know, for them, it was probably a

12:25little bit of a down season. Still, you know, great record. I think they won 100 games again. Yeah. 100 games. Yeah. But for them, you know, that's probably, oh, we should win 100 and 700 Nate games. But they do they have that swabe. They have that something that nobody else has that inner confidence that like I said, you can't it can't be taught. It's got to be earned. Yeah. And you're right. I mean, looking at your career, you ran into the Yankees twice during those dynasties after they've already won multiple championships, right? They had already won in 96 and 99 or 96 and 98. They sweep you guys in 99. Some of those games were close, but they won them all. Yeah. And then in oh, one, some of those games were close, but they won them all except the blowout. So, you know, I'm sure there is an intangible to going up against a team that just knows how to win. The Brewers really know how to win the regular season. I mean, they they have a great formula for for the 162 and so does Tampa Bay. Now, when they get to October, if they're matched

13:26up with the Dodgers, the Dodgers know how to win then. And it'll be fascinating to see if, you know, somebody can knock them off, right? Because because there are just moments in games, you can go back and look, little moments here or there that that that turn things. And last year, those moments went in the Dodgers favor. And once you've done it a few times, maybe it's no accident anymore. Do you think watching the playoff and especially have the new playoff format that we have currently in 2026? 12 teams in just your experience of watching these year after year. Do you think there's any credibility to a team that's absolutely got a white claw just to get a seat at the table versus the teams we're talking about the Brewers. They knew they were going to be in the postseason two months ago. Tampa Bay same thing Yankees for the most part all year Dodgers. They knew they were going to be in teams like San Diego had to have a big time run teams like Houston snuck in at a 500 record. White socks almost gave it away at the end. So,

14:29teams like that is there something to from from your experience fight until the last game? Does that give you an edge in the postseason versus just kind of being on cruise control and knowing you're going to get you have that seat at the table? I think it can. But there's always examples to contradict it, right? Like I think if you're one of those teams and you win and you continue winning then certainly that momentum helped, right? Like the Rockies in 07 winning so hot at the end of the year and then steam rolling through the first two rounds until they met up with Boston. You know, like when you win then that's a factor. But if you if you don't win then was is it inherently a factor? I don't know. It's like home field advantage. Like I don't think home field advantage really means that much. But when you win and you're at home you feel like it does. So, you know, you can attribute that to it. But I don't know. I think everything really does reset because after that first game all you need is one win and then the momentum flips completely.

15:30Right? I mean, I could take a many example and in 11 the Phillies state they were the most wins they've ever had. They stayed really hot. They played hard to the end. They beat the Braves the last game of the season. Even though there's nothing on the line you thought this team is flying. But then they lost in the division series. So, you know, and there's other examples like the the Tigers and 06 I remember they kind of limped in. They were playing the Yankees. But once they won game two in New York then they just kept rolling. They won their next six games into the world series. So, there's plenty of examples that it does work or it doesn't work. So, I don't think it's a good factor unless it is. Unless it is. Exactly. That's why we do this because it's so great and I realize I love I can break down teams on paper and what should and should not happen. But as we know we don't know nobody knows and I think that's why for the last few years the post season has been so great because there's been so many stories and things that you've never

16:35thought in a million years were going to happen and all of a sudden they happen and I think it's been great for the game. But I think it's just been a really the entertainment value for me especially last year probably the best world series other than you know me and you are going to agree on the 1980 world series probably the best world series I've seen live in my lifetime because I really want to get to the world series other than we've got to do a show on it and watch you know I'll watch snippets. I'll pick up a game here a couple innings here a couple innings there. Last year for that for that world series I was locked in the whole time and it was like I look forward to watching the entire game it was that good and it ended up being that good. It was the best game seven of all time and it was the probably the best world series start to finish maybe since 91 which I consider the best world series ever. It was just almost all of the games were really interesting and and you know you had just a different a different feel after every

17:38game because it was like Jay's are up Dodgers tie it Dodgers are up Jay's tie it Jay's are up Dodgers tie it Dodgers win. So after every game you had a different feel then you do like for example the year before when the Dodgers were up the whole time and then they won like it was there was never that feeling like oh the Yankees grabbed the momentum and now the Dodgers it was just back and for it was awesome. It was awesome. I hope you know I hope we can get it something close to that this year. Alright let's let's get to it. We got the first round coming up Tuesday all the games going off Tuesday are all three game series they all play there's no break in between. So we'll go with we'll start with the Boston Yankee series breakdown what do you think we're going to see I think they've announced that's one of the few they've announced to start pictures is going to be told against Schlippler you know I think Frieden Kohl we're going to round that out now would assume Suarez is is going to be game two I don't know. I think raise game two and Suarez game two Suarez game

18:39three. Okay give me your break it down for me Boston Yankees at Yankee Stadium three game series. Well it looks like I mean you know as we stand here it looks like it'll be a pitching pitching rich series right I mean these teams look I think stronger pitching wise than they do offensively which is a little bit of a shift for Red Sox Yankees. I always think though that the Yankees in that ballpark are always going to hit a couple of home runs and and bang them all around like they're they're always a threat in their home park especially. I don't think the Red Sox are as they they seem to have lost some of that momentum they had throughout the summer I don't know just offensively they don't seem as as intimidating as they were you know top to bottom for parts of the summer so I don't know it might just be a feel and with Contreras I mean Contreras came back late in the year if he's a little compromise that hurts them you know judge's situation is a huge deal with the Yankees

19:41but they do have Rice who's a big star now and and Belancher so I think they I like the Yankees in the series you know unless Boston's pitching just completely takes over and and that could happen too I mean totally could give them a great start Gray has been awesome this year Suarez has all the experience in the world in big games and then Chapman is terrific at the end so but I I do give the Yankees a slight edge just because I think they're offense a little bit better. Yeah I think that if it if you're going to play nine in games and or you're going to play five in games and Boston grabs lead I think even though the Yankee Pitchens been great and the pen has been better than people think one of the top pens in baseball I think Boston's arguably got I think the Padres have the best pen but but Boston's definitely in the argument defensively Yankees who knows but I if I look at strict strictly pitching matchups and that's what I always like to lean on one spose season though it's starting pitching who are your dogs I look at it and if I go slitler free coal I give

20:44the slight advantage to the Yankees so I I think Yankees win that series and I think I think part of it is the depth of pitching too right it's like we can't really look at it as you know this I want to look at it as starter versus starter and kind of go on that but nowadays you it's pretty rare if a starter even the best goes more than six innings like I covered the Seattle series last year with Detroit school will pitch great but they lost both of his games because you know he pitched six or seven innings and if it's close then it comes down to the bullpen so I think what you need is a concentration is a is a you know a lot of really good pitchers right I mean not just starters you need to start it and Rodon and Rodon and Rodon and Rodon and Warren go to the bullpen for this that's what I mean so the Rodon's been great you give them those extra big arms in the bullpen and that could be a separator we saw it with the red socks several years ago in the 18 you know they use their starters as relievers Dodgers last year it happens a lot and I think Rodon and Warren could be a big

21:47factor uh Stanton gonna be on the postseason roster think about that you put it on yeah okay that would be that would be great you know to see him come back and have a big uh big at bat in a big spot like that because he you know they love him there he it's hard for him to stay on the field but he's very well loved and very uh very dangerous for sure he's had some postseason heroics yeah he's definitely he definitely has a resume for that all right moving on uh two guys two teams the white socks and Houston both I don't want to say the white socks snuck in but they almost gave it back in the end uh and they made it with 84 wins Houston I've been watching this American League West it completely turned out differently than we had projected to start the season with the Seattle Mariners being the biggest disappointment but it seemed like nobody wanted to win in that division and they Houston goes out of the final game they finished with 81 and 81 I think it's an all-time

22:51record for at least amount of wins going to the postseason you got the white socks playing it playing at Houston correct yep yep and because Houston wins a division so you get that home home home games there what do you got Tyler what do you got on Houston white sock series I don't know how anybody's gonna get any out I mean I guess the white socks strike out a lot so you know the Astros will try to avoid contact because the white socks do you know hit it pretty far when they when they connect um so it's it's it's kind of a you know a a boomer bust offense they do have some you know on base guys there uh who who who do a good job Antonacci and and Peters um so I'd love to see the white socks kind of you know do what they were doing early in the year but I don't know that they have the pitching um the Astros pitching is not great either uh so I don't know how they're going to get through those first few innings of these games but in the back end um if it's close I like the abrey you and uh and hater combo um you know better than the white socks combo so I

23:57I I give the edge to Houston but I could definitely see because Houston's pit you know mostly Houston pitching is that was pretty ragged I could see the Astros or the white socks you know banging the ball around the park a little bit and and and upsetting them which would it even be an upset I mean they one more games than Houston I don't think I mean probably in the in the gambling odds probably but for me that wouldn't be a big upset uh you know watch these themes and I think we come it comes back to the intangible that I was talking about earlier with the Dodgers the advantage that Houston has not only their playing in their home venue but they've been there done that so many times and it's almost like teams like that willed themselves it even down the stretch when it went to game 162 it's kind of like they won so much in recent history with that franchise it's almost like the guys probably in the locker room on game 162 going you know we're gonna get in right it's almost like you will it in because of your experiences

24:57and you do I think that's the one advantage Houston has over the white socks is white socks they lost a hundred games a year ago most improved team I've got them on the on the on you know for my money white socks are the most improved team from 25 to 26 I think they're vulnerable to making a lot of silly mistakes whereas Houston is more poised doesn't mean they're a better team I just think with the intangibles are gonna play in this and that's why I give Houston the edge yeah I agree all right let's move over to the national league and we'll start with your home favorite we'll go with the Phillies at the braves break it down for me Tyler well it could be you know that the Phillies get in and all of a sudden they relax and you know they they know that they nearly blew it but they they pull themselves out at the end if you're trying to be optimistic you look at it that way you think well maybe they can get sail out of there after six or something and and maybe Tyler

26:02Malley comes back to earth a little bit and the Phillies starting pitching can give them an edge but they won't have Wheeler to start any of those games he could start game three on short rest though you know you'll have Lazardo and game one and you don't really know what you're getting from him he had a good inning in game 162 as a little bit of a tune up but he hasn't made a start since September 7th when he shut out the braves so he's a little bit unknown and he gets Sanchez and game two and he's usually great but here's a stat Boone the Phillies the last four playoff games in which their starter left with a lead their own four so every time their starter puts them in position to win they don't win now will that hold up I don't know but I don't really have a ton of confidence in their their you know set up guys so the way it tends to work for the Phillies is that their starter has a great start and then some and then it's kind of a low scoring game at

27:03that point and the bullpen gives it up or the offense can't hit the other teams really good pitching I think Atlanta wins because the Phillies just generally don't play great against good teams I think most of the damage they've done this year has been against against losing teams and while they do have some stars they really have to go out and show that this group can push through October they've been going the wrong way down that mountain the last few years yeah if I want to look at the pros for the Phillies it's they appreciate where they are right now because they got a scare from the diamond backs in the end so just the fact that they made it to the postseason it was kind of a whoo sigh relief so that's playing in their favors all right we got our second win let's go let's let's not let's not do this again so that's a little bit on their side they've got a pretty good track record in the postseason with that group of players but you're right head to head this year Atlanta I think it was nine and four

28:05nine and four the braves so they caught them a lot early when they were really struggling right stale to me is one of those those difference makers that lucardo loved him I think he's done a great job this year and and I think you'd be looking differently if Phillies were able to set it up and Sanchez was the Sanchez of April May because I watched in May I'm watching the Sanchez pitch and I'm going that's a sight young award winner right there nasty nasty stuff schoolable stuff and then all the sudden since then I've seen since that all-star game I've seen him on a couple different occasions where his misses are two feet and he's behind in the count and that's why he's getting hit his stuff still nasty he just for for whatever reason going into a game am I going to have some somewhat have control of my pitches or am I going to be all over the place and be 203 1 all game he gave up the most hits in baseball but he also pitched the second most innings in baseball I just admire a guy like that in his

29:09mentality too as we were talking about earlier just go out and pitch the game I mean 207 innings second to sandy out contra you know and I he had the 50 innings scoreless streak we remember but he wasn't I mean he wasn't bad in the second half I mean he still ended it with an year and a three he had a lot of starts you know with seven innings and two runs or less so he's he's a dude you know for me but sale is sale I mean sales of Hall of Famer and I think the question for him is if he can go you know more than six we saw that shut out against the Dodgers this year that was amazing those is only complete game in in seven years but if he can you know extend his pitch count or you know be efficient early in the innings and and get going you know for most of the game that will be fun to watch because that's real greatness you know and he's never he has not pitched a postseason game for Atlanta yet so it'll be great to see him back on this stage because he's had he's had some moments too Luis arise not going to be there for that another how big of a difference

30:14is that make for that Philly ball club as huge because I think arise was just the kind of hitter they needed right you know they have some swing and miss for sure in that lineup and and that's what he does not do you know he he was batting in that cleanup spot which looked a little strange but like he you know he for for for the kind of hitter he is to get him up forth in the game and and get on base and and do his his sort of thing is it's a different look for that lineup and they're going to miss it you know I love that variety that he provided because it's can be kind of hard for that team to sustain rallies but when he's putting the bat on the ball they do or they can all right so move over to the cubs and the podres three game series in San Diego 91 wins for the podres tail of two seasons for the podres really live in here and I followed it closely I mean they were in every category going into even July it was 29 30th in every offensive category and then all the sudden the stars the marbles uh Tatees and Machado they picked it up

31:19Ty France had an unbelievable kind of off the radar year for that yeah I mean it was amazing they've done start you know I look at their starting pitching uh you got king you got Paveta who's come back and been really good but when you talk about the dogs in the postseason I don't know if they quite qualify but that podria team is dangerous you're watching them they they went on a run where they won 14 out of 16 down the stretch you know they changed ownership in the middle of it all I know this city's on fire but what do you see with with the cubs in the podres how how's that turning out for Tyler kept yeah it's interesting right because you have some of these national teams partly because of the Dodgers you know dominance but the the brewers and the podres and the fillies have all had a lot of shots at it you know without without winning at all the fillies got to one world series but brewers and podres still haven't I feel like this could be the year that the this podres group you know breaks through because they've been so hot and they have that great bullpen

32:21and you know I think they've they've they've got enough hitters now to where they can you know they can sustain rallies and and and do damage you know Tatees was awesome in the second half and man he still still has many moments like you said France has been great um I just you know yeah they don't really have those great starters I mean Casey Meyers hasn't done a great job for the Robbie race you know he's a guy you could put in there too I mean you know King and you know Ray Bueller maybe as you said you know who am I who am I forget that uh that uh right so you know they've got they've got guys who can you know who know how to do it um but then you just get to that bullpen and and uh that's how they're gonna win so I think I think the podres I feel I feel silly picking off four home games like because I know that's not going to happen uh right you know I already said we never we never go out of the we never go out of the uh yeah so but uh I do like the podres because they're momentum and and certainly I could see the

33:24cubs um I mean PCAs the MVP of the league and and they got the experience with Breggman and and he's back now he had a couple home runs in the last game of the year after taking that foul off the face um they got a really good team and I like I like some of their pictures too um but I think the podry bullpen is better and this is a case where I do think home field actually could mean something um because that environment there is really really special only team in town sell out every night chip on their shoulder um for not having one for being in the Dodger shadow one of these years they're gonna break through and it will be a hell of a story it's almost like in the atmosphere you're right it's almost like uh Philly of the west coast the way these yeah clamor in the way they sell out every night um I look at that cubs team uh really good offensively I look at their pitching solid you got him anaga you gozman homes decent uh everybody everybody's decent but you know what I feel I feel like what you're feeling was with the boss and red socks

34:29second half they don't have that kind of magic that swagger nobody I don't see any fear from the other team I see the same thing with the cubs it's like really good offense can't can't question you there solid starting rotation solid decent decent bullpen but I don't think too good to get it all yeah yeah that they're number one defensively number one defensively so they don't make a lot of mistakes defensively but I just don't see that magic you're right I I really like the podra just because of how they finished the season and by the way Merrill unbelievable second half as well he just came out of nowhere and ended up hitting 26 27 home runs but what the the x factor for me with that podra is ball club after pavetta and king who I think are very formidable one two is that bullpen and I'll do respect to the lot of these guys in the post season because there's a lot of great bullpen here I think the podra has ended up ranking fifth but with Adam being back couple him with more a home and the big guy at the end Miller and and they've just got great

35:36bullpen guys all throughout I think this is singular singularly the best bullpen in either lake so I think that's the x factors for the podra is plus the way they the way they finished this season nobody's hotter than them right and you came out to be back there you put Randy Vazquez has some really good stuff he had a sneaky good yeah for them so you know I kind of thought two years ago that they would go that they would use that great bullpen and break through and they you know they came so close because the Dodgers and that division series maybe this is their year you know I'm going to be following the brewers for their first round and so it could be brewers podra's which would be incredible or could be brewers cubs which they had last year which is a you know a backyard brawl so it's we'll jump ahead a little bit to the division series that's going to be a lot of fun we talked we touched on the brewers a little bit Dodgers a little bit teams that are not playing in the first round how about Tampa Bay and and and Cleveland Cleveland's like

36:38it doesn't surprise me that Cleveland's there especially the division they were in they're just kind of a team that in in recent history once again have just kind of had a nose for the finish line they just know how to win the division they just kind of we did it again kind of like the Astros did it wasn't a great division real mediocre division but at the end of the day there's Cleveland sitting there with 85 wins in the postseason again Tampa Bay we did touch on a little bit if you want to talk more about it they they had a real special season and I think other than the brewers Tampa Bay is right there top three for me you know I was going to put the Dodgers in but those three are the toughest but touch a little bit on Tampa Bay and then give me your evaluation of this Cleveland ball club do they have any chance at all I think Cleveland has a great chance I mean I think I think they've got a you know a really imposing trio in the back of the bullpen and then their starters I mean they'll you know they can really they can really pitch I mean Parker Messick's been great Gavin Williams terrific foster Griffin a great pickup and

37:42you know Tanner Bobby has had his ups and downs this year but he's still a guy who who's capable so I think they're four deep in the rotation and really deep in the bullpen I wish they had another bat or two but you know Adele if Jose Ramirez can be Jose Ramirez and you know I don't know I kind of have to talk myself into thinking that they have enough offense but I think it mean a diamond backs of 23 they could you know they they they're really good um Juan you know I mean they've got they've got guys I love was like Nathaniel Lo so I could definitely see them because they're I think they've got an easier draw in that division series then so then you put them in the in the championship series against one of those AL East teams and I don't know I mean I don't know if like they would get completely shut down by one of those pitching staffs I kind of think they might but their pitching staff can hold their own for sure and as far as Tampa Bay like I mean Tampa's got they've got some dudes in the middle of that lineup um you know and and

38:46they're pitching with with Rasmussen and Martinez and and I guess they won't have McLean in hand I guess but um you know Baker at the back end some of the other arms they throw at you um Peralta with what he's that turn around that he's made under their guidance with Kyle Snyder um you know they yeah every year Boone I feel like I underrate Tampa and Milwaukee before the season and then like overrate them in October you know because I've seen six months of how great they play right um and they haven't won the championship either of them but uh maybe I'm gonna do that again because I just I love what they've done I love I admire the way they keep reinventing themselves and and taking their shot and I feel like one of these years things are gonna break right for the rays I think Rasmussen at the top of the rotation he's right up there with the best of the best I think he's very similar to a Gavin Williams he's very similar to uh Brown with the Houston

39:47Astros just that big bulldog heavy ball pounds of strike zone and there's nothing a lot of teams can really do about it so I think him at the top it wouldn't surprise me one bit if Tampa Bay standing at the end that that wouldn't surprise him one bit okay so what we've gone here is the white socks Houston we agree we we have Houston moving on we have the same pick uh Red Sox Yankees we both have the Yankees moving on Philly's Atlanta we both agreed on Atlanta uh Cub San Diego we both agree San Diego's going on okay now we get to the next series so let's say now we got Milwaukee and the Dodgers it so in our world right we'll start with it with the National League first this time in our world we've got Atlanta moving on to play the Dodgers so take that one on first if if if in our world that happens and Atlanta's playing the Dodgers who you got moving on from there well I look logically you should always pick the Dodgers right I mean the 100 wins they got all the experience and everything um it would just be a question of whether Atlanta can can hang with them um

40:52I I think that this would be going out of the lip that's our first limb right here for you I don't know why I just kind of think this year maybe the the Dodgers could could stumble a little bit um you know as as I again maybe it's stupid to say that was scubaal on the on the team now and the way the the way they use snow and glass now and they just let them sort of take most of the season off um so maybe they have the four horses at their rotation but I don't know I think they've got they're a little vulnerable in the bullpen maybe the back end maybe the braves clip them uh late one game and then you know akunya take center stage I've seen him do it we've all seen him do it sail rises up I don't know what the hell I think uh I'll take Atlanta in that series well I love what are my good buddies in the game as Walt Weiss so I'm pulling for Atlanta but I love Walt yeah I'm moving the Dodgers on okay Dodgers on all right we both agree San Diego and Milwaukee are

41:54gonna hook up if that happens in our world in the boon kept in our world who comes out of that series Milwaukee San Diego that's the hardest one for me um because I can just because as a writer you know like I always love the narratives right that stories and I think either story would be awesome you know neither the neither franchises ever won the world series and they haven't been to the series in in decades and and they have such great fans and all that um I don't know man I think I have to as good as the brewers have been I can't I I can't say that they're they're not going to win a series you know they're they're good enough to to advance they to get back to the NLCS and I and it feels weird bouncing um San Diego relatively early but the way Milwaukee just grind you down and frustrates the hell out of you for nine innings I think they will just just have just enough to to uh to get past San Diego as hot as they've been I just think the way

43:00that the brewers play is going to eventually um eventually uh put them ahead so I yeah I'll take brewers there all right I'm gonna go with you now I've only gone against you one time with the Dodgers I'm gonna take it Milwaukee all right who's in the world series on the national league side you have Milwaukee going all the way I do now yeah I'll say Milwaukee Milwaukee over Atlanta um you know I'm gonna walk you over the business yep um and I had who did I have I had the Dodgers going on I got Milwaukee over the Dodgers so that's first time I'm going against the Dodgers we both agree Milwaukee will be in the world series for the national league American Lake we got we both have Houston going on they're going to be playing let's say in our world once again Houston's playing Cleveland who moves on from that Cleveland their pictures are just too good top the bottom they got a much much better pitching staff than Houston like not okay I'm going with Houston really some reason somehow some way I think Houston's moving on there I don't know how I don't know if

44:02you deserve it after going 81 to go anywhere further than the wild card but I think Houston's moving on from that okay we both have the Yankees uh over the red socks and they got to play Tampa Bay now now families are colliding I have to make a choice here uh what what do you got Tyler Kepner Tampa Bay Yankees round two man I mean how is judge you know is judge judge I I don't know and I don't know if that's a safe bet to think that he's going to be you know full strength then you know as we sit here now I don't know I mean I think as much as I'd love to see like a a Tampa Bay Milwaukee World Series just because it's like the two you know the two best teams when the small markets I feel like it's probably going to be a small market versus a big market out I'll go Yankees there all right and I hope Aaron's not listening and don't don't get me wrong

45:09my heart will be in New York I think this year Tampa Bay the way I've seen him play consistently all year long there's something going on with team with that team and it's not just Caminero he's the star but Diaz and uh a rand at first I really like him he plays the game right you you have a runner on third lesson two and a rand is coming up book it it's in the books they play the game right they save these squeeze they bought they run the crap out of the bases uh for me going against each other right here kept I'm going with Tampa Bay all right so who do we got we're at this stage of the game we have opposite teams it's too tough for me to keep up with right now who do you have going to the world series on the American League side now at this stage I've got Yankees versus Cleveland and I could see either way I mean a few years ago Yankees beat him in five but the games were pretty close

46:11Cleveland would have home field in this in this scenario right because they they're a higher seed not that is a huge deal um I don't know though I just said that I think it'll be a small mark in a one-side first big market on the other so I guess I got to go Yankees um I thought you know what I've thought Yankees all year long honestly like just seeing them I know they have issues and you're always worried about something with the Yankees but I don't know man I just all year long I've kind of think thought the Yankees were going to find their way in to the world series so I'll stick Yankees I'll go Yankees Brewers all right and I'm going to go with that final series for me in my world my prediction world is it would be Tampa Bay against Houston and I think that's David and Goliath and that's Tampa Bay for me so I've got Tampa Bay Milwaukee I'll get mine out of the way that I'll let you predict the world series champion this is Milwaukee's year they want it all I think they're the best team all around I just do that kept in their world series champs me too I think the Brewers in the end the all the

47:15fundamental things they do right will prevail because there's only really one thing the Brewers don't do well and that's it for power and I think they've got enough guys who can hit the ball over the fence that they'll get you know they'll put themselves in position to make their homerun's count right they do I think the Yankees eventually will be undone by you know something fundamental or a fielding mistake like we saw a couple years ago I don't know the Brewers fundamentals are going to put them take them all the way and back to the East I mean I'm interested in how Aaron sets up that defense you know how much is Chisholm gonna play how much is Volpe gonna play Kaaba Yero is McMahon gonna play third base every day how are they going to mix and match you got a lot of short stops to be honest with you playing a lot of different positions so it's going to be interesting how the Yankees line up defensively throughout the postseason if they continue to go on and on yeah I think in in postseason games I think Milwaukee is a team but doesn't beat itself that should prevail one of these years Milwaukee's had a lot of

48:19weird things happen to them in these post seasons or right before the post seasons last several years I think this year all the luck goes their way and they make their own luck too quick before we get out of here we've got a playoff for that I got a question for you from an entertainment value I've covered it early I think it's great I think the fans are very happy but from a team aspect I'm looking at this now and I'm going I'm a big believer in the hundred and 62 game schedule I'm a big believer you're rewarded for your play over that time I don't think the current system does that I mean I'm looking at a couple teams here I'm looking at the Yankees second best record in the American League and they're playing a three game wild card does it need to go more to the NBA style where you're just ranked strictly on wins and losses that's how I would do it I would rank it one through six in the American League one through six in the national league I don't care about divisions I care who with this balance schedule now I want the six best best teams and that's how you're going to

49:25be seated and I think that's the way it should be I think you should be rewarded be rewarded big time for that hundred and 62 game schedule the only other thing I would change and I know it's tough because time isn't of the essence here is after a hundred and six two games even though the team with more wins gets three games at their home venue to play a three game series and just have a rough game and a half and to be bounced by a lesser team I don't know that that's fair I think five games give you gives you a little more detail of who the better team is and I definitely think a seven game series speaks to that it definitely shows who the better team is and I think more importantly shows the depth of those individual teams you get into that fourth fifth starter and you see who has the deepest toughest roster do you agree with me at all on those points I think they get need to get rid of the three game series and I think they need to rank them as how they did in the hundred and 62 games well I see your points for I see your points for sure Boone but I I kind of think there's

50:33something cool about winning a division still even though you don't play as many divisional games I think the easy answer is just hey if you don't like playing the first round wild card just win your division you know that's that's your path when the division beat Tampa Bay you know with all of your resources no salary cap and they beat Tampa Bay and they but they didn't the Yankees didn't do it either to the Red Sock so you know I think to to reward them with the second seat because they had the second best record logically that makes sense but in the ecosystem of baseball I think it's kind of cool that it you know a team like Cleveland in that division can can you know get the buy and it's not not oh it doesn't always have to be about you know the Yankees and I don't want to just change the whole format just because the Yankees kind of have a a raw deal this year I think most of I think a lot of baseball fans would say the Yankees have a lot of advantages so no one's sorry for them that they have to play a first round series because they couldn't beat Tampa over the course of 162 you know I think I don't know in the way baseball works I think there's some justice

51:38in that so and as far as the longer playoff series if you're going to have longer playoff series you got to cut into the regular season because I don't think you can go any longer you know the this season would end on October 31 but it starts on like March 25th now it starts really early are we going to keep backing it up into March for the regular season beginning and November for the postseason ending I don't know man it just gets a little too that accordion stretches a little too far for me so I maybe they cut it back to 154 but I kind of like 162 we've had it this way since the early 60s I think we're used to it I don't know I like baseball the way it is but that's the whole thing like when I love baseball so much like they can change it and I'll love it and they can leave it like what is and I love it but I like what we have now so let's let's let it go a few more years I agree I would just get picky about the player in me you know when I I'm sitting there and I'm and I've I win 95 or 96 games and I see an 85 win team getting to buy in the first round I'm going

52:45away right we just went through the same you know balance schedule 162 and we were way better than you you don't deserve to get to the second round automatic that's the player in me the fan in me I'm with you I love the format I think it's exciting I think it's can't miss baseball I think it's been great entertainment value wise but I'm just I'm I'm grabbing it straws here if I had my way in my world this is what I do the one thing I hated that they got rid of is that one game now one game playoff that was ridiculous just one game it was fun though one that it was really it was fun but if you're a player it's not fun if you play it's because you play series all year long you know and you know you want to win like two out of three that's a series they play that all year so you know win a series you just got to win one more series all right I'm comfortable question I'll let you go the labor situation that's pending right now is that going to cast a little bit of a shadow over this postseason or are we not going to hear about it at all I think it probably will cast a shadow over the postseason I think we will try to enjoy it for the baseball on the

53:50field and not think too far about what's happening next but it's certainly the backdrop of this you know there wasn't as much talk like at the all-star game about about it as I thought there would be so maybe that's a good sign that we can just focus on the games because they're going to be so exciting but man we could talk forever about the labor thing I just I just hope that the fact that the best teams are these small market teams kind of cuts at that narrative that MLB wants to put out there that these small market teams have no chance tell that to the fans of Milwaukee and and Cleveland and Tampa that I haven't won championships in a while but I think it's just a matter of time yeah pretty awesome Tyler kept that I appreciate it very strange that we both agreed on who the world series champ you heard it here Brett Boone Tyler kept have the Milwaukee Brewers we have different ways of them getting there who they beat but in the end we have the the same winner and that's the Milwaukee Brewers we'll see we'll check it out in about a

54:52month you you look back at the tape and see who was right and who was wrong me time if you're watching the Brett Boone podcast now check it out we're now on YouTube for those of you downloading the podcast do it on the Odyssey app or wherever you download your podcast and until next time keep it here