Adnan Virk Breaks Down the AL Playoff Race | Pitch Clock

0:00Sui's your next week, right? Yes they are. Did baseball as backtrack make musical performance? Oh, wouldn't you like to know? It's a great, it's maybe my best vocal performance since starting here. It's not good. I know it's not. But it'll be in there. Ah! [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪ Welcome to the pitch clock. Here's the pitch. A two-part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with an expert. This is the pitch clock. [♪ OUTRO MUSIC PLAYING [♪ Pitch clock is back, Jack. Hey, we're here. And I'm very excited because a little birdie has told me. Did Ethan do his job? That Ethan might have done his job. Ethan, Zup. Did you do your job? Some might say I did my job. Some might say I had somebody else do my job for me. Whatever the case may be, I have your scores. You're true American. For this season, head to head. You have our head to head, Jeremy and Chris Cody.

1:01Head to head. Head to head. I can already tell by Jeremy's energy that he knows the score and he's winning. I know the score and I know that the pitch clock is winning. The pitch clock is winning because guys, heading into the final month of the season, we have a tie. Oh! Yep. It is 10. Head, head. Head, head. So if we count my Lewis win, which we do, I'm up 11-10. Yeah, we don't have to. We're going to figure that out later. We're not going to leave that win out in the ether for the time being. Because it wasn't against me. That's right. But it's a win. Let's figure out who's going to pick up the 11th win in this head to head match up. Guys, there's this fella. His name is Pete Crow Armstrong. I don't know if you guys have heard about him. I don't know if you guys have heard me talk about his PCS, the obvious choice for National League MVP this year. There is no argument for anybody besides him. What about the guy that is? It is a tan hit. I haven't heard it. It's a two. Why did you use that? He's thrown 85 minutes. Why did you do that? I don't argue. He didn't.

2:01I already did this for you. On last week's episode with Danny, we went through it. Okay, just breathe. He exists. There is no art. Now tell us the game. So a few weeks ago, Pete Crow Armstrong walked off the Chicago White Sox to reach 30-30. It is his second consecutive 30-30 season. Oh no. So what we're going to do today, got me thinking about some power speed combo guys. Okay. So what we're going to do today is we're going to draft a team by position. Okay. And what I'm going to do is I'm going to add up each player's highest home run total in a season and stolen base total in a season. Okay. So let's say you pick a guy yet, his highest home run in the old age. And you'll take 43. And his highest home base total was 38. You have that together. That's that player's. Love this. We're going to add them all up. Whoever has the most home runs and stolen bases combined at the end wins the game. Love this. Jeremy, you're going first on our last game. We're going to take out two people

3:03because the totals are so ridiculous. We're going to take out Barry Bonds and Ricky Hens. Literally those are the first two people I thought of. And I despise you. Yes. I wasn't really thinking there. So good job. You can't draft Barry Bonds and you can't draft Ricky Henderson. I got some other names though. Whoa. Okay. We'll do snake draft. Okay. And remember, you have to have one of each position. Snake draft with two people. Okay, fine. I'll just go first and then I'll just keep getting none of them. Nope. He was his argument. No, no, no. He's right though. We only do it the first round though, clearly, right? It's not two and two every time. The way I've seen it done before, whoever gets the first pick, then the next person gets two. And then I can forth. And then I can forth. And then I can forth. Fine. Gabe shaking his head. Yeah. Yeah, it's fine. Gabe is the ganna benefits me. Gabe feels like garbage. Can I punt? Can I punt? Can I give it? Yeah. Do you want to defer to the second half? Yeah. Sorry, I don't want ball though. I'll sit on this side. Start drafting. Jeremy, your first pick. Alfonso Soriano.

4:03That's what I want. That's what I want. And what position are you putting him at? Ooh, that's a great question. Second base. So Alfonso Soriano's career high in home runs was 46. His career high in the stolen bases was 43. It was a bad pick. So that is 89. It was a bad pick. I know it is. I know the other picks. A-rod. A-rod. And you're playing him where? Shortstop. Well, wait. Third base. Third base. All right, Alex Rodriguez's career high in home runs is 57. That's crazy. And his career high in stolen bases is 46. 103 is the total for Chris. For A-rod. So Chris, you have the next pick now. And then we'll go back and forth. Now I should have been thinking. Uh, b-b-b.

5:03Handle. OK. Shortstop. And Lee's career high was 33 home runs. And he had 51 stolen bases twice. I nailed that, except for I was at that. He had a season with higher home runs. So 33 and 51, that's going to be 84. So last week after I said Danny Alvarez was our most frequent appearance on the pitch clock, I got a text from this guy who said, I'm glad you didn't say most frequent guest because that's me. And that's Adnan Burke, Adnan Burke of MLB Network of his book, Cinefile. He's here. He's back as RMOB expert for his monthly appearance, which means we will get him in again before we reach the end of this MLB season. So right now we got about 30 games to go for each team. And it's a very strange time in both leagues. But as always throughout this season, the American League is the one that's particularly strange and tricky. That last American League wild card spot is bizarre.

6:05We mentioned the Tigers a couple of weeks ago. We talked about the Orioles last week. And now Adnan, I want to talk to you about the team presently at the top of that cluster playing the best baseball. It's the Cleveland Guardians that are actually sitting in that final wild card spot. And I want to know from you, Adnan, what is it that makes the Guardians best equipped to potentially grab that final playoff spot? So first off, Jeremy, always going to be with you. I'm nothing if not competitive. So I have to listen episodes which I'm not a part of because it's not that I want to necessarily listen to your excellent analysis of the great human baseball, just to make sure what the intros are like with everybody else. So Danny's great. But yet, let's not get into it. I am the most frequent guest here. Cleveland, I think right now is the team to beat. Now, let's funny to say because there's 17s to be a final wild card spot. But the reason why I like Cleveland, Jeremy's, I think they've got excellent starting pitching. And to me, if you've got excellent starting pitching, you can go along the way. When Tanner Bobby's at your number four, I feel pretty good about that because they've got guys and Forest Griffin, I think was a great pick up coming over for the wash and the assholes appearing here with Park Kermesik. Obviously, Gavallon has been awesome for them.

7:06So to me, that's a really good force in right there. And the bullpen is clearly Kate Smith as an outstanding closer. The whole problem has been. Their offense has been feeble. And Hosea Ramirez, since coming back from injury, has not been anything special. But here's the good news. They got Joey Adele. Joey Adele, hello, it's me. And he has been a great run producer for them. Since he's been acquired, he's basically been an RBI game. And also, now that offense, which was atrocious, now is okay. Like Chase DeLotter is a great young player. Travis Bazzana, okay, great. If Hosea Ramirez can just be a little bit better than all of a sudden, you go, you know, what's Stephen Quon? Yeah, they can score some runs. And in terms of strength, the schedule, the three easiest schedules in the majors belong to the mirrors of one, the guardians of two, then the blue jays of three. Well, for me, the combination of Cleveland's excellence, starting pitching, the acquisition of Joey Adele, believe in it, Hosea Ramirez will wake up at some point. Right now, he's a league average player. And an easy schedule. I think Cleveland gets the final wall card spot. I loved your analysis. I haven't been able to move on since you said, hello, it's me with Joe Adele. And all that, all that the guardians need is for Hosea Ramirez to set fire to the

8:11rain for the rest of the season. We got the red, it will be fun. Oh, yes. Oh, this is the type of baseball analysis I like to do at it. Hey, we got the Red Sox down here this week against the Marlins, but now this week and they're heading to Yankee Stadium for three game set. And this is a bizarre thing that started to happen here because it seems like we're headed toward yet another year of Yankee's Red Sox in a wild card round. And both of these teams have had their ups. They've had their downs. But I know which of these two teams would you be like least surprised if I told you when we got to the World Series? Hey, this is the team representing the American League. I think it did the New York Yankee's because ultimately I look at their record, Jeremy, and I'm like, there's still above 500 without Aaron Judge. There are five games above five, whether or judge. No, one way to look at that is like, okay, but the American League is so atrocious, you should be a lot better than that. But I would say he's one of the best players in the sport. He's their best player, a three-time MVP. And not only a hold of float, they've been above 500 to me. That's a good sign. And of course with Judge, there are, I know, 17 games above 500, whatever it might be.

9:13He was in a sim game yesterday with Max Fried. So it looks like he's getting close. By close, I'm saying, I think by Labor Day, he's playing baseball. I think he's in the majors. And I think let's say another week of rehab, a week of some AAA games that are up at my B. And then he's with the Yankees for three weeks until playoff time. So if you get Judge back, you already got Belinger back. Now, Stanton is not coming back. And that's concerning because 103 games is out of the cap injury. He's strained his other calf while running. So that happens sometimes. That's like, yeah, well, on the drain one side, you favor the other side. Therefore, both sides go down. And Stanton's been a great postseason impact player for them. But even without G, to me, if you get Judge and Belinger back, you know, so go the Yankees as do number 99. And they're starting pitching as outstanding. And they got this best string pitching in the league. Camsel Hitler might win the Saiyong. Excellent race right now at Dylan's Seas. Max Fried will be back at some point. A Rodon is back. Garrett Cole is looking vintage. Garrett Cole, I took one of my ball to where he came in yards last week. And we watched Garrett Cole pitch six innings one run. Like he was like on point 90 mile an hour. Garrett Cole. He's got a one four six areas last five starts.

10:13So Yankees starting pitching is great. And their bullpen has been the best since July 1st. I mean, David Bednar has been the best closer since the all start break. He's wrapped there with Brian Baker of the race. Louis Varle and the Blue Jays. Like those guys have been horses for them. So to me, ultimately, I know it's a wildcard team, but the Yankees can make the most damage I think. And even now the three games back at Tampa, Jimmy, they still have four games set against the race. They could still win that ALEAST. It's crazy to think that the ALEAST can go so many different directions. And that those two teams are sitting right there. You look at the American League standings. The three best teams are all in the ALEAST. Like that's just the reality at this point is all three teams you just mentioned are the three best teams in the American League. It's a shame that two of them will have to square off in a wildcard round. But so it goes in the American League this season. Centerfield, Kanger, Virginia. So Griffey's highest career home run total. He had 56 twice, 97 and 98. And he had 24 stolen bases. That's it. So that's 80. He only ever had 24 stolen bases.

11:16That is crazy. It's a show how it turns. Show how this is a stupid game. This is a stupid format. I would have thought it would have been like one year. I know. I thought he had. So and you took out what was the question or something drafting show how to tie a tie. My baseball knowledge ever played ALEAST. Oh, I guess my baseball knowledge all what that one. He's an outfielder. He was a pitcher in a DH when he did both of those things. Also, I just want to make it abundantly. He's never played outfield. Yes, he has. But that very briefly. Yeah, I want to make it clear left fielder that my baseball. No, right field. Yeah, okay. My baseball knowledge would have had both Barry Bond's and Ricky Henderson instead. Luck. So in mine, hope. No, we won't. So hey had 55. Yeah, last year. Nobody had. He went 50-50. He had 59 stolen bases. So it's 114 as the total ruffers. Rough go for Jeremy right now. Jeremy, you're next pick. Here's an odd one. I don't know what his max and stolen bases was, but Sammy Sosa.

12:18That's a good one. I think when he was young, he stole bases. But I don't know that he ever even got to 30. It's good. Sammy Sosa's career high stolen bases is 36. And his career high in home runs, of course, is 66. I'll take that. 102. That's a good number, Jeremy. Okay. Back in the game. Yeah, that was page cleansing. No, you're back in the game. This is closer than anything. First base. That's going to be a tough position. I just going to be a bad answer. But I'm just drawing a blank right now. Center field is such a good one. I shouldn't waste a bad answer here. Tori Hunter. Tori Hunter. Not bad. He's just mid and both. It's probably going to be 30, 30 or something. Like 60 total. That's not good. Tori Hunter's career high and stolen bases is 23. His career high in home runs is 31.

13:21So that's 50. He's feeling that way. For Tori Hunter. Jeremy right back in. Jose Konseko. Konseko stole 40 bases one year. And he popped 46 home runs in 98. That's going to be 86 for Konseko. I'll take it. Can any outfielder play any position? Yes. Yeah. Okay. Do three outfielder. My three outfielder's are off the board at this point. Brian Braun. His career high and stolen bases is 33. And he popped 41 homers in 2012. Probably when he was juicing. So that's going to be a total of 74 for Brian Braun. I'm going to go. I just had one in my head. Oh no. I'll leave it. Look at me. I'm going to go. I'm going to go. Shortstop. Yeah. Cori Seeger. Cori Seeger's career high and stolen bases is four.

14:23What? Yeah. You lose it. But his career high and in home runs is 33. I joke. That's good. That got me back in the game. That made I had some bad answers. The last couple of you just I got way too cute. Yeah, you did. So so 37 is the total for Seeger there. That was such a big mistake. All right. I'm going to go second baseman. Yeah. By the name. And you guys are going to like this. I'm definitely not filling here. Like I definitely know who I'm saying. So I'm really just building up suspense here. Yeah. The name that I'm about to say. Yeah. Is. Uh huh. I got Marcus Charles. Marcus Charles. He popped 21 homers in 03. That's the name. And he stole 17 bases in 04. All right. I'm going to go third base Adrian Beltray. 48 home runs in 04. And you had a big home run year. But did he stole 18 and 90? I'll take that. That's pretty good.

15:23I'll take that and I'll put it on the board. Now we've already mentioned that the Yankees and Red Sox are playing this weekend. But we're getting to that point of the year at Dan, where there's all sorts of important series when you look around. And you know, some of them are funny because they feel like quasi elimination series at this point in different races. So I want to as Chris would make fun of named three series for you here that I think are worth watching over the weekend and tell me which one that our fans should be paying closest attention to if they're, you know, hopping around MLB.tv. So you got Mariners at Blue Jays. A couple of teams hanging around in that ugly wild card race. You got the white socks at the twins, which is big with the white socks leading the American League Central at the moment. We talked about the Guardians. You got the twins right there or pirates at Cardinals. Pirates feel all but out of it. But the Cardinals still, I think five games back at that last wild card spot. They're still sort of hanging around. Which of these series should our fans be watching over the weekend? Yeah, I've actually for the pirates. I mean, injuries just cut up to them.

16:24And it's unfortunate. They're out on the old crews for much of the season and now losing Ryan and Herman's big for them. So I'm not very interested in the pirates and cardinals. Joshua Bayes said that great free home again, they want an O for 19 hitless kids. So so much for that. I think the series to watch on see is the Mariners and Blue Jays. Because if it's not Cleveland getting that final wall card spot, I think it's the Blue Jays. They're starting pitch and it's been excellent. They got a host this time. We only picked them up from the angels. You know, you trade. You got Brett Babe in there for Kevin Goshman. He's been helping out that offense. If Vlad can just be a good player, like he's been below average. We can just be good for them. Then the Blue Jays's offense would have a huge jolt. Obviously by him being there. So I do think as a Toronto's pitching, that they'll be in the mix. And for Seattle, every single time, Jeremy, I think they're done. I think of the great Mark Twain quote. The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated. They'll lose 22 nothing to the brewers. And then when the next game 7.5, and then they'll look bad. And then also Key Anderson shows up and I go, this guy's the best pitching prospect in baseball. And he's more command over stuff, which is so fascinating for me. This guy's not throwing 99 like every other prospect. And then he actually pitches and pitches really good. And he looked awesome on Saturday.

17:25And I love it, Rose Serena. I think he's such an underrated player. Six straight 2020 season. He's one of the handful of baseball players and history that's done that, including Barry and Bobby Bond. The problem is who the Rodriguez has not has patented second half. Josh Neller has not had a great season. You know, and Cal Raleigh, besides the three home run game, has been a massive disappointment. So I'm still curious about Mariners' bludges. Because to me, that was the ALCSE year ago. Both those teams are probably the two biggest underachievers in the sport. They should both make a push for that final playoff spot. You just mentioned it. The fact that those two teams were the ALCS last year. And now you're sitting here looking at the two of them as trying to vibe for that final playoff spot. It feels like a huge series. And hey, you never know what happens in modern Major League Baseball. Both of those teams and they're starting pitching could potentially make a run. That's what makes Baseball so great. You have this marathon of a season and you get to this stage. But I do want to talk to you about the star of the week, this week, our Golden Era star of the week. And you mentioned Cal Raleigh, his three home or game. Tough not to put him up there as a nominee. Just excited for him that he finally had a good moment

18:26this season. And I saw someone say it almost felt like a like Mike scenario because PCA went up and kind of smacked him on the ass before, is that language okay? Smacked him on the ass before the game started and all of a sudden he hits three home runs. So it was pretty, you know, maybe he's just sort of passing off some of the powers. But then how about maybe the quietest triple crown candidate we've ever seen in the history of Baseball, Yordon Alvarez and the Astros. So Cal Raleigh and his singularly great game are Yordon Alvarez and his singularly great season, Adnan. I'm with Yordon because every time he goes out there, I'm like, Yordon, you're done. Like when it comes to the triple crown, this guy is going to do it. There's only a handful of guys sitting above three, kind of the American League. So he's going to hit for average. Home runs is a great race. I believe he's won ahead of Junior Caminar. So that won't go down the wire. And RBI says the slight edge right now, Dylan Dingler, your boy of the Tigers is in the mix as well. But you know, in the past, you say, wow, a DH winning MVP, does that make sense? And in the case of Yordon Alvarez, it does. He's going to be, I think the first triple crown winner since the Galcorbaer in 2012 with the Tigers, as long as he shows a little bit more power,

19:28he's singularly trying to carry this Astros team. They just parted ways with Dana Brown because they might be tied for first place in the West, but there are sub 500 team. I can't imagine where they'll be without Yordon Alvarez. That's how valuable he's been. In terms of second place, the MVP race is probably Caminaro. Bobby Witt is a 6.2 war. He's in the top three war. It's the fact he hasn't had a great season overall. When it comes to war, Bobby Witts that guy. But to me, Yordon's not only the MVP, but he's going to win the triple crown. And again, it's a remarkable achievement. You remember how great that debate was, Cabrera versus Trap back in 2012? This time there's no debate. It's like Yordon Alvarez is one of the best hitters in baseball when he's healthy, watch out. He pulverizes the baseball. That patience to play along with the power and driving a runner's, he said a season for the ages. No doubt about it. For those of you who don't watch enough of Yordon Alvarez, imagine if Big Poppy was one soda. That's essentially what it's like to watch Yordon Alvarez. Like you combine the best of both of those hitters, and that's what you get in Alvarez. He is one of the best, and another guy who is the best is Adnan Burke. Adnan, it's always great when we can have someone like you.

20:32And we each have a first baseman in the catcher. Yeah, that's left. And Chris is up. I have a strategy here. Yeah, catcher. Cowarolli. It's a great strategy. Very well-medicated strategy. What's your advantage? You might really smart strategy. Yeah, you might have won. Yes. He popped 60 last year famously. Uh-huh. And sneakily stole 14 bases. All right. 74 for Ryan. That's big. That's gigantic. That's a big number. OK. I have an answer for that I could just do the same strategy. But then I have one that I think stole some bases at some point in his career. And I should go with Doug McAvige. Not sure if it makes up. Go with McAvige. Go with your guy. I'm going. I'm just going to try to play it safe and go Lou Garrig. I'll play for a space, right? Yeah. 61. His career high in home runs was 49.

21:32Roger Maris popped 61. I'm an idiot. That's who you thought you were doing? Yeah, I'm an idiot. He's an elf. I know I just messed up both of those. Oh my god. Lou Garrig. What an idiot. 61. So what an idiot. I was like, I think McGuire hit all time. That's an all-time flammettian. Yes. That was amazing. Now Garrig. So no, we're not cutting that. That is staying on. No, that is just all time. That's just like a great club. No, hey. All time, all time. All time, full up. All time, full up. 49 home runs. Now Jeremy, not bad. 17 stolen bases. So that's going to be. That's equal to 72,000. Oh, that's equal to 72,000. That's going to be 66 again for Jeremy. Oh, that's a big mistake. That's a big, big, big mistake. I lost. I think I lost. I had a 23. I had a two. Oh, this is awful. Mark and wire. Yeah, I think you were doing it. I think you were doing it. Sick to my stomach. In a way that I can't articulate. You said Lou Gehringen. I was like, my dad is going to watch this.

22:33And he's going to be legit. Dad, I'm sorry. Yeah. So I said, shit, Emily, I feel like gross. Mr. Tashay, I can be your son. So, wire famously in 1998 popped 70 home runs. His career high in stolen bases was three. OK. So, you're in your son's role right now. Brother, I'm shaking up. It's good. I am truly flounder. He never even had a Corey Seeger stolen. All right. And I have how many? You have 526. Hobby Lopez. Wow, I thought about him. So Hobby Lopez popped 43. No way he had. And stole 5 base. He's incredibly slow. So I lose. Because I can choose Mark McGuire. Olivia, we are back. Well, good game. OK. All right.

23:33You just, you know what? You stay here. I'm going to leave. I'm going to be here until next week. Yeah. Goodbye, everyone.