Hosts Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo analyze the high-stakes scenarios unfolding in the National League, particularly focusing on the New York Mets' upcoming doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.

The show captures the tension and anticipation surrounding the playoff race, with the Mets seeking to clinch a postseason spot. As the hosts and special guest Brian Palermo discuss the implications of the recent games, they highlight the Mets' struggles against the Braves, the impact of Hurricane Helene on scheduling, and the strategic decisions facing the team's management. The conversation also touches on key player performances, with particular attention given to Francisco Lindor's pivotal role in revitalizing the team's morale. The show encapsulates the emotional rollercoaster of being a Mets fan, blending insights about player dynamics with the psychological aspects of fanhood, making it a must-listen for baseball enthusiasts navigating the final days of the regular season.

Show Takeaways:

• The New York Mets face a crucial doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves to secure a playoff spot.
• David Peterson's performance was pivotal in today's game, showcasing his ability under pressure.
• The Yankees have clinched the number one seed in the AL, providing a solid advantage going into the playoffs.
• Aaron Rodgers and the Jets struggled significantly this week, raising concerns about their Super Bowl hopes.
• The Mets' management decisions regarding pitching rotations could greatly impact their playoff chances.

Teams mentioned in this episode:

• New York Mets
• New York Yankees
• New York Jets
• New York Knicks
• Buffalo Bills
• Baltimore Ravens
• Cleveland Guardians
• Houston Astros
• Baltimore Orioles
• Kansas City Royals
• Milwaukee Brewers
• San Diego Padres
• Detroit Tigers
• Arizona Diamondbacks

The views expressed in the following program do not necessarily represent those of the staff, management, or owners of WGBB. Live from the WGBB studios in Merrick, New York. This is Sports Talk New York.

From the crossroads of Merrick Avenue and Sunrise highway, hey, beautiful downtown Merrick, Long Island, New York, this is sports talk New York. I'm your host, Mike Guidone, joined as always, by my co host, Chris Caputo. Brian Graves, behind the glass taking us home tonight.

We have our lineup tonight, but we could literally do an hour on four or five different topics tonight, I think so.

It's good chatting with you, Mike, but this is. We're almost in October, but I think there's just a lot of drama going on, and we're going to finish out September with a ring of the bell.

And, you know, there's a lot of football going on. People can watch that. I'm actually excited to go home tonight and watch the Buffalo Bills play. I think that's a nice matchup.

I think they're playing the Ravens.

Great game and just to see what's going on there and, you know, there's plenty of NFL that we can talk, but, you know, Major League Baseball, I would say, has to be the hot topic. And I think it's going to go in a variety of directions tonight.

And right now I can just say that things have taken a turn, that the season will not end on September 29 to Sunday, that there will be two games played on Monday, September 30.

Unbelievable.

You know, we had kind of joked about this a couple of weeks ago, that it would come down, you know, to the last game and that we would be on either really happy or really down about the Mets or whatever else.

And here we are kind of in a state of limbo heading into tomorrow, but a tough thing to even think about going into work tomorrow and keeping one eye on the, on the, on the phone or the, you know, the computer and one eye on your classroom. Same with me. But it really is fantastic to be in this spot.

Yeah. And anybody who has the ability to work from home, God bless you. You have the ability to pull that off.

I'm wearing my March madness shirt today because that's kind of what it's like when I'm at work during March Madness. It's like that boss button that you can press where they don't see you watching games.

I love watching games like that, but watching one game and nothing else on, I would just be sitting there. Tomorrow is going to be tough.

But I need the Mets to win game one because if they don't win game one, my drive home is going to be 6 hours in my head, even though it's only going to be like 40 minutes, of course. So it's going to be tough.

It is. But I think we got to remember that we're lucky. Well, not lucky, but we're happy to be in this spot.

As met fans, they, they kind of limped into it, but they focused. They did what they needed to do today. Solid win. It was a no doubter. It wasn't like, you know, they, they had to scratch and claw.

They took care of business.

Yeah, it was nice to see because it has been really tough to watch the previous two games when everybody's like, oh, Milwaukee has nothing to play for. And then boom, yeah, we're getting destroyed by guys that don't even really need to be playing. So it was tough to see that.

I actually did not agree with the pitching rotation. I know that, you know, they hadn't thrown Quintana in ten days, but I really actually wanted to see that.

But anyway, I thought that they should have pitched Tyler McGill on Saturday, and I thought they should have pitched Quintana on Friday night and then maybe Severino today. But David Peterson, I'm just going to say, before we get to the Yankees, David Peterson today pitched a historic game for the New York Mets.

Absolutely. I mean, when you look back on a more pressure packed game, you're not really going to find one. And also, the performance itself was just brilliant.

I mean, cool, collected, literally unhittable, no matter who he was facing, and just came up huge. So lots to talk about with that.

And we're going to start off with our, our guest tonight, who we've spoken to quite often throughout the season and going to get his insights on everything, baseball and where we're at. And that's Brian Palermo. Brian, welcome to the program. My friend Chris.

Mike, thanks for having me, guys.

That's great, man.

Glad we have you back on. You know, at this point, we're kind of bringing you on to give us what could happen in about a week.

But there's a lot of stuff going on, and for those of you that are Yankee fans out there, the Yankees are in the playoffs. And think about this.

Oh, that's right, I forgot the Yankees.

You know, we concentrate on what's going on, that there's still baseball, regular season going on. But the Yankees, by way of the Cleveland Guardians, losing to the Astros last night clinched the number one seed.

And therefore, today's game didn't really mean anything. But the Yankees will be facing the winner of the Baltimore Orioles and the Kansas City Royals, who will play Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

That's a good question.

And a TBd for the Houston Astros.

That's an excellent question. Which two weeks ago we talked about baseball and all sports being controlled by media empires. Brian, any ideas on that?

No, I'm not sure. I know it was kind of looking like it would be the Tigers Orioles, but I know the White Sox beat Detroit and Kansas City ended up jumping them.

So I think Detroit is going to be really tough team. They're really hot right now. As far as what Caputo just mentioned, I can't speak to that.

I don't know. That's a TBD, the Detroit Houston game, but that game is going to be on ABC. So baseball on ABC and Milwaukee will be on ESPN.

Just looking at some of these, these networks. But. So, Brian, you're kind of. Let's just start with the, the pulse of the Yankees as game 162 is now complete.

I think they finished maybe about an hour ago.

Yeah, I was driving home listening to the game, John Sterling back on the call, but some good things happened. You know, Verdugo got a clutch hit there and clay homes had a nice, nice ending there.

So you got some good vibes going into next week and with the weather and everything, you know, and like you said, with locking up the first seed, they were able to rest judge and Soto today and there was a real slick track out there. So, you know, that was good.

But, you know, thinking back to when I first spoke to you guys in March, you know, if you would have told me the Yankees would be the number one seed in the AL, you know, that's fantastic. So I'm feeling pretty good. This is the best I felt about a yankee team in a while. Going into the playoffs.

I do recognize they do have some flaws, but this season has been a roller coaster. They started out so hot and then they were so cold, and then they kind of ready to ship there. So it's been a roller coaster.

But like you said, you got the number one seed home field advantage to the AL. You got to be feeling good.

All right, so I'm just going to ask you right off the bat, Yankees are facing either Kansas City or Baltimore. Do you have a preference?

I do not. Hopefully it goes three games and they got to use a lot of their pitchers, and that's all I hope for.

But anything can happen in the postseason, so you never want to look ahead. You just take the matchup in front of you and go one at a time.

Okay, so I saw Brady singers going to the bullpen. So for the Yankees, when they play next weekend, you're the manager, general manager of the Yankees. Who are your rotation starters?

I think you start off with Cole and then Rodan, and then I think you give the ball to Luis Hill in game three and go from there. I know Nestor is a really tough time.

He was starting to throw the ball really well, so it's a little disappointing to see him get, get banged up there with his elbow, you know, in the last week or so. But I think that's the way you got to start Cole Rodan and heal. You know, he'll, I think, just made his 30th start.

Rodan had 32 starts this year, and Cole, his last two starts have been excellent.

So, you know, he's throwing the ball well, which makes you feel really good because, you know, kind of like judge and Soto, the Yankees are going to go as far as Cole takes them.

Yeah. Brian, I kind of agree with you about Nesta Cortez because it's terrible for him.

I mean, he kind of was all over the map throughout the season and really seemed to find his stride the last couple of weeks, especially his last two, three starts, and then has to go on the disabled list. And they're hoping, I believe, that they can get him back at some point. There was talk he was going to get an injection.

That PRP, they call it, I believe it's called plasma rich platelets. If I said that right, say that three times fast.

But, but at least, I mean, just his grit and experience would be great to have him even, even if he's not going to be a starter, but just to have him available, I would.

Think, yeah, he's, he's a bulldog for sure. You know, that's the type of guy you want to have the ball.

I know we talked about him a little last time I was on with you guys and the quote he had when, you know, they moved into the bullpen, for a start, he wasn't happy, but he still did it. And he's a team first guy. So those are the type of guys you want to have. Even when he's been struggling, he always seems to throw the ball. Okay.

You know, in the Bronx, so, you know, he definitely would feel good with the ball in his hands.

All right, so let's get to it. Anthony Rizzo, two broken fingers. Are we going to be putting rice at first base?

Are we going to wait till the weekend to make a decision on whether or not he could still swing a bat with eight fingers? What do you think?

I know they didn't il him, so they sent down Frost to bring Rice up today. Right. So that doesn't eliminate him.

Correct.

But, I mean, I've played a game with a broken finger before. It is. It is not easy to grip the bat. You know, you lose your pop.

And that's someone who, even though he wasn't hitting for power, he was still hitting for average, plays a great first base of, I think the way that you have to replace him right now, and this gets a little tricky is you got to let Cabrera get the first shot. He's been there a little bit throughout the season. He has experience there.

And I think you have to carry rice on the roster because, again, there's a lot of things that we don't know. Yankees are kind of playing a lot of things close to the best right now. Lemay, I haven't heard much about him. If he's healthy, he could get a shot.

But as far as just playing the position, you got to give it to Cabrera and then Carrie Rice because other than that, I know they've been working out Trent Grisham there, but that's a center fielder. I don't know if we want to be putting him at first base in the playoffs where any one little moment can influence a game.

So I think you give it to Cabrera and take it serious by series. I don't like his chances for next weekend when it comes to Rizzo.

Yeah, I think that would, that might have to be a platoon because Cabrera right now is only batting 159 as a righty against lefties.

So I think if lefties pitching, maybe you put rice in there and then against, you know, the righty pitchers, he combat lefty, he might be a lefty lefty hitter only because as a switch hitter, it's just been tough. But, and the other thing, Brian, is he's only played five games at first base this year. I don't know if that matters.

Think that does matter because he's played there in years past, and he's. You feel. I mean, Boone says it, but you feel comfortable wherever he is on the field. You know, whether it's second short, third outfield.

He's done a fine job when he's at first base. So that is not a concern of mine. I know before Rizzo got back, Rice was really struggling in the major leagues. And then they sent.

They sent him down to AAA in 19 games, you know, he had nine home runs. He really started to find his swing again. So you never know. Like, I think he's a. He's a good kid.

He's got a bright future, so, you know, maybe he'll have his moment.

You know, Brian, I was just reading on the New York Post page here an interview with Aaron Boone, and you had mentioned Trent Grisham.

He said in this, and I quote, Boone also noted that Trent Grisham has taken grounders at first, but the manager said they like how Rice hit after he was sent back. Going into a major playoff series, you don't want a guy who's taken grounders at first base, I think, to be your everyday first baseman.

Definitely not.

I completely understand that. And when you're talking about the New York Yankees, you figure they're going to have all these options. Yeah.

It's definitely not a guy who's taken grounders there.

No, no. I know judge takes grounders a couple days there in the spring.

I took. I took some grounders last week.

Yeah.

I mean, I think, you know, Cap, you took some grounders, I think, yesterday, right at third base. You want to, you want to jump.

In for the Mets this weekend, don't call me in any, any rock, any roster spots you think are up in the air, because I think, like, like.

I've said, they've been playing things close to the vest. But the biggest question right now, you know, we mentioned Trent Grisham's name is, but who's going to be the left fielder?

And it's kind of the saying, like, dominguez, he hasn't been hitting great, but he's got a lot more pop. He runs really well, but he's been struggling in left field. I think Strowman was pitching last week, and the bases are loaded. Ball over his head.

It was a tough play, but in the playoffs, that's going to be a play that you want to make. And Verdugo seems to have the edge defensively, Dominguez offensively because Rodrigo has been struggling a little bit with the bat.

So where do we want to go? Do you want to go defense first or offense first?

I know what I would do, but the other day in an interview, Boone said that defense is going to be a priority. So if you read between the lines, that kind of seems like they're going to let Verdugo get the first shot at it.

And then you're really probably not going to keep Dominguez on the roster as a backup. If he's going to be on the roster, he's going to play. Because when you think about it, unless they're taking a platoon.

But then Trent Grisham spot is up for grabs. And if defense is a priority, well, that's a Gold glove center fielder. So, you know, it gets a little tricky.

That's the spot I'm most interested to see how they handle.

Okay, it's interesting because I think you got Trevino. Cabrera is now probably going to be a starter. John Birdie will probably make the roster.

Grisham, Dominguez, I think those will be your guys questions with the bullpen, anything. I mean, Strowman is probably going to be down there.

Anybody else kind of stick out that maybe either might play a higher role than they did in the regular season or somebody that might not make it?

I mean, well, we got, the first guy we got to mention is Luke Weaver, who has just been awesome.

I know the Yankees claimed him last year, kind of struggled a little bit as a starter, but they put him in the bullpen and he's been really good all year in high leverage situations. In the past month or so, he's been getting these closing spots.

So, you know, his last like ten innings have been scoreless and he strikes a lot of guys out. And that's how we've kind of talked about that even a little bit with Clay Holmes.

Like, even when he's on, they can, you know, dribble one in the infield. They got a base runner. Next thing you know, they're stealing second and you kind of want more of a strikeout type pitcher and a closer role.

And then another guy we got to think about was, you know, something Cashman's great at is claiming guys off waivers. And, you know, cousins was awesome this year. He just has a nasty slider. He's on the Il now with a little bit of an arm injury.

He did throw at the stadium, but I don't think it was off a mound, so I'm hoping he's ready because he was really good in some high leverage spots. So that's going to be a guy we want to have at full force.

And if you're playing the Orioles, Tim Hill is your lefty specialist.

I think that's a guy that you're going to have to rely on for those situations with two outs and a 7th and, you know, they're bringing up a lefty, right?

Yeah, Gunner Henderson's coming up, or, you know, and Tim Hill's been really good. He gets a lot of ground balls and, you know, it's another guy that kind of cleans.

So a lot of these guys, you know, you didn't even know where they were as far as being Yankee fan, where they were at the beginning of season. But they've been key contributors all year. And, you know, bullpen's going to play an important role.

You know, like Luis Hill, he's been awesome, but, you know, he can, his pitch count can get up there. So even in his starts, he's going to. You're going to need the bullpen for sure.

So, Brian, with the, with the Yankees, it seems like they're always going to be tied here, at least for the near future with the Astros. Just big stories. You know, we're all aware of all the controversy in the last couple of years.

Do you think it's important for the, for the Yankees to avoid the Astros here early?

Is that something where it's more about just kind of getting their footing here in the postseason, or would you rather just get them out of the way right away?

I definitely don't think we need to try to avoid them. I know they've had success over the Yankees in the past, but they're a good organization, right?

You know, Garrett Cole was pitching for them at one point, so it's kind of different team. I know they still got some of the same guys like Altuve and Alvarez, but they're just a good organization and, you know, a lot of respect for them.

But I'll take whoever's in front of us, to be honest with you, that's just how I feel.

All right, so we got Cleveland, and the Yankees are waiting around, and we have Casey, Baltimore, Detroit, and Houston. Give us your predictions on those two series. Who do you think advances?

You know, I think, like I mentioned earlier, Detroit, I don't know what it was like August. They had, like, a 0.5% chance of making the playoffs, and they've just been on a run.

And, you know, teams that can be a buzzsaw, they're really tough to beat. It's kind of whoever gets hot at the right time. So I kind of like Detroit to get that series.

Okay.

And then when you, when you look at Baltimore, you know, they got Corbin burns going in game one, so I like the edge there. And they're up one nothing. I think they can get one of the next two. So I think Baltimore and Detroit would come out of those two series well.

Brian Palermo, thanks again. We look forward to having you on, hopefully as the Yankees and Mets both advance, but it's good for us when both teams are doing well.

We certainly are excited about the Yankees and their possibilities. A tough loss with Rizzo, but hopefully he's back by the time we have you on, hopefully in two weeks. And thanks again for joining us.

All right. Thanks for having me, and best of luck to you guys tomorrow.

If you got any Xanax, I can use it tomorrow.

Yankee fans don't need that. They have tradition. Just me, Brian, for learning. Well, thanks again. All right, so an interesting vibe.

Wouldn't it be nice to kind of just be sitting here right now and be like, oh, we're going to just think about the next.

Let's watch some games for a couple.

Of days, relax and think about who we want to play.

And we got a three day week this week. We're off Thursday, Friday, start our series on Saturday, home games.

Yeah, let's just relax. Will that ever happen?

No.

Even when?

Because think about it. Two years ago, the Mets just needed to win one game in Atlanta, didn't do that, and then wound up losing.

You know, the 101 games they win and they still wind up going into the wild cardinal and then blowing it. So, no, it won't happen.

It's just always something. But not to, you know, again, jump over the Yankees here. But I think the loss of Rizzo can't be understated because he missed so much of the season.

And then, you know, not that he was lighting the world on fire, but just a great, great guy on the field, great defensive player. You know, he's a guy you want in the playoffs and at first base, very difficult to plug somebody in there and go, the Yankees do have the bats.

I mean, they did replace him at one point during the year, but I really think, like, he kind of found his way back in and he became that reliable guy at first base defensively. I mean, he's won a World Series. He's done this before. So I think you lose some of that, but I think he's going to stick around.

Now, this is probably in my mind, I'm not a hand specialist, but four to six weeks, I'm thinking, you know, you, you hurt that hand.

Yes.

You know, you're looking at probably missing the rest of the playoffs. Now, he might push himself back. I don't know, but I think that's a tough loss for the Yankees because he was fitting in pretty well.

So we'll see what happens.

And to get hit by a pitch.

I think he's been hit like 22 times this year.

Unbelievable.

You know, it's kind of one of those, like, Marcana things. Like he just, he just ball finds them all the time.

Yeah, it's not, it's not even like he leans into it. He just doesn't have a great ability to get out of the way.

But, yeah, I mean, he's a tough dude, but I don't know if he can, if he's going to be able to come back from that. But we'll see. We'll see.

Right.

San Diego 830. Okay. And basically it's a lot of baseball. Yeah. And basically Wednesday is the same thing.

Okay.

Detroit, Houston 230, Kansas City 430. Milwaukee goes to instead of 537 30 and then San Diego 830.

Okay.

So all of this hype about all they're going to be playing afternoon. Yeah, there's afternoon baseball, but Detroit and Houston's already there.

Yeah.

Kansas City and Baltimore, they're already there. So what they, at least major league baseball did, I'll give them a little credit for this is the teams that are established.

The american league games are playing the earlier games. The Braves and the Mets have no idea where they're going or if they are going to go.

If Arizona needs to get on a plane and go somewhere, they put them in the 530 and 830 slot for Tuesday.

Now, I know you have a bone to pick with major league baseball.

I'm going to do it at 830 because I want other people to either agree with me or disagree. But Mike, very simply, there was a hurricane coming. A natural disaster was coming into Atlanta.

The Braves were asked to move the game up by the Mets as early as maybe Saturday or Friday of the.

Week before, by the way, not to not interrupt you, but not that they knew this, but I saw this, Atlanta had more rain in this, this stretch than they've had since it was originally counted. They had ten inches of rain, I believe. Yep.

So it wasn't like, it was like, well, I think this storm might, you know, it's gonna knock out some things. It, it was major stuff.

Disgusting.

Yeah.

If you want to give a call, you can, we'll talk some Mets in a minute. But let's, let's make sure the New York football teams get at least a couple of our minutes of up and down.

Okay.

So I always, I always tend to do this on, on football Sundays or, you know, they didn't both play today, but we constantly compare the jets and the Giants because that's just the nature of the beast here in New York. But the jets are the team that are supposed to be Super bowl contenders. All the talk, Aaron Rodgers, all that stuff.

And coming out of today, having watched that game out, yeah, the weather was not great. Okay. But I'm feeling a lot better about the Giants than I am about the jets. The Jets look putrid today.

I mean, I already looked on social media and everybody's blaming the coaching staff because now, listen, was the Jet offense. If you saw the game, it was not fluid. It certainly wasn't. It was definitely field goals. Rogers got nicked up a little bit later in the game.

Not that he's, you know, he's not going to be Steve young running around the field anyway, but his mobility was, was definitely compromised. So they were looking at short passes, whatever. It was very easy to kind of, you know, game plan for that.

But my goodness, I mean, Breece hall did nothing. They're playing Denver.

I mean, at home, neither team, the Giants or the jets scored an offensive touchdown at home for the first time in the history of either franchise.

That's crazy.

Unbelievable. Come on.

That is bad. And Rogers got sacked five times. I believe the jets had 13 penalties for 90 yards. That can't happen.

And, you know, they really, again, they put up nine. The Giants put up five field goals. So I guess they finally found themselves a kicker, at least, you know, somebody to kick.

But can the Giants go for it on fourth down at one point? Where are the Giants going this year? Are they really contending for a playoff spot.

No.

So take some chances. Do something. Go for it. And I just feel like you're playing not to lose and they're not playing for wins and therefore they're not going to win.

It's a great point because if you're Brian Dable, who basically, I mean, you can say he is or is not on the hot seat, and I hate that, that term as a coach, but they have to show some improvement. I mean, there are Bill Belichick, he's waiting in the wings, and I'm sure he would love to coach the New York Giants, but dable is.

He has to get this team back in line. So. Yeah, of course. Why not?

If you're going to be one and three and you're there in a game that you're really probably not even supposed to be with the Cowboys. Yeah. Take a chance here.

Go for it.

Why play, why play the numbers game when the numbers really don't even bear it out?

Yeah. And you're down 14 six towards the end of the first half. You're kicking a 38 yarder with a minute and six to go in half. Go for it there.

Like at some point you gotta go for something, do something a little bit different. I will say the bright spot is Malik, neighbors, like, they made a nice graphic there.

Yeah. He's been as advertised. And really?

But I believe he had a concussion.

He did so that, and very late in the game. So that's, that's going to be something.

That's, that's going to be tough going forward because it's not exactly like they have a thousand other weapons. No, but, you know, conversely with the Giants, the big bugaboo for Dallas was that they could not stop the run. They were awful.

Probably the worst run stopping defense in the NFL. And I think the Giants had 26 yards, some outrageously low number running, which to me is. Well, it kind of lends itself to the fact.

I think Dallas is like, hey, we're just going to stack the box and let Daniel Jones try to beat us. But he, listen, last three games he's been pretty good. I mean, he's not going to win you a Super bowl or maybe even playoff game. Yeah.

He's been serviceable. Hasn't, hasn't lost games for him.

No. But I think it's, he's not the answer moving forward. So I think at some point, you know, something's going to have to change.

And if they go downhill, I think they're going to wind up going to somebody else, let somebody else try to do it. Last thing on the Jets, Aaron Rodgers, 5.4 yards per pass. I mean, he's throwing dink and dunks. He got sacked five times.

He had a quarterback rating of 31 four. And think about this, their longest run today was 14 yards. You know who had that run? Aaron Rodgers.

You're kidding.

Aaron Rodgers had 26 yards rushing.

Wow.

Breece hall, ten carries. You know how many yards?

I'm going to say 24 yards.

His longest run was three.

That's four yards more than me and you.

I mean, you can't run the ball ten times for four yards and expect Aaron Rodgers to bail you out.

No.

And if he's throwing those little short passes, which he's been doing since the beginning, you know, he's just not 100% and he's not, he's not ready to go. He can't push off his leg.

And as we said, the jets now have to go to London and then come back and play the bills. They're playing two teams that right now are 70 combined. So it's going to be tough. But, you know, at least the jets are two and two.

They're in a division that maybe they can win. The Giants, on the other hand, I think are going to have an uphill battle.

We're going to take a quick break and be back in just a couple of minutes here on sports talk New York.

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Sports talk. You're listening to sports talk New York on Long Island's WGB. And now back to the show.

We dabbled in the Mets a little bit, which we are going to obviously get to a little bit stronger pace on that here in just a second. But it's a big, big sports weekend. Jets, Giants disappointments.

There's even some New York Knicks talk, which we might get to before the end of the program, which I'm always very happy to do. But right now we are joined by someone we've had on the program quite often throughout the year, and that's Mister John Hansen. John, welcome.

Hey, Mike, how are you? Hey, Chris.

What's going on?

John.

Take a deep breath after today.

So we have the Atlanta Braves 88 and 72. The New York Mets 88 and 72. The Arizona Diamondbacks, I guess would be considered even with those teams at 89 and 73.

But they finished their season on the day when Major League Baseball says you're supposed to finish your season.

And tomorrow we have a double header of all doubleheaders between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets back in Atlanta, where the Mets were on Tuesday night.

So kind of what's happened in the last seven days and try to explain this all to everybody because right now if I'm to, if I start talking, I think I'm just going to ramble on about stuff that is really bad.

So the Mets headed to Atlanta. They were supposed to play three games, series Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday. Hurricane Helene had a different mindset.

Now, the Mets did supposedly reach out to Major League Baseball and asked the Braves to play a game on Monday coming off of the night, Sunday night baseball versus the Phillies. They were, I guess Major League Baseball did approach Atlanta.

Atlanta said they did not want to do that based on the gates that they had coming in for the week versus the Mets. So Major League Baseball really, you know, really fumbled the ball on this with the football efforts here.

On a football Sunday, they should have played at least two games and not come down to a doubleheader tomorrow.

However, it is what it is, basically, based on today's results of an Atlanta loss and a Mets win and an Arizona win, there will be two baseball games tomorrow. And basically the Mets in Atlanta. If they both split, they both make the postseason, Arizona stays home.

If the Mets and the Braves split, they're both in the pro season. If either team sweeps the doubleheader, meaning if the Mets win, both the Braves stay home.

And God forbid, if the Braves win, both the Mets stay home.

All right.

So tomorrow we have a situation where it was just announced that Tyler McGill is going to pitch game one against Schwellenbach for the for the Braves, and then when one team wins, they are in, and then the other team needs to win the second game in order to move on because if they don't, they will be replaced by the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In your opinion, do you think there's going to be a situation where whoever wins game one literally empties their bench, their minor leagues, and says the second game is yours to the other team?

I think, listen, I think Major League baseball players, when they get on the field, they're going to be competitive regardless.

Of who it is.

I don't think anyone's going to give anybody anything. I think the game will be managed differently. If you're Snedeker or if you're.

The.

Mets management team, Mendoza, you're going to manage that team differently. You're not going to use your circle of trust or levers in game two. If not necessary, you might give Lindor the second game off.

You might give Alago the second game off Clay Alvarez in second base. You might do things like that.

But I don't think they're just going to hand over the game, roll the, roll the balls and throw the back on the field and say, hey, you take it. How do you think it'll be managed differently?

I think you could probably see John probably a little, at least whoever the pitching staffs are for the pitching staff is, I should say, for the, for the team that doesn't need the game. They will probably go by committee, perhaps, or, you know, just kind of try to save some of their bigger arms for the next day.

So I think that the pitching will be, will be somewhat different. I agree with you, though.

I said you'll probably see a couple of changes here or there within the lineups, but I can tell you, I was trying to look through on the computer and I don't have it.

And we don't have the Elias sports bureau here with us, but I don't believe there's ever been an extra day of baseball where they've needed a double header to.

It might have been one, but it was a long time ago.

All right. You sure?

Yeah, it's, it was, it's usually one game, though.

Yeah.

I mean, a double header is very, very interesting, and I think that lends itself to, listen, Atlanta as the home team, I, they had the right, I guess you could say, to, to be able to give their opinion to Major League Baseball, whatever else. But it's not like they earned it. It wasn't that they, it just was scheduling.

So, you know, you mentioned about that major league Baseball spoke to Atlanta. I think any baseball fan would say, you know what?

Maybe karma is actually on the side of the Mets here because Atlanta, you know, played with, played with fate here a little bit.

Yeah, I think so. I think the fact that, to be honest, I think it's played into the Mets hands, like you said, maybe it's karma or, you know, maybe it's just a reset.

I think the Mets look so tight on Tuesday that you would have been hard pressed to convince me or anybody that Wednesday's results of Thursday would have looked different, especially with Crisale on the mound Wednesday. So I think that this double header actually plays into the Mets hands because it does give them an opportunity to relax.

Oh, yeah.

You're not, there's no, there's no doubt about it.

If you're seeing Chris sale, that means you're in the playoffs. They're only throwing Chris sale if the Mets win, game won. So I think that's a great thing.

But I also think that it would have been nice to have the Braves win today because then even if the Mets screwed up game one against a non normal starter, at least they had a second chance to beat another lay down team. I'm just. Jon, I'm just so nervous that we lose game one and then they throw some random knuckleballer and we're down three one in the 7th.

You wouldn't be a Mets man if you weren't, if you didn't have all those scenarios in your head.

But I also thought today was going to be terrible.

Anyone puts on a bravest or, you know, you have a good chance to go two for three versus the Met.

Oh, my gosh. This is, it's crazy. Just would've been so much easier if they would have won one extra game this weekend.

I john the state of the Mets this past weekend. Can you talk a little bit about what they did the first two nights? And, you know, that frustration kicks in for all of us.

And you finally get to see JD Martinez get two hits today after going over 36. You know, him and Jesse Winker were batting, I believe, a combined zero three nine.

You know, can we talk a little bit about what we can expect tomorrow from these guys after what they did this weekend?

I think there'll be a little more loose heading into tomorrow. I think today, I think today everyone was able to take a deep breath.

We saw Lindor get a couple of hits, stole the base right out of the, you know, on the first 1st pitch after he was on first base. You know, stolen me right down a second.

I think Lindore, you know, again, he would have been even more in the MVP conversation, you know, if he didn't have to take ten days off. But, you know, the guy showed you everything that he was today. A couple hits, home run, stolen base, run scored.

I think that that allowed the team today to relax a little bit. They were certainly pressing. There's no doubt on Tuesday they were overmatched by slowing back. They looked horrible. They had non competitive attacks.

Then you take the two days there were rain outs where they were stuck in Atlanta because they couldn't go to Milwaukee until Thursday morning. I'm sorry.

Until.

Yeah, Thursday morning, they ended up in Milwaukee.

Right?

They didn't leave, correct.

Yeah.

They didn't have a hotel.

Right.

They didn't have their hotel. They were tight again on Friday, and they just. They got behind and they. They looked. They looked overwhelmed. You know, there's no doubt about it.

They were.

They were pressing, and it looked like everyone was trying to swing for the fences and, you know, change the trajectory of the season and the series with one swing of the back, and their swings were very long. They all looked like they were coming out of their shoes, and they just, you know, they just got beat.

And, you know, and I think the umpire on Friday, although it was bad on both sides, the Mets certainly got squeezed in the first inning.

Gosh, Ramos.

Yeah. And the Alvarez strike three call, which was clearly a ball where, you know, Mendoza ended up getting thrown out of the game.

I just think all of those things together combined made them very nervous, and I thought it was imperative today that they got out to an early lead.

And were, you know, how we're able.

To take that deep breath.

All right, so, John, we're also welcomed right now by James Ciano from the Mets up podcast. James has really got a pulse on the Mets and has been following them around and traveling around, and he's doing a lot of work right now.

So, James, we welcome you in tonight, too.

Hey, Chris, what's going on? Thank you so much.

Yeah, it's Chris and Mike here, and we got John there as well. So, James, kind of give us your idea of your pulse of what's going on right now with the Mets and how we can attack the next couple of days.

I mean, it's just, it. Today was a very positive step in the right direction after what it was almost a nightmarish weekend.

But you gotta give a lot of credit, David Peterson, tons of credit Francisco, and door for setting tone for this game.

But drawing the walk, stealing a base, scoring a run, and just not letting, not letting there be any shadow of a doubt that the Mets finally come to play after a few bad days, a weird wonky week. But it's just, it seems like business. It's just they want to go to Atlanta and they just have to win a game.

It's a strange situation, not what we've really ever seen, the history of baseball, where these two teams could basically make a handshake in a dark tunnel and say, let's not play these games, let's not ruin our rotations, let's both go to the playoffs. But it just seems like there's so much hatred and venom between these two organizations that they won't do that.

If this situation was averse and this was the Mets and diamondbacks, but games rained out in New York and we were doing this, I think a handshake, a dual forfeiture would be likely, but I think the teams are willing to go down with their own ships just to make sure the others, the other can end their season.

Yeah, it's really, James, this great theater, as you mentioned, I wanted to ask you this before I forget, because I think it's either a very easily answered question or maybe there's something to it. So Mets had the big lead. They bring in Diaz, Edwin Diaz for the 9th today.

He throws, I believe, somewhere in the neighborhood of the high twenties or maybe 30 pitches, which is certainly not what you're looking for.

But on the broadcast they were mentioning that his velocity was a little down, and then maybe he was just kind of just trying to get loose or just get some work in because it had been a while. Did you have any worries or do you have any worries about his usage today and what he did for tomorrow?

Yeah, I noticed that velocity thing, and I mentioned I was watching with my friend and podcast co host Mark, but I've been through one of those fastballs, 94 and a half miles an hour. I don't ever remember Edmund GS throwing a fastball.

94 and a half miles an hour.

That kind of made my ears perk up, but maybe it was coasting. But I don't think guys like Edwin can coach. A relief pitcher can come in the game, be like, I'm going to go 80%. I guess.

Maybe you treat it like a game like that, but I don't know. He did wind up throwing those 26 pitches. The command wasn't great.

You hate when Edwin just misses high like that, and it seems like that kind of is a, as a mode he gets in, but I thought his father looked as good as it looked most of the season. Gets seven swings and misses in one inning, which is an astounding number. Just for comparison.

David Fusion only got eleven in the seven NDT pitch and got a strikeout, so the swinging missile is great. But I also like, you have to bring them in. You can't let anything get crazy here. Like, it's a five nothing game.

Sure, it's not safe situation, air quotes, but you can't pitch both games with double headed tomorrow anyway. So you just, you have to get him in here, you have to finish, you have to win this game.

I was a little confused and I would say maybe like 3% worried by seeing some of those lots of numbers. We did get the fastball up to 99 and he threw a couple sliders, 91.

So again, I don't think it's a real thing, but maybe in his head he was trying to coast. He was, he couldn't coast. And he started really throwing, like throwing it out there so he could actually get the outs.

But there's a longer list of concerns to worry about right now, thankfully. Edmund. Yes. It shouldn't be one of them.

Okay. Yeah. Because it was very interesting to me that they had no one, you know, warming up behind him.

So they, he was not that they needed to, but it wasn't like he was on a pitch count. They were like, hey, take this inning and just go with it.

Yeah, I mean, I think it was, I mean, that's it. That's the end. He's the closer. He's the guy.

Like, this team kind of has gone up and down this season with Edwin thinking back, like today, because all this rhetoric, we need to win one game in Atlanta. My mind just will always wander back to those outings in May against the Giants and the Diamondbacks.

And it's just like, why can't I, why can't we have just found one more win? This whole damn schedule? Like, how could we cop this whole. To this point? Like one, would you have one more stupid win?

Arizona, San Diego, all these little tiny games.

There's probably like 20 games at least, right, that you guys, that you could point back to and go, it's one play here, one bad pitch.

And we always say that, and Chris and I said this last week, that there's always that game that you go, oh, this is going to come back to fight us in September, and it always does.

But the game that actually was good for us was when we put Edwin Diaz back on the mound to get the save against Arizona the day after we blew it because now we hold the tiebreaker over them and it also put Edwin back on track. And I think that was a good thing.

So, you know, we could also go back and say that the Mets could have blown so many other games and, you know, we have him as our closer and we got to roll with it. So, James, I'm going to ask you the question. So tomorrow the Mets are facing Schwellenbach in the first game.

You obviously want to win the game today. We had a little bit, I'm going to say a little bit from JD Martinez. Now, you and I texted last night going back and forth, we're crumbling.

We don't deserve this. You know, there's tragic flaws. Who do we put up there knowing that we've already faced this guy less than a week ago and really didn't put up much.

Who's in your lineup tomorrow?

I think JD Haske's not going to line up. Truthfully, I think you roll out with basically the same line you rolled out with today.

Colin Ray has not set the Schwalin back and I feel like the Mets, well, is kind of washed away, mostly because Collin Ray is not a very good starting pitcher. But you saw this guy last week, he also hammered you in July or August, 7 years was in city Field, but you saw him last week like Bethesda Schwalbek.

One of my favorite stats in baseball this year, I'm scrolling around, I got it somewhere. He made 24 total start between high school and the major league 24 times. I swear to God, because he was a starter in high school.

He went to Nebraska, he was a two way player. He's a shortstop and a relief pitcher. Spent one year in the brave system and now is a student.

Major league, 24 total starts from high school to the major leagues. These are pretty. We got to go out and hit this guy. Like, I'm tired of this stuff.

Really.

Like I think Jay Z has to be back in line at Francisco endorsed. Thank the heavens he's come back and done what he's done because he again, I think today, like him setting the tone was the entire game.

If he was to draw that walk and steal that base in the first inning, we might be having a very different conversation right now. But same thing. Rondor Iglesias, Nemo Vientos, Alonso Martinez, Marte Alvarez and either Taylor or Bader at the end.

I really think that's our best man we can do right now. Chess piece. You can kind of move guys around, pinch hit, pinch run whenever you have an opportunity at some point in the game.

But JD Martinez just wong the bat well enough today. I kind of applauded and doze of what he said about why JD was in. He was like, he's a veteran, he's been here before.

We signed JD Martinez for games like this and you can't just let. I mean it's been a horrible two weeks. He didn't get a hit even though it was only his over record method.

I.

But this is why you do it. Just because you need to get it hit yesterday, you're not going to get hit tomorrow. Like, I like, I like that Mendoza stuck with that.

I thought that was a really, really, really good move. And another move by rookie manager.

Yeah, tough. I mean he was almost hitting Ray Ordonia's territory, but. So we're talking with Jamesiano and Jon Hansen. So John, I got a question for you.

The Mets decided to go with Tyler McGill in game one and hold Sevy in case they need him in game two. What do you think of that decision?

I like it. I think I would go with McGill. Just again to James's point of with the messy and Schwalinbache within a week.

Severino just pitched against Atlanta on Tuesday with not horrible results but certainly not great. So I like the idea of, you know, leaving him to game two or hopefully him being able to pitch, you know, game one of the wild card series.

If the Mets are able to get to strong back and win and win game one. Plus, if Atlanta ends up winning the first game and Sevy does have to pitch game two.

Again, to our earlier point in our conversation, the lineup will probably look very different than it did this past Tuesday. So again, maybe not some of the same guys getting the same looks at Severino that they did last week.

Sorry. Adam Duvall will still hit one out.

Sure. Again, if you put on a Braves uniform version of the Mets, pretty much everyone's able to hit one out.

So.

Yeah, James, we were talking about this earlier. Would like to get your take on it. Let's say I'm knocking wood and it is wood here in the studio. Mets win game one and game two.

Is it now, of course we'd love to stick it to Atlanta and keep them out of the playoffs. And there is this hatred between the two organizations. But if you've got your playoff spot solidified, is it wholesale changes for the Mets?

Chris and I were bringing up all sorts of guys that they could, they could bring up for one game and cap you.

Is that even possible?

Games do that.

I don't even think so. I mean, if they're not in the 40 man roster, then we're going to be shuffling around too many things.

No, but I'm just saying, we looked at their 40 man roster and there's a couple of relievers and there's also a couple of position players who, like Brett Beatty, that's on their 40 man roster. Can you, for that one game, just demote seven guys, as long as they sign off saying they're okay with that, and then remake a 40 man roster?

If you win that first game, you know, I want to see, you know, Brett Beatty and this guy Azakar and like all these just random guys that I've never heard of because I don't want to see anybody else out there. And also, let me just say this. I don't want to win and have to go to San Diego. So do you think that the Mets are going to lay down?

You definitely can't do that with the roster because no matter what point you are in the season, if you send a player down, it's not related to injury. That player cannot. They're off the roster 15 games. I don't think we can afford that.

But that's the league right now.

For any player to be off the roster, that puts us to the NLC. Yeah, I don't think that's an option. But that's why my mind keeps going back to this little dark alley handshake through the Mets and Braves.

But I think. I think these teams just really legitimately despise each other.

And I think that there's something to this Mets team of slaying this dragon and beating the Braves actually get what they want to get. It should have happened a couple days ago. The Hurricane watched out of the way, but just. They're good.

But the park will also really suck, especially for a team like the Mets that is devoid of any pitching depth whatsoever. Right now you're about to play five games in four days and then the next day you'll have a playoff game, hopefully, if we get there knocking on wood.

All right, you literally don't even have it. You literally don't even have to start it for that game if you get to that point.

And I know.

So it's just. Yeah, it's a really hard thing to figure out. It's a really hard thing to deal with. Again.

This never happened before in the history of Major League Baseball, where teams can have a double header and the playoffs start the next day again, hopefully. But they, I don't think they can't get cute and lie down.

Like, you just kind of have to stay hot, do what you have to do, because even if these guys get a breather in the second game tomorrow, let's say we win the first one. You're still there. You're still in Atlanta through the evening. You still have to take out all again the fight next day.

It can't be like, you can't, like, send a starting picture ahead of time. You don't even have a starting picture.

That's true.

There's nothing, there's no recourse here for anybody getting a day off. Like, I'm sure Lindsay will get a rest in the back and I'm sure we'll see.

Lord knows who pitch as many things we possibly can in that second game, but you just kind of can't think that way. And it's a shame we're in this situation. It's a shame it's got to this point.

But with that same line of thought, I think I'd be starting Severino in the first game just because if you think he's a better pitcher to McDowell, why are we getting key here? Like, why are we trying to be careful? Why are we worrying about our game one starter in the playoffs? We haven't clinched the playoff first yet.

That, to me, is a little bit backwards and scary.

Yep, I could see that. So let's take a little bit of my thought, the negative thought.

Mets lose game one, but the Braves bow down to us in game two, and we pull it out, but Sevi has to pitch. This goes for both of you. I'll start with James. You first.

What happens on Tuesday night when the Mets play Milwaukee and they're throwing, you know, their, their ace in, and we're sitting there with everybody at best on three days rest? Is that what we do? Do we go to Shawn Maniah, three days rest? Can Tyna three days that rest and Peterson, three days rest?

You have to. I don't, I don't see literally any other options.

I mean, this is like, again, it's not a great hand we've been dealt here, but this is the head we've been dealt. Like, this is baseball. Like, get between the lines. Anything can happen for sure.

But again, not a great hand to be dealt, but you just kind of have to do it. You have to grab someone. I put your hand on his shoulder and say, go out there and give us literally as much as you can.

Like, luckily, this weekend was such a mess that we didn't really push our bullpen very hard. I'm sure that could definitely change tomorrow, on Monday and stumble Heather. But we're not, we're really not in a position.

Beggars can't be cruisers right now because you have to win these games, make the playoffs. You can't manicure this in a nice, cool, special way. We have to push forward and just play baseball. As long as we have baseball to be played.

Like, that's it right now.

And so let's just say the Mets do get through. What kind of issues do you see? I mean, we know we just played them this weekend, but what kind of issues do you see with Milwaukee?

I know for me, and I'll ask you, James, first, the stolen base thing is out of control.

I mean, they just want to run on us all day, so they get on base, especially with, you know, some of the guys that they, they see as, as guys that they can run off of. What are some of the issues the Mets face with Milwaukee?

I mean, I thought this was a big one this weekend series felt so much like the opening series in March and April when this team just seemed like they were kind of toying with us. My dad called me on the phone today and he was like, this Milwaukee team has any brains.

They'll lose to the Mets on purpose so they can play us again next week, just seems to completely own us. But I don't think the secret that Francisco Alfred isn't the best behind the play.

And it's also not secret that a lot of these metastatic pitchers are real close to the plate. It's funny because the scenario you mentioned, lefties going, if we do get to the spot to get, get to see him again next week, but really scary.

I despise Reese Hoskins more than almost any other force of nature on earth. I can't stand the guy. If I have to watch him hit a big home run, another big home run against us, I'm going to put a hole in the wall.

But it really shouldn't be that bad of a matchup. On paper, this team is not impenetrable. His roster up and down is not tremendous.

They have four hitters live every single day, kind of can't really hit. But they seem to just have this thing over the Mets. And I think they play with a little bit of extra pizzazz against the Mets.

Cause the David Stern thing probably holds true. Like their executive who kind of built this machine, brewers bottle organization got to the playoffs.

Now six out of seven years, he kind of took a year off, kind of took a swill off the gas with their own team.

And the team that was good competing for the playoffs, again, kind of forecasted this move to the Mets, his hometown team, all this money, and that was doing this. The Mets were all linked to Craig council. Then Craig council has to put chip on their shoulder as well.

They just seem to have a little bit of extra when they play the Mets, and that. You never want that, but everyone should have a little bit of extra.

It's the playoffs, but it's not a matchup that seems like it should be relatively easy for some reason. Is not. And again, we just gotta get there. Get there, and then we'll worry about the brewers. But the brave has to be the main concern right now.

So, John, I wanted to ask you just quickly. You know, we're talking about the brewers. Let's say the Mets sweep, and then they're going to San Diego.

Oh, God.

Right? So, John, what do you think now? We have some history with San Diego in the recent past, you know, with all sorts of stuff with that.

How about we do that? How about we go out to San Diego? What do you think of that, John?

That's not good either, because the starting picture. I mean, starvish, seaf and Musgrove. Yeah, Musgrove, who turns into Cy young every time he faces the net.

Yeah.

San Diego is a horrible matchup for the Met. Not to mention, again, you're going to, you know, they have to be in Atlanta tomorrow, play two, and then fly all the way to San Diego. That would be.

That would be rough. But again, this. To be fair, we talked about this two weeks ago, guys. The Mets have been so resilient all year. I wouldn't put anything past them.

I think this team has shown that they can play with anyone. So, you know, you never know. You never know. But I think Milwaukee would be the better matchup for them.

Well, John and James, we can't thank you enough for being on with us. As someone once said to me, these are good problems to have, at least tonight, because we are.

We're still in the fight, and it makes for good conversation. But also, tomorrow night, I'm looking at Chris right here, and I'm just.

The poor guy is on pins and needles, and I'm hoping, for everyone's sake, that we're in the playoffs as of tomorrow on the shorter end. But, guys, thanks so much and definitely looking forward to having you on again. And let's go, Mets.

Thank you.

Guys.

Let's go, Mets.

Absolutely. Let's go.

All right, Mike, last question.

Yes.

Call Anthony town. Good trade or bad?

Great trade.

I agree.

Great trade.

Got him a chance to maybe win a championship.

Absolutely. Love Julius Randall, but it had to be done. So lots that we talked about, a lot going on.

Tomorrow night at this time, hopefully we'll be able to raise a glass.

Let's go, meds.

Definitely. We'll see you in a couple of weeks. Brian Graves, thanks so much, and we'll see you soon. The views expressed in the previous program.

Did not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of WGBB.