 Then make sure the audio is coming through. Yeah, there we go Should we should we get into it? Yeah, let's do this. Let's uh, we're gonna start with the American League tonight We'll do nationally and Ali. Let's let's do this Living in it, but I feel like the rest of the division is kind of getting closer to closing the gap a little bit So I don't know if you guys think someone else can step up here and take the pen and from them or perhaps Maybe even see the Astros finishing in a place like third So I want to first bring up the We'll bring up the odds over here for Fandall Sportsbook and the Astros are minus 185 to win the division That's pretty much the strongest. You're gonna find out there for a division winner I mean, they're by far the favorites to win the AL West as we can see here. I don't know about you Rob I I don't see that Changing especially this year. Obviously, some of the other teams are better So we can maybe you know as we get into this look at their win total maybe but As far as winning the division, I don't see anybody other than the Astros winning this the Mariners are definitely good Angels Rangers are better, but I think they're I think the Astros are by far the best team in this division still I Totally agree with you. Although, you know, the Mariners pitching is Ridiculous, and I think they probably need a little more credit than people give them with Kirby and Gilbert coming along and adding Castillo and I mean that's that's Pretty tough and it is solid bullpen as well. Yeah, I agree. So I mean I Yeah, Ali, I don't see much value here and going with maybe like a Mariners Wow, I I think me look I think if you're gonna bet anything maybe bet Astros to finish in third place because that might That might that might make you rich That's a good thing. This could be the year they surprise everybody, right? Like I mean Reed Detmer's look great in the spring So they have some and I mean I can't say Shohei without taking a shot. So Rules of the night if you say Shohei you got to take a shot But yeah, I mean they're they're gonna be better if they it's really injuries So like that's the thing you don't know the Astros are so deep. It's kind of irrelevant to them Yeah, I want when I when I think Mariners I think This team's Rotation is certainly playoff worthy. So for me, I don't know what what you would think Rob I'd be interested to hear what you have to hear but for me if I'm thinking Mariners I'm almost thinking what are their odds to make the playoffs here. You scroll down Seattle Mariners are minus 155 to make the playoffs. I mean this has this has every bit of a playoff team I think right first off pitching rotation Louise Castillo Robbie Ray Logan Gilbert George Kirby, I think it's gonna be a stud this year So they have the every bit of the makings of a playoff team George Kirby is one of my favorite pitchers in all of baseball just because he has Absurd command for somebody as young as he is and also can you know touch 99 And has added another added a little change up both Gilbert and Kirby. I interviewed him recently and they both added some six splits so George Kirby added a splitty. Oh, yeah, he's modeled after Kevin Gosman Well, not a bad guy to model a splitter after I guess. Yeah All right. Well, I think of all I think of all the divisions. I'm probably most set here on The Astros winning I'm going Astros third place just for I I will say I know we're gonna touch on all the American League tonight But I I think my other two my other two divisions that we're eventually gonna get to I think it's a bit of a hot I think I have a hot take for each division coming up No, but I love the Mariners I think that that is a dark horse Absolutely, and I apps like I really want to see the angels make it. I know it's I know It could happen I look I think I think the angels if they This is the conversation every single year, but if they stay healthy, right? If if Anthony Rendon can stay healthy and I feel like every time you talk about the angels people It's like a it's almost like a laughing conversation anybody that supports them Which is on which is unfortunate at this point and they might deserve it because of the way that they've gone done things with Otani and both him and trout take a shot Rob, and is it just is it just you taking shots by the way every time it's honey is said But they they had they had the best all they had the best off season they've had in a while We're just not talking about the fact that they got Tyler Anderson who was a stud last year for the Dodgers They changed their pitching around they got hunter Ren fro geo or shella added depth to that lineup I I wouldn't hate a bed of maybe the the angels making the playoffs Which if we look at that the angels to make the playoffs right now or plus 140. I don't think that's terrible at all Yeah, I think yeah, my biggest thing too was how they I feel like they address some some depth issues in the off season which Upgrade from last year and then you have players like a healthy rundown. Hopefully and healthy trout and Yeah, I agree so we're all in a grants well most of us Astros AL West I Think they're I think they're walking away with this division at what the six straight ALCS appearances they're in the midst of a dynasty. I don't see it slowing down yet I Think so I think the I think the Rangers are heading in the right direction. I do I just I don't foresee them I don't foresee them Getting into the playoffs this year, but it's interesting with the Rangers I think they've kind of done it in a backwards way Whereas a lot of teams will take you know They'll get to the point where their future is here and then they'll buy in around them It's almost like the Rangers have done an opposite right? They like bought their core that they want with Seager and Simeon and Digram and a totally new pitching rotation and now their futures getting close They have a ton of prospects getting closer and closer So I don't think this is their year, but I do think this is the year that they do take a step forward And we need them to take a step forward They need to fix their camera angle to for me for my purposes. They need to have a better camera Are they the worst for your for your pitching stinks so bad It's this high view and it's just like there's no depth to any I'll wind somewhere else, but it's terrible All right, so Hey, I'll central I don't think we need to talk about the a's Go ahead Ron. I know I was gonna say I think that that's that's where I come out as well I mean, I like them. It's kind of a underrated division. I think but I've always been a whites Like I've always the past few years. I've been burned on the white socks. So It's about time to jump on the Guardian's bandwagon So I do I do think we're gonna see more competition in that division this year as opposed to last season but Yeah, I agree with that and I you know Rob you say You've been bit by the white socks in the past. Well, I mean I So I don't hate the white socks by any means this year and I'm I'm fairly high on them For and here's the reason last year. They were heavy favorites to win the American League Central Right, I mean heavy the heaviest favorite to win a division that there was last year was them and the Astros And you look at the AL central this year You have the Guardians at plus 115 to win the division twins are plus 180 white socks are plus 300 so I just what changed they had one really bad year, right? They had a down year Tony LaRusso was running the show, which I don't think anybody was a big fan of especially the players You got a new manager that's come in a very talented roster What What other than that has changed with this white socks team are we just off of them completely because they had one down year? I'm not I'm high on them and I think they have every bit of a chance to win this division Well, I mean, I hope they stay around for Liam to come back and tear it up because I know he will And I do love the team. I love the pitching at geo gilito had a Rough year last year not really him. I thought he was gonna be a Cy Young contender Totally wrong on that, but you have Dylan Cease and Lance Lynn who is a just a badass You know that could happen, right? I'd love to see Lance Lynn cussing in the playoffs like that's just me Well, that's what I mean Luis Robert out in the outfield. I think he's gone from so So hyped up to he's now Underrated I think I mean this guy I'm hopeful that he turns it around and becomes the superstar that many expected I think Eloy Jimenez can be great. You look all around this team. There's tons of talent. So I'm not completely down on them after one bad year with Tony LaRusso there and now he's gone And I think there's gonna be a rejuvenation from this team So I I picked the white socks to win this division My heart is going there But you're all your your guardians, do you think the guardians win it again? Yeah, I do. I I like their I like their pitching. I like classic at the back of their bullpen I just think that they have the depth. I like the young talent And they just always seem to be there. They always seem to play well. So yeah You like them they also returned like almost all of their 92 win team, I mean, they're they're good at the plate excellent in the field outstanding in the bullpen I love their bullpen. So I'm on the guardians again They also added Josh Bell, which is huge my my one big worry is that I thought this was gonna be the year where Tristan McKenzie becomes their ace over Shane Bieber and I think Shane Bieber's elite I love Tristan McKenzie and that injury to that team. I think is a huge huge blow Yeah, no, that's a definitely a good point I wonder what they are. So there's the division odds. We see to make the playoffs Guardians minus 150 white socks plus 125. I do I will say I only think one team gets out of the AL central I don't think we're seeing a wild card team from the central That one yes Well, Ali you're on the guardians as well Wow, I guess I'm so with you though on McKenzie though, too because that dude like last year totally stepped it off He had that bet with Strowman on the watch that was great. Yeah, that was Strauss really good at lifting up folks and I thought that was great and McKenzie took his game to the next level. He's got another level left. I get dude is a stud Hmm, I agree. Let's go. I wonder what we could let me go look at their Let me go look at their awards To see what uh or what their win total would be because I oh this is a this is an interesting thought I've had I want to ask you both I Think this year when you're looking at win totals We see here if you're the the Guardians win totals at 86 and a half I think we see win totals being lower this year than we have in the past because of the way the new Schedule is set up with tons more travel. You're not playing as many inter-division teams You're playing everybody in the league travels more difficult You're not going to be able to beat up on your lesser opponents in the division as much with the Guardians the the Tigers and the Royals won't be Won't be super strong teams. I think we see win total. I don't think we see many teams getting to the hundred win mark this year Yeah We're live we're trying to figure out our whatever you're doing great. I think this screens better first I think when we're here the audio is better. Okay I'll buy that sounds better to me What do we think about the twins? the winner of the Carlos Korea sweepstakes, so Could that what would have wild off season that was I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in my life You're a Braves fan. I'm in Atlanta I'm not super high on the twins this year For a couple of reasons one. I think Pablo Lopez is gonna be huge for them I do I like him a lot, but I just I don't think they've done enough to They've put themselves in a position where they have a couple of guys on their team that are very injury-prone and If they do get if they chalk up any injuries, they're gonna be in trouble Joey Gallo now in that lineup, which I I'm not I'm not a huge believer in that guy at this point. Maybe he can turn around Yeah Things about you earlier Oh, he did yeah Yeah, so other other than that in the AL central I'm Look, I'm the biggest. I think I'm one of the bigger Tiger fans in the national landscape of baseball just the relationships I When I was playing in that organization and when my brother is over in that organization from when I was like 10 years old basically he That organization has really been frustrating since the trade of Justin away really like they messed that up They've been messing up so many trades I think they're heading in the right direction, but I've been saying that now for three years So I obviously they're dealing with a good bit of injuries this year. I don't I don't know what the answer is there I like the guy they brought in Harris, but I don't think I don't think this is the year for either the Tigers or the Royals What it for the for the Tigers Plus thirty-five hundred This is a division The Blue Jays and the Yankees I had the Yankees winning the AL East and I also had the Yankees Winning the American League But we will get to later Take it away, Rob. I love the Blue Jays pitching I Think they have a gauntlet of pitchers that are gonna be tough. I Could pick them like I'm close between them and the Yankees I think but and adding Rodan to the Yankees is a Monster move because that dude is a absolute bully and I think he feeds on the energy. He's gonna get in New York He's not afraid of it. So That's a big step up for them. I think it's gonna be tough. I don't be close What's the latest on the Rodan? Injury news every time I hear a strain on an arm as a pitcher. It's nothing But I haven't like is there a timetable. What's the deal there? I didn't think it was gonna be that long I thought he was still let me I'd looked at that just recently and I haven't seen if there's a read if there's an update I Thought he was Yankees received positive injury So he's progressing, but who knows it'll be a little bit So the last I think the last I saw was that he's thrown a couple of times, right, but It's a strain It's just a scary injury to deal with I Agree with you It's the exact pickup they needed and if if he's good to go in a month or two months like I don't think the Yankees are gonna like fail to to make the playoff So as long as he you know, I think he can be healthy and good to go in a piece for them for the majority of the year I think that's a great Pickup for them, but to me it becomes like I Mean offensively, what did the what did the Yankees do? To get that much better from last year when they were just their doors were blown off by the Houston Astros in the ALCS I mean your your big addition was Aaron judge who was already on the team and is he gonna hit 70 home runs this year to top last year or is Anthony Volpe gonna be the guy that makes them a world series team I don't I don't know, but I know that they really they they were not on the same playing field With the Houston Astros last year They were exposed and does the addition of Carlos Rodan put them over the top if I don't know Yeah, I mean that's where I'm sitting is I think it could Like he can shut down absolutely anybody in I mean and that's kind of what they missed I actually have him higher than I have Cole as far as my picture rankings I think he's an absolute ace of aces and When he's healthy will be a Very big addition and both you maybe some energy levels or something you may be able to get throw something into the mix and shake it up But you can't sleep on the J's either like that team is is Really tough and adding adding Bassett to that. He's a he's a Bulldog as well. So I'm all I'm all in on the J's this year. I I like the Toronto Blue Jays a lot that rotation Kevin Gosman Alec Minoa Bassett and look at Rob you you would know this but a Couple of years ago. We were talking about Jose Barrios is having some of the best stuff in the game He still has some of the best elite stuff stuff, right? So what happened to him? I don't know, but I know I'd rather I'd rather the opposite I'd rather where he is right now with elite stuff and just needs to figure out how to pitch with it Then his stuff is completely gone, but he's still pitching, you know, like I feel like we could have a huge bounce back here from him I love him like He is one of my dudes like the whole that whole rotation is though Like Gosman splitter Minoa is just everything Minoa is a is a force of nature Like that dude is one of my favorite guys in baseball high energy Fantastic dude fantastic stuff Loves the moment And then Barrios, I agree with you I think he's got some of the best stuff in baseball and showed it like he had a couple like 13k games last year And then would give up, you know seven runs the next You can't tell me this offense isn't one of the best in baseball either I mean one through nine What the what the Toronto Blue Jays are doing is look I think on paper their roster is Elite and I was I was having this conversation the other day Their roster is in the elite tier now. It just becomes like can they play up to their roster's potential? And it's a similar conversation to one will probably have tomorrow with the San Diego Padres is okay The team on paper is there, but can they like Break the hump of getting past the Yankees and break the hump of not being able to win in the playoffs I don't know, but I certainly think they have every every bit of a possibility of that They're plus 200 to win the AL East as we see right here in New York Yankees plus 130 The Rays are plus 270 and why are we sleeping on the Rays? Why are we sleeping on the Rays? Because we do it every single year and they always come we do it every year No, we haven't And apparently only Ali has because she said she's expecting a three-team race and we're over here talking about two I like that so I think I think the Blue Jays had The most underrated pickup of the offseason, which is Dalton Varshow. We're just not talking about that guy He's probably gonna slot into like the six seven spot in their lineup He can also he's a catcher that plays like an elite center field which when was the last time you heard anything like that ever I think Dalton Varshow is a stud. You look at that lineup George Springer. They added Brandon Belt as well Vladdy, Jr. I mean these Boba shut the names go on and on and on and I just their defense is gonna be elite now that they have Kevin Kearmeyer out There George Springer will move over Offensively they're there top three in the rotation. You'll be hard-pressed to find a better three Closer wise Jordan Romano in the back end nasty. I mean this team has it all They do without a doubt. I think that But I again, I'm not sleeping on the raise I mean get a healthy glas now and you have Shane McClellan who may be the best pitcher in the division You can make that argument they they are Pitching heavy solid team, right? Yeah, do you do you think that we'll get bounce back here from Wanda Franco? I Sure hope so. I think Look and when you say bounce back, I think Like a bounce back to what he was one of the biggest prospects we've seen and he just hasn't had like That year yet, but he's still been good. I you know, and I think the raise Need him to be great. I don't think their offense is is set up to slug away The rays are gonna the razor look We are all dumb if we pick the rays to not be in the playoffs because they're their roster Right so what I'm saying Ali is we are dumb you're smart We do it every year this roster isn't isn't near I don't want to say near as good It's not as good as the other playoff teams on paper But the rays just do what the rays do and it's win and pitch and peace Peace wins together better than anybody else and they'll be there But an important piece for them to get to take that next step is Wander being being the guy like the prospect he was supposed to be when he came up And I certainly think that's a possibility. Yeah, I'm just looking at the pitching matchup and their top three matches with anybody What's the deal with Tyler glass now? He's how's he doing? He's coming along I Thought he was also through a flat ground the other day I mean, it'll be a little bit But like at his peak he is the most dominant in among the most dominant pitchers in baseball Yeah, I mean think of top two of McClanahan and glass now is Absurd yeah, and you sleep on Rasmussen to who's also very very good in the bullpen. I mean Fairbanks and Adam or I mean, that's that's really tough. I do I I think we need to I don't want to completely move on from the rays But I'm just looking at these the odds right here on Fandall sportsbook and it has the Orioles plus twenty five hundred to win the division and What to make the playoffs they are Plus three twenty that's so disappointing to me and I was they had one of the most disappointing off seasons and The league to me because their young Corb made had so much pump so much Excitement into the city and into the team and then they just like didn't do anything This off season like you know I would have liked to see them go out and add a big piece and their ownership Basically was like no, we're still a little bit of we're still a little bit away And now we saw them in the last week of the year until the last two days competing for a wild card spot and Now you know now we're about to start a new year and they're plus three twenty to even make the playoffs and I'd Can't disagree with that at all Yeah, I'm with you. I thought that the city was going crazy. They were a fun team to watch It was fun to watch a place everybody behind at this the stadium rocking and then Feed the beast like give them something, right? Yeah, I agree. Are we gonna ignore the Red Sox is that we're gonna do? Red Sox are plus three ten Red Sox are plus three ten to make the playoffs plus 1800 to win the division look we can't talk red Sox though without talking Masataki Yoshida because I think this guy is Gonna be a star I Was looking at that too I Wonder let's go look at Rookie of the Year awards rookie of the year Yoshida's plus 600 so he has the second best odds to win rookie of the year behind Gunnar Henderson Man, I don't hate that at all. I might like that. Oh, this guy has shown more power than I think anybody expected him to have I think when he signed people were saying like, you know, the general consensus was okay They're right, you know, he's gonna he's gonna be a singles guy Maybe a high average guy at best and what we saw in the world baseball classic was a couple things one the clutch gene It's there to power and he hit another Homer today or yesterday I mean, I think this guy I think plus 600 there might be a good bet I totally agree with him big fan of that, dude Yeah, now is rookie alleys rookie of the year. Alley great. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you I think he's gonna have a good year and I think you'll have that wow factor, but I just think she does several years of Hanging professional pitching at a very high cliff and I don't know. I just I see him Winning this you nailed it. That is exactly my thought too is that there's an advantage when you're coming over from Japan and you're a rookie But you you're more settled in your you know, you know what you're doing by this point and Rookie's 10 real rookies 10 F ups and downs and he's more likely to have a little bit smoother of a path And he doesn't see seems like that type of guy. You're right about the clutch gene like he has a his heartbeat seems low and it seems like It's gonna be solid Yeah Yeah, I want to let's talk before we finish up. Let's go to league winners. Let's talk. Let's talk AL Champion for a minute. Alley. I want to hear who your ale champion is. It's not the Astros. I told you. Oh, it's the Yankees, right? plus 370 for the Yankees They were your pick last year is how you said To win the AL this year I want redemption for them Well, in the in the words of their front office, they were only one series away from the World Series Now in the eyes of every baseball fan, they weren't close at all to the World Series But I'm with you and I know Rob you talked about him a lot if they can have a rotation going into the playoffs Who's gonna want to face Garrett Cole and Carlos Rodan back-to-back in a series? You're in trouble No, I don't think it was before I would if right now it is because of their injuries Like they don't have Rodan and Severino but before those like in a perfect world like the starting pitchers the Yankees have on their roster and I would say they have the second-best rotation in baseball What do you see from Nestor because I don't think he's considered like one of the games elites He puts up good numbers and then in the playoffs. He wasn't great I'm always on the fence about Nestor Cortez because like I don't think his stuff is in that elite Category but he does things that are elite, which is I think his mentality is elite I think the way he keeps hitters off balance is elite and that's over half the battle but like should we be considering Nestor Cortez as like a Elite pitcher in the game of baseball Isn't isn't like he's must a must-watch guy for me because you never know what's gonna happen So it's fun and I think he does keep hitters off balance and you know has has deceptively good stuff Switch in arm angles and all that stuff But I am also a stuff guy and it definitely opens my eyes more when I see a rodent bullying somebody or a glass now Or a coal or a yeah Shane McClanahan or whoever it is in that in that division You know, it's it's uh I don't know like I think I like him though. I think he's there's a place for that dude in in MLB He's surprised everybody continues to surprise everybody and as long as we keep questioning whether he's at that level I think it just empowers him to be better like that dude is a he's got a stud mentality Yeah, I agree. We see here. He's plus plus fifty five hundred in the al Sayon conversation Which is I do not have him for the sayon who do you have winning the sayon? You know Yeah I am going You're with me I think on that then like all right So for one pitch for pitch the best pitcher in baseball is undoubtedly no doubt in my mind It's Jacob the ground the question is how many pitches is gonna pitch the filthiest pitcher in baseball in my mind is Shohei Otani is the filthiest is the filthiest starting pitcher in baseball and Very well could win the sayon award if he pitches enough like if he gets enough innings under his belt Wow, I Would not be at all surprised to see that Are you are you in agreement there? Allie? Is that your pick? I'm on I'm on Shohei for the two in the sayons Wow, awesome. He I had him ranked third on my top ten Oh Then no, I'm I'm the Shohei guy, and I'm not on Shohei to win the award. Hi. Have you not watched him pitch ever been? I I have I have seen him once or twice. Yes. Um, I like I've been going back and forth on two different picks here one of them being Alec Minoa to win the sayon award And the other being My thing. Yeah, and the other guy being Framber Valdez to win as well now that he's The ace of the staff there in houston. I think I think if it wasn't for Justin last year Framber would have gotten the love that he deserved for all the records He was setting and breaking and he had every bit of a sigh young award caliber season last year and if he does that again I think he's got every bit of a chance to win it as I mean You guys are making me feel like I should have picked shohei, but But look at this list, dude, like we have you have louise castillo who could win a sayon Shane mclanahan who was the best pitcher for a while last year's american league And is a absolute, you know, it's got lightning bolt for an arm even christian Javier Absolutely Javier it is one of the most underrated pitchers in baseball Dude is a stud and then you even go further down like would it it would not surprise me to see a You know a logan gilbert Tyler last night he's healthy as you know a force George Kirby I am huge on like those guys are a step away from being in the in that Top tier level where you're going to consider them saw young contenders and they could surprise somebody Yeah, and by the way while we're talking about these names you're mentioning You're mentioning louise castillo george kirby We've passed over a guy in robbie ray who's two years removed from a sayon award who just Didn't have his sayon stuff last year has every possibility of getting it back I mean we're talking about that rotation having like Four guys that we could legitimately be talking about for a sayon conversation See and that's why ali's got me a little convinced to maybe the mariners are going to be good Like I I saw you coming around Yeah, but I read an article earlier In the off season where they had the mariners like the 16th best starting pitching and I was like what are you on? Like they you could Yeah, if I could make an argument they might have a top Five you can make an argument for them being you know even higher if you wanted to Depending on how the on gilbert and kirby having another good year and taking a half step up I would make that argument. Yeah. I mean they're great And then you have brash in the bullpen and I mean like they're they're good And moon yos who's that absolute sick stud Like all right. I'm starting. I'm starting to get on that bandwagon a little bit ali I think you've got I think ali just got you all aboard the are you ready to are you ready to place your astros third place bet right now? No, no, no, I don't hate it. I don't hate it by any means If I'm if I'm you if I'm anybody I'm I'm not betting astros Minus 190 to win a division. I mean that's just that's wild yeah No Yeah, plus they're plus a thousand to win the league. Is that like the mariners like that's doable That's not crazy talk. No, it's not crazy talk And I the mariners matched up better against the astros in the playoffs last year than than the Yankees did I mean, absolutely Those first two games were one swing in either direction from being The the mariners the mariners win and they both went in favor of the astros one in like The 18th inning or whatever that was but the 18 innings long that was that was so much fun. Oh my god As a player doesn't that like to me it was the young, you know, these young pitchers and everybody's saying Hey, we can go toe to toe with these guys next year. We're gonna beat them another reason why you might lean Seattle that that's what I'm saying like that was not They they faced the astros better than the Yankees. Absolutely did and that's That was enough for me to take them this year. I mean, well, I'm kind of contradicting there because I do have the the Yankees winning the american league, but You get my point So you may have me taking the mariners for the like just for the money like that's a pretty rich pick there, right? Yeah I know I like that Ali the good thing about Betting is you could place two bets on a team to win the league and if one of them wins you'd make a lot of money Still so go ahead and play some both You have to talk about the aln if you guys are on the same page as me, but I'm gonna finish mine off American league mvp, but I also would love to make a case for my trout, too I mean, I might advise though. They are my two favorite players in all of baseball And I will make an argument for otani and trout Any day of the week So they're my two my two picks to win alnvp. I know you can't have two winners But before we got on that was where I was leaning. I'm like people are sleeping on trout And why are you sleeping on trout like eight to one here? Yeah You know, what did he do to deserve that? But he has three he's won this award three times already And he's just as good Without a doubt. Yeah I mean, is there any doubt where I'm where I'm going here I mean Yeah, absolutely Without a doubt plus 220 for a guy to win mvp of the league is insanity And I still think that's a steal for a guy like shohei otani the guy I mean what It's gonna take somebody hitting it's gonna take somebody hitting 70 homers this year to even be in the conversation Of shohei otani if he's anything like what we've seen the past couple of years The guy's gonna be the greatest talent. We've ever seen in the game of baseball. This two year stretch Is the most impressive thing we've ever seen. There's no doubt. I mean look of everything shohei otani plus 220 I'll say it a million more times so that robb can can be you know hammered So do you have him as a better hitter or pitcher I would have him as Right now a better pitcher That's I would say the same thing. I also think he Cemented it as the best baseball player in the world like you saw him on that stage with everybody And my my first take seeing him celebrate was That's the best baseball player in the world and God bless him because he's such a good Dude for the sport But it was just I thought everybody came away with that like he is He's got this aura about him That he's clearly clearly the best player, but I have him as a better pitcher. Well for so many reasons We we know the Otani trout ending was like a storybook ending and insane But back to your point. It's like That was almost like the literal handoff of best player In the game of baseball because it's been consensus trout for a decade now And it's not because trout is going the opposite direction. Let's not forget the guy hit 40 homers last year in very limited time He's still right there. It's just like what shohei has continued to do We started putting him in that conversation of Is this this guy's the best player in baseball? and then that literal moment which just seemed like a dream for the baseball world and It almost felt like whoever comes out on top of this bat takes the crown for best player in baseball And shohei did in dominant fashion struck him out and they won the tournament And i'm with you that moment was kind of like symbolic. I thought You know what else I think is for years. I was trying to convince everybody how good of a pitcher shohei is And now you don't have to convince it like everybody's everybody sees that the guy through Touch 102 with cartoon sliders and splitters He is It's in the insane how talented he is And then he had a ball, you know 450 feet Yeah, I saw his All I've heard about for two years now Is his batting practice and how it's like the most insane thing you can ever watch But I had never seen it and I've been to a bunch of angels again He just doesn't take bp on the field during the season maybe like two or three times a year But during the world baseball classic and this is a full credit to Shohei because of course he was taking bp for the fans all tournament long And I got to see it in person twice And he did things that I didn't know were possible. I mean I Legitimately there was a ball. He hit one to dead center in miami's ballpark. It's 400 feet to center There's a huge batter's eye. There's a second deck of stands and then there's like signage at the top of the stadium He hit that sign and that's Every bit of 500 feet and we're talking We're having the conversation right now that this guy's the nastiest pitcher in baseball is the best stuff And also talking about him hitting balls over 500 feet. It just it doesn't make much sense Do you feel like he also took a step up as a team leader type guy like to me He led that team wasn't afraid of you know speaking in front of the team and saying like i'm the man Some of his mannerisms when he was like, you know, he hit a double and just be yelling at the At the bench like I thought he took another step up As far as that characteristic too, which might help the angels this year I left that tournament thinking if we don't get Mike Trout and Shohei Otani in the playoffs soon the angels have have Done a disservice to the entire sports world because seeing those guys on that stage Seeing Trout's emotion seeing Otani's emotion is different than we had ever seen before and Yes, that guy Otani showed he's he's a leader We we this is the most important season. I I would argue This is the most important season in angels history because if you're not at the halfway mark Winning you're gonna lose you're gonna lose shohei otani. There's no way about it. So They're in a tough spot. Yeah. Yeah, no, I watch as many angel games last year as I did Braves games and Like it was it's it was painful. Like it was honestly painful So and I just hate that rap they're getting though. It's like everybody. Yeah the angels they're a joke But they there's a point where that joke is on all of us and they turn it around Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna say it again this year. I think the angels are gonna Have the year I expected them to have last year and I hope that they can turn it around because when you have guys like otani and trout, it's It just seems like that's what should be happening Yeah, I agree with you and the the AL is definitely the place For wildcard teams to have a better chance because tomorrow We are talking about the national league and I feel like it would be a surprise if the six specific teams Don't make the playoffs and we can we can dive all into it tomorrow But the angels certainly have a chance in the american league And I think the world needs to see trout and otani in the playoffs, but Is that every are we good guys is the AL discussion complete? I think so we have the mariners and angels in the In the mix mariners angels ALCS is what I've walked away with We gotta put some money down Yeah, there you go, and I think legitimately what I think we walked away with here is The mariners are the real deal and I think I think right now I think the astros have the best roster in the american league But there is some serious Value on on the mariners to win the american league and even to win that division if anybody's gonna win the aos besides The astros it's gonna be the mariners That pitching rotation has four psi young caliber guys in it Julio Rodriguez is gonna have another MVP type year and only get better. So that team is the real deal And I think we covered the american league to a great degree Okay Let's uh, let's do it all again tomorrow on the nationally side same time Same place Same people Alley fan duel tv host pitching ninja the pitching guru guy on all social media that you see And i'm ben verlander and we're gonna do this all again tomorrow same time We're on twitch youtube a couple places. We'll post all about it on social media I hope you join us tomorrow and we'll do it a couple times throughout the year as well But for tonight, this has been our american league preview We're almost 24 hours away from opening day and we will see you all tomorrow same time same place. Bye guys. Thanks everybody