00:00The National League wild card, I think, is more clear right now, Joe, than it has been, than it was
00:08a week.
00:08I think it's getting very clear for me.
00:10So the Braves got swept by the Twins, but the Braves are sleepwalking through it.
00:15You know those first three teams are in.
00:17And if Pete Crow Armstrong is just going to win every game for the Cubs, they're in too.
00:21Joe, I think the Phillies are going to make it.
00:23They look good, man.
00:23I think they are.
00:24And so that last spot, probably going to come down to San Diego or Arizona.
00:31Arizona, you know, having some issues with Quetel Marte.
00:34I would love for the Marlins to win a million in a row and jump back into this thing.
00:38But realistically speaking, I mean, you can just check the same Fangraph's website.
00:42Their odds are down to 5%.
00:43That's very low.
00:46Joe, a week ago, we thought, oh, it could be this team.
00:48I don't think so anymore.
00:49I think we pretty much, the American League, forget it.
00:52We're going out to the last day and the last hour.
00:54But I think the National League, to me, is starting to come in focus.
00:57I don't know.
00:57Maybe you don't feel the same way.
00:58But I do.
00:59I feel like now we, I think Philly has now put themselves in a position where I'd be very
01:04surprised if they didn't capture one of those wildcard positions.
01:08Well, it was, I think it was very good to see Wheeler.
01:12I think he went five innings last night.
01:14He went five.
01:15He looked much better than he has looked previously.
01:20But again, that was, that wasn't domination by the Phillies last night.
01:24And it ain't going to be domination tonight, by the way.
01:27No, no.
01:27So give, give the Marlins, I give them a ton of credit for keeping the games close.
01:32But I think you're right.
01:34I think we can probably now look at Arizona and say, this Marte situation is not going
01:40to get any better anytime soon.
01:42It's a big part of their offense.
01:44It was a big part of what this team was.
01:46I don't know how they kiss and make up and bring them back.
01:49Natalie's not getting paid and he's on the bad boy list.
01:52All of that is not playing well at this point in the season.
01:57So the question is, are the Padres, did they peak too soon?
02:02Did we see the best that they have?
02:05Or are we in a battle with a team like the Cardinals, who's going to win 11 out of 14
02:11games
02:11down a stretch and they're going to be in it somehow?
02:14I hope it's the Padres because I think it'll be more meaningful and better baseball.
02:19But I think that's the only question we're left with in the National League, Greg, is
02:23do we trust that the Padres have not hit their ceiling yet is my question.
02:28I think Arizona's issue is San Diego's issue, but it's a non-issue, which sounds crazy, but
02:37this is what it is, is the Padres and the Diamondbacks are going to pile on games against
02:44the Giants and Rockies at the end of the season.
02:48Those two teams have an easy path to the playoffs.
02:53But I simply don't think that Arizona now is good enough to dominate those teams like
03:01they were a week ago.
03:02I'm a little worried about that.
03:03So as soon as Arizona plays Colorado, you know that San Diego at some point is going to
03:09get them again.
03:10And then they're going to get the Giants and then they're going to pile in some wins.
03:14Those teams are probably together going to win a lot of games toward the end of the season.
03:18Miami's schedule and St. Louis' schedule is much more different.
03:22St. Louis plays the Cubs.
03:23They play the Brewers.
03:24Take a look at their schedule.
03:25Now, it's not as easy as those teams.
03:29So Philadelphia, I just think talent-wise, Joe.
03:32I just think talent amongst Philadelphia, San Diego, and Arizona.
03:35Philadelphia is above those teams for me.
03:37And so I do think that it may come down, and I'd have to check exactly when they play each
03:42other, but that series that San Diego plays Arizona, whenever that last one is, that could
03:48very well determine the final wild card spot in the National League.
03:51I don't think St. Louis makes it.
03:55But if the Padres go the wrong way, I think the Diamondbacks, I do think they're done,
04:01Greg.
04:02I really do.
04:02He was too much and too big a part of their offense.
04:06I agree with you.
04:06I agree with you.
04:07How many games did I have, love?
04:08I just don't think that guy, not to mention the resentment in the locker room, it's not
04:14good for the Diamondbacks.
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