How do you, in your experience, how do front offices work through a s- disappointing season where it's still possible you end up where you wanted to be?

Yeah, Blake, it's a great question.

Uh, in my experience, the, the front offices will still have their end of year review.

They will often bring back pro scouting staffs.

Now, that part of the game has changed.

It's a little more variable club to club based on how robust their staff is, but, uh, undoubtedly now there's more of an analytical element to that, to the evaluation of what happened.

Typically, you'll talk with your on-field staff, even your training staff, about all that transpired and, and what observations you can take away from it.

Yeah.

Your understanding in talking to teams and seeing as many games as you have, do teams have real strategy and rules, like team rules in place as to when you can use ABS challenges and when you can't? Or is everybody flying by the seat of their pants like it feels like the Blue Jays are with ABS challenges?

There are guidelines, broadly speaking, I would say, for most teams where hitters are, how shall I say this, encouraged to use those challenges in moments of maximum leverage.

And, again, I think that your big-name players have probably a little more grace to, to utilize them a little bit.

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

A little bit, a little bit earlier in the game, but whereas miles strong, a one, one count, if you're devising at, at, at what point in the game and by whom are you probably going to leverage one of your challenges to your point straw at a one-on-one count in the second inning is probably not the time that you'd be doing that.

So there are guidelines, but I also think that the Jays are a team, and John Schneider is a manager who really trusts his players, and that's one of the reasons why they play so hard for him and why there is so much loyalty for him on that Jays team is that there is that belief that John has in all of his guys.

But again, it is a...

One, how much do you think the results over the course of his rehab assignment actually matter and will influence how the Blue Jays might feel about his readiness to jump back into a major league game? And B, do you have any level of confidence that this guy can ultimately start to figure out a way to recapture some of the magic that we saw a few years ago when he was a prolific home run threat for the Baltimore Orioles?

But you kind of kind of feel that way that like maybe they should start to think more that way because they've you know, they've got an excess of good pitching that I would think would get something pretty, pretty good in return.

You're right, and I think that exploring a trade like that is probable this winter on some level.

But I would also mention this, that when you look around the industry and you see the number of times that – pitchers are moved, certainly when they only have one year left, but even sometimes when it's two.

You look at a couple times Dylan Cease has been moved.

It can be hard to get what you perceive to be the full value back when you're dealing with pitchers who are getting further advanced into their arbitration years and how much they'll make on an annual basis.

It's a rotation that, unfortunately, the salaries are going up at a time where the performance is maybe not quite as elite as it's been.

So I think in isolation, you're right, they probably... would have done well to make one more move for a bat in the offseason.

He's hot right now, but what do you do with Julio when he's performing this way?

to New York for the first time ever leaving Toronto playing a new position which he has played well but that might have been a big adjustment for him and affected his offense especially early on in the year a lot of decisions like that seem like have blown up in their face and you could probably look back and say that maybe wasn't the wisest decision to make

You're right, Rich.

I think across the board that there were concerns, legitimate concerns that you could have seen coming.

And I think the one that stands out to me the most is the Alonzo for Polanco swap at first base.

Because, again, Pete's numbers in Baltimore have been largely consistent.

He is in the lineup every day.

which becomes more and more important the deeper you get into a career and a journey.

Why don't you tell us a little bit about it?

But did that shape your opinion at all, change your opinion at all, what you saw in that Red Sox series as to what you may expect? in these final 22?

They're a good team that has had an underperforming record for most of the year, and certainly the case right now.

They're able to beat one of the better teams in all of baseball, really, in the second half in the Boston Red Sox.

I think the Red Sox might actually be as close to a favorite, at least on the field when you watch them play.

They're as good as any team in the American League right now, Boston.

So to go into Fenway and win two says a lot.

But the fear I do have is it's a little bit of too little too late when you look at it.

What do you make of what's going on with him?

JP, you'd be shocked if the Orioles get the third wild card spot?

Would I be shocked? Uh, I, I would not be shocked.

Again, I, I like the Jays chances better.

Um, the Orioles, l- listen, say what you will about the way they've played this year.

They, they just put in a claim on Luis Robert Jr. for, for $5 million basically of one month of work.

That is a hefty price tag, and evidence that ownership there really believes in this team.

Pete Alonso's been really good, e- especially of late.

Mm-hmm

Obviously, the Blue Jays aren't trading away Kevin Gossman for nothing, but I don't know, in their heart of hearts, did they think he'd have this type of impact when they acquired him from the Cubs?

It's a great question, Ben, because I think that they believed he could be an everyday player.

That was my sense of talking to people at the time, was the Jays believed he'd be an everyday player, but there's a difference between an everyday player who bats eighth or ninth in an everyday player who's leading off, which is what he's become.

And so I think this, I would imagine that the Jays, even in their most optimistic projections early, did not believe that within about 10 days of the trade that he'd be batting leadoff and playing center field every single day.

But the skill set plays.

And it was an aggressive, great base running read on Saturday to really flip that game and and to rejuvenate the club there to score from second on the walk and wild pitch, that's what you need sometimes.

And there are not that many players in the game who can play that way and get a team catalyzed and going just with a base-running play.

When's that going to happen?

[laughs]

...

in, in terms of Detroit [laughs] sports figures at the moment.

Uh, you're right.

Th- they, Skubal and the Tigers, Skubal of course represented by Scott Boras, they never got close on an extension, and in fact, it seems like the, the only effort was a while ago.

There was a fairly contentious arbitration hearing, which was won by Skubal's side, earlier this year.

Fans in Detroit had gotten used to the idea that probably Skubal was not gonna sign long term, although somewhat ironically, even after he left, he has vocalized, "Yeah, I'd like to return to Detroit.

Um, how much are you looking at this series, not just because it's fun for those two teams to play meaningful baseball in late August, but this series could go a long way to determining which of those two teams is going to host the other one in that wild card series.

Maybe not some of his performances because he struggled a little bit at home, but as far as leadership goes, I thought that that might be something that we can kind of hang on to.

I agree.

That was a tempo setter, a mood setter, however you want to describe it.

But because of who it was and how we pitched against a team that's that good, a lot of positives can be taken from that game.

And again, the series against the Cubs was a little bit of up and down, but you still found a way to win two out of three.

And then you come out and you beat the Phillies.

Listen, the Cubs and Phillies, that might be an NLCS matchup.

What do you think on that? And also, what do you think his market is? Is he a $18 million, $20 million a year player? What do you think he's looking at?

[laughs]

... and, and you've got those real-time standings, except for this is happening for five straight weeks.

[laughs] We just have one, one really long final day of group play where we're all scoreboard watching and you got the little live standings bug in the corner of your, of your screen as you're watching soccer.

The, it's what the, it's what it feels like right now.

And you're right.

It, it's, it's unfortunate timing, uh, to me for, for the Jays.

I, although I tend to think the Royals are, are not quite as good of a club as Boston, and, and they're probably destined to have a regression to the mean, and in that case, it might be the perfect time for the Jays to play them.

Like, how much do you really look at the math, and how much do you really look at the actual situation? 'Cause a- another thing I'll throw out there when it comes to this entire thing is, uh, it, it, it's just so, so tough on, on a given night to really come through, uh, despite what the paper's telling you.

I guess what I'm asking you, JP, is how bad was that?

Yeah, it was not a great moment.

It was not a great moment, Dave.

It wasn't.

And I think it became a very convenient way to encapsulate all that has gone wrong for the Mariners this season, and especially that night.

Listen, if you're watching the game, I've been part of... blowout games and blowout innings where if you've got a position player pitching and six runs have been scored and you might temporarily, even as a broadcaster, forget how many outs there are in the inning when it's gotten that out of hand, that's a human moment.

It is.

that about a lot of players.

Tell them, "Don't do this."

Uh, guys, I've seen players-- I've-- It's like I'm watching this happen and, and the, the parent in me is saying, "Guys," like, uh, "this is wonderful that you're doing this, but we cannot have anybody blowing out an ACL on the, on the, on the thing.

It's not, it's not worth it." But, um, somehow they do it most years and, uh, and it all works out.

Um, but man, it's, it, it-- I do kind of watch it with like my, my hands over my, my eyes trying to like, not, not actually watch what I'm watching.

Um, but it, it's a fun experience.

I remember last year, I think it was, I believe it was last year.

Yeah, it was the Mariners-Mets.

Well, it doesn't feel like that for the next six games that the Braves are gonna play.

Mm.

And I really hope that the, that Canadian baseball fans, again, you saw it last year.

But I'm gonna say something that might sound a little bit like a hot take, but I think is the absolute stone-cold truth, is that John Schneider has done a better job managing the 26 Jays than he did in 2025.

It's a harder job.

The pieces have not been there.

It's been injuries.

It's been chaos.

Mm-hmm

Are the Rays, like, really good, or do they just look really good in this American League? Like, how good are the Rays?

I, I think they're, they're a well-balanced baseball team.

And, and it's, it's a great way of framing it, 'cause like, I don't think they're objectively one of the greatest teams that we've seen them have necessarily.

I think they've had better versions of themselves back to the, the, the David Price era.

I would say they were probably a little bit stronger back then.

But in the middle of a very flawed American League, they, they are the best team, I, I, I think, just in terms of the way they're operating right now.

And, and part of it too is, is some additions they made during the course of the, of the season.

At what point do you shift, do you think they shift their thinking from going, "Cannot use him three days in a row," to, "Mm, might have to use him three days in a row," depending on, you know, the game script or, you know, how important a particular game is?

Right.

That... that you need to sometimes give them that breather.

There are players all around the major leagues.

Think about this Royce Lewis this year, Minnesota twins.

He's been a number one overall pick.

He's had a lot of success in the major leagues.

He was sent down to the minors in May and now he is back and is one of the reasons why the twins are frankly in a better situation right now than the Mariners are with respect to making the playoffs.

You can't leave a pitch out over the plate and make a mistake because chances are this team will probably lose.

They go on a little bit of a, a regression run there, but they're kinda still in a, a shaky spot here with, uh, six weeks to go.

They are.

I, I believe they will eventually find their way to the playoffs, Blake.

They're, they're too talented not to, in, in my opinion.

Uh, and, and getting Luis Arraez is also really important.

He had three hits last night.

So you've got the big swings from Schwarber, and then also a home run for Marsh.

[laughs]

Even the A's in Fenway Park are gonna win two out of three." Like, where is the, the, the point of demarcation, and maybe it's not even an actual number of games won thing, but it's like a, a, a vibes? Like, when will you truly believe that the Blue Jays have a team capable of making the postseason?

Well, uh, to borrow from the theorem of Professor Gunning a moment ago, I, I think if they, if they get within m- like, three-- if there's only, like, three teams between them and, and the berth, a- and, and the wildcard berth, then I, then I will really believe that they're, that they're in it, okay? In it, in it.

Um, which, which is not that far away, by the way.

And, uh, but I, I love the way you're describing just the, the vibes and the playing because what I w- I- in a, in a just loving the game and, and being a fan of the game category, watching this team play the last four series, obviously excepting the, the, the single game at, at Wrigley, it, it feels like watching the team play last year, and that is a great compliment.

And that is something that, that speaks to just why we love the game, why we love to have a team that you're, you're sort of falling in love with, and, and, and, and this group.

But they do look like, right now, uh, somewhat against considerable odds, they, they look like the version of themselves from last year.

Um, and I, I think a big part of it is what you're just describing, the, the timely hits.

I want this to go well." 'Cause you know, Torkelson has found a role, but I, I don't think it's necessarily gone the way people maybe would've, you know, hoped or dreamed when he was coming up as one of the, if not the top prospect in, in all of baseball.

I'd love to know from someone who covers the entire league, right? What's the conversation like about him right now? And is it crazy for Cubs fans to dream that they might have an MVP on their roster right now?

PCA is the MVP right now, as we speak today.

Now, a lot can change.

We've got a couple months of baseball left, not quite two months.

But when you look at the way that he is accumulating value, I'll take the macro level of how I, and I'm not, full disclosure, I am not an NL MVP voter this year.

I have voted on the MVP in the American League a number of times, and so I'm used to looking at things through this lens.

What I like to look at, especially when you get to the top, the very, very top, the year when I think I had the vote when it was Judge against Otani and it was in the American League when Otani was still at the Angels, I had to think about a lot of things.

Should that put him in a similar discussion because of his defense and his running and what he does in erasing other people's offensive opportunities, what he does on the base paths? Should that be more regarded?

I'd love to know from someone who covers the entire league, What's the conversation like about him right now? And is it crazy for Cubs fans to dream that they might have an MVP on their roster right now?

PCA is the MVP right now, as we speak today.

Now, a lot can change.

We've got a couple months of baseball left, not quite two months.

But when you look at the way that he is accumulating value, I'll take the macro level of how I, and I'm not, full disclosure, I am not an NL MVP voter this year.

I have voted on the MVP in the American League a number of times, and so I'm used to looking at things through this lens.

What I like to look at, especially when you get to the top, the very, very top, the year when I think I had the vote when it was Judge against Otani and it was in the American League when Otani was still at the Angels, I had to think about a lot of things.

Should that put him in a similar discussion because of his defense and his running and what he does in erasing other people's offensive opportunities, what he does on the base paths? Should that be more regarded?

I'd love to know from someone who covers the entire league, what's the conversation like about him right now? And is it crazy for Cubs fans to dream that they might have an MVP on their roster right now?

PCA is the MVP right now, as we speak today.

Now, a lot can change.

We've got a couple months of baseball left, not quite two months.

But when you look at the way that he is accumulating value, I'll take the macro level of how I, and I'm not, full disclosure, I am not an NL MVP voter this year.

I have voted on the MVP in the American League a number of times, and so I'm used to looking at things through this lens.

What I like to look at, especially when you get to the top, the very, very top, the year when I think I had the vote when it was judge against Otani and it was in the American League when Otani was still at the Angels, I had to think about a lot of things.

Should that put him in a similar discussion because of his defense and his running and what he does in erasing other people's offensive opportunities, what he does on the base paths? Should that be more regarded?

And we started the interview off by asking him how our front office is looking at the Giants and what

they did the trade deadline.

Yeah, it's a great question because when you look at a couple things, number one, you're in the National League West, right? So you've got this behemoth at the top of the division that's going nowhere, regardless of whatever the rules of the game are when we next convene with labor relations, the Dodgers will still be the Dodgers, right? So I think that it was the prudent approach, as hard as it was, and I was listening to some of Buster's comments there before the break, as hard as that decision was to make, it was the right decision, right? there was no path for them to get into the upper echelon of this division right now, and especially not when you're trailing behind both the D-backs and the Padres by a considerable margin.

So recognize where you're at, lean into that a little bit, and then move the guys that you can move without changing too much of who you are.

And I think that's a fine line, but the Giants did it.

Reyes obviously was getting later on in his tenure.

And by the way, It's a good job by the Giants to bring in a player that I never understand why he's not valued more highly by the marketplace.

Just your thoughts on Mike Krukow and what he's meant to baseball.

When you talk to people around baseball, do other front offices view what the Giants did at the deadline as a rebuild? a reset or something that can completely turn around, be it in the future or quickly.

Yeah, it's a great question because when you look at a couple things, number one, you're in the National League West, right? So you've got this behemoth at the top of the division that's going nowhere.

Regardless of whatever the rules of the game are when we next convene with labor relations, the Dodgers will still be the Dodgers, right? So I think that it was the prudent approach.

As hard as it was, and I was listening to some of Buster's comments there before the break, as hard as that decision was to make, it was the right decision.

there was no path for them to get into the upper echelon of this division right now, and especially not when you're trailing behind both the D-backs and the Padres by a considerable margin.

So recognize where you're at, lean into that a little bit, and then move the guys that you can move without changing too much of who you are.

And I think that's a fine line, but the Giants did it.

Just your thoughts on Mike Krukow and what he's meant to baseball.

I'd love to know from someone who covers the entire league, right? What's the conversation like about him right now? And is it crazy for Cubs fans to dream that they might have an MVP on their roster right now?

PCA is the MVP right now, as we speak today.

Now, a lot can change.

We've got a couple months of baseball left, not quite two months.

But when you look at the way that he is accumulating value, I'll take the macro level of how I, and I'm not, full disclosure, I am not an NL MVP voter this year.

I have voted on the MVP in the American League a number of times, and so I'm used to looking at things through this lens.

What I like to look at, especially when you get to the top, the very, very top, the year when I think I had the vote when it was Judge against Otani and it was in the American League when Otani was still at the Angels, I had to think about a lot of things.

Should that put him in a similar discussion because of his defense and his running and what he does in erasing other people's offensive opportunities, what he does on the base paths? Should that be more regarded?

Is the rest of the baseball world enjoying this lull, or do they still have it out for the Dodgers?

The rest of the baseball world is really, really worried about this.

They're deeply concerned and troubled about what's going on with the Dodgers.

Now, I'll tell you this quick story about the whole scene over there on Tuesday.

Great atmosphere, by the way.

I thought Scooble pitched great.

But, you know, I've covered a lot of his starts, been around him a lot during his time with the Tigers.

The last thing you just said, JPM, I ask you to expand or expound upon, and that is if they don't get Tarek Skubal and he ends up going to the Brewers or the Braves, how much differently are you feeling about the postseason? and how much of that do you think went into that acquisition? Because like you said, you think it's closer than maybe other people think, but my God, if one of those teams had Derek Scouble, it would feel considerably different.

John Morosi, every week with Wyman and Bob.

You're being serious with me right now? Not only are we being serious, Dave, we put upon this, every week on this man, the task of making us feel better about the Mariners.

Tremendous responsibility.

That John...

Uh, tremendous responsibility.

So John Morosi joins us now.

JP, I'm sorry, we have given you that task again, uh, to make us feel better, uh, about the Mariners.

[laughs]