MLB SEASON PREVIEW: Will the Brave, Nationals, Mets, Phillies, or Marlins win the NL East?

Intro will Otani show the Dodgers the way to a World Series are the Yankees on deck for a big season locked on MLB season preview episode one starts right now the locked on podcast Network presents the 2024 MLB season [Music] preview sponsored by FanDuel the 2024 MLB season is upon us and loon has the answers to the biggest questions for the season over this five episode series you'll hear from every Local Host we have covering every MLB team in a way only locked on can provide I'm your host tenitra batist and in this first episode we'll go division by division debating which team will come out on top and after you are done with this episode make sure you check out the rest of lock On's MLB season preview by subscribing to locked on MLB part of the locked on podcast Network your team every day now let's start where the biggest offseason story left off does shi Otani keep the Los Angeles drivers in the driver's seat for the NL West despite the Arizona Diamondbacks World Series appearance welcome in to our NL West locked on Sports 2024 MLB season preview I'm your host tanra batist and joining me are lock on Dodgers Jeff Snyder lockon Padres host Javier Reyes locked on Giants Ben caspe locked on Rockies Paul Holden and rounding out the crew locked on Diamondbacks Miller Thomas I guys are here to talk in L West we're going to dive right into it because there's a lot to dig into for this division last year the Dodgers finished at top the NL West the Rockies finished at the bottom Paul who's in first this season at the end of the regular season and who's in last place in the division at the end unfortunately the evil empire Reigns Supreme Over the NL West and I unfortunately we have to concede that I think the Dodgers will be at the top of the NL West at the end of the season now what they do in the playoffs that is still to be seen it's it's a team that has to prove themselves in the playoffs even with this big roster we've seen it too many times with this Dodgers team where there's all this momentum there's all the hype and then in the big moments they aren't able to get to the big game they certainly have the tools to do so they certainly spent the money to be there they are certainly the team to watch in all of baseball uh but I have the Dodgers at the top of the division there and uh unfortunately uh that leaves a really tough Hill to climb for my uh beloved Colorado Rockies indeed indeed how about you Jeff you see your Dodgers at the top of this division at the end of this regular season yeah I mostly just want to congratulate Paul on correctly pronouncing the word playoffs twice uh you know I didn't know if he had enough experience to do that but uh yeah you know what the Dodgers like you said unfortunately it's true winning the division isn't really the problem most of the time that the Giants did have one fluke season a couple years ago when they won it but for the most part you know the Dodgers yeah and how they do before and after anyway uh you know the Dodgers yeah they're gonna win the division and uh the the big question is by how much and who else grabs one of those Wild Card spots because unfortunately what the dback showed us last year was that you can grab a wild card spot and uh and go really really deep in the postseason yeah that's kind of where I thought was as well and it's interesting because Javier I kind of look at it and I think hey and and we know all too well well here in Atlanta what that looks like but ultimately speaking you still want to win there there's something to be said about winning the division there's something to be said about the potential position that can put you in do you think the Dodgers get it done again this year yeah I mean look like Jeff said that's never been the problem is the division first of all uh just toest to that and with everything they added this off season it would be actually more impressive if they didn't I think at this R I'm not even trying to be mean I think that that would be a huge upset if they don't win the national league west this year and the playoffs look has every person with the exception of Paul no offense his team beat the Dodgers in the playoffs more recently aside from the the co shortened year yeah you know the dime backs I'm pretty sure I don't know when the Giants did but I'm just G I'm just goinge they only played once they only played once all right fine beat them when it was actually fair in a full game series and all that and their pitches were healthy but I'm a Believer in the law of averages um and I think that eventually the Dodgers can't blow it I'm not trying to be mean I just don't think that they will it's just I just can't get over that like I know that we have people that will go against that rule James Harden of the NBA is a great example right but for the most part I just think adding Otani there's something about him with the winning experience from the World Baseball Classic eventually mie Betts isn't going to go over for 45 or whatever he is in the playoffs right now as of as of late so I think that the doers are going to be comfortable now when they face some of the best teams in the league maybe if they get to the World Series that's a different story but I just don't sense with this team with all the momentum with the Otani effect I don't sense this team having a really catastrophic Padres or Diamondbacks or whoever whatever Angels what other kind of underwhelming team by comparison to them ends up beating them so I think they've got it you concur Ben yeah I think it's a pretty easy call like it and again like I'm going to Echo what everyone else says the division is not the problem for them and it took the one time they didn't win the division in the last decade it took 107 wins to hold off 106 win Dodger team and so they are like they are not one of those teams that just has a major disappointment of a season like the Padres did last last year we were all on here last year everybody but two of us Jeff and I picked the Padres to win the division and they won 82 games and the Dodgers won 100 and so and Ben only didn't pick them because he didn't want to jinx it he thought they were going to win it too I didn't I mean I thought it was closer than people thought because of what I'm saying which is that they they just Andrew fredman is really good at his job and and constructs a roster that does just doesn't um fall short of expectations in the regular season but in the postseason only three teams has won a World Series more recently than the Dodgers that's all I'm saying I do respect giving his listeners intellectually dishonest argument that 2020 doesn't count but only three teams have won the World Series more recently than the Dodgers so you know look 2020 counts but like the reality is most people don't count it and so that's funny that's because most people didn't win the World Series if every team that nobody cares though it's just reality it's just the reality I mean fans danced in the streets because made playoffs in that that's Padre's fans that's Padre's fans my take is it counts however the problem is that they've had so many blowups if this was a team that hadn't been blowing in the playoffs I don't think so let's say let's say if the asers had cheated in 2017 so that was their second world series title I think people would be giving them more credit for it Guardians win the World Series a team that hasn't you know they've lost but the Dodgers has been a lot more in front of your face with the teams that we mentioned before otherwise I don't think it gets brought up I think people are just like yeah that was really great that they won who cares if it was shorten but with the Dodgers everyone's like yeah okay of course this is the one time you that's all anyway over here I have to defend so Millard I guess you would think the same that it's one of those where it's kind of a foreg gone conclusion that it'll be the Dodgers who cares because it's just the division title yeah I don't even know if there's really much more for me to add at this point I mean look the Dodgers they're really good at winning regular season games that's kind of their specialty I'm sure that they're going to do it again next season I mean you spent over a billion dollars in the offseason you add MVPs in Otani All Stars in tasar Hernandez you trade for glass now you bring in Yamamoto like they spent a lot of money this offseason after getting swept to we know who so for the Dodgers I I think they will win the division again next season it's been their calling card as what they do year in and year out unfortunately Paul Holden I love you but I think the Rockies will F will probably finish in last place in the NLS as well I actually do like their lineup a lot I like Nolan Jones I like Tovar I actually think they have a bunch of really interesting guys in that lineup but the pitching I just don't think it's there so unfortunately the Rockies I think they will be frisky but they will be in last place now let's head to the AL East where the the Baltimore orol stole the show in 2023 AL East while the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox floundered what's in store for this division this season welcome into our 2024 MLB preview and we are going to get right into it in the AL East got my guys joining me tonight from locked on Blue Jays it's Braden aasco locked on Orioles Connor Nukem our host of locked on Rays Kevin Weiss host of lock on Red Sox Gabby herbut and host of locked on Stacy gulus guys we have so much to get into so let's Jump Right In Bren I'm going to kick things off with you in a very hopefully competitive alist who lands at the top of this division in 2024 yeah so sadly as Blue Jays fans will be not happy to hear we think it's going to be the Yankees over here at lock on Blue Jays with the structure that they've built they look really good um to the dissatisfaction of all blue jays fans everywhere we're sorry to tell you that I absolutely love it and so Braden since you kind of started the petty Fest I'm gonna take it to Gabby and Gabby who's gonna finish at the top of the AL East yeah I mean as a Red Sox fan myself I absolutely do not like uh that answer that the Yankees are gonna win the division I actually have the Orioles winning the division um I think they fixed a lot of their problems they had um this off season they primarily needed pitching they went out and got an absolutely star pitcher to add to their rotation they're going to have some people coming back fully healthy presumably um I just think they look really good again I don't have a reason to believe that they'll take a step back from last year so I still see them talent wise as at the top of the division and Connor you think about exactly what Gabby said the Orioles went out and really kind of beeped up their pitching staff but did they beef up the staff enough to land themselves at the top of the division I think Corbin Burns helps you go and get one of the five best pitchers in baseball now it was addition by subtraction Kyle bradish might be getting Tommy John surgery might be out for the year he was their Ace last year but I think I've picked the raay to win this division pretty much every single year we've done this and it's been crazy every year to pick the Orioles but they are the defending Champions so I might as well just go with the Orioles and I think with Corbin Burns some of that move was maybe more of winning the playoffs than winning the regular season which they failed to do last year but why not let's run it back Hey Kevin there's another Kevin out there who would love to have the Rays do nothing but land at top the a East but will they do it I I guess um myself and Connor were scratching each other's backs because I've the Orioles winning the division this year I still think the Rays will make the playoffs but uh the the young core of the Orioles I just think they're going to continue to grow and Thrive and uh Corbin Burns is you know one of the big stories of the offseason so that gives uh us and Tampa Bay a little bit of um scary Vibes going into this season and deed and Stacy no pinstripe love except one way so I'm going to let you get GI chime in and let us know if you think maybe the Yankees will surprise everyone in this Division and land on top I'm picking the Orioles I've been saying it all offseason I'm picking the orol too they may take a step back but maybe by three games you know I really feel like the Orioles are going to be very good again and like everyone was saying the addition of Corbin Burns is a big one indeed indeed and we'll talk a little bit about the over and where we think all of our teams are going to land a little bit later so definitely stick around and it'll be compelling because we didn't have any unanimity on who's going to land a top the division so if you want to know more about what our hosts think as we approach the Memorial Day uh situ the Memorial Day timeline rather as well as the trade deadline and throughout the season be sure to check them out on your favorite locked on MLB show your team every day coming up despite all the money and all the headlines the New York Mets haven't been able to keep up with FanDuel the Atlanta Braves will this year be any different the NL East preview is next get ready to say farewell to busted brackets because FanDuel lets you bet on every game of the tournament whether you're betting on a big upset or a one seed it's time to go dancing on America's number one sports book right now new customers get $200 in bonus bets if your first $5 bet wins that's 2 200 bucks to use on point spreads money lines you can even pick who's going to win it all and while you're locking in your college hoops picks check out the MLB odds it's not a surprise that the Dodgers have the best odds to win it all at plus 320 the Atlanta Braves aren't far behind at plus 450 followed by the Houston Astros at plus 700 just visit fanduel.com lockon and bet on college hoops until they cut down the Nets the Nast has been dominated by the Atlanta Braves despite Locked on Phillies all this money and all these headlines coming from the New York Mets will this year be any different welcome into our 2024 MLB season preview I am your host tanra batist and it is time to talk in L East here with me is host of locked on Phillies Conor Thomas host of locked on Mets Ryan finklestein filling in for Jake mastriani for locked on Braves Lindsey Crosby host for locked on Marlins Peter Pratt and host of locked on Nationals Ryan Clary guys we got a lot to get into in a very hot division so I just want to make sure that we have enough time just for each and every one of you guys to speak I'm gonna come right out of the gates because this team didn't necessarily win the division last year but certainly they one big in terms of what they were able to do in the postseason so Conor I'm coming to you first sounds Conor Thomas put it on the table who's winning this division it's gonna be the Atlanta Braves again and it's not gonna matter that's just how this works in the NL couple years like honestly I don't know why the Phillies would want to try and compete for the division because they have the playoff formula set when it comes to getting into October but I'll tell you this the Phillies are going to make this as competitive I think as the Mets did a couple years ago when you had a couple hundred win teams in the division not that the Phils are going to win 100 games but I think Atlanta's gonna have a run for their money for the division unlike last year indeed indeed and Lindsay it's interesting that Conor says that because I think when we looked across our entire group our entire panel both Ryan and Peter everyone's like in agreement yeah BR are probably going to win the division is that how you see it as well that the Braves will win it but the Phillies will make it competitive that's kind of the consensus around baseball in general is that Atlanta's going to win the division but for Atlanta it's not really about the division it's about doing something in October they now have two straight years of going one and three against Philadelphia and being knocked out in the nlds and to their credit the team is talking about it's all about making the World Series our goal is to make the World Series not to win the division not to make it to the postseason our goal is to be in the World Series in 2024 indeed this is one of the first times and you know we always talk about for the culture down here in Atlanta right and when you think about spring training that's what it's been from the comment that AJ Menor made about the fact that it is World Series or bust and every player pretty much old veterans so to speak on this team like an Austin Riley or even the new guy like a Chris Sale all kind of coming together to say hey yeah we backed that up and it is World Series in bust and I got to admit it's kind of one of those situations where for them you don't want to go back to that super team where you have 13 14 division titles and you got exactly one ring out of it I think those guys are well aware of that and they don't want to repeat history now you think about the biggest offseason story lines and you kind of think about some of the big moves that were made in the NL East and and Ryan F I'm gonna go finklestein we're going with you first and then I want Clary to kind clar to chime in as well but when you look at some of the moves that the Mets made what are some of the biggest storylines uh coming out of Mets camp but also from your perspective biggest story lines for the NL East I think for the Mets it's about being a sustainable winner that's what they're talking about and that's why all the moves they made this offseason were one-year deals basically they're looking at a longer window so they're going to try to compete this year they're not going to be competing with the Braves at Top This division they're going to try to get one of those Wild Card spots but for them it's about long-term winning that's why David STS was just hired to be the president it's all about the prospects this year seeing what they have in the system and seeing those guys that were debuted last year and Brett batty Mark Vientos Francisco Alvarez get another year under their belt see if they can establish themselves as you know starting big league players and hopefully be a team that in the future could compete with the Braves to Top This Division and Ryan you think about the Mets as a team that did everything that they could to put themselves in position to win the division and make a run in the postseason and you want to talk about disappointments they had their fair share of disappointments last season as well what do you kind of see from them as far as win total or as far as what's going to be the maker break for this Mets team in order for them to have success this upcoming season I think they're about a 500 team that could go a little bit in either direction right I mean we saw the Marlins last year sneak in uh we've seen the Diamondbacks last year go to the World Series after sneaking in so I think they set themselves up to be about a 500 team and if a couple things go their way maybe they win 85 games and sneak in I don't think they're going to be a 90 win team that'd be I guess kind of the ceiling I would put out there is getting to 90 wins if everything broke right but mostly I think it's it's a 500 ball club that could overperform expectations a little bit and Peter how do you see that speaking of the Marlins how do you see things going for the Marlins what are your expectations for them the biggest story lines coming out of Miami yeah listen they made the postseason last season and what's happened you've had a full-blown uh front office rebuild Kim Ang out Peter bendix's in like that is the biggest storyline here the Marlins have had a full-blown rebuild on the infrastructure around the team they haven't done anything pretty much with the the big league roster so Tim Anderson Just joining so it's been a slow and surprising offseason I would say for the marins we're expecting to kind of build off the I guess the momentum and but really you have to look at it and think Peter Bendix interested to see what he can do like they're trying to copy the ray model I think that that model suits uh South Florida let's say so yeah I I think from a Marin's perspective they they're looking to play 500 ball and if they're in it at the deadline see if they can make some moves I think this division is tough as we know just to go back to the Braves by the way the the Braves to me you know yes they're the class right now on on paper headed into this one but it's all about health for the Bravos they love to roll out their big guys game after game after game after game and for me if you get a couple of key injuries then that completely changes it for the Braves I'm not sure as they're they're as deep as they are quality at the top so I think that is the main difference maker for the braavos can they stay healthy it's the same for everyone but for me the Bravos they've got a lot of talent at the top and I think it gets a bit thin pretty quickly the AL West had been run by America's least favorite team in the Houston Astros but in 2023 the Texas Locked on Astros Rangers only lost by tiebreakers and then went on to win the World Series so who has the edge this season welcome into our 2024 MLB preview we are going out west AL West to be exact and we have tonight with us Eric Heisman locked on Astros host Ty Dane Gonzalez locked on Mariner host John frish from locked on angels and Bryce pck from locked on Rangers guys there's a lot to talk about because this is one of the most competitive divisions in all of baseball so I'm gonna start because we actually have coined him Bry pck as in Petty because he wanted to remind us that his team is the reigning Champions across all of Major League Baseball but my question this to you this year is this price reigning world series champions but not necessarily reigning alss Champions do you guys get it done and win the division this year well I want to congratulate the Astros uh for winning the AL West the most important thing to happen last year uh definitely did them a lot of good um but I think the Alis Crown is coming back up north to Arlington to the Texas Rangers I think they are just a much better more well-rounded team this year last year the bullpen was a travesty during the regular season the offense is just getting better it was the best offense the American League last year and all they're doing is adding a full season of rookies Evan Carter and hopefully a full season of young rookie Wyatt Langford who is one of the top hitting prospects in all of Major League Baseball he's been on fire in the Cactus League the guy is a hitting Prodigy gonna make this offense even better so I think the pitching staff while it does have some question marks I think it will get healthy in the right time and even if this team doesn't win the a West it doesn't particularly matter to this Texas Rangers Squad all right so to I'll go ahead and counter you uh I'll go ahead and raise you Jacob deg Grom and Max sh are being out for most of the season and those are some big losses for Texas Rangers and yes uh winning the division actually hurt the Astros because they did not have home field advantage and that was beneficial to you but these Astros are a different team and they have a different manager and I think you're going to see a whole bunch of different decisions being made this year and a lot of it depends on the health of Justin berlander but uh we saw him get off to a late start last year but uh that I don't think that's be a bad thing that mean he be ready and fresh for October so I think that the Astros are set with a Yer Diaz as a catcher and all the offense uh ready to explode I think that they're probably going to win the division this year and shots fired early I love it Eric I appreciated as our locked on Astros host but you know it's an interesting and still a compelling division to the point where I feel like we're going to be having some interest some compelling conversation throughout the season so I throw it to you Ty and say hey what about your Mariners what are they going to do where do they land and who wins the Division yeah I think this front office has done a lot of really good things this offseason in spite of their owner completely hamstringing them and uh lowering payroll and forcing them to make some very difficult decisions and I I'm not really sure how Jerry depoto and Justin Hollander could have maneuvered this situation any better than they did that said well I am pretty high on the Mariners chances to win the division uh more so than a lot of people just within the fan base in general uh I'm going to go with the Astros um I think the Mariners have the best pitching staff in the division I think the Rangers have the best offense in the division but I think the Astros have the best of both worlds and I think they have more probability uh and I've just learned over the last few years don't bet against the Astros simple as that and that's fair enough now John the Angels kind of right there in the middle any opportunity for them to shock the world and win the division or are we kind of saying hey it's a one-w punch between these Astros and these Rangers and where you land yeah when it comes to the angels this year our motto has been no expectations just go into the season and hope for the best uh they've got a really young staff which will be exciting for Halo fans but as far as winning the division that is certainly Out Of Reach if I had to take a guess at who's going to get it this year I think I'm gonna go rangers I think the Astros are getting older I think the Rangers like Bryce said they got a full season of some of their young studs that are coming up and we got to see them a little bit last season but uh you know it came down to the wire there at the end and between the Rangers and the Astros I think the Rangers have a real chance of really going somewhere with the young guys that are just studs at the end of the day yeah that's a fair call like you said literally landing at 90 and 72 on the season for both of those squads last season so again it'll be interesting and if you guys want to follow these guys and kind of watch the drama that could develop across the season for the AL West make sure you check out your favorite lock on MLB show your team every single day coming up two divisions that could see some major shakeups this season with the NL and AL Central who comes out on top Fire TV is Fire TV your destination for sports from live games to Highlights to in-depth analysis Fire tv offers amazing viewing experiences with Smart TVs as well as the Fire TV stick that you can plug into your existing t TV that provides access to millions of movies and TV episodes as well as free and live TV whether it's opening weekend for baseball or the college basketball tournament you're going to want to have a fire TV Fire TV recently created Fire TV channels to deliver a constant supply of the latest videos from your favorite sports brands all for free this includes all of us at locked on and most of the big Pro leagues and college conferences as well Fire TV channel lets you dive into all of the game analysis highlights and more to keep up to date on all the latest in the World of Sports March Madness NBA MLB and lots more not to mention great news entertainment gaming traveling cooking videos as well check out Fire TV channels on Fire TV and Alexa devices and if you haven't checked out Fire TV channels you should trust me on this to learn more visit www.amazon.com loock onfire TV the NL Central Saw the Milwaukee Brewers on top in 2023 but will the NL Central Chicago Cubs or Cincinnati Reds have anything to say about that this season welcome in to our 2024 ml preview for the NL Central joining me tonight are Ethan Smith locked on Pirates JD haen from our locked on Cardinals podcast Stephen offenbaker locked on red Chuck Freeman locked on Brewers and wrapping it up would be Sam obber our guy from locked on Cubs we got a lot to dig into so let's get it going I'm going to start with you Ian tell me who will win this NLC Central Division for 2024 before Cody Bellinger signed it was a very tough decision and even after I think it's a very tough decision but I do think and it pains me a little bit to say it as a pirates fan but right now I do think the Cubs are the front runner with what they've done in the off season and what other teams may have not done this offseason and what's a very winnable division in the NL Central and it's interesting that you would say that because then of course I have to ask Sam do you agree that your team potentially can and will win this division yeah I think you know I think it's going to be really close I think it's going to be a a three horse race between the Cubs Cardinals and reds and to me you know I believe the difference is going to be Craig Council I think that's the biggest acquisition and I think he's going to push the Cubs uh over the top and I think it's gonna be really close but I would I'd lean Cubs and you talk about that three horse race it's so interesting Sam because so many of the races are going to be tight in several of the divisions so it'll be interesting to see kind of how it plays out in the NL Central as well what do you say JD how does this race play out in the NL Central this season it's hard to argue with what Ethan and Sam both said uh you know my heart says the Cardinals have done enough but at the same time we thought we did enough last year and they fell on their faces and ended up in last place so it's hard to trust anything that Cardinal have done this off season I'm excited about Sunny gray coming but uh at the same time I I don't know if Lance Lin and KY Gibson were the answers when there's better pitchers out there so uh but it's hard to disagree with what they said there where those are the the top three guys and I think it'll a lot of it will depend on who's healthiest throughout the season yeah health is so important it's so important it's you know one of those variables Chuck that you don't know until you get into the season and then you talk about getting into the season and as those injuries pile up or as they happen you hope they don't pile up but you never know and then it becomes who's wheeling and dealing the right weight the tread deadline should injuries start to have an impact to see you get through on the other side who do you call this division for this season it's always tough to count out the St Louis Cardinals to what happened last year with them was stunning and I always thought they were going to make a recovery they made a a couple of teases along the way but it didn't happen never want to count the uh the Cardinals but I like the Reds Reds got a good young core Del Cruz is a rising star I think they've improved their pitching staff getting candelario was a big pickup for them I just like what the Reds got going they finished above the 500 Mark at 82 and 80 and I really see them unseating the Brewers as division champs they contended they were around they hung around a little bit again they finished over the 500 mark But I see the Reds finishing the job this year and getting getting that NL Central Division title ah Stephen Del La Cruz is so much fun to watch but do you feel like the Reds have done enough to put themselves in position to take this division this time oh I'm excited to get to go last on this question first of all Chuck that's your best content ever I'm gonna clip that and use that along the way listen I want to tell you the Reds won 82 ball games last year and they have gotten better uh you look around the rest of this division uh I think the Cubs are their stiffest competition but the Cubs they really haven't gotten all that much better swapped out strowman for yamata they brought back Bellinger and they're they're basically the same team that they were last year with some youth that is either GNA pan out or it's not we just don't know uh with the Cardinals they signed a lot of names and listen I love Sunny gray he was great in Cincinnati but they signed a lot of names that the everyday casual fan will be like hey I know that guy all right but the the sad truth is all of the guys that the Cardinal signed are in the decline phase of their careers uh basically you know I hear there's rumors out of St Louis that every game's going to to start at 1 pm. so the team bus can hit the early bird special on the way back to the hotel I mean this is a group of aged players that I don't think have enough to go from last place in the division to first place in the division uh when you talk about the Milwaukee Brewers you know Chuck has an exciting team to cover up there but they showed inklings of an idea of being willing to blow it up and rebuild uh we saw some trades in the offseason already then we saw some signings that don't necessarily make sense unless they're planning for a year out I could see the Brewers continuing to blow it up between now and the a star break and really just go all in on a rebuild trade guys away you look at the Pittsburgh Pirates they're Scrappy youngsters that's their narrative always um they'll be good in April they'll be the world series of April Champion again probably uh but they're not going to be able to have enough to stick around so at the end of all that the Reds have a solid coreback they upgraded their starting pitching they upgraded their Bullpen where were the weaknesses last year uh and they're pois to make a run to win not only the National League central to but be a strong playoff contender in 2024 so Sam you wanted to have a little something to say like do you beg to differ with what we've heard so far about who's gonna win well no I just wanted to make the point because you know Stephen and his co-host Jeff and I had a had a crossover last year where we kind of talked about this and I just wanted to make the point where Stephen's right the Cubs pretty much did bring the same team back except for one key difference the manager position and I just feel that that David Ross uh up to Craig Council maybe Chuck you know could speak speak better to this covering the Brewers I just think Craig council is is a Difference Maker he wins on the margins I know he hasn't had the playoff success I'm sure that Milwaukee fans would like but this is a guy that wins on the margins and that's really where the Cubs struggled last year so I think if they could have the same success in the same uh uh production I think Council will take that 83 wins and make it 87 88 and maybe that's enough but like I said I think it's going to be very close yeah and Chuck you getting some some love there for the Brewers do you tend to agree with Sam's assessment and I think you make a great point about managers and how sometimes that can certainly turn the tide for teams you know it was stunning how Craig kson never won manager of the year with the Milwaukee Brewers when he always got the most out of his talent now it' be odd if he goes to Chicago wins the Division his name manager of the year with more Talent than he had in Milwaukee because in Milwaukee this past year they won you know 90 some odd games how are they how did they ever win the division with as bad as the offense was you had nobody in that team who could really hit their weight and yet they won the NL Central but he's right uh council's worth a few wins 567 he's going to have a great Clubhouse nonetheless at least that's what he had Milwaukee who see who who knows when he goes 90 miles to South but I expect it to be the same kind of culture down there we shall be watching and you guys don't forget to check out and watch for more around the NL Central locked on MLB shows these guys are absolutely with it for their teams and of course each and every one of these teams is also your team every day the AL AL Central Central Saw the Minnesota Twins land at top the division in 2023 will they stay the course or will the Detroit Tigers apply pressure this season welcome into our 2024 MLB preview we're going AL Central and we'll be talking with locked on twins Brandon Warren locked on Tigers Scott Bentley locked on Guardians Justin L and locked on Royals Jack Johnson now guys it's going to be absolutely positively just fun nothing but fun nothing but story lines and good deals and winnings and losing and let's start with the winning part of what's going to go on in AL Central at least what we believe it to be in 2024 Brandon I'm gonna start with you so this AL Central division could be as competitive as any other division within Major League Baseball but what do you see as that team that's going to be head up and shoulders Above the Rest in 2024 yeah I mean it's kind of teeing up that I I think the consensus is the twins are in the kind of the cath bird seat to win the division win it for the second year in a row and really it just comes down to depth I think they have a pretty solid starting rotation depthwise their Bullpen is tremendous and then on offense they have you know enough guys in both the starting and bench roles to really just be a consistent effort all season long last year they had a lot a lot of things go wrong their top three players Carlos karea had a tough year Byron buckson had a tough year and Royce Lewis only played for half the year coming off in ACL so they're feeling pretty good about The Vibes right now and it's going to be interesting to see if they can keep those guys healthy because that's key in Paramount to if they're gonna repeat what they did last season yeah I couldn't agree with you more you know it's always so difficult to kind of project out so early because you never know what the twists and turns are going to be in the season and then you in addition to like you said talking about injuries but you're talking about trade deadline shifts and moves not just by the twins but others who are in that particular division so that might inform a lot of what happens and like you said 2023 it was the twins but in 2024 could be a little bit different Scott could be your tigers that kind of bring up the rear it just depends with them finishing second in the division in 2023 where do you see it falling in 2024 who's going to be at the top yeah you know I I really wish I could on here and be like hot take guy but I I I think that the twins are probably in the driver's seat again I do think that this division is much more up for grabs maybe than the general public sees like I the Guardians are always kind of on my radar and a team that I think any given year they could you know kind of get over the hump and and take over the division as we've seen before the twins like I said I I think deserve to be the favorite and and probably are the favorite and and obviously the tigers are kind of a young upand cominging team team that had a had a pretty active off season when compared to the rest of this division for sure so I I I do think that it's a little bit uh a little bit more up for the taking maybe than uh like I said than the general public uh is maybe viewing it as but I do think that you know if I had to pick a a clubhouse favorite no pun intended right now it would probably still be the twins just a lot of depth and and could you know as Brandon said get some some bounceback performances from some players did lose some players in in the offseason as well which is why I think it's maybe a little close but uh I do think that they at the end of the day uh just have the The Proven track record and kind of the the floor I guess the ceiling is where every team is kind of the big question marks are but the floor I think for the twins is uh is really high up there same with the Guardians I guess to be honest yeah and when you think about that Justin the Tigers and Guardians so close in terms of where they landed at the end of the season 78 wins for the tit 76 wins for the Guardians how do you see it playing out in the AL Central do the Guardians maybe make that leap and get to the top of the division or is it the twins the good news for the Guardians is that this is a division full of mediocrity so 84 wins could could win the division and they have maybe the highest uh ceiling in terms of the pitching rotation they've got five really good starters but the question is Shane Bieber Missed most of last year Tristan McKenzie made two starts last year and you've got three sophomore starters who were all very good last last year and all have a lot of upside but you never know how those pitchers are going to do in year two and and there's no telling right now if Bieber and McKenzie will be healthy in a perfect world you know that's a that's a great rotation if all those guys hit their ceilings then it's the best rotation in the division it might be one of the better in baseball uh but they're not blessed with the balance that the twins have they don't have the depth uh the Tigers might have a better a better lineup but there are some emerging young prospects I mean Kyle manzardo might take over first base for Cleveland at some point this year they'll get a full season of B Naylor catcher who will be their best offensive catcher in maybe a decade which has been a long time since they've had a catcher that didn't bat ninth Josh Naylor's here for a full year Jose Ramirez is still here there's some question marks on offense but you know there's a lot of ceiling that they can introduce some of the younger hitters get a good full season out of them the bullpen will be a question it was kind of a disaster a year ago a lot of one-run games if they can avoid playing one-run games this year they'll be a lot better for it but uh as we saw last year at the offense there's no guarantees of that yeah yeah and then you kind of get to the bottom where the white socks and Royals kind of found themselves last year Jack but you just kind of never know what might happen stranger things have happened for for teams going from worst to first but in this case AL Central who do you think wins the Division in 2024 yeah it's hard to go against Minnesota here I mean I think they've got an elite Bullpen they've got such an elite rotation I mean when you have a guy like Pablo Lopez up front I mean that's a Sai Young candidate right there it's hard to go against the team with such good pitching and offensively they're no real slouch either I mean I know here in Kansas City there's a lot of people that are optimistic but mainly because there hasn't been much to be excited about over the last you know five to six seven years ever since they won the World Series and they finally got active in free agency they tried to revamp that Bullpen a little bit you feel good about top three in your rotation with Michael Waka Seth Lugo Cole Reagan of course and then after that you know you're hoping for a lot of bounceback guys I mean Bobby Wood Jr of course is going to be the star of this team you feel good about Vinnie p quentino but then it's you know where else you can to get the production from offensively you look to Michael Garcia MJ Melendez Michael Mass can bounce back if Salvador Perez can stay healthy you know I think for Royals fans what they all want here is to have competitive baseball all summer long I mean I think that's at the top of the list right now but when you're looking at a division Champ here even with the central being weaker it's hard to go against the reigning Champs here in Minnesota I just love their pitching staff and and right behind them I'm I mean it could be a Detroit or a Cleveland there but I think I have Kansas City improving for sure but it's still ways to go indeed and you know we're talking about those improvements and we're talking about where everything may fall out with the AL Central But ultimately speaking we might be having a different conversation around Memorial Day might be having a different conversation around the trade deadline and then ultimately a different conversation towards the end of the season so you got to keep up with the AL Central if you want the best and what they are able to offer check out your favorite lock on MLB show your team every day now that we've heard predictions for every MLB division for Outro 2024 check out the rest of lock On's MLB season previews including over under win totals for every team the biggest offseason story lines and who are the MVP candidates don't miss an episode by subscribing to locked on MLB part of the locked on podcast Network your 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