Houston Astros back in first, Braves' injury bug, Tarik Skubal rumors, MLB Power Rankings & more

INTRO what is up my friends welcome into flipping bats where we got a lot to talk about this week the Astros and the Mariners out in the AL West we battling it out over the weekend we got the Atlanta Braves not playing good baseball uh we're gonna talk Terk scoble and what the Detroit Tigers should do with the best pitcher in the game of baseball do they trade them do they go get as much form as possible do they hold on to them going to talk all about that it is the first episode of the week meaning we have power rankings as well but over the weekend big weekend in Baseball Hall of Fame weekend our guy John Smoltz was up there on stage all the Hall of Famers all the living Hall of Famers are are there in attendance he was there watched Adrien belr get inducted Jim Leland Joe Mau Todd hton if you haven't seen the Jim Leland speech I knew he would do this Jim Leland is an absolute Legend but that guy full of full of uh energy and not afraid to be the you know the fierce leader of a team but man does he have emotion and and you see it all the time when he was a manager and we see it saw it during his Hall of Fame speech when he was just uh brought to tears during his speech about the game of baseball and that man Jim Leland just loves the game of baseball so if you haven't seen his speech go watch it but congratulations to him to the other names I just mentioned Todd hton Joe Mau Adrien Bel tree absolute Legends good Hall of Fame class good Hall of Fame class this year so they are officially inducted into Cooperstown we're going to do soon we should do what next year's class and the ballot looks like and and who should get in and who might not get in but Billy Wagner let him in I can tell you that already all right let's start let's start this show with Astros ASTROS BACK IN 1ST PLACE Mariners over the weekend Astros taking the series and getting to hear me out first place in the AL West man oh man I'm not saying the Astros are going to win the division but boy when they do do I have a lot of receipts I was made to be a fool for saying the Astros were fine the Astros are fine where's the worry meter at I don't know a three a four never got to a five they're fine why did I say that because they're the only team in American League history to reach seven straight LCS appearances this team is largely the same so was it pretty all year long No in fact before May 9th they were 12 and 24 fourth worst in all of baseball second worst in the American League second worst in the AL that's terrible 4.39 runs per game which was 16th in Major League Baseball 5.05 erra that's the big one they had a 5.05 ER 28th in MLB worst in the American League and from that day on May 9th on until as we sit here today and the middle I guess end of July 40 and 23 best in all of Major League Baseball no other team has more than 37 wins so in fact not only best in Major League Baseball by far the best team in major league baseball since May 9th 4.92 runs per game which is fourth best in baseball third in the American League 3.40 team ra second best in all of baseball best in the American League that is where it has all turned around for the Houston Astros in the pitching rotation Department rotation Bullpen has finally gotten better we knew that would come along and now here they are I was I was asked when when are you gonna worry about the Astros when you're a fool to not be worrying about them they look awful and I said I'll worry if they're 10 games out of a playoff spot at the All-Star break well here we are at the All-Star break and one day after the All-Star break the Houston Astros were in first place in the American League West first place the Houston Astros are inevitable I I I know I've continued to say it I've said it for years now but it it's true and at this point if you don't if you if you're not expecting them to turn it around if you weren't then you're just oblivious to what they they've been doing over the last few years this team is largely the same the rotation had some issues got a little healthier still has some issues they need help they're going to have to go address some things at the trade deadline but they weren't a bad baseball team they were always going to turn it around and it'll lead me to say it again the Houston Astros are inevitable and here they are in first place Mariners now in second place technically they're tied in the division but by mere percentage points as we speak uh on at the beginning of this week so on on Monday the the Astros are percentage points ahead of the Mariners but essentially tied at the top of the division man the Mariners have issues they're hitting 218 as a MARINERS HAVE TO DO SOMETHING team and in case you're wondering that is the worst in all of baseball this team that is tied a top of division and has been leading the American League West all year long is has the worst hitting in all of baseball you have the the Chicago White Socks who can't hardly win one game a week and they have a better team batting average than the Seattle Mariners that's unacceptable and I am I I blame a lot of this on the front office of the Seattle Mariners it is so frustrating that this continues to not be addressed what are you waiting for the trade deadline I promise you in at the trade deadline they're going to be in contention we knew that a month ago we knew that that a week ago we know that today and we'll know it at the end of the month for the trade deadline what are we waiting for you know your weakness you have a rotation in their Prime you have 29 other teams 29 other teams that would love to take that rotation off of your hands it's arguably the best rotation in baseball but you have a team that can't put up runs you have a team that can't hit you have a team that is in first place and has the single worst team batting average in all of baseball you struck out a thousand times before the All-Star break a thousand strikeouts before the break you have to add bats if you want to make the playoffs can they can they get to the playoffs without without adding a bat man I I can't say for certain yes but can they do damage in the playoffs without adding no no they can't and I don't I don't need you to add much I don't that's how good the rotation is go get two bats one big one maybe if if they're if they're sellers maybe go go get a package for the Rays with ESO paradus and and Randy Rosara you need a first baseman Ty France is is not in the big leagues anymore you option him you need a first baseman you need an outfielder you need lineup depth imagine going to put put put a package together for those two you have pitching Surplus go use some of your guys and get what needs to be done right now the window is now I'm tired of this like I don't know it became a joke and a mockery of what the front office said over the over the off season of they're trying to win I forget what the percentage was I I don't know 57% well over over an extended period of time is what they're talking about well if that that's not going to put a team out they're good enough to win a World Series which is the goal the the Seattle Mariners rotation is good enough to win the World Series the offense is the worst in baseball the offense isn't good enough to make the playoffs so you put it together and you have a decent baseball team you add some offense you have a great team so let's let's figure that out because we've watched this division lead dwindle from close to to to from 10 games down to zero in a heartbeat it happened in a month and a half and they we're still sitting here with that same roster go and that same lineup going out every single night and not doing anything about it we knew a month ago you needed bats go get it done get it done now why wait another week could cost you the season why are we waiting go make deals go make it happen but here we are beginning of this new week end of July and the Houston Astros who were over 10 games out of first place a couple of months ago are now now in first place in the AL West and I told you so I told you so it was inevitable they're really good they need help they need to go get a first baseman I think they'll address that at the at the trade deadline and I think they need a rotation piece in a perfect world they add rotation and they add first base and then they're back in the American League Championship Series so um a team that is not flying high right now the Atlanta Braves the Atlanta Braves are on The BRAVES' INJURY BUG CONTINUES Struggle Bus are they in a playoff spot currently they are are they a a shoe in to make the playoffs they aren't we have seen their we're we've seen their massive stronghold on the NL Wild Card race just dwindle away more and more and more massive underperformance all around if you were to tell me they lost Spencer Strider early in the year I had Spencer Strider winning the NL sa Young Award this year I had him striking out over 300 batters this year if you were to tell me that they're going to lose Spencer Strider and still at the in Late July have the second best pitching in all of baseball according to ER I would have told you man I got I got the Phillies winning the World Series this year but I bet you the Braves are in first place right now billies are going to have to do it again out of the wild card spot second best pitching in all of Major League Baseball once Strider goes down man what a team they got no it has not been that way they do have the second best pitching in all of Major League Baseball according to ER but they now only have a 4 and a half game lead over the New York Mets in the Wild Card race they are they're in that first spot in the Wild Card they're four games up there but that has dwindled down big time the division lead is nowhere in sight for them they've watched every team in the Wild Card race there's a million teams all right behind them in the National League we've watch that dwindle away more and more and more and at this point man you just got to look in the mirror and think well our pitching is doing what it needs to our offense has underperformed across the board the only spot that hasn't is Marcel Ozuna but listen to this at this point last year compared to at this point this year listen to what these names are doing Ops wise Matt Olsen last year 946 Ops this year 699 Shawn Murphy 949 PS this year 631 Orlando arus 793 577 this year Michael Harris II 757 last year 653 this year Azie alz who's now hurt again 820 last year 711 this year Marcel Ozuna is the only one 760 last year to 972 this year so there's not only massive underperform performance offensively you now have injury concerns Big Time Max freed back on the iil with a forearm injury anytime you hear forearm injury for a pitcher I I I've said this a million times we everybody that's listened for an extended period of time has heard me say it look am I saying it's is a shoe in for a long-term injury no but anytime you hear that Max freed is back on the I with a forearm injury you get concerned any pitcher forarm injury really not good you worry about the UCL but let's just say it's nothing long term and he's just going to be fine and back in those days you still have Max freed on the iil now you have Azie albz with a broken wrist out eight weeks Michael Harris II has been out for months hoping to be back in August but obviously Ronald aunia Jr MVP winner last year massive underperformance this year hurt now and out the remainder of the Year Spencer Strider out the remainder of the year out all season essentially the Braves are in trouble the Atlanta Braves are in trouble this team is good enough to make the playoffs I think they will get to the playoffs but man I I don't believe in them to win in the playoffs right now they need to add they need some help they need some help all around I mean there's nothing you can do with with the underperformance what you're you're Matt Olsson Matt olsson's a guy at first base you brought in Shawn Murphy to be a guy he was last year he's not he wasn't for the second half of last year not for this year Orlando Garcia was phenomenal last year Allstar 577 Ops this year that's terrible Michael Harris II expected a big jump from him this year unfortunately hurt Azie Al's underperformance a little bit man I am concerned about the Atlanta Braves and if you're a fan of the Atlanta Braves you should be concerned too this team as we sit right now is not fit to win a World Series and that should be the goal for this team they are good enough they have the talent they need to add now they need to figure it out they did it last time last time Ronald auni Jr went down what did they do they added a million pieces at the trade deadline and all of them fit a certain role and came in clutch in the playoffs jock Peterson brought Vibes Eddie Rosario was hot as anything on planet Earth during the playoffs they're gonna need to they're gonna need to piece it together if they're going to want to get to the playoffs and win in the playoffs because this ain't the same Braves team we've seen over the last few years it's not they need some help um onto onto a team and a player specifically but a team that is very near and dear to my heart and a team that has been frustrating to me for honestly since 2016 2017 the Detroit Tigers one finally playing finally playing good baseball best record in all of baseball in July by the way not a ton of games due to the All-Star break but best record in all baseball ahead of the the Houston Astros who are in second so the question I've seen floated around a million places on social media I do think the tigers are considering it so it's not a crazy thing to throw out is do the Tigers trade TK scoble should the Tigers trade TK scoel here's my answer if you were the Detroit Tigers you cannot and should did not trade TK TIGERS SHOULD NOT TRADE TARIK SKUBAL scoel you have a 27-year-old pitcher who is currently as we speak the best pitcher in baseball do not trade him let's start with this you're not getting Jackson holiday you are not going to get Jackson holiday so if you're the Detroit Tigers who were you looking to get by trading TK scoble the next TK scoble what are you looking for he's the best pitcher in baseball 27 years old not a free agent until 2027 and his age 30 season last time you traded the face of the franchise as a pitcher it failed miserably you traded away Justin Verlander to get Franklin Perez Daz Cameron and Jake Rogers in case you're wondering in case you're a massive Detroit Tigers fan you don't know those names Jake Rogers has been okay the other names Franklin Perez was supposed to be the big piece failed miserably I don't even need to dive into that trade trading away the face of the franchise Justin Verlander blew up in your face miserably and set the franchise back a decade and that's not to be dramatic this trade happened in 2017 it set the franchise back a decade you failed everywhere on that this team isn't that far from being good Terk scoel best pitcher in baseball pitching rotation really good really fun lot of good pieces playoff caliber rotation you missed miserably on jav bayz you got to figure out that situation but offensively is where this team is lacking so I don't think you trade away the best pitcher in baseball I think the owner of this team the younger illich needs to step up and spend some money Chris illich spend some money on this team Mike illich rest in peace gave everything to this team spent on this team where money needed to be spent money was spent it doesn't feel like the case with Chris illich it's just not it's just not he does not he does not run this team the way that that his dad did it always felt like and and there's no better example than when Mike illich paid and brought in PUD Rodriguez the team was awful it was the worst team in baseball one of the worst teams of all time you go and bring in hudge you pay for him and it turns it all around another free agent wants to sign more free agents wants to join with Ivon Rodriguez an alltime great next thing you know everybody's thinking oh my God cool things are happening in in the AL Central with the Tigers I want to be a part of that then Justin comes up and it all clicks well guess what you have Terk scoel coming up and you have a an ownership that's not willing to spend around them it's saying oh we need to see we need to see performance before we buy in with this team that's not how it works you you got to you gotta commit you gotta commit to buying in add some offense don't go the cheap skate route don't wait for the team to perform and then add pieces around them be the reason that the team does perform it gets frustrating they're not that far away from being a winning team in a winning organization best team in July best record in allive baseball in July ahead of the Houston Astros but again same conversation we're able to have with the Seattle Mariners we know the issue their offense stinks there's pieces but byy and large it stinks go add a big bat this off season I'm not saying do it at the trade deadline go go bring in a few offensive pieces I'm tired of seeing the offseason come around and adding p pieces and again I don't want to discredit anybody a lot of these moves that I'm about to mention I liked from the Tigers perspective it adds depth in a lineup Gio orella Mark canah but those aren't the moves that be that make you a winning organization go make those moves go spend the money couple off seasons ago everyone in the world wanted Carlos kareah to go not all tigers fans Carlos kareah go get your guy go pay him that big contract he didn't do it and you went and got jav bayz instead and that has failed miserably and Carlos Kare is an Allstar this year I it just I I don't know it gets frustrating and I I went down a rabbit hole that I didn't think I was going to go down but back to the point you cannot and should not trade ter scoble the Tigers currently have Scouts for a few days now have had Scouts following the Nori tide to the AAA team for the Baltimore Orioles if you were going to trade again my opinion is don't do it if you're going to head straight to the Baltimore Orioles and see what you can get the Baltimore Orioles there in Triple A have Jackson holiday Kobe Mayo Conor Norby Kyle Stowers that's who they're looking at I don't you're not getting Jackson holiday I just I don't think you should trade away the best pitcher in baseball sitting there with a 2.41 ra 10 and3 record he has 140 strikeouts this year in 116 Innings compared to only 21 walks you have a left-handed pitcher that's 27 years old entering his prime throwing a 100 miles an hour this is your guy this is the guy you build around I'll end this conversation with this why are you trading TK scoble you're only going to go out looking for the next TK scoble keep him go out in the offseason and buy offensively add the right pieces the big pieces go do it but I just don't know if I believe in this the the current ownership I don't know if Chris illich has built that way to do it we will see but do not trade TX Google just don't do it uh first episode of the week meaning Power Rankings time they come out every Monday we talk about them every Tuesday if you haven't seen MLB POWER RANKINGS them they come out on uh Twitter on Instagram and then we talk about him here on Tuesday so if you don't if you don't see him we'll we'll talk about him here uh we're going to start at number 10 still hanging on but barely they are almost out of the top 10 the Atlanta Braves down one spot from there where they were last week they lost two games in a row to end the week uh entering this new week uh lost two in a row to the Cardinals five and five in their last 10 games just not pretty not pretty for the Atlanta Braves lately massive underperformance everywhere you look rotation really good offense has been really really bad so another week of underperformance for the Atlanta Braves and they are going to be outside of the top 10 it was a struggle there are definitely teams and I I hear you if you're out there saying how can you put them in over and maybe we'll come back to this because I don't want to ruin the rest of the top 10 but I hear you the Braves are almost out of the top 10 this week but they are now holding on at number 10 down one spot from number nine last week up to number nine not ranked last week the St Louis Cardinals 52 and 47 beat the Atlanta Braves on a weekend series huge series to start the second half they've been one of the hotter teams in baseball for a couple months you see them there now in the NL Central making some noise they're in a wild card spot now in the National League this team man they have they deserve a lot of credit really bad last year went and added a rotation that is old but that offense has that offense is good it just underperformed last year I was a believer in them last year looked like a fool and here they are this year playing much better deserve a lot of credit they're here at number nine at number eight best team in baseball since May 9th the single best team in baseball since May 9th second best team in all of baseball in the month of July the Houston Astros not ranked last week back in the top 10 all the way up to number eight they are percentage points wise in first place in the AL West massive series massive series against the Seattle Mariners to start the second half of the year and man it was just I talked about it from a Mariners perspective really frustrating but you have this series second half of the Season getting underway you have the Houston Astros breathing down your neck and you're still trotting out an offense that has the worst batting average in all of baseball unacceptable for that front office to be doing this but the Astros take care of business winning that series lose the game on Sunday to get back to a tie in the AOS yordon Alvarez rocking his shirt a yordon with the cycle on Sunday uh the Astros are clicking the Astros are clicking look for them to add at the deadline they're going to add a first baseman in my opinion they've said as much I think they need to add a rotation piece as well but this team is back to firing in all cylinders at number eight the Houston Astros the Astros are inevitable at number seven the Minnesota twins down one spot gets swept by the Brew Crew uh to start the second half of the year not a good look there really good team looking good in the AL Central but uh just a just a tough few games to start the second half so not a ton of games to go off of with these power rankings obviously came out with them on last Monday but it was the All-Star break so really only three games uh only a couple games for for the twins to start the second half uh New York Yankees at number six down two spots four and six in their last 10 offense really struggling really struggling uh Lis srino of the New York Mets was asked about uh not being able to pitch against the Yankees this year it just wasn't lining up for him and talked about a group chat that he that he's in with his old teammates over there with the Yankees and how they said oh you're scared to face us and his response was no I'm not you really only have two good hitters and take that in for a second I mean obviously with the injury to John Carlos Stanton and and the injuries they're dealing with the New York Yankees really do only have two good hitters right now Anthony vulpi on Monday hit his first home run for the Yanks since May 16th that's over two months over two months without a homer for Anthony vulpi Juan stto and Aaron judge are to be feared anywhere they go at all times really really good best one two punch in the game of baseball but other than that this Yankees lineup is not very scary right now and they have certainly been struggling so slid them down two spots to number six entering the top five to start the top five the Milwaukee Brewers up two spots swept the twins twins were playing good baseball big weekend series Brewers with a statement series Jackson cherio leading all rookies in War uh over the last couple of months so a slower start to the year for him but the young rookie Phenom who's barely in his 20s has really turned it around and been really good he is going to be a stud for the Brewers has has been huge for for them this year especially over the last couple months um so Brewers at number five starting the top five up two spots the Cleveland Guardians at number four down a spot uh just lost the Series to the Padres to start the second half um three and seven in their last 10 games the Guardians are really good um they're a good baseball team but they are struggling right now so I slid them down a spot because in number three jumping back up two spots finally starting to click and play much better baseball the Los Angeles Dodgers swept the Boston Red Sox to start the second half of the year a really good series for them Freddy Freeman raking sh Otani hitting an absolute tank over 470 feet almost out of Dodger Stadium all together uh I was out at Dodger Stadium a couple weeks ago doing a a thing for NHK which is a massive news station in in Japan and going around all the stadiums looking at all the plaques they have out there of everybody that hit the ball over B it's basically over that little overhang they have in the Outfield going over all those there's four people that have done it one twice um Willie starel and but while I was doing it I thought it will not be long until sh Otani hits a ball out of the stadium over the overhang and just an absolute tank on um on Sunday for sh Otani so the Dodgers are rolling up two spots great start to the second half for them very talented they do need help at the trade deadline a lot of the obviously a lot of teams need help at the trade deadline but the Dodgers really need help rotation wise a lot of question marks that they're dealing with a lot of injuries a lot of concerns a lot of hoping and fingers crossed that they get starters to come back um lineup depth issues they they could address a few things but they are a very good team they're back up into the top three after sliding out for a little while at number two the Baltimore Orioles staying put not playing great baseball right now um but but really everyone around them uh obviously the teams that were around them or that I believe could potentially have a better roster and be ahead of them Dodgers creeping back up on them they've really closed that Gap Yankees really playing poor baseball I believe the Orioles are better than the Guardians I believe the Orioles are better than the Brewers who who are both playing good baseball um so I kept the Orioles here at number two big believer in this team have them in the in the world series from the American League side have since day one of the season I still believe that to be the case very very very interested they are to me the most interesting team of what they do at the deadline why are they the most interesting because they have more pieces than you can possibly want in the minor leagues and it is time to cash in are they able to go get TK scoble I don't know I don't think the Tigers should trade them but that's the kind of move that they have the ability to make and that could win them a World Series is going to add a massive massive arm we going to add a massive Bullpen piece and a Mason Miller do they do that I I don't know but we'll see what they do to me they're the most interesting team at the trade deadline not playing their best baseball right now but kept them put at number two and the clear number one team in baseball to me my World Series winner the Philadelphia Phillies still playing good baseball best team in baseball all around um not a great start to not a great start to the second half of the year um but phenomenal baseball team all around Trey Turner has been fantastic for them this year finally got Bryce Harper back uh KY schwarber back rotations Elite this team Philadelphia Phillies is clearly in my opinion a good Gap right now from one to two the Philadelphia Phillies are clearly the best team in baseball I've had them win in the World Series since day one this is just a little bit of a Victory lap let me have it here for a second having the Phillies and Orioles at one and two when having the Phillies over the Orioles in the World Series but with that aside right now the clear best team in all of baseball and rounding out my top 10 at number one is the Philadelphia Phillies so I go Atlanta Braves at 10 Cardinals at nine Astros at 8 TNS Yankees Brewers rounding out or starting the top five at five guardians Dodgers at three Orioles at two and Phillies at the number one spot in these power rankings so now that I'm done with those I can talk about it for a second I I almost scooted scooted scat almost scat the almost scat the Braves out of the top 10 uh Red Sox are there Kansas City Royals for me were a big one Royals winning on a on a winning streak to start the second half half three in a row H hadn't played great baseball before that I really did go back and forth obviously with the Red Soxs uh getting getting swept to start the second half by the Dodgers that's one thing so that was a little bit they are they're good they were they were a discussion for me at number 10 the Royals were a tough one the Royals and the Braves to me are neck and neck I am still not out on this Atlanta Braves team if I'm being fully honest the offense won't underperform all year long all around if they can keep the pitching as good as it has been Matt Olson's going to turn it around um Shawn Murphy will get better Orlando Aria has to get better a 577 Ops is way under League average that has to get figured out Michael Harris the second do back in August that's going to be huge for them ozy Al's injury Ozuna so this offense has to turn it around I believe they will I'm a Believer in the Atlanta Braves I don't think I think their their division run in the NL East is they're not going to beat the the the Philadelphia Phillies and the NL East but I do think they can get into the playoffs I think they need some help so I kept the Braves for at least one more week at number 10 in my power rankings but fun show to start the week uh our guy John Smoltz is back from 33:50 OUTRO the Hall of Fame obviously um he'll be back on on Saturdays a little fun episode last week the All-Star Game special if you haven't listened to that go check out the All-Star Game special instead of doing Saturday with Smoltz we talked to Smoltz early in the week brought him in on the Thursday show talked everything about the allstar game and all about that and just a really fun episode so if you missed it go back and listen to it it's the episode before this one uh but this is a lot of fun baseball's back that Wednesday and Thursday after the allstar break it's truly just a nightmare that is not a lot of fun to wake up and see no baseball on the schedule but we're back Smoltz will be back on Saturday a lot to discuss this week uh appreciate you all for listening as always make sure you're subscribed and following wherever you listen to the podcast it really does help leave a comment or review as well that that really does help as well and it's always appreciated love you guys so much make sure you can watch everything on YouTube as well the fliping bats pod YouTube we on all social media as well so give us give us a follow there but really appreciate it and until Saturday with Smoltz my friends find your bat and flip it peace