Flippin' Bats with Ben Verlander

ONE. WEEK. LEFT. 6 teams are in the playoffs and 6 teams still to go.

We talk through ALL the MLB Playoff Race scenarios as we enter the last week of the regular season.

Are the Houston Astros STILL Inevitable? We discuss their rollercoaster of a season

And one final MLB Regular Season Power Rankings!

What do you think? Who wins the AL West? Astros or Rangers?

#FlippinBats #MLB #astros #powerrankings

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:41 Roadtrip Update
2:56 MLB Playoff Races
4:10 American League Playoff Update
6:03 National League Playoff Update
9:00 Are the Astros Still Inevitable?
12:08 MLB Power Rankings
21:16 Outro
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John Smoltz joins the show to explain the change he’d make to the MLB playoff format and why he thinks it could make October even better.

We also debate whether pitchers should be able to win MVP, how much postseason experience really matters down the stretch, and what the Brewers and Rays clinching playoff spots says about the big-market vs. small-market debate in baseball.

Plus, Smoltz breaks down what separates teams when the pressure ramps up and the postseason gets closer.

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:28 Smoltz joins
3:24 How Does Experience Help?
5:38 Should Pitchers Win MVP?
8:53 Rays/Brewers First Teams in Playoffs
12:36 How to Change Playoff Format
17:47 Outro
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Aaron Judge says pitchers shouldn’t be able to win MVP because they already have the Cy Young Award. I completely disagree. We break down why pitchers absolutely should remain eligible for MVP and why the argument against them doesn’t make sense.

Plus, the playoff races are getting wild with the Astros fighting to hold onto the AL West, the AL Wild Card coming down to the wire, and the Padres surging at the perfect time. We also reveal a new MLB Power Rankings as October gets closer.

Should pitchers be allowed to win MVP?

Timestamps:
0:00 Intro
1:45 Around the League Playoff Updates
6:49 Aaron Judge's MVP/Cy Young Comment
11:42 New Power Rankings
21:11 Moving Back East
24:10 Outro
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John Smoltz joins the show to reflect on the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and one of the most unforgettable nights in baseball history.

Smoltz shares what it was like being on the field at Shea Stadium when Mike Piazza hit his iconic home run, why the night felt so special, and why that moment seemed like it was meant to happen.

Plus, Smoltz weighs in on MLB expanding, what cities he thinks will get an MLB team, and Shohei Ohtani being done pitching this season and whether he still believes Ohtani should continue as a two-way player moving forward.

What do you remember most about Piazza’s home run after 9/11?

Timestamps:

0:00 Intro

1:37 John Smoltz Joins

2:41 MLB Expansion

8:53 Is Shohei Done As 2-Way Player?

13:13 John Smoltz Remembers 9/11

18:47 Outro

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Shohei Ohtani is officially heading to the IL and is done pitching for the rest of the season. But does this mean we should start questioning his future as a two-way player?

We break down the latest on Ohtani’s injuries, Dave Roberts admitting the Dodgers should have put him on the IL sooner, and why the conversation about Shohei giving up pitching needs to stop.

Do you expect Shohei Ohtani to return as a two-way player next season?

Timestamps:

0:00 Shohei Ohtani Hits the IL

3:17 Will Shohei Pitch Again?

7:19 Smoltz talks 9/11

8:18 Outro
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