WAKE and RAKE Podcast

Yankees, Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Mariners are all battling for the American League Wild Card spots. Who will win those final two playoff spots? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti are joined by Royals starting shortstop Nicky Lopez to break it all down.

(3:09) AL Wild Card standings ... (3:21) Red Sox throwing away their playoff hopes ... (4:27) Better to play a team out of contention or in contention? ... (7:24) AL WC weekend pitching matchups ... (7:53) Will the Rays rest their starters versus the Yankees? ... (9:01) Devin Williams injury, impact on Brewers ... (10:33) Seattle Mariners a team of destiny? ... (12:16) One of the craziest stats of the season ... (14:30) Mariners pitching matchups ... (16:47) Best thing happened for Jared Kelenic ... (18:56) Blue Jays pitching matchups ... (20:15) Possible for none of the MVP candidates to be playoff-bound ... (21:09) Nicky Lopez joins the show ... (22:12) Minor league demotion to MLB Gold Glove? ... (28:13) Salvador Perez's secret formula ... (29:08) Why Salvador Perez deserves MVP consideration ... (30:15) Nicky Lopez, the most underrated defender in baseball? ... (39:24) Will we see dogs in the dugout? ... (40:28) Most underrated Royals player? ... (42:26) AL Wild Card predictions

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Guess who's back...back again! Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti make their return to discuss the playoff races, MVP debates, and the latest on the confrontation between Fernando Tatis and Manny Machado.

(4:39) Why the San Francisco Giants are a good story but limited ... (6:50) Dodgers are better suited for Wild Card Game ... (9:13) Does resting your starters actually hurt your team for the playoffs? ... (16:02) Seattle Mariners stat of the day ... (14:29) Blue Jays the most dangerous team in the AL? ... (26:00) Jenny Dell makes an appearance ... (30:30) Ryan Mountcastle deserves more attention ... (31:29) Tatis-Machado dugout confrontation ... (46:10) Dissecting the Padres issues ... (56:25) Fernando Tatis Jr. or Bryce Harper for NL MVP? ... (58:00) Why Vladdy Jr. shouldn't win the AL MVP award

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The July 31 MLB Trade Deadline is fast approaching. Who will be traded? Who will be buyers? Who will be sellers? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti discuss which players should be on the move and which teams should be calling for their services.

(1:09) Rowdy Roundup, Jacob deGrom injury ... (7:03) Hitting numbers improving, why? ... (10:07) Should the Yankees Buy or Sell? ... (12:38) Will's conflict with Phillies fan ... (16:31) Most important potential trade piece? ... (21:55) Which team should be the most aggressive? ... (22:31) Giants and Kris Bryant a match made in heaven ... (25:19) Trade Matchmaker/Top Trade Candidates ... (38:39) Don't be surprised by the Padres at the deadline ... (40:20) Should the Mariners go for it?

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The Chicago Cubs are now in sell-mode. What does that mean for Kris Bryant? Where is the best landing spot for the perennial All Star? How about Anthony Rizzo? Javy Baez? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti discuss it all, including a first half recap.

(3:03) Best landing spots for Kris Bryant ... (9:27) Bryant to California? ... (16:00) First half recap ... (16:20) Will's most disappointing team ... (20:34) Will's biggest surprise ... (24:36) Best ballpark to hit in ... (31:33) Not picking Shohei Ohtani to win the HR Derby? ... (34:39) First half MVPs ... (37:57) Trea Turner is "the most underrated player in baseball" ... (39:36) Bad for baseball for deGrom to skip All Star Game? ... (42:43) Danny and Will made a derby wager

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Happy Bobby Bonilla Day to all those who observe! Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti make their picks for who should start in the 2021 MLB All Star Game at Coors Field in Colorado. Who is the biggest snub so far? Who is over-voted? Plus, they detail the latest beef burger between Lucas Giolito and Josh Donaldson.

(3:22) Should fans be voting for All Star rosters? ... (4:35) Biggest All Star snubs so far ... (11:40) Josh Donaldson is now the most hated player in Chicago ... (15:00) Will's most hated pitcher, benches clear ... (22:15) Will says Yankees should trade Gary Sanchez ... (30:07) All Star starter selections. ... (45:05) Trea Turner makes MLB history

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Phillies manager Joe Girardi accused Nationals pitcher Max Scherzer of using sticky substances. Sergio Romo dropped his pants on the field. WHAT IS GOING ON IN BASEBALL? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti explain situation and predict how long it will last. They also go around the league, including a Padres series sweep over the Dodgers recap.

(0:45) Max Scherzer and Joe Girardi beef ... (4:23) Rob Manfred says the crackdown is going "very well" ... (7:31) Who is to blame? ... (13:36) Nick Castellanos' ultimate troll job ... (16:15) Dodgers-Padres series recap ... (21:03) Giants still best record in baseball ... (25:48) Wander Franco's debut ... (27:18) Will's must-hear stories about Yoenis Cespedes ... (31:35) David Ortiz' bat mobile ... (33:22) Who we most want to see in the HR Derby.

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Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow blames Major League Baseball's decision to crackdown on foreign substances for his UCL injury. Is it valid or is he just making an excuse? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti take the stand to debate the new sticky rules.

(2:37) Tyler Glasnow sounds off ... (5:51) Will's response to Glasnow ... (8:08) How grips might change based on new rules ... (10:30) Will goes off on Commissioner Rob Manfred ... (15:01) "The Commissioner is f----ing up baseball" ... (17:50) Will disagrees strongly with Danny saying the new rules could expose stars ... (25:22) Danny argues that MLB stars could be exposed

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Is it time for the New York Yankees to hit the panic button? Perhaps, yes. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti gauge the MLB Panic Meter for 4 different teams in limbo. Plus, they announce the ticket giveaway winner from the Twitter giveaway challenge. FREE TICKETS!

(4:14) Pete Alonso's (not-so) conspiracy theory ... (8:43) Explaining what a juiced ball is ... (14:08) Recent doreign substance crackdown impact on hitting ... (17:43) Aaron Boone roasts a reporter ... (22:03) What's the dumbest question a reporter asked Will? ... (23:41) Gerrit Cole goes blank ... (25:35) White Sox-Rays series preview ... (28:16) Yasmani Grandal's outrageous slash line ... (29:14) Trade rumors ... (29:20) Joey Gallo to the Padres? ... (34:39) Panic Meter ... (43:15) Time for the Twins to sell ... (46:49) Danny's Mommy of the Week ... (48:15) Giveaway winner announcement

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Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti detail why Gerrit Cole, Trevor Bauer, and others are all of a sudden seeing their spin rates decrease with Major League Baseball recently deciding to crack down on foreign substances. Also, they list 20 hitters who are on pace to make their first All Star team.

(2:22) Weidest substance Will saw anybody use ... (6:52) Gerrit Cole and Trevor Bauer see their spin rates decrease ... (11:18) Jacob deGrom's spin rate was already down ... (15:42) Danny's message to the Francisco Lindor haters ... (22:50) Red Sox sweep of Yankees not surprising ... (26:48) 20 hitters on track for first All Star selection ... (42:54) Our grand Rhys Hoskins sales pitch

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Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti field your questions in a Mailbag Q&A episode, including a lengthy discussion on how to fix the illegal substance issue circulating across Major League Baseball.

(2:25) Foreign substances for pitchers ... (6:07) How to fix the substance issue ... (10:27) Being on the IL during a brawl ... (11:37) Will's best Clay Buchholz story ... (17:55) How can MLB advertise their players better? ... (24:05) Thoughts on the extra-innings runner rule? ... (27:20) Cubs and Rays are rolling

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