WAKE and RAKE Podcast

What does each team need to make the playoffs? With one weekend remaining in the regular season, Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti detail potential playoff scenarios. The NL Wild Card and AL West division are still up for grabs. Plus, Ronald Acuña Jr.'s 40/70 season and strange happenings in Seattle.

(1:11) Middlebrooks gives Red Sox-Ohtani ... (5:35) Phillies woman ROASTED Middlebrooks as a rookie ... (9:17) Bryce Harper is living out Mike Trout's dream ... (13:38) Drama surrounding Acuña's 40/70 moment ... (20:15) Farewell to Terry Francona ... (24:47) NL Wild Card scenarios ... (28:02) AL West division up for grabs

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Which team has the best starting rotation heading into the 2023 MLB postseason? Danny Vietti and the crew discuss which starting rotation they would most like to have for the playoffs. Plus, could we see Major League Baseball implement a new pitch count restriction or minimum day off rule?

(2:55) Best starting rotation for the playoffs ... (12:24) Padres what-if in extra innings ... (13:43) Braves rotation hit by injury bug ... (19:11) Central division teams have the best rotations ... (20:12) Logan Webb is an absolute DAWG ... (29:07) Pitch restrictions on MLB pitchers? ... (37:10) Taylor Swift-Travis Kelce love story

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With Chaim Bloom out in Boston, Will Middlebrooks believes the Red Sox are preparing to make a run at Shohei Ohtani. Plus, the Oakland A's gifted Miguel Cabrera a $90 bottle of wine that is available at the local grocery store for his retirement. And, yeah, we went off the RAILS on this episode.

(1:01) Most expensive bottle of wine ... (8:17) Investigating Oakland's wine gift to Miggy ... (11:01) Will used a Rawlings rep for tee-ball gloves ... (14:57) Bottle of wine still not the worst gift Miggy has received ... (16:51) Did Chaim Bloom deserved to be fired? ... (23:12) Red Sox GM candidates ... (32:11) Red Sox in pursuit of Shohei Ohtani? ... (34:40) Padres following the 2007 Rockies blueprint ... (37:55) Looking ahead to playoffs

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The Rays released renderings for their new stadium and the A's are likely moving Las Vegas, which begs the question...which club now owns the WORST STADIUM in MLB? We discuss. We also try out a new podcast format with some new members joining the show. Plus, why did the Phillies congratulate the Braves on winning the division?

(0:45) Meet new members of the podcast ... (3:18) Reactions to Rays new stadium renderings ... (6:42) New worst stadium in MLB? ... (10:40) Which teams have botched new stadiums? ... (14:31) Phillies congratulate Braves on winning division ... (19:36) Could the Padres do the unthinkable? ... (27:28) Farm system rankings ... (29:39) Tom Verducci slams Giants' analytical approach ... (35:27) Yankees or Red Sox more disappointing? ... (38:23) Aaron Boone and Chaim Bloom to San Diego?

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Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti are BACK! MLB playoff races are coming down to the wire, we break those all down. Will is fired up about a certain Mariners pitcher for his postgame comments. And is it really possible to have too much late discipline? Plus, some new faces will be joining the podcast.

(2:38) Four teams battling for one NL Wild Card spot ... (8:46) Wait, Mariners pitcher George Kirby said WHAT?!? ... (14:41) Concern level with Rangers ... (17:18) Newfound respect for the Dodgers ... (24:04) Fear of failure in playoffs ... (27:11) Is it possible to have too much plate discipline? ... (36:31) Juan Soto will make more money if he does this

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Will Middlebrooks is BACK...and just in time for the 2023 MLB Trade Deadline! Will and Danny make some bold predictions and discuss some of the latest rumors and stirs around the league. Justin Verlander to Baltimore? Goldschmidt on the trading block?

(0:48) Will Middlebrooks returns ... (3:59) Max Scherzer trade to Texas an overpay? ... (8:50) Assessing Baltimore Orioles' pitchers ... (14:30) Seven contenders for NL Wild Card ... (22:31) Red Sox buying and selling? ... (27:51) Angels are going for it all ... (29:57) Bold predictions for deadline

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Not only are the Los Angeles Angels holding onto Shohei Ohtani, but now they are BUYERS! And they are already making moves, trading for Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez. They aren't done either. Danny Vietti discusses some of the under the radar trade candidates who could be moved before the MLB Trade Deadline.

(1:30) Lucas Giolito trade reaction and details ... (5:22) Standings update ... (8:20) Could Charlie Blackmon be a trade candidate? ... (14:42) Ji-Man Choi RAKES off of righties ... (21:40) Lefty specialist with a 30 percent strikeout rate ... (22:40) Could Patrick Corbin get moved? ... (30:42) Reds in similar position as last year's Orioles

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Shohei Ohtani to the AL East? Dodgers make a blockbuster trade? Paul Goldschmidt back? We take a crack at playing MLB TRADE MATCHMAKER: matching 20 trade deadline candidates with the absolute perfect destination, based on fit and need. Danny Vietti breaks it all down and is joined by his pops, Paul Vietti.

(0:42) Odds of Ohtani being traded? ... (7:37) Ohtani makes the most sense on this AL East contender ... (12:36) Will AJ Preller and the Padres buy or sell? ... (18:19) Dylan Cease to Southern California? ... (26:17) Cincinnati targeting Giolito? ... (33:41) More people should be discussing Paul Goldschmidt trade rumors ... (38:10) Phillies should look to add southpaw starter ... (45:13) CJ Cron's concerning home-away splits ... (47:45) What should Padres and Mets do?

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Mark Appel was labeled the "biggest draft bust in MLB history." After being selected No. 1 overall in the 2013 MLB Draft, Appel left baseball completely. Despite the odds, he made a comeback attempt a few years later and finally made his MLB debut nearly a decade after being drafted. He joins the show to share his unrivaled redemption story and tells us why his story is far from over.

(4:37) Mark Appel provides update after surgery ... (11:55) Power to inspire others ... (16:27) Appel's reason for his comeback ... (23:40) How a church friend prepared Appel for Phillies fan base ... (28:14) What if Appel did not get chosen No. 1 overall ... (34:53) Why Phillies re-signed him after leaving the game ... (46:13) Mark's worst fan interaction story

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Leaving Fernando Tatis Jr. off the All-Star roster is a crime against humanity. The numbers do not lie. Danny Vietti lists and details his BIGGEST SNUBS that were left off the 2023 MLB All-Star rosters. Plus, how did a legit Cy Young candidate get left off?

(5:38) Might be the BIGGEST SNUB OF ALL-TIME ... (10:56) They picked the wrong Red Sox player ... (15:05) Reds' rookie over Austin Riley? ... (17:46) NL All-Star pitching staff makes no sense ... (20:28) Cy Young candidate left off roster ... (23:50) Coin flip snubs ... (26:30) Vladdy Jr. is 57th in fWAR ... (27:54) HR Derby Participants

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