WAKE and RAKE Podcast

Time to overreact? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti discuss their biggest takeaways from the first couple weeks of the season. Plus, we have updated pitch clock data on game times, offensive production, and attendance.

(3:27) How important is a hot start? ... (6:41) Red Sox are still a "fun team" ... (11:02) Anthony Rendon suspension ... (15:08) Scoring and home runs are up, game times down ... (22:11) Rays are dismantling teams ... (28:10) Concern with Francisco Lindor's swing? ... (30:45) Minor league team throws no-hitter, loses 7-5 ... (34:11) Brewers at the top of the NL Central ... (36:26) Oli Marmol's public benching of Tyler O'Neill was "trash" ... (42:01) Confusion with certain pitch clock language

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Happy Opening Day to all that celebrate! We wrap up our divisional previews with the AL West and NL West with special guest Jessica Kleinschmidt. Hear why the Padres are, unarguably, a better team on paper than any team in the NL West and possibly the entire National League. Also, will the Los Angeles Angels finally break the longest playoff drought in baseball? We say yes!

(4:52) Sergio Romo's master of craft legacy ... (8:36) Astros have the highest win total line ... (12:25) This AL West team had a sneaky good offseason ... (17:00) Rangers spent money, but is it enough? ... (22:38) Most important season in Angels franchise history? ... (27:38) Are the Oakland A's the worst team in baseball? ... (33:51) Dodgers lost nearly 10 starters ... (36:50) Padres poised to win 100 games? ... (42:50) Giants are sneaky and creative ... (49:02) D-Backs are under-appreciated ... (52:54) Rockies win total is the best bet in the division ... (55:33) Real or fictional player?

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The St. Louis Cardinals are built to be a World Series contender, but can a dark horse team in the division make some noise? AL Central will be a three-team fight to the finish line and could feature some AL Pennant contenders.

(1:58) Media attention in central ... (6:36) Guardians are the hottest ticket to win AL Pennant ... (10:10) Why the Twins are a sleepy AL Pennant contender ... (16:25) This team could win the division or finish in last place ... (21:27) Will likes the over for the Tigers ... (26:25) Royals had a surprisingly good home record last year ... (29:36) Cardinals win total is a steal ... (32:10) Cardinals the best franchise in MLB? ... (33:50) Brewers are in a bad place ... (38:18) Will likes the Cubs as playoff contenders ... (42:12) Pirates have a surprisingly sneaky lineup ... (44:24) Glass is half full for Reds fans

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Will the Atlanta Braves repeat as champs or could Steve Cohen and his super piggy bank finally get the Mets over the hump? And don't forget about the reigning NL Champion Phillies. The NL East division is absolutely STACKED. Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti detail everything you need to know before Opening Day. Plus, we draw named to see who will be players in the first ever WAR Fantasy Baseball League.

(3:07) Braves even better than last year? ... (6:42) Mets bullpen trade options ... (12:01) Edwin Diaz injury impact on win total ... (21:44) Bryce Harper could be back in May ... (23:45) Phillies the best over/under bet ... (25:49) Could the Marlins sneak into the playoffs? ... (29:36) Zero chance the Nationals win 60 games ... (33:26) Fantasy Baseball League Name Drawing

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World Baseball Classic is officially over and Opening Day is next week! Who will be the Yankees starting shortstop? Why do Sportsbooks think the Orioles' success last season was a fluke? Is Toronto the team to beat? Will Middlebooks and Danny Vietti pick their over/unders on the win totals in the AL East. Plus, they discuss their favorite moments from the World Baseball Classic.

(4:31) Favorite World Baseball Classic ratings ... (9:31) Injuries in the WBC ... (15:20) Why Shohei Ohtani is the best player of this era ... (18:58) Yankees preview, win total ... (23:37) Blue Jays the team to beat in division? ... (29:10) Rays preview, win total ... (33:22) Red Sox win total is "laughable" ... (41:15) Why Sportsbooks do not believe in the Orioles

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10 BREAKOUT PLAYER candidates for the 2023 MLB season, including Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Carroll. Will Middlebrooks gives us an update live from Red Sox camp in Fort Myers, Florida. Plus, we detail the best moments so far in the World Baseball Classic.

(1:02) HUGE WAKE AND RAKE PODCAST NEWS ... (5:20) Update from Red Sox camp ... (10:06) Alex Cora's comments on the pitch clock ... (13:50) Will's conversation with Kike Hernandez about the shift ... (16:57) World Baseball Classic recap ... (19:35) Lars Nootbaar's pregame speech for Team Japan ... (22:50) Marlins sign two MLB infielders ... (26:29) Astros starter ready to breakout ... (35:45) Pirates player not named Oneil Cruz could be a star ... (42:36) Honorable mention breakout players ... (44:08) Most famous person in Will's contacts

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PITCH CLOCK! AHH! IT'S CHAOS! But, what does the data tell us? Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti comb through the data from the first weekend from Spring Training. Game times are down, stolen bases are up, and scoring is down. Plus, the Padres keep spending money with the Manny Machado extension. And should why are we worried about Shohei Ohtani?

(3:18) Initial reactions to pitch clock ... (9:38) Red Sox-Braves game ends on pitch clock violation ... (10:42) Will wants to amend the 8-second hitter rule ... (16:05) Should we be worried about Shohei Ohtani's tempo? ... (19:40) Early MVP predictions ... (21:47) Manny Machado extension ... (26:29) First weekend without the shift ... (30:22) Data from first weekend of new rules ... (35:40) World Baseball Classic preview ... (39:54) Sox players take exception to Triston Casas' napping shirtless

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Things are already getting spicy in Spring Training: Corbin Burnes slams his own front office, we have an update on the new MLB rules for 2023, and a new PitchCom system is being utilized. Plus, Will and Danny discuss 5 sneaky teams that could come out of nowhere and make some noise this season. Oh, yeah and...WE ARE GIVING AWAY FREE MLB TICKETS!

(1:08) Update from Red Sox camp ... (7:34) More new rule updates for 2023 ... (17:37) Brewers messed up big time with Corbin Burnes ... (24:34) Yankees rotation issues? ...(27:45) Look out for this sneaky AL West club ... (38:02) D-Backs a sneaky wild card contender? ... (41:30) Why the Marlins could make some noise this year ... (50:00) Will's favorite Spring Training memories ... (57:14) FREE MLB TICKET GIVEAWAY

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Will Middlebrooks and Danny Vietti discuss their list of most underrated players in Major League Baseball heading into the 2023 season. Plus, did they get it right putting Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the cover of MLB the Show 23?

(4:25) Jazz Chisholm named cover of MLB the Show 23 ... (9:48) MLB players from the Bahamas ... (15:25) Most underrated MLB players ... (21:43) Is Logan Webb underrated or overrated? ... (29:35) Orioles have one of the most underrated sluggers ... (36:05) Fan responses for most underrated players

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With the new rules being implemented, Major League Baseball is expected to to look a whole lot different. Also, could automatic strike zones and robot umpires be next? The minor leagues will have automatic strike zones in 2023. Will and Danny detail all of the new rules for 2023, including the banning of the shift, the pitch clock, and more.

(0:45) Minor leagues adopting automatic strike zones ... (5:41) Carlos Correa's press conference takeaways ... (11:44) Padres add another former All-Star hitter ... (18:19) Trevor Story expected to miss multiple months after having surgery ... (23:32) Free agent shortstops remaining on the market ... (28:55) Rule changes for 2023 season ... (33:08) Pitch clock rule impact ... (39:24) Players who faced the shift the most ... (42:38) Why Shohei Ohtani could be impacted the most by new rules

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