D

Armchair GM Roundtable: Trade Deadline Edition

Back by popular demand, another mind-tingling edition of Armchair Roundtable and once again it’s huge.

Yesterday morning, I assembled Our Leader (Evan Grant), the Godfather (Jamey Newberg: The Newberg Report), and The Wonder Kid (Joey Matschulat, founder of Baseball Time in Arlington) in a chat room to kick around the Rangers options at the trade deadline.

Make the jump for an explosive edition of Armchair Roundtable where I think we manage to illustrate just how difficult the decisions will be for the Rangers as they engage in trade discussions this week.

Plus, we find out what kind of ice cream Jamey, Evan and Gerry Fraley favor.

Evan, of course, needs no introduction. He’s a BBWAA legend with ridiculous journalistic and clubhouse cred. Jamey doesn’t need one either, but here it is: he basically invented the independent, fan-based baseball blog — not just for the Rangers, or D/FWb but in all of sports — and has set the standard by which all other sports blogs have been measured ever since. His missives are followed closely not only by Rangers fans, but by executives and journalists throughout the great game from coast-to-coast.

And that brings us to Joey Matschulat, who is just about to graduate from UT-Tyler. Matschulat is a spectacular talent, both as a writer and as a baseball analyst. When I first came across Baseball Time in Arlington several years ago, I quickly realized that he was about to change the game. In my opinion, Joey is reinventing the role of baseball columnist in the new media age. I just hope that the people who are at the forefront of molding sports coverage in the new media age (and I’m looking at you Wick) recognize the need to cultivate talent like his.

I, of course, am a hyperbolic stooge for Rangers management according to internet reports. I am also that most loathesome of creatures, a trial lawyer. Feel free to hate me for either of those reasons, or any others you might come up with on your own.
____________________________________________

MJH: Let’s get it on…. Am I the only one for whom Saturday night killed the idea of going after Halladay…or Kazmir? Or are you guys thinking that the Rangers should go in for both a starter and a DH?

Evan Grant: Nope. Give me Halladay. And I’m content to take my chances. As is, this team is 9-11 in games started by guys who rank in the top 10 in ERA in both leagues. The offense may be not up to expectations, but still, they beat both Beckett and Halladay in a four-day span.

Jamey Newberg: I’m in for getting a controllable DH. On the starter, I’m in if it’s a tier two starter for tier two prospect(s).

Jamey Newberg: Just can’t believe Halladay would come here.

Joey Matschulat: Frankly, I’m not sure there’s ever been much of a chance of getting Halladay.

MJH: Agreed that he probably wouldn’t come here. But set that aside for the moment.

Evan Grant: Jamey, I reported earlier in the week in the live blog, that I’ve been told Halladay would not reject a trade here.

MJH: And are you in a position to elaborate on that story Evan?

Jamey Newberg: And I don’t want Kazmir for what it would take.

MJH: Jamey: Are you thinking that Kazmir is likely sliding towards a steep decline based on the last two seasons?

Jamey Newberg: I think the steep decline is already underway.

MJH: Me too. Not interested. There are a lot of signs that he’s about done.

Jamey Newberg: He’s useful but TB historically wants too much, and they will here for sure.

Joey Matschulat: I’m in for Halladay if “the price” is right, of course, but I’m not sure you’re going to find a right price … alluding to Jamey’s Mitch Moreland/Omar Poveda for Josh Willingham offer, that’s clearly something you do, but by all indications guys in the vein of Nick Johnson are going to require too much talent.

Jamey Newberg: Ok, setting aside the Halladay veto hammer, three weeks ago I proposed:

a. either Neftali Feliz and Mitch Moreland . . . or Justin Smoak (or Chris Davis) and Blake Beavan (or Tommy Hunter)
b. Taylor Teagarden
c. Wilmer Font or Wilfredo Boscan or Guillermo Moscoso or Omar Poveda
d. Engel Beltre or Mike Bianucci or Jose Vallejo or Joaquin Arias or Marcus Lemon

And we get Jason Frasor back.

I still do that deal (say, Feliz, Moreland, Teagarden, Font, and Beltre for Halladay and Frasor), but I don’t think it matches up with what Philly will eventually do.

Evan Grant: Rangers are going to have to go Smoak and Holland or Feliz plus. I do it.

MJH: Evan: what if they want Perez too?

Evan Grant: No, they can have two of the “untouchable” four. No more. And yes, I’m in. I’d prefer to do Feliz over Holland.

Jamey Newberg: Wait — Evan, it would take Smoak, plus Holland or Feliz, and more, and you’re in?

MJH: Before Saturday night’s debacle, I would have been OK with Feliz, Smoak and Poveda or Beavan. But not Perez, Smoak and Poveda or Beavan.

Jamey Newberg: Wow.

Evan Grant: My deal: Smoak, Feliz, Poveda/Boscan/Kiker/Ross and a low level position throw-in.

MJH: Joey: Earlier, you mentioned that you’d be interested in Halladay for the “right price.” Where do you draw the line?

Jamey Newberg: Yeah, Joey — give me some company on this.

Joey Matschulat: Holland, Teagarden/Saltalamacchia, Boscan/Poveda and Moreland is probably where I draw the line. As I’ve written before, I think it takes substantially more (Smoak/Holland/Teagarden/Font) to get a deal done. This team has major holes and while Halladay would be an immense shot in the arm, I don’t think he gives you assurances of getting over the top.

Evan Grant: He is an ace. I repeat he is a bonafide ace. He changes everything. And let’s not forget that if the Angels get him – and they are serious – then you are looking at having long-shot chances in 2010, too.

Jamey Newberg: Aree with that. But I don’t give up Feliz, Smoak, Holland, Perez, Font, Ross, Mike Maddux, and the Sonic Girl just to get him. Even if he’s a bonafide ace. And even if LAAA is in on him.

Evan Grant: Whoa. I’m talking about four players. Feliz and Smoak plus one of the pitchers from the slash group and a lower-level player. It’s what it will take.

Evan Grant: Jamey, is Feliz GOING to be an ace?

Jamey Newberg: No. And therefore, I would trade him in a package for Doc.

MJH: Is Justin Smoak Mark Teixeira or Lyle Overbay?

Jamey Newberg: Closer to the former, by a lot.

Evan Grant: He might be Tex.

MJH: Wrong. Trip Somers and I already figured it out. He’s closer to Overbay.

Evan Grant: But I still believe Chris Davis is going to be fine. And if Chris Davis is fine and you give up a good player to get a great pitcher, is that not worth it, especially if you don’t necessarily hurt yourself that much at 1B?

Jamey Newberg: That’s the Adrian Gonzalez mindset, Evan. Trade one of them, fine. But do it like Boston is doing with Buchholz.

MJH: No Jamey. It’s not like Adrian: Adam Eaton is not Roy Halladay.

Jamey Newberg: Crud. You’re right.

Evan Grant: Exactly, MJH.

Jamey Newberg: How many times have we seen that Buchholz is untouchable? . . . . until Victor became available.

MJH: I would have been fine with trading John Danks for Josh Beckett. But not Brandon McCarthy. You don’t see many guys in the Beckett / Halladay stratosphere become available. When it happens, you gotta make your best effort to get it done.

Jamey Newberg: That’s where I am, too, Mike.

Jamey Newberg: But we’re not talking about Danks. We’re talking about Danks plus Smoak.

Evan Grant: If the Rangers get Halladay, they have a much better shot at winning in 2009. And they become, in my mind, the favorites for 2010. OK, guy’s lets simplify here. What is the single most important aspect a contending team could have. And the hardest to find?

MJH: Do any of you see another starter potentially available who you think would be worth the trouble?

Jamey Newberg: Mike, what’s your top offer?

MJH: Feliz, Smoak and either Beavan or Poveda; or Feliz, Teagarden, Poveda / Beavan and a real fringy guy with upside. Somebody down low in the system. Toronto has been patching it together at catcher with Zaunie and Rod Barajas. They might want a young catcher in the deal.

Jamey Newberg: OK, that looks like my deal, though I added Moreland and was getting Frasor back.

Evan Grant: Mike, not including Smoak doesn’t get it done, unless you go with both Feliz and Holland. Doesn’t Toronto have Arrencibia on the way?

Jamey Newberg: Yes. Similar to Teagarden.

MJH: My alternative was in the event that Toronto wanted a catcher in the deal. If they don’t, then they don’t and Smoak would go along with Feliz. This would all be a little easier if Matt Harrison and Michael Main were healthy and pitching up to capabilities. It wouldn’t make it seem like these deals would deplete the system quite so much.

Jamey Newberg: Do you both agree that if we ever put Feliz and Smoak on the table, this would already be done and we’d be asking whether Doc would agree?

MJH: The stories say they asked for four and Texas countered with two. My guess is that Feliz & Smoak have already been offered.

Evan Grant: I think Rangers would certainly be as much in the mix as Philadelphia.

Joey Matschulat: All three of us agree on that, Jamey. Mike, referring back to something you stated earlier, did Saturday night’s game really alter our perceptions of this team that greatly where we might be disinclined to pursue playoff-bolstering players via trade? Is it that it was the freakin’ Royals that embarrassed them that makes it stand out above the rest?

MJH: No, it was that Luke Hochevar so thoroughly illustrated that you don’t even have to throw strikes to get ahead of the Rangers. Overreaction in disgust, but it’s hard to fathom how a lineup with that mentality can win regardless of the pitching.

Evan Grant: By the way, Hamilton is sitting today [Sunday]. The offense is a concern, granted, but let’s not forget they beat BECKETT AND GREINKE in the four days prior.

MJH: I know… Those guys throw strikes. Which is evidently the wrong approach to pitching to the Rangers.

Jamey Newberg: Which just proves that the talent is all there. The approach is brutal.

Jamey Newberg: Against Saunders/Weaver/Kazmir/Price earlier this month, this lineup hit .307/.389/.606.

MJH: Is there another starter out there you think you’d like to take a flyer on? Doug Davis perhaps? If just to take the heat off of Holland.

Jamey Newberg: I’d take Correia over Davis.

MJH: Joey? Correia, Davis, Carl Pavano…Cliff Lee?

Joey Matschulat: I know you’re not on the same page with me on Cliff Lee, Mike, but he greatly intrigues me. Ground ball pitcher whose value isn’t wholly tied into his velocity (90-91 mph) and whom I think would come cheaper than Halladay by a decent bit (assuming you think it takes two of Feliz/Smoak/Holland/Perez to swing a Halladay deal, when it might only take one of the three to swing a Lee deal), not to mention the more palatable financials.

Evan Grant: There is not another starter out there that I would give up one of the Big Four for. Offer a minor league prospect straight up for Davis, and I’d be happy. Doug can pitch in this park.

Jamey Newberg: FWIW, Evan, I don’t give up one of the big four, either.

MJH: Poveda and Moreland ought to be enough for Davis. Would ya?

Evan Grant: Yes. But only if Halladay deal doesn’t happen.

Jamey Newberg: That’s the same pair I proposed for Willingham; I’d take Willingham before Correia, but sure.

Evan Grant: My problem with Cliff Lee, Joey, is that bad outing on Opening Day. I know it was a long-time ago, but it does raise some red flags here.

Jamey Newberg: Cliff scares me.

MJH: I just can’t go Big-4 for Cliff Lee. Halladay is a special case. He’s all-time.

Jamey Newberg: Same here. BTW: on the Lee/RBIA subject…and Davis being able to pitch here…..Correia on 6-27: 7-5-3-3-1-9

MJH: OK. Let’s address the DH position. There are plenty of DH’s on the market. How does Texas NOT get one?

Jamey Newberg: Who’s with me on Willingham as the guy? Inexpensive, OBP guy, kills lefties, controllable (and tradeable) through 2010.

MJH: I think he’d be a nice addition. Price?

Evan Grant: And what are the Rangers giving up for him?

Jamey Newberg: I suggested Poveda/Moreland but trust that won’t be enough

Joey Matschulat: Willingham is actually controllable through 2011 as far as I can tell, Jamey (citing Cot’s)…I think he goes a respectable way towards helping address this offense’s BB/K inefficiency, but he’s not going to be inexpensive much longer and I don’t know how much that impacts the front office’s thinking.

MJH: Cheaper than Dunn or Johnson both in dollars and in prospects, I would guess. And arguably a better fit for this lineup.

Jamey Newberg: yep

MJH: Poveda and Boscan?

Jamey Newberg: Done.

Jamey Newberg: And probably still not enough.

Evan Grant: But now you are getting into Feliz, Smoak, Poveda, Boscan Moreland and another prospect. Now you are dipping into the farm system’s strength.

Evan Grant: I do not take my eyes off Halladay until told no.

Joey Matschulat: By the way, regarding the Rangers’ 2009 offensive BB/K ratio — it currently sits at 0.37, the worst mark in the AL and the second-worst mark in baseball (Giants are at 0.30 as a team, which is almost unfathomable). Of the 79 major league teams that have scored 800 runs in a season since the 2000 season, only two have done so with team BB/K ratios lower than 0.44. Willingham helps, but something is going to have to change on a larger scale with this offense.

Jamey Newberg: Even if he’s a Blue Jay at this time of day on the 31st?

Evan Grant: I am going to have to be out of Halladay altogether before I move on to something else.

Evan Grant: He’s THAT good. That important. And I don’t divert prospects from that deal.

MJH: Not to worry Jamey. The Pimp says that he’s pulling Roy off the market on the 28th, right?

Jamey Newberg: Real chance we leave something useful on the table in that case, and don’t get Doc.

Evan Grant: Yes Mike.

Jamey Newberg: MJH, J.P. said that “deadline” is soft

Jamey Newberg: Losing Poveda and Boscan for Willingham wouldn’t kill a Doc deal.

MJH: I was joking. How that — or his bit about not allowing a window to discuss an extension — helps him, I don’t understand.

Evan Grant: Useful isn’t good enough. Useful, to me, is Baines. Need a game changer. Halladay = Game changer.

MJH: Jamey’s right. There are replacement parts for either of those guys.

Jamey Newberg: Evan, who is saying Willingham at the expense of Doc?

Evan Grant: That’s just me.

MJH: But Evan, if you ARE going to do that, don’t you also want to make the most of the decision to go for it? Don’t they also owe it to themselves to give the lineup a shot in the arm?

Jamey Newberg: You think Poveda, Moreland, and Boscan are names we have to hoard until we know TOR isn’t dealing?

MJH: By the way: Who would have thought that a pitcher jusst might reject a trade here because he thinks that he won’t get enough run support?

Evan Grant: Good points, but I just don’t want to give away TOO much.

Jamey Newberg: Imagine Doc stepping into the clubhouse and speaking for 30 seconds on how pitchers gameplan our offense.

MJH: You make a Roy Halladay deal to create a two-year window. You don’t mess with the window by pussyfooting it.

Joey Matschulat: Go big or don’t go at all.

Evan Grant: OK. I’ll concede that. If you think you can make both deals without crippling the system, then do it. But I’m not making this deal to create a two-year window. I’m making it to open a long-term window earlier than expected. I certainly do not want to give up the farm entirely.

Jamey Newberg: Which is why I don’t give up two of the Big Four, even if “I have to.”

MJH: Evan: With Padilla, Blalock, Byrd, Cat, Benoit, Vizquel and Eddie coming off the payroll next year, won’t the payroll be down about $8 million even with salary increases to Michael Young, Kinsler and Hamilton coming?

Evan Grant: Mike, I think your math is about right. But you haven’t factored in raises for Frankie and C.J.

Evan Grant: But, Jamey, you are talking circles. Either you make Halladay and Willingham or you don’t make either. So which is it?

Jamey Newberg: I think the circular talk is contagious. You don’t want to “give up the farm entirely” but will do whatever it takes to get Doc. I make the Willingham deal whether I can get Doc or not.

MJH: Here we go…. Duck Joey!

Joey Matschulat: *ducks*

Jamey Newberg: I trade one of the Big Four for Doc, plus plenty else, but not two of them.

Jamey Newberg: How about that Robbie Ross? Best second-round pick we’ve made in years!

Evan Grant: Why, Jamey? Why go add a DH piece if you can get Halladay? Isn’t that Baines?

Jamey Newberg: Willingham is not Baines because he won’t cost what Baines cost. Not close. Baines cost us Martin Perez and a hitter.

Evan Grant: How DO YOU KNOW what Poveda or Perez is going to be? How did they know what Wilson Alvarez was going to be?

Jamey Newberg: Ask Tom Grieve that Q when you see him today. He has said repeatedly (and recently) that Sosa wasn’t the mistake. Alvarez was. And they knew it right away.

MJH: Please don’t mention Martin Perez and Wilson Alvarez in the same sentence again. I’ll throw you out of the room, head first. Them’s the house rules.

Jamey Newberg: Joey, I’m now ducking with ya.

MJH: Let’s attempt to steer this towards a less controversial area. Money.

Evan Grant: OK. Who wants to give me some?

MJH: Wick Allison

MJH: Going back to my previous question to Evan, the point I’m tying to make is that they really do have about 25-30% of the current payroll coming off next year.

Evan Grant: What about $$$. The Rangers don’t have any. They could get all the way tothe point of having a deal done and still not be able to complete it.

MJH: Are you saying we’re looking at a $35 million payroll next year? With $16 million going to Michael Young, $11 going to Millwood and $5 million going to Kinsler?

Evan Grant: I’d say the savings is about $5-7 million. But with new owners – or, god forbid MLB – running the team, it might go to $35-40 million. Michael will only make $11 next year.

MJH: I’ve done some math in my head — which is dangerous — but it seems like they could add Halladay and still have a lower payroll on opening day next year than the payroll on opening day this year. $30 million comes off: Padilla (-$12 million), Blalock (-$6.5 million), Byrd (-$3.5 million), Benoit (-$3.5 million), Cat (-$2 million), Omar (-$1 million), Eddie (-$1 million), Andruw ($1 million).

Joey Matschulat: And regarding the completion of a deal, Evan, how much would it take to convince Halladay to waive his NTC if he demands enticements to come here? $1M? $2M? More? That stretches things even further with respect to 2009.

MJH: OK. So we’ve wasted an hour on an impossibility.

Evan Grant: Hamilton will jump above $2 million, C.J. probably above $3, Frankie same. Salty could be a Super Two.

MJH: So now let’s address this from the point of view that a Halladay deal can’t happen because of money and / or he won’t agree to come here. Whatever the reason, he’s off the table. Now what do you do? Do you try to add Correia or Davis and Willingham? Or is that just pissing in the wind?

Evan Grant: Well, if Willingham is controllable and won’t cost you an arm and a leg and it’s getting a leg up on fixing the offense for next year, I’m getting less and less opposed to it.

MJH: OK: let’s say that they can have both Davis or Correia and Willingham, and they lose Blake Beavan, Omar Poveda, Doug Mathis, Mitch Moreland and Wilfredo Boscan in the process. Who’s in for that?

Jamey Newberg: Me, but I don’t think the Correia half costs as much as that would suggest.

Evan Grant: I think I pass. Four pitching prospects. I suspect two of them will be servicable big leaguers.

Joey Matschulat: I’m in.

Jamey Newberg: Profling: Evan wants the big splash but not the smaller improvements. Joey and I are comfortable with the latter.

Evan Grant: I think smaller improvements don’t get it done and certainly don’t make you a force to be reckoned with in the playoffs.

MJH: I don’t think that the smaller improvements are enough to get it done this year and so why bother?

Jamey Newberg: Correia and Willingham are not just about ‘09.

Evan Grant: I really don’t have much interest in Correia.

Jamey Newberg: And again, I’m not against going after Doc as well. Just not for Two of the Guys.

Jamey Newberg: Evan, why aren’t you interested in Correia?

MJH: Willingham is a DH only here. So next spring, you have Willingham, Davis, Smoak, Max Ramirez and Moreland coming right behind them.

Jamey Newberg: Willingham, if his 400 OBP ever becomes extraneous, will be tradeable at his contract level.

Joey Matschulat: Well, I’ve said “go big or don’t go at all” numerous times … I’m more interested in Willingham than Correia or Davis, personally. You want to add guys who excel in some aspect of the game if you’re going to pull the trigger.

Jamey Newberg: Correia: seven QS’s in his last 10 starts

Evan Grant: Correia has a 4.84 ERA this year, pitching in a pitchers park. IHe has a 4.80 ERA as a starter for his career. Seven starts don’t sell me on a guy, especially one who allowed eight runs in 3.1 innings the last time out.

Jamey Newberg: Yeah, it was 4.34 before the last start.

Evan Grant: 4.34 in the most extreme pitchers’ park in the majors? No thanks.

MJH: I’ll take a Doug Davis rental before Correia. Plus, I’m not sure I want JD talking to Kevin Towers anymore. It didn’t go so well for Texas the last time they did.

Jamey Newberg: Yeah, ignore me. I was seduced by the game Correia threw in our pitchers’ park. Like Oliver Perez once upon a time.

MJH: Has Chris Davis restored trade value this month?

Joey Matschulat: No.

MJH: Or is he now been stamped with “swing too long” to the extent he’ll never be sought after?

Jamey Newberg: I bet he’s drawing plenty of trade interest. But for 30 cents on the dollar.

Joey Matschulat: Selling on Davis now would be the epitome of selling low. I’m not completely averse to the idea of trading him at some point down the line if the deal is right (then again, who is?), but it would be very silly to do so now.

Evan Grant: Even if Davis ends up being a .250 hitter, he’ll have big power and he’s a Gold Glove first baseman. Has anybody in majors played better D than him this year?

Joey Matschulat: Wait, Evan, better defense at any position or just at first base?

Evan Grant: At first.

Jamey Newberg: I would trade for Davis if I were any one of 20 other clubs.

Jamey Newberg: Chris, that is.

MJH: But Texas can’t even think about trading Davis right now. There’s a pretty sizable chance that he’s right back to being one of the most productive young power hitters in baseball within nine months.

Evan Grant: Yeah. I was seduced by that Ollie Perez game, too. What’s he done? Inconsistent at best. Awful most of the time.

Jamey Newberg: That’s my point, Evan. Forget what I said about Correia.

Evan Grant: But I was agreeing with you about being seduced. It happens. I’m kinda off Lee based on one start, too.

Jamey Newberg: MJH, agree: In a different kind of way, CD almost has to be untouchable right now.

MJH: OK, lighting round. Sorry to all of you Kevin Correia fans out there.

MJH: Each of you name one guy you think would be worth the trouble but who we haven’t talked about already. And what you’d be willing to give up to get him.

Evan Grant: I might give up three of the Big Three in a deal for Haren.

Jamey Newberg: Haren has to be untouchable, no?

Evan Grant: I’m only looking big, big, big.

Evan Grant: Certainly, you would think Haren is untouchable, but if you started with Smoak, Holland and Perez, might you draw the D’backs interest.

Jamey Newberg: Not mine.

Joey Matschulat: If you’re gunning for a legitimate difference-maker…well, is there really anyone else who could conceivably be available that fits that definition? Oswalt has that star quality, I guess, but McLane’s not dealing him to an intrastate rival.

Jamey Newberg: I’d have interest in Takashi Saito. But Hank doesn’t get that done now.

Evan Grant: Saito? Why does this team need relief help?

Jamey Newberg: I think we’d be much better off if every RH’r behind Frankie were moved down one slot.

Evan Grant: I remind on Haren: Legitimate ace. Signed long term. Only 29.

Jamey Newberg: Love Haren. Love, love, love that guy. Not giving up those three.

Jamey Newberg: MJH, who’s your guy?

MJH: Sheff. He’d be practially free and he’s producing this year. And I’m thinking the Mets would be willing to take a flyer on one of the Rangers lower level Latin American guys with upside.

Evan Grant: Who for Sheff?

MJH: If the Rangers could get Doug Davis for Omar Poveda and Sheff for Carlos Pimentel, I wouldn’t mind.

Jamey Newberg: Evan, I’m all for being aggressive in July. We owe it to Michael and Milly and Marlon and everyone else. I want to see something done. But that’s too much for Haren, in my worthless opinion.

MJH: I could do Doug Davis and Sheffield rentals for next to nothing in terms of prospects.

Evan Grant: Jamey: That “we owe it. …” sentence sounded a lot like JFE and we don’t want you to go there.

Jamey Newberg: haha. I’m sure Gerry Fraley likes cookies’n'cream ice cream just like I do, but so be it.

Evan Grant: Fraley is a mint chocolate chip guy, like me.

Jamey Newberg: as am I — but that doesn’t mean I subscribe to Fraley’s point of view on things

Evan Grant: I’d do Sheff for Poveda and Davis for Boscan or the other way around. Or I’d be happy to substitute Willie Mosconi, er, Moscoso.

Joey Matschulat: Hated, hated, HATED the idea of going after Sheffield this winter, but that was at the $14M price tag. That certainly has worked out for NYM. I could buy into that, but I think it takes more than Melo.

Jamey Newberg: one thing Sheff would bring is some of that lineup swagger that has disappeared

Joey Matschulat: And the ability to not swing at pitches two feet outside.

MJH (12:24:38 PM): OK, my kids are throwing huge fits because they need lunch. I gotta check out. You guys feel free to carry on if you want.

Evan Grant: Sheff and I go way back. …. I’m gonna run, too. You dudes rock.

Jamey Newberg: Later.

Joey Matschulat: Same. My body isn’t accustomed to waking up before 11 a.m. on Sunday and I might go into shock soon if I don’t eat something. Great stuff, gentlemen, let’s do it again soon.

Jamey Newberg: Off to go dust off my Ollie Perez Padres jersey.

MJH: Thanks for the time boys. We’re clocking out after ninety-nine minutes, and at least seventy of them were pure gold.