The Stokke On Podcast returns after a too-long hiatus and introduces new co-host Chris Schubert, who is the host of FanRag Sports Radio in Phoenix.
The opening take is on the Houston Astros and their relative inactivity around the trade deadline. They acquired starter-now-reliever Francisco Liriano from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Nori Aoki and Teoscar Hernandez. They didn't get a starter pitcher. They didn't get a bigger name in the bullpen. Should they have?
The conversation breaks into a bit of a comparison of the Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers in terms of championship windows and where each team stands.
Speaking of the Dodgers, they made a big move in acquiring starting pitcher Yu Darvish from the Texas Rangers. What does this mean for Los Angeles moving forward? No, they aren't guaranteed a title. But how do they stack up against the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals in the National League?
Those are the three top dogs in the NL, but are the Arizona Diamondbacks or Colorado Rockies built to challenge them in the postseason? Get ready for the D-backs to be everyone's "surprise" team.
In the American League, the New York Yankees traded for Sonny Gray, while everyone else stood pat for the most part. Did the Red Sox make a mistake by not acquiring a starting pitcher or was trading for Addison Reed enough? What about the Cleveland Indians? They acquired Joe Smith, but did they need to make a move to bring in a starting pitcher, such as Darvish?
The show wraps up with rapid fire on teams that stood mostly pat, not buying or selling: Atlanta Braves, Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals.