The Underdog

Episode 431: Real Football, MLB Trade Deadline, and More

This week on The Underdog:

[01:09–05:39] Hall of Fame Game & Low Expectations
Chris and Matt open the show discussing the Hall of Fame game between the Chargers and Lions. With no starters expected, both are unenthused. Oddsmakers have the Lions favored by two, with a very low over-under of 34.

[05:40–09:08] Canton Visit & Ohio Memories
The hosts talk about the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton. Chris recalls visiting with family and praises Cleveland for its cultural spots and state parks. Matt prefers states like South Carolina and Arizona for their activities.

[09:09–11:42] MLB Trade Deadline Deals
They shift to the MLB trade deadline, highlighting moves like Shane Bieber to Toronto and Mason Miller to San Diego. The Phillies’ addition of Jhoan Duran for top prospect Mick Abel sparks debate on whether more trades are coming.

[11:43–15:20] Phillies Needs & Brandon Marsh Disappointment
Matt stresses that the Phillies need a bat—possibly Steven Kwan or Luis Robert Jr. Chris questions sacrificing more of the farm system. Both hosts criticize Brandon Marsh’s underperformance despite fan support.

[15:21–17:43] Jason Werth Nostalgia & Kwan for Aidan Miller?
The guys reflect on Jason Werth’s beloved status and joke about trading top hitting prospect Aidan Miller for Kwan, likening the move to “he could even be a boat” Family Guy humor.

[17:44–20:22] The Simpsons Talk & Streaming Habits
They riff on The Simpsons, guessing episode counts and joking about Matt Groening’s massive Santa Monica home. Matt reveals he’s halfway through the Happy Gilmore reboot and loves it.

[20:23–23:22] Wrexham Valuation & McElhenney’s Name Change
The hosts marvel at how Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds bought Wrexham for $2 million and have grown it to a $450 million valuation. They discuss Rob’s name pronunciation issues and stadium renovations limiting ticket access.

[23:23–27:00] Sixers Win Total Doubts & Embiid Concerns
The conversation pivots to the 76ers, where Chris doubts the team will hit their 43-win total at oddsmakers given Embiid and Paul George’s injury histories. Embiid has only played 450 games in his career and missed two full seasons.

[27:01–29:59] Phillies Bullpen Outlook & Alvarado Ineligibility
The Phillies bullpen could be strong with Duran, Kerkering, and others—but José Alvarado’s postseason ineligibility is a setback. The guys voice frustration over missing key arms in the playoff run.

[30:00–33:00] Center Field Trade Options & Justin Crawford
They consider trade options like Luis Robert Jr. and Cedric Mullins, but debate promoting Justin Crawford instead. Crawford shows promise in AAA but lacks power, and both hosts question whether it’s worth giving up more top prospects.

[33:01–35:14] Otani’s Injury & Dodgers Investment
Shohei Otani exits a game after six pitches due to cramps, prompting discussion on whether he should stop pitching altogether. The Dodgers’ deep pitching staff and financial resources make that viable.

[35:15–38:04] Wyndham Championship & Golf Picks
They close with the Wyndham Championship, naming favorites like Aaron Rai (+800), Jordan Spieth (+2000), and Adam Scott. Chris jokes about rarely making the cut, while Matt mentions the FedEx Cup push.

[38:05–End] TV Updates: Happy Gilmore & Wednesday Returns
Chris and Matt talk about Sandler’s new Happy Gilmore film, Wednesday season 2’s upcoming release, and Peacemaker returning August 21. They wrap by mocking news delays from the Google app and laugh about being too tired to finish movies.

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Matt Crone and Chris Horwedel

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