The Windup: A Show About Baseball

The Roundtable | Time for a September Check-in on the Yankees and Dodgers

Episode 174 | September 8, 2025
Hosted By: Grant Brisbee, Andy McCullough, Sam Miller (The Athletic)

Episode Overview

This Roundtable episode features writers Grant Brisbee, Andy McCullough, and Sam Miller as they dive into a September reality check on two of MLB’s premier franchises: the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. With playoff races heating up and each team's vulnerabilities making headlines, the hosts dissect recent developments, injury dramas, bullpen collapses, aging cores, trade-deadline regrets, and the ever-elusive “juice” factor that makes contenders tick. The episode is equal parts humor, baseball nerdery, well-informed punditry, and existential ponderings about the state of the Dodgers and Yankees.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Yankees' Outlook and the Aaron Judge Dilemma

[03:14 – 16:44]

• Current Standings & Recent Surge

• Yankees are two games back of the Blue Jays, after series wins against the Jays and Astros.
• Still live contenders for both the AL East and a championship, but not without drama.

• Aaron Judge’s Arm Injury & Public Kayfabe

• Judge is playing through a flexor sprain in his throwing elbow, visibly limiting his outfield arm strength.

• The Yankees return him to the outfield so both Judge and Stanton can hit, but only one can DH:

  “You can't have two guys at DH. It’s simply not allowed.” – Andy [03:33]

• Notable Play:
  In a crucial moment, Judge fielded a ball but made a weak throw, exposing his injury and sparking questions.

• The Yankees’ public posture is denial—Judge claims, “I wouldn’t be out there if I couldn’t make that throw,” but visibly can’t. Boone is defensive with the media, prompting frustration from reporters and fans about the refusal to acknowledge what’s obvious.

• Andy:

  “I just dislike the denial of reality … No one’s offended that he can’t throw. Everyone gets what’s going on.” [05:25]

• Broader Context: Baseball’s Secrecy/Denial Culture

• Sam recalls similar athlete “no comment” strategies (“Ballplayers are super weird about giving anything away...”) and discusses the strategic edge (or lack thereof) in hiding injuries [06:57].

• References to Jeff Bagwell’s arm problems and John Lester’s famous inability to throw to first [09:42, 14:53].

• The group agrees, Judge’s arm may become the ultimate “Chekhov’s gun” in October: will it matter in a pivotal moment?

• Sam:

  “There is no way Aaron Judge’s arm is not Chekhov’s gun in the postseason... and we're going to see that highlight hundreds of times.” [13:27]

2. Dodgers in a Funk: No Juice, Aging Roster, and Roster Flaws

[19:15 – 38:15]

• Recent Performance & “Juice” Check

• Dodgers are flailing: a 1-5 road trip, bullpen collapses, and a team-leading MVP candidate (Shohei Ohtani) can’t fix the malaise alone.

• Comedic highlight:

  “We had someone in the comments say, stop talking about the Dodgers. And to which I respond, no, they literally have Shohei Ohtani.” – Grant [19:17]

• Andy’s take:

  “I don’t think they have the juice.” [19:29]

• “Juice” — the intangible energy or spark of contending ballclubs — is notably lacking.

• Where Have the Dodgers Underperformed?

• Corner Outfield Woes: Conforto and Teoscar Hernández have both underwhelmed offensively and defensively.

• Bullpen Decline: Relievers who were lights out in 2024 have cratered (notably Kirby Yates, Trinen, Tanner Scott).

• Rotation Injuries/Depth Issues: Plans for a dominant rotation have fallen apart as only Yamamoto remains unscathed.

• Aging Core: Dodgers are the oldest team in baseball; Mookie Betts’ declining speed is cited as a symptom [26:40].

  • Andy:

    “They're old. They're the oldest team in the sport. That's showing up in ways that...You know, Mookie Betts is slower than Will Smith?” [26:51]

• Failed “Dodger Sauce” Reclamation Projects

• Brisbee and Andy riff on the organization’s reputation for turning cast-offs into stars, wondering if the rest of the league has caught up.

  • Grant:

    “I don’t know why the Dodgers couldn’t make Michael Conforto specifically into a good player, but the idea is, they're going to rub some Dodger sauce over them and make them better ... If that has stopped, or if the league has caught on to what’s in that Dodger sauce … That’s a big difference.” [29:43]

• Lack of Internal Pipeline/Young Energizers

• Only one homegrown star has emerged in recent years (Will Smith).
• Dodgers' perennial success means no high draft picks, leading to a temporary homegrown talent gap.

• Pundit Brain: Sleepwalking & Playoff Switch Hypothesis

• Sam floats the idea that the Dodgers' regular season aimlessness stems from being a franchise that defines itself by October, making it hard to get “up” for mundane games. The risk: the switch might not actually flip come playoff time [33:51].

  • Sam:

    “It’s conceivable that they were sleepwalking through the first five months and expecting to flip the switch. And when they flipped the switch and no lights came on, they panicked.” [33:51]

• Grant notes the Dodgers could have benefited from a first-round bye as an old team, but now likely face an extra postseason series [36:57].

3. Spending, Roster Construction, and “O w, now what?”

[39:19 – 43:47]

• The hosts debate whether the Dodgers’ star-studded, max-out-every-roster-spot approach will influence other owners.

• Grant says:

  “If I’m an owner...I am just gonna look at all 26 spots and say, can I do better than this?” [40:07]

• Andy and Sam suspect the Dodgers’ lack of playoff dominance despite big spending will reinforce cost-cutting instincts around baseball, not all-in splurges.

  • Sam:

    “I think that probably to the degree that any message will be imprinted on the minds of owners, it will be that baseball players are unreliable. Just look at the 2025 Dodgers.” [43:09]

4. Baseball Fan Ethics: Foul Ball Drama

[43:47 – 48:38]

• Brief detour: a viral moment featuring a Phillies fan “stealing” a foul ball.
• All three hosts are adamant:

  “Leave this lady alone.” – Andy [43:56]

• The group explores the unwritten rules and public shaming surrounding foul balls, referencing famous incidents (Astros lady, Steve Bartman). They agree: don’t do it, but also, let’s not destroy people's lives over dumb stadium moments.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Denials of Obvious Injury:

  • Andy: “I just dislike the denial of reality… Everyone understands… We need to get both these guys in the lineup. It’s less of a liability; like, Stanton or Judge’s arm is less of a liability than Stanton’s legs.” [05:25]

• On Chekhov’s Gun:

  • Sam: “The one thing we can probably agree on is that there is no way that Aaron Judge’s arm is not Chekhov’s gun in the postseason… and we're going to see that highlight hundreds of times…” [13:27]

• On Dodgers' Lack of “Juice”:

  • Andy: “I’m gonna go on the record. I don’t think they have the juice.” [19:29]
  • Sam: “They got a juice problem.” [19:31]

• On Outfield Failures:

  • Grant: “It’s Michael Conforto and the bullpen. And Michael Conforto is… a catch-all for just their general outfield malaise.” [23:32]

• On Pundit Brain and the Dodgers’ Sleepwalk:

  • Sam: “It is a plausible hypothesis… that they were sleepwalking through the first five months and expecting to flip the switch. And when they flipped the switch and no lights came on, they panicked.” [33:51]

• On Roster Construction and Owner Lessons:

  • Sam: “Players that make more money tend to outperform players who don’t make money. But I think that probably to the degree that any message will be imprinted on the minds of owners, it will be that baseball players are unreliable. Just look at the 2025 Dodgers.” [43:09]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Judge’s Arm & Yankees Woes – [03:14–16:44]
• Dodgers’ Juice Crisis & Recent Stumbles – [19:15–26:51]
• Roster Holes & Analytical Breakdown – [22:33–30:22]
• Organizational Philosophy & Aging Problem – [26:40–31:53]
• Is It a Dodgers Sleepwalk Or Something Deeper? – [33:51–38:15]
• Owner Spending Debate – [39:19–43:47]
• Foul Ball Ethics & Fan Culture – [43:47–48:38]

Tone & Style

The episode maintains a freewheeling, insightful, tongue-in-cheek style. The hosts blend deep analytical knowledge with sharp one-liners, self-deprecating asides, baseball history, and open frustration with the sport’s silliest traditions and dramas.

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a must-listen for fans who want smart, wry takes on whether the Yankees’ and Dodgers’ vulnerabilities will derail juggernaut expectations. You’ll come away understanding why Judge’s right arm will be a decisive September story, why the Dodgers’ seemingly perfect roster is letting them down, and why the future of big spending in baseball may be on shakier ground than ever — all delivered with humor, nuance, and genuine affection for the big weird game.