Castellanos Out

Castellanos Out

(This is the audio-only version of Wednesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/798Txtz_poI?si=1NMzKgLZ5CtoFp9I]) The Padres have lost six of their past seven games but the news on Wednesday was about a roster change. The Padres announced that OF Nick Castellanos had been designated for assignment. Castellanos was a gamble worth taking for AJ Preller. It didn’t work out. It happens. There’s lots of ways to parse through statistics but a player with a -.09 BRWAR and a slash line of 191/221/339 shouldn’t have job security, unless you’re financially anchored to the player. Of the SIX position players posting a negative WAR, he was the worst and most expendable. So now what? On Wednesday’s podcast, we talked about the handful of positive moments Castellanos provided on and off the field and how he might have stuck around longer if the Padres weren’t bottom of the barrel in almost every major offensive category. Fare thee well, Nick. The Padres called up an infielder, Samad Taylor, to replace Castellanos on the roster. Will it matter? Is it fair to rip Jase Bowen for the qualities of his ABs on Tuesday? Eight more years of Manny!? We also talked about the level of anxiety for the lifelong and emotionally scarred Knicks fan on this podcast and what travel plans, if any, are being made to catch a game of this series in-person. Talking baseball - even Padres baseball - was a healthy break from scrolling through Knicks edits on social media. That said, you should definitely watch this [https://www.instagram.com/reel/DZGgcXVR7SB/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==]. Let’s Go Knicks ! This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Scanalysis

(This is the audio-only version of Monday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://youtu.be/yE9H5s2ODkw?si=RMTmsHqSdieTaLi5]) Good news! Fernando Tatis Jr hit his first HR of the season [https://x.com/MLB/status/2060831068492603489?s=20] on Saturday. Bad news! It came in a loss in the second game of a series the Padres lost to the Nationals. The Padres have scored the fewest runs in the National League and third fewest in all of Major League Baseball. Since beating LA, the Padres have gone 3-8 and have been bitten by bad hitting, pitching and base running. What gives? Padres TV’s Bob Scanlan joined us on his off day in Philadelphia to talk about the sigh of relief for Fernando - and his teammates - encouraging signs from Jackson Merrill. We also talked about the Padres hitting coaches, how to know if they’re doing a good job, and how players deal with so many competing voices in their heads. Scan, a former Phillies draft pick also talked about the role the organization played in his professional development before he was traded to the Cubs for Mitch Williams. After Scan exited to pursue cheesesteaks, we finished the show talking about the NBA Finals, the insane pricing for tickets [https://www.forbes.com/sites/tylerroush/2026/05/31/diamond-ring-or-nosebleed-seat-knicks-finals-tickets-cost-more-than-manhattan-rent-mortgages-more/] and how to possibly manage the next six weeks with the Finals and World Cup less than two weeks away. Possibly related - you can support our work by subscribing to these shows on YouTube or by hitting the button below. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

The USMNT Roster

(This is the audio-only version of Thursday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/M5B4R82PoL8?si=ehLnSnONC8rcTexI]) Thursday is an off day for the San Diego Padres, which feels like a good thing for everyone involved. The media are running out of new and creative ways to describe the offensive futility. Fans are frustrated. Players are searching for answers. After Wednesday’s loss to Philadelphia, Marty covered the Padres clubhouse and asked Manny Machado about the team’s hitting coaches and got an interesting answer [https://x.com/MartyCaswell/status/2059786369581388192?s=20] about where blame lies. We also talked about Machado’s recent media sessions overall and how the tone sounds different from the clubhouse tone setter [https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2023/09/15/as-padres-season-spirals-questions-emerge-about-culture-cohesion-and-chemistry/]: The Pads will play next in Washington D.C. and then in Philadelphia. If more Padres coverage is what you desire, please find the latest episodes of Friar Territory here [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSahc_2y7XWa_mmqdb85sjg]. After the baseball talk, we welcomed in our friend, Eric Gomez from ESPN in Mexico City, to talk about the United States Men’s National Team roster reveal, including Mauricio Pocettino’s decision to email the rejects [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/26/usmnt-world-cup-squad-mauricio-pochettino-email-players]. Is this a big deal or just par for the course with U.S. Soccer these days? Eric also provided great insight on Alejandro Zendejas, offering high praise for the Club America winger and the potential for a World Cup breakout. We also talked about whether success for the U.S. is directly linked to Christian Pulisic and if Pochettino would be wise to have a backup plan in case Pulisic can’t shake his recent form (Pulisic hasn’t yet scored a goal in 2026). We ended the convo talking about the upcoming Mexican National Team announcement on June 1st, including any potential for a surprise following El Tri’s 2-0 win over Ghana last week. Will Club Tijuana’s Gilberto Mora have fellow Xolos teammates along for the ride? Is there a player who Eric thinks should make it who seems to be on the outside looking in? The World Cup starts two weeks from Friday. Thanks for being here! Subscribe for free to receive new posts, podcasts and videos - sent directly to your inbox. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

Well, actually...

(This is the audio-only version of Tuesday’s MartyTimeTV / Section 1904 joint venture. You can find and subscribe to this podcast on Apple [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-section-1904-podcast/id1878517518] and Spotify [https://open.spotify.com/show/6qK7rBdrzbifPjLMSSlqya?si=cc4982d3d50f4937] and right here on Substack by clicking the button below. To watch this episode, click here [https://www.youtube.com/live/zqGd4-VtNoA?si=SHeS-99-Y-xVwvC5]) Thanks for being here! Subscribe for free to support our work and receive new posts delivered directly to your inbox. The Padres took a series from the A’s but then lost the opener to the Phillies on Monday. The offense is dreadful. Or is it unlucky? We are one third of the way through the 2026 season and asking the same questions about the same people - so what more can be said about this Padres team? We offer a few thoughts about lineups, hitting coaches and the role underlying statistics play in thinking things are better or worse than they actually are. After Padres talk, there was time to talk about the Knicks making it to the NBA Finals and Monday’s United States Mens National Team roster reveal, which actually leaked over the weekend [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/usmnt-world-cup-roster-alejandro-zendejas-tanner-tessmann-gio-reyna-diego-luna]. Gio Reyna and Sebastian Berhalter in the squad together? Ok then. The Cavs coach, Kenny Atkinson, said his team “analytically” won two of the first three games [https://x.com/ESPNCleveland/status/2058670492333064573?s=20] of the Eastern Conference playoffs, despite being down 0-3 and eventually swept. Why would anyone say that and what does that have to do with the 2023 Padres? Full circle convo. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]

World Cup '26: Three Weeks Out

Looking for a World Cup themed podcast, just three weeks from the opening match between Mexico and South Africa? We got you. Today, our friend Eric Gomez [https://x.com/EricGomez86?s=20] stopped by the show to talk about some top storylines as we inch closer to “United 2026”. Before diving into National Teams and their unique roster reveals (here’s France's [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DYWgqXRoozx/]), we discussed the Liga MX Clausura Final between Cruz Azul and Pumas UNAM - two clubs from the Mexican capital, both led by Mexican managers, which hasn’t happened since 2013. (If you’re a San Diego FC fan, you might remember the Azul y Chrome eliminating Pumas from the CONCACAF Champions Cup earlier this year.) Speaking of managers, we marveled at the recent successes of Basque-born coaches in Europe and what - if anything - is next for Pep Guardiola after he walks away from Manchester City this weekend. We then talked about the different roster reveals and how the World Cup will be the final one for legends like Neymar, Messi, CR7 and James Rodriguez. Is it even possible to NOT feel happy for Neymar after seeing his reaction [https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gmKH6W_236o]to getting called in? Finally, is there a country that hasn’t previously won the World Cup who might be a first time winner in 2026? We agree on a few. Thanks for reading! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit dsmithshow.substack.com [https://dsmithshow.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1]