Jake Arrieta

The Phillies will beat the Astros in seven games in the World Series

I'm gonna pick the Phillies to win it in seven on the road in Houston... as hot as they are now and what happened against the Braves and how they handled San Diego the way they did... Phillies believe they can beat anybody. Yeah. In this series, man, it's the perfect fit.

The Padres made a huge mistake not bringing in Josh Hader to face Bryce Harper in the NLCS

And I mean, Harper the biggest at bat of his entire career... They don't bring in Josh Hader to face Harper, which I think was a huge mistake even though Suarez had pitched extremely well. It's like you have the best left-handed guy ready in the bullpen and he's on fire.

Jeremy Pena is going to be a superstar in MLB

Jeremy Pena who's from Rhode Island, a third rounder that nobody even really knew about. Now he's one of the, the superstars of the post-season turning himself into, I don't know if we can technically call him a star yet, but it just, it looks like it's going in that direction. If you can perform at this level, this consistently, when games mean this much, I mean there's a 99.9% chance this dude is gonna be absolutely legit.

Juan Soto will be traded to either the Cardinals or the Padres

I heard Jake Peavy give a take on the network about him potentially ending up in San Diego. And I could also see St. Louis... I would love to see Soto in San Diego for the simple reason that the Dodgers have just dominated the NL West forever. And if the Padres are serious about taking that next step, what better way to make that statement than to bring in a guy like Juan Soto?

MLB owners are cheap and players aren't greedy

Does it bother you when you hear billionaires complaining about spending money for their team? ... If you don't like it, I guarantee you there's a hundred other billionaires that'll line up to buy your team. ... People always hate on the players though they're greedy. No, the owners are cheap.

The pitcher-catcher chemistry is overrated; catchers are pros

I think it's ridiculous when guys have to have a certain catcher behind the plate. I think it's stupid. As long as you got a catcher's mitt behind the plate and you've gone over the hitters with me in the pre-game meeting and we're on the same page, I don't give a shit... some of these starting pitchers need to take a step back and maybe take some of the blame... If you're in the big leagues, your job description is the same as the next guy.

The Mets will win the NL East if they can just score a few runs

If they can find a way just to score a few runs of the game, they're gonna win that division. There's no doubt in my mind because Max [Scherzer] is a freak, we know [deGrom] is a freak when he's healthy.

Jacob deGrom is the best starting pitcher to ever put on a uniform

I've blown the guy for years. I just think he's the best. And I've said this, I think he's the best starting pitcher to ever put the uniform on. If he stays healthy people might think that's crazy. Some people love it. Just watching him live and on TV... he struck out nine out of ten. It's the best shit I've ever seen ever from any pitcher.

The Mets and Yankees will meet in the World Series (Subway Series)

I like a subway series. Yes. I like the New York Mets against the New York Yankees. I think with deGrom and Scherzer back and 100%, I think the Mets find a way to separate themselves even further and win that division. And I don't see anybody slowing down the Yankees. I just really don't.

The manufacturing and preparation of MLB baseballs is a giant conspiracy

It's a giant conspiracy, man. It's a huge conspiracy. ... What pitchers don't like is when balls are just taken out of the wrapper and put in the ball bag... it's inconsistent... if they're changing the balls with the way they fly and more drag, less drag, just let the players know because we don't really care. Just be transparent about it.

I am officially retiring from professional baseball

Well, I haven't signed the papers, man, but I'm done. It's time for me to step away from the game at some point. The uniform goes to somebody else. And it's just my time really... yeah man, I'm done.

The 2016 Cubs had one of the rarest feats in baseball by using the same starting five all season

We had the same starting five all year. Like how many times does that ever happen? I'm sure it's probably happened maybe like decades ago, but can you remember back to another team that had the same starting five from the inner spring training to throughout the world series?

Jacob deGrom is the best starting pitcher to ever play the game

I think [Jacob deGrom] is the best starting pitcher to ever put on the uniform... just what he's able to do with the baseball... it's just, I think he's in his own league. And I hope he stays healthy for another 15 years because if he can do that, I think it'll be the best ever.

An average person would not be able to lay down a fair bunt against a peak MLB pitcher in 100 tries

No [you couldn't lay down a bunt]. There's just so many things that I would do. Like I'd throw you high sinkers at your hands that it probably fell off your fist into your face... by the time you think you're going to swing, it's already too late.

Juan Soto is one of the hardest hitters to get out because of his advanced strike zone knowledge

[Juan Soto] just, I mean he's 21 years old or 20 and just the advanced knowledge of the strike zone to go along with his ability as a hitter is amazing... hopefully he stays healthy and plays this game for a long time.

MLB should not ban the defensive shift

I don't love the shift being banned. I really don't... I also don't like the idea of having the greatest product of the sport in the world telling guys that they no longer need to learn how to be multi-dimensional as a hitter. Manufacturing runs shouldn't be a lost art.

Pitchers wearing warm-up jackets while on the bases is a terrible look

Absolutely hated it [pitchers wearing jackets on base]. I just think it's such a bad look... are you really that cold to where you can't wait a few minutes?