Choosing the Players Through May!

The Talkin' Baseball team unveils their All-JM (All-Just-Made) team for April and May 2026, a monthly award that honors the best players across the National and American Leagues based on a blend of stats, defense, and intangibles. The episode is a deep dive into the most surprising and polarizing player performances, with host Trevor Plouffe admitting he’d been sleepwalking through the season—only to be shocked by Max Muncy’s dominance at third base and Xavier Edwards’ near-perfect all-around game at second. The real drama unfolds in the shortstop debate, where CJ Abrams’ offensive fireworks clash with Ellie De La Cruz’s elite defense, ultimately decided by judge John Boy using a custom 'OPS plus speed' metric. In the AL, the catcher battle between Shea Langelier and Dylan Dingler hinges on ABS challenge success, with Langelier winning due to his offensive dominance and split-proof hitting. The episode is packed with insider analysis, including a deep dive into how catchers’ challenge success can change games, and a fun, almost philosophical debate on whether a player’s ability to perform in high-leverage moments matters more than raw stats. The final team features a mix of breakout stars and veterans, with Shohei Otani and Cam Schlitler as the top pitchers, and a fan vote that could see Corbin Carroll or Otani take the utility spot. The episode’s standout moment isn’t just the picks—it’s the raw, unfiltered honesty.