Sports On Tap
Sports On Tap
Episode 202 - Traveshamockery?!
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And we're back. So it was nothing. It was nothing. I was waiting for it. Uh, but clearly nothing. Uh, welcome to episode 202 of Sports on Tap Detroit, alongside Joe Waddell. I am Chris Scott. Joe, how are you?
SPEAKER_00I'm good, man. Hanging in there. Uh we all yeah. Busy. I know you and I are talking about it. There's there's some uh you got some work stuff going on, and I got some work stuff going on. And you know, man, it it's it's summer. It's getting to be summer, I guess. It's it's we're getting baseball going and we're we're back here talking sports, but uh we're day-to-day.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yes. So I love it. Like whatever, you know, they talk about injuries in sports. Oh, he's he's day-to-day. We're all day-to-day.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, exactly. I'm I'm day-to-day. You know how they say day-to-day with a knee? Yeah, like didn't I even say a knee injury or knee to day or body injury? Yeah, yeah. I'm day-to-day with a head.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Because you're preaching to the choir that's up here, in all honesty. You are preaching to the choir on that one. So I I can I completely uh am with you on that. So uh, but yes, we are back. We've obviously taken a taken a few weeks off since our last show. Uh deserved because as we just stated, you know, we've you know, life kind of gets in the way. And I know we've said this a few other times before, but life does get in the way. And sometimes you just need a break, man. You s you know, you gotta do what you gotta do. And so when we get a chance to do this, uh it's nice, but sometimes you just kind of have to take care of some shit.
SPEAKER_00A lot of times, other than some of the you know, some time spent with my my kid, yes, this is my favorite part of the week when we eventually do it. Right. And you know, we always go through a lull here around this time of year where we've done so many NFL shows and so many things during NFL season that when when the a little bit of downtime here happens, we take a little bit of advantage of it. We tend to take advantage of it when when we get and then we get rare and ready to go, and then we go every week again for a long time.
SPEAKER_01So and summertime, like what's it you know, spring goes into the summer. Obviously, we tend to take off a bit more time than we usually do because frankly, there's just not a lot happening. There just isn't. You know, we hit the draft basically we hit the NFL draft, we do that, we make a big deal out of that, and then afterwards it's kind of like Yes, and we will be having a draft show again.
SPEAKER_00Yes, the first night of the draft. We will have our live watch-along draft show.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Uh, like we always do. Um always fun. Always a good time. Whether we uh do it in the studio here or whether we did it live at a bar like we did before, which you know, we were discussing that before the show started. I think we eventually will get into doing those again. I don't think we're gonna make it happen this year, but that's uh I think that's another thing that's on the horizon again, is we're gonna do at least find a few more opportunities to do that and and and go out live and do a live show.
SPEAKER_01For sure. Uh that being said, uh, what do you what do you want to hit first? Because I mean, there's a lot of actually for right now, there is a lot of stuff going on.
SPEAKER_00There's a there's a decent amount of stuff going on, and and uh we were gonna do a show Friday, and then the the uh tournament was still going on, and we're like, yeah, it really makes no sense to have the show during the tournament. We should probably just wait until Tuesday and we can talk about it. So let's let's talk about the tourney.
SPEAKER_01Talk about the tournament. All right. Uh this tournament, and I honestly it's kind of the same as last year. I I don't think it's gotten a lot of hype this year for whatever reason. Uh it's kind of been very chalky. Um Michigan and Michigan State are both in the Sweet 16. Cool. Um I don't know. I just I I look at where college basketball has gone with NIL and the transfer portal. And it it it it's kind of like it's kind of like a double-edged sword, right? When we get to the tournament. We love upsets, right? Yes. Well, with how college of basketball is now, you're starting to see less and less upsets. You desire. Um now it all depends on kind of what you want from the tournament, what you want to get out of it. Do you want the upsets or do you want the best basketball?
SPEAKER_00Well, so to answer that question, yeah, um I'm gonna do a two-parter here. Yeah. Uh I would prefer to have the best basketball.
SPEAKER_01I'm you know, I was on the other side of this last year, I think. Um, but the more I look at it, the more I'm just like, I want to see the best teams play each other.
SPEAKER_00That's what I want.
SPEAKER_01Later on in the tournament.
SPEAKER_00I want good games and I want the best teams playing each other.
SPEAKER_01And this is why I can't say in the NHL playoff format now. I hate it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah?
SPEAKER_01I hate it. Because you're gonna have in in the Western Conference playoffs this year, you're gonna have one of either Dallas, Colorado, or Minnesota gone in the first round. Because their playoff setup is fucking stupid. Instead of having one then through eight, you're doing the divisional format. It's dumb. Yeah, that is dumb. Anyways, I'm sorry. No, you got sidetracking.
SPEAKER_00On the other point on this one, though, for me, it would be. I think the biggest reason why there's not upsets anymore or why there's not as many, is because they've gotten better at seeding.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00Because it used to be, you know, for example, it used to be you and me sitting in a room with a group of other other people going, all right, let's put these guys here, let's put these guys here. And you know, it was it was really all eye test, right? It was all the eye test. It was it was what they saw. Like now they use analytics and they use statistics and they use things like that, metrics and all that. Sounds like the college football playoff. But again, I as much as so again, you go too far in one direction, but I think for this, the metrics and the analytics have helped in seeding to where you actually get true number ones, true number twos, true number threes, more so than you did before in years past, back when they weren't doing things like that, when it was just a bunch of guys getting together and going, Alright, well, what did you see? Who do you like? Yeah, you know what I mean? It's more it more fits what the actual seating should be, in my opinion, is what is why we're seeing this.
SPEAKER_01I just look at it, I I feel that with again with NIL and the transfer portal, like, yeah, the the lower tier schools are getting better, but talent is a little more spread out. It is, but now the schools with the money, the power five schools, powerful, whatever you want to call it, they're flexing their muscle with that money, and the better players are coming there. So you're seeing that once you get to the later rounds, right? Is now you're seeing you know, the top whatever six, seven seeds are advancing on to the sweet 16, right? Yeah. And again, it all depends on what you want out of this tournament. Do you want the the Cinderella upsets or do you want the best basketball you can get? Now, once it gets to the later rounds, and this is where I I brought in the the NHL playoff analogy, the later rounds, I want the best matchups. Like I want the best basketball, I want the best hockey. Yeah. Now, with the NHL, I I I get where Batman's coming from when why he doesn't want to change the format because he's he's all about well, we got the best, you know, first round playoff matchups in sports. Great. That's one round, dude. That's one round. And don't get me wrong, the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs are probably the best in sports, I would say. That said, I want to see the best conference final. You know, I want to see the best second round. I want to the I want to see those two great teams meet to actually go to a Stanley Cup final, right? And this is kind of with where with the Bass with the NCAA tournament. I want to see the best teams and match up in the Sweet 16 to get to the Elite Eight, to get to the Final Four, to get to the national championship game. That's what I want to see.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Now if you want if you want like the Cinderellas and the upsets, I gotta tell you, you might you're gonna be disappointed for a while. I I I don't think that's ever coming back. I don't unless this to me, unless NIL gets reined in here a little bit.
SPEAKER_00Which I don't I don't see it happening anytime soon.
SPEAKER_01Exactly. Uh that's the only way I can see upsets and the Cinderella stories kind of coming back. But until something like that happens, I I think it's gonna be this way moving forward. I really do.
SPEAKER_00Well, and I think the the true Cinderella you're gonna see now are not gonna be the the the teams that you look at and go, man, I they should have been ranked lower, but they weren't. And and they're a Cinderella at that point because of where they were ranked. I think the Cinderella's you're gonna end up seeing are gonna be the true definition of a Cinderella where it's gonna be, wow, that team just just came out hot in that game and beat a team they probably shouldn't have beat. You know what I mean?
SPEAKER_01I mean, you look at like say like Iowa beating Florida, right? Mm-hmm. It's like, okay, is that an upset seed-wise? Absolutely, because they took out a number one. Yeah, it was an it was a nine and a one. Right, but Iowa played in arguably the best conference in basketball this year. So is that really truly an upset?
SPEAKER_00Right. I I Well, that brings me to the question I was gonna ask for this, right? And the Big Ten has always gotten a lot of shit in in bat in college basketball because they play uh a bigger, like a bigger guy game, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they said they play more half-court style, yeah.
SPEAKER_00Yep, and then these other teams are are just chucking up threes constantly and running and it's a it's a run and shoot offense, basically, is what you want to call it, right? Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Live by the three, die by the three. Right. And so a lot of and I think every team has that to a certain extent.
SPEAKER_00Some. Yeah. They've got the Big Ten has has has changed a little bit. Yeah, but the Big Ten used to catch a lot of shit. And it's funny if you look at it right now, six out of the 16 teams left. Are Big Ten teams. Our Big Ten team. So when you're looking at it, uh, you know, I even heard it going into this. Well, Michigan's overrated. The Big Ten is not really that great of a conference, and this and that. Well, you're looking right now, Michigan State, Michigan, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Purdue. Like you, I mean, these teams are are beating teams, and they're looking really good doing it.
SPEAKER_01And if you want to look at the rankings throughout the season, all those teams that you just mentioned, all of them have been in the top ten at one point this year. All of them. And a couple of them have been number one.
SPEAKER_00Has the is this a one-year thing, or has the Big Ten solidified being one of the better conferences in college basketball? Or is this a one-year? Is it a is it a you take every year as it is, or is this kind of an emergence of Big Ten basketball?
SPEAKER_01It's kind of like you look at it how we used to look at college basketball and we used to say it was the ACC and the Big East, right? Like those were the conferences, right? And now you're starting to see it's the Big Ten and who? Maybe the SEC? Maybe. Maybe. I mean, they're the defending national champ. Well, they're not.
SPEAKER_00It kind of seems like it's the Big Ten, and then it's like just a handful of other teams from other conferences combined. You know what I mean? Like it's it's not really like two major conferences that have a bunch of teams up there. It's kind of like the right this year. It's the Big Ten has six. Yeah. And then everybody else. There's a smattering of everybody else. And you know, you've got you know, a St. John's and and Duke and it's cool to see St.
SPEAKER_01John's back, though. I like that.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah. St. St. John's. I mean, they used to they used to be in talks all the time, but they're part of the Big East. No, I I like seeing teams like Arkansas, and you got an 11 in Texas right now that that pull through. But, you know, uh you've got Iowa State, who that they're really fucking good, dude, by the way, man. They're really watch out for them, dude. They're a really, really good fucking basketball team.
SPEAKER_01But it's kind of like how we looked at it like through uh college basketball. It was like the SEC and then everybody else.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01And now that's over.
SPEAKER_00It kind of it kind of looks like it is, and I'm hesitant to say that it's gonna continue to be the Big Ten and then just a smattering of other teams, but I that's what it is this year, and and I don't see those teams as long as they keep playing the portal.
SPEAKER_01They are, and I I'm gonna I'm gonna tell you why it's gonna continue to be be the Big Ten, not only uh football, but basketball as well. The Big Ten's got the biggest pocket pocketbooks. They just do. Like flat out donors, whatever, that IL stuff, they have the biggest, they have the biggest wallets. Yeah. They flat out do.
SPEAKER_00I mean, other than other than maybe places like uh, you know, for college football, like in Texas and and and things like that.
SPEAKER_01But but that's just like that's like one like Texas, like Texas.
SPEAKER_00Texas, right? That's it. It's not all of the competition. It's not like AM, it's not you know, Texas Tech, it's Texas.
SPEAKER_01Texas, yeah, yeah. But the Big Ten, obviously you have Michigan.
SPEAKER_00Michigan State.
SPEAKER_01Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State. Like some of their some of their biggest biggest donors are billionaires.
SPEAKER_00And that's what's so funny about this, is six six of those Big Ten teams, and and one of them is not Penn State or Ohio State. Yeah. Who were also pretty good basketball teams. I mean, well, Ohio State was made the tournament. Yeah, Ohio State was, but like, you know, so if you look at that, uh, even even with the big pocket was there, Ohio State didn't even make it this far, but they were a good basketball team.
SPEAKER_01Penn State put their money into hockey, which well, which they made the tournament.
SPEAKER_00That's cool. Everybody chooses to do what they want with their money, right?
SPEAKER_01But I I again I unless this shit gets reined in. You know, where there's it's capped or however whatever you want to do with it. I think that the Big Ten is gonna continue to rule because they have the biggest wallets. I would say you're probably right. And I think that's I think it goes for both the the the big money sports, football and basketball. Uh, but I mean the tournaments so far, again, very chalky. I mean, we've seen a few blowouts here and there, but there's been some actually really good games, too. Like buzzer beater games, like tight games, you know. And that's what I'm looking forward to moving forward, going into the Sweet 16 and and farther on down the road, is we do have seed-wise the best teams, right? Yeah, so I'm hoping to see that moving forward, like good games moving forward. So we'll see how that plays out.
SPEAKER_00Looking at this, I just want to bring this up to you. I'm not a huge fan of Dave Portnoy.
SPEAKER_01Um I can't stand Dave Portnoy.
SPEAKER_00So I'm not a huge fan of him. I like I like what he does for the pizzarias, and I like his pizza stuff.
SPEAKER_01Talking about an absolute fuck target.
SPEAKER_00But I'll be honest with you, the rest of it I I could do without. Um at this point because it's gotten worse.
SPEAKER_01It's like the studio gangster. It's like a stick.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. And then you've got his, you've got his, well, and speaking of the studio gangster and his his comrade. Oh. Uh, this is yeah, this is um Dave Portnight and his comrade, Rico, Bosco, and they have a bet on the Michigan-Alabama game. Okay. So if Dave Portnight, I mean, if Michigan wins, that means Dave Portnight wins.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_00And Rico has to do a weekly podcast with his arch rival Jeff Nadu, which I I don't know if you've seen anything about that. I know those two argue a lot. I don't watch it a whole lot, but I know they fucking hate each other.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_00And he has to do a podcast with him weekly for a full year.
SPEAKER_02Oh shit. Okay.
SPEAKER_00If Alabama wins, Rico Bosco gets two times his salary and a 10-year contract at two times his salary. At Barstool? Yes. No shit. All right. So I just can't I just came across that one.
SPEAKER_01I don't know, man. I think that's weighted more in the the Arkansas guy's favor a little bit. The Alabama Yeah, it's it is.
SPEAKER_00So yeah, if Alabama wins, I think the winner, I think if Alabama wins, he gets more. Okay. Because that's a hell of a I mean, you double your salary and it's a guaranteed 10-year contract. Yeah. Like that's that's awesome. Portnoy just likes stirring the pot and doing things like that. So for him, putting him in a podcast with his arch rival for a year actually makes Portnoy money because he knows they're gonna argue and get ratings, and that's what he wants.
SPEAKER_01So yeah. This one is I can't say it's interesting though. Because he'll like talk all his shit and then you make fun of him and he fucking cries about it like a little baby, like a little girl. It's like, all right, dude. Yep, you're a fraud, fuck you. Um, but yeah, I'm kind of glad you did bring something like that up because uh like it it kind of invoked like the studio gangster, right? Yep. And I I I put this in our group chat. I think I sent it to you maybe. Um I don't remember if you saw it or not, but I had to I had to screenshot this because this guy. Oh, this guy. I don't know. All right, so Mark Ryan, he works at the local he's one of the he's one of the newer uh brain dead uh morons that works at the local uh sports radio station here in the in the city of Detroit.
SPEAKER_00He's actually annoying too. The sound of his voice just is almost like nails on a chalkboard for me.
SPEAKER_01So I know we're going back a little bit because we didn't get to talk about this because we didn't have a show, but it was talking about the world baseball classic. Yeah. So he he posts this. Uh it looks like he posted it either right after the championship game or the date. I think he posted right after the championship game. He says, USA has won just one of six world baseball classics. We're not the best in our own sport. This loss falls on Scooba. His replacement allowed two of Venezuela's three runs in what was always gonna be a low-scoring game. I'm less supposed to trading Tarek than I've ever been. The last part I don't necessarily disagree with. I don't. It's that middle part, which I find completely absurd.
SPEAKER_00That it was Scuba's fault.
SPEAKER_01That it was Scoobyl's fault. Yeah. Now, did Terek Scoobyl go about this whole thing the right way? Nope, sure didn't. It's like, dude, if you're gonna fucking commit to this, commit to it. Right. Fucking do it. Yeah. Don't just say, I'm gonna pitch one game, and then him and haw is like, oh, I might pitch another one, and then say, all right, you know, I'm not gonna pitch.
SPEAKER_00Either do it or don't. One or the other, man. You know most of that of him not pitching. You know most of that is his aging.
SPEAKER_01Of course. Of course.
SPEAKER_00And that's the bad part.
SPEAKER_01But that's what I'm saying. Either say yes or say either do it or don't.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_01Don't do this him ha bullshit.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Now, what I do have an issue with this idiot saying is that it was Scooba's fault why they lost.
SPEAKER_00No, it isn't. I do I do want to cut you off one second. I'm sorry. Yeah. If I could grocery shop in in uh bumper cars, like this commercial, I would absolutely go grow. I would go grocery shopping no problem all the time. Now I order my groceries and have them delivered. Yeah. I will go grocery shopping all the time if they had uh bumper cars. And I could I could just ram into the colour. I agree with you 100 million percent. But go back, I just that would I would really love to go grocery shopping in a bumper car.
SPEAKER_01So yeah, so this idiot he decides to blame the the loss on Terek Scuble. And I find that hysterical because yeah, did the did the starting pitcher give up give up the two runs? Sure. But what's hilarious about this is Venezuela had more runs than the USA had hits throughout seven innings of that game. But sure, blame Derek Scuba. Don't blame the lineup that is arguably the best lineup ever assembled. That their two through five hitters went one for seven with six strikeouts. I believe that. Don't don't blame the hitters. Don't blame that. Don't blame the hitters who couldn't hit. Don't blame Aaron Judge for striking out three times. No, no, it's Derek Scuble's fault. When I read that, I'm just like, alright, so Valenti has clearly rubbed off on you. Like 100%. Like you you've fallen under the studio gangster's tutelage. So to to do some hot take bullshit like this. Like, come on, dude. Like, you don't fucking believe that. You don't believe that. That's more of a hot take than Rieger. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00I mean, he has some really good.
SPEAKER_01He has some beauties. Yeah. Uh but I I saw that, and again, I I hate to go back to something that happened what two weeks ago, but still, I just just reading that because I read it the following morning, and I'm just like, this dude can't be serious. And then I thought about it for a second. I'm like, he's dead serious because of where he worked. Brain dead idiots. And that's and it's sad because when he got here, like I think a year and a half, two years ago, yeah. It's like, okay, it's a it's a fresh breath, it's a fresh take. You know, so an outsider has all fallen under the bullshit of Vlenny and all the other dipshits that work at that radio station. Yeah. But now, like clockwork, it's just it's like, dude, it's all manufactured bullshit. It's all it is. Yeah. From these, from these fucking clowns.
SPEAKER_00It's uh that I like I I'll be honest with it. I just can't do his his radio personality voice. I just can't. It it it seems so fake to me. From the from the day I heard him on the radio here, the day he got into town, I was like, I'm I'm out. I'm not a fan.
SPEAKER_01Not a fan. And literally, the only time I listen to that station is when Tiger Games on. That's it. It's the only time I listen to that station.
SPEAKER_00I'll say uh I don't have it on too much anymore. Um every once in a while I'll put it on in the morning uh on my way into work. And I don't mind the two guys who are on in the morning. They're they're not bad. I have no idea who that even is. It's uh Jansen and uh Costa.
SPEAKER_01Oh, funny story about John Jansen. This is like you've met my buddy CJ, right?
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So they went to high school together to Lawson. And apparently there was a time they got into it. They got into a fight. Yeah. And apparently CJ kicked his ass. I don't know how true this is. This is what he says. But they they got into it in high school. Gotcha. And I can kind of see it because CJ when he when he gets mad, yeah, I could see it. Yeah. And I know I get Jansen's a big boy. I understand that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01But CJ and his prime, he was a pretty big dude too. This allegedly happened. The fight actually did happen. Okay. But whether who won or who lost, I whatever. But yeah, they got into it in high school. But it's a funny story about that. Yeah. Uh you know who else tells funny stories? Yeah. The Joe Wright group. Fuck you, man. Always the wrong one. Every time. Whether you're buying or selling your home, now is the time to take advantage of having the expertise of three real estate agents for the price of one on your side. Make the right move with the right group, the Joe Wright group. Give Craig Joe Wright, Mike Bush, and Shane Wilson a call today at 248-535-4750 to fulfill all of your real estate needs.
unknownThere you go.
SPEAKER_01Alright, what do you want to hit next?
SPEAKER_00Uh I don't know. You want to preview baseball season?
SPEAKER_01Can do that.
SPEAKER_00Preview the baseball.
SPEAKER_01Preview the baseball.
SPEAKER_00We did just kind of talk about baseball a little bit.
SPEAKER_01A little bit. Just the world baseball classic.
SPEAKER_00World baseball classic.
SPEAKER_01So we can dip a little bit more into that. Just the overall of the world baseball classic. I think this is the first year of it, and it's gone on since 2006, I believe. That I was locked in to it this year. Like I watched as much of it as I could. World baseball classic? Yeah. This this is the first time it was ever like appointment viewing for me.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_01Like a couple years ago when they ended up playing Japan in the championship game. I I watched that tournament, but not like I did this one. And I think it's just it's growing and growing and growing. Because you're starting to see the US stars are starting to take this serious.
SPEAKER_00They're starting to do it. And that's one reason why I I think I wasn't as appointment viewing as maybe you were. And and again, I'm not necessarily as big of a baseball fan either, so that's uh that says it too. But right, I if if it was all the best players in the world on those teams, then I probably would have been much more invested in it. That's fair. And and and that's why I I really wasn't as invested. I mean it's the honest guy's truth.
SPEAKER_01I think you're starting to see that more and more uh with each one of these things. Now, if they go to the Olympics, I think it'll be pretty cool. I'm down to see that.
SPEAKER_00I want to see the best in the world play each other. I'm I'm in any sport.
SPEAKER_01I want to see that. I mean, the only thing that sucks isn't and there's not really much you can do about it, is the pitching limitations.
SPEAKER_00Because of the contracts they have.
SPEAKER_01The contracts and these teams are gonna be like, hey, you got yeah, I'll give you my guy, but he can only throw this many pitches. Right. Right? To me, that's not quote, real baseball, you know? Yeah. So you gotta take it with that caveat, I guess. But I it it was to me, it was fascinating. Um, just the drama of the uh a lot of these games, you know. Um, and then people that are that were like shitting on the US team for not celebrating or you know, not being as flamboyant as like the Dominicans or the Venezuelans or Mexicans or whomever. Any of the name any of these other teams you want to name, fine. Who cares? Who fucking cares? Like, why do they have to do that? It was really a complaint. Oh god, yeah. People were like upset about it, like irrationally upset about it. About them not celebrating? Yeah. I'm like, what were they gonna celebrate? They didn't win. No, but like, you know, when they hit home runs and shit like that. Like you saw how the Dominicans and and those other teams celebrate just like base hits and shit like that, going crazy on the in the dugout. And but they're like, oh, the US team, they're just they're they're just so unlikable. I'm like, what what do you what? Because they don't celebrate like they just won the World Series after a base hit?
SPEAKER_00Right. Like really because they don't celebrate an everyday average player.
SPEAKER_01Like I I get I get I get that like anything USA related today is hated. I understand that, and I understand why. Um but to say that is just flat out dumb. Like, did you guys crush the Canadian hockey team? Because they were basically the same exact way. Like they flat out when they got to Milan, you know, they talked to Nathan McKinnon, you know, are you excited to be here? I'm here to play hockey. You're not gonna have any fun? No, I'm here to play hockey. I want to win. Oh. Okay. Well, you saw the American team go over there, they had a fucking blast. Like they anytime they were interviewed, oh, you know, it's so great. We're meeting so many other athletes, we're staying in the village, etc. You know, we're having such a good time. Turns out they ended up winning the whole damn thing. And I it was funny before that, before that hockey tournament started, and I heard how kind of both teams went about this. I'm like, I think that's gonna be a detriment to Canada. Just because if you take it too serious, yeah, you get too tight, man. Yeah, oh yeah. Like you gotta play sometimes, you gotta be loose.
SPEAKER_00Just go out there and have fun. Yeah, you can't you can't be tightly wound.
SPEAKER_01You know, you you gotta you gotta be able to go out there and and I I is like I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I think this is an advantage for the Americans. They're actually looking at this as yeah, obviously they're gonna take it serious because obviously they want to win, right? But they're not taking it so serious that you're they're just so tight and wound up and just like, oh my god, if we if we lose, it's the worst thing in the world, you know? Right. So when I when they were interviewing, especially Nathan McKinnon, kind of in McDavid to a degree, it was just like, guys, it's it's not that serious, man. You just won the four nations, it's not that serious. Like, calm down. Right. I just it was it was irritating me. But anyways, going back to the world baseball classics, and I liked it, and I'm I hope the next version of this, whenever that may be, uh, it continues to grow and we get more stars, especially for the US. Because I mean, I think all these other countries are starting, they have pretty much their stars playing in it. Right. Because a lot of them said it during the tournament. Like it meant more to them than winning World Series. Which okay.
SPEAKER_00And I and to me, I don't foresee that that'll be that way for most American players. I I they grew up watching MLB baseball, they grew up watching the MLB, right? So like they're they're going to uh they're gonna crave and go and be more uh prone to want a World Series win than a uh a baseball classic win, right? And the same thing with the fans, because we have teams that we root for. Right, right? They have players they root for in other countries, really, basically. Uh I I'm I know they adopt teams, like you know, a lot of a lot of people in in in other countries adopt like the Yankees or the Dodgers, like big teams like that for the most part. But for the most part, they're rooting for players, right? Because they don't have homegrown teams. They have home.
SPEAKER_01I mean, they do have leagues, obviously, but it's not but it's not major league baseball, right?
SPEAKER_00And they have they have they have players that come from their countries, they don't have full teams, they're in their state or they're they're you know I mean, like so yes, that they're gonna be more likely to celebrate that and and be fans of that than than anybody in the U.S. actually is. You know what I mean? It's it's it's like it's like saying that why doesn't the U.S. get get excited over uh World Cup soccer? Well, there are people in the US that get excited over World Cup soccer, just not a ton of them because I'm one of them. Soccer is not necessarily a sport that a lot that anybody cares about over the age of 15 or 18. It's growing, man. It's it's growing a little bit now, but for the most part, I mean, I grew up playing soccer, I loved playing soccer. Yeah. But you basically see youths playing soccer, youths, the youths, you see the youths playing soccer, and uh you don't you don't see people really enjoying and caring about soccer over the age of 18 like you do in other countries here. No, you just don't.
SPEAKER_01No, you you really don't, but uh anyways, uh that being said, let's get into uh actually an actual uh the MLB preview.
SPEAKER_00Yes, let's talk about the MLB.
SPEAKER_01Uh we'll start off with our our uh local team here, the Tigers. Uh Kevin McGonagall, who is who is gonna start the season? He is gonna make the opening day roster, which I'm very excited about. So am I.
SPEAKER_00The only thing I'm it's my next jersey. That's what you're getting? I'm getting that. Nice. I'm getting a McGonagall jersey.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Uh I did get the new blue one. The new blue alternate one. Yeah. I did get it. Got a blank, but I'm gonna get it for a lander on the back of it. Nice. Yeah. Um so I'm excited about that. What I'm kind of, I guess a a little bit weary of is if he struggles out of the gate. If our fans are gonna be like, are they gonna turn on him? You know? Yeah. I don't want that. I don't either. Guys just I don't either, you know, or he could you know come out of the gate on fire. Okay, guys, remember it's the first month of the season. You remember a guy named Chris Shelton? I do. Remember a guy guy named Brendan Bosch? Yeah, I do. There you go. I do. Like, yeah, guys, just let him do his thing, you know, see how it plays out. And if he's gotta go back down to go down to triple A, then he's gotta go down triple A. Like, this is this is a bonus right now.
SPEAKER_00I would say this is what's happening right now, though, is what as a as a as a baseball fan and as a Tigers baseball fan, what you should want to see. This is what you want. You want to see a guy like this getting his chance. You don't want to see where he did everything he could to make the team, yeah, and yet they did everything they could to not to not start his service time. Right. You know what I mean? Which a lot of times is what happens there. It is. And he's getting the shot, which he he deserves it. He he he basically created his shot and they had no choice, right? Which is what I love about it. Now he gets an opportunity to show what he's got in the bigs. And you're right, if he struggles, it's not the end of the world, folks. No, it isn't. He he he can get sent back, like that happens, but I don't foresee that he's gonna struggle so badly, he's gonna get sent down. But if that happens, like I'm with you, man. I don't want to see everybody lose faith in him or or sour on him, because by all accounts, you know, he is an amazing prospect and he's done him, he's done very well throughout his his minor league stint. You need to give him a shot here, and even if that shot produces not what you expect it to produce or what you want it to produce, great. Then he goes back down, he retools, and comes back up.
SPEAKER_01But if he comes out Doesn't make him a bad player. If he comes out hot, let's say for the first month or two of the season, right? That's a bonus, guys. Yeah, it's a bonus. This is something you weren't counting on last year, you know?
SPEAKER_00Yes. Well, and by by all accounts, you shouldn't have been counting on it for this year. Exactly. Right. Right?
SPEAKER_01So I mean it's like, oh shit.
SPEAKER_00We know how the organization's run. Yeah, this is not something we were counting on. You and I are really big fans of McGonagall and want to see him in the bigs. We didn't think it was gonna happen to start the season.
SPEAKER_01No, I didn't either. I thought it was definitely gonna start in AAA.
SPEAKER_00Right. So this is a bonus, even as far as what what we were expecting to see at some point. Great, it's a bonus. Get him up, he gets up there to start the season, which is unexpected at this point, but he did everything he could to make it, they didn't have a choice.
SPEAKER_01No, I I like it. I'm I'm glad they did. So, I mean, we'll see how that plays out. But guys, just give him a chance, just let it play out, and then we'll go give it to at least like June. R-E-L-A-S. Yes, Aaron Rodgers. There you go. Uh, so let's I I want to start off here with the with the American League East, which I think is it's it's like that division in the NFL we look at, and we're just like, holy shit, that is gonna be an absolute monster of a of a division. And this year, the uh the American League East is going to be an absolute just monster of a division. Like you got uh the defending AL champ Blue Jays, uh the Yankees. They tied they tied for first place last year, but the Blue Jays won, I believe, on win differential. Uh Boston, I think they're gonna come back this year. I think they're gonna be a solid team. Baltimore's lineup, I was I was reading about this today. Their lineup is gross, especially with adding Pete Alonzo to it. Yeah. And then Tampa Bay is Tampa Bay, man. Like, you always look at Tampa Bay and you're like, how is this team good? And then at like three quarters of the way through the season, they're like in second place or third or first place, they're like right there or in a wild card spot, whatever. Yeah. So this I look at this division and I'm just like any one of these teams could win the division, and any one of them could finish last. Just because I think it's gonna be that good of a division.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely. I think it's gonna be. If I were to give you my my finish in this division, I would.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's kind of the point of this.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. So you want me to give you the full rundown? Okay. So I would say it's uh my personal choice would be Blue Jays finishing first, Yankees in second, Boston in third, Orioles in fourth, Tampa in fifth. That's the way I would see it.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna take Yankees, Blue Jays, Orioles, Red Sox, Race. And I picked the Yankees simply because they are getting Garrett Cole back, and I think that was they finished first last year without him. So I think that's huge getting him back. And with the Blue Jays, their their pitching uh just depth is gonna be ridiculous, and their defense is gonna be ridiculous. However, they're losing Bo Bachet, one of the best hitters in baseball. And a lot of things went right for them last year. Like a lot of things went right for them last year. Like guys that you look at, you're like, just had like quote career years. Does that keep happening? I don't know. George Springer, he's 35 years old, he had one of the best seasons he's ever had. Does that continue? I don't know. Neither does he. Right. You know, you you had, and I hate this term because it doesn't make any sense to me, but like a lot of guys last year had, quote, positive regression. I that doesn't that's like an oxymoron to me. It doesn't make any sense.
SPEAKER_00Well, yeah, it doesn't, but what it really I if we were to spell it out for the the person at home that doesn't know what that means, right? So and basically it means water finds its level, right? Is really what it means. Because if you're if you're normally playing at, say, this level, and last year you had a down year, well, you're gonna positively regress, which is regressing is not the word you should use for that, but they always say that. It's basically water finds its level, right? Is you're gonna find your mean and your median most of the time.
SPEAKER_01But these these analytic nerds want to sound smart and they just say putting it.
SPEAKER_00Positive regression, which makes zero sense.
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_01So I I look at it and I'm like, does that happen again for the Blue Jays? I I can't necessarily say that it will, because it's it's rare that you see that that almost everybody on the team has like career years. Right. And then they keep it. And then they redo it. Yeah. Yeah. So that's that's the biggest reason why I do have the Yankees winning this division and the Blue Jays fit Blue Jays finishing second. I think they'll don't get me wrong. I I think the winner of this division is gonna have between 85 and 90 wins. Yeah. Just because I think they're gonna beat up on each other. So it's good, it's gonna be good baseball to watch. I can see that.
SPEAKER_00But yeah, and I and I think the funny thing here is honestly, if you told if anybody told me they had any one of those four teams out of the Blue Jays, the Red Sox, the Yankees, or the Orioles finishing first, I don't think I would think it was that crazy. Because it is such a good division. I I personally think it comes down to either the Yankees or the Blue Jays, but the Red Sox and the Orioles have good teams. They easily could pull out the division if something happens with injuries or something.
SPEAKER_01Like I wouldn't the Orioles lineup's gonna be ridiculous. Yeah, it's gonna be ridiculous, man. If they can stay healthy, oh that's not gonna be fun to pitch against. Um Central. Uh I mean it's still like the shittiest division in baseball.
SPEAKER_00It is, and it's the Tigers to lose.
SPEAKER_01It really well, is it though?
SPEAKER_00It should be.
SPEAKER_01I mean, they they managed to do that last year.
SPEAKER_00Yep. Uh I mean it it but again last year it was the Tigers to lose. I mean it they did. And they did, and and and they did the year before, too. So like uh I still can't lead off this season saying it's not theirs to lose.
SPEAKER_01No, I I look at this, I I think Detroit uh is the favorite to win the division. I think they will simply just because of their their starting pitching. Yes. I think that that rotation, I think, is gonna be good enough to get them to the point where they're gonna win the division. Um I I guess you maybe have seen it uh that Pizza Boy has decided, well, we're gonna go to a lockout anyway, so just kind of go all in this year. Um so I think if they are at the this is gonna be the thing with with the trade deadline.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01There's gonna be one of two things he's gonna do. Either he's gonna go fully all in, yeah, or he's gonna trade Scoobyl.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_01But I guess what's gonna happen.
SPEAKER_00Flat honestly, here's what I'd like to see. Yeah. I'd like to see both. Okay. Because if you can go out there and go all in on a pitcher and still trade Scoobul for some prospects and some younger guys, bro, that that's that's both all in now and later.
SPEAKER_01Well, that's the thing. Like, we were I was talking about this with a buddy of mine at bowling uh last week. And you're talking about trading Scuble for the guy that did start the championship game of the World Baseball Classic, who was on the Mets. I'm like, I mean, yeah, I that'd be my starting point if I'm making that trade. Right. Like, I want him and I want XXX and X.
SPEAKER_00Okay, I can live with that. Do it. Well, because you look at it. So for School Bull, what you really should get, you should get one uh younger major leaguer, a guy who is at least in the majors, right? Not that pitch not full-on proven, but well, I'm talking you're that's one team, right? But if we're talking in general, where you start, right? I think you start with a with a proven major leaguer, not not an all-star, not a guy who's been in the league for like a proven major leaguer. Right. And then probably two or three prospects behind that that are highly ranked within the organization.
SPEAKER_01I want at least two A prospects.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. Yeah. And and that you can do that, but also you can make another trade to get a pitcher and not take a dip this season. You're still kind of all in this season, but you're also all in on the future because you're now not going to lose Terek Scuble for nothing. You're at least gonna get something for him.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, you can't lose him for nothing. Like, and but that this is where Sky Harris has to do his due diligence and find out. During the season, like, are you going to resign with us or not? Yeah. If you're not going to, then we are going to find someone to trade you to.
SPEAKER_00Here's the thing. I I I think at this point it's it's a foregone conclusion. I don't think he is gonna sign here. I think it's it to me, it's been made pretty clear that he's not gonna sign here, and the Tigers are not gonna offer him what anybody else is gonna offer him. That to me is clear. So, in my opinion, unless you think that he for sure gives you the best shot to win a World Series this year at trade deadline, no, then you have to trade him and get something for him. Because if it's a long shot that he helps you win a World Series, I don't think that's worth it.
SPEAKER_01The only the only thing the reason I'll push back on that is simply because of we don't know what's gonna happen in the future with the lockout. Because it's going to happen. Yes. Like 100%, it's going to happen. Yes. So I understand why they don't want to sign them to a fucking ridiculous contract. I get it. And that's the only reason why I'll just be like, eh. I don't know if it's if it's so much foregone that he's not going to resign here. Now, do I think he's going to? No, probably not. Yeah. But I don't want to, I don't want to say that it's done, that it's not going to happen.
SPEAKER_00So the hope you have comes from the fact that there will be a lockout, there will be a contract that's redone, there will be some things that there probably will be some sort of a cap put in place.
SPEAKER_01Dude, if if if the owners are hell bent on getting a salary cap, dude, we might not have baseball for like three years. Like seriously.
SPEAKER_00Honestly, take it down, start over then. No, I'm serious because like is it really do we really want to keep watching baseball where the the basically just like three or four teams are spending all the money and getting all the all the guys? I mean, I I just I don't want to see that.
SPEAKER_01I don't want to keep seeing that. I don't either, but I also want to see these these bottom feeder teams actually spend money because they can spend money. I mean, they'll lie to you and say they they're broke, they're poor, they don't have any money, which is complete bullshit.
SPEAKER_00So, how do you solve that portion of it? You have a salary floor. You have a salary floor. Yes. You have a salary floor. In that in that case, I'd be for that. Like salary cap and a salary floor. Great. You can't spend below this amount. Yes. Can't spend above this amount. If you spend above this amount, you pay a luxury tax, you pay a tax or whatever.
SPEAKER_01They're already doing that though.
SPEAKER_00Right, but I but again, it it's I think the tax has got to be higher if they do that now. Not just basically like a slap on the wrist of oh no, you sped over, you shouldn't do that.
SPEAKER_01Um then you have to get rid of deferred contracts. You have to.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't I don't believe in the deferred contracts anyway. I think that's a that's a farce too. I mean, I I think that's another way of of skirting the exactly why they do it. It's I I don't like that type of stuff. I I understand it's within the rules now, but I I just don't agree with that. Like the whole Bobby Bonia getting paid until you're fucking dead in a grave thing. Like literally that dude makes millions every year. That's what the with Shopei. I I know, and that's I just don't I don't agree with that. I think Sures are trying to deal with the with the Nationals like that, too. Yep. Which it's it's smart on their part to do it. Oh, listen, on the players' part, it's brilliant because you don't need all that money right now. If you're gonna keep getting paid after you retire and set yourself up for life, man. Dude, is you're gonna keep getting millions of dollars every single year for the rest of your life?
SPEAKER_01Yeah. I just I but I look at it like the owners are pretty hell bent on getting a salary cap. The owners or the players are hell bent on not having a salary cap. I think this is gonna be all out war between them after this season. And I think we're gonna have what we had in '94. I think we're gonna have a strike or like a significantly long lockout. I think that's 100% gonna happen. And it sucks because baseball in the past, I would say, year, two years, was having like a renaissance. It really was. Like ratings are up, attendance is significantly up. Like the ratings for for this world baseball classic were by far the highest they've ever had. It's not even close uh from previous years. Like baseball was actually having a renaissance, like with uh with the rule changes and all the all that shit. And they're gonna fucking they're gonna fucking blow it up. They're gonna shoot themselves in the foot like they always do. Fucking idiots. Anyways, back to the AL Central. Uh, I think we both think that the Tigers are gonna win the division. It's theirs to lose, bro. Okay. It really is, in my opinion. Uh, I think I'm still gonna take Cleveland uh second, KC, uh Chicago, and Minnesota.
SPEAKER_00Uh okay. Uh so I have a little bit different there. I have Detroit, KC, Cleveland, Minnesota, Chicago.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Uh, we move on to the AL West. Um, this is another division uh where I don't know, man. It feels like you have like two like decent teams and then everybody else. Like you got Seattle uh and Houston. Houston's always gonna be Houston, Texas. Who I never know what Texas Texas should be a lot better than they are. Like they just won the World Series, what, three years ago? Yep. And then they just like completely fall off a cliff, which is amazing to me. Sacramento, like it just feels weird saying that. Like the Sacramento Athletics. It sounds incredibly weird saying that. And they are using Sacramento this year. They are instead of just be calling the athletics, which was incredibly dumb.
SPEAKER_00The Sacramento Athletics. So they're gonna be the Sacramento Athletics for one year, and then they're going to Las Vegas. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00So that sounds right. So they were the Oakland Athletics.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00And then now they're the Sacramento Athletics.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00What stadium are they playing in?
SPEAKER_01A minor league one.
SPEAKER_00They're playing in a minor league stadium?
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00And then next year there will be the Las Vegas Athletics.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Okay. I just want to make sure we're all on the same page.
SPEAKER_01Right. And then you have the LA Angels, who owner really just couldn't care less about winning.
SPEAKER_00So they're going to finish dead last. Yep. You have the Los Angeles Angels. Right. One of the worst team names in league history.
SPEAKER_01And it's so funny that people that like, oh, I feel so bad for Mike Trout. I'm like, why? He made his bed. Dude, he made you feel bad for him. I don't feel bad for him at all. He's he's wealthier than you wanted this, man.
SPEAKER_00Like you could have gone. He's the one that signed the big contract there. And believe me, I don't think he's I don't think he's upset about the money.
SPEAKER_01No. But you could have he could have gone anywhere he wanted to go. Anywhere. And he decided to stay there with a franchise whose owner literally came out and said he doesn't care about winning. Cool, man. Yep. So no, I don't fucking feel bad for you at all. Nope. Anyways, getting back to I think is going to win this division. I think Seattle's going to win it going away.
SPEAKER_00Yeah. To me, I think Seattle wins this division outright. No questions asked. To me, the question comes between teams two, three, and four because I think the the Los Angeles Angels finish last.
SPEAKER_01I do too, yes.
SPEAKER_00I would say, honestly, I'm going to go with Sacramento. Really? To take second in this division. Oh, all right. Um, and I'm going to go with the Rangers to take third and Houston to be in fourth.
SPEAKER_01Wow. Uh, I'm going to go with Texas second, Houston third, Sacramento fourth, and the Angels fifth. Nice. Now yours is probably closer to being correct, but who knows? You know, who knows? Well, before we move on to the National League, uh, I should probably mention our guy, Jason Stilten from Flagstar Bank. Yeah. If you're a homeowner or looking to be a first-time home buyer, give Jason Stiltener, senior loan officer at Flagstar Bank a call today at 248-752-3631. Jason has great mortgage programs for first-time homebuyers, including down payment assistance options and excellent interest rates. Again, give my guy, Jason Stiltener from Flagstar Bank, a call today at 248-752-3631, and get the excellent service you deserve. Yeah. Flagstar Bank, Equal Housing Lender, Member FDIC, and MLS number 27546. Yeah. All right. As we move on to the National League, we'll start in the NL East. Um I look at this division, and it should be kind of like the AL East a little bit, but I don't think it's going to be nearly as good. Um my pick coming out of this division, I'm taking the Braves. Uh I think I think that we had a couple of frustrating years here. And this is all contingent on if Ronald Lacuna can stay healthy. If that dude can stay healthy, I think the Braves have have a legit shot to win this division. Yep. I don't trust the Mets at all, ever. Um and I think they're going to finish third in this division. And I think that uh Philly's gonna finish second.
SPEAKER_00So I'm with you there, only except for I have Philadelphia and then Atlanta. Okay. And then the Mets. Because I'm with you. I just don't have faith in the Mets. Um and uh I think it's gonna be either Philly or Atlanta, and I'm I'm taking Philly. All right.
SPEAKER_01Uh then I have Washington and then the Marlins. Washington's got some good young good young talent, and I think it's gonna I have it the opposite way.
SPEAKER_00I actually have the Marlins finishing over them. But again, I that's like you know, picking which which turd looks the prettiest.
SPEAKER_01Right. Uh as we move on to the NL Central, which is basically kind of like a somewhat of a carbon copy of the AL Central. Yes. Uh I have I I can't believe I'm actually gonna say this, but I actually have the Cincinnati Reds winning this division. Really? I do. I do. I think this is the year they put it together. They got into the playoffs last year, I believe. I think this is the year that they actually put it together and win the division. Uh Milwaukee, I actually I have Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Chicago, Pittsburgh, St. Louis. Mine will be Milwaukee, Chicago. Yeah. Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, St. Louis. Okay. Now I think Pittsburgh's gonna make take some strides this year. I they actually spent some money this year to get some free agents. Which they never do. Ever. Fucking ever. But they did this year, and obviously they have one of the best pitchers on the planet in the rotation. Um is that? Paul Skeens. Okay. Yeah. And then now they have another they have a prospect. I for the life of me can't remember what his name is, but they have a prospect. He's rated slightly better than McGonagall. Okay. But I don't think he's breaking camp with him. But Marler Cowell's this kid's he's outstanding. What position is shortstop, I believe. Okay. Uh for the life of me, can't remember what his name is. Uh, but they have a so they got some good young prospects, and I think they're gonna I think they're gonna do some damage this year. I really do. Uh, which is good. When Pittsburgh, I don't know if you've ever been to that stadium. I have not, but I really want to go. Dude, when that stadium is full, it's awesome. We should take a weekend trip. I agree with you. That stadium is full, it's fucking awesome. And it's one of the I've been to a decent amount of stadiums. That is probably the most beautiful stadium I've ever been to.
SPEAKER_00Like, we should take a fucking leave out on a Friday, come back on a Sunday or Monday. I'm on board with this.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Because I really do want to go to Pittsburgh. I want to see their style. Like, I've I've heard it's it's awesome. Pittsburgh's a dope city, it's a lot of fun. Um, Alicia joined in. She said, I'm in.
SPEAKER_01Oh, oh shit. We gotta do it after the golf trip, Alicia. So anytime after June, we can probably make this happen. Um as a move to the NL West, I mean Dodgers. I I mean Dodgers.
SPEAKER_00There's not a it's the can we just say Dodgers and then free for all? Basically, yeah. Okay, like that's all it is. I mean, okay, hold on. Dodgers, free-for-all, and the Rockies. Like in the middle is the three free-for-alls. Right. And you've got the Dodgers and the Rockies at the bottom, and then you've got a combination of the Padres, the Giants, and the Diamondbacks. Like we should like we shit on the mishmashed in there.
SPEAKER_01Like we shit on the NL and AL Central. I this is this this is the division that should be shit on.
SPEAKER_00Oh. Because it's like one team. Absolutely. It's one team, and then and then it's one team that's relevant. Yeah. It's one team that's completely irrelevant, and then three other ones that are fighting for relevancy. It's not even there's not even a second team in there that is barely relevant. It's it's terrible. It's I don't know.
SPEAKER_01And but this is the problem. Like the Giants, that's a team. They can spend money. Like, it's one of the richest teams in baseball. It's one of the richest teams in sports. They can spend money. It's just hitters don't want to go there because that stadium is a disaster for hitters. They don't want to they don't want to play there. It's like, I don't know. They should be better though.
SPEAKER_00But oh yeah, Alicia's Alicia said for sure to you when you said after the golf trip.
SPEAKER_01That'll be fun. We'll we'll try to make this happen. We'll find a weekend. Hopefully, we'll play in the Cubs or something like that. We can make that happen. I'll I'll check it out later after we get done with the with the show. I'll uh I'll do some digging. We get it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm down for a weekend uh Pittsburgh trip. That would be fun, man. And and wouldn't have to miss a lot of work for it. It's a it's a quick trip. It's a four-hour drive. It's a weekend trip and and uh little getaway, man.
SPEAKER_01Four-hour drive, man. It's it's that city's a lot of fun. Uh very hilly, but it's a lot of fun. Yep. And cheap yingling. It's like a dollar. What is a dollar yingling. Really? That's where it's from, yeah. At the ballpark? No. Oh but like at bars and they have like $1, $1.50 yengling. It's great. Well, alright then. Alright, so obviously we just did our our division rankings and and winners and whatnot. Now I kind of want to move on to awards. Okay. Like kind of what we did for the NFL a little bit. Not nearly as in depth as what we did for the NFL. Yeah, I was gonna say we're we're winging this one right now. Yeah, we are kind of winging this one. So I'm gonna go, I'm gonna start out in the American League. I'm gonna go. Who is your pick to win the American League MVP?
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah, let me see here. Uh I think we were we had talked about this on one show. Slightly, yes. And I'm trying, I don't want to give I want to go back and give you my answer that I gave you originally, but I'm probably gonna end up changing it. Um I said, but um I think I said it'd be tough for me to to to not take Aaron Judge, but I also said my my um my outside shot here that I kind of like is Bobby Witt. Okay. From the Royals.
SPEAKER_01I like Bobby Witt. I do. I think that's an excellent choice. Um I love I love how he played in the uh in the WBC.
SPEAKER_00And don't don't count on Cal Raleigh either, because I mean that that dude's I think he's gonna have a tremendous fall off this year.
SPEAKER_01You think so? I do 100%. I think he's gonna have an absolutely tremendous fall-off. Wow. Which ironically because I picked the marriage to win that division, but I don't know, man. I just I I saw, and I know it's early, I get it, but he looked like a shell of himself in the WBC. Now I'm not saying that's you know that's gonna translate, but right. I don't know, man. We talked about you know the Blue Jays, you know, positive regression, all that shit. Is he gonna have another season like that? I don't think so. I really don't. I'm not saying he's gonna have like a bad season, right? But it's not, I don't think it's gonna be anywhere near what he did last year. Yeah. Uh my pick is, and this is with a bullet, and I'm actually gonna put a decent amount of money on this. Uh Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
SPEAKER_00Okay. Yeah, I mean that's a that's another great pick. I mean, uh, it's it's he's he's one of the stuff there, right? If you want to go through the guys that are that are really up there, right? It's it's well it's Bobby Witt, it's Aaron Judge, Cal Raleigh, Jose Ramirez, Vlad Guerrero Jr. Julio Rodriguez, Julio Rodriguez, Roman Anthony, yep, yep, Nick Kurtz, Gunnar Henderson, Gunnar Henderson.
SPEAKER_01Yep. Um, I just I loved how he just I actually think I chose Vlad Guerrero Jr.
SPEAKER_00last time we did this too. I think I did, yeah. Okay. I was I was trying to think of who I was.
SPEAKER_01Well you did Bobby Witt, but you might be right. Um I'm I think I did say Bobby Witt too as like an outside shot, but but I I I love how Vlad just to me he can play, he became like a completely different hitter in the playoffs last year. Um kind of the hitter that we'd been waiting for. Like he has the talent to do this, and then you saw him like what he did in the WBC. I'm like, this dude is he's that guy now. I'm like, I think he's gonna have an absolute monster season this year. I really do. Um, he's gonna have to because again, losing Boba Chet, that's a big loss for the Blue Jays.
SPEAKER_00So I think for the National League, uh, we have to say, do not choose Shohei. You cannot choose Shohei. All right, who's who's the second in line other than Shohei? Because I think we're both gonna say Shohei is gonna win it. I think we I think we need to pick a second.
SPEAKER_01That's fair. I can live with that. Um minus Shohei Otani. Again, if he can stay healthy, I'm gonna go with Acunya.
SPEAKER_00If he can stay healthy. I I actually agree with you there. So that that he's my first choice after Shohei. Yeah. My second and and pretty close choice to that would be Fernando Tatis Jr.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Now, if and I said I think they're gonna win this division, since Nate Reds, I can see Ellie Della Cruz winning this. If they win if they win the AL C or the NL Central, I can 1 million percent seeing him win winning the NL C.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I could see that.
SPEAKER_01I like that. Uh American League Cy Young.
SPEAKER_00I'm gonna go with three-time champion Terrix Kubel. Really? Okay. Alright. Dude, he's going into that contract season, man. I I don't see him, I don't see him slowing down one bit. I that dude is a dog.
SPEAKER_01He is like he Well, he's a dog for six innings.
SPEAKER_00Right. But again, I think some of that is from his Asian. Some of that's from a big contract. Yes, I know. And he and he removed himself. Fucking bullshit. I don't disagree with you. Um but when it comes down to it, he when he goes out there, it's game on. That's right. And uh Yeah, I'm I'm gonna go with him.
SPEAKER_01I'm gonna go with uh a guy who pushed School Bowl last year, and I think he's gonna take it over the top this year. I'm gonna go with Garrett Crochet.
SPEAKER_00Crochet?
SPEAKER_01Yep. Yep.
SPEAKER_00You're gonna go with what my mom likes to do? Crochet? Crochet?
SPEAKER_01Yes, that's what I'm gonna go with.
SPEAKER_00Uh National League. Yeah, what he finished one vote apart from him last year, right?
unknownRight.
SPEAKER_01Pretty close, yeah. He was they're up there. Um National League Cy Young.
SPEAKER_00Uh are we allowed to choose Skeens? Yeah, absolutely. Skeens. Fair enough. I to me, I don't see that the like do you want me to give a second option? Because to me, that first one's pretty it's too easy.
SPEAKER_01You know what? I'll just give another option because I mean it's whatever. I think Skeens is probably gonna win it. But yeah, I'll go with Yamamoto.
SPEAKER_00I that's that's that's one I would I would go with. And and then possibly Otani. I could see. I don't think he's gonna pitch enough to do it. Yeah, you don't? No, no. Logan wins. I would love to see, I would love to see a MVP and Cy Young winner be the same player. That would be fucking awesome.
SPEAKER_01It would be something. Uh American League Rookie of the Year.
SPEAKER_00Who you got? Who you got? Who do you got? Who do you got? Uh yeah. I don't really, I'll be honest with you, I don't really know many rookies coming into the league. So I can't speak on like real actual expertise or or knowledge on this one. So I'm gonna go with the Tigers and I'll choose uh McGonagall because he's gonna start the season on the roster. I also could throw in if he actually gets a shot at the roster and makes his way up, if some people struggle, Max Clark could.
SPEAKER_01I don't think there's any way he plays for the Tigers this season.
SPEAKER_00No.
SPEAKER_01No. No. You saw this is where you saw the difference between him and Gonnegal. Max Clark is clearly not even remotely ready for hell, he might not even be ready for triple A baseball. Like it was it was not good with Max Clark. Uh if I'm gonna pick one, and he's gonna start the season on the injured list, um, but it doesn't sound like it's too serious, so I think he's still gonna make a lot of starts. And just by the way, he pitched in the playoffs last year. Uh Trey Savage, the Blue Jays. Okay. That dude's stuff is nasty. And the way he throws it from over the top, it's especially with that splitter he's got, is gross. Um, again, I don't they don't expect him to be out too long. Uh he said it's a shoulder impingement, which I've had, so it takes it takes a few weeks to to heal, but uh I think he's I think he's gonna be just fine. I think he's gonna win the AL rookie of the year. Nice. As we move on to the National League, this is the guy I was thinking of, uh Connor Griffin.
SPEAKER_00Connor Griffin, okay. Yes. Well, you talked him up, so I'm gonna I'm gonna pick him to win uh National League Rookie of the Year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh do I think he is going to win the uh Rookie of the Year? No, I don't because I don't know when they are gonna call him up. Uh I'm going to take um. I'm gonna take Nolan McLean. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um you want to do manager of the year?
SPEAKER_00I mean, we can.
SPEAKER_01Go for it, man. Do it.
SPEAKER_00Uh I'm gonna go with AJ Inch. Done. Got it.
SPEAKER_01Uh I'm gonna go with uh sure, Matt Quatrado. Matt Quatrado? Sure. Yeah. National League. Uh whoever the Reds manager is. That that dude is whoever the Reds manager is. Yes, I don't even know. I just I'm just Oh, it's uh it's Terry Francona.
SPEAKER_00I'm just gonna go with this because I want to say it.
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Donnie Kelly, baby.
SPEAKER_01Donnie Kelly, baby. I like it. I like it. Okay, so we've done that, but now I got a few things, like um more of uh predictions, I guess. Bold predictions for the 2026 season. I just kind of want to get your your takes on this. Okay. I like it. Uh the first one they got up, the Pirates will win the NL Central. Ooh.
SPEAKER_00Well, we uh you talked about how they're gonna be a better team. Um I'm gonna go with uh that's bold.
SPEAKER_01Uh I think it's a little too bold. I think it is too. I just don't think they have the horses to do it. Um I mean again, they're gonna be a better team this year. They're just flat out are gonna be a better team this year.
SPEAKER_00I just but but better as in winning that division? No, I I don't I don't see that.
SPEAKER_01I I don't yeah, I don't I don't foresee that happening. But I love the I love the bull. That's what the whole point of it is. Bold predictions. I love it.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01It's no that's pretty bold. Yes, it is. Um number two on here, the Royals will win the AL Central.
SPEAKER_00The Royals with cheese will win the AL Central.
SPEAKER_01Can't necessarily say no. I mean, I could see it happening.
SPEAKER_00So this one's not as bold, and it's because we talked about it when we talked about the ALEs, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00The Tigers blew it two years in a row.
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00So if Kansas City is the one that's that's trailing them, that's right there with them, then yeah, I mean it could definitely happen. I don't that one I don't think it's as bold as as the Pittsburgh one for sure.
SPEAKER_01And especially if uh Bobby Witt Jr. has that MVP type season. Right. That could absolutely happen. 100%. Number three, we talked a little bit about this earlier. Terek Scuble will be traded to the Mets. And the Tigers will reach October anyway.
SPEAKER_00Uh I think that's a real possibility. I am on board with this. So I I don't again, I know they're saying you're saying the Mets, and you talked about it earlier. Yep. Uh if you're gonna just if you're just gonna say Tarek Scuble gets traded, and the Tigers still make make it to October baseball, then yeah, I could see that happening. I I I don't necessarily think that's uh a huge bold statement because by the time the trade deadline comes and they trade them, if they're in good enough shape, they should still be able to make the playoffs at that point in time. So I don't see that as being that far-fetched because if he's as good as he has been the last few years, then they're gonna be in a position to make the playoffs by the time they trade him and you have the depth in the rotation, right?
SPEAKER_01Plus you're gonna get a piece back from the Mets that you could probably just plug in two said rotation.
SPEAKER_00Right.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I can one million percent.
SPEAKER_00And there's always an opportunity for you to make a different trade other than that to get a starting rotation pitcher at that time. So yeah, I I think it's very possible. Agreed. Uh move on to is there more?
SPEAKER_01I think it might have been it. That's it? I think so. Oh no, number four. The Phillies will miss the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00That's bold. Um, I mean, it's possible, but it it I mean, I don't know. I I I have a hard time calling that a bold prediction.
SPEAKER_01Um I it's bold only for the fact that they don't miss the playoffs. And not to mention with how the playoff format is now, like obviously with more teams making it.
SPEAKER_00One more, but yeah. But I have they upped it since since last year. I miss some of these rule changes sometimes.
SPEAKER_01I I could see it. Like I don't I think a lot of this depends on the type of season Bryce Harper has. And I think they just lost Schwarber, right? Or did he resign with them? I think, yeah, I think they lost Schorber, if I remember correctly. I think he signed with somebody else. How dare him! Um I could see it. I could see the Phillies missing the playoffs 100%. But they're hosting the All-Star game because of uh I have them winning that division, so I don't really see it. But fair enough. Uh number five, the Marlins will make the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00Fuck no.
SPEAKER_01No.
SPEAKER_00No, fuck that. Okay, that's not just bold. Like somebody needs to test that dude for drugs. Like, that's not a they're not there yet.
SPEAKER_01Like, I know they got some good young talent. I get it, but they are not there yet.
SPEAKER_00You got them finishing last in a division. At least I haven't finished in a fourth in the division. Even then still, I'm gonna tell you it's fucking lunatic.
SPEAKER_01They are not there yet.
SPEAKER_00That's insane.
SPEAKER_01Number number, and then there's dude, you need fucking help. Number six, Junior Camanero will be an MVP, an AL MVP finalist. Yes, I agree with this. This is not exactly a bold take. That dude can rake. He's uh place for the race. That dude can absolutely fucking rake.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I'm gonna say I don't necessarily think this is a bold take. I don't I I don't, I think if you're looking at bold takes, the the the boldest so far is saying the the Marlins make the fucking playoffs. So that's the boldest one we've had so far. And that's real fucking bold.
SPEAKER_01That is that is you're on drugs bold. Uh number seven, you will leave the season with more respect for home plate umps. Wrong. No.
SPEAKER_00No, this is gonna expose them for how bad they actually are. I've already seen in preseason where I've looked at it and gone, see, I fucking knew they sucked. Because there's been some where they're right down the fucking middle of the plate. They call them a ball, and then they go to the they go to the the pitch thing, and it's like it's right in the fucking center, dude.
SPEAKER_01Like that one at the end of the uh USA Dominican game, where it's like, dude, that's not a fucking strike. No, it's not a strike. There's no league on this planet that that is a strike. I think they're gonna get exposed. I do too. I do too. Um, but it's time. Like we need it. Again, absolutely. As long as they don't significantly slow the game slow down the game for this much. From all the counts, is that's not what's gonna happen. It's gonna they said it's gonna add maybe a minute or two on the games. Okay, fine. Um but you fucking you you fucking uh zoomers, you got what you fucking wanted, you got the shorter games and all that shit. I get it. But here's the thing that I want.
SPEAKER_00Why are we just gonna do this on challenges? Why don't we just have that be balls and strikes and have the umps back there to call outs at the play? Like, why are we even utilizing the umps who have errors when if you're gonna if the the solution is to go to this pitch tracker, why don't you just use the fucking pitch tracker? If it's the fail safe, make it just the the thing. Yeah. I I don't know. I don't I don't understand why why the we're gonna use that to correct the guys who get it wrong, but we're not gonna put that as the main thing. We're still gonna have the guys who get it wrong be the main call of balls and strikes. Right.
SPEAKER_01No? I'm I'm I'm I'm good with this. You get your two challenges, fine. I can live with it.
SPEAKER_00So only two bad pitches a game do you get to correct from the umps that get them wrong all the fucking time? Like, dude, they get them wrong a lot.
SPEAKER_01They do. I don't disagree, but they but there are certain ones that get it right a lot, you know? And then this is what's gonna happen. It's you're it's gonna sort out the the good ones from the bad ones. It just is.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I'm fine with that. Uh number eight, the Blue Jays will miss the playoffs. False. They will not miss the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00That's wrong. That that's very bold.
SPEAKER_01It's a bold take. That's very bold. But this team will not miss the big gold.
SPEAKER_00That's almost as bold as the Marlins will make the playoffs.
SPEAKER_01Right. Like, I don't think they're necessarily gonna make another World Series run, but they're not gonna miss the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00No.
SPEAKER_01Flat out, they're not gonna miss the playoffs.
SPEAKER_00No, I think I feel more strongly about them not missing the playoffs than I do about Philadelphia not missing the playoffs.
SPEAKER_01Number nine, the Mets will beat the Dodgers in the NLCS. Well, considering I don't have the Mets in the playoffs. Yeah. False. False. That's a false for me, too. That is not gonna happen. Uh now, maybe, maybe, if they I guess do trade for Derek Scuble, maybe. So that I think that gets him in, but we'll see. Uh number 10, the Mariners will win the World Series. Fuck it. Why not? Yes.
SPEAKER_00I mean, that's not as far-fetched as some of these other ones. So yeah, I mean, that's definitely possible. They were in it last year.
SPEAKER_01I mean, what they got to game seven in the ALCS, man.
SPEAKER_00I mean, I don't know. I don't know what I mean. They were there. Yeah. Uh I don't yeah, that's not that bold for me. I I yes, I could see that happening.
SPEAKER_01Why not? Why not have the Mariners who've never been to a World Series actually win the damn thing in the first try? Why not? I but here's the thing. I could see it happening. I could absolutely see it happening. Why not? I actually kind of want to see it happen. I like the Mariners, but and uh those are if for the uh quote bold takes from uh for this year in uh in the MLB. So okay. Uh do you what else do we have that you want to get into? Anything? Uh do you want to do a quick uh uh NFL free agency wrap-up or like winners and losers? Some some type of thing?
SPEAKER_00No, we can put that off till another the next show, um, I think. Okay. I think that uh we could talk about that and then the upcoming draft. We'll have well, I think we'll have plenty of time to talk about those two things. Okay. I do want to touch back on the NCAA tournament for a minute. Yes. Um, but if you're looking for a place to go watch the tournament games this coming weekend on Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, look no further than Tap and Barrel Grill in Shelby Township. They're one of the newest sports bars in Metro Detroit. They have an upscale sports bar, which features over 40 craft beers on tap, handcrafted cocktails, and a delicious scratch-made food menu. They also have an amazing patio, which was voted best in McComb County by Crane's Detroit Weekly. Their comfortable feel, attentive staff, and fine dining food options make it a must-visit spot for sports fans and foodies alike. Whether you're looking to watch the big game or just looking for a great meal, Tap and Barrel Grill has you covered. Visit them at 50055 Van Dyke Avenue in Shelby Township or go to tap and barrelgrill.com. I see Dad. Thank you, sir.
SPEAKER_01No problem.
SPEAKER_00Uh, but the question I want to ask here is I want to see we didn't get into where the two local teams are playing, who they're playing, and what we the possible outcomes for these games are. So let's start off with Michigan State. Michigan State is playing Yukon. Michigan State's road to this position went through North Dakota. They they started out as a three-seed. Uh they went through North Dakota State and St. Louis, right?
SPEAKER_01No, Michigan went through St. Louis.
SPEAKER_00MSU went through Louisville. Sorry, Louisville. Yeah. Uh and now they're playing UConn in this the Sweet 16. So what say you about this matchup, Christopher?
SPEAKER_01Uh I think Michigan State's actually turned it on. Uh, this is gonna be a matchup between two psychopathic head coaches. Um which you know should lead to some some antics on the sidelines, some some fun shit to watch there. I'm down for that. I mean, I I it's hard to it's hard to downplay what Michigan State has done this tournament. I think they've looked really good. I do. Yeah. Um, I don't know, man. I I feel like they should be better than they are. Um I I do see this one coming down to the wire.
SPEAKER_00Well, UConn is uh the UConn won it two years ago and three years ago. So they they've they've won it recently.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. But I there's something just with this team. I don't know. Maybe there's something like T Foss always said, there's like the bunion. I feel like I think Michigan State's gonna win this game and then they're gonna move on to the Elite Eight.
SPEAKER_00Nice callback for T Foss, by the way. Uh yes, I actually see MSU pulling this game out. They're playing really well. Yeah. Um, they started playing really well down the stretch in the regular season, and and they've they've continued that into the tournament. Uh yeah, I see them advancing through this game. Uh, I'm not hoping they do, but I see them advancing through this game.
SPEAKER_01Yes, I would concur with that.
SPEAKER_00And then we moved to the Wit Midwest division, where Michigan was the number one seed. They went through Howard, and then uh St. Louis.
SPEAKER_02Yep.
SPEAKER_00And now they're playing Alabama, and Bama went through Hofstra and uh Texas Tech.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Bama is a four seed to Michigan's one. Chris, how say you on this game?
SPEAKER_01Uh this is simple to me. Um, if Michigan can continue to make uh their outside shots like they have through the first two games, I think they win.
SPEAKER_00I think they're the better team in this matchup. Um I don't think Bama is actually as good as their four seed um says. Uh I believe Michigan wins this game. I'm gonna say they win this game probably by by the end of the game, it might be close to 20 points of a win here.
SPEAKER_01Really? Yeah. Wow. That's going out in the land. That's bold. Yeah. That is that is very bold, I gotta say.
SPEAKER_00Um I'm and I'm looking forward to this next uh this next round a lot, man. I I I I'm really looking forward to seeing these games.
SPEAKER_01Michigan's Michigan's laying nine and a half in that game. Okay.
SPEAKER_00What's the uh MSU Yukon? Yukon by space they pick them. UConn by one and a half.
SPEAKER_01Okay.
SPEAKER_00Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So I don't know. The bunion's telling me something. Yeah about that Michigan State uh Yukon game.
SPEAKER_00Well, I don't have the same bunion, but I'm being I'm being told the same thing, at least in my head. So fair enough. Uh all right. Anything else you want to get into?
SPEAKER_01Uh oh yeah. Um the NCAA hockey tournament is starting here shortly. Oh, okay. Uh, and Michigan has the number one overall seed. Nice. After beating Ohio State in the uh big ten playoffs. Um I believe Michigan is the third third seed in the tournament. Um I was looking forward to it, man. I love I love I love the uh the NCAA hockey tournament. I think it's great. I wish the frozen four. I wish that they would do the first rounds on campus. I don't I find it ridiculous that they don't. Yeah. Kind of like they're doing with with the college football playoff. I wish they would do that because an NCAA tournament game at Yoast would be oh, it'd be great. Fucking amazing.
SPEAKER_00Umost is probably my favorite place to ever watch.
SPEAKER_01Oh, Yost is so much fun, man. When that place gets rocking, that place is so much fun. Yep.
SPEAKER_00Yep. It's almost, I mean, it's one of those atmospheres for a hockey game that you just cannot describe to anybody. You have you have to experience it. I mean, it's almost like you're there. It's like you're in, like you're you're you're on top of the and it it's it's a great atmosphere.
SPEAKER_01Like I was I was listening to uh uh a hockey show, uh, one of the hockey shows I listened to pretty much every day. Um, and there was a a scout that recently went there and it was like his first time there, and he's like, I loved it. He's like, it was great. The atmosphere there was just out of control. It was so much fun. I wish I could have gone there as a fan because he was actually scouting.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Um, he's like, I wish I could have been there as a fan. That that place, it's everything that everybody says it is. Um, the atmosphere, you're just on top of you're like on top of the ice. You know, it's it's a barn. It's it's a hockey barn, and that's that's that that gives it the charm about it, which yeah, you know, there's talk it's old school almost. It is. There's talk that they're gonna build a new arena for for the hockey team. Fuck. Which I I get it. I get it. I don't want it to happen. I don't want to see it. But they're talking about if they do that, it'll it'll be because they're trying to have a uh women's D1 team, which Michigan should have a Michigan's D uh Division I team. It's absurd that they don't. Same thing with Michigan State. It's absurd that they don't with all the talent that comes out of the state uh with female hockey players. Um but I guess the only way this can happen is that they have a bigger rink, I guess, or one that they can use to their own accord because Yost is I think it's a I think it's a public rink. Is it really? I'm almost positive it is a public rink. Yeah. Um so I don't know, man. I just it would it'd be a shame to see that place go away.
SPEAKER_00But yeah. Yeah, I that would be that would be a that would be devastating.
SPEAKER_01It would be. Because that's I think that's a huge recruiting advantage. I really do. You see that place, I don't know. We'll see, we'll see how it plays out.
SPEAKER_00But I think it's huge for just for your home ice advantage, too. I mean, I mean it it that place.
SPEAKER_01It's a tough place to play, man. Uh and I think you'd I think you'd be giving that up. But again, we'll see how we'll see how it plays out. So, but other than that, uh yeah, as Lady Friend said, Yosa's the best. She would know. She's been there numerous times when we had our season tickets, which was awesome, by the way. Oh, I did I did actually want to talk. I can't believe we didn't talk about the Red Wings. Holy shit. I did want to get into that a little bit. Oh, their collapse? Wow. So I've been saying for I don't know, the past couple months that the Red Wings. I thought they I it's like I You kept telling me I was wrong and they were gonna make the play. Right. I try to tell Wings fans to stay off the ledge. They're fine, they're gonna make it, they're gonna make it. And what we're witnessing right now is just an absolute, especially this game as we're recording right now, we're watching probably the biggest game of their season up to to date. And they're getting their shit kicked in. Playing the team that's directly behind them. Because as of now, they are out of the playoffs. Yep. And they are getting their shit rocked at home against a team that is minus their three best defensemen. And is on a back-to-back. Mm-hmm. Like they and it wasn't just they're traveling from Ottawa to Detroit, they were traveling from New York to Detroit. So they went Ottawa, New York, Detroit. Ottawa. If they if they lose this game, that's unacceptable. Detroit. That's flat out Detroit. That's flat out unacceptable. And I and I will maintain this, and I said this before the season started. I go, I said this. I was like, if the Red Wings do not make the playoffs this year, Steve Eisenman should be fired. Yes. Like, I'm sorry, your moves at the deadline, this especially this year, it's just completely unacceptable. Like, David Perron? Okay. Oh, okay. Justin Falk?
SPEAKER_00I like that move. That's solid, but that move I didn't mind, and we talked about that. I actually I actually like that move. Right.
SPEAKER_01You didn't address one of your biggest needs is scoring five on five. You didn't. Like, I don't know what you're waiting for. You have you have the capital and you have the cap space to make a significant move. I don't know what you're waiting for, dude. I don't get it. And I and I hate to say this about him because you know how I feel about Steve Egerman.
SPEAKER_00But how you feel about him as a player is different than how you feel about him.
SPEAKER_01Right. As as a as a GM. I mean, it's two different jobs. And this is why I hate when club legends take jobs with that club that they that they play for. I hate it. This is why this is why I've always hated it. It tarnishes their legacy. It really does. Like when Trammel managed the Tigers, I hated it. I'm like, Yeah. I mean, granted, he never had a chance. He didn't. Like with that roster, he never had a chance. But it's just like you can only hurt your legacy, man. Just like if I were him, I would have stayed in Tampa. And just if he stayed in Tampa, dude, they would have racked up more than two cops. I firmly believe that. Um but it's just this is this would be an absolute failure if they don't make the playoffs this year. Building's been around for what? This is going on year seven, eight, nine, since the pizza boxes. Somewhere around there, yeah. And it's never hosted a an NHL playoff game. Nope. Which is it's hosted a NBA. Numerous. Playoff game. Numerous. Yeah. Yes. Like who would have thought that'd be the case? Not this guy. Not this guy. Oh, do you want to touch on the Lions pre uh offseason a little bit? See how that dumpster fire that's become? We can. Oh, hit it. Yeah. I want to get your thoughts on this. Okay. Not prepared. Let me let me I'm sorry. Let me uh my bad. This is payback for you fucking give me the wrong read, you dick.
SPEAKER_00Uh people are not thrilled with Brad Holmes. That's all I can say. Well, listen, I mean, let's let's be honest, he hasn't done much, right? Uh he signed Isaiah Pacheco, right? So if you're if you're looking at that, to me, that's a downgrade from David Montgomery. It is. Because if you need three yards, he'll get you three yards. If you need six yards, he'll get you three yards. Exactly. Right. Like, like at least David Montgomery had some juice, right? Yeah. Um, Isaiah Pacheco, downgrade. Uh, you've got they signed DJ Wonan Wonum. Uh again. I'm sorry, who? Yeah. Um, they haven't addressed their major needs. I I just don't like who's gonna start on that defensive line other than Hutchinson, right? Uh I mean, are they gonna get his sisters to play football with them? I don't really know what's happening there. I don't uh are they gonna sign the whole Hutchinson family and just have them play for the team at some point? I mean their offensive line is still gonna be gonna be an issue. At this point in time, their offensive line is gonna be an issue. They're gonna have to use their draft picks on offense and defensive line, basically. I don't see how they don't. I I don't I don't see how they don't. And they re-signed Rocky Sin, which uh who cares? Uh I'm seriously. I like that.
SPEAKER_02That's funny.
SPEAKER_00Uh you know, they they linebacker Malcolm Rodriguez, or or as they call used to nickname him Rodrigo. Uh Rodrigo is a dog. They lost anal zone. Yeah, they they lost anal zone. Um they lost Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow. Um they lost uh Al Qaeda Mohammed or whatever his name is. Wow.
SPEAKER_01That's something Frank would say. Wow. That's amazing.
SPEAKER_00I mean, his name looks pretty much like it's that if you look at his name, but that's fair. Al Al Qaudeen Mohammed, it is. Uh, and Montgomery. I I don't See, I I'm gonna put the question out there, and please somebody tell me this. The Lions missed the playoffs last year. They got ousted in the first round when they went 15-2 by a Washington team that was younger and healthier. The Lions have not gotten any better in this offseason so far. They have not signed a free agent that I really believe is worthy of a starting role. And I I beg of you to tell me how they got better and how they're gonna make the playoffs this year. Because I don't see it. Oh, remember, but Sun God says we don't know ball. So you're right. Sun God, quote unquote, said we don't know ball. Yep. Um, but no, he said the fans don't know ball. We're not fans of the team. That's a good point. So obviously we don't, we're not fans of the team. We do know ball then. That's fair, yes. So technicality, but I like it.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00But I mean, yeah, that's I mean, right?
SPEAKER_01Yeah.
SPEAKER_00Technically, what he said was his the fans of his team don't know ball.
SPEAKER_01Don't know ball.
SPEAKER_00But uh, and then also I'm sorry, in Brad You Trust, right?
SPEAKER_01Yep.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, yeah, yeah. No.
SPEAKER_01Jar Rid Goff. Yep. Jar Rid Goff.
SPEAKER_00Yep. They might be chanting that at the Red Wings game tonight, too. Because you know that makes sense. Yeah, right. No, I don't. You tell me, bro, what do you think about it? Because to me, it's been it's been a it's been a dud of an offseason for them. I don't see how they got any better. Uh they've signed some players to fill in some holes, but they haven't filled the holes they really need to fill. Right. The holes they've tried to fill in free agency are the ones they just now lost in David Montgomery and Taylor Decker. You know, you lost two offensive linemen in Taylor Decker and Graham Glasgow, and I know a lot of Lions fans are saying, oh, well, Taylor Decker, we didn't want him anyway. He was old, he was hurt, he was this and that. Okay, but even when he gutted it out and played, he was better than anybody else you have right now. So what are you gonna do there? I understand you didn't want the Lions didn't want to pay him the amount of money to play sort of a part-time role or whatever. But who are you starting on that offensive line?
SPEAKER_01I don't know. And not to mention like their the lack of depth, uh lack of depth, yes. Right.
SPEAKER_00So if they get injuries again, any injuries, they're screwed. They don't have depth, they have no real depth. But JMO. Congratulations, right? But they have James Jameis Williams and they have the sun god, yeah, and they've got a really good tight end just coming back from a back injury because those heal properly all the time. All the time.
SPEAKER_01Oh, speaking of tight ends, you see what they signed Kelsey to? No. Like three years, it's like 45 million or something like that.
SPEAKER_00He got a three-year contract? Uh-huh. There's no way he plays another three years. There's no way. Dude, I can't believe he's playing another one, let alone another three. No way. He doesn't I'll bet right now he doesn't fulfill that three-year contract. No, I don't disagree. No fucking way he fulfills that three-year contract.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. Uh let me see. Oh, oh, wait a minute, sorry. Three years 57. Sorry. I didn't see like the the uh okay, so it's a new three-year deal. It's it's really a one-year deal. Because I'm assuming it's got some language in it. Oh. Yeah. According to Pro Football Talk, because you know Mike Florioba is always honest and knows what the fuck he's talking about. It's structured to be a one-year deal.
SPEAKER_00Gotcha. That makes more sense. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Basically, it's got a what a a probably a team option for uh so it's structured to be a one-year deal with what amounts to be to a placeholder provision for 2027. So basically the contract pays 12 million this year, uh, fully guaranteed 3 million base salary, uh, 3 million fully guaranteed reporting bonus earned on the fifth day of uh trading camp and six million per game. What? Per game roster bonuses. Oh, okay. Yeah. Okay. Alright. Yeah, there's a lot of incentive. There's a lot of jumbled garble in there. Yeah, yeah, there's a lot of bullshit, but whatever. He should have retired after this past season, but that's just me. I agree with you. Um, and then one more thing before we go. Yep. Um now I feel like you're playing a game with me. No, no. Because I saw this and I and I and I and I put it in our group chat. I don't know if you had a chance to listen to it or read it, but oh, the McAfee thing? Yes.
SPEAKER_00I did on the way over here, I actually listened to it in the car.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00Uh yeah. I mean, I don't like the guy. No. And he's become a cartoon version of himself, but uh him body bagging Orlovsky. That's awesome. I'm all about it. Like when Orlovsky said, what big games?
SPEAKER_01What the fuck are you talking about? What big games? Right. Like, I have it right here. Uh let's see, they played number one OSU, number nine, Alabama, number five, Oregon, number ten, Miami. You know what his stats were in those games? 32 points per games, 10 touchdowns, one pick.
SPEAKER_00But he didn't play any big games. Talking about Mendoza. Mendoza, yeah, because he's trying to say uh Ty Simpson is the best quarterback in this draft, right? Because they're they belong to the same agent. Because they're with the same agent. Yes, yes. Exactly.
SPEAKER_01And I and I know ESPN's not gonna do this because why the fuck would they? Because Espien's crooked. 100%. But if I'm if if they had had any fucking stones, like I look at him like You're not allowed, you're not allowed to talk about him. Bye.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, you're not allowed to do that.
SPEAKER_01Get out. If you're not gonna if you're not gonna call shit the way it needs to be called, like down the middle because one guy doesn't go have the same agent than you have, then you're no longer you're no longer doing the show. Get out. But they won't do that because embrace debate.
SPEAKER_00Well, because they're crooked.
SPEAKER_01Yes.
SPEAKER_00They just you're right. They just want debate, they just want clicks, they want Yes. They want all the smoke.
SPEAKER_01Because ESPN has become an absolute fucking just not even a shell of what it was. It's gone. It's a fucking joke. It's gone. It's a it's a joke. Like, I wish we didn't have to have ESPN in our lives, but we do simply because of all the sports that they do actually show. Like games. And it it's it's a tremendous Travis Shamakary. It sucks. It sucks, but unfortunately, it's a necessary evil. Unfortunately, it is. You say that again?
SPEAKER_00Travis Shamakeri. On that note, give us a like, a share, and a follow our social media like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Twitch, and YouTube. You can find all of our podcasts on your favorite podcast provider. Travis Shamakeri. It's a Travis Shamakary. Uh click on S O T E T.com. Click on shop, buy some stuff. We'd appreciate it. It would support us. Also click on our sponsors' logos, give them a like, a share, and a follow as well. That's SOT D E T dot com. On behalf of Chris, I'm Joe. We are Sports on Tap Detroit. See you next Tuesday.