4-16-25 - The Mo Egger Radio Show - Mo Egger

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
To the Home of the Bengals ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Did last night's reads when seem a little different? I
sort of think it did. What's up, Good afternoon, Legg,
ESPN fifteen thirty, Thank you for listening. I got a
show rundown. It's on Twitter at mowg or thanks to

(00:26):
Emory Federal Credit Union. I did it from Emory Federal
Credit Union because that's where I go. That's right, bank,
that's right, it's right put my money. Whenever somebody says
that it sounds like they have a lot of money,
it's it's where I put the money that I have.
I put it at Emory Federal Credit Union, your credit
union with hard since nineteen thirty nine. Good Emory FCU

(00:46):
dot org. We are we're jammed today with we have
a lot. There's a lot going on, a lot of
moving parts. The draft is in eight days at Bumguart
Nick Bumgardner. Baumgartner, I should say, is an NFL draft
Dana list for the Athletic and I mentioned this to
Tony and Austin. I listened on Monday to a podcast,
an NFL draft podcast. Nick was the guest, and I

(01:10):
took the mental note and said, we got to get
that guy on, and so we got him on. We
actually already had had him on scheduled to be on,
but now we are going to have him on and
I'm looking forward to that coming up in just about
thirty minutes. It's gonna be awesome. Speaking of awesome, last
night's Reds win felt a little different, like if you're

(01:33):
a Reds fan, and you may still be feeling this way.
If you're a Reds fan, you have spent decades waiting
for the other shoe to drop. It's what comes with
almost unending losing, waiting for the other shoe to drop,
waiting for the good times to suddenly end. Right when
you're starting to feel good about the direction the team

(01:54):
is going, something bad happens, an injury, a devastating loss.
So the Reds had, you know, the sweep of the Pirates,
and prior to that, they took two out of three
from the Giants. They got back to five hundred and
got healthier. Austin Hayes came back and played last night,
made his Red's debut in those awesome blue socks, and

(02:15):
Gavin Lux had a big game last night, and Matt
McClain came back and got on base three times and
scored a couple of times, and they got good bullpen work.
But they got healthy. They're healthier. They're as healthy as
they've been all year long. They don't have Tyler Stevenson yet, unfortunately,
but he is taking some steps in the right direction. So,
all right, you just won five out of six, you

(02:36):
just swept a series. You got another great start from
Hunter Green. You're back to five hundred a start after
starting at three and seven, feeling pretty good. The most
Reds thing ever, quite frankly, felt like was going to
happen early in the game. It's pretty obvious from the start.
Nicolodolo didn't really have it. Now, you know, he wasn't

(02:59):
so bad that he pitched his team out of the game,
But if you paid attention to the first inning, gives
up a leadoff homer, and you could tell from the
jump never really had it. And it just, boy, just
it felt like one of those like Reds things where
right when things are going well, right when things are
starting to trend in the right direction, they're playing well,

(03:19):
they got good starting pitching, they're healthier, the schedule is
pretty forgiving. Right when things are going well, they lay
a clunker, and it felt in the early innings like
they may lay a clunker. Fortunately that did not happen.
They win the ball game eight to four. Last night.
They overcome the early two run deficit. They overcome a

(03:41):
two run deficit four and a half innings in. They
get the big three run homer off the bat of
Austin Hayes in his Red's debut. He drives in four.
He has a couple of hits. Gavin Lux had four
hits last night. Mentioned Matt McClain getting on base three times,
scoring twice, driving in a run. They got awesome bullpen work.
This team's bullpen is really really good. No bullpen in

(04:05):
baseball has given up fewer hits than the Reds bullpen.
That is a function of quality relief work. It's also
obviously a function of a starting staff that's eating a
lot of innings. Even when they don't eat a lot
of innings, there are some reliable relievers to go to.
Graham Ashcraft has embraced this relief role and done a

(04:27):
really good job. Amelia Pegan was lights out in the
ninth inning last night, closing down the game. He didn't
get a save. Saves are kind of a pointless stat.
It doesn't matter. Alexis Diaz pitched last night, and well,
he walked a couple of guys, so but he pitched.
He pitched, and it was his twenty twenty five major
league debut. This team's starting staff, by the way we've

(04:48):
talked about it, a bunch of the bullpen, fourth in
Baseball in fewest walks and hits per innings, pitched a
combination of everything last night, and the Reds win game
like the most Reds thing ever is. Right when you're
starting to feel good, right when you're starting to feel like, okay,
we can take off and go now, right when you're

(05:10):
starting to think that this year might be different, what
do They almost always do lose, and sometimes in heartbreaking
or confounding or totally sobering matter. They didn't lose last night.
That doesn't mean they won't tonight, but they didn't lose
last night. And whatever good vibes were there yesterday at

(05:31):
this time should be amplified at least a little bit
today after a sixth win in seven games. Give this
team credit. Man, I'm not here to tell you that
if you thought this team at the beginning of the
season was gonna be a five hundred team that you
should change your expectations. I said on opening day, I
think the Reds are gonna win eighty three games. I
still think the Reds are gonna win close to eighty

(05:52):
three games, pretty much eighty three games. That said, you
do have to give this team credit because we talk
all the time about avoiding the slow start. It's it's
not the start, it's not the first ten games, it's
it's not the first fifteen games, it's whatever you want
to define start as. It's you get off to a
slow start and then it takes them forever to dig

(06:15):
out of it. Right, So, this team lost seven of
its first ten, and there was a very familiar feel
to the first ten, and there was the confirmation of
things we feared, you know, with this team not hitting,
and there were guys who got hurt during that ten
game stretch. They started three and seven. Three and seven
is obviously something you can recover from. It's a whole

(06:37):
it's not one that you can't dig out of. But
you can't allow three and seven to turn into six
and fourteen. You can't allow three and seven to turn
into I don't know seven and fifteen. You can't allow
three and seven to continue and turn into the type

(06:57):
of record that you simply cannot bounce back from. Well,
to this point, they've played seventeen games. It's April to sixteenth.
They've dug out of it. It looked like nine days
ago that they were staring at a sink hole, like
I don't know if you can stand on the edge

(07:18):
of a sinkhole. I've actually never been to a sinkhole.
Sink Holes just kind of happened. But it looked like
last Monday, after they had gone to Milwaukee lost three
out of four. Now Matt McClain's going on the injured list,
it looked like the season was on the verge of
maybe getting out of control, at least a little bit

(07:39):
before it even started. And to this team's credit, whether
you want to attribute this to Terry Francona or the
overall makeup of the club, or management or ownership, or
one or two players, whatever it is, they didn't let
a bad week and a half turn into a bad month,

(08:01):
which is why to me last night kind of felt
a little bit different. Again, man, I think the most
foolish thing we do in this day and age where
we've decided at times to talk about baseball like its
football is make too big a deal of any one game.
But last night felt was driving home as here a

(08:22):
little bit later than usual. So like six point forty
last night, the game starts and it just you could
just tell listening to Tommy Thrawl and Jeff Brantley that
Nicolodolo just wasn't on his game. And I'm thinking, like,
this is the kind of game where it feels like
the Reds always lose coming off and off day. They
just had a good week, They're healthy, people are starting

(08:45):
to feel good, people are starting to get at least
a little bit excited. People are starting to feel kind
of optimistic, and then they always fall flat on their face.
Last night, at least for one night, they didn't fall
flat on their face. We'll see if that continues tonight.

(09:06):
Five point three seven four nine fifteen thirty is our
phone number. Eight sixty six seven oh two three seven
seven six works as well. The Austin Hayes game. Austin
Hayes was brought here to do kind of what he
did last night, right, and so uh, regardless of how
good you think Austin Hayes could be. The reality is
he was one of their huge offseason acquisitions. They essentially
offensively had two, and huge is a relative term. Austin Hayes.

(09:30):
If you're the New York Mets and you've added Juan Soto,
Austin Hayes isn't the huge offseason acquisition. Heck, if you're
the Chicago Cubs and you've added Kyle Tucker, I don't
know that Austin Hayes is your huge off season acquisition.
But for this team he is. I should say for
this team he was, which means a lot is going
to be asked of him. For a night. He lived

(09:52):
up to it, and regardless of how things unfold between
now and the end of the season, I think when
the name Austin Hayes is brought up, we'll at least
remember his day. This team badly needs him to hit.
This team badly needs more nights like what they got
from Matt Maclain, who got on base three times. They've
also got to start getting more from dudes like Jamber
Candelario and Christian In Karnacion Strand. I am fearing and

(10:14):
I'm not there yet. I'm fearful that I got the
Christian in karnasion strand evaluation all wrong, like there aren't
many people who do this in this capacity, like you
know acknowledge, Man, I may have whiffed on that one.
I'm fearful that maybe I whift on Cees. I hope

(10:41):
I'm wrong about that. I think I might have whift.
They got to get more productions from from the corner
infield spots, got to but for a night it didn't
matter and they win a game that to me, at least,
it feels like they always lose Min's after three o'clock.

(11:01):
Our phone numbers are open. Our phone lines are open.
Our phone numbers are five one, three, seven, four nine,
fifteen thirty and eight six six seven oh two three
seven seven six. By the way, the aforementioned conversation with
Pat Brennan from GABP yesterday and we talked to about
a few different things. One of the things we discussed
was Alexis ds Alexis DZ pitched last night, didn't pitch great,

(11:22):
didn't close the game. He's not the closer right now.
Pat and I talked about that and so much more.
If you missed that conversation, go get it on the
iHeartRadio app podcast of this show or service of Long
Neck Sports Grill, which is where we will be broadcasting
from one week from tomorrow on day one of the draft.
Cannot wait. Good for Terry Frank Coneman. Like you know,

(11:43):
Alexis Daz was awesome two years ago, he was pedestrian
last year. There's other there's competition. There's a good bullpen there,
you know. Right now feels like Emilio Pegan's going to
be the guy in the ninth inning. He certainly was
last night, even though it wasn't a safe situation. Make
Alexis d As earn it. He is going to pitch
in high leverage situations. Every reliever on this team will
pitching high leverage situations. Pitched in some last night, and

(12:06):
maybe he gets a chance to close again. But I
like the new manager making the old closer have to
earn his role back. We'll see if he does very good.
NFL Draft analyst Nick Bumgardner is going to join us
coming up at three thirty three. Also later on Nick
BOUCHETI MLS Season past Apple TV on FC Cincinnati. I

(12:27):
look forward to that conversation coming up at five twenty.
There's a lot of ground to cover between now and
six o'clock. The Cincinnati Bengals, Are you ready for it?
I think are the most interesting team in the NFL
Draft for one simple, basic reason. I'll explain next on
ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati sports station. You know we're gonna

(12:49):
be doing our show from Long, Necks and Wilder next Wednesday. No,
we're not. We're doing the show next Thursday. What am
I doing on an hourly basis? I prove how unqualified
I am for this job. We're doing the show from
Long next next Thursday. Thursday is day one of the Draft,
April twenty fourth Thursday. The show is from three to six,

(13:11):
So you should join us for that. We got your
phone calls coming up here in just a few seconds,
and Nick Baumgartner from the Athletic coming up in just
about ten minutes. I don't know that there's a team
in the NFL that has this profile, if you will,
like the Bengals do where I think we all believe

(13:32):
that they at least believe that they can win the
Super Bowl next year. And I think most of us
believe even objectively that at the very very least it's
not that far fetched to suggest the Bengals could win
the super Bowl next year, like that doesn't sound unreasonable.
And I mean there are most years in this franchise's

(13:56):
history where if you said, at any point during the
calendar year, Bengals can win the Super Bowl, the Bengals
can win the next NFL Championship, it would have sounded
totally unreasonable, completely implausible. Now it sounds reasonable. They might
not be the odds on favorite. You might think another
team has a better chance, but they are in their

(14:16):
super Bowl window. It is remarkable, though, if you just
take a glance at their team needs, whether it's you know,
the graphic on draft day, if you read a draft
guide or a mock draft and they go team needs,
it's almost every position. It's not wide receiver, it's not quarterback.
It's pretty much everywhere else, maybe not tight end. If

(14:39):
you look at the team needs profile, the Bengals fit
the description of a team that's going through a rebuild,
fit the description of a team that just won five
games last year. The team needs list doesn't mesh with
within their super Bowl window, and yet there they are.

(15:01):
It highlights the importance of this draft, and I know
that sounds really obvious. And I know I have said
it before. I probably have talked of it last week
or so with more draft analysts and we're not even
at Draft week yet than we have at any point
in the recent history of this show. And I think
the reason why is this draft is crucial. This draft

(15:24):
will determine whether or not the Bengals win the Super
Bowl with Joe Burrow, I believe that wholeheartedly. That's no
knock on Joe, It's no knock on anybody who's with
the team right now. It highlights the significance of this draft,
and this draft is really significant because of what they
have going for them and all the different holes they

(15:44):
have to address. If you were to jot down one
through thirty two, team most likely to win it all
the way down the team least likely to win it.
Those teams near the top, for the most part, they
have needs. Every team has needs. They're often drafting from

(16:05):
a position of luxury, and it wasn't that long ago
the Bengals were doing that, right, drafting from a position
of luxury. They've done this before. When you're drafting for depth,
when you're drafting to give a guy a red shirt
year like Dax Hill, or even going back and it
didn't work out. Cedric ob Wayhee ten years ago. There
are no luxuries with this draft. None really good teams

(16:27):
at the top have so few team needs. You're drafting
for depth, and you can maybe take a luxury pick.
Here's a player we really like. He plays a position
that we're pretty well stocked at. But we're good, we
could afford it. It's a luxury. When you are where
the Bengals are, there are no luxuries. Twenty six after

(16:48):
three o'clock. Thank you to those of you who have
chimed in early. Eddie, you're on ESPNA. You're on ESPN
fifteen thirty, and that sounds like you're traveling through space. Eddie.
How are you?

Speaker 3 (17:00):
How are you doing?

Speaker 1 (17:00):
Man?

Speaker 2 (17:00):
I'm doing great. What's up?

Speaker 4 (17:04):
I just want to touch face on the Reds real quick.
And I know as you were talking with the Reds
when your show started.

Speaker 5 (17:09):
I just two things to say.

Speaker 4 (17:12):
It's in regards to last night's games. We we knew
this pitching was This pitching was really really good this year.
The starting pitching and the bulletin's been pretty good for
the most part all year. We knew it wasn't gonna
be this great like every single day like last thought.

Speaker 5 (17:28):
It wasn't.

Speaker 4 (17:28):
But what was more impressive was that the offense finally
like stepped up and scored eight runs. They made up
for the pitching not being good for one. So that
was actually that wasn't being That caught my eye.

Speaker 6 (17:38):
Last of the game.

Speaker 4 (17:39):
I thought, Okay, we're down two nothing all we're down
four to two.

Speaker 6 (17:42):
It's gonna be a game or probably knocking.

Speaker 3 (17:43):
One tonight, not our game, not at night.

Speaker 7 (17:45):
And then just loo and the hole. We you know,
just things happened.

Speaker 4 (17:49):
They started hitting, got some runs, and I mean having
Austin Hades and Matt McClain back definitely helped. That's a
good thing. But one thing I wanted to discuss that
one wants to really talk about, and you kind of
mentioned one of the players a few seconds ago, and
that's Strand.

Speaker 8 (18:05):
Yeah.

Speaker 4 (18:06):
Uh two years ago and spring training he was like
one of the best players in baseball in spring training.
And I know it didn't play last year. He was
hurt all last year mostly, and I want to give
it because he's still young, so I want to give
it a little bit more releash. But the other guys,
I'm kind of concerned about I'm starting to, like, you know,
trying to run him off soon. Here is Candelaria.

Speaker 6 (18:29):
I feel like you might have to just.

Speaker 4 (18:30):
Bite the bullet on this one and just say it's
it's to Mike. With Saka's signing two point zero and
he's not really helping this team out at all. Last year,
didn't hit for much of all season, maybe a.

Speaker 6 (18:40):
Month or two. Steer, I don't I look going with Steer.

Speaker 7 (18:44):
They can't get his shoulder right. He's continued to.

Speaker 6 (18:46):
Play d H.

Speaker 4 (18:47):
I don't know if batting three or four times a
game is gonna help his shoulder out. But they didn't
find out what's wrong with him because he's not really
being much productive.

Speaker 6 (18:54):
I could play. That's too right there.

Speaker 4 (18:56):
You're not getting the production from Candidactually, Candelaria string here,
I don't even say Jakes Fairley to extend.

Speaker 6 (19:05):
That's three or four guys, Lana.

Speaker 4 (19:06):
That's really not giving you much production at the plate
every night. I think I think Ethenal can.

Speaker 6 (19:12):
Be playing four or five times a week.

Speaker 4 (19:13):
That's just my opinion. He gives you a better back,
puts the ball in play, he plays better defense. I
think he called Marque back up and puts it on
the eye heel, then Spencer stear or you have to
just bite the bullet and just say, you know, I'm sorry.

Speaker 7 (19:28):
It's just a.

Speaker 4 (19:28):
Contract that didn't work out for camde Laurio.

Speaker 2 (19:30):
I don't know, what do you think, Well, yeah, I
mean number one, getting back to Cees. You mentioned spring
training two years ago. I'll do even better and talk
about him at the end of the year in twenty
twenty three, when he was the latest in a long
list of guys who when they got here hit almost
instantly and hit a lot. He's hit very little since
since then, obviously before the injury last year. I'm willing

(19:52):
to give him some leash because he is just twenty
five years old, but I'm not going to give him
as much leash as I would a player seven years ago,
because I'm trying to make a playoffs this year. Like
that's that's the thing, Like you want to give young
guys an opportunity, but it's also time to start winning,
Like when you haven't won in forever, Are we really
gonna run a guy out there just because we've got
to be patient with him and give him a chance

(20:14):
when his production isn't helping the team win. Right now.
The Candelario thing to me, you know, he's he's making
what thirteen sixteen million dollars this year, So if you
cut him today, you're basically still having to pay him
whatever it is fourteen, fourteen, fifteen million dollars this year
and thirteen next year. I think it's gonna be awfully hard.

(20:37):
And you mentioned Mike Mustakas, I know they did it
with him. I think it's gonna be awfully hard for
Nick Krawl less than two years after they signed jam
Or Candelario to go to ownership and say we got
to pay this guy not to play. Now there's there's
cutting him loose and then there's reducing his role. You know,
there's a step between he's an everyday starter and he's
cut loose. I want to know, could noelve Mark to

(21:00):
produce at a high enough level in Louisville to earn
a chance to stick as the starting third baseman, which
would then force Jamer Candelario into a lesser role. Does
that possibility exist? I think that possibility probably exists a
lot more than them just cutting Jamber Candelario and eating
the salary and he doesn't play here right, And.

Speaker 4 (21:21):
One more player I forgot to mention before you let
it go is Alestis Daz. Can the Reds afford to
run him out there and pitching a bullpen if he
continues to struggle. He'd been struggling, he struggled in spring
training this year, he struggled when he was on his
Scream assignment.

Speaker 6 (21:33):
He struggled last night.

Speaker 4 (21:35):
So I don't know how much of a lease you
give him, and you can't put him in a bullpen,
Ryan Mouth, you know, whatever he pitches, if he's gonna
give up two off the game, or two hits a game,
or you know whatever close games.

Speaker 2 (21:46):
Yeah, look, I mean he's gone from a closer to
a guy who started the sixth inning last night. So
he's obviously seen a reduction in his role. He's he's
he's still going to pitch in high leverage situations because
they're going to play in a thousand close games this year.
But sure he's gone from ninth inning guy to because
of the additions they've made, because other guys are pitching well,

(22:07):
and because of his own struggles last year and in
camp this year, to a guy who doesn't have nearly
his high profile a role he's moving backwards right now,
you know, I mean, do you give him the benefit
of the doubt and give him some opportunities to prove
he can still get hitters out and use him in
the sixth inning, use him in lower leverage situations. Sure,
but I give the organization and I give Terry francona

(22:29):
credit for not handing him his old job back, because
right now Alexis Diaz doesn't deserve to have his old job. Eddie,
I got a run man, Thank you, all right, thank Moe.
I do think there was something about what Eddie said
there where you know, Nicolodola wasn't awesome last night. He
has been awesome up until last night. Starting staff is
really good. The question has been on the nights where

(22:50):
the starting pitching isn't great, can the offense do enough?
The answer was yes, aided drastically by what has turned
out so far this year at least seventeen games in
to be a very good bullpen sports headlines and then
Nick Baumgardner from The Athletic on the Draft.

Speaker 8 (23:06):
Next Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.

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(24:10):
Spencer Steer back in the line of dhing Cees at first,
Freelien right, and Jose Travigno is behind the plate. This
was a very sad news to wake up to. Aaron Bupenza,
who played in twenty twenty three. In twenty twenty four
for FC Cincinnati has died. He fell from the eleventh

(24:32):
story of a building in China that he was living in.
Bupenza had a kind of a weird stay in Cincinnati,
a controversial stay in Cincinnati. Played in twenty four games
for FC Cincinnati in the twenty twenty three and twenty
twenty four seasons. Connor Hickman leaving UC to go to Charleston.

(24:55):
Chances are you saw that if you're a Bearcat fan,
Dan Skilling is going to be a Baylor Bear And
we saw yesterday Josh read is off to Penn State.
The NFL Draft is one week from tomorrow. Starts one
week from tomorrow. Nick bomb Gardner is an NFL draft
analyst four The Athletic. I've tweeted out a link to
his latest mock draft. I appreciate the time you have

(25:16):
and this is interesting to me. This caught my eye
not so much because of the player of the Bengals.
You have the Bengals taking, but the guy you have
them not taking, who then went eighteen overall in your
mock draft. So let's start with that. You have him
taking Mike Green from Marshall and not Tyler Booker. From Alabama.
Why Green and not Booker?

Speaker 6 (25:37):
That's a really good question.

Speaker 1 (25:38):
I mean, honestly, I think you could go either or
you know, I went Mike Green on that one, you know,
because like we said, it's the situation with it's Hendrickson
or nobody in terms of pass rush there for the
most part in Cincinnati.

Speaker 6 (25:49):
So that was my sort of tie break.

Speaker 1 (25:50):
But like you said, he's a really complicated sort of
evaluation for a lot of off the field you know,
concerns and all that sort of thing. Teams are really
going to have to do their homework there. But you
know you mentioned it. I mean, Tyler Booker would be.

Speaker 6 (26:02):
A terrific pick there.

Speaker 1 (26:03):
I feel like, I mean, we've talked a lot over
the years about Cincinnati trying to fortify things up front,
not just for you know, pass protection purposes, but for
also you know, to give Burrow a run game that
can also protect him. I feel like Cincinnati's run game
if it could, you know, develop a little more for
a little more you know, beef in there, which is
all Booker really is at this point. I mean, he's

(26:25):
the most physical, probably the most physical offensive lineman. I
would argue maybe in the draft tackle or guard, a
guy who you know, I like as a fit for
a lot of teams, and I'm not sure how long
he'll be around. By frankly, I think that would be
perfectly fine for him to be gone there where Cincinnati
is that I think I did ended up giving him
to Seattle, right, I think right after there, So yeah,

(26:45):
I mean, I think Booker is a guy who can
come in right away and make an impact in the
run game and be a guy who probably even helps
you know the guy next to him.

Speaker 6 (26:54):
In that standpoint as well.

Speaker 1 (26:56):
But I think the one question with a lot of
people have with him is he's a little slow footed.
I think that that's been you know, you get a
big range on him in terms of some people like
him a lot, even a little bit higher on their board.

Speaker 6 (27:08):
Some people like him a little bit lower.

Speaker 1 (27:09):
Uh, based on you know, what he can can or
can't do in terms of passpro But for Cincinnati, absolutely,
I think that pass rush or a guard or you know,
or offensive line in general. But in this case it
would probably be a guard because I'm not sure about
a tackle there. But I think those are the two
that I looked at the most, either edge or somebody inside,
and I think it was either or on that's on
that stands.

Speaker 2 (27:28):
Let's talk about Mike Green specifically, and I guess the
position of edge rusher specifically, and Mike Green's off field
concerns character issues are well documented. Our audience can can
go do their own research on that if if they're
not up to speed on what he's connected to. In Cincinnati,
it wasn't that long ago where the Bengals were like
the team that you thought, if they're going to take

(27:50):
a chance on a guy with character issues, it's the Bengals,
and they've gotten away from that. And I don't think
that their success over the last couple of years. I
don't think it's a coincidence that they, for the most part,
have drafted guys with very few character issues. So I
look at what this guy has hanging over him, and
then I read the consensus, which is edge is deep,
and I ask myself, why do I want to Why

(28:13):
do I want to use a first round pick that
they've got a nail on Mike Green when he plays
a position that's pretty deep in this draft? Can you
address that for me?

Speaker 1 (28:21):
So I think that it is a deep edge class,
but I would also argue that you know, Mike Green
is the type of guy that if you if you
if he clears your sort of you know, background protocol,
and he is a really common and yeah, I mean
people really got to read that for themselves. It's a
lot of stuff, and you know, he denies all of
it and firmly denies all of it and talked about
you know, the two accusations and.

Speaker 6 (28:40):
Everything that went on.

Speaker 1 (28:41):
He talked about that stuff more than I've ever heard
anybody at the combine talk about, you know, on off
the field thing. Usually it's I'm not going to talk
about it, or it's a canned answer.

Speaker 6 (28:49):
Or what have you.

Speaker 1 (28:49):
But he, I mean, it was in pretty serious detail
about the stuff that he talked about there at the podium.

Speaker 6 (28:55):
So we'll see, we'll see what all happens there.

Speaker 1 (28:57):
But I think with him, you know, if all of
that checks, he's the type of guy that athletically, physically
all the stuff. Is probably a top twelve player in
this class. And I think that that's the difference in
there's depth here. Yes, you can get a guy like JT.
Twueamlau from Ohio State there in the second or third round.
He'd be a really nice player for a lot of
teams who would help people do a lot. Nick Scouerton

(29:19):
kid from Texts and them, same kind of deal, a
guy who could help and really be a good player,
a nice player. But I think Green is the type
of guy that if you're looking for value, if he
slides down the board and you're okay with everything that
you're getting from him, then he could be a you know,
a star level difference maker. A guy who's you know,
really really difficult to deal with off the edge in

(29:41):
terms of athleticism, bend, power, everything else, and also a
guy who can drop and cover. And I really think
in time, you know, he needs to be tested probably on.

Speaker 6 (29:49):
A higher level. Was really dominant at the level.

Speaker 1 (29:51):
There at Marshall, but in time, I think he has
the similar kind of build that we talk about with
a duel Carter, Jalen Walker, the Micah Parsons, you know, position.

Speaker 6 (30:01):
A guy that can move all over the place to.

Speaker 1 (30:03):
Be stand up, over, reguard, drop and cover, playing a stack,
anything that you need him to do. He's just a
really really off the charts level athlete, especially when stacked
up to the rest of the guys in this class.
So it's a good edged class, But I don't know
if it's like, you know, so deep that you're going
to get stars or guys that can be you know,
three down, you know, weapons, so to speak. And I

(30:24):
think Green absolutely is still in that bucket at the
top there, you know, with Abduel Carter, Shamar Stewart and
Michael Williams.

Speaker 2 (30:30):
Probably all right, you used the name that I was
going to bring up because there was a mock draft
that you were a part of in early March and
you had the Bengals taking Jihad Campbell, and that's that's
a name that we have talked about a ton. Here
in the synopsis of the pick, you described him as
a Micah Parsons like wild card. That made my eyebrows.
That raised my eyebrows. So yeah, if I can get

(30:52):
Micah Parsons light, sign me up for that dive into
that evaluation for me.

Speaker 5 (30:56):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (30:57):
The thing with Campbell, the one thing with him is
he's still pretty young, and I think that there's some
you know, questions about how ready he is to do
everything that they're that you could possibly ask him to do.
I think it would need to be a little slower
on the take there with everything that he could expand
out to. But you know, six two sixty three, two
hundred and forty pounds was a four or five guy,
terrific burst everything else, like test it off the charts.

(31:19):
And if you watch him in Alabama, you know they
did expand his role from you know, just playing in
the box this year to getting up on the line,
putting his hand down and you know, getting that for
the quarterback. And he is I think a guy who
hasn't even come close to scratching the surface of what
he can do. I think he's physically has a chance
to be more impressive than you know, Jalen Walker's the

(31:40):
guy I think a lot of people have pointed to
as the best player in that in that bucket of
you know, the linebacker who can also come down and
play edge and move around and do all the different stuff.
It's really kind of a hybrid front seven defender. But
I think in time, Johad Campbell is more He's more
physically impressive, and I think in time he could be
the better player. It's just a matter of you know,
what you get from him, if he stays healthy, if

(32:01):
your coaching staff can you know, work him up and
all those sorts of things, but he has got all
the versatility that you're looking for. And I think that
is really the next wave of trend or what are
you want to call it in defensive football, is that
you know the guy up front who you don't know
what he's doing if you're an offensive you know, coordinator,
or if you're an offensive line coach, you don't know
where he's coming from on a snap to staff basis.

(32:22):
We see this a lot in college, and we have
over the last few years several years really where you
see those safeties come.

Speaker 6 (32:27):
Down and they play all over the box.

Speaker 1 (32:29):
But now we're starting to see defensive ends, you know,
walk back and play all over the place as well.
And I think that it's when you have a guy
like John Campbell, similar to Abduel Carter who sort of
started out as an inside linebacker and then added the
pass rush on top of it. And that was what
Michael's path was as well. You really have kind of
a positionless weapon who, if he embraces the role and

(32:50):
can handle it mentally, can be just a complete game changer.
And I think that that's what we've seen, you know,
Mike had really changed that, you know, almost created a
position by himself, and I think we've seen college teams,
especially over the last few years, try to develop guys
into that same role, and I think that's now hitting
the NFL, and joh Hotcam is probably the rawest of
that bunch, but also in time could be maybe the

(33:10):
best in this year's class. So really really like him
a lot, and I think he's another one that's gonna
have That's what this class is all about, the wide
ranges on guys. You're gonna have teams that really like
him a lot and teams that are like, well, we
don't know about for our situation, So it's really about
what you know, how comfortable you are with You might
need to take a little bit of time with him,
but the payoff could be really really big. And you know,
I still think he could give you stuff right away.

(33:31):
I don't think it's gonna be something where he's just
a you can't play him or anything.

Speaker 6 (33:34):
I think you can definitely play him. It's just a
matter of.

Speaker 1 (33:37):
Is he gonna max all the way out as quickly
as maybe another guy would in this class. I don't know,
but you know, the long term payoff could be really
good with him.

Speaker 2 (33:44):
Nick Bomb Gardner, NFL draft analysts for the Athletic with
us for another couple of minutes. This team here is
is interesting because if you look at their draft needs,
there's a thousand of them right It's like every every
positional group on defense plus offensive line. If you just
look at that, and I'm sure that graphic will be
up on the screen on draft night, it looks like
a team that's coming off a four win season. It's

(34:05):
looked like it looks like a team it's like in
the middle of a rebuild, not one with bona fide
Super Bowl aspirations. But the hope here is they can
break through and win one in twenty twenty five. So
understanding their needs and understanding the urgency to get players
who could help right away, and understanding this draft class
the way you do at which position can they least
afford the way to pick a player?

Speaker 1 (34:29):
Oh, that's a good question. I think that you know,
for me, when I look at this board the cornerback position,
there's gonna be guys later, but there could be some
guys that fall here, you know that are like Will Johnson.
I don't know where Will Johnson's going to go. And
when we started the year. You know, evaluating these guys
back in the summer, A lot of people you talk

(34:49):
to head Will Johnson as a top five player in
this class. That Gain had him. Dan Brugley here at
the Athletic had at number one. I think when the
when the year start, right behind Hunter might have been
number two, matter of fact. So you know that's the
type of player you're getting. But he's falling because he
hasn't tested. He was he had a handstring, he sat
out the whole year. I don't think his injuries that serious.

Speaker 6 (35:08):
I just don't think. I don't. I don't think he
wanted to play on.

Speaker 1 (35:10):
A bad team and it'd further expose himself anymore, which
is also something that people have to, you know, get
to know him and all that sort of stuff. But
when you put the twenty twenty three tape on with him,
it was elite.

Speaker 7 (35:21):
I mean, he was the best.

Speaker 1 (35:22):
He was arguably the best player on that defense. And
that defense included Mason Graham. So I mean, this is
a phenomenal player. If he slides down the board and
you're Cincinnati and you say, hey, you know we need
everything on defense, you know that could be run right
there because I do think, like you said, defensive tackle
is the deepest group in the class. There are good
edges that you could find later. This is also a
really good safety class. And you know, I think this

(35:44):
is a better than normal linebacker class. The cornerbacks to me,
for the premium level talent, I think that you might
want to attack that earlier. And for a team like Cincinnati,
who needs a.

Speaker 6 (35:53):
Lot of stuff, but like you.

Speaker 1 (35:53):
Said, has to have the benefit of having an elite
quarterback with elite playmakers on offense, that can kind of
get you a lot of things. You don't need to
have everything right away. You're just trying to find the
best player available. So I think you could sit there
and wait a little bit and see if somebody falls
to you at a spotlight corner where all of a sudden,
you know, down there in the late teams, I'm getting
a guy that could be a top ten talent. You know,

(36:14):
that's the type of position I think that could happen at.
You know, I don't know where Will is going to go.
I don't where Johnny Barron is.

Speaker 6 (36:19):
Going to go either.

Speaker 1 (36:20):
You know, the kid from Texas is also a phenomenal player.
There's not a lot of teams that need that. You
know that right now in front of in the top
fifteen whatever it is, So you could end up getting
a really good value there if he slides and falls
and you want to take a stab there.

Speaker 2 (36:32):
Elaborate on something you just said for me, and then
I'll let you run. You know. What they're doing in
the in the secondary is interesting because there are a
lot of guys at corner that they've used early round
draft choices on that they haven't really gotten a lot
out of. And obviously a new defensive coordinator, Al Golden's
going to try to get more out of some of
those players. They're still trying to replace Jesse Bates. They're
still trying to replace the first version of Von Bell

(36:54):
we got here. And so safety as a position we
have talked about a lot. You mentioned this class at
that position is deep. Can you go further on that
for me?

Speaker 1 (37:03):
Yeah, So, I mean you've got two guys I think
that are that our first round safety is in this class,
nick Nicki Minwari from South Carolina, who's just maybe the
best athlete in the class period of any position, just
phenomenal for three eight forty forty three inch for you know,
he's six six three two twenty five h you know,
can play anywhere, can play free safety, box safety, can
walk down and play in the box. And then MELOCHI

(37:25):
starts to get from Georgia. I think is also probably
in that same bucket. Not as good an athlete, but
just a brilliant smart player on the field, elite ball skills.

Speaker 6 (37:35):
Everything else.

Speaker 1 (37:35):
I think he's a terrific terrific talent, is going to
be a really good player for wherever he goes. Reminds
me a lot of Brian Branch and that standpoint. I
think he can play either safety and in the in
the in the slot as well.

Speaker 6 (37:45):
And then you go down.

Speaker 1 (37:46):
You got Kevin Winston from Penn State, same kind of
thing as Maloch. I think he's a guy could move
all over the field, big hitter, will come up and
fit the run. Xavier Watts from Notre Dame. You know,
guy who I think Goldie will be familiar with. There
a guy who is really really talented as well. I
think some people have him above Winston, even Andrew mccooba
from Texas, another one bowman from Oklahoma, billy bowman Malachai

(38:06):
Moore from Alabama, Sebastian Castro from Iowa. All of these guys,
that's like seven or eight guys right there, maybe eight
or nine whatever it was that all those guys I
think can play either safety spot, can come up and hit,
can even walk out and cover. In a class like
this where there's this is the kind of anti positional
value class, right like running back is one of the
deepest groups. Tight end is a really deep group, and

(38:28):
then safety is another one too, where these guys at
the top here you know, Imon Wari, Starks and then
Winston and even Wats in particular.

Speaker 6 (38:35):
These guys are some people.

Speaker 1 (38:36):
Are going to have them in the top thirty on
their board or top forty on their board, you know
what I mean. So I think that those are guys
that are instant starters. To me, those are guys that
can come in right away, make something happen. You don't
have to take them off the field. They're three down players,
they're versatile, they can move around. And the best one
on the board is Demon Wari, but he's also a
guy that maybe needs more time the other guys.

Speaker 6 (38:56):
He's younger, he's a junior.

Speaker 1 (38:58):
Starks, Winston and Wats are guys who've played a ton
of football are really savvy and just would be immediate
impact guys.

Speaker 6 (39:05):
I feel like that at a position like safety, you know.

Speaker 1 (39:08):
Doesn't always fly off the chart for people, but you
can really find good players if you take a stab
on a safety early and.

Speaker 6 (39:14):
They can help you out a ton.

Speaker 2 (39:15):
You certainly do not sound like somebody who's exhausted from
doing NonStop radio and podcasts. So I do thank you
for doing this. Very insightful and maybe we can touch
base after the draft. Thanks so much, Nick, absolutely more
anytime you got it. Thank you so much, way late,
nickbomb Gardner at the Athletic dot com. It's five away
from four o'clock. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports Station.

Speaker 8 (39:36):
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Speaker 10 (39:40):
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(40:00):
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Speaker 2 (40:16):
You know I love talking with these draft experts. We
have another one in fifteen minutes, Sam brook House Suomer Sports,
and there's there's a lot of really good draft guides
out there. The Sumer Sports Draft Guide is terrific. I
tweeted out a link to it. Sam joins us in
just about fifteen minutes. I'm Oeger, this is ESPN fifteen thirty.
Thank you for listening. I want to grab a phone

(40:38):
callar too, left over from last hour, because I hate
making people weak, So let's do that. I do think
there is a question that needs to be asked about
the Reds, and I do wonder if anybody else notice
what's going on in the transfer portal or if I'm
the only one. Plus plus plus I have this week
forgotten how to talk, plus Brenneman and Jones on baseball.

(41:03):
I am off Tomorrow and Friday, and then we have
the weekend and I have to take those four days
like reteaching myself how to talk. I have mangled more
words this week than Geno Stone is mistackles. I have
not mangled as many words as points scored by Trey
Young in the play in because he is mister playing.

(41:27):
I got a mean email here from somebody who doesn't
like my enmity for Trey Young. His word, not mine. First,
Calvin in Highland Heights, Calvin, thank you for your patience.
How are you?

Speaker 11 (41:42):
I'm doing good, mall.

Speaker 7 (41:43):
How are you doing?

Speaker 2 (41:43):
Man aside from not being able to speak, I'm awesome.

Speaker 11 (41:47):
I understand that I hate to drag you back to
the Reds after that incredible draft.

Speaker 2 (41:53):
Go ahead, Calvin. You broke up on me for a second,
but go ahead.

Speaker 12 (41:58):
It's difficult to in a season of baseball zoom in
on one game, but I want to zoom in on
one half inning. When when we were down to nothing
at the beginning of the game, I didn't say anything
of it, and we tied the game.

Speaker 11 (42:12):
I was feeling good.

Speaker 12 (42:13):
And then at the top of the fifth, when we
gave up those two.

Speaker 11 (42:16):
More runs, I thought, oh, okay, Reds are gonna red
and this is this is the end of everything good
we've ever had. And then in the bottom of the
fifth we scored four runs, and I was like, wait
a minute, that's not that's not the Reds. Where who
is this baseball team?

Speaker 2 (42:34):
Yeah? And and they did it with you know, Matt
McClain drawing a walk and then Ellie de la Cruz
drawing a walk and showing a level of patience on
some close pitches that you typically don't associate with him,
and then things got going. Luck's got to hit, Hayes
hit the homer. They went off off and running from there.
But I'm I was kind of with you. I felt

(42:54):
that way after the top of the second inning last night,
where it just we've seen them do this so many times,
right where it feels like, all right, things are going well,
things are about to turn in their favor. And much
of that is on field because they had won five
of six. Much of that is off the field with
guys who got healthy and came off the injured list.
But yeah, there were multiple times during that game last

(43:14):
night where I said to myself, I've seen this before.
This is the kind of game they always lose, and
at least for a night, they did.

Speaker 11 (43:21):
Especially when you come off of a good series and
then a team comes in that's also hot themselves, it's
easy for us to sort of roll over like last
season with the Tigers, Like, wait a minute, what lisen't
the Tigers?

Speaker 7 (43:34):
You just swept the Yankees.

Speaker 3 (43:36):
And so we've seen this.

Speaker 11 (43:37):
Story so many times, and it was just really refreshing
to see the Reds have an incredible game last night.

Speaker 2 (43:42):
Yeah, and refreshing, Calvin, thank you very much for the
phone call. Refreshing to win a game where the best
part of your team isn't very good. Now, you know,
Nicko Lidolo had been awesome up until last night. Last
night he was pedestrian. Are the Reds going to be
able to win games? I think most of us believe
if the Reds get to a win total, that puts
him in the postseason. Major reason why he is. The

(44:04):
starting pitching and the relief pitching. The overall pitching staff
ends up being really good. Can you win enough games
when you're starting pitching doesn't get it done? Last night?
It didn't. The offense was terrific last night. Austin Hayes
was great, Gavin lux was great. Those two played appearances
McClain and Dela Cruz. Da La Cruz took some pitches

(44:24):
during that walk, which set up the beginning that I
think at various points during his time in Cincinnati he
swings at especially with a guy on base, especially with
his team trailing by two. But the bullpen last night,
like Graham Ashcraft made the bullpen, A lot of folks

(44:45):
wondered if he was gonna be on the team. He
certainly was in contention. I guess for a spot in
the starting staff. It's a guy that two years ago
was talked about as being among the Big three. How
often even during that miserable two thousand two season did
we mention the Big three Green Lodolo Ashcraft. He has

(45:07):
been put in the bullpen. One might say relegated, one
might say banished. I think he is being given an opportunity,
and to his credit, whether or not he's speaking genuinely
because it's something he wants to do or just saying
the right thing because he doesn't want to create waves,
Graham Ashcraft has embraced that role. He's done so publicly,

(45:31):
and he certainly has done so with his pitching. Like
this team's bullpen has been a strong suit, his team
starting staff has been a strong suit. I guess what
I want to know. I just read a note from
Charlie Goldsmith Santiago Espinal, who is a nice utility player,
right like we all like Santiago Espinal. The Reds got

(45:53):
him right before opening day last year because they had
a thousand guys hurt. They were kind of backed into
a corner. They went and got him. And he did
a nice job last year. Let's not overstate how good
he was, but he did a nice job last year.
And he could play He could play third, he could
play second, he could play short. He's played all three
outfield positions. He has never played first base, at least

(46:13):
at the major league level. I guess this afternoon he
is taking reps at first base, Like there are some
things here that, despite the recent success and they've won
six out of seven, that are fair to ask one
is how much longer are we gonna do what we're
doing with Spencer Steer wasn't in the lineup last night,

(46:39):
is in the lineup today? He has not He has
not played a game in the field. He has not
played an inning in the field this year. We've kind
of joked about him looking like he's playing with one arm,
but he had a shoulder injury all out spring training

(47:01):
that kept him from playing the field. He was going
to start the season on the injured list and didn't
because they had to put Austin Hayes on the injured list,
and they were gonna be way too shorthanded had they
put Spencer steer on the injured list. Well, now Austin
Hayes is back, Matt McClain, who obviously was not on

(47:23):
the injured list at the start of the season, he
is back. Spencer Steer is only on the team to hit.
He's batting one oh nine, Like, how how much longer
are you going to do this? How much longer are
you going to do this at the expense of the team.

(47:45):
How much longer are you going to do this at
the expense of Spencer Steer? And how much are you
going to do this while possibly compromising Spencer Steer's health
long term? I know the frustrating thing with this is
nobody seems to know really why his shoulder has been
bothering him. You know, you heard it often during spring training.
You know they've done an MRI, they can't find any

(48:07):
structural damage and the pain is still there. Well, if
the pain is still there, and I don't know to
what extent he is dealing with pain, what I could
tell you is an otherwise good hitter. An otherwise good
hitter Spencer Steer is. I think we would agree when
healthy has a chance to be one of their better
offensive performers. If you look at it through the lens

(48:28):
of OPS. Last year, Spencer Steer was one of their
best four hitters in twenty twenty four. It didn't hit
for much of a batting average. You could do with
that whatever you please as a statistic, But Spencer Steer
last year, among like guys who were on the team
all season long, I'm not talking about Reese Heines or
Austin Wins, had the fourth highest OPS. Not a great

(48:49):
OPS seven to twenty one, but like passable dude hit
twenty home runs last season. Spencer Steer, And again, do
what you want with RBI as a stat Spencer Steer
let the club with ninety two Ribbies this year. Dude's
betting one oh nine. Do we think Spencer Steer when
healthy is a one oh nine batter? He might be,
And maybe it's just a small sample size, but here's

(49:12):
what I know. A guy who hit twenty home runs
last season spend all the off season dealing with pain,
spend all of spring training dealing with pain, might go
on the injured list, then doesn't, then starts the season
the first seventeen games when he plays, batting one oh
nine and he can't play defense, so it's not like
he can help you with the glove. How much longer
are we going to do this? And I'm not being negative,

(49:36):
it's just the team's trying to win. The team's good,
the starting staff is good, the bullpen is good. They've
got some good players. Spencer Steeer should be a big
part of this. Right now, he's no part of this.
Now watch he'll play tonight. He is in the lineuphill
hit a home run, and I'll get folks and say
to me, uh, you watch Spencer Steer right like? Does

(49:57):
does does? He does? He look like himself at the plate.
The dude is batting one oh nine. He serves no
purpose on defense. He's literally not played an inning on
defense this year. So he's on the team for one reason.
He's he's not doing the one thing he's here to do.
And I think most of us believe that the major

(50:19):
reason why is the main reason why, is he's hurt.
So how much longer are we going to do this?
Then you added to it Ces and you add to
it jam Er Candelario. I guess the question is one guy,
in Jamer Candelario, is a pretty high priced item, high
priced player, and the other in Cees, is not very

(50:43):
high priced younger still viewed as a potential long term cornerstone.
Neither are hitting at all right now. You're trying to
win this year, like that's what I mean. The goal
this season should be to get to the playoffs. So
how long is the leash for either guy? Now? With

(51:04):
Jammer Candelario, I think you go, well, okay, Noelvee Marte,
give him a chance at some point, and I'm not
opposed to that. If Ces isn't your first baseman. By
the way, Spencer Steer has played the position, but he
can't play defense right now, and you're trying out Santiago Espinal,
you might say, well, you should have a short leash

(51:26):
for Cees. But if he's not your first baseman, who
is five point three, seven, four nine, fifteen thirty is
our phone number? Brendanan and Jones on baseball coming up
in just about thirty five minutes. Santa Brookhouse, Summer Sports
NFL analyst talk drafts with us.

Speaker 8 (51:46):
Next Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty traffic.

Speaker 10 (51:52):
From the UC Health Traffic Center. The u See Cancer
Center offers the latest research based and holistic approaches to
head and net cancer.

Speaker 9 (52:01):
Called five eight.

Speaker 10 (52:02):
Five UCCC East found two seventy five on the combshail Bridge.
Left lane blocked from an accident. Traffic through there. Stop
and go from Alexandria Pike sell found on Nebe Road.
It's an accident at Sydney Road westbound State Route sixty three.
Another accident, this one over at Union Road. I'm at
Ezelak with traffic.

Speaker 2 (52:23):
This report is spect for four o'clock. This is ESPN
fifteen thirty on OEGAR. Thank you for listening today. The
NFL Draft one week from tomorrow and then continues on
Friday and Saturday and next week. The Suomer Sports NFL
Draft Guide, I sent out a link on social media
is an essential. It's it's essential if you're boning up

(52:46):
for the draft this weekend. If you want a companion,
as I'm not talking about a person, but a companion,
as you're watching the draft or listening to the draft
on ESPN fifteen thirty, you got to get it. It's
a terrific And excuse me when we talk Suomer Sport.
We love having on our buddy Sam Brookhouse, NFL analyst
forsoomer sports dot com, and it's good to have you Sam.

(53:07):
What's going on.

Speaker 7 (53:10):
I'm so excited for this draft because it seems like
no one knows what's gonna happen. Yes, and there's gonna
be some excellent moments on draft day in which maybe
four quarterbacks go, maybe one quarterback goes, maybe multiple running
backs are taken. That's exciting to me.

Speaker 2 (53:27):
Yeah, it's exciting from a thirty thousand foot view. I
think from a Bengals perspective, I think it's exciting. It's
all so scary because they have to nail it in
this draft. They've not drafted well in recent years. The
jury is still out for last year. They need players
who could help right now. So understanding that and all
of their team needs, who do I want at seventeen?

Speaker 7 (53:53):
Look, he's fallen quite a bit, but I think it's
a great fit for James Pierce out of Tennessee. This
is a guy who who was a top tier player
basically at the end of the season. He's immensely productive,
had a ton of tackles for loss, and if you
look at his pressure rate on Summer Sports dot Com
on our draft guide, you'll see that he has a
blue Chip grade. There's a blue line underneath that number

(54:15):
that means that he was one of the top fifteen
percent in college last year. This is the guy who
can get after the passer, and this is a guy
who rumors and questions have been abound in the off season,
but when it comes down to his production on the field,
it's all out there in the numbers and on the film.
He's an excellent player and I think he'd be a
good fit in Cincinnati, especially given he's a big school guy.

Speaker 5 (54:39):
I know the.

Speaker 7 (54:39):
Bengals like taking big school guys. He's a top tier
performer at the college level that marks well with what
the Bengals want. And then finally, he's a guy who
has fallen down the ranks. I think there's Jalen Carter
potential in James Pierce.

Speaker 2 (54:53):
So I think with that position in particular, a lot
of folks are going to say there's debt there, there's
depth at edge rusher, and they still do have at
least for now, and maybe this changes. They still do
have Trey Hendrickson assess the depth at edge rusher. For me,
how long can they wait before they get a guy
who can help your one?

Speaker 7 (55:15):
So I think if they're going to target the edge
rushing position, which I think they should again Trey Hendrickson
in extension talks, or rather not in extension talks, but
they could be happening. I guess it's what I should say,
Sam Hubbard or Tiring. I think that the first round
has to be the spot where you attack that position.
It's a premium position, and it seems as if in

(55:36):
this draft the refrain has been seven or eight edge
rushing guys will be gone by.

Speaker 6 (55:41):
The first round.

Speaker 7 (55:42):
I do not think that that depth continues like it
does at the running back position, the offensive line position,
even at the wide receiver position into day two or
day three.

Speaker 6 (55:52):
I think you've got a.

Speaker 7 (55:53):
Snag an edge rusher if you want one in round one.

Speaker 2 (55:56):
So you mentioned the term premium position. What's interesting about
the Bengals is they have a lot of needs at
what one might consider quote non premium positions. My argument
would be, if you have needs at those positions, suddenly
they are premium positions. So you know we're talking safety
we're talking linebacker. Guard is obviously a major need for

(56:17):
this team. When you look at the needs they have,
where could they least afford to wait to address with
a certain player.

Speaker 7 (56:25):
So I think you bring up the linebacker position. There's
two top tier linebackers, and I don't know if either
of them will make it to seventeen. But that's Jalen
Walker and Jahad Campbell. And what's interesting about these players
is they both actually have potential at the edge rushing
positions as well. Allah of Michael Parsons for example. Now
that's a one percent outcome. That's one of the best

(56:47):
outcomes of all time for Michael Parsons. But these are
two players who both played off ball linebacker and both
rush the pass or a lot. Jalen Walker projecting to
be more of an edge that maybe can swing to linebacker,
the opposite for Jahad Campbell. I think those are two
guys that you, as you said, have become premium picks.
I worry a little bit about the offensive line position.

(57:09):
I think you can wait to get a good, great
offensive lineman round two, round three. There's guys like Jackson Slater,
small school guys from Sacramento State who you can get
down the line who can fill in that center guard position.
So I think you really got to attack the ad
dressing position and maybe the corner position. But I know
the Bengals don't typically like to trade around too much

(57:31):
on draft Day. But if you think that, you know
the non premium position can be had in round two,
seems like a good spot to trade back as a result.

Speaker 2 (57:40):
Yeah, So that's what I want them to do. Because
they have six picks, they have a lot of needs.
I was talking about this earlier. If you look at
their team needs, they look like a team that came
off a four win season. They look like a rebuilding team.
They don't look like a team that's in their super
Bowl window. And they think, and I think most of
us think that if they nail the draft, they're in
their super Bowl window. And so to me, when you
have six picks, and when you have all those team needs,

(58:03):
you know the idea is to get more draft capital.
The idea is to take the seventeenth pick. And I
guess you could do this later on and round two,
which they've done before, and trade that down. I want
more picks. If you're looking there at seventeen, do you
see a team that could potentially say, yeah, you know what,
we'll slide up to seventeen. We'll let you move down,
We'll give you something extra and make it work out
for you.

Speaker 7 (58:24):
So I think a lot of that depends probably on
two or three positions. The first position has to be
the quarterback position. If Shador Sanders makes it pass number
nine at the New Orleans Saints, I think it's going
to start to set up of teams thinking they can
jump back in. In fact, I think the Cleveland Browns, the

(58:45):
division rival, are actually not really making a bet on
the evaluation of the other quarterbacks. I think they might
have all four quarterbacks graded the same. What I think
they're making a bet on is the availability of these guys.
And as a result, when you're on the availability, given
they have pick thirty three, the first pick of the
second round, other teams start to get a little hyper

(59:07):
if they want to jump back in. I think the
Steelers are a team who may may want to trade
up again. That's another indivision. The Browns, also in division.
I'd also be shocked at teams, you know, like the Saints,
don't try to get back in if they get a
guy that they like at in the nine quarterback position.
There's also some interesting kind of weighs the draft breaks,

(59:28):
which with like cornerbacks and into your defensive linemen wide receivers,
where if a wide receiver like Tetaro McMillan or in
Mecca Aguca starts to drop a little bit, I think
teams may want to try to get in the back
end of the first round around that pick seventeen pick
in order to make that selection, rather than try to
wait it out and see if that player is available,

(59:49):
given that the next group of wide receivers probably.

Speaker 6 (59:52):
Won't be picked until the fifties.

Speaker 2 (59:53):
So, Sam, I love you, but if I if I'm
using the draft to help the Browns and Steelers solve
their quarterback that's a negative for me.

Speaker 7 (01:00:03):
Hey, it's not ideal, But here's what I Here's what
I tell you, though, If you're helping them solve solve
their problems in the draft with the quarterback, the average
quarterback is Mitchell Trubisky. So if you told me that
I could get a top tier ed rusher later on
in the draft and fill all my needs knowing that
I have probably a top three quarterback in Joe Burrow,

(01:00:26):
a top five quarterback in Joe Burrow, and the best
wide receiver and the best wide receiver too. I'm still
pretty confident about that. Let them shoot the lotto. If
they're gonna make me a little bit better down the line, you.

Speaker 2 (01:00:38):
Will have given me. If they do that, I will
have two weeks worth of talk shows booked already. I'm
good to go. I want to have a hard time
with that at all. San Roucous from super Sports go
back to offensive line for me, because I think in
their ideal world, if they if they took a guard,
whether it's round one, two three, whatever it is, I
think they would like somebody who could play guard now

(01:00:59):
and event down the road, move the tackle depending on
how Orlando Brown ages. Are those players available as we
get to rounds two, three and the rounds on Saturday,
can I get a guy like that?

Speaker 7 (01:01:12):
There is a bunch of them available, and in fact
there will be ones available probably at seventeen and deep
into round three. The guys who might may be available
at seventeen Kelvin Banks, so I really love out of Texas,
an im mensely productive guy who was a very clean
tackle who I think can also flex into the middle
We're thinking about guys like Tyler Booker, a true guard

(01:01:33):
who also may be available at seventeen. And then you
start looking at day two. You look at guys maybe
like Gray's Abel, Josh connorly Kate Ratledge is out of Georgia,
Jonas Savanaia Camera. I mean, there's so many guys in
the straft Wyatt middle of West Virginia. Like I'm just
scrolling down the lovely art in our Summer Sports Draft guys,

(01:01:54):
and I'm seeing guys that are like day three that
I'm feel pretty comfortable about getting a sh at a
starting job in camp, or at least, you know, getting
in some reps, in some solid reps in the preseason.
That's getting into like rounds four and five. The draft
is set up for the Mingle succeeed to succeed. They
have addressing needs, they have non premium position needs, and

(01:02:16):
this is the draft where there's a ton of good
non premium position players. I think they could really refill
the clip and make a big run behind their superstars
with some nice young players this year.

Speaker 2 (01:02:27):
They got to nail it this year. There's no doubt
about that. Suomer Sports dot Com check out the Suomer
Sports twenty twenty five Rookie Draft Guide and Sam always
good to have you man. Thank you so much.

Speaker 6 (01:02:38):
Yeah, appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (01:02:39):
You're the best. That's our guy, Sam Brookalsoomer Sports dot Com.
I am not trading with the Browns. I love Sam,
we have him on the show. He's an awesome analyst.
I am not helping the Browns or Steelers solve their
quarterback issues. No we're not. I'll will stick and pick.
We'll do sports headlines too. Next ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 8 (01:03:00):
He's ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 9 (01:03:03):
Traffic from the UC Health Traffic Center.

Speaker 10 (01:03:06):
The u SE Cancer Center offers the latest research based
and holistic approaches to head and net cancer. Called five
eight five UCCC East found two seventy five on the
Combstail Bridge, a left lane blocked off from an accident.
Traffic stop and go from four to seventy one. On
South found four to seventy one traffic stop and go
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(01:03:29):
five and East found two seventy five accident at reed
Hartman Highway on that EZAIK with traffic.

Speaker 1 (01:03:36):
Sweet NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals select this.

Speaker 13 (01:03:40):
He's an ESPN fifteen to thirty do NADOs Draft profile.

Speaker 14 (01:03:44):
Bnados Got More to Love. Proud sponsor of the Cincinnati Bengals,
presented by Oxy Your Gas and Bellow Windows and Doors
of Greater Cincinnati at Northern Kentucky.

Speaker 2 (01:03:55):
Now here's Moe Egger with a name. You need to
know what we got. The Bengals must get better and
more consistent production from the interior of their defensive line
in twenty twenty five, which could put that position group
in the spotlight when the Bengals go on the clock
with the seventeenth overall pick in this year's NFL draft.
One name worth remembering is Walter Nolan from Ole, miss

(01:04:17):
Nolan transferred to the Rebels from Texas A and M,
and he played all over the defensive line last season,
showing off a variety of pass rush moves while posting
very good numbers. Nolan has six and a half sacks
to go with thirty five pressures, and he was effective
at stopping the run too. Some evaluators say his aggressiveness
can work to his disadvantage, especially against trap plays and

(01:04:37):
screen passes, but he's versatile and he plays with enough
energy that most believe he can start day one as
a plug and play defensive tackle. Keep an eye on
Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolan.

Speaker 13 (01:04:50):
Oh yeah, Moe has more. Listening to the next draft
profile on ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:04:57):
This report is signs the service of Kelsey Chevrolet home
of lifetime powertrain protection and guaranteed credit approval from their
family to yours for live kelseyshev dot com. We are
in late. When we get draft experts on, we just
let them go. We let them cook Reds and Mariners again. Tonight,

(01:05:18):
Nick Martinez will start for Cincinnati against Bryce Miller. Six
point forty is tonight's first pitch. It is on a
seven hundred WLW. Not just the first pitch, but but
all the other pitches after that. I want a starting lineup,
I give it to you here. It is. Get out
your scorecards and your pencils. By the way, that's a
big Lance McAllister thing. Can I just as a brief aside.

(01:05:38):
If you love Lance McAllister show, and I do. He's
on from six to nine on seven hundred WLW, host
The Inside Pitch, hosts extra innings. We all love Lance,
but I have seen firsthand what happens. Lance has a
very specific type of pen that he uses. I don't

(01:05:59):
know what it's called, but it's a like if it
was in front of me, as it was on Monday,
I could go that's Lance's pen. He has a very
specific type of pen that he uses. I have been
with him. When he loses his pen and doesn't have
a replacement, show's over. Might as well go home, like
he cannot function. The other night, I got off the

(01:06:22):
air and we have a little kitchen area I had.
I went to throw something away in there and I
saw the pen. I said, there's only one person I
know who writes with that pen. It's Lance, And I
bet you he's looking for it. And I go in
the studio he's about to go on the air and
a guy's losing his mind, and I gave it to
him and it saved the show. And so you're welcome.

(01:06:44):
Starting lineup Tonight, FRIEDA McLain, Ellie Hayes, Lux Steer Lucks
is playing third base, No Jamber Tonight. Steer is dhing
because he's only got one arm. Cees at first, Freilian right,
Trevino behind the dish. This is awful. Aaron Boo pensa
died former FC Cincinnati player, was living and playing in China,
just twenty eight years old. He fell from the eleventh

(01:07:06):
floor of the building he was living in. That is
just terrible, terrible news. A couple of UC basketball transfer
portal notes not involving anybody coming. Connor Hickman is going
to go play for Chris Mack and Charleston. Good for him.
I didn't feel like Connor Hickman, who played well in
the Xavier game. I never felt like Connor Hickman was

(01:07:28):
a big twelve player. Dan Skillings is going to play
for Baylor. Josh Reed to Penn State. You've noticed there
are a lot of now former UC players that are
attracting interest from high major programs. It's really going to
be interesting. Look, the most important thing is Wes Miller

(01:07:50):
needs a team that makes the NCAA Tournament next year,
and not only makes the nca Tournament, makes it with ease.
And we're gonna be paying very close to ten to
know whether or not that happens. Corey Evans is GM
who I'm still told is going to appear on the show.
He and Wes have to figure out a way to

(01:08:10):
put together a team that's more capable of competing in
the Big Twelve, where they have gone fourteen and twenty
four in the regular season their first two years. Along
with that, I think, especially after the success of Victor
Locke and a Clemson, there's going to be a lot
of scrutiny on how some of those players that collectively

(01:08:30):
just couldn't fit or work or just individually had bad seasons,
how they do in their new homes, especially the ones
that are playing for high majors. We will see the
Columbus Blue Jackets, by the way, remain alive for a
Stanley Cup playoff spot, for a wildcard spot. The Jackets

(01:08:52):
have one game remaining that'll be tomorrow night at home
against the New York Islanders, but they will be watching.
If you're a jack you'll be paying attention to the
game in Montreal tonight. The Canadians are taking on the
Carolina Hurricanes. So, uh, the Jackets need Montreal to lose
in regulation and then if Columbus wins in regulation tomorrow,

(01:09:17):
they get the last wild card spot. I believe I
have articulated that correctly, and if I haven't, my apologies.
By the way, Suddenly this dude, Jack Grieve shows up
and nobody can get a puck past him Columbus goaltender. So, uh,
if you're a Columbus fan, chances are you did not
need me to tell you that Montreal plays a game
that we need then to lose tonight. But I'm the

(01:09:39):
big bandwagon casual Jackets fan, and so they have a
chance to be in the playoffs, so I start paying
clothes for attention. And Jack Greeves is my new all
time favorite Jackets player I had, I had something else
five point three seven four nine, fifteen thirty. Uh, because
I do not know what I had, I'll talk to
Bob instead. Bob, you're on a fifteen thirty. Good afternoon, Bob.

Speaker 5 (01:10:01):
How are you?

Speaker 4 (01:10:03):
Hey, Mo?

Speaker 7 (01:10:03):
How you doing?

Speaker 2 (01:10:04):
I'm doing awesome all right?

Speaker 5 (01:10:07):
Hey? Uh speaking of hockey, my boys got.

Speaker 6 (01:10:11):
In last night.

Speaker 2 (01:10:12):
I saw congratulations go.

Speaker 5 (01:10:15):
From Jimmy Snugger route.

Speaker 2 (01:10:16):
By the way, how is Jimmy Snugger Rude doing?

Speaker 7 (01:10:19):
You know what?

Speaker 5 (01:10:20):
The guy's very good. It was his first goal last night,
but I think he's got four or five assists. And
the guy just was He's playing on their second line
most of the time, right, and very just this guy's

(01:10:41):
gonna be a great player.

Speaker 2 (01:10:42):
And now and now they play, correct me if I'm wrong.
They played the team that won the President's Trophy.

Speaker 5 (01:10:46):
That's Winnipeg, right, they do, yes, And you know what, obviously,
you know you're going to be a huge underdog against
these guys. But they wound up mo getting I think
it was ninety six points on the year the Blues did,
and that included, of course their twelve game winning streak

(01:11:09):
that they've had here recently. So they're and and more
than anything, they're they're healthy right now. They've got one
guy that they signed an offer sheet from Edmonton last
year that scored I think twenty five twenty six goals
something like that, and he's not played for the last
couple of weeks. He's he's injured right now, but they

(01:11:31):
say he's going to be back from the playoff for
the playoffs. And yeah, so they're they're as healthy as
they've been all year.

Speaker 2 (01:11:38):
So if if if the Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets,
it'll I'll be able to say something like more like
lose a peg, right.

Speaker 3 (01:11:48):
Exactly.

Speaker 2 (01:11:48):
Yeah, as she was waiting for that. It's one of
my it's one of my favorite hockey references.

Speaker 5 (01:11:57):
I like him. Yeah, I was going to tell I
know what I was going to tell you. I heard
your jewelry commercial just a few moments ago.

Speaker 2 (01:12:05):
You did Genesis Diamonds Montgomery Road.

Speaker 5 (01:12:08):
Yeah. And do you remember a place MO called JB.
Robinson Jewelers. No, No, it goes back.

Speaker 2 (01:12:17):
A long time.

Speaker 5 (01:12:19):
And w EBN for two years in a row, I
think it was only two years. They did a There
was a guy named Larry Robinson, who was of course
one of the owners, and he did all of their commercials.

Speaker 7 (01:12:35):
And EBN for a couple.

Speaker 5 (01:12:37):
Of years in a row had a Larry Robinson soundlike contest.
Really In the first year I won third and won
a gold lighter, and the next year MO I won
the thing and got a if I remember correctly, it
was a Witten Hour, a gold Wriitten Hour watch.

Speaker 2 (01:13:00):
Believable. You were eligible to winning consecutive years.

Speaker 5 (01:13:03):
Oh yeah, absolutely, yeah, yeah, it didn't mind. Yeah, And
I'll never forget. I was driving home from ports that day.
I lived in Bellevue, and I was on seventy five
coming south, and all of a sudden they said my
name and played the recording and everything, and I almost
wrecked my car.

Speaker 2 (01:13:24):
Wow, Well, I'm glad you did. Have you ever won
anything on this show?

Speaker 9 (01:13:30):
You know what?

Speaker 5 (01:13:30):
I don't think so. Over the years more, I've won
so much stuff, mostly most of those times we're down
here in Nashville. Uh, but you know some good stuff,
Predator tickets and just different things like that. But but no,
you know what, and and some of your contests, what

(01:13:54):
if the one that Guess the Foot or whatever.

Speaker 2 (01:13:56):
We have, we haven't played. We haven't played Guess the
Foot in quite a while. But because the last time
we played, the people got mad, I'll come because they
said it was stupid.

Speaker 5 (01:14:08):
Well, I mean it is, but what do they care?

Speaker 2 (01:14:11):
Right? I find a great amount of humor in the absurd,
and I think Guess the Foot is absurd. And so
the next time we have a prize to give away,
which I don't know when that will be, we might
bring back Guess the Foot because I find it immensely fun.
But there are those among us who find no joy

(01:14:31):
or humor in fun in anything, and so they went
out of their way to let me know they don't
like it when we play Guess the Foot.

Speaker 5 (01:14:39):
I'll tell you how bad I was. Bo I played
one day really and I don't remember whose foot it was,
but my guess was Tom Dempsey and you know you
she said, no, that's that's not him. So oh, I
know there was one I was going.

Speaker 7 (01:14:58):
I wanted to tell you about weekend.

Speaker 5 (01:15:00):
Of course we had wrestling.

Speaker 2 (01:15:02):
Oh yeah, you had little people wrestling at your son's
bar down there in Tennessee.

Speaker 5 (01:15:07):
For the fourth time.

Speaker 2 (01:15:08):
Yeah, yeah, how was it?

Speaker 5 (01:15:11):
It was good. It was good, good turnout. And but
I called you last year after I spoke with Tommy
John and the same guy that got my son and
I in to see Tommy has just completed a deck
for an ex Bengal and he said they're gonna he's

(01:15:32):
gonna have a big party. He said, when the party happens,
he said, you're coming with me, right, And the Bengal
bo was Ken Avery.

Speaker 2 (01:15:44):
I'm not even sure I know who that is.

Speaker 5 (01:15:46):
No, he was on the I think he was on
the sixty eight team and played I think he played
for five years, was a linebacker number fifty one, played
a long bierbo and al bowtown. Yeah yeah, yeah, but
uh yeah, So anyway, he he's invited me and he

(01:16:09):
said that before the years, we're going to pay another
visit to Tommy, so.

Speaker 7 (01:16:15):
I will.

Speaker 5 (01:16:17):
I'll let you know how those two meetings go.

Speaker 2 (01:16:19):
All right, Will there be any little people wrestlers there?

Speaker 5 (01:16:25):
Well, you know what we did. I don't think we
invited any, but they could certainly come if they want to. Now,
what what Ken Avery instructed my buddy to do is
build a very strong deck because he's He told him
that most of his friends are in the three hundred

(01:16:46):
pound range nowadays. Gotcha, and Ken Avery is eighty years old.
I didn't know that. But uh, you know, a lot
of those football players don't last a whole long time.
But he he's he's made it. He's made it through
a good part of his life.

Speaker 2 (01:17:02):
Well, I'm glad, I'm glad he is still with us,
and I'm glad he's getting a new deck. And uh,
always good to hear from you, Bob, but we have.

Speaker 6 (01:17:09):
To go, okay, all right, thank you so.

Speaker 2 (01:17:12):
Much, And you got him. It's that's my hockey guy.
That's Bob Brenneman and Jones brad t my buddy of mine.
I don't look at my phone during the show that often.
This guy really calling you to talk about the Saint

(01:17:34):
Louis Blues. He did it just caused the show. We're
an open for him Brennanman and Jones. Maybe on baseball next.

Speaker 8 (01:17:43):
Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. Traffic from the.

Speaker 9 (01:17:48):
UC Health Traffic Center.

Speaker 10 (01:17:49):
The u See Cancer Center offers the latest research based
and holistic approaches to head and net cancer. Call five
eight five u See See See East. Found two of
the five on the Coneshail Bridge. A left lane blocked
off from an accident.

Speaker 9 (01:18:04):
Traffic.

Speaker 10 (01:18:04):
There's stop and go from three mile Road over on
the westbound side of two seventy five. It's an accident
on the left shoulder between Springfield Pike and Winton Road.
Expect the lays in through there on that he sound
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(01:18:46):
perfect for happy hour. The Mikeelob Ultra five o'clock Happy
Hour is great Monday through Friday, and you can even
do it on Saturday and Sunday. The mikelob Ultra five
o'clock Happy Hour HiT's a little different when your Friday
is on Wednesday, which is the case for me. Chad
Rendel's doing this show tomorrow. I have no remote idea

(01:19:07):
who's doing the show on Friday. Aran do we know
who's doing the show on Friday? No clue? All right, well,
you may want to look into that because you're gonna
be stuck doing it if no one's here. But I
won't be here. But we do have the michelob Ultra
five o'clock Happy Hour and a nice cool make Ultra
sounds amazing. Right now, in about fifteen minutes, our friend
Nick Bukaty from mL Season past Apple TV, we'll talk

(01:19:28):
FC Cincinnati Orange and Blue getting set to play Chicago
on Saturday, looking for a fourth consecutive win, and do
we want the Bengals to go back to doing the
sort of thing they used to get criticized for doing
that coming up in just about thirty minutes. Last night's
Red's win felt like a very unreds like night. This

(01:19:51):
is more emotional than it is logical. But if you're
a Reds fan, you know you went into last night,
I'm guessing doing what a lot of us were doing. Boy,
the Reds have played well, you're thinking, and they're hot.
They won five out of six, swapped the Pirates. Starting
pitching is good, I said yesterday. They're kind of dealing
with the perfect storm of good stuff.

Speaker 5 (01:20:12):
Right.

Speaker 2 (01:20:12):
You got a good starting staff, a good bullpen, you're
getting some key offensive players back, and you're going into
a stretch where you're playing teams that aren't great. Like that,
that's a real perfect storm. It's the perfect ingredients for
a team to go and and like make a move.
And when I say make a move, not you make
a trade, although that's fine, talk about like make a

(01:20:34):
move in the standings. Take winning five out of six
and turn that into like winning ten out of twelve,
that sort of thing. And yet it has felt like
over the years and over the years, meaning like it's
felt like the last three decades, right when you're starting
to feel pretty good, they lay a clunker or something
bad happens. And in the early going last night, it

(01:20:54):
felt like Nicolodohlo didn't have his best stuff. They fall
behind two nothing, they tie it, they fall behind four two,
and you know, if you're a Reds fan, your conditioned
to feeling like the other shoe could drop at any moment.
That is a function, that is a reflection of how
little winning they have done over the last thirty years.
It just that's the case. That's not your fault. It's

(01:21:16):
not my fault, it's their fault. Unending losing breeds skepticism
and jadedness and apprehension, and sometimes causes a fan to
maybe not enjoy winning as much as he or she should.
So I think you were being emotionally reasonable if last

(01:21:37):
night's game you kind of thought the most Reds thing
ever would be right when they're getting some healthy players back,
right in the middle of this run where they're getting
good starting pitching, right with a very okay team coming
to town, they lay a clunker and they sort of
undo all the positive momentum and instead they win the

(01:21:58):
game and win the game going away, and they win
the game because the bullpen. You know, I've talked a
lot about, I think most of us have. We talked
a lot about how good the starting pitching has been
Hunter Green's having a great year. Nick Lodolo, prior to
last night, was having a very good season. The starting
staff top to bottom has been awesome. Be great if
Nick Martinez could join the party tonight. But also the

(01:22:19):
bullpen work, and I give Terry Francona, but I think
this applies to the organization as well. Alexis Das came
back last night, and I didn't love how Alexis Daz looked.
But Alexis Daz was the closer, and two years ago
was an All Star and last year got a lot
of saves, but frankly, didn't pitch all that well. And

(01:22:39):
they've got some options now. And Emilio Pagan, who I know,
gave up that home run in San Francisco, but beyond
that has been really good. He was up warming up
last night. Terry Francona used him in the ninth non
save situation. Frankly, I don't think the save stats should exist,
but it does. Who cares about it? What I do
care about is Emilio Pagan got the job done. The

(01:23:00):
bullpen as a whole got the job done, and Terry
Francona and the Reds are making Alexis Diaz earn his
old job back, and maybe he gets it back. He's
gonna pitch on high leverage situations. Every reliever does. But
I like the fact that they're making him earn it.
We'll see if he does. I also like the fact
that Graham Ashcraft has, by every account including his fully

(01:23:24):
embraced the relief role that he's in right now, and
last night again he was terrific. The Reds bullpen has
given up the fewest hits in all of baseball. Now,
part of that is they haven't pitched a ton of
innings because the starting staff has gotten pretty deep into games,
but they also have allowed the fourth fewest walks and
hits per nine innings in all of baseball. And at

(01:23:45):
least for me and maybe for you back in spring training,
that was a question that I had, right and we'll
see if this stands the test of time. It's only
been seventeen games, but one of the many questions a
lot of has had about this team this year was
is the bullpen going to be strength? Is this just
a collection of like random dudes? Is is this are

(01:24:06):
the two late and offseason acquisitions going to prove to
help it all? Taylor Rogers and Scott Barlow. Is this
just a missmash of guys or it is a bull
Is it a bullpen with a lot of guys who
can be effective, a lot of guys who can fill
multiple roles? And is Terry Francona going to be able
to to, you know, establish roles for each individual relief

(01:24:29):
pitcher based on their success and based on the success
of the starting rotation. You have to love what you're
seeing from the bullpen. Have to love what you saw
last night from Austin Hayes. His Red's debut, as far
as Red's debuts aren't concerned, one of the best ever.
It wasn't just that he hit a home run. It
wasn't just that he hit a home run in awesome
looking blue socks. It was that he hit a home

(01:24:51):
run that gave the Reds the lead for good. It
was also set up by Matt McClain and Ellie de
la Cruz, setting the tone, setting the table, if you will,
with consecutive walks. Austin Hayes, we did this a little
bit yesterday. You can you cannot be entirely sure that
he is going to be as good as this team
needs to be. And you could look at some of

(01:25:13):
the other offseason moves that other teams made and go, God,
Tyler Stevenson's our big or not Tyler stevens On Austin
Hayes is our big, big bat. But the reality is
he was acquired to give this team a significant upgrade,
and so first of all, can he stay healthy? Secondly,
if he does stay healthy, can he go back to
being the player that he was in Baltimore before the

(01:25:34):
injuries took their toll. This team needs that answer to
be yes. Gavin Luck's a big night last night, four hits.
You know, at the same time you've you've got some
stuff like I think we all believe the Reds have
a chance. Now, I don't know that seventeen games when
they were three and seven, my take was, and I'm
not sure I had a lot of company. My take

(01:25:55):
was at three and seven, if you believe this team
was going to go eighty four and seventy eight, you
should still feel that way. The sample size isn't large
enough I believe to compel anybody to change their mind.
If you thought this team was going to be great,
I don't think you should have changed your mind. If

(01:26:15):
you thought this team was going to be terrible after
ten games, Well, you aren't going to change your mind.
I kind of feel the same way now. My take
on opening day was they're an eighty three win team.
I still think they're going to be an eighty three
win team, but I think they're an eighty three win
team that if you're eighty three wins, you're not that
far away from eighty seven or eighty eight or eighty nine,
and that can get you in the playoffs. The idea
is to get to the playoffs this year. So I

(01:26:37):
think we talk about players who are struggling a little
bit differently. I think this team has lost for so long,
and that there have been so many rebuilds and so
many seasons that were all about just giving players a chance.
That now when we look at guys like Cees or
a handful of others, we talk about waiting for them

(01:26:58):
and being patient with them in turns that were better
applied in twenty seventeen or twenty fifteen, or any number
of lost years, not so much in twenty twenty five.
Ces is interesting to me because you know, he's he's
a guy they traded for, liked a lot, gave a
chance to two years ago was awesome, has had the

(01:27:19):
injury issues. This year is off to a terrible start.
I don't know what plan B is behind him. Like
you might go, well, it's Tyler Stevenson and fine, but
I don't know that Tyler Stevenson hits enough, although he
if he hits at his level last year, that's certainly
better than Cees. I think they really want him to
be a catcher. Spencer Steer can't play first base right

(01:27:42):
now because he's got one arm. Oh and by the way,
he's batting one oh nine today. They were working on
Santiago Espinal at first base. That can't be the plan.
So like, how long do you wait let's stick it
out with ces? I think it's a very good question,
one that hopefully we don't have to answer because hopefully
he hits jam or Candelario. How long do they go

(01:28:04):
with him just not producing at all? And how long
do they do this thing with Spencer Steer where they
don't use him in the field as they continue to
watch him not be able to do the one thing
he's on the team right now to do, which is
hit dudes batting a buck nine. So I am looking

(01:28:24):
forward to I'm hopeful this team, and I think if
you're a Reds fan you would agree. You're hopeful they
can stay in the hunt. So we can have conversations
about some of these guys and their place on the team,
how they should be used, how long their leases should be,
what the potential replacements are. We are not doing that
in a season like the one three years ago where
they lost one hundred games, and we're not doing that

(01:28:46):
in so many seasons that came before this one over
the last thirty years, where the objective is to just
give players a chance. The objective this year is to
get to the postseason, which means those long leashes for
a lot of these guys should be a lot shorter.
Seventeen minutes after five o'clock. More on the Reds coming
up here in a bit. Continue their series tonight against
the Seattle Mariners with Nick Martinez. Nick Martinez is interesting

(01:29:11):
because of the five starting pitchers, he's kind of been
the weak link. How long is his leash not on
the team, but as a starting pitcher. We'll get to
that coming up here in just a bit. Great NFL
draft analysts coming up in five thirty five, But first,
FC Cincinnati looking for a fourth consecutive win. Can they
get it? Nick Bukaty will join us mL Season Pass

(01:29:32):
Apple TV.

Speaker 8 (01:29:33):
Next Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty Traffic.

Speaker 10 (01:29:39):
From the UC Health Traffic Center. The UCE Cancer Center
offers the latest research based and holistic approaches to head
and net cancer. Called five eight five UCCC Blue Rock Road.
There is an accident near Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway
southbound fourth seventy one traffic stop and go between Grand
Avenue and two seventy five that due to an earlier

(01:30:01):
crash on the Coney Bridge and River Road closed for
construction between Amsterdam Road and before Hayward Street on that
he's sound like with traffic.

Speaker 2 (01:30:10):
This report is a's interview with Pat noonan head coach
of f C Cincinnati. Go listen to it, but not
before you listen to our next conversation, which is also
FC Cincinnati related. The Orange Blue on the road on
a Saturday, second consecutive road game, but looking for a
fourth consecutive win on the road, this time against Chicago.
That game will be at eight thirty. You could watch

(01:30:31):
it on Apple TV's MLS Season Pass and a part
of that broadcast crew is Nate Buchati, who joined US
joined us last year from Los Angeles, and we were
talking through what his first ever visit to Skyline was
going to look like, and I hope it went well.
But he's with us now to talk soccer.

Speaker 3 (01:30:50):
How you doing, Nate, Mo, It's great to talk to you,
and it did go incredibly well. I enjoyed myself quite
thoroughly and made a return trip. I got to go
to Cincinnati a few times last year and one of
my favorite places to go to in the league.

Speaker 7 (01:31:04):
I have to say it.

Speaker 2 (01:31:05):
Very good, very good. Well, well that said, I wish
they were home this week. They're not back on the
road in Chicago. I think. I think if you're an
FC Cincinnati fan, you have to be pretty pleased with
what they with where they are, given all the stuff
they've had to deal with, you know, the tumultuous preseason,
players not showing up for training, the Luchuwa Costa situation,

(01:31:26):
all the injuries, players playing for their national teams, Lolesey Weather,
travel with the Conka CAF Champions Cup, and yet there
they are with sixteen points in eight MLS matches.

Speaker 3 (01:31:36):
Oh man, you just summed it up. Perfectly. This is
gonna be my first time getting a chance to call
an FC Cincinnati game this year, And as I started
doing my prep this week, it really did become clearer
to me. I mean, I knew they were off to
a decent start, but all of this stuff that you
just listed off, and you know, the injuries that they've
been dealing with, and honestly, not probably I know that

(01:31:58):
Pat Newton's even said this now playing what he thinks
is their best soccer. Yet they've won three in a row.
They're in third place. You know, they're right there within
you know, in state rival Columbus crew striking distance, and
you feel like there's a lot more meat on the bones.
So man, the state of Ohio has been rocking when

(01:32:20):
it comes to Major League soccer the last few years,
and it doesn't look like this is going to be
any different.

Speaker 2 (01:32:24):
So there's everything we just talked about. Yet I do
think there's a sense of they can't keep playing this
way and continued to win. And so yes, they've got
to get healthier. They've also got to get more going offensively.
How do they do that?

Speaker 3 (01:32:39):
Well, it'd be nice to get everybody back healthy, right,
I mean, Obviously that's an easy answer. But when you've
you know, gone out and replaced your dynamic MVP caliber
number ten with another dynamic MVP caliber number ten and
he's not available to play, that's going to make things difficult.
One of the things that I'm going to be really
interested to see and excited to see, though, is where

(01:33:03):
the progression comes now from dot Valenzuela, you know, getting
that first goal last week, and I know he's a
player with so much promise. You never want to put
too much pressure on a twenty year old. But at
the same time, I just got done watching Champions League
games and you see eighteen to twenty two year olds
all over Europe right now on the biggest stages, playing

(01:33:24):
in big moments, and I think Valenzuela showed that he's
ready for the moment. I know he's been dealing with
his own frustrations and injuries and finally getting a chance
to get out there. Maybe he could be a big
answer to helping Cincinnati, you know, develop their attack. But
you know, I hate to keep bringing up your in
state rivals, Columbus, but I would honestly say the same

(01:33:46):
thing about them. I've had a chance to do three
of their games this year, and they're not clicking completely
in the attack, but much like FC Cincinnati defensively, they're
doing enough to keep themselves from getting beaten. And honestly,
step number one in Major League Soccer to put yourself
in contention in the playoffs is make yourself hard to beat,
and FC Cincinnati certainly have shown here late that they

(01:34:09):
can do that. And if you could do that, and
you know, work and work and work until you get
all of your attacking players back and fit, I think
that's a pretty good recipe. I mean, the thing about
this league, as you know, I mean, obviously you want
to win the Supporter Show, but more importantly you're trying
to win MLS Cup. You want to be rounding into
form at the end of the season. This part of
the season is just about keeping yourself in the picture

(01:34:30):
for one of those top four spots in the playoffs
in my opinion, and obviously, so far, so good for
FC Cincinnati.

Speaker 2 (01:34:36):
Yeah, I feel like they've they've been able to and
you mentioned Dotto, they've tapped into depth that I feel
like is gonna pay dividends down the road. I've asked
a lot of your colleagues about the East because last
year was different, right, it felt like the big three Miami,
Columbus and FC Cincinnati and none of them even got
to the Eastern Conference semifinal. And this year, in the
regular season, that side of the table does feel like

(01:34:58):
it's a lot more wide open. And how do you
handicaut the East?

Speaker 3 (01:35:02):
Man, I couldn't agree with you more. I thought the
East was a gauntlet last year and only more so
this year. Interer Miami look a little bit more vulnerable
this year to me than they did a year ago,
even though I know you know their record is still
very good. When I look at these other scott I mean,

(01:35:22):
Charlotte is a very legitimate side. Last year they were
very good defensively, but didn't have enough in the attack.
They went out and they added in the attack. They
look really good. The Philadelphia Union, I'm not sure if
they can keep it up or not, And of course
they traded away Daniel Gosdog, but they're off to a
good start down the table. I still think Orlando City,
when their hole, will be one of the most dangerous
teams in all of Major League Soccer. They've got an

(01:35:45):
incredible wealth of depth in the attack. In Oscar Pereja's
type of teams always end up being good enough defensively
and in the midfield, in my opinion, to be a threat,
and they usually peek at the end of the season,
and right now they're in seventh place. The team that
you guys are taking on this weekend, the Chicago Fire,
I think are a really good team. I think Greg

(01:36:07):
Burhalter's actually got there. I think they're gonna make the
playoffs for the first time and since twenty nineteen, I
believe it is. I have to go back and look
at my notes, but I believe that's the number. It's
been a long long time since Chicago have really been relevant.
But they added this Mobamba who's a really dynamic attacking
presence on the left wing. Hugo Kuipers is actually scoring

(01:36:28):
goals this year because he's getting help and support, and
there's just been a structure brought to the team from
Greg Burholter. They played Miami to a scoreless draw this.

Speaker 2 (01:36:37):
Last time out.

Speaker 3 (01:36:38):
I think they're gonna be a factor. And we didn't
even mention the team that won the East last year
in terms of getting to MLS Cup. In the New
York Red Bulls. So this race is going to be
fascinating in the Eastern Conference. And I think that the
top nine teams are all really good and can beat
you on a given day. And you know this as

(01:36:59):
well as anybody. When I came to do one of
your games last year, I hate to bring up that
bad memory, but it was you know, it was a
I believe a loss if I remember correctly, to the
New England Revolution, who were at the bottom of the table.
And in this league, if you're missing a couple of
guys and the other team you're playing is healthy and
firing on all cylinders, even if you're at the top
of the table and there at the bottom, you can lose.

(01:37:19):
So it's obviously going to be a race that's unpredictable
going down the stretch. But for me, I think the
Columbus crew with the trade that they made, would be
at the top of the table. That's where they stand
right now. So it's easy to say that. But Wilfrid
Nazi's just done such an incredible job with that team.
But I put your I put Cincinnati right there, I
put Charlotte right there. Obviously you have to put Miami

(01:37:40):
right there, and then after that, I think there's a
second tier with teams like Orlando City, Philadelphia and Chicago
that are just as good and good enough if they
get hot in the playoffs to make it to MLS Cup.

Speaker 2 (01:37:52):
Well, we're a better city than Columbus. So just keep
that in mind when you go there again. Okay, you
know what. I have enjoyed my time in both cities.
I know that's not what you want to hear.

Speaker 3 (01:38:03):
I went to the German Village for the first time
after Columbus last time. It was actually very very pleasantly
surprised at how cool that was. But I think I've
told you this before. Cincinnati is a kick ass town.

Speaker 5 (01:38:16):
Man.

Speaker 3 (01:38:16):
I'm from Kansas City, and it reminds me a lot.
I know, I know it's a bad it's a bad
word for you guys, but I actually made all of
my listeners in Kansas City mad because I was I
was telling my producer that I made him really mad
because I was telling him that actually, Cincinnati reminds me
a lot of Kansas City, and he was like, possibly
remind you of Kansas City. And I gave him a

(01:38:37):
bunch of reasons, and he tried to shoot them all down.
But I stand by it.

Speaker 2 (01:38:39):
I would agree. Well, I'm coming to Kansas City in
late August for the Cincinnati Nebraska football game, which is
a UC home game at Arrowhead Stadium. For some reason,
the only thing I don't like is there's nothing to
do near Arrowhead Stadium.

Speaker 3 (01:38:53):
You have the tailgate, that's true. Now, the tailgating is awesome,
the best on the entire planet.

Speaker 7 (01:39:00):
Here.

Speaker 3 (01:39:00):
Just just come to my house. I'll have a barbie.
I'll have you over for some barbecue. I'll smoke some
ribs for you, and then you'll you'll love Kansas City.
That's what I was aiming for, was the in home infight.
There you go, all right, Well, enjoy Saturday Night. And
I can't thank you enough for doing this. And hopefully
you get another FC Cincinnati game this year and we
can do it again.

Speaker 2 (01:39:17):
Thank you.

Speaker 3 (01:39:18):
Hey, listen, I think it's gonna be a great game,
so I hope you can tune in.

Speaker 2 (01:39:21):
You got it. There you go, Nate, thanks so much,
you got it.

Speaker 3 (01:39:25):
Thanks for having me again.

Speaker 2 (01:39:26):
You got it Saturday Night. Nate Boucheti has the call
FC Cincinnati versus Chicago. That game starts at eight thirty
Apple TV MLS season pass, and of course you could
listen to it on ESPN fifteen thirty. Tarran, this is
This is Arran and I communicating off air on air.

(01:39:48):
We're gonna blow off our typical plan for this next segment.
We'll do sports headlines, We'll take some phone calls and more.
I don't want you in their worrying that I screwed
up the timing. We're good. Take it easy you can.
You can start focusing on Chad Brandle and host TBD
on Friday. Who do we guess the host is on Friday?

(01:40:08):
Maybe they play a game and gets the foot tomorrow
with the host, you're gonna have Chad Plague gain that's
my game. You can't have Chad play my game. But
it could be guessed the host. Who do we guess
is gonna host the show on? Who do we want
to host the show on Friday? Not that I have
anything to do with it. Whenever there's someone that fills

(01:40:29):
in that somebody doesn't like, like I can't believe you
had so and so fill in, Like, wait a minute,
you think that's up to me? Like I think Chad
does a great job. I think all of our you know,
people who do this show when I'm not here, do
a nice job. You think they put that in mind?
First of all, you think I care. They think idiots
my pay greatest. To the point that I'm selecting fill
in hosts, I'm not Matt Jones. Sports could be a poll.

(01:40:56):
Who do you want to host the show on Friday?
You probably should. I'm just telling you because I have
been in your position when a fill in is not
scheduled and it's not good. That happened to me one
Sunday morning, like in nineteen ninety nine. There I was
said to produce a show. Any Furman took the week

(01:41:18):
off and nobody was there to fill in that was
that was not enjoyable. So all right. Sports headlines are
next on ESPN fifteen.

Speaker 8 (01:41:27):
Thirty Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 9 (01:41:31):
Traffic from the.

Speaker 10 (01:41:33):
UC Health Traffic Center. The UCE Cancer Center offers the
latest research based and holistic approaches to head and net cancer.
Called five eight five UCCC east bound two seventy five
left lane blocked from an accident after Montgomery Road on
Blue Rock Road. Another accident near Ronald Reagan Cross County Highway.

(01:41:54):
River Road closed off for construction repairs after an earlier
mud slide between Amsterdam and before Hayward Street on that
Ezelk with traffic sweet.

Speaker 11 (01:42:05):
NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select this.

Speaker 13 (01:42:08):
He's an ESPN fifteen thirty Donados draft profile.

Speaker 14 (01:42:13):
Bos got More to.

Speaker 13 (01:42:14):
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Speaker 14 (01:42:17):
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up Greater Cincinnati at Northern Kentucky.

Speaker 13 (01:42:23):
Now here's Moe Egger with a name you need to know.

Speaker 2 (01:42:27):
We go with the Bengals looking to upgrade their pass
rush in twenty twenty five. Edge rusher could be a
position they target with the seventeenth overall pick in this
year's draft. If Georgia's MIKEL Williams is available when the
Bengals are set to pick, he'll be very hard to
pass up. Williams played in twelve games for the Bulldogs
last season. He had eight and a half tackles for loss,

(01:42:48):
five sacks, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries in two
forced fumbles. He stands at six feet five inches tall,
and he has an ideal frame for an edge rusher.
In college, Williams was effective again both the pass and
the run. He can stack up blockers on their heels,
and he has the tenacity to push the pocket with
quickness when rushing the quarterback. Evaluators do say he needs

(01:43:10):
more pass rush moves, and given his obvious physical traits,
some scouts found his overall production a little underwhelming, but
he looks the part and he has the raw tools
to make an impact on the edge. Keep an eye
on Georgia edge rusher Mike kel Williams, Oh yeah, Moe
has more.

Speaker 13 (01:43:26):
Listening to the next draft profile on ESPN fifteen thirty.

Speaker 2 (01:43:32):
This report is sponsored by Staples Stores. Your local Staples
has hot deals and super low prices throughout the store
on everything for your business and right now a Staples
save a pas CEP line service, a Kelsey Chevrolet Home
of Lifetime, our train protection and guaranteed credit approval from
their family Newers for Life, Kelsey chev dot Com, Reds
and Mariners again Tonight at GABP six forty. He's Tonight's

(01:43:54):
first pitch. Nick Martinez, Bryce Miller on the hill. The
game's on seven hundred wlw reedl in center, McLean at second,
Elliott Short, Hazen left, Losad third, Steers, DH and Cees
at first Frelien right and Travino is behind the dish.
Tyler Stevenson, by the way, taking steps in his return,

(01:44:16):
so he is. He's doing some catching, which is good.
He was taking some ground balls yesterday which is good,
and took some VP yesterday which is obviously good. Stevenson
is going to go to Columbus with the Louisville Bats
when the Reds head to Baltimore, and he's going to
do some workouts before the game and then officially start

(01:44:38):
his rehab assignment next week. These are good developments for
a guy who less of a chance have been happening
right now. But my take in the off season was
Tyler Stevenson would be an All Star this year. This
injury report is thanks to our friends at Postman Law,
delivered by Postman Law. If you're injured, Postman delivers check

(01:44:59):
out eight four four Postman, or be like a normal
person and call eight to four to four Postman. Sad
news to pass along from FC Cincinnati. Aaron Bupenza, who
played for the Orange and Blue in twenty twenty three.
In twenty twenty four, tragically dies at the age of
twenty eight. Fell from the eleventh floor. I guess of
an apartment building he was living in in China where

(01:45:20):
he was playing professionally. Former UC guard Connor Hickman is
now a Charleston guard. Connor Hickman gonna play for Chris
Mack and so we talked about this before. The Blue
Jackets don't play tonight. They've won five in a row.
They have one more game to go. They need help.
They need the Carolina Hurricanes to win tonight over the
Montreal Canadians in regulation. If they do, the Jackets need

(01:45:46):
to win in regulation tomorrow against the New York Islanders.
That game will be at home. And so if that
happens and Montreal loses tonight in regulation, the Jackets make
the playoffs. They have won five straight games. Hide my guy,
Jack Greaves. Paul questioned, by the way, and this is

(01:46:07):
thanks to United Heartland Insurance. So whatever you need to
ensure could be a car, could be a house, could
be a boat, could be an RV, could be your life,
could be your business, could be your commercial fleet? UHNS
dot com? What do we have? I'm pulling it up

(01:46:31):
right now because I was just reading a tweet about
a player that I would like to see the Bearcats
get so last night, the Reds had Jackie Robinson Knight,
and so every player in baseball appropriately so wore the
number forty two. This is something that has been happening
in the Big League since nineteen ninety seven, and on
the Reds uniform it was a little bit of a

(01:46:51):
different take on their typical home jersey, no numbers in
the front and a blue forty two in the back.
Because blue was a part of the scheme last night,
some players added blue flair, like Austin Hayes, who had
some cool looking blue socks. So this triggered a conversation
online but also here at the radio station about the
color blue being added. So I am I like the

(01:47:13):
Reds uniforms. I don't love them. I would love to
see them go back to something that even further resembled
what they wore when I was a kid, which was
a pullover jersey, which I don't think anybody in baseball has.
But their uniforms are fine. Their alternate uniforms are fine,
Their red tops are fine. The script Reds has grown

(01:47:33):
on me. But I would like to see a uniform
that added a touch of blue. The pushback to that
has been there's a lot of other teams that have
that color scheme in some way, shape or form. I
don't care. I know I'm in the minority. I wanted
to see how much of in the minority I am
in and pretty significant because I've asked on Twitter at Muiger,
would you like to see a Red's uniform that has

(01:47:55):
a hint of blue in its? Seventy one point seven
percent of you say no? Vote now at Oho Taren,
how are we doing on time? How much time do
we have? We have about four minutes before the show
is over. Four minutes, yes, and then my Easter weekend
is underway. Chad Brindle, I hope nobody is like. I

(01:48:16):
hope we don't like at three o'clock. It's just a
surprise to everybody on Friday who hosts the show. Tyler,
You're on ESPN fifteen thirty minutes. Sounded like you drop something?
What's up?

Speaker 5 (01:48:27):
No?

Speaker 7 (01:48:28):
What's going on? Brother?

Speaker 2 (01:48:28):
How you doing?

Speaker 15 (01:48:30):
Hey can't complain, man. You always talk to me as
a comparison of like buying stock, and I kind of
was thinking about, you know, for longest time. I think
the Braves they had a really nice up and coming,
you know, rotation. I think right Now, if you were
looking at all thirty MLB teams, I think the Reds
might have the best value from top to bottom in

(01:48:54):
their organization and pitching. And that's something I don't know.
We're not We're not a big, big market team. But
you know, the Dodgers have always talked to hear about
the Dodgers getting the acclamation of you know, they're able
to really produce really good pictures at the major league level.
But you know, DJ has done absolutely keller job. I

(01:49:14):
think Hunter Green, I think you get the nail on
the head the other day when everybody was so worried
whenever he got his contract extension. He's the eighty first
I think you said eighty first highest paid starting pitcher
in baseball.

Speaker 2 (01:49:27):
I think eighty second. But yeah, i'd you know the
same ballmark.

Speaker 15 (01:49:30):
You know what, And that's the best part is is
he came back this year.

Speaker 7 (01:49:34):
He looks like he wants.

Speaker 2 (01:49:36):
To be that guy.

Speaker 15 (01:49:38):
And that's the whole maturation the development. But you got
Hunter Green, Nick Bodolo, Andrew Abbot. You can even throw
young Graham Ashcraft, Brandon Williamson who's coming back off of
you know TJ. But the Reds top twenty prospects. I
think it said eight are pitchers, and when you can't

(01:49:58):
afford some of these guys, you know, I really think
that right now, having Hayes come back, that's he seems
to have really nice energy. Had a great game yesterday.
But Gavin Lux, I think he's had a lot of
really good at bats and really starting to find you know,
some the balls are finding up the middle. He's getting
his opportunities. But we were at the game this weekend,

(01:50:19):
both games. I don't know if you've been there and
you've watched TJ. Friedel before a game and how he'll
go down and pick up the grass or it'll point
up to the sky, you know, little silly stuff, the
little you know things you don't see a lot, you know,
whenever they're on a commercial or whatever. But the other
thing was it was I think that's hard. It was
Kendelaria's last at back. He's had a ground ball third base.

(01:50:43):
I think him has beat it out. Long story short,
that guy. I feel for him because, yeah, he's making
a lot of money, this, that and the other, but
you don't come to a city and say you don't.
He never wants to not perform for this city, sure,
and one of those little things that people don't really
it sucks whenever you can't, you know, execute to your expectations.
Look at what's going on with Spencer Steer, But because

(01:51:05):
Spencer Steer is not tagged with a financial burden, we
view it differently. Does that make sense?

Speaker 2 (01:51:11):
Totally? Totally? You know, it's the it's it's the argument
I used to make about Joey Vado when when when
his salary escalated. I you know, my take was, if
Joey Evado goes four for four and he's making twenty
five million dollars, or if he goes four for fort
he's making the league minimum. Do you feel better when
he goes four for fort he's making the league minimum? Like,
what do you care?

Speaker 7 (01:51:31):
Like?

Speaker 2 (01:51:31):
I want jam Or Candelario to produce because he's the
starting third basement of the Rats. Now, the salary may
lengthen his leash, he may get more opportunities that another
player might not because of the money that he's making.
But I don't. I don't. I don't allow the dollar amount.
I don't allow the salary to color analysis. I certainly
don't allow it to affect how I feel about his

(01:51:53):
performance when it's good. But I think you have to
consider it when you talk about what they do with
him moving forward. But the dude is trying. I mean,
you know, he showed up in Arizona in great shape.
I don't think his lack of performance this year has
been reflective of lack of effort. These guys don't want
to perform poorly. They don't want to get booed, they
don't want to get benched. It just for whatever reason

(01:52:15):
so far hasn't worked out.

Speaker 15 (01:52:17):
Now you're you do a great job, man. I appreciate
all you're doing. Man, have a safe and happy East
your weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:52:23):
Man, You do the same, Tyler, and thank you for
the phone call in the nice words, and we hope
to hear from you again. Nick Krawl in twenty twenty
two talked about sustainability. We want the Reds to win
big this year. We want the Reds to win big
at some point soon. The only way it's sustainable is
if there is a continued pipeline of prospects, and that

(01:52:44):
prospect pipeline has to be filled with pitchers like Chase Burns,
like Rat Louder, like Chase Petty, like you know, we'll
see what his long term future is like Brandon Williamson.
And by the way, you don't have to keep all
those guys. You could use him in trades. We'll see.
We're done. Chad Brendle tomorrow Mystery host on Friday. We're

(01:53:04):
back on Monday. Thanks to Tarren Bland for producing. Thanks
to you for listening. Have an awesome night and have
a great Easter. This is ESPN fifteen thirty, Cincinnati Sports.

Speaker 8 (01:53:14):
Station, Cincinnati's ESPN fifteen thirty. Traffic from the.

Speaker 9 (01:53:24):
UC Health Traffic Center.

Speaker 10 (01:53:25):
The u SE Cancer Center offers the latest research based
and holistic approaches to head and net cancer. Called five
eight five UCCC eastbound two seventy five as the left
plane blocked off after Montgomery Road due to an accident.
Westbound two seventy five at seventy one accident they are
off found the right shoulder east found Liberty Street and

(01:53:47):
accident at Walnut and northbound seventy one seventy five disabled
vehicle at Turfway on at Ezelic with traffic.

Speaker 2 (01:53:55):
This report is sponsored by Jenn

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