PHNX Arizona Diamondbacks Podcast - The Bank is Open: Suns and Devin Booker trending up, Diamondbacks spend big in the offseason

Episode Date: February 2, 2024

Devin Booker has officially made his fourth career NBA all-star game after being named the Western Conference Player of the Month. The Phoenix Suns seem to be trending in the right direction after a big win against the Brooklyn Nets. The Arizona Diamondbacks are wrapping up the offseason with a bang after signing free agent Joc Pederson. Owner Ken Kendrick spent the most he ever has on payroll this offseason, will it pay off?It’s The PHNX Sports Podcast!0:00 Intro1:00 Running on fumes8:30 Phoenix Suns basketball is back!33:50 Baseball season on the horizon40:00 D-backs banner offseasonAn ALLCITY Network ProductionSUBSCRIBE to our YouTube: https://bit.ly/phnx_youtubeALL THINGS PHNX: http://linktr.ee/phnxsportsPHNX Events: Get your tickets to Suns Takeovers, Coyotes & Suns Watch Parties at BetMGM, and MORE here: https://gophnx.com/events/Desert Financial Credit Union: Open a free checking account online with Desert Financial Credit Union and get $200 in bonuses https://www.desertfinancial.com/200Empire: Schedule a free in-home estimate with Empire Today! Receive a $350 OFF discount when you use the promo code PHNX. Restrictions apply. See https://empiretoday.com/phnx for details.Gila River Resorts & Casinos: Sign up for Gila River Resorts & Casinos $1,000,000 Big Red’s Showdown! Stay in the game and get rewards; it’s that easy! https://www.gilamilliondollarshowdown...Arizona’s Family Sports: Watch Suns games on Arizona’s Family Sports! Visit https://www.azfamily.com/ and click “SUNS GAMES” for listing information for your area.Fubo: WATCH YOUR FAVORITE TEAMS: https://www.fubotv.com/phnxOGeez!: OGeez! is not your average cannabis-infused gummy. Head over to https://www.ogeezbrands.com to find where you can purchase. Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly.Gametime: Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code PHNX for $20 off your first purchase.Michelob ULTRA: It’s only worth it if you enjoy it. Must be 21+. Enjoy responsibly.https://www.michelobultra.com/Let Someburros cater your next meal big or small! Order online or find one near you by visiting someburros.comWhen you shop through links in the description, we may earn affiliate commissions. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for “fair use” for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

welcome into the Phoenix Sports Podcast. You know me. It's your girl. I'm Michaela Perkins. Damon Dog is behind the Mac. We're so glad you are joining us for another episode of the Phoenix Sports Podcast. Don't forget to hit that like button, subscribe, or every get your podcast, and leave us a five-star review. Also, I'm going to give a huge shout out to OGs because it's not just any Friday.

It is a Flavoring Friday. And OGs is the official sponsor of Flavoring Fridays. OGs is not your average cannabis-infused gummy. They absolutely not get out of the park when it comes to flavor and the effects of their gummies are a total slam dunk too. Head on over to OGsbrands.com to see their full lineup, including their two newest gummies, the OGs Natural and the Big OGs, and find out where you can purchase.

Hi, everybody in the chat, Charles Elizabeth, Chris. Happy birthday. Oh, happy belated birthday, I should say to Chris. I hope you had a wonderful birthday. Connor Daniel so good to see you all I'm sure groundhog mama is in here somewhere I also wanted to give a happy birthday shout out to cogs he is finally an adult against all odds so good to see you all so glad you are tuning in if you are here in the chat drop a hi drop a hello love to include you all in the show I don't know what this show is going to be like today because both Damon and I are running on fumes um Damon literally just like got back from the middle of butt fuck nowhere in mobile albama because he was there for the senior bowl uh damon are you alive i am barely barely barely alive uh we barely made it in today i crawled into the office yeah damon was like scrolling into the office as you guys all know if you watched show last week i was not here because i was dying with illness um so i'm still kind

of recovering from that and on top of all that we will be uh on our merry way to las vegas Hell City for the Super Bowl next week. So by the end of next week, I might not exist anymore. Like my existence might just like poof off the face of the planet because I am so tired. And the Super Bowl is going to be a gauntlet. But we're going to bring you a ton of great content. So make sure you're plugged into all things, P.HNX Cardinals that whole week because we will be on Radio Row, which is so exciting. But I am dead.

I am dead inside. And English has been hard for me today. so everybody is strapping. It's going to be an interesting show. But we're going to get through it together. You know, we're all in this together. We're all in this together. I love high school musical.

Yes, I'm so glad you got that reference. I was worried that you'd be too young. Too young? Yeah, how old are you? Like, 23? 24, but that's my, that's prime age. That was my prime age, and I'm four years older than you. Dude.

Like, you're telling me that, like, you're telling me that, like, Zach Ephron wasn't like the stole every girl who was like seven years old. Biggest crush on Zach Ephron. Yeah. The biggest crush. So did everyone. Yeah. Welcome to the club.

You did too. A hundred percent. Oh boy. Well, speaking of family, make sure you sign out to become die hard if you haven't yet. There are a ton of great benefits to being a member of the PHNX fan, including discounts on events.

You get 20% off merch at all times. Speaking of events, we have another son's takeover coming up it's going to be on valentine's day the sons are taking on the persons which is not going to be the greatest matchup ever but i'm pretty sure it's montie's first game back in phoenix right i don't know i think so yeah i mean they only play each other once in the road every year so that makes sense yeah so it'll be montie's first game back in phoenix and uh if you don't have a sweetheart or if you're a lonely lonely loser you can come hang out with us at the sun's takeover instead of being alone on Valentine's Day.

Saul just came in the room and he's making fun of me. Or you could bring your significant other if you're not a lonely loser. If you're single, you might be able to mingle of other sons. Yes, if you're single, you can mingle with other sons fans and having that commonality is always a great thing to have.

At least you'll know they're not like your fans. And there's nothing worse than being on a first date and finding out that your date is an LA sports fan. Like that is grounds to get up and leave the date. Like, I'm out. sorry, but I'm not staying here if you're an LA sports fan. Oh, God. Okay, I'm sorry if you guys are saying.

I'm single, too. So I'm speaking to myself when I'm talking about lonely losers, by the way. Not that anybody needs to know that information. This is the Lonely Loser Show. This is the Lonely Loser Show. Yeah, Damon Dogg's a lonely loser too. So welcome to the Lonely Loser Show. Oh, my God.

We just got so off the rails. Oh, my God. But anyway, if you sign up to your diehard, you'll get 20% off that event. And there's no better way to spend Valentine's Day than with the PH&X crew watching the signs most likely steamroll the Detroit Pistons. So hope to see you there. Head on over to go phnx.com right now and sign up to be a diehard. DJ Ajax saying hell city. What awesome city. I, for whatever reason, I just do not enjoy Las Vegas. Like I've been there too many times. It's so overpriced. It's so dirty. I'm just not, it is not my scene. Like I'm just so much more

of like a laid back type of girl like I get so overstimulated in Vegas I'm like just I'm like I'm like I'm like I'm like I'm like the attendance span of a squirrel like there's just too much to look at it's too over it's too loud I'm like well maybe that's just because I'm getting old but I'm way more of a Gila river resorts and casinos wild horse pass kind of guy okay all right nice little plug there yeah it's definitely a little bit more calm environment down there still very fun um but yeah I'm just not a big Vegas But like I said, we're going to be having the best Super Bowl content. If you followed our content last year, we had everybody in their mother on the show, Pat McAfee, Patrick Peterson, like all the different Cardinals players and coaches you can think of.

So definitely tune in for that. Connor Brum in the comments saying, welcome to the Lonely Losers Club. We have jackets. I will be now trying to make jackets for us. Andrew Dang says, send a sticker. Thank you for the super sticker. Andrew, that is so sweet. I am not going to try to read that description.

but if you're in the comments, you probably know what that looks like. So, all right, guys, let's get in to the show. We actually have, I did stiff, Drew Brees. Yes, that is true. I was trying to get Pat McAfee on the show. And Drew Brees was standing right next to me trying to talk to Pat McAfee, too. And I just, like, snake in in front of Drew Brees and was like, hey, you want to come on a Cardinal show? And he's like, sure.

And we just peel off and Drew Brees is just standing there. I expect a similar performance this year. I'll see what I can do. Like, I need at least one marquee name like that that you just put into the the ground. I can definitely do that. The thing that makes me mad about that, though, is Saul tries to take credit for being the reason that we got Pat McAfee. But I, A, first of all, saw that he was on Radio Road doing shows that weren't his own. I came over to Saul and I was like, yo, Pat McAfee's over there. We got to go get him. He's like, okay, go get him. I'm like, all right, I'm going to go get

him. So I went over and I tried to get him. And it was taking a little bit because he was on another show. So Saul came over to check out what was going on. But as soon as that opportunity opened, I was like, oh, got to get in here. And so I cut off Drew Breedies. and opened up the window for Saul to introduce himself after I said, hey, Pan MacAfee. And then Saul was like, hey. So I started that entire thing and I cut off Drew Brie. So I will take credit for the reason that Pat McAfee came on the show. Don't listen to Saul no matter what he says.

All right. Kind of thing we should get Drew Breaz on. That would be hilarious. That would be iconic, honestly. They have a connection now. He might come on the Bronco show because his former head coach is not the head coach of the Broncos. So we'll see what we can do there. I'm going to start opening.

I'm going to ask BetMGM to open lines on the app to see what personality I will be blocking out of radio around this year so you guys can bet on it. It'll be interesting to see how that goes. All right. I've done my squirrel brain enough for the intro of this podcast. Let's talk about the Phoenix Suns because there are actually so many good things to talk about, which makes me so happy because if you've been watching the show for a couple weeks now, there was a point in the season that I was so afraid of having.

things were going for the Phoenix Suns that I was building a doomsday bomb shelter in the concrete lot of my apartment complex because I was so scared about the potential of the suns just flaming out so hard this season because I had nothing exciting to look forward to that I was building a bomb shelter and I was collecting all the non-perishable greens and anything else you might need for a doomsday scenario. However, I am so happy to. to report that the doomsday shelter construction has been put on hold. I have shelved all of the non-perishable grains. I don't have to ration them anymore.

I've been slowly using them because it looks like, knock on wood, the suns are trending in the right direction. They have won the last nine of 11 games. They are sixth in the Western Conference right now. so they are in a playoff spot. They're not even a play in spot, which is awesome. And it really just looks like, it looks like things are jelling. Like it looks like they are a team, which is definitely not the case at the beginning of the season.

I don't think they knew what the word team meant. And it's just such a relief to see because I was panicking a couple months ago. But they played the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday and they won, which is great. obviously the Nets maybe not the biggest threat in the whole world, but it was a big game for a lot of reasons. One of those reasons being it was Katie's first game back in Brooklyn. He made a point of saying that he didn't want like a tribute video upon his return because obviously we all know how things ended in Brooklyn,

but they gave him one anyway. He looked visibly uncomfortable the entire time the video was playing, but they gave Katie a. interesting welcome back. There was a smattering of booze, a smattering of applause, but it wasn't necessarily as warm of a welcome as Cam and McHale got when they came to Phoenix for the first time this season. It is what it is.

I digress, but let's take a look at the numbers because it was a great game for the Suns. They out rebounded the Nets. They had more shots that went through their fourth quarter points, although they scored three less points, 30 points in the fourth quarter compared to the Nets 33. They still did not collapse in the fourth quarter, which has been a plague for the suns all season long. And the bench, the bench contributed and showed up. They scored 24 points.

The Nets bench outscored them only by four more, scoring 28. But overall, a very complete and wholesome game. They won 136 to 120 playing the Nets. Like I said, now the Sons are six in the Western Conference sitting at 28 and 20 on the season. So they are in a playoff spot. And it's just enjoyable to watch the suns, which I was not having a fun time watching the suns at the beginning of the season. I actually had to like hype myself up to turn the game on and sit down and watch it all

the way through. I'm not going to lie. I folded and I turned off a couple games in the third and the fourth quarter. But I'm not prone to turn games off in the fourth quarter anymore, even though I still white knuckle like my armchair. So that's a sign of a. improvement at least is that I'm not scared to watch a son's fourth quarter. I think my favorite thing, though, out of watching the suns improve and get better is,

you can tell that the team chemistry is getting built. Like, NERC has done a great job of establishing his two man game with Katie, which has been awesome to see because I also was the biggest NERC hater at the beginning of the season. I was kicking the Sons for training D.A. when I saw how NERC was performing. obviously hindsight being 2020. It's so glad that that deal went down because DA can't get out of his house to play a game because he's scared of ice. Like, NERC has definitely figured some good things out.

I just, it's been so great to see the improvement of this team and the chemistry that they've been able to build. And the best part of it is they still have some more time to build that chemistry before crunch time sets in. I was a big skeptic about their timelines before because I wasn't sure. if they were going to have enough time or if they were even going to figure it out soon enough to get it together. So they have happily proved to be wrong, which I'm so glad to say that they have. The bench looks like sits jelling. So everything looks like it's coming together. Like, what is it? Osmosis, osteoporosis. What is the thing with water and the cells, you know?

Osmosis was right. Osteoporosis is like a bone disease. Okay. Yeah. Osmosis is happening. and they're just like together. Guys, I told you I didn't know I was going to come out of my mouth today. More so than usual. They are also, the Phoenix Suns are meme kings.

I don't know if you watch the game. I'm sure you saw highlights and clips of it after if you missed any part of it, but the Suns were on fire playing the Nets. I think they decided to be a little sassy, petty kings, that entire game, which was great. It started off when KD absolutely was a savage. He had a really tough bucket against Cam Tom.

Cam Thomas that was late in the third quarter. And here is the screen grab of what happened when he executed that beautiful bucket. He gave the little too small gesture and then he mouthed the word mini. I've never seen the too small like that. It's kind of fire, right? Yeah, yeah. It's fire. There was one other time that he did it that went viral.

But he said after the game that he's like, look, like, Cam Thomas and I have known each other for a while. I got to give him the business. and I'm going to let him know what's up when he's guarding me and that's just our relationship. Obviously, it wasn't done in malice or with any bad intent, but it was funny just to see Katie enjoying himself enough to taunt the player that was stuck guarding him for that game. And then towards the end of the game, my absolute favorite thing in the world happened, book drained a three and he did the Michael Selly in front of Miguel, literally just hit the three and then did like the infamous McKeal. Selle like in front of McHale's face. McHale obviously was laughing, rolling his eyes. And then afterwards on social media, you know,

Nets fans were up in arms saying, I can't believe he did that. Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. So Devin Booker commented on the post, it was like, oh, yeah, he sucks. I can't believe he did that. And McHale commented back and he was like, I can't believe he did that. So obviously all in good fun. But hitting the McHale Sully in front of McAil, absolutely hilarious. I did not do that justice or do it right.

probably but it was a savage moment and again it goes back to the fact that this team is having fun now and that's important for me and I might be the only person that cares about that on the face of the planet but I've been a son's fan since 2015 and I was a fan through the really hard times when they won less than 20 games in a season and I was a fan when they went to the finals and I have seen this team go through the highs of highs and the lowest of lows. And the team that they had when it was like Mikhail, Cam, Devin, D'Andre, Chris Paul, like they all, to me, felt like a team. And you saw it, like with their pregame warmups when they were singing on the court,

they were like jamming out to NBA, young boy on the court. They were doing their pregame like handshake, celebrate, like ritual thing that they all had together. like that was the truest embodiment of a team to me and like the culture that Monty Williams built despite the craziness that was going on with like the ownership and all the outside noise the team that Monty Williams built in a culture that they had and watching them interact with each other and I don't know if it's just because I'm I'm in sports media so I pick up on these things or what but it felt like a team like it really did like they all seem to really care about each other and gel together and I know you're like it's like it's like professional sports like why does that matter who cares

just go out there and play. But it really does make a difference. Like you can buy talent, but you can't buy team. And at the end of the day, when you are going through the gauntlet, when you're grinding in the playoffs, like having team chemistry and like showing up for each other, the power of friendship does make a difference. I mean, literally the Arizona Diamondbacks went to the World Series

basically on the power of friendship this past year. So team chemistry is huge. And I know people are like, that's such like a like a surface level thing to talk about, but I really don't think it is. And so, you know, this game to me was the first. game that I saw them acting as a team and playing as a team and having fun. And that is so important to me, especially after, you know, Katie's little saga of like the rumors of, oh, he doesn't want to be

here. He hates losing, blah, blah, blah, blah. So to see them gel together and to see them have that chemistry and to see them have fun, I was just like a huge sigh of relief for me. Even after the game, they were interviewing NERC because NERC had a great game. Bradley Biel was in the background. And Nerk posted it on Twitter. Freaking Beal in the background with his little heart hands. And then the quote that Nurk put was Batman and I. So just to see like these interactions and how they're getting together and getting along is a huge sigh of relief for me.

And also let's not pretend like this isn't like a big deal because you have two supermax players, like a third that's on a cups of being like a supermax player on a roster. Like in any scenario, if you would put like KD and Booker on a team together, like you, your natural inclination would be like, oh, like one of them is going to like overpower the other or one of them is going to be a diva or whatever else. Like you saw it happen in Brooklyn when KD and Kyrie and James Hardin were on a roster. Like the diva energy, the diva mentality was just whoa. And that has been the case for a lot of super teams. And if you want to call Phoenix a super team, like fine, call Phoenix. makes a super team, but it doesn't feel like a super team, super, yeah, a super team in the sense of

like the divaness about what a super team entails isn't there. So I am enjoying watching it. I'm enjoying them be a team. I'm enjoying them, have fun, watching them have fun and interact with each other and not having to worry about, you know, a diva or a super team and all the negative connotations that come with that is just so great. So I really do enjoy watching the Sons play basketball, which is a huge sigh of relief because I was not, I could not say that at the beginning of the year. So that's great to watch. And another great thing to watch too cannot go without talking about this is the fact that Devin Booker is him. We all knew that. We know Devin Booker is him, but not everybody knows that, especially the national media landscape. But it is becoming to the

point where they can deny it no longer because Devin Booker was named the Western Conference Player of the Month, for the month of January. In January, he averaged 30 points per game, insane. 6.3 assists per game, 4.4 rebounds per game. He was shooting averaging 53% from the field and 40% from three, absolutely shooting out of his mind. After the Sons have kind of turned that corner at the beginning of January when the team started to get healthy,

book had scoring outputs of 52, 46, 62, and 44. points in a six game span, adding three other 30-point games and two more tennis-assist games in that stretch. Overall, the suns were 11 and 5 in the month of January. I mean, come on. Who made this graphic? Sydney at the agency did. Shout out Sydney.

Right? It's sick. That's fire. Yeah. It's so cool. So he's absolutely killing it. Overall on the season, Book is averaging 28.3 points, almost five rebounds, 7.3 a the points and their rebounds for him are a career average high.

And so is his 50% shooting from the field and the 38.8% shooting from 3 mark. Like that is unbelievable. I just think that every season I'm like, okay, like this is like Booker is like he is an unbelievable talent. Like I don't know how he can get better. And then he does. Like it is so crazy to watch. And especially as he establishes consistency in his career.

like it is so insane to think about like he is the phoenix suns like he is doing this in a suns jersey and it is just absolutely a joy to watch because of all of the insane offensive performances that book has put up this season he also done da da da da da was named to his fourth all-star game oh my god i can take a sigh a huge sigh of relief because as you all know if you've watched this show we did weekly check-ins on the fan voting portion of the NBA All-Star game. And at the first round, Devin Booker wasn't even in the top 10, which was egregious. In the second round, he finally made the top 10, but it was like behind Austin Reeves. Like, be so for real.

And John Moran. And John Morant who played how many games this season? Like eight? Yeah, maybe less than 10. Like, be so for real. I hate, this is a side note, but I absolutely hate the way that the fans get to vote. But in the end, the coaches and the players' opinions came through. And by golly, by God, Devin Booker was named to his fourth All-Star game, which technically,

I don't know if you would want, I mean, you have to count the other three. But the first two that he made were because of being an injury replacement, which is bullshit. And then he missed it in 2023. his first year of making it as just like an actual player and not a injury replacement was in 2022. So wild that it took that long for book to get some recognition that he deserves. And it was crazy that he was an injury replacement, especially because I think in 2019, he was just absolutely destroying everybody on the court.

So happy that Devin Booker is finally getting the recognition that he deserves. I'm glad to be common sense of the player. and the coaches who get to vote, their voices overweighed the absolute asinine voting of the general NBA fan public because, come on, John Morant, Austin Reeves, like, you guys,

be so for real, like, take a look in the mirror and really evaluate how you're voting right now. So, so stoked for Buck, he will join Katie as the two NBA All-Star representatives for the Phoenix Suns. And I'm just stoked. like I'm so stoked that this is going in the right direction that I can finally stop building my doomsday shelter in my backyard and I can just sit and enjoy a son's game and I only have to

white knuckle my armchair in the fourth quarter and just pray a little bit that they don't blow it. Obviously their progress isn't going to be linear. They're not just going to keep shooting up. I mean, they might. Shoot, they might. It's possible, but not likely. We might have a little few bumps in the road from here until the playoffs. but I am confident to say that this is a playoff team

and I was not able to say that a month ago. Being able to say that the Phoenix Suns are a playoff team is the best possible case scenario because there were so many question marks coming into the season during the beginning of the season. The wheels were falling off the wagon for a while there. So the wheels are back on the wagon. The wagon is chugging along and the sport we love is back.

Yeah. It was gone for a second. Yeah. And I couldn't really quite put my finger on it. Yeah. But now all of a sudden basketball, the game of basketball is back on track. Yeah. I was in a dark place, a dark, dark, dark place.

Because the only thing we had to look forward to after the World Series loss was the Suns hopefully making the playoffs. And that was a huge question mark. So I'm glad that I can enjoy being a Suns fan again because it was a little rough. It was rough there for a couple months. I'm not going to lie. Also, Karen finally joined the comments. You missed it, Karen, but I gave a happy birthday.

Shout out to Coggs at the beginning of the show. Shout out to Coggs once again. Finally, an adult. How crazy is that? Big, happy birthday shout out to him. And obviously to you as his mom for bringing that bundle of joy into the world and seeing him through to adulthood. All right, guys, got to give a shout out to our friends at Game Time.

I know I'm talking a lot about the sons, but if you want to see it for yourself. You can do so by heading over to the app store on your phone and downloading the GameTime app. If you create an account and use promo code P-H-N-X, game time is going to hook you up and get you $20 off your first purchase and you can use that $20 to go see the Suns play basketball because why wouldn't you at this point? And our Game Time game of the week is the Bucks at the Suns. We all know the beef between these two teams. It's a finals matchup, rematchew. match match up however you want to say that um obviously yonis being in town and the bucks is going to be a big game and you can get to the game and get your butt in a seat for as low as

$59. 59 what that is absolutely insane i don't ever want fans to take for granted how accessible professional sporting events are in the valley try $39 with code ph at act yeah all of a sudden we're We're talking really reasonably. Yeah. 40 bucks a pop to get your button to see to watch Janus and the Bucke Kitty and Beal on the Sons. Are you kidding me? Final. Rivalry matchup.

What? Rivalry matchup. Yeah, it is a big rivalry matchup. So make sure you download the GameTime app now. Like I said, if you create an account and use promo code P-HNX, they'll get $20 off at first purchase. It's the fastest growing ticketing app in the country for a reason. They have the lowest prices on anything you need to take it for, concerts, sporting events, parking passes, whatever you need.

Game times got it. Download game time today. Last minute tickets, lowest prices, guaranteed. They also have this sweet Super Bowl deal. Tell me about it. Yeah, Vegas 100. You get $100 off your tickets for the big game. Woo!

I mean, you're going to need them. Did you see that video that went viral about the cost of Super Bowl tickets in Vegas? No. It is jaw-dropping. They were looking at tickets, not on the GameTime app, by the way. they were using a different ticketing app. They're, they're big figures. Go figures.

Can you give me like a ballpark guess on what you thought tickets for the Super Bowl? Like lower bowl tickets to the Super Bowl we're going for on a different app other than game time. Let's go with the 5K. Try adding 50 to that. 55K. $55,000. Use the game time. Obviously can't make any guarantees on what the price of Super Bowl.

tickets are on game time now. But if you use the code Vegas 100, it's going to help you get some money off. But yeah, I couldn't believe that. $55,000 for lower bowl tickets at the Super Bowl. I don't know about you, but I don't have that kind of money to spend on a game. Are you excited for the Super Bowl, by the way? Yeah, yeah, I'm excited. Oh, it should be a good game.

You just hate the Chiefs so much. I hate the Chiefs. I hate the Chiefs. I hate it. Hate, hate, hate, hate, hate, loathe entirely. Hate the Chiefs. Like, are you to paint your body like gold? I, no, I will not be participating in any fanfare.

I don't like the 49ers. I don't like the Chiefs. I hate the Chiefs. I'm rooting for the 49ers just out of spite for the Chiefs. But also, I do like Christian McCaffrey. He and I went to high school at the same time together in Colorado. So he always destroyed my high school team and football. Big fan of the McCaffrey family in general.

When did the Christian go? Valor Christian High School. Yeah, I knew that's where his brother went. Yeah. Because Scott Still Suoro played Valorro. Okay. Played Valor Christian when his brother was the quarterback there. Yeah.

My senior year. Yeah. And Scott Still Suoro ended up, we had them on our schedule later in the year in the playoffs. And they beat them by like 50 points because they're really good. It was a slaughter every time we played Valor Christian. I think every McCaffrey brother except for the eldest maybe went to Valer Christian High School. So we just got absolutely destroyed. So aside from that, though, the McCaffrey family is lovely.

My mom actually played Christian McCaffrey's mom, I think, some relation in basketball because my mom played basketball in college. So weird relation there. So I'm cheering for the 49ers because like Christian McCaffrey and I also like Shanahan because the Shanahan and the McCaffrey family is have a great history in Denver. And I am a Denver girlie. So I guess if I had to cheer for a team, I'm cheering for the 49ers. You all probably know why I also hate the Chiefs. I'm scared to go. I'm afraid that Chiefs fans hopefully don't recognize me.

I'm pretty sure I'm not allowed within 150 feet of Patrick Mulhomes. Can't confirm or deny that is not a requirement, but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to be allowed anywhere near Patrick Mahomes. Or I'm kind of scared of Chiefs fans too. So we'll see how that goes. But yeah, we're not big Chief fans in the building. Let me know in the comments who you guys are cheering for. Charles Woodall Pikes said, I hate both teams.

Triple B said, at the Chiefs. A, that's the energy that I'm talking about. big, big F the Chiefs, girly. Charles saying as a Cardinals fan, I can't pull myself to root for San Francisco, but I also can't say on the Chiefs becoming the Patriots 2.0. Yeah, that's another thing I don't like. It's just generational success.

Like, I'm over it. I've seen you win enough. Enough is enough is enough. Goodbye. Saul was trying to think of ways to antagonize Chiefs fans using my presence in Vegas, which I feel like is a recipe for disaster. There's been talks of printing out like a little headstone

on like big paper cardboard. And so then they can carry the headstone around and then put it behind Chiefs fans that I can get in front of them and be like Because if you know, you know So I'm scared for my life, but it's gonna be fine I'm gonna wear a disguise and maybe like dye my hair brown or something so they don't come for me Can I admit something to you that might damage our relationship? Oh no I like Patrick Mahomes Oh get off my show out banished out out out out out out

It's one of those things where it's like every remember when everyone hated the warriors so much and I was was like, I like Steph, bro. Like, there's, there's just some guys that are good that I'm like, they're, they're likable to me. They don't seem like, my home's like outside stuff, his family, whatever. I know they piss people off. But like, as a guy, like, he doesn't bother me. He bothers me.

A lot. A lot, a lot. I know you'd hate that. Riba, Queen Riba is singing the national anthem at the Super Bowl. Are you taking the over or the under on the anthem time for Queen Riba? I'm taking the under. Reba can sang and she can sing it quick. Like she...

I'll go with you then. Yeah. Riba is a powerhouse. She is the queen of country music. I said what I said, besides Dali, Dahlia and Rieba are the queens of country. But she can sing and she can sing it quick. So I don't think we're going to get a lot of like,

which will make the under hit. So if you're betting on the anthem time, if you're doing any Super Bowl props, take the under on the anthem. Gatorade color? What's your bet for the gatorie color for the winning team? I like to look at the past trends. Okay.

And kind of get what, get what they're showing me. It's like, it's, there's like some weird trends with it. Like there's some where it's like, it's never been blue or something like that. Yeah. Which is just crazy. What was it last year? Maybe yellow. 2020.

What was last year? 23. Yeah. It's purple last year. Purple last year. I, I'm, I'm going to go. I think I'm going to go orange. Okay.

I think it might be orange this year. I'll go yellow. Okay. Orange and yellow. All right. We have to write this down so we can revisit this after we do or do not survive the Las Vegas metropolitan area. And we'll come back to that. So under on the anthem time and I'm going orange and Damon's going yellow on Gatorade color. So we'll see what happens.

But I'm not really excited to watch anything else besides the commercials and eat food. All right. Before we round out the show, let's talk about the Arizona Diamondbacks because last season is almost over. Baseball is almost back. Ah, the pitchers and catchers report on Valentine's Day, February 14th. Sorry to their girlfriends and wives. That is kind of an inconvenient reporting day.

But pitchers and catchers are going to report in 12 days. Baseball is almost here. And if you couldn't tell, I'm so excited because baseball is the best sport on the base of the planet. I'm super stoked to watch the Diamondbacks this season, which, whoa. Talk about like a total, like 180. last season I was like 50-50 I didn't really know what to expect from the diamondbacks last season um and so I was kind of going into that season with a little bit of hesitation cannot say that in this season I am 100% bought in two feet in standing on business I am so excited to

watch the diamondbacks play baseball this year which is a great feeling because let me tell you last year was like 50-50 and the two seasons before that were like existential dread like I did not want to watch baseball at all the two seasons before that. So what a great feeling it is to finally be excited to watch your team play baseball. I was not here last week, but obviously Jock Peterson was added to the roster last week. They signed the free agent outfielder slash DH to a one-year deal. I was a little surprised. I was not thinking that that was the direction that they were going to go when they were looking for a DH. I'm not going to talk too much about it because I know this is old news.

And my opinion on Jock Peterson is either here nor there. My initial reaction was what the fuck because we all know Jock Peterson was a Los Angeles Dodger and there is a history there with the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks and especially when Jock was on the roster. So I was a little bit like, I don't really like cheering for people that have worn Dodger Blue. But if I have to, I have to. They steal all our players.

They do. They do. Why can't we take one of theirs? 100%. I mean, listen, Jock has had a little bit of an up and down career over the last couple of seasons. Consistency hasn't really been the name of his game.

But when he's hot, he's hot. Like when he's streaking, he is streaking hard. But you know what I'm trying to say? Like when it's clicking, it's clicking for Jock. So I think he'll definitely provide a boost to the offense.

Just establishing consistency is going to be what I want to see from him the most. He is a left-handed batter, which is really important for the debacks, especially if we take a look at their projected lineup, which, again, this is a projected lineup. I'm not saying this is set in stone, so don't come for me. But we have Corvin Carroll leading off, Catelle Marte in the two spot, Christian Walker in the three-hole, Jock Peterson as the cleanup hitter.

Then we got Lorde Scuriel, Iuhenio Suarez, Gabrielle Marino, Alec Thomas, and then running it out Harald's Operdomo. This is obviously against right-handed bat or right-handed pitchers. Looking at this lineup, I'm not going to lie, Damadog. This has me feel in some type of way. It's pretty good. I got some warm, tingly, fuzzy feelings on the inside of myself right now because this lineup is nothing to take a, nothing to shake a finger at. Like this is a damn good top to bottom lineup. Like there's not one name on this list against right-headed pictures where I'm like, oh, I don't know about that one. Like, yeah, there's I don't think there's an easy out on here.

No. The only one that would be the easiest of outs on here would probably be Alec Thomas. And I think there's hope that he could develop and get better. And against Ritees, he's solid. Yeah. I mean, Perdomo is not like a, he's not going to hit it over the fence, but 360 on base percentage out of your nine hole.

Out of your nine hole. Yeah. You have Gabby Moreno who's hitting third on a World Series run in a seven spot. Like this is just there's, there's one, two, three, four, five, six, seven guys who can hit 20 plus home runs this year. That's nuts. In this lineup. That's fucking nuts.

Yeah, it's great. That's bananas. Like banana nut bread. That is one of that. I am looking at that and seeing how far the Diamondbacks have come just from a few short seasons ago. I am so freaking stoked. I don't know.

If you're a Diamondbacks fan, I don't know how you can't look at that and be like, holy shit. I am jazzed. Like, I am so excited to watch. The only players from two seasons ago that could start in this lineup are the guys who are still in this lineup for two seasons ago. Like Catel Marte and Christian Walker. Yeah. That's

nuts. That's crazy. I'm so excited. I'm not the only one that's excited though. Because of the moves that the Diamondbacks have made this off season, national media has started to take notice as well. And I want to show you guys this quote because I think it perfectly encapsulates what

everyone should be feeling. This obviously came after the Jack Peterson signing. But Trevor May from MLB Network, radio said this about the Diamond Max. Quote, they're becoming a power threat quickly and they have a lot of moving pieces they can do. This is a very intriguing team.

It's a very solid put together team and with a lot of really good experience and quality, close quote. Fire me up, Trevor May. Are you kidding me? I love hearing that from national media members about our snakes here in the valley. And I totally agree with everything he said. Like this team is a dangerous team. And my favorite part of it is the fact that there are so many key pieces that were instrumental in last year's World Series run that are back on the team this year.

The power of friendship is alive and well in the valley. Let me tell you. I feel like I'm taking us to church right now. The power of friendship is alive and well. I just am so excited to watch this team play baseball. all like for the first time in a long time i'm not scared to turn on my television to watch the devax play which has just been like kind of the theme of this podcast so far but they have done everything that they said that they would in the off season they have gotten better in every single

key area that showed weakness in the postseason they went out and they spent money daddy kentenny kendrick opened his checkbook and was like here you go you know what i'm going to put my money where my mouth is. I'm going to take the revenue that we earned from our postseason run. I'm going to flip it back around and I'm going to invest it into our payroll. And for the first time in franchise history, they have set a new payroll spending record. Their previous record was in 2018. It was set at $131 million. The Diamondbacks are projected right now to spend $136 million with the potential of adding maybe like one more like minor minor player to like a bullpen situation. Um, thank you, Daddy Warbucks, Ken Kendrick for doing what you said you would do and improving this team in the off season in ways, I might add, like, this is the best part of all of this.

He improved the teams in a way that was not detrimental to the long term future success of the team. They didn't make any crazy trades. They didn't trade away any pieces that were keystone to this team, to the foundation, to the future. they didn't overspend on a old-ass pitcher who was going to shit the bed at some point and still cost this team $14 million, even though he's not paying. Even though he's not playing anymore. Madison Bobgarner. So he didn't overpay for old people, which is great. They didn't trade away any key foundational pieces.

They kept the core of this team intact. And they did it in a way that is so smart and so well thought out for the future, like long-term sustainable success of this. team like I just want to sit back and say good job my gaze in like that sounds so condescending and I don't mean it that way at all but like they have done deals in the past where I'm just like what Madison bumgarner Zach Rankies contract was ridiculous like there have been things that have happened where I'm just like we really did not need to do that um but I had not I didn't feel I didn't feel that way at all during the off season obviously um Eduardo Rodriguez was their biggest spend he is their newest pitcher in the rotation, which they needed desperately because pitching depth killed them

in the postseason last season. Um, so Eduardo Rodriguez is coming in. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, no Suarez is going to be playing third base, which they've always had like this weird black hole vortex at third base. So they've never been able to have a consistent third baseman that is just the third baseman of the team. Uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, uh, Hano Svarez will be that. They got, um, a couple of bullpen help.

They've got D.H and Joc Peterson. Like, they did. what they were meant to do. And I am just like so, so happy that I don't have to be like other fans of teams who their owners don't do anything and just sit on their hands and hope that a miracle happens on the field. Like Ken Kendrick put his money where his mouth is and he invested in this team. The payroll, which we'll look at in a second, is the most money the Diamondbacks have spent on payroll ever in franchise history. I am just thankful that we got to which witness what it means when you believe in the potential of the team that you have built.

And that is what Ken Kendrick has shown my Kzan that he believes in the team at my Kaysen has. And he's going to give him the tools that my Kizn needs to be a general manager of a winning baseball team. Like I just am so stoked. It is, I can't even put it into words about how exciting this offseason has been. I have never seen an offseason like this for the Diamondbacks. Like, yes, they've done flashy things in the past.

Like, you could have considered Madison Bum. Garner's, like, offseason signing is a big move, which obviously we know now it was not. They've done flashy things in the past, but this offseason was flashy in a way that wasn't jeopardizing of the future. And that is the key here. And I think this is the most successful offseason that the Diamondbacks have put together. It is absolutely incredible to see. And I'm so excited to watch them play baseball.

It's flashy in the right ways. Yeah. Like it's it's flashy but reasonable. None of the contracts are too like out of out of pocket. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, some would say Ken Kendrick stood on business.

He stood on business. Two feet, 10 toes down. Kenny Ken Kendrick is standing on business. That should be assured. We aren't the only people though in case you might be curious as to what other people are saying about the Diamondbacks who have noticed the offseason that the Diamondbacks have had. The Fox on MLB released.

a nice little graphic of raking teams this off season based off of most exciting and least exciting. Obviously in the most exciting column, you're going to have the Los Angeles Dodgers. I mean, if you have a team that's spending a billion, billion with the B dollars on two, two, not like five, six, seven, two players, they're definitely going to take the one spot, which is annoying, but whatever. They are going to be kicking themselves. I feel like at some point with the bad money management decisions that they have made. Then you've got the Yankees in the two spot, which, eh, okay, fine.

Like, I guess the Yankees did something that was kind of, or two things that were kind of exciting. But they still kind of fell flat. I don't know. What do you think? Am I wrong in saying that they, like, besides the two, what was it, Verdugo? And Juan Soto? Wonsoto, like. Yeah, one Soto is pretty big time.

Yeah. I mean, they traded away five pieces of their. system to get Soto there. Their outfield might be the best in baseball with Judge and Soto in the same outfield. So that's, that's impressive. And there's, and he's young. I'll give it to him. Eh, man.

I think the Diamondbacks deserve the two spot. So that's just my opinion. But then you have the Diamondbacks in a three spot, which is awesome. Like I said, you always love to see people being put on notice about the teams in the valley because we are always disrespected, always overlooked, always shit on for no reason. So you absolutely love to see the. the Diamondbacks are third and the most exciting for ranking the teams in the offseason. I'm so, so stoked for this team.

I'm so proud of the debacks. I have to say, though, and I know this is just because I'm from Colorado. I am shocked and beside myself that the Rockies aren't number one most disappointing offseason. They didn't do anything. I think that just goes to show how irrelevant they are. I honestly think the only reason that they're not number one most disappointing is because they forgot that the Rockies were a team. 100%.

Like, that's the only reasoning that I have for why Rockies aren't number one. No, they've done nothing. They've literally done nothing. And they finished last in the National League West last year. Last year was their first time in franchise history losing over 100 games. And they did nothing in the off season. First time in franchise history, they lost more than 100 games last season. Finish last in the National League West did not do a single thing in the off season.

Not one. We probably finished last in the NOS like, or not last, but I mean, last a few times, but like 100 losses, I'd say about like five times. Yeah, the Rockies never. That's crazy. I know. But they didn't do anything to get better in the off season at all. They didn't sign anybody.

They didn't do anything. And so I'm just shocked beside myself that they aren't number one on least exciting. But I'm pretty sure the only reason they're not is because they just forgot that the Rockies are team at this point. That's the only explanation that I have for you. I digress. Sorry, I had to go in that little rant. Whenever I get a chance to make fun of the Rockies, I will always take it because that is a

joke of a franchise. guys. Like, they should be demoted to AAA. Yes. Oh, my God. Connor literally read my mind. Thought that they got demoted to AAA. They should be because what the fuck are they doing? Like, I couldn't even tell you. Sorry, I just, any chance I get to shit on the Rockies, I'm going to take it. Um, anyways, uh, so I'm glad that the league noticed though, at least that the Diamondbacks had a super exciting off season because they did. And this is the icing on the cake. I wanted to show you guys this because I just am so happy showing it to you in general. This is the comparison in their payroll amount totals from this season to last season. I know technically I should have put up 2018 because that was their highest payroll to date

until this season. But just looking at the increase in spending and seeing it written down like on paper in front of your face, like their active payroll spending went up. Unfortunately, their retained salary, 14 million of that is met. Ben Garner and then the other two million of that 16 million retained salary is Mark Melanson. The fact that we're still paying Madison Bumgarner, Mark Melanson makes me want to shrivel up and die inside, but I'm going to choose to ignore that because everything else is so exciting. Right now the Diamondbacks are projected to spend $136 million in 2024. Last season they spent with the postseason stuff, $127 million. So that is almost a $10 million raise

from last season and last season included minor league salaries and some postseason stuff in theirs too. So I'm just like, thank you, Ken Kendrick. Like, thank you. I never thought I would say that in my life. But thank you, Ken Kendrick, for investing in this team, for giving people in Arizona a team to cheer for. Like, that is what I want to round out this conversation with the Diamondbacks with is the Diamondbacks have done their job. Like they had a miracle run that nobody was expecting, but was so. pleasantly surprising and I know the loss stings but I at this point I'm just so proud of

Diamondbacks for even making it to the World Series on the power friendship alone. They have done their job. They have become a playoff team. Ken Kendrick put his money where his mouth is and he invested in this team and he got players to the Valley to play baseball and to be a competitive team and the product that the Diamondbacks are putting out in front of the fans of Arizona is a good product. Now we as people in the Valley need to hold up our end of the deal and get our butts to chase field and watch this team because I guarantee you this is going to be a special team. Like, oh, I just got the chills. Like I'm such a nerd. But I literally, in my bones, I feel like this is going to be a special team and you do not want to miss this. So show Daddy Kenny Kendrick that he

made the right decision and spending money and get your butt to chase field and watch these people play baseball because I think it's going to totally, totally be worth it. And you still get the. those $300 season tickets? I don't know if you can, but that alone is wild. That was even a deal that they put out there. Like, they are doing everything in their power to get people to come watch baseball. They offered season passes. Season passes for $300.

That is unheard of in professional sports. So if they are available, you know, go grab those. Geez, I mean, why not at this point? But I'm super stoked for the Diamondbacks Baseball. We are 12 days away from pitchers and catchers reporting. Spring training is like the best time. in the valley minus the traffic and all the snowboards that are here. Please,

please be careful when you are driving because there are maniacs from Canada out there on the road. But I'm super stoked for baseball. It is going to be the best thing ever. And it's almost here. Speaking of exciting times in the valley in March timeframe, because that's when spring training is the valley of the sun is going to be roaring alive when NASCAR returns to Phoenix Raceway March 8th through the 10th. again that is March 8th through the 10th they are the Phoenix Raceway first of all we were out at Phoenix

Raceway to film some content for you guys um I was a little late like as I always am shocked no nobody is surprised that I was late so instead of parking my car like in the lot where everybody else's car was I drove up and the woman who was a representative for Phoenix Raceway was like oh just come with me like follow me where I'm going to take you out to where everyone else is and I was like oh do you want me like get your car she's like no follow in your car so I was like okay So here comes Michaela Perkins, all 510 white hair like female of me, driving in my white Jeep Grand Cherokee down out of like the inner circle onto the racetrack in my Jeep Grand Cherokee.

I am driving on an actual NASCAR raceway. And I think I'm thinking to myself, holy shit. Never in my life could I thought I would have said I drove myself on a raceway. The urge to just floor it? The strongest, I was, like, my inner, my inner thoughts almost won. I was like, what would happen right now if I just floored it? Flew across the track. Fun fact, Jeep, Jerkies house sport mode.

My hand was hovering over my gear shifter. I was, like, trembling. I was like, shift it in sport mode. Come on, just do it and floor it. I was so, I was so close to doing it, but my inner monologue did not win out. Hit the Noss button? Yeah, right? But it was crazy.

So I drove my Jeep Grand Cherokee around the track, and then we shot a lot. lot of great content. I got to ride it in the pace car, which was crazy. Um, it was an awesome experience. But being out there, the Phoenix Raceway is like second to none. Like the facilities are amazing. The experience that you get as just like a NASCAR fan is amazing. Even if you've never been to a NASCAR race before, like you need to go to one because even just being there while the pace car was like rolling around like speeding around the track was insane. Like I can just imagine the environment like on race day. So if you've never been before, you can get your tickets now. Again, it's March 8th through the 10th. It's going to be spring break. The weather is going to be beautiful. And Phoenix Raceway does a really great job of introducing NASCAR people who have never been before with affordable ticket pricing for families. It doesn't matter if you're a diehard NASCAR fan or if you're just looking for a fun day to try something new. You have to get out there. You have to go to the race. They've got great live entertainment. The fan hospitality is unbelievable. The infield experience is absolutely insane. So get your tickets to the Shriners.

Children's 500 at Phoenix Raceway March 8 to the 10th. It promises a great weekend full of good vibes or the whole family. Get your tickets now at Phoenix Raceway.com. Cannot recommend enough. Benjamin saying, L.O.L. Arizona has NASCAR. That's crazy. We do have NASCAR.

And not only NASCAR, it's championship weekend, baby. Super stoked for that. I will be out there if I can be out there. I promise you that. I am super excited. Just driving my Jeep Grand Cherokee on the track for five minutes was enough for me to be I'm fully bought in. Whatever NASCAR is about, whatever they're selling me, I'm eating it up.

So I'll be out there and I hope to see you out there too. I hope you all also have a wonderful weekend. Thank you guys so much for tuning into this episode of the Phoenix Sports Podcast. I see you guys in the comments and it genuinely means the world to me that you take an hour out of your day to listen to me Babylon about osteoprocess. I genuinely appreciate you all so much. Benjamin, Connor, Charles, Chris, all you guys in the comments. Daniel, Karen, Elizabeth, thank you all. Amelia. Oh my gosh. Amelia. Thank you. I appreciate you

guys so, so, so much. I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend. I'm not sure if Damon and I are going to be doing a show from Radio Row on Friday at Super Bowl. If we do, it is going to get off the rails. Like, Michaela and I will be working like dogs from Monday through like dogs Thursday Super Bowl Radio Row and then I am concerned yeah yes do it oh it's gonna be bad so a week in Vegas a week in Vegas ending in a it might be reminiscent of when I was awake for 24 hours after the Nashville trip for the NHL drafted just came straight from the airport here and did a show we'll see how that works out um Andrew dang in the comments triple B in the comments thank you thank you thank you I love you guys so much I hope you all have a wonderful and safe weekend and like

I said, if David and I are alive and doing a show from Las Vegas, you're not going to want to miss it. But if someone else graciously decides to offer to host TPSP for me for the day, I hope you will still tune in because whoever is hosting is always great. You guys are the best. I will maybe see you next Friday. But if not, tune in to PH&X Cardinals because we will be on Radio Bro for the Super Bowl. Bye, everybody.