PTI - What's next for Aaron Boone and the Yankees?

Episode Date: October 8, 2026

Michael Wilbon and Tony Kornheiser discuss the Tampa Bay Rays victory, the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. Milwaukee Brewers series, and other MLB news. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Pardon the interruption, but I'm Mike Wilbon. The Guardians won last night, but I still believe in my White Sox, Tony. I'm Tony Kornheiser. What? Your White Sox? Yeah. The convenient world of Michael Ray Wilburne. Yeah, let me tell you.

The person who's rolling over in his grave right now is my father, Raymond Wilbon. Because he was a White Sox fan. White Sox fan. And totally, I'm sure, is disgusted for life and into death. that Don and I went to the north side. I know it's a rollover. Roll over. Roll over in his grade.

Welcome to PTI Boars and Girls in today's episode. The Dodgers and Brewers advance to the NLCS. The Guardians get one back against the White Sox and Boogerman Farland joins us for five good minutes. But we begin today with Tampa Bay sweeping the Yankees out of the playoffs last night, 4-3. The biggest play of the game was a fan interference call that negated the Anthony Volpe home run.

in the sixth inning that would have tied the game. Instead, it was correctly called a double. Only one run scored, keeping the score of four or three, which is how it ended three innings later. Wilbon, what did you make of the overturned home run and how the game in series ended, and where does this leave the Yankees? Well, you already used the word in regard to the home run.

It was correctly called a double. It looked like, I mean, it was coming down at an angle, which if nobody was out there, maybe it comes down into his glove, maybe, maybe, maybe. but I agreed with the ultimate call that it should have been called a double one run scores, one runner goes back, and that made perhaps all the difference in the game

at 4-3 as opposed to 4-4. Tony, that to me, that's it. That's it. I mean, Tampa's better. Maybe only that much better, but that's all you've got to be. And so the Yankees, and I know they'll get into this whole thing about what they've got to fire their manager, who I like very much.

And I understand if you don't advance eight times in nine years, you're going to get fired. You're the Yankees. It's New York. I understand that. But the Yankees aren't as good as Tampa. Their personnel isn't as good as Tampa's. Their roster isn't as good as Tampa's.

They may have two starters at the top of their rotation. It are, but the rest of it isn't. And so I'm not blaming Boole for that, but someone may. So where does that leave the Yankees at home behind Tampa? Yeah, I mean, we're going to basically disagree here. When I saw that play, I actually, felt myself saying out loud, shades of Jeffrey Mayer. If you remember

that, that was in 1996 in right field at Yankee Stadium. And there was no call there. Okay, not like this one. There was no call in that circumstance. There was the Orioles and the Yankees. Tony Tarasco, the right fielder, he's

going to catch that ball if it's not interfered with. And now, you know, now we are, what's the road? Oh, yeah, Deja Boo all over again to use the Yogi Berraism, except we have replayed. now, and that is the correct call. Mike, this is two series that are completely affected and shaded

by calls like this. Last night, the Yankees don't get this call. They lose the game. They're out of the series. In game one with Milwaukee and San Diego, San Diego feels they got hosed on a ground rule call, right? Well, okay, on a ground rule call,

they lose that game. Eventually, they lose the series. I think both those calls were correct, and I will agree with you about about Tampa Bay being better, which is why I picked them yesterday when you didn't. I am. I said they are significantly better than the Yankees than they were all season in this series. And I'll agree with you about boom, the statistic that we want.

He's 7 and 0 in playoff series when he plays against the team with a lesser record than the Yankees. He's 1 and 8 when he plays against teams tied with or they have a better record than the Yankees. Mike, to me, that is true to form. I don't fire him for that, and I don't fire him when Aaron Judge is not in the playoffs. Well, that's a tough thing. You're missing your best player like that. It's got to mean something. Is it 2%, 5%?

What is it? It's impossible figure, except the Yankees are at the crib. Let's move to the Dodgers and Brewers advancing to the NLCS. The Dodgers dispatched the Braves with the help of Andy Pa has tie-breaking two-run single in the seventh. And Brewer's centerfielder, Garrett Mitchell, drove in a run, scored the goal. go-ahead run and Rob Mani Machado of his would-be game-tying homer in the 8th

as Milwaukee beat San Diego. Tell me which team was more impressive to you in their NLDS win? Yeah, I'm going to say it's the Dodgers because I think they beat a better team. Atlanta won a division. San Diego did not.

Atlanta won 94 games during the regular season. San Diego won 91. San Diego has been historically a bust in the playoffs. They go out with a wimper. I got some numbers here in the notes. In 2004, they were leading the Dodgers. They lost, and were outscored last two games, outscored 10-0. They finished the series having no runs at all in their last 24 consecutive innings. The next year, I believe, they lost to your Cubs. They scored five runs in three games.

Last night, they went 0 for 21 at the end of the game. Oh, for 21. It's the worst ever in the National League in a playoff game. So I don't have them as highly rated as you do over time. And I will also say this. I don't think it's coincidence that the Brewers finally got a road win in the playoff off San Diego after 12 straight losses. I think the Dodgers should be commended. They won and their best player did nothing. They had good pitching. Their bullpen allowed only four earned in 14 and two-thirds innings. They held the Brewers for 1-45 average and they held Ronald O'Cunier Jr. to 133 and no RBI. and he got booed.

And they finally scored a run without a home run, so I'll say the Dodgers. Well, I mean, the Dodgers, like the Rams, are supposed to go undefeated, unscored upon when every game by double digits. That's what I've heard all year because they're the two-time champs, and everybody expects them to win. And they did not come into the postseason with a 20-and-3 record. They did not. Did not.

So the Padres were, to me, again, the lineup is the equal. The Padres got hosed. We should be going to game five, and you'd have to trot your ace out there if you were Milwaukee. And now they don't have to do that. And then remember what I've said to you all year. While I was rooting for San Diego to beat the detestable cheeseheads, Milwaukee's the best team in baseball. I haven't you said that. And they're going to take out the Dodgers.

I'm rooting for the Dodgers hard. Well, Milwaukee's the best team. We're going to see that shortly. So I got to give Milwaukee. I'll tell you what we are going to see in game one. In game one, we're going to see Scoobel and the Mizz. Yeah. Can I interest you in that?

Can I? Let's move. Now let's look towards baseball's future. Major League Baseball has reportedly proposed shortening its regular season for 162 games back to 154 to give players one guaranteed day off per week, then adding postseason games that would make the division series best of seven. Also, the higher seeds in the wild card in division series rounds would get to pick their opponents. The Players Association says the league has made clear that these changes would be

contingent on them agreeing to a salary cap. Wilbon, do any of these ideas resonate with you? Yeah, 154. Resonates with me because I think I was a year and a half old when Major League Baseball expanded and went from 154 to 162. 154. That's what baseball did for 100 years or close to it, 90 years. Yes, I want that. The picking the opponent is downright stupid. It's lazy. It's stupid. And I'm sure some marketing people got together in a room and said, oh, this would really be exciting. And it would lend itself to bulletin board material.

If we get that people pick. Somebody did that in another sport, and it was dispatched in a year because it was so stupid. But the other parts of it, I like Sunday night or Sunday night one game or maybe two games. Sunday basically afternoon only, Monday off. I like all that stuff. You get rid of picking the opponent. it, I'm all in. Yeah, I mean, I'm surprised at 154.

I'm surprised they would lose games. The National Hockey League just added two games. Football's trying to add games. I'm surprised they would do it. I'm okay with it because in my youth, they played 154. I am less happy about adding games to the playoffs. I like two out of three. I like three out of five and then four out of seven.

I think what I hate about the NBA playoffs. Yeah, the NBA playoffs that I don't. like at all is too many four out of sevens for me. I am good with reseeding. I don't know that picking your opponent is stupid. I'm not going to say that. But I think it's a bad idea because if you're saying we want these chumps, if you lose, your manager is going to get fired.

Your general manager is going to get fired. Isn't that the definition of stupid? Well, I don't know. I would put other people's faces on the definition of stupid, but that I will hold to myself. No, but I'm not crazy about it, but I am, you know, when they say it's contingent upon accepting a salary cap, you know, that's what makes me believe that it might not get through. Yeah, and it probably won't get through.

I'm with you on any expansion of games, Tony. The NFL, of course, keeps lying and saying we're most concerned about your health as they continue to add games. I'll be brief about this. What's that? Okay, the regular season was validated this week because the best team in the national, League, the best team in the American League, and the top three teams and wins all advanced. Let's take a break. Coming up, what should we watch for in tonight's game between the Buccaneers and the Cowboys?

We're going to ask Burger McFarland. This has got to be something better to watch than that. We'll also ask him whether Georgia or Alabama will have the end Saturday in Tuscaloosa. That is worth watching. Not Cowboys Tampa. Yes. I can't imagine not. watching that. We've got football questions for our great friend ESPN NFL and college football

analyst, Booger McFarlane, who's wearing a shirt from Cabot Citrus Farm. Where the hell is that, Booger? You ever been there? Where is that? North Florida, Wilburne. It's in Florida. You've got to go there. Okay, all right. Yeah, I don't know that you get prime rib there like you do at Northwestern. Thursday night football features your old team Tampa Bay that drafted you at the Cowboys. What will you be watching for in this one if you're watching at all? Well, of course I'm going to be watching. I think the thing you got to look at is this much maligned Dallas Cowboys defense. Everybody talks about the offense and saying the offense is great.

Well, the defense has been pretty suspect. How does a Cowboys defense led by new defensive coordinator, Christian Parker, go against a rookie quarterback. Rock Chalk Jayhawk, Jal, Jalen Daniels from the University of Kansas, is making a second start. Now, on paper, this should be an avalanche. The Cowboys defense should be dominant. But I'm telling you, people in Tampa are really how,

this rookie. He's making a second start. You make your biggest improvement from one thing to the second time you do it. I think he's going to be better. So I'm going to be watching that side of the ball. Everybody knows what Dax's going to do. Everybody knows the Bucks defense is going to blitz a lot. But can this Cowboys defense deal with this young rookie quarterback? I think that's going to be something to watch tonight, Tony. Booker, the Cowboys defense stinks again. They stink all the time. They get new players. They stink. They get new coaches. They stink. Do people ever get tired of telling you how great the cowboys are going to be this year?

They stink. They stink sometimes, Mike. But here's the thing about it. It's the Dallas Cowboys. Everybody loves to say, how about them Cowboys? So I'm going to be watching to see if this defense tonight can hold up there to the bargain.

Yeah, I'm thinking they can hold up nothing. All right, we'll move across the state a little bit, South actually. Texans head coach D'Amico Ryan's, he's going to take over the play calling, defensive play calling duties. Is this going to make that much of a difference with the way that defense has been struggling?

Something's got to change. Like, this was the defense that was supposed to be rivaling the 85 bears. They weren't a cover Sports Illustrated, Mike. Yeah. Like, this was the greatest defense known demand last year. Now this year, they're getting the doors blown off of them. So if you're D'Amico Rhymes

and your team is 0 and 4, and by all accounts, we want to blame CJ Schraud, but guess what? C.J. Strauss playing a lot better. So this defense has got a hold up there into the bargain. And if you're D'Amico, you were hired for your defensive prowess. And the defense is not doing well. So if the ship's going to go down, I'm going to go down doing what I do best, which is calling defense.

So I truly understand he's not the only coach to do that. Sean Payton has come out and said he's going to call offensive plays again for the Denver Broncos. So I think it's a classic case of head coaches wanting to take ownership for what it is that they're putting on the field. They're not going to put the owners on the coordinator. If you're D'Amico Rhymes and Sean Pagan, you're going to say, you know what? The buck stops with me. So I kind of admire what they're doing. And by all accounts, you're owing forward.

You got to try something different. Yeah, ain't that the truth. Okay, let's skip to something that really, truly, truly matters. Alabama, Georgia this Saturday. Bougar, what do you say? And forget the weather. It's moving on. It's not going to be a factor, you know, according to the people I'm listening to.

What are you looking forward to most in that matchup? I think Georgia is the most complete team in our sport. Offensively, defensively, special teams coaching. I think they're the most complete team in the sport. But they got to go to Tuscaloosa, and they got to deal with this young guy, Keelan Russell, who's taking the nation by storm, being one of the better young quarterbacks in our country.

The Alabama Crimson Tide all of a sudden look like the Alabama Crimson Tide. And Kailan Nabor said he finally has a roster in the vision in which he wanted. So this is the best team that he's had since Nick Samed. So I want to see what this young quarterback, Keel and Russell, can do with this Georgia Bulldog defense. I think it's the best defense in our sport. I think Georgia is the most complete team in the sport. But here's the problem.

Georgia's on the road in the SEC at night in Tuscaloosa. Nick Sabin will be in attendance. Everybody will be watching. And so can they go to Tuscaloosa in T-Town at Nick Sabin Field at Brian Denny Stadium? Can they perform? I think that's going to be fascinating because you're going to see this young. linebacker for Georgia named Chris Cole. He's outstanding, Wilbon.

When I say outstanding, watch number nine. He'll jump off the screen, and you'll be gladly pleased when you watch number nine play for the Georgia Bulldog defense. Duly noted, noted. Yeah, before I get to the final question, let me just insert this, how great it is that Wilbon has personal and private weathermen who give him the forecast for the Alabama gives. It's fantastic.

Here we go. A battle of classic historical. Big 10 teams features number 13 Oregon hosting 4 and 0 UCLA. Big 10 all over it. Are you a believer in UCLA under their new head coach, Bob Chesney? If you told me that Bob Chesney was coaching Louis Al Sender and Bill Watson and we were playing basketball, then I believe in UCLA. You can lock me in.

I believe in UCLA that point. But Bob Chesney's coaching football and UCLA was terrible a few years ago. And I realized he's turned the program around. Nico Iommali Alva, the quarterback, transferred back there. He's doing better. But I don't think UCLA is ready for the big time. I think Oregon led by Dylan Raola, because I don't think more, Dante Moore, is going to be back. I think this is a little bit too much to chew.

They're bidding off a little bit too much dealing with Oregon. I think Oregon is going to roll in this game. But I will give Chesney credit. He's come in and he's reestablished a UCLA program that was down in the dump. Bob Chesney's a really, really good coach. I think the future is bright for UCLA. I just don't think that future is now against Oregon. Thank you always, Booger.

Thank you, sir. Anytime. Always look forward to you. And Will Bond, congrats again. You can wipe the smile off your face for Northwestern winning. It's seven days later almost. Yeah, we're going after Ball State tomorrow, Booger. We're going after them.

That could be tough. That could be tough. That'd be tough to make that under 45. Let's take one last break. Still to come the White Sox whiff on their first chance to make it to the ALCS. And it appears J.U. Daniels will be a full goal Sunday. Yeah. Doesn't this scare you?

It scares me. No, it's not his throwing elbow. Look, if he gets hurt one more time, he's going to have to have surgery. Right. But he wants to go out there and see what he can do now. It scares me, man. I think it's a very good idea by him. I do.

Happy time people. Happy 55th birthday, Monty Williams. He is a local for us. Williams played at Notre Dame for Digger Phelps and was a first round draft pick of the Knicks in 1994. But his basketball career is based more on coaching than playing. Williams coached New Orleans from 2010 to 2015, made the playoffs twice. His next head coaching job was in Phoenix beginning in 2019. In 2021, Williams led the sons to the NBA finals. In 2023, Williams said, signed a six-year $78.5 million deal to coach the Pistons, the richest coaching deal ever. In his first year, the Pistons lost 28 straight games in route to 14 and 68. Williams was fired with $65 million left on the deal, and he is now coaching his sons at a Texas high school. Good for him. I thought when Monty got Phoenix to the finals, the first time since Charles Barkley and that team, and Kevin Johnson and Tom Chambers and Marlene, all those guys, age in 1993.

I thought it was going to be a long marriage, Tony, with more trips to the finals. Sadly, didn't happen. Happy anniversary, Don Larson. This is posthumous, but on this day, 70 years ago, Larson pitched the greatest postseason game in Major League history. The Yankee Ritey, whose career record was only 81 and 91, through a perfect game against the Brooklyn Dodgers in Game 5 of the World Series. Everyone knows the photo from the end of that game after Larson struck out pinch hitter Dale Mitchell

and catcher Yogi Berra jumped into Larson's arms. Larson had started game two of the series and despite being handed a 6-0 lead, lasted only one and two-thirds. I have a photo signed by Larson. The last pitch of his perfect game is 97th pitch with the ball leaving Larson's hand and the scoreboard in the background. Sadly, over time, that signature has faded. Tony, I love this story that Dick Schapp would tell how he's. he had a ticket to that game, and his wife said, we don't need you going to another game. We need an apartment.

You put your feet to the ground and find an apartment. Shapp looks for an apartment. Missed it. Missed the game. Finds the apartment and gets in the house. Turns on the radio. What? What did I miss?

Such a great story. Happy trails to last night's game for the White Sox. The team dropped its first chance to advance to the ALCS falling to the Guardians 9 to 3. Jose Ramirez was everywhere. Two hits, two runs, two RBI, a walk, a stolen base, and a diving play at third, with the bases loaded that could have opened the door for Chicago. White Sox get another chance to advance tonight pitching Hagen Smith as their opener, while the Guardians are going with starter Parker Messick.

Yeah, I just hope that there's a reason to celebrate at what I call Comiskey Park tonight. That's what I'm hoping for on the south side. Not my team, but if it says Chicago across the chest, that's who I'm. rooting for. Let's go to the big finish. WNBA semis, the Dreaming Valchreys won again last night. You got it wrong. They're both up to O'er your thoughts.

Yeah, you know, I'm glad those series are going because they're fascinating. Asia Wilson, another MVP, Tony. I think it's five MVP's. Unbelievable. She's the dominant player in the league, the commanders. Say, Jaden Daniel will be a full goal with no limitation Sunday against the Giants. Would you do that? Yes.

He wants to play. The next time he gets hurt, it's going to be surgery. He wants to play. Let him play. Broncos coach Sean Payton reportedly taking a stronger hand in offensive play calling this week. Does that make sense to you? What doesn't Sean Payton already have a strong hand in? It's nonsense.

Connor McDavid has 12 points in his first four games. You've got to be impressed with that. It's the best player in the league, but, you know, it all depends on winning a cup. Last one, the Winnipeg Jets are 3-0-1 to start the season without goalie Connor Hellebuck. What does that mean? I've tried to play eight to ten more games without it. And if we had that pace, trade them. Even at 33 years old, get them out.

A lot of time. We've tried to do better than the next time. My birdie number two of Columbia today, I thought you'd want to know. I'm Mike Wilbon. Same time tomorrow, knuckleheads.