The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz - Hour 2: Have a Gold Day (feat. Ros Gold-Onwude)

Episode Date: May 15, 2025

"ACME is CRAZY." It's time for a classic game with "Good or Gold" with Good Follow's Ros Gold-Onwude. She also tells us the truth about New York basketball, her Brooklyn summer, and whether or not Zas... is a champion. Also, Chris and Jeremy try to recover from their debacle on last week's Pitch Clock with a better effort this week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:30 What's better than a well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue? A well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue that was carefully selected by an Instacart shopper and delivered to your door. A well-marbled ribeye you ordered without even leaving the kiddie pool. your door. A well marbled ribeye you ordered without even leaving the kiddie pool. Whatever groceries your summer calls for, Instacart has you covered. Download the Instacart app and enjoy zero dollar delivery fees on your first three orders. Service fees, exclusions and terms apply. Instacart. Groceries that over deliver. This is the Don Leventor Show with the Stugatz Podcast. Can she hear us? Hi.
Starting point is 00:01:12 Hello. Do you know everyone here? I don't know everybody. I've never met Ross. I'm Jonathan Zaslow. Hi. Nice to meet you. Hey.
Starting point is 00:01:21 What's up? I'm Roz. You're welcome to call him bloated Stugatz if you like on first reference. He's not more bloated than Stugatz. OK. They're equally bloated. No, Stugatz is more bloated. You guys are doing a nostalgia thing,
Starting point is 00:01:32 remembering Stugatz from another time. Yeah, Stugatz is very, very heavy now for his precedent. We've already started, as you can tell. Greg, your son was telling me not to start, but we've already started. We are introducing Ross Gold on Wu Day you can tell uh... greg uh... your son was telling me not to start uh... but we've already started uh... we are introducing ross gold on wu day to some in our audience even though many of you should know she's an emmy winning broadcaster in new york liberty analyst and if you've been following good
Starting point is 00:01:57 following our feed uh... you should follow listen and subscribe on instagram tick tock and you to because uh... she is uh... covering stuff for Metal Art Media and DraftKings in a way that's super strong. I really don't know though, I mean, where to start with her because you've got the WNBA season starting tomorrow. She worked for the Warriors
Starting point is 00:02:15 and she knows how New York is feeling right now too. We gotta start with rings because Roz won with the Warriors and she won with the Liberty. She is in the rings club along with me. My teams win. There you go. So Roz. Good to have you on the team.
Starting point is 00:02:31 Roz, the question is, if you cover a team and you win a championship, that team wins a championship, do you get to call yourself a champion? Ooh, I think the players and the coaching staff get to be the champions. But if the organization is classy, has that extra bag, that extra money,
Starting point is 00:02:53 they might give you a ring. But I do try to draw the line. I cover a championship team. I work with the championship team. I got rings for all the Warriors championships I was with. And we'll see if i get one for the liberty i don't know what that ruling is judge that's all because as well as as those are two-time award-winning but ring-winning champion with the miami
Starting point is 00:03:12 heat because he was on the pregame post-game show he got the same ring that all the great broadcasters did yes so i don't think ameen presented it very well to you ross because he's saying if you covered a championship i covered a championship. I didn't cover a championship to Miami Heat team. I did not cover them. I was on the broadcast. And so I was given rings. That's why, Roz, I am a two-time, not once, the Heat won two years in a row, I'm a two-time champion broadcaster. Listen, I like that line in the sand. You work for the organization,
Starting point is 00:03:46 which I've done too. So I guess like you're part of a championship organization and everyone within it gets to be a champ. No, you're being too nice. No, she's asking the question. That should have a question. What do you do with your rings? Like, do you wear them? That's a very good question, Roz. Thank you for asking. I keep them in a really, really fancy case on my dresser in the master bedroom of the Zaslow mansion. And when I go to a very nice event, like say a wedding, like I did a couple of weeks ago, I put one of those babies on. Not both of them, Roz, because that would be super gaudy.
Starting point is 00:04:21 But I wear one of them. Class, only class. And if his house was on fire, it'd be the only thing he'd go in to get. Well yeah, because my kids and my wife have legs. You gotta go back and help the helpless ring. It also has a nice conversation starter, like maybe I should start working out. Okay, listen, Zez's ring is made out of tin foil and it leaves his finger green. He has the D-list ring.
Starting point is 00:04:46 Roz, I want to ask you something because this has been in my craw for a while. For me, they give out too many championship rings. The people who deserve them, you, the athlete, and the coaching staff, and maybe a select few others deserve championship rings for winning it all. When you start giving them to broadcasters and others like that, don't you think that it demeans the championship ring a little bit? Not at all! And there's also tears of rings. I'm very proud of the time I spent covering the Warriors during, especially during like that time, it was you know the peak of
Starting point is 00:05:19 like dynasty era. I was there for the very first, I worked my way up from the Santa Cruz Warriors, their G League team, was there for the very first, I worked my way up from the Santa Cruz Warriors, their G League team, came in for the first year of Steph and Steve Kerr, everything popped off right there. And then like I saw them go from this innocent group of like guys who were excited to get past the second round to like literal superstars.
Starting point is 00:05:39 And my last year with them was the Kevin Durant championship ring year. And there's tiers. So it's the big mama jamma rings, like that cover of hand for the players and staff. And I remember, I think there were two tiers after that. There was one that was smaller, but still diamond covered
Starting point is 00:05:57 for other supportive staff members. And then another tier where I don't think it was like as diamond covered, but it was still metal that went to like another tier of staff. Well, but this is the thing middle tier. No, this is the thing that's happening though. Cody's accusing Zazz of having a tin foil tier and Zazz is saying, no, I've got the middle tier.
Starting point is 00:06:19 Okay. Tin foil is a metal. No, no, no. That's giving middle tier. Take a look at that. Those are my rings. Like middle. That's middle.
Starting point is 00:06:26 Not metal middle. You get metal. Did you get a certificate of authenticity and an evaluation of price because mine came with that. I have a certificate of on that tisity, but I don't have evaluation of price. I have that I have the box with the spinner and the lights that show it is I mean is your name on the ring? Of course.
Starting point is 00:06:45 Yes, you're right. Of course, Roz, of course. Yeah, respectfully. Sorry, I didn't mean to insult with that question. But do you have the box? Well, that was, who did yours? We had Jacob the jeweler, I believe, at the time. Maybe Jacob was busy.
Starting point is 00:06:58 I don't recall that name. But the name of the jeweler is on the box, yes. Maybe I'll take a picture when I get home today. He went to Jared. Acme is the name. the jeweler is on the box. Yes, maybe I'll take a picture when I get home today. He went to Jared. Acme is the name. How did? I... Acme?
Starting point is 00:07:10 Acme is crazy. Like in the cartoons. Yes, like in the cartoons. You just said that. Like where they make forks. Acme jewelers, the Road Runner, exploding with a stick of dynamite. Oh my God. From the Acme explosives. They make dynamner exploding with a stick of dynamite
Starting point is 00:07:33 Don't let these people ask them where I'm not Rod that's right that don't know where nowhere They're nowhere will be looking forever if I ask them where theirs are if you want a more or less Gaudy place to rock your ring because I feel like the hand is a little it's big and it's got it You can make a chain and wear it as a necklace. And like, maybe that only works for girls, but I think like that's a cute way to like make use of the ring. Otherwise I've never, I've never ever once wore the rings. They're just both in the box safely in a safe box. As we mentioned, and congratulations this week, they officially announced your returning
Starting point is 00:08:01 as full-time color analyst for the championship winning New York Liberty and When when it's when it relates today to the things that you're most excited about or talking about in sports Is it your the way that Golden State loses because you worked for them the way that New York is feeling? Because New York and Boston is at the top of the sport or is it the beginning of the WNBA draft? That's your employer. That's the thing that you're excited about. I think all things New York I'm gonna lead with the New York Liberty these are the reigning champions I had the pleasure of covering them last season for about half the season and about half the games last year we doubled down this
Starting point is 00:08:40 season I am their full-time color analyst. I'm from New York. I remember when the WNBA started, I'm from Queens. My mother took me to go see New York Liberty games. 28 years, the league existed. They never won a championship. And they finally won one last season. It meant so much to me on like a personal level. And my mother's sick and, you know,
Starting point is 00:09:03 completely out of it with like Alzheimer's and stuff. I wish she could really know what's going on and that her daughter was there. I got to host the championship parade at City Hall. I just kept thinking about my mom who changed my whole life through basketball. And so I'm very, I love this team. I'm very thankful to be around them.
Starting point is 00:09:21 We'll see if I get a ring for my 15 or so games of coverage last season. I don't know, but I'm really just excited either way I get a ring for my 15 or so games of coverage last season. I don't know, but I'm really just excited either way. I'm excited for my Brooklyn summer. I'm going to have a full-time Brooklyn summer and in connection to the Knicks. Interestingly enough, I know the, the Liberty are owned by the owners of the nets, the Brooklyn nets. I am a New York Knicks fan born and bred. It's in my blood, but respectfully, um, coming to New York to cover
Starting point is 00:09:46 the New York Liberty, I leave at the end of the month, should hopefully coincide with the Knicks being in the Eastern Conference finals on their way to the finals, and I'm going to be all in the mix of it. I cannot wait. I cannot wait. New York might explode if the Knicks, like it's just, I'm ready to be in the streets with the people Just well, but it's out there. It's sort of hard to explain. I was trying to do it through Hank's area The yesterday it's hard to explain to people what basketball in New York means that makes it different Culturally than baseball then football then hockey then any of it? I got some answers. So New York basketball is culture, right? So like the way I came up in New York basketball,
Starting point is 00:10:32 honestly, early on, my concept wasn't like, I'm going to the garden to watch a Knicks game. That was something that was so outside of my stratosphere growing up, you know, lower class, poor in Queens. Ball was, we went to park tournaments at Kenny Anderson in Left Rock City, or we were at Kingdom or Dykeman or, you know, just street tournaments, uh, Rucker Park. And it was holding your own.
Starting point is 00:11:00 And at any level, there was so much respect for anyone who could hold their own. Like even at the park across the street from my house at PS 206 like hoops was such a big part of the culture and we had such huge stars coming out huge names like that New York was the basketball factory has fallen off since but like people you followed and you took pride in at my in my generation it was like Sebastian Telfair and things like that. And the women's basketball had some big names too, Epiphany Prince. So like that's how much the game is loved at all levels. Imagine now you're talking about at the pros and New York Knicks is, you know, the bloodline of it. The Nets got there later to Brooklyn and that's exciting as an alternative.
Starting point is 00:11:40 But when the Liberty won the championship this summer, after they won, Brooklyn was alive. People were in the streets. Police cars drove by, hunked their horns at us. People were playing music in the streets, like dancing with each other, all sorts of music, everything from Soca to Bad Bunny to hip hop to this and that. And it was so exciting.
Starting point is 00:12:02 Like if the Knicks do it, I'm actually afraid for safety. Like it might be a ride. Well it's a good thing they're not going to do it and your Brooklyn summer's gonna be ruined the way that all the Knicks, all the Knicks seasons end in heartbreak obviously. I was happy for the Celtics to have a nice emotional win there.
Starting point is 00:12:18 Like you know, that was a pride win. And as a Knicks fan, I was happy for them. You know, I'm not cruel. I have a big heart. They can beat you, though. They can. I don't know. No, no, no, no, no, no. I thought that was very nice for all of those nice role players to play outside themselves. Cornet, you know, White's out there shooting a bunch of threes.
Starting point is 00:12:35 They're at home. It's exciting. You're calling Derek White a role player? No, he's a star. He's a star. He's a star. I really, really, really like Derek White. Star.
Starting point is 00:12:43 I really like Derek White, and I can't wait to see him. I'm so excited. I'm a star. I really, really, really like Derrick White. You heard that Dan? Star. I really like Derrick White, and I can go on a tangent on why I think he's such an important player to winning. But when they play the Knicks, I got a little cute there. But I thought I was happy for them to have that moment in honor of Jason Tatum in Boston.
Starting point is 00:13:03 And now let's go to New York and finish things up and move along, so yeah. Rod, we've known each other a long time. I've told you all along that you bury the fact that you, I don't feel like you promote enough that you were a high level player. You played at Stanford for four years. You're all defensive team and played for Nigeria,
Starting point is 00:13:19 the national team, and you are a hooper first and foremost before you broadcast. But I did want to ask you, you know, as we see the game has grown considerably on the women's side, how do you compare kind of playing against the elite players of your era versus the elite players today? Well, I think, you know, look, there's a number of players that I played with and against that are still in the league now, so it's not that far off like, you know, your NECA agumakays, you know, but those are the veteran vets, the Skyler Diggins now.
Starting point is 00:13:52 Like those are the vets of the league, but they're still the dominant in this league. I wouldn't say so much from when I played to what's happening now that there's such a difference in the quality of play. I would just say there's such a difference in the investment and eyeballs and attendance and engagement with the league. And I also think that the league on a whole is much more authentic, right? Like everybody's instead of like trying to present the nice girls of the WNBA, everybody's leaning into who they are. We got villains. We got all types of gender,
Starting point is 00:14:27 sexuality. We got all types of like femininity styles. We got different ways to show power and beauty. We got storylines, things that carried over from college to the WNBA. You know, very captivating stars like, of course, Caitlin Clark is leading the way as far as eyeballs and attention. Angel Reese also has a captivated audience. And those are young stars that also lived up to the hype. Like the basketball product lived up to the hype. And then players who like I'm excited to see more of, Asia Wilson, I think Nafisa Collier coming off of Unrivaled
Starting point is 00:15:01 in Miami with y'all, might've established herself as the next favorite for best player in the world. coming off of Unrivaled in Miami, which y'all might have established herself as the next favorite for best player in the world. And with the Liberty, like you got to check out Sabrina Inescu, and Brianna Stewart, John Quayle Jones, like the Liberty could run this thing back. They really could. They are so deep in talent. So, but there's a lot of competition. It's a lot of parity in the league. So the difference is the attention and investment.
Starting point is 00:15:25 She's an incredible Homer, bought and paid for by all things New York and Liberty. Clearly not a journalist of any kind. She's a Homer saying they're going to repeat. Yeah, because she works for the team, wants a Brooklyn summer and wants a ring for 15 games last season. 15 games.
Starting point is 00:15:42 Zazzle wasn't 15 games, it was midnight. It was waking up at 6 a.m. He wasn't doing 15 games. Real ring. Zazzle wasn't 15 games. It was midnight. It was waking up at 6 a.m. He wasn't doing 15 games for the Liberty. He was 12 years. Out of 30 though. Out of 30 last season. Mind you, these seasons are different lengths. Are you ready to play a new game where you're the judge?
Starting point is 00:15:56 Because we've got Judge Zazz here, but we want from you, you're the judge. I'll allow it. This is either good or gold, okay? Good or gold. Oh, I love it. The Las Vegas Aces are clear favorites. Good or gold?
Starting point is 00:16:13 Is the good the bad? I think gold's just better, right? I wonder the same thing when I saw it on the shield. I was like, good or gold? What's good and what's bad? I don't know. Am I playing the game incorrectly? No, I think the game as presented to you
Starting point is 00:16:26 by whoever came up with it, I'm not gonna name his name. Not really a great game. All right, good or gold, the Indiana Fever are clear favorites. No. That's just good. Yes, yes, yes, yes. That's just good, man.
Starting point is 00:16:40 You're playing it right, Ross. Just saying no, that's how you play the game. I see the flaw. No, I know. Good is like, if it's no, that's good. If it's yes, that's gold. See, that's the flaw. Roz, you're playing the game right.
Starting point is 00:16:54 Just say yes or no. Everyone's a winner in this game. So I just want to come back to the Aces. I expect them to be a lot better than last season. The Asia Wilson is rested. Since you guys are Miami fans, you might've noticed that she hard launched her love and relationship with Bam Adebayo. She's happy, she launched her sneaker,
Starting point is 00:17:11 she took time away from ball. Like I think that's key. And then also Chelsea Gray, crushed unrivaled in Miami. Won the championship, won the MVP, the finals MVP. I think they're coming back rejuvenated. I think that's a good answer. It's not gold because I still think the favorites are the New York Liberty.
Starting point is 00:17:28 Fever, same thing. They have ramped up the talent and the amount of support around Caitlin Clark and, you know, Aliyah Boston and Kelsey Mitchell as their core big three, but they got all these vets. They're gonna have to mesh. They gotta get it together, but I think they could contend. Roz, how are they are not gold?
Starting point is 00:17:47 Roz, how's Asia going to feel about Milwaukee? That's a different game. What do you mean? Good or good? Like if there's moves, if there's a move available, he's interested. You know what he means? I'm at a bio out of that way. Little Greggie's not coming to 305. I'm one of those girlies that believe, you know, you support, you support your man.
Starting point is 00:18:06 So PJ, okay. If he has to make a move, you know, then that's what she'll be. But Miami is, you know, a sweet life. Good or gold, Asia Wilson is better than Bam Adebayo. Oh, she's more decorated. I think, is she more, yeah, she's more decorated. You know what's funny?
Starting point is 00:18:23 They actually have very similar games. Are y'all familiar enough with Asia's game? Yes, I know for a fact, she's like one of the top players in the league, if not the top player in the league, and that is certainly not BAM. Multiple time MVP. Fair, but stylistically, interestingly enough,
Starting point is 00:18:40 they both are two-way players who continue to add offensive to their game. Asia might be... you could depend on Asia more for offensive production, but they both lock down. They both got good athleticism. This feels like a gold. This is a gold. Come on. This is a gold! Which one is that again?
Starting point is 00:18:59 Oh, wait, Asia's better than Dan? I'll give that a gold. You know what? I think, I'm gonna tell everybody right now. You watch Good Follow on the DraftKings network. She is great. Wednesdays 7pm Eastern, 4pm Pacific. But in order to speed this up a little bit, okay? Let's just make it good or gold, no context, okay? Okay. Becky Hammond will ultimately leave the Aces to be head coach of the Spurs.
Starting point is 00:19:23 Good or gold? Good. Nafisa Collier. Also shout out to Mitch Johnson, Stanford University. We both played on the basketball programs, men's and women's at the same time. Shout out to Mitch Johnson, new head coach of the Spurs. I was not expecting a shout out there.
Starting point is 00:19:37 It gets in the way of my very vigorous good or gold. Nafisa Collier wins a title with the Lynx before she wins an unrivaled championship. Good or gold? Ha ha ha ha! Gold. Woo! Golden State will make the playoffs
Starting point is 00:19:52 in their inaugural season. Oh. Good. No. It's a weird game. It's a bad game. It's a bad game. It's a bad game.
Starting point is 00:20:01 Good or gold? She's very good. We're very good. I am angry at who did this. No, very good. I am angry at who did this. This game was good. Was this Billy? Is this a remnant from Wild Billy Wednesday? Who made this game?
Starting point is 00:20:14 Who made the excellent work by you Ross? Thank you for being on with us. This is disgusting. What game is this? Everyone's a winner. It's not a good one. It's not good. Everyone's a winner. A good one. Yes, yes. It's not a good one. It's not good. Gold one.
Starting point is 00:20:26 It's not gold. It's not a gold one. Oh, gold follow. Thanks guys, it was a pleasure. Was it? Was it though, with this game? Was it? We ruined it.
Starting point is 00:20:34 Look, this woman is so much better than our games. I am leaving here in a worse mood than I walked in. I am in a good mood. No guys, have a gold day. Thank you. Yes! You got the game. Let's do it. Let's play the game. If you got the game better, then maybe it would've worked. I don't know. Put his bag, well, it's a good game. No guys have a gold day
Starting point is 00:20:49 If you got the game better than maybe it would work I don't know put his bag well, it's a good game We're still on Sabrina goes out in this as an all-time great this year good or gold Gold Sabrina on ask you go We guys have listened to oral history and you know that the origins of this show were once just a dream for Dan and for Stu Gotsen. That dream turned into the show and now the business of MetalArk Media and the show that you're listening to today. But starting your own business is a dream that lots of us share. Too many of us let it remain just a dream.
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Starting point is 00:22:34 5G towers across the country. Not even once. Not even if Mr. Boost Mobile himself asked me to. There is nothing funny about it. Boost Mobile is now a legit nationwide 5G network and also provides coverage across 99% of America. Seriously. Visit BoostMobile.com or your nearest Boost Mobile store location to learn more. The Boost Mobile network, together with our roaming partners, covers 99% of the US population. 5G speeds not available in all areas.
Starting point is 00:23:11 Guys, I want to talk to you about something that I don't think we think about enough on a daily basis, and that's comfort. Specifically when it comes to underwear. Because let's be real, when it's not right, you're going to feel it all day. And that's why I want to tell all of you about Tommy John, because the first time I put on a pair, I knew my underwear drawer would just simply never be the same. Tommy John just recently sent some of their product to those of us in the shipping container, and this is my first time wearing Tommy John underwear. I was really blown away by the comfort, by the stretch that was available within the design by the comfort, by the stretch that was available within the design, by the texture.
Starting point is 00:23:46 There's a genuine comfort and I can tell that they put in effort to make sure, specifically in our case with men, that we would feel comfortable. Honestly, Tommy John's changed the game for me. I know it's going to be a good day now when I walk out the door and I've got Tommy John on. No distractions, no adjusting, just all-day confidence. If you haven't tried Tommy John on. No distractions, no adjusting, just all day confidence. If you haven't tried Tommy John yet, I personally think you're missing out. These are the MVP of your underwear drawer with up to four times more stretch than other brands. Something I definitely appreciate. Double down on comfort with Tommy John and get 25% off your first order right now at TommyJohn.com slash Dan with promo code Dan. Save 25% at TommyJohn.com slash Dan.
Starting point is 00:24:29 Don Lebatard. Yeah, very nice. Imagine if someone told you you couldn't have a Corvette. Stugats. I'm a grown ass man who's not filthy rich. I can't afford a Lamborghini. Well, I probably can, but that's possible. Hey!
Starting point is 00:24:41 Wow! Wow! Wow! Cake break! Cake break! This is the Don LeBattar Show with the Stugats! Welcome to the Pitch Clock. Here's the pitch. A two-part baseball segment combining a nostalgic baseball trivia game and an interview with
Starting point is 00:25:03 an expert. This is the Pitch Clock. Hey fans of the Pitch Clock, there's another voice you're about to hear. However, there it is. Yeah, Pitch Clock, we're here. It's another week of our baseball trivia coming at you with Taylor in just a second. We will then get to our baseball expert. But Taylor, it's me against Chris again. Why don't you tell us what our game is today? Can we just address the elephant in the room first?
Starting point is 00:25:31 The worst trivia we're coming off of. Oh my God. I'm sorry. We embarrassed ourselves. We embarrassed our families. We embarrassed the name of the good people here at Metal Arch Media. We want to be honest with the audience.
Starting point is 00:25:42 And transparent. If we're bad, we're gonna show you the bad Yeah, and that was that was the bad. Hopefully this is the good Taylor. What is our game today? Big bounce back week. This is we're going back to a game. We'd played a couple weeks ago ball No, we're trivia will alternate questions And if you miss the other person has a chance to steal highest score at the end wins It's five rounds. Five rounds of trivia.
Starting point is 00:26:06 All right, this sucks. Let's do it. Jeremy, first question. After giving him a nine-year, $214 million contract, the Tigers traded Prince Fielder to this team after just two seasons. The answer is the Texas Rangers. That's one point. One point for Jeremy. That's a correct. All right. From the Brewers The answer is the Texas Rangers. That's one point.
Starting point is 00:26:25 One point for Jeremy. That's a correct. All right. From the Brewers to the Tigers to the Rangers. How about that one? Chris, your question first round. After giving him a six year, $106 million contract, the Marlins traded Jose Reyes to this team
Starting point is 00:26:41 after just one season. That's like the most scarring thing that's ever happened to us. This guy knows good trivia. He knows how to ask the tough questions. Man, this is tough. I just really need to rack my brain about this. God, I hate you. Toronto Blue Jays.
Starting point is 00:26:55 It's one one after one. Taylor, what is my second question? In 2010, this team had an opening day lineup that included Juan Rivera, Bobby Abreu, and Hideki Matsui. I mean, I mean, you made that easy at the end. Yeah, I think, I think you made that easy, but it's, it's the New York Yankees. Incorrect. No!
Starting point is 00:27:16 Chris Cody with the chance to steal. You jerk! You fully just led me into it and I let you do it. I didn't even second guess myself simply because Chris was like, oh, easy one. Man, Bobby Abreu, it just hit me. I know what it is. It's the Angels. Chris gets the steal.
Starting point is 00:27:32 The series has started. Chris Cody, in 2014, this team had an opening day lineup that included Michael Kadair, DJ LeMayhew, and Justin Morneau. Colorado Rockies. He sweeps the round. Three, one, after two. We are and Justin Morneau. Colorado Rockies. He sweeps the round. Three one after two. We are feeling it right now.
Starting point is 00:27:48 This is heartbreaking. The stakes are way too high for getting the question wrong. And now we get to our 2025 MLB expert, David Sampson is here with me. We're actually both on Zoom and I'm wearing glasses now reading glasses to show the time has passed. Nonetheless, David, I wanted to bring you in today because Raphael Devers signed a 10 year, $315 million contract with the Boston Red Sox in 2023 to extend in Boston as their third baseman at the time. That was a $313 million deal.
Starting point is 00:28:27 This off season, the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman to a deal and to Devers public dismay. Devers has moved to designated hitter from third base. He made public comments. He didn't want to move, but eventually acquiesced. He moved to the designated hitter position. Now, just now, after a historically slow start to the season, Devers was finally starting to heat up.
Starting point is 00:28:50 But Red Sox first baseman, Tristan Kassas, goes down to an injury. And with him being out for the year, Devers was now asked to potentially play first base for the Boston Red Sox. And this is where everything has gone awry because Devers publicly criticized the club for the Boston Red Sox and this is where everything has gone awry because Devers publicly criticized the club for their decision-making
Starting point is 00:29:15 Including Craig Breslow the Sox chief baseball officer who by the way was hired Ten months after Rafael Devers signed his extension in Boston with then president Heim Blum So those comments from Devers included quote, I know I'm a ball player, but at the same time, they can't expect me to play every single position out there. In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove that I wasn't gonna play any other position, but DH. So right now I just feel like it's not an appropriate
Starting point is 00:29:43 decision by them to ask me to play another position And finally, I'm not certain what issue he has with me Deverset of Breslau who played 12 majors seasons in the majors himself He played ball and I would like to think that he knows that changing positions like that isn't easy your perspective Comes from someone who worked as a president of business operations in Major League Baseball, where you have a deep investment in a player like Devers, and then you also have your president of baseball operations who you've hired to do this job. They're at odds. Have you ever experienced anything like this? And what is your perspective about where things stand in this incredibly
Starting point is 00:30:26 complicated story between Boston and Rafael Devers? My job was to try to understand when there was a disagreement, how I can solve the disagreement where both parties believe that they have not been wronged. And to do it, you really have to know the people and understand the underlying facts. Let's talk about Rafi. This is a guy who was signed so everyone remembers when the Red Sox did not keep Mookie Betts. That's right. And the Red Sox were finishing at the bottom after having won several World Series.
Starting point is 00:31:01 The fan base was apoplectic. And what the fan base did, what the media did, is they said, hey, we've got this guy, Raffy Devers, he's our guy, you better pay him. And so what John Henry, the owner of the Red Sox did is gave Devers a contract that the minute it was signed was going to be a problem because of the length and because of the size. What they could not have anticipated is what a selfish player Devers was going to become. The quotes
Starting point is 00:31:35 that Devers gave were so bad that it forced the owner of the team to get on his jet and go to Kansas City and speak one on one to Devers and say, listen, what's going on here for 313 million? If we want you to DH, if we want you to play first third, if we want you to be the team trainer, you've got to be in like Flynn. You've got to represent our brand, our team. You've got to be the leader. You've got the money. You've got to be in like Flynn. You've got to represent our brand, our team. You've got to be the leader. You've got the money. You've got the talent.
Starting point is 00:32:09 We've got to get the results to do it. You've got to be with us. And every one of Devers quotes would indicate that not only was Devers not going to play ball and I mean that pun intended, but that he was going to take everyone down with him. But his teammates didn't want any part of that. His teammates were very critical of what Devers said and what Devers was representing. And therefore you go in as president and you say to Devers, I need you forget the media, forget your quotes, forget the translator. I need you inside that clubhouse.
Starting point is 00:32:43 I need you with your guys. I need you making sure that you're all rowing the same direction to try to get us to the top of the American League East. I just can't believe that the Red Sox didn't find a way to not have these quotes be the quotes that are floating around about their franchise from their star player.
Starting point is 00:33:04 And there's a whole other conversation to be had about the fact that this all was done through a translator and how complicated that makes everything both in the locker room and out of the locker room. But it's time for us to end this part of this segment and move on. Now it's officially round three. I'm down three to one. Taylor, what's my question? Before moving into Citizens Bank Park in 2004, the Philadelphia Phillies called this stadium home. I don't even know if I'm gonna have a guess. I have nothing.
Starting point is 00:33:33 The Philly Dome. That's what I was gonna say. That's right. The Philly Dome is incorrect. Picture the Philly fanatic riding around on his little thing, but I don't know the name of it. I got nothing.
Starting point is 00:33:48 It's veteran stadium, the Vet. Chris Cody, before moving into Target Field in 2010, the Minnesota Twins called this stadium home. You know this one? I can't remember. I can picture it. I don't, I can picture it. Same boat as the last one.
Starting point is 00:34:02 I don't remember. Before Target Field, they played at... Clapper Field. Clapper Field is incorrect. Jeremy with the chance to steal. I don't have it, Taylor. Tell me what it is so that I can get upset. It's the Metro Dome.
Starting point is 00:34:18 Oh, that one. That's obvious. That's on me. Jeremy, in 2000, the Marlins drafted this five-time All-Star First Basement first overall, although he would never play a game for them. Adrian Gonzalez. Yeah. Okay.
Starting point is 00:34:35 The guy's no fish. Yeah, we know our Marlins history. In 1999, the Tampa Bay Rays would draft this five-time all-star outfielder first overall, although he would never play a game for them. Like, did this guy, I feel like this guy played for them. The only reason I knew Adrian Gonzalez was because it's Marlins history. There was no way I'm getting a question like this otherwise. A five-time all-star never played for them.
Starting point is 00:35:02 I mean, just traded as a prospect, so... I'll go Rocco Bobelli, but he played for them. I mean just traded as a prospect so I'll go Rocco Bob Delhi, but he played for them right famously. Yes I don't know. I don't know. I don't know uh Andrew McCutcheon it is not Andrew McCutcheon this player drafted in 99 made his MLB debut 2007 ran into into some troubles. AL MVP. Josh Hamilton. Damn it!
Starting point is 00:35:29 David, the Rockies are historically bad. But this team through 40 games, 7 and 33. That's the second worst record through 40 games in MLB history. Listen, at some point you need better people choosing players and that's the reality. I don't know how Bill Schmidt survives this. I think that firing Bud Black and Mike Redmond, our old friend Mike, that's not really the
Starting point is 00:35:51 answer. You're going to have to do better drafting, better developing, better trades, better everything in order to get better players. We know that there can be winning teams in Colorado. We've seen it and we know that there can be winning teams with bottom, you know, 10 payrolls. We've seen it. And we know that there can be winning teams with bottom 10 payrolls. We've seen it. And so they just have to do it. But I will say this about Colorado
Starting point is 00:36:12 is I've got to believe they're up against something that you can't beat. And that is papal prayers. And I can only assume the Pope is praying the Rockies to lose 122. So no one talks about the White Sox anymore. And that is going to happen. So the Pope's prayers obviously get answered.
Starting point is 00:36:30 And that is much to the chagrin of Rockies fans. Hey, look, the first series that the Pope's White Sox played after he was named the Pope, they won two out of three against the Marlins. So they're headed the right direction with him in power. The visuals of him at the World Series in 2005 is just, it's absolutely mind blowing. It's like a break in the simulation. David, we've been, this is where we're going to wrap with you.
Starting point is 00:36:54 We've been focusing, I've been, I've been referring to this as a golden era in Major League Baseball in terms of stardom. I just think that there are so many superstars all around the league that it's almost difficult to be able to pay attention to all of them at once. And so I've been having our guests pick a star amongst a few that I can name to kind of highlight here. So over the last week, some of the ones that have stood out to me, you've got Shohei Otani, obviously at any time we could talk about Shohei, but his late inning heroics have been cool and no one hits a late game home run
Starting point is 00:37:26 in a cooler way than Shohei Otani. There's Pete Crow Armstrong in Chicago who has just been spectacular on both sides of the ball. And the last one I'll name will be Kyle Schwaber who weirdly enough might be having the best season of his entire career in a contract year here in Phillies as they struggle. So, Pete Crow Armstrong, it seems like he's the guy you wanna focus on here.
Starting point is 00:37:51 He's spectacular. Here's the thing that he does well, everything. It's amazing. And he's doing it on a team now. He's got good protection. The Cubs are a fantastic offensive team, but don't forget he's only 23 years old, but he's someone you should be watching.
Starting point is 00:38:05 The Cubs team is a team that you should be watching in that a they're fun to watch and be even losing their best pitcher, which they lost to injury. Justin Steele, they have found a way and it's early still, but it's getting later, but it is still early. David, thank you for highlighting part of it here. I know we spent a lot of time on transaction stuff when it comes to Rafael Devers, but that's why we appreciate your expertise. Thank you very much.
Starting point is 00:38:28 And now it is time to get back to the competition between myself and Chris. The Rays all time strikeout leader is this pitcher who pitched seven seasons with the franchise from 2006 to 2012. I think it's Jamie Shields. Does he have to say his name right to get it right? James Shields.
Starting point is 00:38:49 Okay. Locking it in? You just gave me the answer if you're wrong. I'm gonna say it's James Shields and I'm locking it in. We're tied going into Chris Cody's question. I thought it was James Shields. I knew it was James Shields. That's who I was thinking it was.
Starting point is 00:39:05 Okay, good. If he said Jamie Shields, I was not gonna give him. What did I say? Are you kidding? Come on. I, okay. Also let's Ethan get on it. At some point in his career, they called him Jamie Shields.
Starting point is 00:39:18 I promise. You're thinking of Jamie Moyer. No, I'm not thinking of Jamie Moyer. I shouldn't have said anything. You were gonna- Why would I be thinking of Jamie Moyer? I know the difference between Jamie Moyer and James Shields. How can you look up-
Starting point is 00:39:26 Baseball reference has Jamie listed as a nickname for James Shields. Wow, okay. Let me see that. I don't believe it. All right, fine. I hope you feel totally- I don't believe it either.
Starting point is 00:39:35 Jamie, I'm gonna call him. I'm staring you. I'm right here. LeBron, LeBron Stare as you get this question. The Brewers all-time strikeout leader is this pitcher who pitched eight seasons with the franchise from 2007 to 2014 I
Starting point is 00:39:50 Mean there's obviously like a famous pitcher for that that or has had a certain way Wait, was he traded from the I don't know the Cleveland team to the I don't know brewers So was he traded from the Brewwers to the I'm not sure Okay, I can't remember. I definitely thinking of the right person. I definitely can't remember wait on that one I just thought of it. It's not that guy at all. It's not CC's about the It's not you want me to guess him. So you said about it. It's a sheet final answer and sheets is incorrect
Starting point is 00:40:24 Jeremy with the chance to steal and win. It's like the pressure of this is really making every player who ever played disappear in my brain. Fun fact while we wait. Michael Brantley was a player to be named later in the CC Sabathia trade from the Guardians to the Brewers. Ethan just distracted my line of thinking with a fun fact about Michael. What the hell was that? Ethan, what am I thinking about? The Brewers pitchers from 2007 to 2014? Helpful nugget.
Starting point is 00:40:53 It's over, just send us to overtime. Who was the pitcher? The pitcher, Yovani Gallardo. No, I wasn't gonna get that. I remember he had a day though, he had a cup of coffee. I mean, obviously. Okay, so the tiebreaker,
Starting point is 00:41:06 you guys are gonna write down your guess. Whoever's closer to the actual number is the winner. Derek Jeter, regular season, home runs. I have my guess ready, but I- You haven't written down? I haven't written down. Yeah, I don't feel confident. Yeah, I don't feel good about this.
Starting point is 00:41:23 Jeremy, you reveal your number first, and then I'll see how close it was. 10 down. I have a feel confident. Yeah, I don't feel good about this. Jeremy, you reveal your number first and then I'll see how close it was. 10 down. I have a number here, one number. There's another number clearly crossed out. My number is 300. 287 is my guess. 287, Chris Cody, Jeremy, 300?
Starting point is 00:41:38 Yeah. Two unbelievable guesses, All things considered. 260 Crisco. Yeah! What a switch by me! What a switch! The gut, the gut. This thing's big, it said, hey, guys, too many.
Starting point is 00:41:55 You put too many. At least after one of the worst games we've ever played last week, this was a Oh, Thriller! We are back, Taylor!

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