The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Inside the Parker - Wild Short Season Playoff Picture; Cal Ripken Record at 25; 2x All-Star Cliff Floyd on Young Stars; Suzyn Waldman on NY Struggles

Episode Date: September 10, 2020

This week on Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob looks at playoff picture of what is setting up to be a wild regular season stretch run, why Cal Ripken's record looks more unbreakable than ever at 25, and why Phillies 60's slugger Dick Allen deserves serious Hall of Fame consideration.Guests: 2-time MLB All-Star and World Series champ Cliff Floyd discusses the break out season for Fernando Tatis, Jr., why Yu Darvish has been so dominant. Yankees color analyst Suzyn Waldman discusses New York's surprising struggles and if there's time to turn it around. Click here to subscribe and download all of the latest Inside the Parker podcasts!! Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. Another podcast from some SNL, late-night comedy guy, not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer, Streeter Seidel, help an a cappella band with their between songs banter.

Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal, but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque.

Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the Look Back at it podcast.

From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s.

84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes,

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You give us 22 minutes and we'll give you the scoop on Major League Baseball. Now here's Baseball Hall of Fame voter number 86. Rob Parker. All right, welcome into the podcast. I'm your host, Rob Parker. What a show for you today. Former All-Star and World Series winner with the Marlins. Floyd joins the podcast. Also, long-time New York Yankees radio color analyst, Susan Wallman,

one of my favorites. She'll tell us what's going on with the Bronx, broken down bombers. That and much more. Let's go. To lead off, it's getting robbed. And keep him up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one. We're coming into the home stretch of this abbreviated baseball season, 60 games, and you know what? It's not what we thought it would be. There are teams still fighting and cloring. This is going to be a fantastic finish. I'm excited when you look at some of the teams that are vying for playoffs,

opportunities. A lot of teams aren't that far behind. But so far, let's talk about the division leaders, Tampa Bay, ALE East, Chicago White Sox. Everybody thought maybe the twins would win that. people, of course, thought the Yankees would win the ALEs. They're in third place. Oakland is over Houston in the West. So that's another one.

So none of the three teams that we thought in the AL that would be leaded divisions are currently doing that. In the National League, the Braves are there. We expected that they're that good. The Phillies are going to make the playoffs as of right now. Then you take a look in the Central. It's the Cubs. The Brewers have basically.

and Cardinals have owned that division the last few years, but Chicago has played very well. They lead, and the Dodgers who have owned the NL West, they continue to own the NL. West 31 and 12 going into Wednesday night. But the upstart San Diego Padres are not that far behind, just four and a half games behind. It looks like they're going to make the playoffs and make noise, and they were riding a three-game win street going into Wednesday night.

So this has been different. Everybody must admit it's hard to follow, you know, with the expanded playoffs, more teams are involved. So this will be a while finished, the final three weeks of the baseball season here and gone before you know it. I don't know about you. Pull up a chair, grab some popcorn. This is going to be fun. Number two.

It was 25 years ago. ago that Cal Ripkin Jr., it was September 6, 1995, took the field for his 2131st game, breaking the record that most thought could never be broken, the consecutive games played streak that was held by Luke Garrick for 56 years. When you think about what Cal Ripkin Jr. was able to do to be an Iron Man and go out on the field and play game after game after game. And when you think about the travel and what you have to do to be ready to play and go out there and avoid injury and all the other stuff, it is truly amazing.

And I know records are made to be broken, but I'll tell you right here right now. This record will never be broken. It just won't. People don't play full seasons. People can't seem to stay healthy. despite all the medical and nutritional things that are going on and the care that the players get, this is one for the ages. Cow Ripkin's streak will never be broken.

Number three. This week, the Philadelphia Phillies finally retired the number of Dick Allen, the big slugger who played for the Phillies and was a terror at the plate, career 292 hitter, 351 home runs, over 1,100 RBIs played from the Phillies from 1963 to 1969 and was a great player. And so people have been clamoring for this to happen. He had some other off-the-field issues, but he finally got his number retired. And now there are people who would love to see him get into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

and he was on the veterans committee and had a shot at getting in through the veterans committee but fell a vote short. So people are hoping that the next go round he will have that opportunity. Just for people who don't know who Dick Allen was, seven-time All-Star, ALMBP, National League Rookie of the year, two-time AL-HOMR-Run leader. He was the ALRBI leader, and his number 15 is now retired in Philly. Some people hope Cooperstown is next. Here comes the big interview. Listen and learn.

Oh, it's so good. All right, now let's welcome to the podcast, Cliff Floyd. Of course, the former Major League Baseball All-Star, won a world series with the Marlins back in 1997. Currently, he's a co-host on Sirius X-N. and he works for MLB Network. Cliff, welcome to the podcast. Hey, man, thanks for having. Appreciate it.

Let's just jump right in. There's a lot of good stuff to talk about with baseball. First, I want to talk to you about the National League MVP. You have Mookie Betts who's having some season, his first season with the Dodgers. But then there's also that kid, Fernando Tatis Jr. in San Diego, who has turned baseball on its head a little bit. Who do you have right now as the MVP in the National? league. It's going to be a dog fight to the end. But I'm going to go with Tatis right now.

But I fully expect Mookie would be that knocking on the door. You know, the type of season we haven't, man. I just feel like San Diego has finally gotten on the map. So it's time for them to shine and that dude, that shortstop is a piece. Cliff, the thing that's crazy is if you look at his first 100 games, Tatease in the major leagues compared to Mike Trout's first 100 games. Tatis' numbers are better. What does that say? What it tells me is he has baseball in his blood.

And when you talk to the kid, you understand where he's at. You understand, you know, you understand how much he loves the game. And then you think about it, you know, you got guys on our squad who definitely help him. out. You saw the situation I just said like, you know, you got to let these kids play, cause and put his arm around him. You got some veterans that who's been in, who's been down in the Royal Series. You got Manning to his

right over at third base. He's in good hands. So I think when you think about where Fernando is right now, I mean, you couldn't ask for a better group of guys that they signed around him. It's in a position where

you know, he's going to be successful every time you step will not field. And they're going to protect him. That to me is what matters the most is you protect him as opposed to grounding him and put him in a dog, you know, put him in a dog house because he's young and he needs to learn and blah, blah, blah. All he needs to learn is to keep balling like he is, and now he's doing a fantastic job. Talking about ball and what about you, Darvish and the year he's having for the Cubs? Coming into Wednesday, 7-1 with a 1.44 ERA. A lot of people gave up on him.

I remember when he pitched for the Dodgers in the World Series a few years. years back. The Cubs spent $126 million to sign him and now it's paid off. What's been the difference in Hugh Darvish? It's simple, man. He's cut down the amount of pitches he throws.

This game is about confidence. It's about everything that puts you in a position to go out there and throw strikes. Feel comfortable, feel confident. You know, the ball coming out of the fingertips is one of the most important things you can possibly have as a pitcher obviously because you control

game. You control everything that's going on. So when you look at you, Darvish and where he's at today, he's always been able to pitch. The problem is, when you have teams that are peeping you, and know what you're doing, you're tipping your pitches, you have to, you have to slow down. You have to be in a position where, you know, you can control the game. And I've seen him early on his career. I knew he's going to be fine. It's just a matter of him saying, hey, I can't throw seven pitches. So I'm going to have to figure out a way to, you know, dumb me down and pitch to three, four pitches, and be really good at it. And then I'm fine, because they're putting you out there. Let it be known. They are going to use you. They paid you a ton of money, as you mentioned,

and we'll just, you know, we're going to ride you out. So he had to figure it out, so he had to embarrass himself. Because as ballplay, I don't care who you are. You're out there and stink it up. you're embarrassed. And he figured it out, so I'm happy for him. Our guest is Cliff Floyd from MLB Network and Sirius XM, former Major Leaguer. Cliff, there have been all kinds. We just talked about Tatis, who, of course, his father played in the major league. Key Bryant Hayes, Charlie Hayes' kid made his debut, hit a home run in his first game.

And on Wednesday, Mike Cameron's son. Das Cameron, who came a part of that Tiger Trade with the Astros for Justin Verlander. He makes his Major League debut, was called up to the big club. All these kids, it's amazing how many sons of Major League fathers are playing in the big leagues. Are you amazed by that? Yeah, man. I'm amazed. And you know what?

I'm also old. Yeah, we all are. Yeah. And, you know, I'm sitting there today. and I see dads get called up. Obviously, I text Mike because I play with Mike. And then I'm thinking to myself, man, I'm texting young dads going, hey, man, let's go.

And I'm thinking, like, man, that's big bro type stuff. Like, this is what it's all about to me, man. Giving these kids, you know, just more eyes on them, more ears. You know, they listen to pop. Obviously, if you don't listen to you pop to mic, then there's a problem. But that's why these kids are going to be good, in my opinion. The bishos, the bichets, and the vets. and the Guerrero, you can keep going down the list.

These kids are going to be good, man. Not only do you have the DNA, but you also, you just, you can just, you'll step away from talking to a Hall of Fame dad. I mean, it don't get no better than that. So I'm not so much, you know, crazy amaze, but I'm just happy that these, you know, these guys that I've seen play and played it with get to go enjoy the game differently than when they played it.

Last thing, Cliff, there are a couple teams who are playing really, really well in the American League. Obviously, Tampa Bay is in the lead in the east. White Sox in the central, Oakland and the West. Out of those three teams, who do you like the best? There's a Tampa with the pitching, the White Sox with the pop. Man. Or Oakland, which is won like 90-some-odd game the last three years.

They've played well. Yeah. Yeah, you know what? You own a something with Oakland. I've been saying Oakland for a while. The White Sox are not, they're not surprised me at all. I knew what was going to happen. They just need to get Tim Anderson back at the top of their table set up.

You know what? To me... Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping them. muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care which I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clifford Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clivered Show isn't just a podcast, it's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me, or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need.

to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a here. unpack what went down and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 was big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes. I don't think there's a more important year for black people.

People. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hard Way with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, We get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing

and we're still chasing it and we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses. Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth or are you a good person because you're afraid?

Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Keir Gaines, we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free iHeartRadio app.

Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. It goes through Oak Town. I know Tampa is super good. You look at what they've done to the Yankees this year. They ain't getting bullied. They ain't getting punk. They're out there bawling. I look at Oakland and say they have the depth.

Now, is that enough? Bob Melvinan has been awesome with it. that's why they've there's really a streaky team I thought they had enough pitching do they have more than Tampa I don't know but I've already put Oakland in the World Series on TV so I can't I can't go back and forth

Oakland against who to Dodgers if the Dodgers don't go to this year I'm really worried about my man Dave Roberts and I say that with a ton of respect for him and obviously no disrespect in regard that they've won seven consecutive NL West you got to win a chip and I know it's been you know for

obvious reasons, guys hurt, you know, but Clayton, it shares healthy. You add in Mokey, best. Kenley Janssen, the best shape of his life. You got to win the chip. So I'm going with the Dodgers, yes, but I'm picking the Dodgers to win it. And if they don't, I just wonder, I won't say Dave won't have a job because that's just throwing out there too much. I would say I'll be interested to see what happens this all season.

No doubt. All right. Cliff, Florida is his name. We appreciate you, Cliff. Continue success, stay well. No doubt. No doubt. Appreciate having them, my man.

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It's time for the Pocket Protector Central. The analytic numbers you need to know. Well, maybe. Anthony Masterson is his name. BS Analytics is his game. What do you got for me, Anthony? Well, with the passing of Hall of Famer Lou Brock this past week, it got me thinking about a lost art in the current game of baseball,

the stolen base. Now, Brock retired as the game's all-time stolen base king, only passed eventually by Ricky Henderson, and one stole 118-bases in a single season, 1974. Now, for reference, only one team had more stolen bases last season, the Texas Rangers, at 131. Now, the stolen base went out of style in the age of analytics with front offices realizing how important base runners were and not wanted to take any chances to give them up via a caught stealing. Stolen bases are not inherently bad, but you better be safe way more often than not. Now, are we surprised at all that Mike Trout is one of the best in baseball when it comes to stealing bags successfully?

Is 84.5% success rate second best among active players only behind Speedster Gerard Dyson and far ahead of Brock's 75% career success rate? Now, if only we could have tracked then, what we track now. We can see that baseball's fastest players all run the bases at quicker than 30 feet per second. with each individual burst at 30 or greater called a bolt, quote unquote. Washington's Trey Turner leads all big leaguers with 39 bolts this year, 16 more than the next guy. And we can only guess how many bolts Brock would have busted out in a single season. It was a big week in the big leagues.

Or is it fair? And now, here's shadowleague.com. MLB insider, J.R. Gamble. The Yankees are seeking quickly, having lost 16 of their last 21 coming into Wednesday night, and barely hanging on to that eighth and final spot in the AL playoffs. Is it foul or fair, JR, to say that if the Yankees don't make the playoffs, heads will roll, starting with manager Aaron Boone. foul.

That is a foul ball. You can't judge the entire season on 60 games. Boone actually is missed the 100. That's how many games he's usually guaranteed to win over 162 games. This COVID sprint that baseball is involved in goes against basically everything that sports is about. Baseball's about the way it's designed. It takes a full season to find out who the best team is. Injuries are going to hit somebody this season.

And it happened to be the Yankees, the World Series. favorite. I say go figure. Several hours after G.M. Brian Cashman held a rare meeting with the club, the Yankees still went out and lost the next two games. If the sticks are going, the pitching's bad. If the pitching's humming, as it was last night against Toronto, then the hitting fails then. It's the classic mark of an inconsistent 500 teams. Boone's doing his best. Look at the Yankees. What they're doing at the bat in the last 20 games, Rob. The Yankees are batting

176 has a team with runners in scoring position. That's 29th in MLB. The previous 22 games, they were batting 294, which is fifth. Baseball is a game of peaks and valleys, but the Yankees don't have time to work it out in 60 games. That's not bones fault. That's not anyone's ball. That's just baseball during the pandemic. Hopefully they make the playoffs, but if they don't, can fans really be that upset?

I thought the point was just to have a baseball season because for a moment there, it looked like that might not happen. Stop being greedy and be grateful. When Rob was a newspaper columnist, he lived by this motto. If I'm writing, I'm ripping. Let's bring in a writer or broadcaster, older new. All right, let's welcome into the podcast. One of my favorites, a friend of mine,

Susan Waldman, who is the color commentary on New York Yankees, baseball on WFAN in New York. Susan, welcome to the podcast. Oh, thank you very much. Gosh, do we go back a long way, huh? Covering the NBA with the New Jersey Nets, right, Susan? That seems like a million years ago. Your first job, the New Jersey Nets.

No doubt about it. All right, Susan, let's talk about the Yankees, all kinds of stuff going on. First, tell me GM Brian Cashman addressed the team Tuesday night. What was that all about? Well, he flew up to Buffalo to talk to the team. You know what, Rob, when you're going to do those kinds of things, you better win the ball game. And he went up, and what he did actually was talk to the team and said that it was a positive one. No yelling and screaming, no George Steinbrenner, Histrionic.

It was, you're better than this, and every person in this room is here for a reason, and I want you to remember that. and we're all supporting you, et cetera. But you know what? I remember managers used to do this a lot, and I remember Kevin Kennedy telling me once when he managed the Red Sox that when he had a team meeting and stuff, he always did it, and he'd end with taking the baseball,

and he'd say, all right, now we're going to go get him, and he'd put the ball in that night's pitch, pitchers, locker, and it was Roger Clemens. So when you are going to have that kind of a team meeting, You better make sure that you're going to win that ballgame. That's a great idea, no doubt about it. All right, update me with Stanton and Judge. Are those guys coming back?

Anytime soon? Supposedly, but we've got two and a half weeks left. You know what, Rob, this is not about Judge and Stanton. Judge and Stanton were not there last year either, and they got pretty deep into the playoffs. This is not about people being injured. I know Judge and Stanton are injured and haven't been there. pretty much all year.

Arcella is a big loss. He has bones for it in his elbow. Hopefully he's coming back. And they've lost the pitchers. They've lost Severina, Tommy Canley, James Paxton, and those kinds of things are more important. But I think what has happened here is that the guys who had career years last year, the other guys, the next man up kind of guys, the Mike Talkman,

the Brett Gardner's, you know, Mike Ford's. That hasn't happened now. and the league is maybe caught up to some of these kids that they've brought up. But right now they're not playing good baseball. If they have great starting pitching, someone makes an error. If they have great defense, someone doesn't hit. If they have a great bullpen, the starter gives it up. You know, this has been a crazy, crazy year.

They've had a weekend where they had five games in three days. I mean, with doubleheader after. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year.

Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds. I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Cliver Taylor the 4th.

You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment. And the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music. The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast.

It's a space for honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tapped Little Kim's boobs at the VMAs?

Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Well, you can find out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jay. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s.

To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because. of crack. I'm down to talk about crack on day, but just so y'all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now. Thank you for finishing that sentence. Yes.

I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your Welcome to my new podcast, Learn the Hardway with me, your host, and your favorite therapist, Kear Games. And in recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I'm bringing over a decade of my own

experience in the mental health field and conversations with so many incredible guests. I'm talking, Tripp Fontaine, Ryan Clark. Sometimes when we're in the pursuit of the thing, we get so wrapped up in the chase that we don't realize that we are in possession of the thing. And we're still chasing it. And we don't know when we've done enough. Because people scoreboard watch. Life becomes about wins and losses.

Steve Burns, Dustin Ross, because you find it important to be a good person while you hear on earth? Are you a good person because you're afraid? Because that's two different intentions, bro. Absolutely. And that's two different levels of trust. I want you to just really be a good person. Join me, Kear Gaines,

as we have real conversations about healing, growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, learn the hard way. Open your free, our heart radio app, Search Learn the Hard Way and listen now. Double header after double header. It's really hard, but everybody is playing under the same thing. I remember at the beginning of the season, though, somebody told me,

somebody said to me, well, what teams were you afraid of? And I said, the bad teams. And I mentioned all these teams that are all pretty much fighting for the playoffs, Baltimore, Miami, Detroit, Seattle, because they don't have time to realize that they're not that good. and they don't have time for the rest of the league to catch up with them. So this is kind of, it's an interesting thing. You know, you look at it, and tonight they got a rookie on the mound. A guy making his third start, David Garcia, he's extremely talented.

You know, Toronto's awfully good. They can really hit. They can hit with the best of them. So we'll have to see. It would be nice if they came home, as Aaron Boone just said to me, it'd be nice if we could get on the plane tonight happy because they haven't done that in a while. Our guest is Susan Walman, the color analyst for New York Yankees baseball on WFAN in New York. Susan, earlier this season, which was pretty awesome, you sang the National Anthem for the Yankee home opener.

But you had done that before. In 1986, Game 7 of the ALCS in Boston, what was you like to do with? Before that, Rob, when I was in theater, I sang in Pittsburgh in the playoffs in the World Series, in 1979. So, you know, that's how I used to go to ballgame. When I was in theater and traveling around, no one figured out that singing the anthem was a way to get on television. I just had afternoons off, and I wanted to go to a ballgame.

So I would call up the whatever city I was in. I would call it and say, hi, this is Susan Wilhelm. I'm starring in Manoamana, here. Do you need an anthem singer for this afternoon? Wow. And they say, sure, why not? So that's how, and it didn't cost me anything. I've done it like a thousand times.

Haven't done it a very long time, obviously. But it was a promise I made to Garrett Cole years ago that I said, you know, one of these days you're going to make a great Yankee. And he said, well, when I do, you have to sing the anthem on opening day. And it just worked out that because of the virus and no one is in the stadium, they couldn't have what they usually have. And there I was in my booth. I was like the only one left.

So it actually worked out. It was kind of a nice moment. It was. It was definitely awesome. Awesome. And last thing, Susan, you've been doing this a long time. I've known you forever. We talked about it earlier. And you're the third woman to be a full-time color analyst doing baseball. You've done the Yankees for a long time. Are you still having fun? Well, this year it's tough. This is really tough. I mean, this is a very tough year. I'm not sure I'm enjoying anything much this year.

I mean, we're sitting in an empty booth by myself watching a game that's being played in Buffalo on more. monitors. I don't get any interaction. So this year, the enjoyment is not what it was, but I'm just hoping and praying that we get back to some semblance of normalcy next year. But this year, I think we just have to all just take it and put it out of our minds as quickly as possible. I hope we can do that. All right, Susan, continue success and good health. I appreciate you. Thanks for joining the podcast. Thanks, Rob. I hope I talk to you soon. Get right to the romance. Find the way to wow this valentines with 1,800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate-covered berries, gourmet treats, and more.

Surprise your valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1-800flowers.com slash tune-in. That's 1-800flowers.com slash tune in. Look through your children's eyes to see the true magic of a forest. It's a storybook world for them. You look and see a tree.

They see the wrinkled face of a wizard with arms outstretched to the sky. They see treasure and pebbles. They see a windy path that could lead to adventure. And they see you. Their fearless guide is this fascinating world. Find a forest near you and start exploring at Discovertheforest.org. Brought to you by the United States Forest Service and the app. Council. Adoption of teens from foster care is a topic not enough people know about and we're here to

change that. I'm April Dinwiddy host of the new podcast, Navigating Adoption, presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Each episode brings you compelling real-life adoption stories told by the families that live them with commentary from experts. Visit Adoptuskids.org slash podcast or subscribe to navigating adoption presented by Adopt U.S. Kids. Brought to you by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for children and families and the Ad Council. Now it's time for some diamond dust with Wish TV's Phil Sanchez. Out of here!

He played baseball in college. Now here is MLB knowledge. An update now with a couple of stories that we first told you about earlier this summer. First, Nashville's bid to bring a Major League Baseball team to the Music City just got a big boost. Tennessee native and 10-time Grammy award winner Justin Timberlake announcing that he will become

investor in the group behind the push to land a franchise. The team would be called the National Stars and would pay homage to the Negro League from the 1940s and 50s. Timberlake, also a minority owner of the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA. No word yet as to whether or not Major League Baseball has plans to expand any time soon. We'll keep to posted. And on Wednesday, Major League Baseball celebrated Roberto Clemente Day. And for the first time in the 19 years of the celebration,

the Pittsburgh Pirates will all wear the number 21 in honor of Clemente. This is the team retired number 21 in 1973, the year after Clemente died in a plane crash. Across baseball, all Puerto Rican players will also be allowed to wear 21 as well, and all players will be given the option to wear a patch commemorating Clemente. But does that go far enough in a time where it seems humanity has been somewhat forgotten about? what better way to honor a man who was known as one of the greatest humanitarian to ever wear a major league uniform than to retire his number across all of baseball. If anyone for Major League Baseball is listening, it's time to retire 21. Now bring in the closer.

Track one, track two, speed, right, three. Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA, and it isn't even close. Wednesday night was another great chance to see why baseball is better than the NFL and better than the NBA. Major League Baseball allowed Puerto Rican players to have the opportunity to honor Roberto Clemente, one of the greats of the game, during Wednesday's game by wearing his number 21 jersey, the Pittsburgh Pirates, the team that Clemente played for 18 years in his major league career. We'll all wear number 21. All major league players had the option to wear the 21 patch.

Clemente, of course, was one of the all-time great players. He was unbelievable when you take a look at his stats. He had 12 gold gloves. He had 3,000 hits. His final at-bat in the major leagues is when he recorded his 3,000 hit. He had four batting titles. was a 15-time All-Star and won two World Series with the Pirates in 1960 and 1971. And he was the league MVP in the National League in 1966.

Roberto Clemente was the first Puerto Rican-born player to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. And he tragically died trying to help other people on the New Year's Eve, trying to take supplies to people in need. He was a great ball player, an even greater person, and it's great that baseball will identify and recognize his Puerto Rican heritage and his contributions to the game. In the words of New York TV legend, the late Bill Jorgensen, thanking you for your time this time until next time.

Rob Parker, out. He can't get it. This could be an inside of Parker. See you next week. Same bad time. same bad station. Get right to the romance and find the way to wow this valentines with 1800flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets to decadent chocolate covered berries, gourmet treats, and more.

Surprise your valentine with 1,800flowers.com. Right now, get the 18-stem enchanted rose medley for $39.99, or upgrade to 24 red roses for $10 more. Go to 1-800flowers.com slash tune in. That's 1-800flowers.com. slash tune in. Another podcast from some SNL late night comedy guy,

not quite. Unhumor me with Robert Smygel and friends. Me and hilarious guests from Bob Odenkirk to David Letterman help make you funnier. This week, my guest, SNL's Mikey Day and head writer Streeter Seidel,

help an a cappella band with their between songs banter. Where does your group perform? We do some retirement homes. Those people are starving for banter. Listen to humor me with Robert Smigel and Friends on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast,

or wherever you get your podcasts. Imagine an Olympics where doping is not only legal but encouraged. It's the enhanced games. Some call it grotesque. Others say it's unleashing human potential. Either way, the podcast's Superhuman documented it all, embedded in the games and with the athletes for a full year. Within probably 10 days, I'd put on 10 pounds.

I was having trouble stopping the muscle growth. Listen to Superhuman on the I-Hard radio app, Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits,

my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated.

So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliverts show. on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. On The Look Back at it podcast. For 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 is big to me. I'm Sam J.

And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.

This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.