The Herd with Colin Cowherd - Parker – Inside the (Rob) Parker - Cubs' Addison Russell media overreach; Vlad Guerrero, Jr. debut; Guests: Gary Sheffield and HOF Writer Tom Gage

Episode Date: May 1, 2019

Listen to Inside the (Rob) Parker in Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/inside-the-rob-parker/id1460750158.  This week on Inside the (Rob) Parker, Rob explains why the Cubs need to back off reporters over covering Addison Russell’s return from domestic violence, if Albert Pujols is the greatest hitter of this century, Vlad Guerrero, Jr.’s highly anticipated debut, and the Analytic Stat of the Week. Guests: Former All-Star slugger Gary Sheffield on his case for the Hall of Fame, and Hall of Fame Detroit sportswriter Tom Gage on Miguel Cabrera’s decline.  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. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where Sports Slice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise,

breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear. Listen to Sports Slice on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 in the TikTok podcast network on TikTok.

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Head over to Ford.com to learn more. Built Ford Proud. From the Berkshires to the sound. From wherever you live in MLB America, this is Inside the Parker. 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 103. Rob Parker.

Welcome in to Inside the Parker, your weekly baseball podcast. I'm your host Rob Parker, Hall of Fame voter number 103. And what a show we have for you today. We have Gary Sheffield, the man with over 500 home runs who should be in the Hall of Fame. We'll talk with him. Also, Hall of Fame baseball writer Tom Gage. A lot of reporters are my friend, but a lot of your ass-hs. We'll talk with Tom.

Plus, but first is time for getting robbed. My take on the three hottest stories in baseball. Better up. To lead off, it's getting robbed. And keep them up. Rob's hot take on the three biggest stories in Major League Baseball. Number one. The Chicago Cubs are out of bounds foul when it comes to this whole idea

that they want a baby Addison Russell and they want kid glum. loves when he makes his return to the Cubs this coming Friday after a 40-game suspension for violating the league's domestic violence policy. And I get it. They don't want people to pile on him when he comes back. He's been through a traumatic moment and situation. This was a fine young player who was a star going to be a star in Chicago before this incident happened. But the bottom line is reporters have to do their jobs.

This is what Addison Russell has to deal with when he comes back. Is it forever? No, it's not forever. There was a story out there this week that the Cubs PR are threatening media members who are critical of him. Come on, come on, stop. You don't stop with that. This goes with the territory. If you get the cheers when you hit the game-winning home runs and make the big plays to win game for the Cubs,

you're going to get this when you get suspended. and people have a right to write about them, talk about them, ask them questions about it. And yes, there's a big redemption story that's going to be out there for Addison Russell, and I get that. But before you can write that story, you still have to cover the fire. That's what reporters do. There's no playing favorites and kid gloves for certain guys. Addison Russell will be able to get back and change the narrative,

by first addressing and acknowledging what he did wrong, let reporters write that they'll get that out of their system, and then it can go back to him playing baseball and the things that we knew before this whole situation. So the Cubs back off the reporters, allow them to do their jobs, and you know what? Addison Russell will be just fine. Number two. Earlier this week, Angel Slugger Albert Pooleuels, Barr, earlier this week, Angel Slugger Albert Poolews passed Barry. Bonds for third on the MLB career RBI list. Soon he'll officially become just the third player in history to knock in more than

2000 career RBI. Is it foul or is it fair to call Albert Pujols the greatest hitter of this century? And we're talking 2000 and later. And I don't think it's unfair. I think for some reason Albert Pujose actually gets. dissed because of some of the bad years in Anaheim with the Angels, and people look at him now as an old man. Hey, you damn kids!

Get off my lawn! His numbers are beyond reproach. They just are. I mean, at one time, people were saying that Miguel Cabrera was the best right-handed hitter in the history of baseball, and I think they forgot about Albert. Pujolos in the years he put in in St. Louis and what he's done in his long career. Go Google his stats. They're through the roof.

They're unbelievable. When you think about all the guys who have played Major League Baseball, and you're telling me that only three players have knocked in more than 2,000 career RBI. How in the world could you not look at Albert Pujolz, Hank Aaron, and, and, and, and, you, A-Rod. Those are the guys. Those are the only people who have ever done it in this game. Albert Puholos is without question the greatest right-handed hitter of this century, the greatest hitter of this century for that matter, and maybe the greatest hitter, period, when you talk about a right-handed hitter when you look at all of his numbers. Stop poo-pooing Albert Poolewholes.

Number three. Vlad Guerrero Jr. made his long, anticipated major league debut what a scene it was my goodness he also wound up getting a hit a double in his first game um last night a blown call changed a game this morning the internet lost its mind highlights are trending opinions are flying and nobody's telling you exactly what happened that's where sports slice comes in i'm timbo every episode we're cutting through the noise breaking down the plays the controversies and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear. The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral

moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice. On the Iheart Radio app, Apple or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Sliced Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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,

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growth, fatherhood, pressure, and purpose on my new podcast, Learn the Hardway. Open your free iHeartRadio app. Search Learn the Hardway and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect. We were God's chosen kingdom on earth.

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The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world, Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning.

It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. But a lot of people were talking about the anticipation factor. Was it bigger than anybody else's? Because there have been some players that we have been looking forward to seeing. There was Ken Griffey Jr. much anticipated. There was A-Rod, Alex Rodriguez.

People were dying to see A-Rod when he came up in Seattle. And what about Bryce Harper? He was another guy. We remember him, the Vegas kid with the home run sports illustrated cover. But I got to say this. Vlad Jr.'s might have been the biggest. His game was nationally televised with the social media stuff. It was big, it was all over, and then you had his dad, Vlad Sr., in the box suite, watching his son.

There were cutaways to him. It was as big as it gets. And there's been other players who've had their son's debut in the major leagues. But I've got to say, given the social media aspect and the notoriety and what he had done in the minor leagues and how people were anticipating his arrival. And it happened in Canada where he was born. It was so big that even the Canadian Prime Minister mentioned him in his debut. That's how big it was.

It spanned two countries, the United States and Canada. So I'm going to give it that Vlad Guerrero Jr.'s debut was the biggest ever. Career Builder is made for people who have that thing. You know, those superpowers that make you love. good at your job, the skills you bring to work. And CareerBuilder knows those skills make you right for other jobs too. Hire paying jobs with benefits. Jobs you never thought of trying. Are you a people person? Work from home as a customer service rep. Are you organized and like driving? Become a delivery driver. You have the skills it takes and CareerBuilder.com has the jobs to get you hired fast. Visit

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to me, a guy who should be in the baseball Hall of Fame, and we'll get to that and talk about that as well. Chef, welcome in. How you doing? Always good talking to you, man. How are you doing? I'm doing great. No doubt about it. Chef, I just want to get right to it and talk about you and your career. And, you know, as you know, I do vote for you every year for the Baseball Hall of Fame. How do you feel like you got a shot of getting in?

No, you're not going to get in. Just tell me your thoughts on you because you have the numbers, man. You hit over 500 home runs in your career. You played a long time. You did a lot of good stuff for a lot of good teams. Yeah, I look at it. You know, I look at it as I put in my work. I know I'm a Hall of Famer.

They know I'm a Hall of Famer. So it's just a matter of technicality, what was going on with baseball, and everybody has their opinions, but everybody don't have facts. And the bottom line is that I can live with my facts. and I did it the right way. I played clean all my life. You know, like I told him, I say you can test me, freeze my blood for 100 years if you want to.

I don't care, but like I said, I just know I'm an easy target to put negativity towards because when you're outspoken person, it's easy to pin anything on you, and then most people are believing. Yeah, that's the problem I have during that era. if we had a test from everybody who played during that era, maybe I would look differently,

and you never even tested positive. I mean, I just, I don't understand where guys decide to be judge and jury. And like I said, I look at some of the guys. When you see other guys who get in, Gary, whose names have been linked. What do you think when you see Pudge and Piazza and guys whose, you know, names have been linked to steroid use? Well, I think it's just probably like every other player that thinks about it. You know, it's just a political game.

They let in who they want in. They draw the narrative on how they want baseball to be presented. And I was crystal clear in that when I was 18, 19 years old. So it ain't changed now. It's just that I'm just not going to make a fuss about it. It is what it is. If I'm in, great. If I'm not, that's fine too.

It don't change my life one bit. Well, you got my vote as long as you're on the ballot. a 292 batting average, almost 2,700 hits, 509 RBIs, and 1676 RBI, solid career, a Hall of Fame career. What was your best stop? You obviously played for a number of teams.

Was it winning the World Series in 97 with Florida, or was it somewhere else? Yeah, it was Florida Marlins. You know, I even, to go to show you how this game is, I even called the Florida Marlins, you know, to make sure that that was my team that I associate myself with. And I brought them their first championship, and I was the first franchise player that they ever brought there

to be a franchise player and to bring a championship there and to call them back in 2009 and 2010 season just to sign a one-day contract to retire there and to no avail. So, you know, I still have love for the fans there, and I'm still going to associate myself there because of them. Right. And whenever you win a championship,

it's hard to not remember those moments and those days and those things that happen. Exactly. When you see today, who's a player that jumps out? Now, you do the work for TBS, post-game baseball, pre-game post-game stuff. When you look at the players today, who jumps out where you say, this kid is either already there a star or is going to be a big star in baseball? Well, when I look at Tatis, I known this kid when he was a little baby.

And I used to watch this kid around his dad and everybody. And we saw Glad Jr. And he jumps out like a sore thumb back in the day like Prince Fielder was. He was coming around and you see him swing the back. And you say someday these kids are going to be up here. But it's just that Titi's kid, I saw him. I saw him catching grounders, and I saw him hitting, and I said, I guarantee this kid going to be a shortstop in the big league someday.

And I thought his dad would try to play long enough to play with him, but it didn't work out that way. Well, you got a couple of boys who are playing ball, right? Are they 11 and 12? Tell me about those. Are we going to see them in the big leagues? Well, I can tell you my 12-year-old today, my wife said when he was a baby, anytime we would have a game, my 11-year-old and my 16-year-old, they would go down in the tunnel as babies and want to play in the playhouse.

But my middle son, he always sat there through the whole game with his mom and watched me play. And he mimicked everything I did. And now when you see him, it's like my wife said, I thought it would get better as he get older. But everywhere I go, he wants to be there. You know, he's like on my hip pocket. So I just tell you, he has a love. love for the game. And that's the most important thing. If you love something enough,

you're going to be determined enough to make it. So that's what it. All right. No doubt. No doubt about it. When you see at one point it looked like collusion was going on and players weren't being signed this past spring. And then all of a sudden, baseball owners have opened up the checkbooks. When you see the money and you see where Trout got $430 million and Bryce Harper, $330 million and Manny Machado. 300 million, you know, and you made good money in your day. You made a lot of money. Right.

But when you see these contracts, what do you think to yourself? Well, you know, Rob, I always get asked that question, and my answer is always the same. The same way people look at these contracts is the same way they looked at mine when I was the highest paid baseball player in the major baseball. Probably in the history of sports when I signed my first big deal. And everybody looked at me the same way. Like, how could you be worth all this money? How much was that deal to refresh people when you went?

And what year was that? It was only $72 million. What I mean only? No, I'm just saying based on what they make it now. So, and trust me, that's a lot of money, trust me. Yes. But it's just the fact that they're making so much now, but that was, it was 72. Last night, a blown call changed the game.

This morning, the internet lost its mind. Highlights are trending, opinions are flying, and nobody's telling you, exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo. Every episode, we're cutting through the noise. Breaking down the plays, the controversies, and the stories behind the headlines. We go straight to the source, the athlete themselves. Their locker room stories, their reactions, the stuff nobody gets to hear.

The laughs, the drama, the triumphs, the moments that never make the highlight real. From viral moments to historic games, from buzzer beaters to controversial calls, we break it down, give you context and ask the questions everybody wants answered. Sports Slice brings you closer to the action with stories told by the people who live them. Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slic Life 12 and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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. Trip 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, Keer Gaines,

as 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 hard way and listen now. Jacob Kingston grew up in an isolated polygamous sect.

We were God's chosen kingdom on earth. He felt destined for greatness. So when a swaggering our meeting, businessman, catapults Jacob into an extraordinary world. He doesn't look back. Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, meeting the president of Turkey. I'm Michelle McPhee, and this is one of the most shocking criminal conspiracies I've ever come across.

When Jacob met Levant this plant to a billion dollar fraud. But with two kings from entirely different worlds, just how long can their empire survive? The largest tax investigation in America. in history. You need to tell me what you know. Is somebody coming after me? Jacob told Levan, you're ruining my life. Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Life throws hurdles big and small. The question is, how do you conquer them? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we sit down with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness, professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions to talk about the

challenges that shaped them and the mindset that keeps them going. From the WNBA standout, Kate Martin, and rising hockey star, Layla Edwards. If a boy can do it, I don't see why a girl can't. Like, I've never understood that. Like, it didn't make sense in my brain. It's hard to be in spaces that no one looks like you, but don't ever feel like you don't feel on. Don't let that be the reason you don't do it. An Olympic champs, Gabby Thomas, and Katie Ladeki. The ability to show a gold medal to someone and have their face light up and smile, that means the world to me. And that's what motivates me to win more gold medals. At our level, at this scale, like being able to fail in front of the entire world.

Like, I can do anything. I can do anything. Because resilience isn't just about winning. It's about showing up, even when it's hard. Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the Iheart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHeart Women's Sports. A million dollars. And everybody looked at me like, how could you be?

be worth all this money, and I was like saying the same thing. Right. But at the same time, you know, we didn't play for the, you know, we didn't play for that. And we played for the dream, you know, and the money comes. That's how we looked at it. As we go on, we got about 30 seconds. Baseball, I think, is in a good place because you got a lot of younger stars coming along. You know, maybe you need some more African-American.

we saw Kyla Murray who turned down the baseball right with the A's and instead became the number one overall pick in the NFL. Does baseball need some young black stars as well to keep coming up? Well, you know, the thing is about that is, and I'll tell you, we're dealing with that. We're dealing with that right now, you know, with my 16-year-old and high school. And where the problem starts, people have their opinion about why black men in the game. it starts at high school. And I'll tell you, these coaches play these kids that shouldn't be playing and these black kids are sitting on the bench and not playing

when they're better players, better athletes. And it's the political game, it's that pay to play. If they're not paying to play on their travel ball team, then they're not even letting some kids come out for their high school team. I had to go speak on the behalf of a friend of mine that they wouldn't even let his son come out to try out because he didn't play on the coach's travel ball team. And that's the

problem. That is not what baseball should be about. Gary Sheffield, my man, thanks so much for joining the podcast. And again, you have my baseball Hall of Fame vote as long as you're on the ballot. I appreciate you, man,

and continue success, buddy. It's time for the Pocket Protector Central. The analytic numbers you need to know, well, maybe. F.S.1's Anthony Matherson is his name, and BS Analytics is his game. What you got for me, Anthony? All right. Today we're giving some love to the pitchers, specifically the ones who rack up the strikeouts and keep the ball in the ballpark. There's a stat called FIPP, or fielding independent pitching that works just like ERA, but as it explains in the name, it takes a pitcher's defense out of the equation. FIPP gives you a great read-in-how pitchers perform in terms of what they can control.

strikeouts, walks, hit by pitches, and home runs, while not penalizing them for poor defense behind them, something ERA doesn't do. Now, the more times a batter puts a ball in play, the less control a pitcher has on the outcome of that at that. So a pitcher with a high strikeout profile is going to fare much better when it comes to fifth. Now, it's no surprise that last year the Mets Jacob de Grom led the league in fifth with a 1.99 mark. Actually, higher than his ERA last year at 1.70, he was ridiculous. but he had a common thread with the rest of the leaderboard. The top five in fifth last year,

all struck out more than 10 batters per nine innings, walked fewer than three per nine innings, and allowed less than a home run per game. It was DeGrom, Trevor Bauer, Patrick Corbyn, Max Scherzer, and Garrett Cole. Not bad company, right? By the way, top six teams in FIP last year, won 90 plus games. Lower your FIP, increase your wins, Rob.

All right, there we go. Thanks, Anthony. Maybe. You know when you've been at the job for years and at your annual review, your boss gives your promotion to the new hire? And when you try to talk to your boss, he shuts you out. AT&T hears you. In fact, AT&T has made sure all their customers, both new and existing,

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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, old or new. We now welcome in baseball Hall of Fame writer Tom Gage, my colleague at the Detroit News for a number of years, some of the best times covering baseball. Tom, how you doing? I'm doing great, Rob. How are you doing?

Man, wonderful. Great to have you on the podcast. Let's just get right to it. Miguel Cabrera is back with the Tigers, but his bat isn't. What has happened to Miggy, Tom? Well, that's a good way of putting it, Rob. His bat isn't back. He is back. And, you know, it's kind of sad to watch because he's trying so hard.

He knows the team depends on him. And, you know, the impact just isn't there anymore. He's hitting, he's got 10 RBIs. He hasn't had, even in his rookie season, I mean, this is a guy who's had five April's of more than 20 RBIs. And one home run, and he just kind of dunk that into the first row in Chicago the other day to right field. He doesn't pull the ball. He's got 30 strikeouts, Rob, and 99 at bats.

That's not the Miguel Cabrera. you remember. Not at all. And Tom, at one point, you remember when he won the Triple Crown, people were talking about he's the best right-handed hitter in the history of baseball. Do you remember that talk? Oh, absolutely. And he's still a good hitter because he's such a smart hitter, but he's not the impact hitter he was. I mean, one RBI, one home run, 10 RBI's, he's hitting 283, and his slugging average is in the mid-trees. And that's just, you know, he's more like a six-spot hitter instead of a three or four now.

Now, that can change. You know, it can come back, but he missed most of last season with that bicep problem. And he's older now. He's in his mid-30s, and it just doesn't come back automatically. This is a guy to whom the tiger is still owe over $100 million. Speaking of that, the tigers and Owing and where they are now, How have people accepted what's going on because there was a missed window there, Tom, where they went to the World Series twice.

They were a very good team and on the cusp of winning a championship. It didn't happen. How has Detroit responded to this Tiger team? Well, I think Detroit's responded remarkably well and with remarkable patience. I don't know how long patience lasts after a good team. I mean, the Red Wings are going through that too because they've not made it. the playoffs for three years after, after being, you know, the darlings of Detroit. But I don't see that initially the Tigers, the fans could blame Brad Osmus because they didn't

really care for Brad. But now I think they all like Gardenhire, and he does a fine job. But the team's not good. I mean, it got off to a decent start, and it certainly has some pitching and the pitching prospects, Casey Mize, who, the number one draft choice, went to AA last night, and his double A debut, Rob, he, he finished no-hitter. And so I think he's, I don't think they'll give him a shot this year, or maybe September, I don't know, but that's a name certainly to keep track of for the future. But this is a no-name team except for Cabrera. Castellanos,

is after a slow start, and he's hired Scott Boyce, so you know what that means. That probably means that he's going to be elsewhere. And it's just, I don't know, it's, they don't score runs. They don't give up many runs, but they don't score many. Tom, would this be fair? I want you to answer yes or no. Did Dave D'Abrowski cost the Tigers a championship by never fixing the bullpen? Yes or no?

I would say that's not fair. I think there are more reasons you can give credit to Dumbrovsky for helping the Tigers turn into what they did, and then assign him blame. But at the same time, how did they not win a World Series? You know, if you don't win 06, you've got to win 12, and then with that 13 team, how do you not even get to the World Series? This was a premier, not just franchise, but on the field.

I mean, they had that window. They should have won a World Series while they were that good, but they did not. Last 30 seconds. You wrote a book, you're working on another book. Tell us about the book you wrote and the one that's coming up. Well, I stopped covering the Tigers as a beat writer in 2015. I've written three books since. one general book about the Tigers' best moments and best players,

one on Alan Trammell that I wrote with the Tigers last year, and one with Mickey Lollock on the 68 World Series. I'd love to write a book about Lou Whitaker because he might be next up for the Hall of Fame, and I don't think even after all these years, Rob, that Detroit really knows Lou Whitaker. 100%. And I can't wait for that book.

His name is Tom Gage. All of Fame, baseball writer, and Tom, thanks for joining the podcast. Thank you, Rob. Good talking with you. Fasten your seatbelt. Give you fuel, give me fire, give me that what I desire. Here comes Parker's top three MLB teams this week. Number three. The Los Angeles Dodgers, they continue to hit the ball out of the ballpark,

second in the National League with home runs, with 49 and first with a 467 slugging percentage. Cody Bellinger leading away, tied a major league record with his 14th home run on Sunday. He joined an exclusive club. Only three others had hit that many home runs before May 1st. Number two. I know the Tampa Bay Rays, I'm giving them respect. I know they got swept by the Red Sox, and people said, oh, it was me, here it comes. But even during their rough patch when they went four and five over a nine-game period,

The bullpen has gotten better, and I still believe the race have great starting pitching. They are number two. Number one. It's the Yankees again. I know the stars aren't there yet. They haven't shown up, but they continue to win. They went to San Francisco. They swept.

They're hitting the ball out of the park. It has been an unbelievable resurgence by the Yankees despite the injuries. They remain number one. Trash Talk Twitter. Your chance to trash anyone or anything in Major League Baseball. Now it's time for Trash Talk Twitter when you can trash anyone, anything in Major League Baseball. This week's winner is at Young Arab on Twitter and he tweets this. I want to trash the Yankees medical staff for not being able to at least keep a starting 11 on the

feel. And as this week's winner, he wins a new era baseball cap with the NY interlocking. Congratulations. If you want to be a winner next week, make sure you go to our Twitter at Parker Podcast 1. Now bring in the closer. Track one, track two, direct three. Here's why MLB is better than the NFL or NBA. And it isn't even close.

Baseball is better than the NFL and NBA because they make better songs about the sport than any other sport. Take a listen. Are you Willie Mays? Yes. Whose ball was that? Why was it? In left feet.

Well, that's Evans' ball. I told you that. Every time we come to the game, we got to talk about it. The next time I'm going to sit in a grandstand. Say, hey, fellas. What's your name? Say who? Say, Willie.

Say hey. Say who? Swing. At the plate, say hey, say who? Say Willie. That giant kid is great. When he hits the ball, it's long-gone man. Hits it for the then-campi-in. Swings the brats like a little eight pipe.

When they reach the ball, it's overripe. 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 Valentine's. with 1 800 Flowers.com. From classic roses and bouquets

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That's 1,800flowers.com slash tune in. Last night, a blown call changed a game. This morning, the internet lost its mind, and nobody's telling you exactly what happened. That's where SportsSlice comes in. I'm Timbo, and every episode, we're cutting through the noise, breaking down the biggest moments in sports and giving you the real story behind the headline. And we're going straight to the source, the athletes themselves, their locker room stories, their reactions in the moment, and the stuff nobody gets to hear.

Listen to Sports Slice on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more, follow Timbo Slices Life 12. and the TikTok podcast network on TikTok. 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 I-heart radio app. podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.

Life is full of hurdles. So how do you keep going? On Hurtle with Emily Abadi, we're talking with the most inspiring women in sports and wellness from professional athletes, coaches, and Olympic champions about the challenges that shape them and the mindset that keeps them moving forward. At our level, at this scale, being able to fail in front of the entire world. Like, I can do anything. I can do anything.

Listen to Hurtle with Emily Abadi on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. Presented by Capital One, founding partner of IHart Women's Sports. I'm Michelle McPhee, and I've been unraveling the strangest criminal alliance I've ever reported on. A Mormon polygamist and an Armenian businessman. Multi-million dollar house, Ferraris and Lamborghinis, private jets, a billion dollar fraud. But how long can this alliance last? Tell me what you know.

Is somebody coming after me? Listen to Kingdom of Fraud on the Aihart Reefat. radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. This is an IHeart podcast. Guaranteed human.