The Kevin Sheehan Show - Not A Rivalry!

Episode Date: October 9, 2024

Kevin opened with Dan Quinn's comments on whether or not he considers Washington-Baltimore a rivalry game. Doc Walker jumped on to talk Commanders. Mark Zuckerman then joined Kevin to talk Nats and MLB Playoffs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You don't want it. You don't need it, but you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Do you consider Washington and Baltimore rivals? You know, for me, first, you know, kind of getting here and getting started, I didn't naturally think of that coming in because of the division. And the history of what the NFC East, you know,

has been so much with the teams that way. So that was probably the first thing I thought with rivalries with Washington of the NFC East. I think there's always a connection when cities are, you know, closer by, but the fact that we're not in the same division and the same conference, you know, for me, my first, you know, time playing Baltimore as a commander, my first thought was the East first. I loved that answer from Dan Quinn. Not to pick on Ron Rivera, but I think Ron would have just said yes, because he would have thought that was the answer that people wanted to hear.

Quinn is informed and he's not about to be a pleaser on a question like that one. Doc Walker on the show coming up in this opening segment, Mark Zuckerman will be on the show with me as well. How far away are the Nats from playing in October? The show's presenting sponsor as always is Window Nation. Call them at 86690 Nation or head to WindowNation.com if you need new windows. So our football team isn't like our baseball team, the Nats, or our NBA team, the Wizards. We don't have to make up rivalries. We have them. They may not be, you know, as fierce as they once were. But hopefully, you know, winning will start to bring some of that fire back.

But we are a member of the NFC East. Quinn very aware of that, understands the significance of that. The NFC East is one of the biggest brands when it comes to, you know, divisions and conferences. You know, you've got SEC football, Big Ten football, ACC basketball, Big East basketball. You've got the AL East, the American League East. You've got the NFC East. Those are your big brands when it comes to conferences and or divisions in sports. You know, the AFC North I'd kind of put outside that list I just gave you. but we have history as part of the NFC East.

We've got tradition. We've got memories. We've got rivalries. Again, not as intense because of our performance in recent years, but we've got a long-standing relationship. You know, long-standing feuds with the Cowboys, the Eagles, and the Giants. Not the Ravens. We don't have a rivalry with the Ravens.

Is there an angle to the game? you know, because we're 35 miles apart? Yeah. But just like the Jets and Giants, the Jets don't consider the Giants' rivals. They play in the same stadium. But when they play each other, that's not considered a rivalry game. The Jets have the Dolphins and the Patriots as their rivals. The Giants consider the Cowboys Eagles. And yes, Washington as rivals.

There were like three questions during Quinn's press conference about a rival. with Baltimore. I'm not knocking the questions. They're trying to get a story and create whether or not or figure out whether or not he thinks or anybody with the team thinks there's a rivalry. But Quinn gave you the answer as a guy who knows the NFL and knows what the NFC East means to football fans. And Washington is a part of it, no matter how bad they've been. They're a part of it. You know, this game with Baltimore, it just happens so rarely. You know, if they play three Super Bowls against each other over the next 10, 15 years, like the Cowboys and Steelers did, you know, years ago, we can talk rivalry.

Because there was, you know, a moment where the Cowboys and Steelers, because they had played Super Bowls against one another, were kind of considered, you know, rivals. I mean, it's rare to have a rivalry with a team in your conference that's not in your division. The Cowboys have had that with the 49ers, but that's rare. The Steelers and the Raiders years ago, but that's kind of rare. Not a rivalry, all right, when you've played seven times in 26 years. You know, none of them in the Super Bowl, the postseason.

A battle of two teams close by geographically? Yes, a battle of the Beltways, fine. A battle of the parkway? Fine. Not a feud, not a rivalry. What about this matchup being described in another way on Sunday? Like, is it a measuring stick game? Here's Dan Quinn.

No, we don't talk in that terms of measuring stick. Like, honestly, you've heard us say, like, there's so many things for us to attack and get better at. So we're not trying to use this game as a measuring stick. Like, hey, it's no secret. Baltimore's a really good football team. We're not using it as a measuring stick of where we're at. Like, every time we go, like, we're here to get down and, like, go for it.

And so it has no bearing on a measuring stick or any of that. We know how good they are, and, like, we're ready to go fight, too. So, yeah, but not a measuring stick game for us. I love that answer from Dan Quinn as well. We can think of the game as a measuring stick game. Fans do that, you know, pundits do that. But coaches look at these things, especially when, you've got 12 of them left, they look at these things as their own individual packages,

their own individual entities. They're just trying to figure out how to win the next game. It sounds so cliche, but it's the only way to play it in this sport because things change so dramatically. And so to have that kind of an awareness from my standpoint is a really encouraging sign. You know, I have really come to like Dan Quinn. even more than I did when he was hired. And over the summer, I'll be honest with you, I think a lot of these press conferences and a lot of the secret sauce talk

and a lot of the other stuff, it was starting to get to be a bit much, but that's because they hadn't played games yet. And now that we've seen them play five of them, I like the way he's handling this four-and-one start. I like his answers. I think we have a real genuine head coach. And I think that's one of the reasons so many people that play for him and coach with him like him.

All right. Joining me right now is one Richard Doc Walker at Rick Doc Walker on X on Twitter. Doc's got a podcast, which you can find at patreon.com slash Doc Walker. Doc does a lot of radio for the station for 1067 the fan as well. By the way, speaking of winter being right around the corner, this is, it's time for our annual conversation about your winter preparation. Because it's usually in September or October that you get the car all geared up in the event that you, you know, get caught in a blizzard. You've got survivable materials in your car.

So have you done that yet? Well, I don't ever have to change. It's called, not as a difference. kids are no longer here. It's called parenting. Parenting. So, I mean, it's called parenting like I had to do for yours and that you would have them bring them to the games without a jacket. The kid stays around. I just put the kit from the garage back in the back seat. It never gets unwound. It's an emergency kit with a, you know, thermo jacket, backup socks, gloves, everything that you would need. in case of the, um, an emergency unforeseen, a, you know, fender bender, whatever.

Uh-huh. Laugh all you want. But you know I'm right. And Casey, Casey might be here right now alive because of me. Because of you. Doc, Doc did lecture me many times when he would be with me, you know, usually at a game or an event where we were outside and it was cold and my kids didn't have the

appropriate winter weather gear on them. You were not happy with me. But I'll ask you the same thing I ask you every year, which is have you ever in the history of living on the East Coast

in this town been in a spot where you were stranded during a blizzard and couldn't get to safety, couldn't get to shelter? Like, I can't imagine where that would happen. No, but it's been some near, some very close calls simply with ice and running off the road. Yeah, that's happened half a dozen times. Because, you know, we've had over six to eight

to 12 inches of snow. We've had some for us in this area. And we've had some pretty good ones. Yeah. And so the key is, are you out? out in it. And so because of what we do, this is pre-technology where you could, you know, broadcast from home. So when you actually had to go out. So we've kind of, you know, kind of brave some storm. But there have been a few close calls. Nothing to brag about it because it's really serious. A lot of people don't make it home in bad weather. Well, I mean, yeah. I mean, when you live in the Dakotas or you're, you're you live, you know.

You think it's a joke. Well, I see it all the time. What? I watch copper. I watch all the guys, the gals, and they, you know, it's very, and you, who is a quasi-metrologist who are very keen to the weather. And I know you know what's going on out of Florida, because Big Al was down in Fort Lauderdale. Yeah.

And I tapped it on him last night. He's, you know, no, no problem. But he got caught in one last year in the big one. and he had to go the lottery. That's different. Yeah, he had to go. That's different.

It's tough. It's tough. I haven't been in California, but, you know, we no longer have to make up stories during football season to avoid talking about our team. But once, we can actually talk about the team. Yeah.

I know what you're trying to do. No, no, no, no, no. I just was, when I was sitting there. You know, it's a habit. No, it's habit. I have it in my phone every year, an annual reminder to ask Doc, if the car's been winterized,

if he's got the Coleman burner in there with the Kansas soups, and Kate's got everything. I mean, God forbid, you're on the Beltway, you're on 66, and a little snow comes, you've got to pull over and you've got to camp for the night. I mean, you will be,

you'll be prepared for that. You will. I'll have to hook it. I'll have to hook it to the next exit where there will likely be a hotel and a warm lobby. Well, you know, that's a attorney, Neil,

from Rockville, I think he agrees with me. He too as a kid, because he's a responsible parent. I don't know how any parent doesn't go over what I go have gone over with mine. Not for me. It was for them. Yeah, it was for them.

Right. Well, I know you. See, I know I know people that have helicopters and have staff. They can come get me out of it, yeah. Right, right. Okay. Well, you know what? I will I will give you the fact that I occasionally showed up with my kids in bad weather and they were not appropriately dressed. That is true.

That's right. Thank you. Thank you. All right. You nailed it, though. We got a team to talk about. Yeah, we do. We do.

We do. So, four and one, the quarterback. I haven't talked to you in the last couple of weeks. What do you think? Well, no, because now all your stars show up to work. You know, and so you get, you know, bullying. and Laverro. You're one of the stars.

Cooley hasn't been on in weeks. He's not even watching the games. I talked to him last night. He goes, I heard about Jaden Daniels. I haven't watched a game yet this year. Yeah, Leverro, you know, he's out, but he's a real super. Now with baseball, he might be blowing. He might blow you off a little bit, too.

But one thing about your staff. Staff. They're so loyal, man. Okay. And occasionally, but let's just say. this. We don't have to do this. We got a team to talk about. You just said that. O-line, the Fav-E-L-L-E-L-L-Five. I'll tell you what, this O-Line, and it was, who knew? No one knew. I mean, we all kind of raised our eyebrows

this a little bit. They're bringing in somebody who's from the Giants. Yeah, but he was also at Buffalo. And it's also about teachers, this staff. I mean, when you get, how many more people can they bring in 24 new coaches? I mean, they gutted the program, and rightfully so. Most people come in and they don't give you that con artist job. Oh, it's going to take eight years to have to do this. They come in and they blow it out. And they replace the people, the parts, and the people that are selected,

knew what to look for. So they bring in people that could make other teams, and they come over here and have a major impact. I mean, Noah Brown, man. Just make play after play second level. Guys getting down backside blocks. Luke McCaffrey, what a fine. What a baller.

I mean, what a baller. I mean, you get a guy who I think is the best player on the entire offense, Austin Eccl. And he don't even travel. he's out i go oh my goodness no problem bingo mickles and then i go to that alfred morse no the guy even bigger stronger faster so it starts replacing people and you don't miss a beat and then ecler comes back and then of course five is the straw to turn to drink we haven't had a guy like this in such a long time that could be that dude and it's just amazing how he is

and the O.C. are working in harmony. It's a beautiful thing when you get it, all these layers working in, you know, like Betherd, Gibbs, in succession. They all have to work in unison and pedibone. You know, it's all got to work. And right now, for the moment, it's all working itself together and nobody's looking in the mirror. Yeah, we're going to get more in depth here on Daniels in a moment. But, you know, I mentioned this last week because Tommy sort of talked about, you know, McNichols coming in. And I said, you know, it's not exactly apples to apples here.

But the 82 team, which of course you were a championship member of, you know, they had a kicking controversy in the preseason. They kept Mosley and all of a sudden he's MVP. This team didn't have a kicker. All of a sudden they signed Cybert. He hasn't missed. All broke. Art Monk, we lose him in the last regular season game of the season and don't have him for the postseason. Alvin Garrett steps in.

Fun bunch. And you got fun bunch. And there is something about that, right? Like with a team that starts to feel the success and feel, you know, connected, like it's more than just saying next man up. It actually happens. Well, you can't have a next man up without Adam. Peter's or Bobby Bethner. Right.

We saw that with the mortician. You get all these people talking about what they can do, but the groceries, they buy rot. So when they go to groceries, there's nothing. The cabinets are empty. Because they didn't know what to buy. Is the mortician Ron

Rivera? And so, and so you, what you start to figure out is that when you notice that you've been it's like a car, it's like one of those movies you go to see the dirty day. You go in, you've been had. You go, wait a minute. They told me that I was going to have this, this, and this. When you look back, it's like a

shell game. And all of a sudden you go, wow, we got ripped off. And then you get a guy who has never started in his career. And Cornelius Lucas now is playing his behind off. And he's never started. Yeah. And so Brandon doesn't have to come in and sweat. he's playing a lot, but he doesn't have to hold the load, and Cornelius is balling out. And then Tyler, badass. He comes in now, and it's just assassinate people. Allegrette and Cosmy, I mean, and Wiley, who was the one guy I was praying for. I said, Andrew, you can't have been in the Chief's environment.

I saw you. And it shows you what happens, man. It's modeling. And this dude now, I mean, you tell me who's a weakly, you can't tell. And they're all in unison. And you know you watch more film than I do. Backside does no such thing because they're all on side because they run to the ball. You get Echler in a rare fumble.

You get scoved up. Why? Because it's everybody through the ball. Pustle. These teams in the past look listless, right? How many comments did we say, my God, were they ready? no, because it was like they were, you know, at a morgue. Now it looked corny.

It looks crazy. The warm-up drills know how they look now is who they are, is who they become. And you know how it is as a coach. Once it starts to, they buy in, then it becomes contagious. Well, when the guy whose leader to pack has moved his start time from 5 a.m. to 4 a.m. and the words start spreading around the gym. And then for the owner to have put that money out, hey, let's take the team from point A all the way to point Z.

Don't worry about what it costs. You know what it's like, Hotel Bonding. No money-do list. Hey, Kevin, could you go get, hey, honey, Kevin, none of that. Because they would just do it talking ball. And so you know what that environment is like. It was like a condensed mini-camp, and they come out. And so I'm not surprised.

It's good to see it. Now the question is, how much is in them? What can they do? How far can they go? You know, in mentioning some of the players, as you often do, players that are making big contributions that aren't necessarily obvious to everybody, how about the kick coverage unit? How about the hitting from 57 below?

Violence. No, violence. Nichols. Well, the coach is a lunatic. Izzo. But it's transferring over. I mean, it's transfer. It's weighing severe.

Again, when you've had it, we've had some of the premier coaches, special team coaches in the league here. It's just a carryover. But when you, you hit it already by most of you stole my thunder. When you miss a kick, you know how it. It's like, as a shooter, it's like missing a. a wide open three, it deflates a team if you're a shooter, because everybody knows the dude can hit him.

When he don't hit them, it really hurts it more than a guy who you don't expect to make it. You don't expect it to make it, but when a shooter misses, consistently, it deflates a team. So missing a field goal, a chip shot of it, now you make them all. Now look at their fourth down, their third down efficiency. speak. These guys now are like being at a table. I know you're not big in a wagering, but when you get on a roll, you know what it's like. When you get hot, it's a feel you can't even describe it. That's where they are. And we don't even know what the feeling is. Like the best is yet to come because it should increase based on your competition. Otherwise, you get your

head chopped off. And that's why the Bengal game, to me, still remains the most. impressive. Yeah. Because it was the biggest venue against the best talent. Yeah. And they owned the road, and they still dunked on them. And I said, okay, now you got me watching. They dunked on them, that's for sure.

And the guy doing most of the dunking and hanging on the rim was Jaden Daniels. So let's take a break. Doc will stick around and we'll find out from Doc what he's loved the most about Jaden Daniels over the first five weeks of the season. We'll get to that right after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey guys, I have found a product that I want to tell you about that works if you've got congestion. I have congestion primarily due to allergies in the springtime and then in the summer and fall. It can be all consuming that kind of congestion, hard to focus, hard to think, snoring, issues

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We continue with Doc Walker, and let's get to the quarterback. What have you loved the most about his first five games? That he has, the things that he has missed has not shook him up, and the things that he has made

has not blown his mind. He's mature. He's not a huxable. You know, I'm just, these huge, these kids, and I look, man, You have an iPhone in your crib, it's not their fault. But I'm so glad that he's not controlled by social media.

So many of these young kids now can't wait to tell strangers what they've done. He could care less. You know, that's the big thing. Imagine you've got to go tell somebody you don't even know something about you, and they don't even care. It's so true. It's the most dumbest thing you can't imagine. But we did it too.

We did dumb things too. But what I'm saying is that when that phone, that thing you put on your phone that would keep you from your neck from cricket back in the 70s, you didn't know you're too young. And you sit there and put that thing on your phone like a break so you could talk for six or seven hours back in the 70s. Every generation goes through it. This kid, because he had this success at LSU, big crowd, been there done that. Dropping dimes, dropping bombs, been there done that. Look at his receivers in the N. in the NFL.

They're stars. He's already done this. This is really like him going to the AAA from the majors. Right. In a lot of instances, because our program was dead. So he left the Biggs

and came down to AAA and now he's lighting it up. And it hasn't blown his mind. Did he have a commercial yet? I haven't seen him on a commercial. I mean, look, that's the coolest thing about it. Toss his mom to ball.

he's cool. You drop a ball, something goes wrong with you, boom, he's right over there to you. He throws a pick, no problem. Comes back out, comes back, it makes you pay for it. So I'm going to do's unrattle, untattled. He's not done anything dumb. Who didn't think he could slide, he fixed it. He fixed it in 60 seconds. We had a guy here who talked, and I like Bob a lot. But my guy. God, get Bob to tell there ain't nothing, Bob, Bob couldn't fly. How can you be Jim Thorpe

and you can't slide? This kid, I didn't think he could slide either. How quick can he take it to fix it? Two seconds. He looked like Cal Rip could slide at two seconds. For those that didn't pick up on it, Bob would be one Robert Griffin, the third. I think

if they're listening to you, they already know me. I know, but I just love Bob. All right. So what concerns you, if anything, about the team right now? Not beating people by more. We just won by 28 and 21 in back-to-back weeks. Yeah, but it should have been more. We're leaving touchdowns. We miss the scores. We're missing wide-over people.

He'd tell you that. McCaffrey has been... He's been open. McCaffrey could have three or four touchdown. Yeah. So the fact that I'm saying, we're leaving money on the table, which means these should be butt-kicketts even beyond. The defense decided to earn its checks last week. They came out of coming out of party, but I'm expecting even more out of them.

So I'm looking for 50 burgers because I'm going against certain people, we should be blowing them completely out in the first half. because that's the kind of capability they have. They're built like that. And, of course, I always want to run it more. I always want to inflict more pain. I want more B-Robb if he's held, whoever. I just want more of it. But the same way I feel about the Ravens.

If you asked me about the Ravens that you didn't, but I would go, what are they waiting on? And then finally, I got a 280-pound fullback, put him in the eye formation, get eight under center, and run student body left. and let's end this. And they finally decided to stop horsing around the other day, and I hope they horsed around against us.

It's a dubdest thing I've ever seen in my life. But, you know, everybody wants to show you how innovative they are, and they've got, you know, the stats, and now we've got a math that's taken over. Everybody wants to prove so they can make all the PFFs and FLLs and all the books and all the math clubs, all the money that's out here now in science, so they can get you to go buy all this stuff, subscribe to everything.

Look, I'm not mad at it. Michigan beat, they threw for 38 yards against USC and won. I know, they did. The bully still wins in this game. I don't care how much you dislike it and how much fantasy and all that entertainment stuff. This is cool. I ain't mad at it, but it has nothing to do

with the line of scrimmage and the final four teams that'll be going into the championships competition when we get around to January. The fullback in Baltimore, we're 42. I'm forgetting his name right now. But I think he's actually 300 pounds. I'm pretty sure he's 300 or more than that. It could be, yeah, he's my kind of guy. And they're messing around in the shotgun.

But I hope they stay stupid. Leave him one more week. Keep him his shotgun. Man, I would be in the eye. It would be, I know John McKay is looking down on this thing, just laughing, shaking his ego. You've got to be kidding me. Head coach at USC back in the 70s. Yeah, former.

I think your audience is really a suit. If they're listening to you on a regular basis, I'm sure. I guarantee you they, A, know what student body rights means. And they know who started it, and they know where it was implemented at. Hey, do you hear about USC and Saban, $25 million? What? What? You didn't.

You didn't? Okay, we'll talk about it off there. USC replacing Lincoln, Lincoln Riley? No, no, no, no, no. I didn't say they were replacing. I said the word is that there has been, there's a rumor that's floating around. That an offer, that it has been put out there in the ether. Mm-hmm.

Okay. So you're not concerned about stopping the run, the defense stopping the run? Because that's still my biggest worry. But see, I was until last week. But that team was terrible. Cleveland on offense. No, no, no, no. But it's not like they played a super running team yet.

What I needed to find out was that Phil Mathis, See, I'm still waiting on Big Phil. I thought he played well, didn't you? Oh, Big Phil had his yes. Yeah. Big Phil, it's the most active. Big Phil was bouncing around like a polar bear. And I go, okay.

See, because I'm invested in my futures. Yeah. Because Bigfield and the baddest boy out there, who's now third game, the foot is not regressed. 95. And slowly but surely. You know it. Let me tell you, John, let me tell you about Newton.

When he's there in a game shape and it's altogether, now we're looking at Tasmania Devil. And you don't have to worry about this boy. He is a freak. Yeah. Now it's like a baby Aaron Donald in development. Wow. And I'm telling you.

Is he dancing like a polar bear? No, it's more like when I'm Tasmanian Devil, because he's not as big as the rest of those guys. But that's why I mentioned Aaron Donald. His activity, he is a terror. You'll see. But you've got to be healthy. I agree with you.

So I am concerned about their ability to stop the run. We'll see Sunday because this team can run the football, obviously. And they're going to challenge the manhood. And John and Duran, that was their best performance. Definitely. But I'm not waiting on them, because I'm telling you, big boy, big Phil, he was bringing it. And I need him. And because the rotations, you almost can't tell.

And what it's got to get to is you can't tell who's in. And that's when you've got four guys functioning at the same level. But it's the end. And finally, finally, we're getting real production. and when you get Armstrong and Lou Vu, I mean, we're starting to get some real activity out of the guys that were talking a lot of crap. Now they're playing big,

and they're bringing it. And I think Bobby Wagner, see, I thought it was a big mistake for him not to play at all. You know, it's, you really... In the preseason. Now I can tell he had the pre, he'd play at all. And so now I think he's really gotten in boring, with game speed.

Because that's not his number one asset. So he really needed to be in speed. His momentum, everything is much better now. He's running around. I like him a lot. And I thought St. Juice was very active. They're coming along.

They're coming. Okay. I hope you're right. I mean, it's just that Cleveland was about as bad a team offensively as you'll ever see in the NFL. Well, we need them. We don't want to,

You don't want to play the Chief because they're not ready for it. Yeah. Well, you haven't mentioned, I think, you know, I'll call him this Cyborg Frankie Louvo number four. I mean... Oh, he's the best. He's their best defensive player. Do you agree with that? Oh, absolutely.

Okay. Yeah. Yeah. If I did that, it was, no, it was not by intention. The Four is a madman. Yeah. And he is all the talk. pardon me

see a lot of them talk I can see him he's screaming and he's getting no he really but a lot of them are close I thought Duran his explosion

I just think they're kind of like I think I've seen some freelancing I don't know if they're all doing the same thing at the right time but it's not my job to figure that out if the coach is playing them then it's obviously

must be doing the right thing I just need more of them or different people. Because at this point, as bad as they've been, in last place, I have nobody to defend. I'm looking for, I'm looking for new people all the way across the board. I love all the change. I don't know why people were holding on, holding off for what. I mean, they've already shown you win last place every year.

So I just go, so all the turnover to me, that is exactly what I'm, was looking for. I'm glad I can't wait. I hope it continues and those that stay will, you know, they'll be worthy of it because when you give me, we've got 33 new players, 17 new starters, and 24 new coaches. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. Well, you've been saying it for years. Like, why would I roll the same group out? I already know what they're capable of doing. Um, Well, that was the mortician. I mean, that was all by design. So you would agree that all of this is happening because of a lot of things,

but nothing's more important than what the quarterback's done, right? In this sport, absolutely. It's no different than a pitcher throws and no hitter. I mean, yeah, that's it. You got Kofak. You got Bob Gibson. I was thinking about this because I think it's a hard answer. Like, who's been after Jaden the second most valuable contributor on the team through the first five games?

I actually have an answer, but I want to hear yours. Well, maybe you didn't hear when I said who I thought the best opposite player was, and he didn't play in Arizona. Exactly. He's going to add. Number 30. Yeah. Yes, indeed. Echlor. He's the best player on the team to me. He's so good.

He could start, because he's the one guy, in my opinion, they can start on any team. And if he go to Kansas City right now, he's started on any team in the league. Any team in the league. He comes in. He's in your, he's in your office. You will find a way instantly he's implemented. Because he's instant. If we don't get an undisciplined player on the kickoff return, he crowns that new stadium on the first plate 99-yard touchdown.

He'd be leading to league in so many different categories right now. It'd be sick. He's instant offense. He's an animal. And so that's amazing. And so to have him on top of his game, be robbed doing what he's doing, five obviously started to turn to drink. but to have

and then Ertz is on top of his game you can you can see a guy who is so excited about being healthy and he loves the game

and he's been the game's been taken away from him due the injury he is so excited and he also knows he's being chased because there's all three of those guys are playing at a really high level

they're highly aggressive and again you look at these receivers and I don't care what anybody said, junkyard dog. But Kathleen, for me, it is amazing how good he is at a number of different things. And then Terry,

because he's not a jackass, he has allowed your quarterback to blossom. If he was like a lot of these wide receivers are allowed to act, demanding the ball. It might have thrown five off, maybe. Maybe.

Maybe not. because five had them at LSU. Yeah. That's the beauty of LSU. It's semi-pro. Right. So, but seriously.

In matter of fact, he had a better team in college. So for him, this was like going to AAA. He always in the bigs. But I really believed that Terry's

demeanor and maturity, and then when they hook up, they hook up, and look at everybody, I mean, there's nobody that is really disappointed. Everybody when called on

has been there, and you can see why it was easy for them to get rid of a number one pick. Who shouldn't have been picked? Because the pick is in New Orleans, now who's all pro. But the other pick is in Baltimore and safety who's all pro. And the other big, all pro, he's a corner in New England. He's all pro.

Those are the three guys, your guy, passed on. My guy. Yeah, yeah. And so, no, I'm feeling, three all pro. Yeah. I'll tell you. I do love 14 in

Baltimore, Hamilton. He basically, he plays at the line of scrimmage a lot. It's unbelievable. Yeah. Love him. And Alave, you're right, is great too, and Christian Gonzalez.

Unbelievable. Yeah, yeah, believe it. Good way to go. Good job, coach. Yeah. Well, boy, you can hear it. I've heard it in Doc, you know, the last couple of years. He was not a big

fan of the last administration at all. Norwood. anybody after watching what we saw. Huh? Well, you guys had a good relationship, man. I don't blame you. But all I'm saying is that...

Who had a good relationship? All I'm saying is that... He couldn't stand me. He hung up on me twice. No, but don't you have to do something right? Don't you have to do something right? If you're in charge, there ought to be some part of your job

that you actually did well. Right. You can't fail in the category... Well, I mean, The category. Look, it was a disaster here because of multiple things. One, he was working in an organization owned by. He was working in an organization owned by Dan.

That's number one. Nobody succeeded with Dan. Number two, he wasn't the coach here. He was the coach. He was the general manager. He was everything else. Three, he really lost interest, I think, after the first couple of years. Are you trying to lose your ratings?

What do you mean? You got a winning product. Why are you talking about a disaster? Well, you brought the mortician up. You brought the mortician up on two or three different occasions. You're talking about draft picks and what things are working or not working. You brought the mortician up like four or five times. All right, let's get to Sunday.

I'm not missing anybody. You're talking about it. Okay. Let's get to Sunday because I know you love predictions. So what, in all honesty, what do they need to do? to beat Baltimore. You've watched Baltimore enough this year. We've all gotten to see them because all their games have been high-profile games. What do they need to do to beat the Ravens Sunday? We've got to treat what bullies don't like to be bullied. We got to bully them.

That's not hard. Everybody knows that. Bullies don't want to be punched in the face. They may talk that crap. They don't like it. And we got the ability to do it. Now, whether we will, we'll wait to see. But there's nothing that. that we, they can do that we can't do. And a lot of ways, they're going to look at us and see themselves, and that's going to scare the hell out of them. Yeah, that certainly on offense. That's true.

Yeah, and their defense is not what it once was. They lost a lot of people. Yeah, you're right. And in fairness, they're remaking themselves. They blew it last year to me. That's why I couldn't deal with your company last year because I would have lost my house because I thought they were the best team in football

and I would be broke right now because I said they're it and they went home and laid an egg at home because the thing would ate their eight sometimes it happens often that especially with the African American

quarterbacks they will hear the public and try to manage mirror their game to what do you people are scared the death of what you possess and you can do it all but I thought either him or the coordinator

it was the it was just awful that they got away from what they do mumkett it's just how the hell do you not just run the damn ball I'll tell you what doc on Sunday against Cincinnati

Cincinnati did a decent job against the run I want back and watched it and you know what eight did really well i'm i've always been kind of a lamar jackson fan oh i love it rooting for him because apparently everybody up there says he is just beloved by everybody in that organization yeah he's like a nice guy but he was throwing from the pocket he was facing blitz pressure and he was hanging in the pocket and throwing the ball accurately and receivers. I think he's getting so much better in that area. Now, for him, he's going to have to do that in a playoff game. Yeah, and he can. He can. Yeah. So, all right, so do they win or lose?

If I were a betting, if I had your money, I would keep my money in my pocket. Because anybody this has Betton Baltimore should have their behinds if anybody

beats them at their house to me but Washington has the tools

to beat them because they're just like them because when you have five and they got

eight there's no place you go that you should be counted out because

that's the key you cannot control their quarterbacks so whomever contains the quarterback

is going to win the game. Because both of them are that dangerous. They got a slug hammer. We've got an ice pick and a dagger. Because I'm telling you what, Echler?

So we both have these silly things. The receivers, you know, we've got a lot of things that are alike. And I never thought I'd say that about Washington and I think Baltimore is way better.

But right now, we are proving that we can play up. Now, can we play up to this current Ravens group in Baltimore? And I got to believe we can because what they did in Cincinnati. Not Arizona. That's that I was expected. But Cincinnati, I was not expecting. So if you can go on Monday night against Joe who. and Jefferson and beat the Bengals,

then yet you could beat, you can beat Baltimore. But I wouldn't put my money on that to happen. But I'm hoping that it happens. How do you feel about the people that say about this game, it's okay if they lose a close game. They've built up a good start to the season with four wins, will be all right.

Well, I respect everybody. Those aren't athletic people. Those aren't competitive. Those are civilians. And they have the right to do whatever they want to do. I mean, no, why do you do that? You always do that. What?

What? You ask a warrior what a civilian would do? I don't even know. I don't know. Whatever people think, they have the right to do that. I don't know how you can go into a game not expecting to win unless you're playing, like you're playing Kansas City. And look at Kansas City.

And Kansas City is not rolling yet. And the Raven, nobody is, but Washington is kind of rolling. So I'm thinking, based on what they did in Cincinnati to me, because I did not pick them to beat Cincinnati. And I would not, again, what we're putting on, if I had to put my hard on money on it, I don't trust their defense enough yet to bet that. And I'm a Derek Henry and the 300-pound fullback guy.

That's my kind of offense. Yeah. So you're asking me to go against myself. I ain't going to never do that. Plus, Harbaugh, I just love their philosophy. I love the way they approach football. Me too. Always have.

I'm a Ravens philosophically the way they approach. That's why they killed me against Kansas City. But yet, I didn't better them against Kansas City. I did. Yeah, you did, but see, I didn't because... No, no, not that I took Kansas City. I did chicken little. I did nothing because I said,

I really believe Baltimore is a better team, best team in the world. But I can't go against Andy. It's the home. I cannot do that until I see somebody dethrone them. So I just took Chicken Little and did nothing. Are your Dodgers going to come back or not? I don't think so, because I didn't think going into this, when San Diego got in, I figured we're in trouble.

Because the pitching is not what it once was. And San Diego has that it factor. They are the kind of team that you want to play on because the locker room is loose, it's crazy. I think they have a brotherhood there. It's to me, and I told Frank, Dynamite City, was my dog. You silly.

He's a San Diego, he's a Padre guy. And I said, finally, I'm going to tell you, most baseball people will tell you they probably picked San Diego. And I'm telling you, with Freddie Limpin, and all these factors going in, I just, who's got the hot bat? And then, oh, you're trying to, but he's that guy, but San Diego, Mojo. I mean, I hope it's Dodger Blue, but if I'm you, I'll tell you this,

I bet you didn't go with Dodgers, the Dodgers. I guarantee you you took San Diego. I didn't bet the series. I just was curious. Doc was a very good baseball player growing up, and Gary Templeton was a guy that grew up in your area, and you played with him when he was young. By the way, played for the Padres.

Right? Didn't Templeton play for the Padres? He did. Cardinals and Padres. And I think, you know, those of you that have listened to Doc over the years know that he is... Well, Kevin, this was fun. This was a lot of fun.

I really appreciate it. Give me your wife and get a kid. My best. He hates when I do anything about his past. Once I start talking about his past, he just does not want to hear anything about it. You lose your audience. No, they love it. They love it.

They love it. All right, but we don't have to do it now because we got a really good team to talk about. All right, enjoy the game. We do. On Sunday, I'll talk to you. Thank you. I hope so. God bless.

God bless. Bye-bye. Rick Doc Walker, everybody, at Rick Doc Walker on X on Twitter. Up next, we'll talk some Nats and some Major League Baseball playoffs with our good friend Mark Zuckerman, right after these words, from a few of our sponsors. All right, guys, best time of the year is football season. It is back, NFL Sundays, college football Saturdays, football on Monday night, Thursday night. And, of course, the glorious grind of fantasy football lineups. This is where your inner GM comes alive, setting the perfect fantasy roster, screaming at your TV and making sure that those last-minute waiver moves work out for you so that you're a hero versus the guy everybody ridicules in the group chat.

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from Mass and Sports at Mark Zuckerman on X. He does the Nats chat podcast. podcast with Galdi. And I do want to get to the Major League Baseball playoffs because I think they've been very exciting. But I want to start with our team. How far away are they from participating right now in the playoffs? And maybe it's not this particular round, but at least how far away are they from the wild card round last weekend's action? You know, a lot of people, Kevin, would love to believe that can happen a year from now. I think everyone's kind of getting that itch again after, what, you know, five years now. Yeah.

They won the World Series and obviously haven't come close to sniffing the playoffs since then. I think there is a growing, you know, antsy feeling in the organization like, okay, it's time. Obviously, they brought up a lot of the top prospects this year. They have a much, you know, more cohesive base to work with. And I think the real question is, are they going to go and try to supplement what they have now this winner. It's a huge winner for ownership to commit to spending again on some free agents because I think internally they feel like they have the core pieces now. They just need to add to that. And if that all were to come together and guys, you know, advance the way that

they believe that they should, I think they believe that they should at least be in the mix. You know, to be playing meaningful games next September. There's no guarantee of anything, of course. But you look at what the Royals and Tigers in particular have done and you say this could be the nationals a year from now, and in some ways there may be even ahead of where those teams were a year ago. So you need a lot of things to fall into place. But I think for the first time in a while, there's at least going to be a feeling going into the season

that they want to be in that spot and they believe they could be in that spot this time next year. What happened with C.J. Abrams at the end of the year? Well, I think it's safe to say that this was an escalation that finally came to a head. I don't think this is a one time. It couldn't have been. out of the blue situation. No, and I think they did a good job of kind of keeping it under wraps

and taking care of it behind closed doors. But you know, you hear things along the way and the kind of sense that maybe there are some issues going on there. And this was a microzo move. I mean, David Martinez supported it, but I think it was pretty clear this was a microzo move and felt like he needed to make a statement to CJ to say, okay, you weren't doing anything illegal. even breaking any team rules, because there's no curfew. These are adults. They don't have to be, you know, they have a bed check at 11 p.m. Anything like that when they're on the road. But maybe your judgment could be a little better here.

And you're a public figure now. You're an All-Star. People see you out late at night, even early in the morning on the road somewhere. And it's not really the image that you want to convey, and it's not the image we want the organization to convey. So I think they wanted to send a message to him like, hey, hey, time to. shape up. But I think also they want to send a message to everybody else in the club out. It's a very young group to say, okay, there's a way we do things around here. And we expect everybody to be

mature and act like adults. And yeah, you can have fun. Go live your life as a big leaguer. But remember your responsibilities to this team. And especially, you know, when you're playing an early day game on the road at Wrigley Field, there are extra responsibilities that come with that. So I don't know how it's all going to work out. Everybody says they insist that the message was delivered, that he took it the right way. He went to Palm Beach for the last week and worked out, and that, you know, water under the bridge next year. But until we really see how he responds to it next spring, I don't know that we can really know. You hope that it comes out of this better?

They look at Louis Garcia. Not an identical situation, but they sent him down last season to say, hey, it's time to start focusing more, and he had a great year. So that's the hope, but we still need to see how this goes, and I feel like it could go one or two ways, and the hope would be it goes the right way. I'm curious as to whether or not, and I wasn't following this hour by hour. You're on the beat, so your perspective is obviously the best perspective on this. But I'm wondering if you think the Nats handled this well. They didn't really say much. I mean, Mike Rizzo didn't say anything, I don't think.

did he have a responsibility to say something and to be a little bit more proactive from a PR standpoint? I'm just curious as to what you guys thought, you know, the people that cover the team on the beat. Yeah, I think the biggest issue at least that I and my colleagues had, and I don't know if it matters to fans or not, but was that, you know, Rizzo didn't speak about it at all to us when it happened. you know, a week or ten days later, he did his kind of end of season wrap up with everyone and we addressed it during that. But on the day of, and as it all went down, it was Davy Martinez who was left to answer the question for it. And like I said, I think it's safe to say this was a Mike Rizzo call to send him down.

Again, Dave supported it, but I don't think Davey is the one who came up with the idea of doing it. So, yeah, I think ideally you would like for the general manager, the person making that decision, to be the one to speak to it, to address to it, to answer the question about it. And I understand you want to say, hey, this is an in-house matter. We're not going to get into details. But you also, you know, when we would ask about the tweet that said he was seen at a casino at 8 a.m. in Chicago, they didn't deny any of these things. So I think they understood, you know, sort of like, yeah, we acknowledge that it.

true what's out there, and that the reason that they did it was because it got out there. Remember, he played that day the morning after. So it wasn't until whoever it was that put the tweet out saying that they'd spotted him at the casino. That came out. I think it was during the game, so it was postgame they confronted Abrams about it and made the decision. So really the infraction here was that it got, that it became public. So, yeah, I think ideally you want a little more acknowledgement. a little more detail about it.

And we ask the players to be accountable when they do things. Well, I think that the GM should also be accountable to answer for major decisions like this one that he made. You know, Mike, he's a stubborn guy. He does things his way, and he chose to do it that way and kind of leave Davy to have to answer for all of it. Yeah, I think I agree with that. But you've got a completely different perspective because you're close to it. But from afar, it seems like that's the right answer. Real quickly on Cruz and Wood specifically, what did we learn about those two players over the last few months of the season?

With James Wood, what we learned is he hits the ball really hard when he does hit it, and when he's able to elevate the ball, he does major damage. Great opposite field power, kind of one-soto-esque in that regard. He only pulled a couple of balls in the air and hit them like four. 150 feet when he did. So I think he's still going to learn that. He's extremely patient at the plate, maybe too much so. I think they wouldn't mind him being a little more aggressive on pitches on the edges of the zone

and being willing to swing at stuff that he can do some damage with. But for 21 years old, very excited, and you can see all the potential in the world there from him. In Dylan Cruz, it's only a month that he was in the big league. and there were good signs. He also really struggled to hit breaking balls at the big league level. You could see teams exploit that, and he hardly ever saw a fastball over the last couple weeks of it. Now, here's the thing.

He's 21. He just came out of college a year ago. He's one of the most accomplished college hitters ever. He's really driven. I don't think anybody is worried that he's not going to figure that out. He kind of ran out of time to do it at the big league level this year, but they're both going to come into spring training as the focal points of the team and of the lineup.

And the sky's going to be the limit with them both. And I think that's the number one reason above all else. I feel like this team can take a big leap forward next year. Yeah, I was wondering if the other reason was McKenzie Gore and the way he finished the season. Because there was a stretch during the season where I was starting to wonder, maybe you weren't, maybe they weren't. Is he really a potential number one on a staff?

I mean, I think it was in July. he was really struggling, but obviously finished lights out in September. Yeah, and that was huge. Everybody needed to see that from him because you do worry. Oh, hey, he's got the great arm and he had a great first half and looks like a future ace. And then, boy, what happened? He can't find the consistency there and he's kind of losing it. The fact that he did figure it out, made some adjustments, and looked like that number one starter again down the stretch gives everybody a lot of optimism going in next year.

Is he the number one? In a perfect world, yes. I would also love to see them. A lot of people would love to see them go out and sign a guy who can at least compliment him in that regard. Someone with a proven track record, I think would make a difference. But if there is one guy in-house who has both the stuff and the mindset to be a number one starter in the big league,

it is Gore, and what you saw the first half for sure, and definitely what you saw down the stretch from him, suggest that he does still have that ability in him. All right, let's talk Major League Baseball playoffs. And I actually want to ask you just format-wise, if you're of the opinion that I am, which is after 162 games, best of three in the wild card round and then best of five in this round, it's just too short. Seasons go on for months and months and months and then they are literally over in two days in the first round and sometimes four days in the second round. I think the first round should be best of five. I think this round should be best to seven.

And then the NLCS, ALCS, BEST to Seven, World Series, best to seven. I know there's an issue with getting games in the World Series now into early to mid-November in cold-weather cities. But what do you think? I just think it ends too abruptly and that it's not necessarily the fairest way. I think from a fairness standpoint, you're 100% right. that, yeah, the thing about baseball separates from all the other sports is that it's not a one-and-done thing. You can't determine this usually in one game.

You play 162 for a reason because you find out at the end of that, who's legitimate and who isn't. You can't fluke your way into the playoffs in baseball. You have to be good enough over the whole season to get in. And so, yeah, the more games than you play in a play-in-a-play-series, ideally that means the better team emerges over the course of that. But as you pointed out, it really would drag on. Personally, I find the NBA and NHL playoff from Terminable because they go on for so long, and those are all seven-game series. They have off days and other things, too, of course. But I do like that baseball keeps it pretty much contained October. Let's remember that the wild card just a few years ago

was one game. And now it's best of three. And the one game... Well, they added a playoff. They added a playoff team. They added a sixth team. Yeah. Exactly. And made it best of three. Right. Because of the fairness standpoint. And let's, you know, let's remember if one photo doesn't hit that ball that gets by Trent Grisham, that could be out that night. And there's no point in 19. Against Tater. So, yeah.

I get it from a fairness standpoint, of course, more and better. But I think it ratches up the drama to be sure. And I do believe you've got to try to keep it all confined off. The answer, and it'll never happen. is to reduce the regular season by a few games. Go back to 154 in the regular season, and now you have more of a window for more playoff games. The owners will never go for it because it's fewer gates, et cetera,

so I don't see that happening. But I guess this is the best happy meeting we can get between a full season and as much playoffs as they can cram into one month. You know, you said something in a way that made me think about it even differently than I had before because, you know, it's this 162 games, the best of teams lose four out of seven in stretches. Sometimes, you know, four in a row, five in a row. They lose three out of five all the time.

They lose two out of three all the time. And so, you know, to put the postseason on, you know, this short of a series is just you create this situation where it's over before it starts. But the way you said it, you know, the one and done, which you have in the NFL, you have in the NFL because you could never play a series in the NFL. You know, in college basketball, there's a tournament. It's a one and done because it's this tournament and it's been, you know, bracketed in a way that, you know, March Madness has become what it's become over the years. But really in baseball with 162 regular season games, a best two out of three or a best

three out of five is actually equivalent to a one and done. I mean, it's almost like that is a one and done, even though it's a series. whereas Best to Seven, I think, gives the better team at least a more fair chance based on the regular season that they had. I don't know. You're right. You're right. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that line of thinking. I think where MLB has to get in is to figure out the balance between what is the fairest way to do it and what's the most exciting and dramatic way to do it that gets the best ratings.

and I think, you know, this is how we've landed where we are right now. All right now. So let's real quickly go through all four series. I want to start in the National League where they could end, you know, this afternoon and tonight or this evening and tonight. The Mets obviously seem like a team of destiny. Maybe the Padres do as well. I did not think the Mets would beat the Phillies. They're up two games to one. Do they close it out tonight or tomorrow? Well, here's the thing. The Phillies have Zach Wheeler looming for game five. I know. And that is going to make it very interesting in how they approach game four.

Now the Mets approach game four. If I'm New York, I am all in on trying to win it. Now you're at home. You don't have to go back to Philly. You don't have to face Wheeler in game five. I'm throwing the kitchen sink at them, whatever that means from a pitching standpoint, pinch-hitting, you name it, to try to end this thing. Now don't even give the Phillies of reasons to get excited about the possible coming back.

I mean, you know how dramatic Philadelphia sports fans are and the Cetus they are, and the moment it goes south, it's over, and that's exactly what they're feeling after they lost game three. I mean, I'm reading some of the articles by the guys who cover the team, and they're basically saying it's already over. It's like, hang on, you've got to win two games, and one of them with, you know, maybe the Cy Young Award winner at home. So I think the Mets have to go all in on it. I'm not surprised. I knew it was going to be a good series. the Mets have this mojo going. They're very 2019 Nats-esque for better or worse.

And you've seen you get into a late game situation. They are never out of it. They find a way. And so I'm not surprised at all by that, whereas the Phillies are the team that was supposed to be great. They've made the playoffs the last couple years. They're still trying to win a World Series. And I think they absolutely are the tighter team, the team under pressure, whereas the Mets are playing loose and free and trying to finish it off and knock off

their hated rival. I didn't think that they should have pulled Wheeler in game one. The dude was just flat out dealing. And I forget where his pitch count was, but that's one of those where, you know, you turn the clock back 30 years. He's not coming out with basically a one hitter through seven in a one-nothing game. Yeah, I want to say he was around 100 pitches. Maybe he topped it. I don't remember exactly. I got to look it up. But, you know, the thing with this, and I remember, bring up some bad memories here, but 2014 when Jordan Zimmerman is one hitting the giant. And Matt Williams pulls in the ninth inning. And you can point to every stat, and they did.

They explained to us afterwards why matchup-wise they didn't want him facing Buster Posey and through Storm with a better match, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. That can all be right. But in the moment, you have to understand you have all the momentum on your side. and the moment you pull that dominant starter and bring anybody else out of the bullpen, no matter who it is, you're bringing in, the other dugout just perked up. They wanted that move to be made. And I remember hearing years ago from Frank Robinson, don't ever make a move that gives the other dugout hope.

And that's exactly what it was there. That's exactly what happened when they pulled Wheeler the other day. Well, I mean, to me, game seven of the World Series in 2019, they did. should have never pulled Granky. I mean, they still had a two to one lead after Rendon homered, and I forget, did he walk, or did he give up a base hit on the next batter? The guy... I think Soto Walk.

Soto Walk, exactly, because he was in the order after Rendon hitting third. So they should have never pulled him, and they brought in Harris, if my memory serves me correctly, and that's when Kendrick smacked one, you know, And it felt like it was over. But, you know, it's all the numbers. It's all the analytics. It's, you know, pitch counts, all that stuff. How many times they've gone through the order, et cetera.

What about the Dodgers? So I also felt like this was going to be a good series. And going into all this, the Padres may have been the best team in baseball as far as how they were playing. Right. In the second half the season down the stretch, they are phenomenal. They are star-laden. They're rotation. They're one of the only teams that really does have workhorses and like three or four of them that they can count on, not just one guy.

And so I thought they were well positioned. And same kind of deal where, you know, yes, the Dodgers have Otani and Mookie Betts and everything else. But once you get past like those stars at the top of the roster, they're very thin. They've had all kinds of pitching issues this year. And you've seen that happen in the rotation where they're just hoping for four innings out of their starter. and then maybe that their bullpen can hang on the rest of the way. But all the pressures on the Dodgers, they're the team that's supposed to be the powerhouse, the behemoth.

They added Otani. And now here's the Padres who weren't necessarily expected to be there after trading Soto to the Yankees. They're playing their division rivals. They're fully motivated by it as well. And so I'm not surprised at all at how they've done by it, and I would say the same thing. You want to take them out while you have the chance at home in game four.

don't even let it get to a game five. Not that I think they wouldn't have a chance in game five because I think they're just as talented and as good. But momentum clearly on their side and what this would mean for them to get over the hump and beat the Dodgers to get to the NLCS as they try to get their first ever World Series title. It's a powerful motivator this time of year.

I mean, look at all the teams. To me, it's all about who hasn't won it in a long time or who's never won it, who has all the pressure on them. And it's teams like the Phillies and the Dodgers and the Yankees who are supposed to be there and trying to win versus the teams that are trying to get over that hump and show that they actually are the ones who are going to win for the first time in the long time. Otani's 1 for 8 in games 2 and 3 with 4 strikeouts. And look, I mean, this guy is amazing and he was awesome in game 1. But if they go out tonight and he's 0 for 4 or 1 for 4 and doesn't generate anything to help win the game, I mean, these guys end up getting judged so much on postseason performance.

It'll be interesting to see what he does tonight. Can't wait to watch that, actually. What about Cleveland and Detroit? I mean, Cleveland basically had shut out Detroit for 17 innings, and then their closer gives up a three-run shot in the ninth, and it's a 1-1 series. How do you see that one playing out the rest of the way? A lot of people will know the result of game three by the time they listen to this, but just give me your guess.

Well, what you've got to keep in mind about that home run the other day, Emmanuel Class A is like the best closer in baseball. Yeah. Given up five earned runs for the season, two home runs, and he gave up three runs on one shot there. all this with two out in the night that guy is

lights out electric and so was such a shock but what you've seen AJ Hinch remember managed the Astros and was fired after the fine ceiling scandal he's still a really good manager

he knows what he's doing and what he's done with the tigers who clearly don't have the talent that most of the other teams in the field do but he has a roster of 26 that he uses everybody they platoon more than anybody else they'll play the matchups and he set that

up brilliantly over the course of the game to get his best left-handed hitter carpenter at the plate against their right-handed ace in class A. And so while, you know, there's no guarantee you're actually going to beat the guy and certainly not the way that he did. Hinge, that kind of showed what they've been doing. It's not about anyone individual. It's about playing the right matchups and using everybody and putting people in their best chance to have a chance to succeed. And he didn't, he did it really well. I still like Cleveland. I think they're underrated in terms of how good they are across the board. Good pitching, good defense.

The catch the Kwan made in the game the other day was fantastic. Lane Thomas obviously hit the huge home run in game one for them. I still really like that team, especially they can get through this series. But again, division rival. It changes everything. That's what I've loved about this first round is three of the four series. Right. Are intense division rivals, and that matters,

and you get extra kind of motivations there that you wouldn't have otherwise. The one matchup that is not a matchup of division rivals, Yankees, Royals, Witt Jr., something else. I didn't spend a lot of time following him during the regular season until the Orioles series. But what happens here with the series not at a game of peace? Well, this one I still kind of feel like it's in the Yankees favor, and that's nothing against Kansas City, which has done a tremendous job. and they have the pitching, and Bobby Witt is a tremendous young superstar who I think is now being recognized around the game for how good that he is. The Yankees still have Soto and Judge combo, and I think in the end that does matter for them.

I feel like going into all this, if there was one of those powerhouses, you felt like they are as good as they say they are and probably have the best shot, I probably would say it is the Yankees. doesn't mean they're guaranteed to do it, and they've certainly got issues. They're not a perfect team by any stretch, but I think the Royals, to go from 106 loss to the playoffs and even make it this far as remarkable, and I think it's a team that over time is going to continue to get better and should be a team that we're focusing on for a few years. But I'd be really surprised if they go that deep this year. Maybe they win the series. Good on them if they do.

I don't seem going much further than that. I just don't think they're ready yet. I don't think they have the horses yet for that. and if the Yankees can just, you know, when one of these two in Kansas City, then you guarantee going back home to Yankee Stadium for game five, and I think that's a good position for them to be in. And when it really boils down to it in a big spot,

I trust Juan Soto to come through, don't you? And if he doesn't, you've got Aaron Judge as well. So it's the reason why I think they're going to keep Soto why he's going to stay there. That duo together is pretty unstoppable. Oh, my God. I mean, look, I think once he got to Needs, York and got a taste of all due respect to our situation here, a real baseball situation,

a real passionate baseball town. And by the way, it's New York. I'm a born and raised Washingtonian, but New York is New York, and he's not leaving there, right? I said the only way it was going to happen if something blows up there either during the season which it didn't or here in October and I have a hard time

believing that's going to happen and you know it's not just it's a question of where does he want to be in every sense that I've gotten is that he loves it there and why wouldn't you

love it there but even beyond that even if the Nats make him an offer and they should and I think they will the Steinbrenner's and the Yanke

Yankees are going to match and ultimately exceed any other offer that he gets, and I have a hard time seeing them letting him walk. It just makes too much sense. I hate to say it. You wish that wasn't the case, but I agreed. If you're still in San Diego, where I know he wasn't as happy, different story. But for the moment he went to the Yankees, I thought to myself it would really have to fall apart for him not to stay in them, not to want to keep him.

All right. last one. Who did you pick before to play each other and then win the World Series? And who are you picking now? Well, I don't know if I officially made the prediction. I normally root for underdogs or like these teams that have come close but haven't ever really wanted or haven't wanted in a long time. And going into it this year, I actually took the 180 and I said, you know what? I actually want Dodgers Yankees because it would be great for baseball to have O'SH. Connie and the Dodgers versus Soto and Judge and the Yankees. And I hate to say that because that's not who I usually am.

But the Yankees haven't been to the World Series in 2009. The Dodgers have just won the one in 2020, which people say, you know, is that legitimate or not? They hadn't won it prior to that since 1988. So it's not like these are the teams that are always there necessarily, and it would be so good for baseball to have that. Now, I think the Dodgers are in trouble as we speak right now. I think the podgers are going to win that series.

So I would probably at the moment, as we record this in the afternoon, on Wednesday, I think I'm going to say Padres Yankees is who I would bet on it now being, which would be fun in itself. Yeah. Because you have the great story line with that one. They traded them and it still made the World Series. Now they're going to face it. I just don't want to see Mets Yankees.

I'm not interested in that at all. No, no, that doesn't work for anyway. And if you look back at the ratings when they played in 2000, they were awful. Awful. Baseball does not want a subway series. Absolutely not. Thanks for doing this, as always. Hope you're well.

You guys. Thanks a lot, Kevin. All right, that is it for the day. Back tomorrow with Tommy.