October 25, 2025 • 35 mins
Colin talks about where he was right and wrong over the weekend
He unveils his latest Herd Hierarchy ranking the top 10 teams in the NFL with Josh Allen and the Bills not making the cut
Colin talks to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts joins the show ahead of the World Series showdown with the Blue Jays, sharing his mindset going into the series and firing back at critics who claim the Dodgers have “ruined baseball.”
His Blazin' 5 picks for the weekend
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Hassle back five minutes away two good Monday night football
games tonight. At game seven tonight for the Seattle Mariners,
we'll take on the country of Canada to see if
we get a Dodgers Mariners Paul five Jmac. You know,
(00:47):
over the course of a week, I have a lot
of opinions, many miss the mark. And this is the
moment where I stand in front of America and am
a little bit of a dart board. It's called Colin right,
Colin wrong. And here we go on a Monday where
Colin was right.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I played blind resume with bow Knicks Friday. Remember that
We all thought that was kind of fun Blind Resume,
and I said, with bow Knicks, he's really good.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
He's a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
He's just inconsistent, but he just became the first player
ever to have two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns
in a quarter. The last five possessions for bow knicks
against the great defense touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Field goal.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
He's really athletic under fifteen yards, really accurate, can struggle
with the deep ball is not there yet. But he
is a franchise quarterback. And that's all I've said. Where
Colin was raw, last year's Washington Commander's magic has evaporated.
(01:47):
I thought they'd be a playoff team for a decade.
They feel a little old and a little slow. They're
now three and four and here comes the Chiefs, the Seahawks,
and the Lions. Nothing is The defense's mid run game
is okay. Jaden Daniels is banged up. But there wasn't
(02:08):
fifteen minutes yesterday where I didn't think Dak was in
control of that game. I missed on the Commanders. I
did not think it was a one off. I thought
it was a new era, and maybe it will be,
but it's not now. Where Colin was right, I've said
Sean McVay is the second best coach in Pro football.
(02:29):
The Rams fly in Saturday. It's a twenty four hour business.
Trip with no Puka nakua and it was one of
the more crisp, efficient, detailed game plans. Ever, how many
tight ends did they throw too? They had two rookies
catching touchdown passes and Stafford, as we've said, is the
best pure pocket guy in the league. I mean, you
(02:50):
were watching a well oiled organization against the Jags, and
after the Jags beat Kansas City, I said, this is
not sustainable. This is not a well run, well oiled operation.
I thought, Stafford, if he doesn't make the Hall of Fame,
he's the greatest player.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
In this league.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Not in the Hall of Fame because he is magic,
missing his star throwing the seventh round wide receivers in
London and they were jet laged and got in Saturday
for a Sunday game where Colin was wrong. I was
wrong on Shoe a Otani. I just said he was
better than Babe Ruth. I didn't say he's the best
(03:29):
team sport athlete ever. He won MVP of that series
for one great game, six innings, two hit ball, ten strikeouts.
Does he have the best split finger in the sport?
He's throwing a hundred. He had more hits Friday against
Milwaukee than he surrendered, and one of those balls that
he hit appears to have left the stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Here it is right hander Patrick dials aed ol Tani
towering wall his right field. He's done it again.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Show hal Tani to the top of the pavilion in
right field four hundred and sixty nine feet, the longest
home run at Dodgers Stadium this year.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Freddie Freeman's reaction, what did I just watch? Where Colin
was right said about three weeks ago, the Indianapolis Cults
are for real. They should be undefeated. They had the
Rams beat running back, wide receiver, tight end. They have
Pro bowlers. O line has to be top three in
the league. They ran over the Chargers, and I know
(04:41):
LA's beat up on the offensive line, but I've been
defending Chris Ballard for years. I'm like, folks, this roster's good.
There are stars in every unit. This is a really,
really good team. They just needed a quarterback. They've got one,
and they hammered Harvon Herbert.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yesterday where Colin was wraw.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I'm not saying it's all his fault, but cam Ward
feels a little collogy right now. He's doing a little
hero ball a lot of mistakes. He's trying to force
plays I listen. I don't know who to blame. It
feels a little like Caleb last year in Chicago. It's
not a very good staff, but he's been sacked thirty times.
(05:23):
Doesn't have a great feel for the pocket. More picks
than touchdowns, one in six record. I didn't think it
would look like this. I for a long time until
the last week before the season. I said they could
be a playoff team. Then I bailed on it. It's
ugly where Colin was right. Well, we predicted I did.
I said Notre Name in cold Weather would beat USC
(05:44):
by ten, and they would beat them soundly because they
would run all over USC. And that's exactly what they
did for the record. Jeremiah Love is going to be
a first round running back. He may not be Bjean Robinson,
but he's close. Nine and a half yards of carry.
The kid's great. USC had some weird play calling. They
were okay on offense, but this was a bad matchup
(06:07):
off that Michigan game, the Irish had three hundred and
six yards rushing and Lincoln Riley has not proven the
ability to be tough good running teams on the road.
He hasn't done it in four years at USC where
Colin was right, Tua is toast. I did not get
(06:27):
at any level the extension. I don't get how they
built the team. If you have Tua, you have to
have a good offensive line, you have to build it
around the running game, and he can throw on play action.
I thought he looked frightened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That you know.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
We all know he's not a cold weather quarterback. But
four times this year he's been under two hundred yards.
I'm not blaming it all on him, but I am
blaming the Dolphins on extending him when he had concussion concerns.
Quarterback need help, cam Ward and two. I haven't had
a lot of it, but it's got to look better
(07:04):
than what I've seen this year with Tua.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app. Hey it's me Rob Parker.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk, featuring the
biggest names of newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics, or the Ie Test. We've got all the
bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do your
sofa favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob
(07:40):
Parker on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Heard Hierarchy Tim. Now go the top ten NFL teams
according to College Number ten. I put them in this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I bounced the Seahawks out because after those four giveaways,
I just can't trust Seattle. Seattle's eleven. I put New
England in at ten. They don't beat themselves. Four straight wins,
top ten offense, top five scoring defense. Mike Vrabel this
was our prediction, the team that would double their win total.
We said it before the season. We had him as
(08:15):
a playoff team. Their remaining schedule is the easiest in
the league, six straight games with one hundred plus passer rating.
I like Drake may I didn't think he would be
this good this quick. They feel like a one and
done playoff team that's winning a lot on energy and
focus and enthusiasm and youth. But I put them at
ten and bounce Seattle out.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Number nine, the Niners.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I think Kyle Shanahan's in the running for coach of
the Year. No brock Perty Brandon I, Ricky Piersoll, George Kittle,
Fred Warner, Nick Bosa. But Robert Sala has been a
monster as a defensive coordinator. They have the number seven
scoring defense. They are very Christian McCaffrey dependent. Thirty touches
or thirty one touches. Don't love that, but they're kind
(09:02):
of trapped. Six of their next seven games against very
weak opponents. They should be favored in most of them.
But I think Mac Jones and brought thirty feels a
little bit like a wash to me. One's expensive ones
kind of free. But I think you got to put
him in the list. Nobody's been as resourceful as Kyle
(09:24):
Shanahan and the Niners.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I put him at nine, number eight Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
They keep leaving me wanting more, but they are undefeated
when scoring more than ten points this season. I just
feel like I want more, but they've been a little
banged up at wide receiver Josh Jacobs three straight games
with multiple touchdowns Jordan Love this year.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And nobody likes Jordan Love.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
And he's completing sixty nine percent of his throws and
one hundred eight passer rating. You can't find anybody that
likes it. Their run defense is excellent. Micah is the
perfect close for a team that often leads in the fourth.
I have Green Bay eight. I think they will get better.
They're still really young. Number seven. I still like the
Bucks a lot. I mean, they were playing, you know,
(10:10):
living dangerously coming from behind, and that was a buzz saw.
They ran into last night for their five wins one
score games, but their defense multiple games with takeaways. I
just think they got playmakers, and again, like the Niners,
they've been incredibly resourceful. I've always thought Todd Bowles is
underrated because he didn't really have a profile. Probably the
(10:33):
best blitzing coach in the NFL Baker Igbuca. I think
they're going to be fine when they get cleaned up
and healthier, but I wouldn't drop him too far.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I have Tampa seven. Number six. I love Denver's roster.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I don't think their defense has been as good as
I thought, but they lead the NFL and sack differential.
They have the number one third down defense and the
number one red zone defense, and yet I feel like
they should be better. Bonicks when trailing this season a
very Mahomes like stat eleven touchdowns, no pick and a
one h two passer rating and obviously a great head coach.
(11:08):
Denver at six, number five Detroit. Detroit's run game jumps
off the TV set. They're five and one over their
last six games, and they got rocked by the best
team easily in the league, Kansas City. Their defense takes
the ball away, gets to the quarterback. What I like
about Detroit is they get leads and then they get sacks,
(11:32):
and that's the way to win in the postseason. They're
much better obviously at home. But I have Detroit Tampa
last night at five, number four, Colt type it into
the Colts for a month, they should have beaten the Rams.
Best outright record in the league at six and one.
They're only lost in the Rams, and they outplayed them.
Great offensive line playmakers at running back, tight end, wide receiver,
(11:55):
excellent head coach, most efficient offense in the NFL, most
for the most touchdowns. I mean Daniel Jones. I mean
it's like Dak We can say, well, he's not elite
while I'm watching, and it looks elite to me. They've
scored on sixty three percent of their drives, and I
think they're absolutely for real. I've always said my final
(12:16):
four teams are teams I think that can get to
a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I have the Colts at four, number three. Rams.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It's not really just Stafford and McVeigh. That defense is suffocating.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It may not be suffocating if they faced them all
homes or you know again, it may not be suffocating
against the great quarterbacks. But men Trevor Lawrence, good luck.
They lead the NFL in big plays, no Puka, no problem,
number two scoring defense, number two in sacks. And remember
(12:48):
their defense is young. These guys, a lot of them
haven't even hit their prime. Rams at three, number two,
I don't even know if I liked Philadelphia. I honestly,
they can't run the ball anymore. They don't get to
the quarterback. But they have I mean, let's be honest.
Jalen Hurts wins a lot. Davonte Smith and AJ Brown
(13:13):
when they can't run, can take the top off. They're
a hard team to defend, and they're a hard team
to figure out. They don't get to the quarterback. They've
been out gained in every game. There's a French term
for beautiful yet ugly. I think whatever that term is
that's the Eagles. But I love their roster, and I
keep just saying they'll figure it out. But I have
(13:35):
them at two, number one, and I think they get
smoked if they played Kansas City. I said it a
month ago. This is as good as Kansas City's been.
Hollywood Brown, Juju Worthy Rise, Travis Kelcey. I mean, keep
your eye on Burschard Smith. The offensive line hasn't been
totally healthy. I think Mahomes is playing at an absurd level.
(13:59):
I think this is good. I'm serious here. I think
this team. I do wonder at the trade deadline if
they would go find like a situational pass rusher maybe.
And they're not a great run team. They are so
deep now at wide receiver. Here you go my top
(14:20):
ten Seattle eleven. I had him in last night when
I texted Kyle on our staff, and this morning, I'm like, no,
I'm disgusted. That was awful. Take them out, Seahawks eleven bills.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Twelve one more.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Heard.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days
a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen
live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Let's take a deep breath talk about something much more positive,
a World Series, which I think is going to be
really competitive.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Everybody thinks the Dodgers.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh, the Toronto Vlad Springer starting pitching, home field advantage
Toronto is a handful.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Roberts, manager of.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
The Dodgers, is joining us live the You know, it's interesting.
We all know in baseball. Good to see you again, Skip,
Great to see you, Davis.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Always thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
We all know in baseball that you know, momentum is
the next day's pitcher. But there are little bits of
wisdom you can take. Even though every postseason run is different.
Last year, you guys were up against it. I mean,
I can remember bullpen games against the Podres and I'm like,
I'm not sure the Dodgers are getting out of this series.
You've been more dominant this year. Is there anything, though, Dave,
(15:34):
you can take from last year's playoff run little notes
or bits of wisdom and say, guys, remember that from
last year to this year.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
You know what, I think what it comes down to,
and I think a lot of people talk about I
absolutely agree with your momentumus next day starting pitcher, and
certainly the Blue Jays have got some momentum.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I feel we've got momentum.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
I think what I've taken away is the urgency piece
of it. How do you get to the urgency piece?
And I think the way I frame it to our
guys is we're in a street fight. And I think
that when you have that street fight mentality that lends
itself to urgency and every pitch, every play.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
And you, you know.
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Kind of take the momentum, embrace it and don't let
off the gas. And I think right now, if you
see our ball club play, we're playing with that street
fighterality versus that kind of season boxing mentality.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, you know, it's funny. The blake Snell Yoshi. So
I went on the air full disclosure. I said, I
love Dave Roberts. I would to let Snell go because
I just want to win the first game of the series.
I don't care Yoshi. I said, okay, we got one
in the bag.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I go to the pen.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
On that.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I thought it was really cool for you to come
out and say some of this is gut feeling.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I'm sitting there on the steps, So let's talk a
little bit about that. Because baseball manager, it doesn't it
could be you or Aaron Boone, it could be anybody.
You guys get criticized for those moments. It's the seventh
that's when all of us think we should be manager.
What is that guy doing for you? You mentioned that
you were watching Snell or you watch Yosi. Do you
(17:16):
talk to him during a game or do you want
to stay away from that? Is it kind of a
body language sense on I'm gonna let him go or
I'm gonna pull him.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
It's it's knowing the player. It's knowing, it's knowing the player.
I mean, that's my job essentially. And I think the
thing is is that you know my job is to
know my players. I definitely don't get it right all
the time, but I feel like my process and kind
of how I know how to manage guys for the
short the long term is pretty sound. I think the
(17:48):
great thing Colin about baseball is because if you look
at you know, basketball is so quick. You can't coach
basketball in real time. You can't change defense as a
fan right football you could probably do it a little bit,
but baseball is something where every fan has that opportunity
to essentially manage. But I do feel like trusting my players,
(18:10):
knowing my players, knowing my coaches. I've got a sound process.
But I was right there with you, and then that
Blake Smell thing was fifty to fifty. And you know,
right now we're watching Roki and to put him in
the pen, that's a gut feeling that I feel like
I can trust him in big spots where that wasn't easy.
And right now, you know, I trust my players, I
love my players, and I think again, we're playing good baseball.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
It's interesting, I said before the playoffs, I said, in
my lifetime, I've seen teams with great bullpens win the
World Series. I think the Royals years ago had it,
and they didn't have necessarily great roster, but if they
led in the six, they won the game. I said,
I've never seen a team with a shaky bullpen win
a World Series. I said, I don't think the Dodgers can.
And then suddenly the bullpen gets solved. Roki moves to
(18:58):
the bullpen. Take me to the partner the season. It
could have been you and Andrew Friedman. It could have
been you and your pitching coaches and talking that you
just decided, listen, we got to make some alterations we've
got to pivot here. He's young, he's got great stuff.
We're gonna We're gonna move him. Like, what were those
ongoing or was there an epiphany or a moment that
(19:20):
you just said, we can't win a pennant with this
current bullpen. How did that process work?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know what?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
I think that Okay, there's two parts of this.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I think with Roki.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
If you look back at April, where you see there
were visuals photographs of him, you know, teary eyed in
the pen, you know, just distraught, disappointed, scared, word all
that stuff, right, and then so just trying to get
him back to health, trying to nurse his mindset. His
(19:52):
physical being back was number one. And then as he
kind of made his way back and trying to build
him appreciate the fact that we've already had enough starters,
so we weren't going to use him in that starter role.
And then going to him with me and Andrew and
the pitching guys and said, hey man, you have an
opportunity if you want to take on a bullpen roll
(20:13):
don't know what the role is going to look like,
this is an opportunity for you to impact twenty twenty
five and basically right your twenty twenty five season, he
was like, I'm in.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And then so we look at the calendar.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
We had literally two opportunities in the regular season to
give him an opportunity to pitch out of the pen
for us. It showed really well. And then I think
in the Cincinnati Wildcard Series there is a spot that
I was like, you know what, we're either going to
sink or swim. We got to see what it looks like,
and I ran him out there. He performed, and then
(20:46):
from then it's just like the rest is history. He
started getting some momentum, and even in that Philly no,
I think it was the I don't know if there
was a Brewer outing where it didn't look good or
the Philly outing, and you know, I was determined to
run him back out there, not run from him, so
we can kind of keep that confidence. And so I
give the organization Realkie a looted credit for kind of
(21:08):
riding the ship. And then the other part of it
is like when you're looking at the postseason, you're trying
to get the best arms you can for the postseason,
So you know, using gloss now out of the pen,
using Emmett Sheen out of the pen. So it wasn't
really kind of what girl brought us to the dance
as far as the pen is who we're going to
go with. But at the end of the day, though Colin,
(21:29):
I've said it, we're going to go with our best arms.
And if you can get your best arms, and right now,
our best arms are the starting pitchers. If those guys
can take down the most outs, we're going to be
in a good spot.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, it's funny about analytics. The term I always use
is analytics because I think in baseball, when the postseason comes,
the numbers are the numbers. But there are moments when
you're like I may used to have I may have
to use a starter in the pen, guys all hands
on deck. So do you find yourself with analytics? They're
still important. But like I say this about the NBA,
(22:05):
the referees stop calling fouls in the postseason, so the
analytics get all screwed up. They just let them wrestle
and all of a sudden, you don't get to the
free throw line. In baseball, you manage differently in the postseason.
I mean, you want Snell going, I mean to me,
I watch you, and I'm like, you wouldn't have let
Yoshi go? You would have gone to the pen if
(22:26):
that game's in June, would you not?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Absolutely?
Speaker 7 (22:31):
It's funny is that word analytics And I somehow got
tied to analytics. And I don't use my eyes or
my gut, but I think that I managed it. I
watched the game, and so I think in the postseason.
I'm not saying put analytics aside, but you have got
to bet on players.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You've got to bet on people, and you've.
Speaker 7 (22:53):
Got to bet on heartbeat, and in that moment, I
do think that analytics. The place for analytics for me
is the long haul one sixty two. Yes, yeah, at
the end of the day, it plays out. But when
you're talking about one moment in time, is that picture
going to get that hitter out? Is that hitter going
to get a hit or take a bit at that
against that pitcher? Or are there nine guys that I'm
(23:14):
running out there do I feel has the best chance
to score runs against that particular pitcher? That is that
That's a coin flip, that's heads or tails, and that's.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
What I bet on. You know, That's how I manage
the postseason.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Well, we've seen this also. I thought it was interesting
the Mariners had Julio Rodriguez and Cal Rawley at the
top of their order and sho hey o Tani obviously
leading off. And I've said this, I zone in on
baseball during the postseason. In the regular season, it's almost
like the radio sound of my summer. I have the
games on. I'm in and out of stuff. There does
(23:48):
it in my when I grew up? I mean, you
had Johnny Bench was bat and cleanup, Pudges bat and
cleanup right like you have your big gut Barry Bonds
three or four. Now, oh you got power guys hitting
toward the top of the lineup, which I would would
imagine is they get more at bats. But it is
interesting how I mean, that's my take is I want
(24:09):
to Tani up as much as I can get him.
Do you love that? Or is just that the reality
of the way the game is played? Because I kind
of love my big bombs, you know, I don't want
you know, I like him in the three four five spot.
How do you land on that?
Speaker 7 (24:23):
I love the way and I think for me, it's
like anything where you want to continue to evolve and grow,
where when I was growing up as you were, same
time period, Showhead would be hitting you know, three or four.
But I think that the way that understated that you
want to get your best hitters as many at bats
as possible. That's how you win baseball games. And I
(24:45):
can tell you know, Bruce Bochie right now or Jim
Tracy right now, he should have hit me leadoff versus
Randy Johnson. You know, if I'm put to play center field,
I should have hit ninth and the those are things
that you've got to evolve. And Johnny bench facing Nolan Ryan.
(25:05):
Maybe Johnny could have hit fifth or six and maybe
you know, but that's the way the game has evolved.
And I do think that you got to kind of
appreciate that. And so I just don't want to be
beholden to one lineup. I think our guys have evolved.
But I do feel that, you know, having show at
the top Mookie two, I flipped flip Freddie and will
(25:27):
Smith Tao and things like that, because it's kind of
you know, the little we can go deeper calling, you know,
where it's like you get a tough lefty to give
attacks to get to Freddy a third time. Those are
little nuances of setting the lineup, but I do think
that having your best hitters take the most of that's
makes sense.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And by the way, it does help that MOOKI and
show Hey also have wheels so they can move. That
helps as well. By the way, my favorite Dave Roberts moment.
You're a very humble guy, but this piece of audio
made me laugh.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Let's play it.
Speaker 8 (25:57):
Oh, this is a uh one team one dream operation.
And I'll tell you, before this season started, they said
the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let's get four more wins
and really ruin baseball.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Let's go. Come on, Dave, that's funny. I like that, Dave.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
It's okay.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
You know.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
Here's the thing is that everyone trolls me, and so
I figured, you know what, I'm gonna flip it on
its head and troll some people that are trying to
create this crazy narrative that the Dodgers are ruining baseball.
I will tell you this, call it. And you know this,
Baseball viewership is at an all time high. Baseball players
are better than they've ever been. We are going to
(26:42):
have more eyeballs watching this World Series than ever because
of the country of Canada, US and Japan and beyond right.
So obviously the Dodgers are not ruining baseball. It is
in a great state. And I was just kind of
taking a dig at these crazy people that say that
what we do, and I think we do it really well.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
We're running baseball. So that was my little dig.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Yeah, by the way I said this, Tommy Edmund was
hitting two sixty five for the Cardinals. You got him.
He becomes the NLCS MVP. Max Munsey was cut by
the A's. Now he leaves the Dodgers in all time
home runs. This idea that it's not just it's just money,
it's research, it's development, it's scouting, it's managing. I've always
said that the most. I said this earlier today. There's
(27:25):
an anti Californian sentiment in this country. Sometimes everybody picks
on California. The weather's great, the mountains, the beaches. The
truth is it's a very likable team. I believe the
reason Rokie will take a bullpen roll. I truly believe
this is because he knows there's no ego, and he
knows you could go to showhand and say.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I'm betting you third to night.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
I'm bet I think you've created I've said this the
Yankees or the Astros.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
You can hate those guys. This is not a hateable team.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
And I think to some degree, I think Roki says, yeah,
I'll do it. And part of it is that's the
culture that you've created, is it not?
Speaker 7 (28:06):
It is called And that's the biggest compliment I can get.
Because we have great players, we have a great organization.
But I feel that in the long season, to be
really good every year, to have guys buy in is
what a lot of head coaches and managers talk about.
To get superstars to buy into whatever you ask of
them and to be selfless. That's that's the secret sauce.
(28:28):
And for me as a manager, that's something I'm really
proud of. So I appreciate you bringing that to life.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Finally, just one I'm only going to ask. It's not
a favor, but just consider if you've got an open base,
the game is tied, and George Springer's coming up, just
consider walking you. Just consider that you don't have to
pitch to him. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody, but
Toronto is really good. I mean, I know you've watched,
you've watched them. I think this matchup. You've got what
(28:57):
concerns you about the Jays.
Speaker 7 (29:00):
You know what, they're really athletic. I think that you
mentioned Springer, who's a big game player. He's on a
heater right now, had a great, you know, last couple
of months. That guy right there, Vladimir scares the heck
out of me. And they're just a gritty group. They're
very similar to our club, and they're tough. I think
(29:24):
Ross Atkins, I think Marsha Power. They've done a great
job with this club. And you know, you Savage. We
don't know him, so there's some unfamiliarity there. But like
you said, it's going to be a great series. Joe
Davis I talked to the other day, said he's never
heard a louder stadium than he heard here at the
Rogers Center.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
So it's going to be a lot of fun. It's
going to be great.
Speaker 7 (29:42):
I think the city has been waiting a long time
for this, and you know, I'm looking forward to It's
gonna be.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Thanks for giving us fifteen minutes. Dave Roberts always so
great to our show, and I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Skip all right, thank you, appreciate you com be sure
to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at noon
Easter nine am, Lacipik on Fox Sports Radio FS one
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Here's our Blazing five. Let's blaze it up, Fire it up.
It's Collins Blazon Fox, Bears and Ravens.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
My favorite pick, Ravens. Lamar is backed minus six. Lamar returns.
Ravens average thirty three a game and six and a
half yards per play in the four games this year
with Lamar Jackson, and it's a must win game total
urgency for the franchise. Lamar has eaten the NFC for
lunch twenty four and three in his career. Even better
(30:37):
at home, the Bears on the road defense isn't a
good Caleb Williams by the way, last three games, completion
percentage has dipped to fifty eight point seven percent, and
right now the Bears defense can make splash plays and takeaways,
but it's allowing six point two yards per.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Play against Lamar.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Lamar Jackson's gonna eat favorite pick of the weekend, Ravens
minus six. They win twenty eight to twenty one, and
it won't feel that close. Browns hit Patriots another big favorite.
I like New England at home minus seven. Why because
four straight wins and they're averaging thirty a game during
those wins, and their defense is great against the run,
(31:20):
meaning Dylan Gabriel will have to pass to beat Drake
May and the Patriots in Brabel. I don't see it happening.
Cleveland's defense not as good on the road. In fact,
the Browns are zero and three on the road and
they have the twenty eight ranked rush offense. So Dylan
Gabriel is going to have to be really good to
(31:42):
keep up and beat Drake May, who has been outstanding
since Week two. I don't think it's happening. I like
the Patriots to win by ten, twenty eight to seventeen.
That's eleven. Dolphins at Felkons. I like the over forty
four and a half points. I've been hot on overs.
(32:02):
Falcons are averaging twenty six a game and Michael Pennix
at home has a one zero three passer rating. But
they also have a terrible red zone defense. If Miami threatens,
Miami should do well and eat in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
But I like.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Atlanta at home to score points. Jamak talked about this
fast track. They're very good. The Dolphins opponents have combined.
Dolphins and their opponents have combined for forty five plus
points in five of the last six games. On the
over under here is forty five and a half. Their
defense allows big, big plays in Atlanta at home delivers
(32:37):
big plays. The Dolphins defense not good. Atlanta's offense at
home very good. Take the over forty four and a
half points. Twenty eight, twenty one thirty twenty four. My
bad of Falcons win forty nine ers at Texans.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
This is a late add.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
There are concerns about the Texans health at wide receiver,
but this offense for the Texans, it's the number three
scoring offense since Week four, and their defense has been
great all season. Sam Darnold and Seattle at home last
week really struggled with this defense. So their defense is
especially good at clamping down on running backs and their
(33:24):
receiving yards. And the Niners right now are living off
McCaffrey running and McCaffrey receiving. And the Niners are three
and seven after a win the last two seasons. So
the Texans defense is great. The Niners are still beat up.
I think it's a Choppie game. I'm gonna take the
(33:44):
Texans twenty seven to twenty three. Cowboys and Broncos. Finally,
Denver minus three at home, I like it take the
Broncos three and zero at home.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Won eight straight home.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Games dating back to last year, and seven of those
eight have been by eight plus points. Bo Nicks won
eight straight games at home. He's a better home quarterback.
The Cowboys. Listen, they beat the Jets, the Giants and
the Commanders, and Jayden Daniels wasn't healthy. They've been one
in three on the road. They're not a great road team.
And they have an atrocious third down defense that will
(34:27):
keep the ball away from Dak And they have an
atrocious big play defense, So the Broncos are gonna win
time of possession. The Broncos, who really need to hit
on big plays, have finally found a defense that surrenders
big plays. So I like Denver to win, and I
(34:48):
like Denver to cover the spread.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Twenty eight twenty four Broncos win.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
So in a review, I like favorites this week, I
gener don't love them favorite bet Ravens minus six at home,
Lamar Returns Patriots minus seven at home Cleveland Dylan Gabriel
will have to throw to win, and I don't see it.
Take the over Atlanta at home scores and the Dolphins
(35:17):
defense is a mess. Take the over. I'm gonna take
the Texans at home minus one and a half. It's
my least favorite pick, but their defense is great and
the Niners have limitations offensively. And Denver at home to
win and cover. I think that's a fun game. I
think it's a great watch. But Denver, they are really
(35:43):
really seeking the big play, and this is the defense
that does allow the big play. The Cowboys couldn't say
the last time I took three favors.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Generally don't like doing that. It's a wonky week for numbers.
Thanks for listening to The Herd podcast. Be sure to
catch us live every weekday on Fox Sports Radio in
noon to three Eastern nine am to noon Pacific. Find
your local station for The Herd at Fox Sports Radio
dot com, or stream us live every day on the
iHeartRadio app by searching Fox Sports Radio or FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:21):
You're listening to Fox Sports Radio.
Speaker 1 (00:24):
Hassle back five minutes away two good Monday night football
games tonight. At game seven tonight for the Seattle Mariners,
we'll take on the country of Canada to see if
we get a Dodgers Mariners Paul five Jmac. You know,
(00:47):
over the course of a week, I have a lot
of opinions, many miss the mark. And this is the
moment where I stand in front of America and am
a little bit of a dart board. It's called Colin right,
Colin wrong. And here we go on a Monday where
Colin was right.
Speaker 3 (01:03):
Well.
Speaker 1 (01:03):
I played blind resume with bow Knicks Friday. Remember that
We all thought that was kind of fun Blind Resume,
and I said, with bow Knicks, he's really good.
Speaker 2 (01:10):
He's a franchise quarterback.
Speaker 1 (01:12):
He's just inconsistent, but he just became the first player
ever to have two rushing touchdowns and two passing touchdowns
in a quarter. The last five possessions for bow knicks
against the great defense touchdown, touchdown, touchdown, touchdown.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Field goal.
Speaker 1 (01:26):
He's really athletic under fifteen yards, really accurate, can struggle
with the deep ball is not there yet. But he
is a franchise quarterback. And that's all I've said. Where
Colin was raw, last year's Washington Commander's magic has evaporated.
(01:47):
I thought they'd be a playoff team for a decade.
They feel a little old and a little slow. They're
now three and four and here comes the Chiefs, the Seahawks,
and the Lions. Nothing is The defense's mid run game
is okay. Jaden Daniels is banged up. But there wasn't
(02:08):
fifteen minutes yesterday where I didn't think Dak was in
control of that game. I missed on the Commanders. I
did not think it was a one off. I thought
it was a new era, and maybe it will be,
but it's not now. Where Colin was right, I've said
Sean McVay is the second best coach in Pro football.
(02:29):
The Rams fly in Saturday. It's a twenty four hour business.
Trip with no Puka nakua and it was one of
the more crisp, efficient, detailed game plans. Ever, how many
tight ends did they throw too? They had two rookies
catching touchdown passes and Stafford, as we've said, is the
best pure pocket guy in the league. I mean, you
(02:50):
were watching a well oiled organization against the Jags, and
after the Jags beat Kansas City, I said, this is
not sustainable. This is not a well run, well oiled operation.
I thought, Stafford, if he doesn't make the Hall of Fame,
he's the greatest player.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
In this league.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Not in the Hall of Fame because he is magic,
missing his star throwing the seventh round wide receivers in
London and they were jet laged and got in Saturday
for a Sunday game where Colin was wrong. I was
wrong on Shoe a Otani. I just said he was
better than Babe Ruth. I didn't say he's the best
(03:29):
team sport athlete ever. He won MVP of that series
for one great game, six innings, two hit ball, ten strikeouts.
Does he have the best split finger in the sport?
He's throwing a hundred. He had more hits Friday against
Milwaukee than he surrendered, and one of those balls that
he hit appears to have left the stadium.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Here it is right hander Patrick dials aed ol Tani
towering wall his right field. He's done it again.
Speaker 4 (04:05):
Show hal Tani to the top of the pavilion in
right field four hundred and sixty nine feet, the longest
home run at Dodgers Stadium this year.
Speaker 1 (04:19):
Freddie Freeman's reaction, what did I just watch? Where Colin
was right said about three weeks ago, the Indianapolis Cults
are for real. They should be undefeated. They had the
Rams beat running back, wide receiver, tight end. They have
Pro bowlers. O line has to be top three in
the league. They ran over the Chargers, and I know
(04:41):
LA's beat up on the offensive line, but I've been
defending Chris Ballard for years. I'm like, folks, this roster's good.
There are stars in every unit. This is a really,
really good team. They just needed a quarterback. They've got one,
and they hammered Harvon Herbert.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yesterday where Colin was wraw.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I'm not saying it's all his fault, but cam Ward
feels a little collogy right now. He's doing a little
hero ball a lot of mistakes. He's trying to force
plays I listen. I don't know who to blame. It
feels a little like Caleb last year in Chicago. It's
not a very good staff, but he's been sacked thirty times.
(05:23):
Doesn't have a great feel for the pocket. More picks
than touchdowns, one in six record. I didn't think it
would look like this. I for a long time until
the last week before the season. I said they could
be a playoff team. Then I bailed on it. It's
ugly where Colin was right. Well, we predicted I did.
I said Notre Name in cold Weather would beat USC
(05:44):
by ten, and they would beat them soundly because they
would run all over USC. And that's exactly what they
did for the record. Jeremiah Love is going to be
a first round running back. He may not be Bjean Robinson,
but he's close. Nine and a half yards of carry.
The kid's great. USC had some weird play calling. They
were okay on offense, but this was a bad matchup
(06:07):
off that Michigan game, the Irish had three hundred and
six yards rushing and Lincoln Riley has not proven the
ability to be tough good running teams on the road.
He hasn't done it in four years at USC where
Colin was right, Tua is toast. I did not get
(06:27):
at any level the extension. I don't get how they
built the team. If you have Tua, you have to
have a good offensive line, you have to build it
around the running game, and he can throw on play action.
I thought he looked frightened yesterday.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
That you know.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
We all know he's not a cold weather quarterback. But
four times this year he's been under two hundred yards.
I'm not blaming it all on him, but I am
blaming the Dolphins on extending him when he had concussion concerns.
Quarterback need help, cam Ward and two. I haven't had
a lot of it, but it's got to look better
(07:04):
than what I've seen this year with Tua.
Speaker 2 (07:06):
Be sure to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays
and noon eastern nine am Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
FS one and the iHeartRadio app. Hey it's me Rob Parker.
Speaker 5 (07:18):
Check out my weekly MLB podcast, Inside the Parker for
twenty two minutes of piping hot baseball talk, featuring the
biggest names of newsmakers in the sport. Whether you believe
in analytics, or the Ie Test. We've got all the
bases covered. New episodes drop every Thursday, so do your
sofa favor and listen to Inside the Parker with Rob
(07:40):
Parker on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcast.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
Heard Hierarchy Tim. Now go the top ten NFL teams
according to College Number ten. I put them in this morning.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
I bounced the Seahawks out because after those four giveaways,
I just can't trust Seattle. Seattle's eleven. I put New
England in at ten. They don't beat themselves. Four straight wins,
top ten offense, top five scoring defense. Mike Vrabel this
was our prediction, the team that would double their win total.
We said it before the season. We had him as
(08:15):
a playoff team. Their remaining schedule is the easiest in
the league, six straight games with one hundred plus passer rating.
I like Drake may I didn't think he would be
this good this quick. They feel like a one and
done playoff team that's winning a lot on energy and
focus and enthusiasm and youth. But I put them at
ten and bounce Seattle out.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Number nine, the Niners.
Speaker 1 (08:39):
I think Kyle Shanahan's in the running for coach of
the Year. No brock Perty Brandon I, Ricky Piersoll, George Kittle,
Fred Warner, Nick Bosa. But Robert Sala has been a
monster as a defensive coordinator. They have the number seven
scoring defense. They are very Christian McCaffrey dependent. Thirty touches
or thirty one touches. Don't love that, but they're kind
(09:02):
of trapped. Six of their next seven games against very
weak opponents. They should be favored in most of them.
But I think Mac Jones and brought thirty feels a
little bit like a wash to me. One's expensive ones
kind of free. But I think you got to put
him in the list. Nobody's been as resourceful as Kyle
(09:24):
Shanahan and the Niners.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
I put him at nine, number eight Green Bay.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
They keep leaving me wanting more, but they are undefeated
when scoring more than ten points this season. I just
feel like I want more, but they've been a little
banged up at wide receiver Josh Jacobs three straight games
with multiple touchdowns Jordan Love this year.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
And nobody likes Jordan Love.
Speaker 1 (09:48):
And he's completing sixty nine percent of his throws and
one hundred eight passer rating. You can't find anybody that
likes it. Their run defense is excellent. Micah is the
perfect close for a team that often leads in the fourth.
I have Green Bay eight. I think they will get better.
They're still really young. Number seven. I still like the
Bucks a lot. I mean, they were playing, you know,
(10:10):
living dangerously coming from behind, and that was a buzz saw.
They ran into last night for their five wins one
score games, but their defense multiple games with takeaways. I
just think they got playmakers, and again, like the Niners,
they've been incredibly resourceful. I've always thought Todd Bowles is
underrated because he didn't really have a profile. Probably the
(10:33):
best blitzing coach in the NFL Baker Igbuca. I think
they're going to be fine when they get cleaned up
and healthier, but I wouldn't drop him too far.
Speaker 2 (10:41):
I have Tampa seven. Number six. I love Denver's roster.
Speaker 1 (10:45):
I don't think their defense has been as good as
I thought, but they lead the NFL and sack differential.
They have the number one third down defense and the
number one red zone defense, and yet I feel like
they should be better. Bonicks when trailing this season a
very Mahomes like stat eleven touchdowns, no pick and a
one h two passer rating and obviously a great head coach.
(11:08):
Denver at six, number five Detroit. Detroit's run game jumps
off the TV set. They're five and one over their
last six games, and they got rocked by the best
team easily in the league, Kansas City. Their defense takes
the ball away, gets to the quarterback. What I like
about Detroit is they get leads and then they get sacks,
(11:32):
and that's the way to win in the postseason. They're
much better obviously at home. But I have Detroit Tampa
last night at five, number four, Colt type it into
the Colts for a month, they should have beaten the Rams.
Best outright record in the league at six and one.
They're only lost in the Rams, and they outplayed them.
Great offensive line playmakers at running back, tight end, wide receiver,
(11:55):
excellent head coach, most efficient offense in the NFL, most
for the most touchdowns. I mean Daniel Jones. I mean
it's like Dak We can say, well, he's not elite
while I'm watching, and it looks elite to me. They've
scored on sixty three percent of their drives, and I
think they're absolutely for real. I've always said my final
(12:16):
four teams are teams I think that can get to
a Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (12:19):
I have the Colts at four, number three. Rams.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It's not really just Stafford and McVeigh. That defense is suffocating.
Speaker 3 (12:27):
Now.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
It may not be suffocating if they faced them all
homes or you know again, it may not be suffocating
against the great quarterbacks. But men Trevor Lawrence, good luck.
They lead the NFL in big plays, no Puka, no problem,
number two scoring defense, number two in sacks. And remember
(12:48):
their defense is young. These guys, a lot of them
haven't even hit their prime. Rams at three, number two,
I don't even know if I liked Philadelphia. I honestly,
they can't run the ball anymore. They don't get to
the quarterback. But they have I mean, let's be honest.
Jalen Hurts wins a lot. Davonte Smith and AJ Brown
(13:13):
when they can't run, can take the top off. They're
a hard team to defend, and they're a hard team
to figure out. They don't get to the quarterback. They've
been out gained in every game. There's a French term
for beautiful yet ugly. I think whatever that term is
that's the Eagles. But I love their roster, and I
keep just saying they'll figure it out. But I have
(13:35):
them at two, number one, and I think they get
smoked if they played Kansas City. I said it a
month ago. This is as good as Kansas City's been.
Hollywood Brown, Juju Worthy Rise, Travis Kelcey. I mean, keep
your eye on Burschard Smith. The offensive line hasn't been
totally healthy. I think Mahomes is playing at an absurd level.
(13:59):
I think this is good. I'm serious here. I think
this team. I do wonder at the trade deadline if
they would go find like a situational pass rusher maybe.
And they're not a great run team. They are so
deep now at wide receiver. Here you go my top
(14:20):
ten Seattle eleven. I had him in last night when
I texted Kyle on our staff, and this morning, I'm like, no,
I'm disgusted. That was awful. Take them out, Seahawks eleven bills.
Speaker 2 (14:33):
Twelve one more.
Speaker 6 (14:34):
Heard.
Speaker 2 (14:34):
The Herd streams twenty four hours a day, seven days
a week within the iHeartRadio app. Search Herd to listen
live or on demand whenever you like.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
Let's take a deep breath talk about something much more positive,
a World Series, which I think is going to be
really competitive.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
Everybody thinks the Dodgers.
Speaker 1 (14:51):
Oh, the Toronto Vlad Springer starting pitching, home field advantage
Toronto is a handful.
Speaker 2 (15:00):
Roberts, manager of.
Speaker 1 (15:01):
The Dodgers, is joining us live the You know, it's interesting.
We all know in baseball. Good to see you again, Skip,
Great to see you, Davis.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
Always thank you.
Speaker 1 (15:12):
We all know in baseball that you know, momentum is
the next day's pitcher. But there are little bits of
wisdom you can take. Even though every postseason run is different.
Last year, you guys were up against it. I mean,
I can remember bullpen games against the Podres and I'm like,
I'm not sure the Dodgers are getting out of this series.
You've been more dominant this year. Is there anything, though, Dave,
(15:34):
you can take from last year's playoff run little notes
or bits of wisdom and say, guys, remember that from
last year to this year.
Speaker 7 (15:43):
You know what, I think what it comes down to,
and I think a lot of people talk about I
absolutely agree with your momentumus next day starting pitcher, and
certainly the Blue Jays have got some momentum.
Speaker 3 (15:54):
I feel we've got momentum.
Speaker 7 (15:56):
I think what I've taken away is the urgency piece
of it. How do you get to the urgency piece?
And I think the way I frame it to our
guys is we're in a street fight. And I think
that when you have that street fight mentality that lends
itself to urgency and every pitch, every play.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
And you, you know.
Speaker 7 (16:17):
Kind of take the momentum, embrace it and don't let
off the gas. And I think right now, if you
see our ball club play, we're playing with that street
fighterality versus that kind of season boxing mentality.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Yeah, you know, it's funny. The blake Snell Yoshi. So
I went on the air full disclosure. I said, I
love Dave Roberts. I would to let Snell go because
I just want to win the first game of the series.
I don't care Yoshi. I said, okay, we got one
in the bag.
Speaker 2 (16:48):
I go to the pen.
Speaker 3 (16:49):
On that.
Speaker 1 (16:50):
I thought it was really cool for you to come
out and say some of this is gut feeling.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
Guys.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
I'm sitting there on the steps, So let's talk a
little bit about that. Because baseball manager, it doesn't it
could be you or Aaron Boone, it could be anybody.
You guys get criticized for those moments. It's the seventh
that's when all of us think we should be manager.
What is that guy doing for you? You mentioned that
you were watching Snell or you watch Yosi. Do you
(17:16):
talk to him during a game or do you want
to stay away from that? Is it kind of a
body language sense on I'm gonna let him go or
I'm gonna pull him.
Speaker 7 (17:25):
It's it's knowing the player. It's knowing, it's knowing the player.
I mean, that's my job essentially. And I think the
thing is is that you know my job is to
know my players. I definitely don't get it right all
the time, but I feel like my process and kind
of how I know how to manage guys for the
short the long term is pretty sound. I think the
(17:48):
great thing Colin about baseball is because if you look
at you know, basketball is so quick. You can't coach
basketball in real time. You can't change defense as a
fan right football you could probably do it a little bit,
but baseball is something where every fan has that opportunity
to essentially manage. But I do feel like trusting my players,
(18:10):
knowing my players, knowing my coaches. I've got a sound process.
But I was right there with you, and then that
Blake Smell thing was fifty to fifty. And you know,
right now we're watching Roki and to put him in
the pen, that's a gut feeling that I feel like
I can trust him in big spots where that wasn't easy.
And right now, you know, I trust my players, I
love my players, and I think again, we're playing good baseball.
Speaker 1 (18:33):
It's interesting, I said before the playoffs, I said, in
my lifetime, I've seen teams with great bullpens win the
World Series. I think the Royals years ago had it,
and they didn't have necessarily great roster, but if they
led in the six, they won the game. I said,
I've never seen a team with a shaky bullpen win
a World Series. I said, I don't think the Dodgers can.
And then suddenly the bullpen gets solved. Roki moves to
(18:58):
the bullpen. Take me to the partner the season. It
could have been you and Andrew Friedman. It could have
been you and your pitching coaches and talking that you
just decided, listen, we got to make some alterations we've
got to pivot here. He's young, he's got great stuff.
We're gonna We're gonna move him. Like, what were those
ongoing or was there an epiphany or a moment that
(19:20):
you just said, we can't win a pennant with this
current bullpen. How did that process work?
Speaker 3 (19:27):
You know what?
Speaker 7 (19:27):
I think that Okay, there's two parts of this.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
I think with Roki.
Speaker 7 (19:32):
If you look back at April, where you see there
were visuals photographs of him, you know, teary eyed in
the pen, you know, just distraught, disappointed, scared, word all
that stuff, right, and then so just trying to get
him back to health, trying to nurse his mindset. His
(19:52):
physical being back was number one. And then as he
kind of made his way back and trying to build
him appreciate the fact that we've already had enough starters,
so we weren't going to use him in that starter role.
And then going to him with me and Andrew and
the pitching guys and said, hey man, you have an
opportunity if you want to take on a bullpen roll
(20:13):
don't know what the role is going to look like,
this is an opportunity for you to impact twenty twenty
five and basically right your twenty twenty five season, he
was like, I'm in.
Speaker 3 (20:23):
And then so we look at the calendar.
Speaker 7 (20:25):
We had literally two opportunities in the regular season to
give him an opportunity to pitch out of the pen
for us. It showed really well. And then I think
in the Cincinnati Wildcard Series there is a spot that
I was like, you know what, we're either going to
sink or swim. We got to see what it looks like,
and I ran him out there. He performed, and then
(20:46):
from then it's just like the rest is history. He
started getting some momentum, and even in that Philly no,
I think it was the I don't know if there
was a Brewer outing where it didn't look good or
the Philly outing, and you know, I was determined to
run him back out there, not run from him, so
we can kind of keep that confidence. And so I
give the organization Realkie a looted credit for kind of
(21:08):
riding the ship. And then the other part of it
is like when you're looking at the postseason, you're trying
to get the best arms you can for the postseason,
So you know, using gloss now out of the pen,
using Emmett Sheen out of the pen. So it wasn't
really kind of what girl brought us to the dance
as far as the pen is who we're going to
go with. But at the end of the day, though Colin,
(21:29):
I've said it, we're going to go with our best arms.
And if you can get your best arms, and right now,
our best arms are the starting pitchers. If those guys
can take down the most outs, we're going to be
in a good spot.
Speaker 1 (21:41):
Yeah, it's funny about analytics. The term I always use
is analytics because I think in baseball, when the postseason comes,
the numbers are the numbers. But there are moments when
you're like I may used to have I may have
to use a starter in the pen, guys all hands
on deck. So do you find yourself with analytics? They're
still important. But like I say this about the NBA,
(22:05):
the referees stop calling fouls in the postseason, so the
analytics get all screwed up. They just let them wrestle
and all of a sudden, you don't get to the
free throw line. In baseball, you manage differently in the postseason.
I mean, you want Snell going, I mean to me,
I watch you, and I'm like, you wouldn't have let
Yoshi go? You would have gone to the pen if
(22:26):
that game's in June, would you not?
Speaker 3 (22:30):
Absolutely?
Speaker 7 (22:31):
It's funny is that word analytics And I somehow got
tied to analytics. And I don't use my eyes or
my gut, but I think that I managed it. I
watched the game, and so I think in the postseason.
I'm not saying put analytics aside, but you have got
to bet on players.
Speaker 3 (22:50):
You've got to bet on people, and you've.
Speaker 7 (22:53):
Got to bet on heartbeat, and in that moment, I
do think that analytics. The place for analytics for me
is the long haul one sixty two. Yes, yeah, at
the end of the day, it plays out. But when
you're talking about one moment in time, is that picture
going to get that hitter out? Is that hitter going
to get a hit or take a bit at that
against that pitcher? Or are there nine guys that I'm
(23:14):
running out there do I feel has the best chance
to score runs against that particular pitcher? That is that
That's a coin flip, that's heads or tails, and that's.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
What I bet on. You know, That's how I manage
the postseason.
Speaker 1 (23:26):
Well, we've seen this also. I thought it was interesting
the Mariners had Julio Rodriguez and Cal Rawley at the
top of their order and sho hey o Tani obviously
leading off. And I've said this, I zone in on
baseball during the postseason. In the regular season, it's almost
like the radio sound of my summer. I have the
games on. I'm in and out of stuff. There does
(23:48):
it in my when I grew up? I mean, you
had Johnny Bench was bat and cleanup, Pudges bat and
cleanup right like you have your big gut Barry Bonds
three or four. Now, oh you got power guys hitting
toward the top of the lineup, which I would would
imagine is they get more at bats. But it is
interesting how I mean, that's my take is I want
(24:09):
to Tani up as much as I can get him.
Do you love that? Or is just that the reality
of the way the game is played? Because I kind
of love my big bombs, you know, I don't want
you know, I like him in the three four five spot.
How do you land on that?
Speaker 7 (24:23):
I love the way and I think for me, it's
like anything where you want to continue to evolve and grow,
where when I was growing up as you were, same
time period, Showhead would be hitting you know, three or four.
But I think that the way that understated that you
want to get your best hitters as many at bats
as possible. That's how you win baseball games. And I
(24:45):
can tell you know, Bruce Bochie right now or Jim
Tracy right now, he should have hit me leadoff versus
Randy Johnson. You know, if I'm put to play center field,
I should have hit ninth and the those are things
that you've got to evolve. And Johnny bench facing Nolan Ryan.
(25:05):
Maybe Johnny could have hit fifth or six and maybe
you know, but that's the way the game has evolved.
And I do think that you got to kind of
appreciate that. And so I just don't want to be
beholden to one lineup. I think our guys have evolved.
But I do feel that, you know, having show at
the top Mookie two, I flipped flip Freddie and will
(25:27):
Smith Tao and things like that, because it's kind of
you know, the little we can go deeper calling, you know,
where it's like you get a tough lefty to give
attacks to get to Freddy a third time. Those are
little nuances of setting the lineup, but I do think
that having your best hitters take the most of that's
makes sense.
Speaker 3 (25:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:45):
And by the way, it does help that MOOKI and
show Hey also have wheels so they can move. That
helps as well. By the way, my favorite Dave Roberts moment.
You're a very humble guy, but this piece of audio
made me laugh.
Speaker 2 (25:56):
Let's play it.
Speaker 8 (25:57):
Oh, this is a uh one team one dream operation.
And I'll tell you, before this season started, they said
the Dodgers are ruining baseball. Let's get four more wins
and really ruin baseball.
Speaker 2 (26:13):
Let's go. Come on, Dave, that's funny. I like that, Dave.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
It's okay.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
You know.
Speaker 7 (26:21):
Here's the thing is that everyone trolls me, and so
I figured, you know what, I'm gonna flip it on
its head and troll some people that are trying to
create this crazy narrative that the Dodgers are ruining baseball.
I will tell you this, call it. And you know this,
Baseball viewership is at an all time high. Baseball players
are better than they've ever been. We are going to
(26:42):
have more eyeballs watching this World Series than ever because
of the country of Canada, US and Japan and beyond right.
So obviously the Dodgers are not ruining baseball. It is
in a great state. And I was just kind of
taking a dig at these crazy people that say that
what we do, and I think we do it really well.
Speaker 3 (27:01):
We're running baseball. So that was my little dig.
Speaker 1 (27:04):
Yeah, by the way I said this, Tommy Edmund was
hitting two sixty five for the Cardinals. You got him.
He becomes the NLCS MVP. Max Munsey was cut by
the A's. Now he leaves the Dodgers in all time
home runs. This idea that it's not just it's just money,
it's research, it's development, it's scouting, it's managing. I've always
said that the most. I said this earlier today. There's
(27:25):
an anti Californian sentiment in this country. Sometimes everybody picks
on California. The weather's great, the mountains, the beaches. The
truth is it's a very likable team. I believe the
reason Rokie will take a bullpen roll. I truly believe
this is because he knows there's no ego, and he
knows you could go to showhand and say.
Speaker 2 (27:46):
I'm betting you third to night.
Speaker 1 (27:47):
I'm bet I think you've created I've said this the
Yankees or the Astros.
Speaker 2 (27:53):
You can hate those guys. This is not a hateable team.
Speaker 1 (27:56):
And I think to some degree, I think Roki says, yeah,
I'll do it. And part of it is that's the
culture that you've created, is it not?
Speaker 7 (28:06):
It is called And that's the biggest compliment I can get.
Because we have great players, we have a great organization.
But I feel that in the long season, to be
really good every year, to have guys buy in is
what a lot of head coaches and managers talk about.
To get superstars to buy into whatever you ask of
them and to be selfless. That's that's the secret sauce.
(28:28):
And for me as a manager, that's something I'm really
proud of. So I appreciate you bringing that to life.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
Finally, just one I'm only going to ask. It's not
a favor, but just consider if you've got an open base,
the game is tied, and George Springer's coming up, just
consider walking you. Just consider that you don't have to
pitch to him. I'm not pointing fingers at anybody, but
Toronto is really good. I mean, I know you've watched,
you've watched them. I think this matchup. You've got what
(28:57):
concerns you about the Jays.
Speaker 7 (29:00):
You know what, they're really athletic. I think that you
mentioned Springer, who's a big game player. He's on a
heater right now, had a great, you know, last couple
of months. That guy right there, Vladimir scares the heck
out of me. And they're just a gritty group. They're
very similar to our club, and they're tough. I think
(29:24):
Ross Atkins, I think Marsha Power. They've done a great
job with this club. And you know, you Savage. We
don't know him, so there's some unfamiliarity there. But like
you said, it's going to be a great series. Joe
Davis I talked to the other day, said he's never
heard a louder stadium than he heard here at the
Rogers Center.
Speaker 3 (29:40):
So it's going to be a lot of fun. It's
going to be great.
Speaker 7 (29:42):
I think the city has been waiting a long time
for this, and you know, I'm looking forward to It's
gonna be.
Speaker 3 (29:47):
A lot of fun.
Speaker 1 (29:48):
Thanks for giving us fifteen minutes. Dave Roberts always so
great to our show, and I appreciate it.
Speaker 6 (29:53):
Skip all right, thank you, appreciate you com be sure
to catch live editions of The Herd weekdays at noon
Easter nine am, Lacipik on Fox Sports Radio FS one
and the iHeartRadio app.
Speaker 2 (30:04):
Here's our Blazing five. Let's blaze it up, Fire it up.
It's Collins Blazon Fox, Bears and Ravens.
Speaker 1 (30:13):
My favorite pick, Ravens. Lamar is backed minus six. Lamar returns.
Ravens average thirty three a game and six and a
half yards per play in the four games this year
with Lamar Jackson, and it's a must win game total
urgency for the franchise. Lamar has eaten the NFC for
lunch twenty four and three in his career. Even better
(30:37):
at home, the Bears on the road defense isn't a
good Caleb Williams by the way, last three games, completion
percentage has dipped to fifty eight point seven percent, and
right now the Bears defense can make splash plays and takeaways,
but it's allowing six point two yards per.
Speaker 2 (30:55):
Play against Lamar.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
Lamar Jackson's gonna eat favorite pick of the weekend, Ravens
minus six. They win twenty eight to twenty one, and
it won't feel that close. Browns hit Patriots another big favorite.
I like New England at home minus seven. Why because
four straight wins and they're averaging thirty a game during
those wins, and their defense is great against the run,
(31:20):
meaning Dylan Gabriel will have to pass to beat Drake
May and the Patriots in Brabel. I don't see it happening.
Cleveland's defense not as good on the road. In fact,
the Browns are zero and three on the road and
they have the twenty eight ranked rush offense. So Dylan
Gabriel is going to have to be really good to
(31:42):
keep up and beat Drake May, who has been outstanding
since Week two. I don't think it's happening. I like
the Patriots to win by ten, twenty eight to seventeen.
That's eleven. Dolphins at Felkons. I like the over forty
four and a half points. I've been hot on overs.
(32:02):
Falcons are averaging twenty six a game and Michael Pennix
at home has a one zero three passer rating. But
they also have a terrible red zone defense. If Miami threatens,
Miami should do well and eat in the red zone.
Speaker 2 (32:16):
But I like.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
Atlanta at home to score points. Jamak talked about this
fast track. They're very good. The Dolphins opponents have combined.
Dolphins and their opponents have combined for forty five plus
points in five of the last six games. On the
over under here is forty five and a half. Their
defense allows big, big plays in Atlanta at home delivers
(32:37):
big plays. The Dolphins defense not good. Atlanta's offense at
home very good. Take the over forty four and a
half points. Twenty eight, twenty one thirty twenty four. My
bad of Falcons win forty nine ers at Texans.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
This is a late add.
Speaker 1 (33:00):
There are concerns about the Texans health at wide receiver,
but this offense for the Texans, it's the number three
scoring offense since Week four, and their defense has been
great all season. Sam Darnold and Seattle at home last
week really struggled with this defense. So their defense is
especially good at clamping down on running backs and their
(33:24):
receiving yards. And the Niners right now are living off
McCaffrey running and McCaffrey receiving. And the Niners are three
and seven after a win the last two seasons. So
the Texans defense is great. The Niners are still beat up.
I think it's a Choppie game. I'm gonna take the
(33:44):
Texans twenty seven to twenty three. Cowboys and Broncos. Finally,
Denver minus three at home, I like it take the
Broncos three and zero at home.
Speaker 2 (34:03):
Won eight straight home.
Speaker 1 (34:05):
Games dating back to last year, and seven of those
eight have been by eight plus points. Bo Nicks won
eight straight games at home. He's a better home quarterback.
The Cowboys. Listen, they beat the Jets, the Giants and
the Commanders, and Jayden Daniels wasn't healthy. They've been one
in three on the road. They're not a great road team.
And they have an atrocious third down defense that will
(34:27):
keep the ball away from Dak And they have an
atrocious big play defense, So the Broncos are gonna win
time of possession. The Broncos, who really need to hit
on big plays, have finally found a defense that surrenders
big plays. So I like Denver to win, and I
(34:48):
like Denver to cover the spread.
Speaker 2 (34:52):
Twenty eight twenty four Broncos win.
Speaker 1 (34:55):
So in a review, I like favorites this week, I
gener don't love them favorite bet Ravens minus six at home,
Lamar Returns Patriots minus seven at home Cleveland Dylan Gabriel
will have to throw to win, and I don't see it.
Take the over Atlanta at home scores and the Dolphins
(35:17):
defense is a mess. Take the over. I'm gonna take
the Texans at home minus one and a half. It's
my least favorite pick, but their defense is great and
the Niners have limitations offensively. And Denver at home to
win and cover. I think that's a fun game. I
think it's a great watch. But Denver, they are really
(35:43):
really seeking the big play, and this is the defense
that does allow the big play. The Cowboys couldn't say
the last time I took three favors.
Speaker 2 (35:53):
Generally don't like doing that. It's a wonky week for numbers.
Hosts And Creators
Colin Cowherd
Jason McIntyre
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.