6-14-24 Hour 2

Top 4 at 4 includes NBA Finals talk Levack has an issue with this ticket tactic Michael Tricarico voice of the Syracuse Mets

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
It's time for the Top four fourwith Lovak and guz Not for the four
biggest stories in the world of sportson this Friday, brought to you by
Mohawk Honda, where they it's gotall the way to please. Yeah,
you know, it's a packed weekend. When the US Open did make the
top four to four, that's howmuch is going on this weekend. So

(00:21):
the US Open, if you're agolf butt, hated to me. That's
why. If you're a golfing fan, I'm sorry the US Open did not
make the cut. But we startwith story of our forts. Combine baseball
stories here. Both New York teamsin action this weekend. The New York
Mets start their series up the SantegoPotters and City Field first pitching. That
series set for seven to ten,and the rivalry is renewed Yankees Red Sox.

(00:43):
Maybe it's the timing Levak of whenwe're doing the show with all the
local sports and the interviews going onand everything else. Maybe it's because of
the recent finish with the Royal Series. But this is the first time and
maybe the only time is our schedulelays out, we're gonna talk Yankees Red
Sox today. I know you've probablysick of me doing the is the rivalry
of the same, it's not thesame as the two that but I think

(01:03):
it's more about the Red Sox now. I think that's the easy part of
this. That New York's been sogood in Boston. Isn't the second best
team in the Al East, theAmerican League, or even baseball, And
it's brought down the rivalry somewhere Canteraand dugg A like, ah, quiet
guys, quiet over there, Oreal boy, Ah, yesterday I got
I got a little Red Sox Yankeeback and forth with Kanta. I haven't
I haven't even face to face withDoug. Maybe maybe I'll reach out to

(01:26):
maybe maybe he'll want to talk tome on Monday. You never know,
you know, because he'll text youfirst. He doesn't like to text me,
like he told me. He goes. I enjoyed booking you through guys,
program director doing some work. Finally, I enjoy it. You know,
listen, anytime those those those twofranchises get on the field together,
it is it's different, it's exciting. It is. You know. One

(01:49):
of the top rivalries in all sports, in my opinion, is the it's
the best. It's the biggest rivalryin all sports, and I feel like
it always will be. And thisthis Red Sox team is very, very
average, but their pitching staff isgood, and you know you're getting their
best. You're getting you're getting theirWorld Series effort when you're the Yank so

(02:13):
I'm dialed in. I'll be dialedin. Obviously, not so much on
Saturday. I'm very busy. Igot another thing to do. You wouldn't
know. You won't be there atthe Firebirds game, but but no,
it's your Yankees Red Sox. I'mready. I'm in. I want to
put the same stupid now feels likestupid storyline on the Red Sox Yankee rivalry
that I did for the Royals ofHey, could Kansas City be a contender?

(02:34):
Where does Kansas City rank? Orthey good? I want to put
the same thing on Boston because ifyou're struggling to figure out who the fourth,
fifth, or sixth best teams arein the American I don't think the
Red Sox season's over, especially ifToronto decides to rebuild. Maybe Boston can
find themselves as a contender later inthe season. They were deep into contention
until the wheels fell off at theend. But Boston probably feels the same

(02:54):
way Kansas City. Hey, ifwe do well against New York, it
could spark the season, It couldchange the way we view the team.
All those things sound almost cliche nowbecause of how bad Kansas City got pounded.
It feels like New York can andwill do the same thing to Boston
because they've been that good. They'vebeen dominating teams so far. Could be
wrong. This seused to be thehome for Red Sox baseball. You won't

(03:15):
be able to hear him here.Sorry, when we want to start number
three and it is game four,Game four Saturday, June fifteenth, that's
tomorrow of the Stanley Cup Finals betweenthe Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers Levac.
There's nothing wrong with the Stanley Cupbeing in June. There's a lot
happening. I know June's supposed tobe the time where things take a step

(03:38):
back, but I don't know ifit's the separation between the East Coast,
which I thought i'd get over that, not the New York twist or anything
that it feels like as this seriescontinues, which is supposed to be the
opposite. I found myself less andless interested in the Stanley Cup. Does
this happen to you where in arare case, the longer the series has
gone on, the less and lessinteresting you've got into. Unless you've got

(03:59):
a series clean, she can gaincoming. But yeah, this this game,
UH don't care. Uh NBA Finals, really don't don't care. Like
it's sort I'm it's it's weird,like when you look at these matchups like
this should be a this should bea compelling matchup. Obviously as a Rangers
fan, I'm I'm a little butthurt. I'm not really thrilled, but
you know, keeping I was keepinga cry like a side on it,

(04:21):
barely pay attention when they when theyfinally, you know, hoist Lord Stanley's
Cup, I'll pay attention, butuh no, I don't really care.
And again, the Celtics Mavericks issupposed to be somewhat competitive. I don't
care about that anymore either. I'mreally I'm really lethargic when it comes to
some of this stupid stuff that's goingon. Well, let's move on to

(04:42):
story number two. The game you'revery hyped about Celtics Mavericks tonight thinking four
can we get like one? Ilike, it's the difference between me getting
fifty dollars from a friend or handinghim two hundred. That's the difference.
If if the if the Mavericks canjust the gentleman's which is the stupidest thing
in the world. But now I'mpraying for it a four to one win

(05:03):
instead of a four to nothing sweep, like like literally, just come on,
come on, Dallas, Come on, Luca. That take that energy
that you got towards the refs anddirected at the Celtics, maybe we'll win
a game here. I know Idid this the last time they played,

(05:24):
where I looked at the line andsaid, I'm gonna save my take for
the Play of the day program me. Note, by the way, the
Play of the Day's coming up atabout fifteen minutes, usually at four to
forty five, and Michael Tracaraco fromthe Syracuse Mets is gonna join us and
we're bumping it up. Will Ifall for the same fade again? Will
I lose a lot of money inmy mind on the Dallas Mavericks. Will
I bet them in game? We'llfind out in about fifteen minutes during the

(05:46):
play of the Day thanks to BohawksChevrolet in our Scottie Report for Game four
of the NBA Finals. But howabout the local love we give. It's
not the NBA Finals, it's notthe Stanley Cup, it's not Yankees Red
Sox. The number one story forthe weekend here in the Capitol region,
it's a fire Bird Friday takeover.Here on Fox Sports ninety five nine to
ninet eighty, the Albany Firebirds concludetheir home regular season schedule as they take

(06:06):
on the Orlando Predators inside ENVP Arena. Kick off set for seven o'clock on
center, where the Firebirds can completean undefeated home stretch continue to be the
top team in the Arena Football inLeague Levact. We opened the show talking
Firebirds. If you missed it,Apples Spotify, the iHeart app is where
you can find that conversation. Buthere we are story number one on a

(06:29):
Friday, the Firebirds prepping for abig game. And you've said this for
a while, and I think youhaven't changed your opinion yet. The top
two teams an arena football. Andfor those who missed the storyline earlier this
month, this was not supposed tobe Orlando. Yes, Philadelphia is no
longer, but other teams had theoption of taking this game and they didn't
want to take the road trip totake on the Firebirds. And you've got

(06:51):
a lot of respect for the Predatorssaying let's go bring it on. Talking
to Nick Haig today, you know, I was in the office doing stuff
and also here, oh ai,yeah, and I was like, look,
we get you know, he goes, man can't wait, and he
was remember he was one of theguys who finished the season last year in
Orlando, and it's it's fun howlike these guys they now it's the the

(07:17):
rivalry is now built on respect becauseOrlando raised their hand and wanted some,
you know. And he literally goesHe's like, I don't know why why
these Why are these teams allowed tosay I don't want to go? Why
whatever? I'm like, because therewas a power vacuum for a little bit
and these lessers, these these thesewhims took advantage of it and Tuck Taylor
ran. Meanwhile, the Predators werelike, you know what, we'd like

(07:40):
a little more. We got somethingfor you, So we're gonna We're gonna
play the Predators at least three timesthis season, possibly four, and I
couldn't remember. On Wednesday, Dariusreminded me he goes because I was like,
we've never played four before, haven'twe. Dari's like, he's like
wave and I didn't see him.He's like, yeah, Carolina, dude,
Carolina. Back in in twenty two, we played them, they beat

(08:03):
us three times in the regular season. Mike Kuorda, the majority owner at
the time, sent out a congratulationstweet and Facebook message to the then owner
of the Panthers, congratulated, I'mgoing three and one against this season a
week before the championship game. Andthen we won the championship. To quote
Chris Berman, I remember yeah,because I was there and we great moment

(08:28):
and we hated that like we hatedthem. So let's say that we beat
Orlando three times and then we seehim in the championship or or we see
him in the playoffs. Whoo,that's gonna be part of like its nineteen
ninety nine kids. And to adda little bit more intrig back to that
twenty twenty two season, remember TommyGrady and Malachi Jones had been signed by
the Carolina. Kobri Sti almost havea come full circle of the empire,

(08:50):
gonna get beaten by the guys whobuilt the empire. That did not happen.
I found injuries played a factor.I want to ad that injuries play
a factor in that pod. Ifound the I found a couple of the
shirts that if they had won.I found a few. I'm definitely the
sending of their old owner. Ohgosh, like the old situation, would
like to send it off to thethird world country. They're sitting around somewhere.

(09:11):
I found I found a couple.Were they a shot at Albany.
No, it's just that when theleague, I was like, I totally
I didn't want their help with ours. We've always made our own. I
wanted our They were like, wellwill you have these made? And I
was like, I don't want tohave the maid, but for the league,
I'll do it. I'll send youthe bill and uh yeah. So

(09:33):
there's still a couple of them.I didn't know that. I thought they
were gone. Thought because we talkedabout destroying amount of out of like the
right thing to do, or youknow, because you can't don't even can't
have them walking around. People won'tknow, they'll think they won. That's
your top four to four four biggeststories in the world of sports. Ussex
pass Control LAVAC. It is officiallythe summer. You're making sure your homes

(09:54):
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(10:16):
your ro spiders? I don't wantto flying spider like You're like, you're
at us X and it's uh yeah, hi, USX Past Control. How
do I help giant yellow flying spiders? Let's ask Tim. Tim probably knows.
Tim comes over. Well, ifyou notice what we've done, is
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(10:37):
used the webbing to like he wouldknow, he would know all of it
and tell you how to get ridof him. I swear he would call
them today the free inspection, Say, Lavak and guys talk about you guys
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bring up whatever you want, whetherit's let me talk to you, whether
you want to answer the phone likeLa night like we do, or you
have those issues Levac has talked aboutwith some crazy spiders and garage door opens

(10:58):
and bees. They will make surethey helped. Tim Frank Victor. Awesome
guys who come by your home andsay, hey, here's what I did,
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Now, you said you have astory for me Before we get to the

(11:18):
playfafs say, I've been I've beenchewing on this one. I've am I
wrong for being frustrated by an emailI received about the Firebirds. That's coming
up right here. Fox Sports Radioninety five nine. It's Lavac and Guz
on ninety five nine. Fox SportsRadio. Oh yeah, I can't help

(11:41):
but feel like this is one ofthis I feel like Saturday for the Firebirds
versus the Predators. It's the biggestregular season game I've ever been a part
of. No, no, no, no, no, that's my thing.
I do those things. But you'renot gonna be part of it.
Yeah, you know how you liketo do the big hyperbolegue, biggest game
of the season when we're there infront. Fine, you know, like

(12:05):
personally, I'm saying me personally becausehow much I'm I'm I'm emotionally invested in
this team more than I think I'veever been and I've always been in But
again, there's not There's no oneon this team I don't like, like
like. And when I say Idon't like, I mean there's guys I
haven't even gotten to know from thepast teams. They keep to themselves,

(12:26):
you know. Like I feel likeI've I've had a real one on one
contact conversation with everybody on the squad, Comer gone and all that stuff.
So it means a lot. Itmeans a lot to me. I noticed
that more people have asked me fortickets to this game than probably any other

(12:46):
game maybe like even more than someof the championship games with the Empire,
if we're being pervally honest and andone hand, I'm like, that's really
cool that that many people are interested. On the other hand, I'm like,
hey, you can always buy tickets, you know what I mean.
I'm just saying I'll get you adiscount. You don't have to for free.
But we I don't know this.This bothered me. And I'm not
gonna say names, and I don'tyou wouldn't know it, but this,

(13:09):
this email bothered me. So II saw that we had a voicemail on
the on the team's like main voicemailline, and they all get they get
emailed to me. So I soI I don't like a lot of times
I see who they're who they're intendedfor, and I'll just forward the emails
to make sure that they got it, you know what I mean. But

(13:30):
but if it's not like to me, I don't always even listen, Like
I I like to keep them incase they need me to go back and
check them. But if it's notto me, like I don't least listen.
This one was the tickets, butI happened to just click listen,
you know, and it was aIt was a guy who he'd come to
a game. I'm trying to rememberhow use he ended up getting. He

(13:50):
was he was given given tickets toa future game when he was out of
game, and he lost them.So he said, I don't know if
there's anything you guys can do,but we're so excited we loved I think
he bought tickets to a future gameand he lost whatever. I don't remember.
What was the gist of the ofthe comment was, I had a
pair of tickets for the fifteenth Wewere so excited about going, and I

(14:13):
lost them. Is there anything youguys can do? And I was so
I called got his voicemail and waslike, and he hadn't even said he
goes. I think it was theseseats like this section, these seats,
So I call a guy's voicemail like, oh listen, I don't even know
if any of my guys have calledyou back yet. However, we will
get you a pair of tickets.I don't know if it'll be the exact

(14:35):
ones you lost. I don't Idon't think we can do that unless you
unless you paid for it like acredit card. We might we might be
able to get it whatever, butwe'll get you a pair of tickets,
just you know, just get backto me and let me know whether or
not. Somebody so so the theperson emailed me today, someone from the
office return my call. Uh didsend me the two tickets to my phone?

(15:00):
Appreciate it. I can't wait forthe for the Firebirds game this Saturday.
My son and I are looking forwardto the block party in the game.
Make sure a great time together ona Fatherursday weekend. And I'm like,
oh, it's amazing. But hedidn't stop. If you happen to
come by two more comp tickets,oh my gosh, I can bring my

(15:20):
wife and my and her dad.Yeah. The guy, it's that's too
much, right, too much?Like like, dude, like do me
a favorite like buying buying tickets,offer to buy them. If he offered

(15:45):
to buy them, I don't know. Maybe I would have been, hey,
is there any chance you can giveme two tickets really close to those?
You know, I'll pay for themwhatever, you know. I know
you guys advertise fee free. Icaught me off guard. Man. I
was just like, and I Ithere's more people where It's like, I'll
do something. Welle guy. Igave him tickets. He goes, He's

(16:06):
come with shirts. Yeah, youbuy them at the arena. While you're
there, you go to our websitelike it's never It's never enough for some
people. And it just it breaksmy heart because I will I would listen
if I was ridiculous, if Iwas Bezos, I just had money out
of every orifice, I would,I would one hundred percent welcome to the
public to comfort free. Why notI have money, I don't care.

(16:29):
It's a cash business. You meanto make a little money. We're not
trying to make I'm trying to breakeven. I would advise against that.
And I feel for that story youjust told, because when you do something
nice for somebody, it becomes theexpectations. They want to see how much
more they can get out of you. And again this is a rare case.
I've learned about the flock Flock University, the fans, the Firebirks.

(16:51):
I gotta stay out of some ofthe social media stuff and redd it chains,
and I really because they're so passionate. I think it actually would influence
a broadcast call because it's like sopro Firebirds and it's awesome, like it's
great to have a following like that. Charles Barkley said this to Shannon Sharp
on the Club Shay Shape podcast,and I heard this and it's actually stuck
with me because it's true and thisis a great example that you said.

(17:12):
Charles Barkley said, never give yourfamily money. That was the best advice
I'd tell an athlete about. Heasked, why do so many athletes go
broke? He said, never givefamily money because what happens is when you
give your second cousin money, theyexpect it, and they expect it,
and it's never going to be aday after the time you give them most
like ten thousand dollars. Hey,I know you hooked you know what,

(17:33):
ten thousand dollars after the rookie deal. Saw you saw that second contract?
It's twenty k nout right. That'show people work. But the problem is
is that the minute you stop givingthem money, they don't like you anymore.
Their service is no longer needed.Like I don't know this guy personally
or female, whoever it might be, but there's a chance LVAk that if
you had given them two more ticketsthe next playoff game. Hey man,

(17:56):
appreciate you. I know you gaveme six tickets, any chance I can
get eight? And if you toldthem now, like dude, look that's
a jerk man. Like a monthago we gave me six tickets, Now
we won't give me any That's howsome people think because they were given something,
then they don't have it anymore.This is the expectation' I. You
know, I've seen that so manytimes. And like I actually, like

(18:18):
I was thinking back, like there'sbeen points in my life where I've hung
out with people who are far betteroff than me, and they've always done
stuff for me, you know whatI mean, And then I catch myself
being like, well, why aren'tthey doing it for me now? And
like I've I've I've learned from itbecause like I have, like listen,
if I you know when when youwere the producer, producer doesn't pay.
That's a rule. I don't knowif it's everyone's rule, but it was

(18:41):
Sean McMaster's rule when I was hisproducer. It was it was my and
Arman's rule when you were our producer. Luckily, we don't have one we've
tried to do with our promo team, though we've tried we've done it in
the past, producers and stuff.Oh I have again those arms as long
as they are. It's never Iever bought him out. Who was I
talking about in that scenario now havingexpectations anyways, Yeah, So like i've,

(19:06):
i've I was able to get itout of my because I was a
little kid. I was a spoiledlittle kid. Man. I was awful.
I was really really I was reallyawful like I was, you know,
and just one of those things likeI don't remember if it was my
dad who said something, my mom, I don't remember who it was who
actually said it. I might evenmy sister who just finally looked at me
one day and went, you knowwhy you suck? Like this is one

(19:27):
of those like and I just itjust resonated in my head like like literally
it was like one of those likepeople aren't gonna like you if this is
how you are your whole life,And it stuck with me, so like
now I do I look, Ilook at it through that lens. But
twenty two dude went to bat forus on Facebook, and I messaged him
and went, hey, I appreciatethat I knew you were asking for tickets

(19:48):
earlier week. I'm gonna hit you. I'm gona hit you off. That
guy has asked me for tickets toevery single game since for two years.
Two years. Oh my gosh,I asked me for tickets the show is
at the arena that I have nothingto do with, and I've I've literally
just started ignoring. I don't evensay anything back. But it is like,
like, look, dude, ifI could, if if I could,
I mean, it'd be a differentworld. Whatever. But but some

(20:11):
like people who appreciate it. Peoplelike I've got friends who like, all
right, how much what do Igotta do? Like how much? Like
I want to pay I want topay face value because I want to I
want to support the team. Whatever. And I'm like, oh, yeah,
no problem, got you. LikeI give them my discount, you
know what I mean. Like it'slike it's but it's just man, it
that hit me. That hit mebecause I was I felt for the guy

(20:33):
because I was like, man,you lost your tickets. That sucks because
you had them. It's not evenlike I've been meaning to get them.
I haven't gotten around to it.Man, I really want to go.
I know you're give them some way, would you do it like you had
them and they're gone. Like Iwas like all in, I wanted to.
I was like, I was like, whatever it takes, we gotta
get this. Due to a pairof tickets, Hey can two more,
you're fifty more. It's sixty more. I got it. The Office of

(20:59):
Veteran Affairs are But you remember JoeBonerrico of course, so Joey's a big
deal, like he's the one runningand stuff. He put together veterans light
out for this game. So likewe took great. They're like, we
have to put where I think it'sover three hundred tickets. They're like,
we're gonna. We're like trying toWe're gonna give them the tickets, right
whatever. He's like, no,we're gonna pay for We're gonna pay a
share. Obviously, monumental discount isoff. As the Veteran Affairs, you're

(21:22):
gonna do whatever. Yeah, youknow, playing football on a Saturday night.
If it's not for these guys,right, you speak, you're announcers,
you're speaking in Jim and if it'snot for these guys, you're west
six. Oh sorry, start hittingthings. But like they insist on paying
something. You know what I meanlike it's and then hey, can I
my my family reunion is also uhSaturday, everybody's in town. Can I

(21:45):
I just get fifty more tickets?Can I? I get? I have
charities that will call me up andgo, we don't want to hand out.
We just this is our budget.How many can we get? And
then I'll be like, how manydo you need? You know, it's
like a whole other thing. No, get these two tickets to you,
sir. I got you. Ihope you're okay. Oh, you're right,
And like I found something in theoffice. Did the right thing first,

(22:07):
and I'm proud of the guys inmy office for doing the right thing.
And then can you peel me offa few more? Soon those people
will disappear because everything will be onthe phone, like the old day of
I had a ticket back in theseventy nine World Series. I had a
ticket back to the eighty six finals. It kind of feels bad that you
won't be able to keep those ticketsbecause everything's gonna be electronic, Like the
Belmont in twenty eighteen. My ticketswere on my phone. I was looking

(22:30):
for the ticket the other day.I'm like, oh, it was it's
on my phone on a game thisweekend. It's on my phone like that
was a hustle. That hustle's onlygot a few more times. We have
two minutes, Lava, because Iwant to make sure our guest Michael Tracerrico
is not waiting on the phone becausewe've got to play the day here thanks
to Mohawk Scheffley, and I feellike I'm gonna bite on the same thing
again. I was all about thison Wednesday show. Oh yeah, look

(22:52):
at the Mavericks. They're gonna befavored. Can't miss run a ladder?
Do this? Do that? Didit in game bet? Am I gonna
fall for the same trap again?Yes, yes I am, because right
now favored Mavericks Game four at homeBoston. Say let's go one more time.
This might be the last wager Ido, non baseball or horse racing
till about September. So let's rideone more time. Give you the Mavericks

(23:17):
to win money line and then withthe spread in their Game four matchup against
Boston. All right, all right, all right, okay, verry boring,
But all right, you've already heardthis whole rant from Wednesday, and
I don't know if anyone wants tohear it again, I I'm gonna do
a pinstripe parlayo. I will takeU, I'll take the Yankees, i

(23:41):
will take Luis heel Over strikeouts,and I will take Aaron Judge for a
hit. That's what I will do. So I'll do. My phone's not
answering me, so I can't giveyou the OC. That's okay, that's
okay. We only had one minuteleft and I'm appreciate you squeezing it in
quickly. If you want more details, you got what you did. Lillian

(24:02):
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(24:22):
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(24:44):
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(25:04):
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But you stop in tell me heardabout my story. Gaza story from
Fox Sports ninety five nine and ninetythe voice of the Syracuse Mets, Michael
Trockcarrico Tricky. Mets fans, wetold you we'd give you hope this season.
Hope is coming up next to Yeah, you have two choices. Yeah,

(25:25):
I get to ask three Tim Tebowquestions or I leave right now.
I will interview Michael Trickcaraco. Next, it's Lavac and Guz on ninety five
to nine Fox Sports Radio. Metsfans, we are here to bring you
hope. If you're a Mets fanin the Capitol region, you're listening on
the iHeart app. We hope thatthis guy can bring you some hope for
the future over the next few weeks, even the next few years. He

(25:48):
is the Triple A voice of theSyracuse Mets. He is Michael Tricaraco,
the voice of the Syracuse Mets.Tricky has joined us. But before we
get into all the stuff involved inthe future of the Mets and the farm
system and the play to note forthe future, I need to ask you
about Education Day because, for thosewho don't know you part of the broadcasting
for the Mets. Education Day,when the students come out to an afternoon

(26:11):
baseball game, is a lot offun, but can be challenging for a
broadcaster when the Bluey theme song hitsor Baby Shark. Take us through what
happen with Education Day earlier this weekfor the Syracuse Mets. Yeah you know
our our in stadium DJ DJ doublePlay goes through. He puts the time
in to come up with a playlistof songs. He'll match a song,

(26:34):
a walk up song to every singleplayer from the opposing team. He started
out with the SpongeBob square Pants theme, went on to Let It Go.
I mean, the list goes onand on, and it's so interesting to
see throughout the years which songs alwaysget the loudest sing along from those kids.

(26:56):
And I mean throughout the years,SpongeBob is always number umber one,
no matter what's out there, oldTown Road for a couple of years.
I don't think we got any OldTown Road this go around, but I
know for a few years that wasthat was one. But no matter what,
SpongeBob Squarepant just continues to the numberone, no matter the year.

(27:19):
And I guess I had to lookit up. I guess it's still going
like not old episodes, they're stillcreating new episodes. It was renewed for
a fifteenth season, so it's niceto see even with all of the new
shows coming out that Spongebop is stillis still number one. But yeah,
it's it's always a fun day.It's a great opportunity for those students.

(27:42):
I actually have a few of mybest friends who are are teachers, so
they didn't get to go to thiseducation day, but they've been out in
the past and it's a really funtime for them and a really fun,
really fun reward, I suppose forall of these students who have who have
gone through this entire season, anda reward for the teachers and staff members
too, because you know, they'vegone through a long school year as well,

(28:04):
so you get to the end ofit something fun they're able to do.
And for many of those kids,it's the first game that they'll they've
ever been to, and who knowswhen they will be able to come to
another one. So yeah, it'sa great day. And even though our
crowd mic sometimes gets a little tooamped when the video board says make some
noise, they are definitely following followingdirections in that sense, that's exactly right.

(28:30):
A little test for the hot micinto the crowd, but happy to
hear that SpongeBob is still popular.It doesn't age you and I that much.
And speaking about first sporting events,We're going to get to that storyline
a little bit later in this conversation. Michael Tricaraco, the voice of the
Syracuse Mets, the Triple A affiliatethe New York Mets, show us here
on the phone lines the Elevation tenthousand phone lines. Elevate your brand today
with Elevation ten thousand. For thosein the Capital region that have been following

(28:53):
the Syracuse Mets, they're in agood season and continue to show some hope
for the farm club, the topteam, the New York Mets. For
those that have been founding the SyracuseMets, why has this team been so
good early in the season. Imean, I think it starts with with
the pitching step that's been so muchbetter than last year. You know,

(29:14):
the depth. I think it's it'sit's interesting to talk about because I know
the New York Mets season hasn't youknow, it hasn't quite been great,
although you know, I think it'scertainly had its moments. If they don't
blow as many uh blow you know, a few less games in the in
the ninth inning, then you're lookingat a slightly different season and maybe a

(29:36):
team that's even already a wild cardslot. But the pitching in Triple A
has been awesome, I mean,just in terms of pitching depth. Now
that Tyler McGill is back healthy andDavid Peterson is back healthy, Jose Budo
has been a pleasant surprise at timesin the major leagues. He's down in
Triple A. Christian Scott, who'sone of the top prospects, back down

(29:56):
in Triple A, not because heperformed poor up in the majors, but
just because there isn't quite a spotfrom yet and they're still keeping track of
the number of innings that he ispitching. And then you look at this
bullpen. This is a Syracuse Metsbullpen that has lost only one game this
season when leading after seven innings,only one game this season when leading after

(30:19):
eight innings, and they've only losttwo games when they have a lead after
six innings. It really is quiteremarkable just how good the Syracuse bullpen has
been. I'd say, probably thebest bullpen in the entire league. And
when you're able to win that manygames, when you have a lead going
late, I mean, it endsup being a surprise if the Syracuse team

(30:40):
doesn't end up with a victory atthe end of it. A team that
is seventeen to nine as well ingames decided by two runs or less,
so it really is all coming togetheron that side, and then a Syracuse
team that has some really great pieceson the offensive. Vent of course,
you have at one point Mark Vientosat the start of the season. Now
he up six seeding in the majors. Brett Baty is back down and he's

(31:03):
been crushing it in Triple A.You've got major leaguers like Jose Iglesias,
who's now up in the big leaguesappropriately, so he's a guy that had
eleven years of major league experience.But also you know Trace Thompson, who
yes is known in many ways asbeing Clay Thompson's brother, the NBA basketball
player, but Trace is at thetop of the league leader board and home

(31:25):
runs. He's one of the toprun producers as well. And you know,
you can go on and on.That doesn't even start to get into
the top prospects like Luisan Helicunya,who has had a somewhat slow start to
the season, but even that youknow, slow start, has seen him
near the top of the league leaderboard and hits and runs scored and stolen
bases. So it really has beenan overall group effort from this team and

(31:49):
a bunch of guys that even havebeen on the team in past years that
just continue to develop. And Ithink that's all the credit in the world
to what the New York Mets havedone, what Steve Cohen is doing with
the Mets pitching Lab, with someof the back speed program on the hitting
side. It's all really seeing.We're seeing the results in the minor leagues,
even if maybe the major league teamisn't quite seeing it yet. They've

(32:12):
been all impactful players. I dowant to focus a little bit on Trace
Thompson though, because you and yourbroadcast partner, Evan Stockton, there was
a stretch a few weeks ago whereThompson was so hot. I think both
of you were running out of waysto describe that home run streak he was
on. He was so good.I think some of your clips are going
viral because he just couldn't stop hittinghome runs. But I feel like some
Mets fans might have gotten frustrated wherethey're like, we have this hitter who's

(32:36):
a major league baseball veteran who's doingso well in Triple A. Why isn't
he getting the call up? It'snot as simple as that, right then,
Even when a guy's this hot,there's a lot of things that have
to happen to make him an impactfulplayer in the big leagues. Yeah,
I mean there is. You know, there's there's a big jump from Triple
A baseball to the major leagues.And this is why, I mean there's
so much talk about the metrics ofhard hit rate in lawn ching goal and

(33:00):
whatnot. And even if a guyis really doing all of the things right
at this level, sometimes you justyou really just have to find a spot
for him in the big league.So, you know, for example,
like Jose Iglesias, for a whilehe was down here, He's on a
career he was on a career pacein terms of home runs hit like at
any point in his entire career.His career high for homers was eleven and

(33:22):
he had seven and one thing thathe had really talked about was that bat
speed program and hitting the ball hard. But you know, because the Mets
were trying to decide between a MarkBiento's and a Brett Bady Jose was down
here. So it's a similar thingfor Trace Thompson that you know, no
matter how well these guys do,I mean, they can be crushing it

(33:43):
if there's just not a spot inthe big leagues. You know, Trace
only plays in the outfield, right, you could put him as a designated
hitter, But you have JD.Martinez or a Mark Bientos that are going
to be your your dhs on theon the big league team. And yeah,
maybe you can option DJ Stewart,he's on the big league club does
have options, so you can stillkeep them in the organization and send them
to Triple A. But then youstart to weigh, well, is what

(34:07):
we're going to get out of TraceThompson that much better than what DJ Stewart
has or is it, you know, maybe going to be equal. And
at that point, we'd like tokeep the option of having Trace in Triple
A so that maybe if there's aninjury that happens, then we can bring
them up. You know. Theunfortunate reality for you know, a guy
like Trace Thompson is a lot oftimes you are waiting for somewhat inevident.

(34:30):
You hate to say injuries are inevitable, but they do happen, and sometimes
that's the opportunity that pulls a guyup to the big leagues. But yeah,
that stretch that Trace Thompson was onjust a couple of weeks ago.
He had nine hits in one weekand he gets six. Six of those
nine hits for home runs, andthey all came during the weekend. Three
home runs on Friday, he hada home run on Saturday. I guess

(34:53):
five of the six we're during theweekend. Three on three on Friday,
home run Saturday, home run Sunday, and then he had hit one earlier
in the week. But I mean, yeah, it was like every time
the guy came to the plate,if he just gets the ball in year,
You're like, that's gotta be gone. It's amazing to think about that
trick. And by the way,I heard a little rumor that if you're
listening in Central New York on theiHeart app, I heard Clay Thompson's been
frequenting some Syracuse golf clubs, Sobe on the lookout this summer. If

(35:15):
Klay Thompson's stopping it and visiting.You might see him on the links out
in central New York. He isby the way the mini golf course.
That's where this guy dominates. He'sa legend at fair amount. Every time
he comes on by the way,we're gonna drop out. He is the
legend on the mini golf course there. Michael Tricaraco joins us the voice of
the Triple A Syracuse Mets here onFox Sports ninety five, nine and nine

(35:36):
eighty. We think about how thedynamic of this roster can change, because
with all the talent, with theveteran mix on the team, there is
a chance the Mets start to sellaway players come July and all of a
sudden more prospects already, which isodd because you see a lot of Triple
A teams later in the season callup the prospects to see what they can
do in August in September. Butthere's a real chance here this Syrah his

(36:00):
Met team could be in a spotwhere half the players might go up and
five or six new guys come inwhere this team can make a run and
potentially win a championship at the TripleA level in twenty twenty four. Yeah,
I mean, you know, lastyear for the group in Syracuse,
it was a little different because,yeah, so of the bolt of the

(36:20):
pitching wasn't as good and the bullpenwas struggling. You just had some some
younger guys. But it was interesting, and when the trades were made,
a lot of those prospects were downin double A or even a couple down
in single A. So you know, we're really excited coming into this year
to see Luis and Helicunya and trueGilbert, who's another guy you know we
need to talk about, but he'shurt. So you know two and in

(36:44):
fact, you've got Gilbert who cameover from a trade at the deadline last
year. He was hurt. Andthen Jet Williams, who of course the
Mets had drafted. You know,he's someone who he thought maybe you'll end
up seeing him in triple A.He started in double A with Binghamton,
but he had an injury, endedup getting it checked out and it's fixed

(37:05):
now, but the healing process isgoing to take it sounded like somewhere between
maybe six and eight weeks. Soyou know, Jet Williams, who's maybe
the number one prospect in the Metssystem, maybe number two, depending on
Cleo you talk to. He's missedsome time. So yeah, I mean,
it'll be interesting to see what endsup happening with the Mets come the
trade deadline. And what's even moreintriguing about the Triple A season is last

(37:30):
year and this year, for thefirst times ever, you have a first
half winner and a second half winnerin the International League. So what happens
is we actually only have ten gamesleft in the first half of the season.
It's a one hundred and fifty gameseason broken up into two seventy five
game halves. Right now, Syracusehas been either in second or third place,

(37:51):
currently four and a half games behindOmaha with ten games left to play,
so it's definitely not till climb,but Omaha has a difficult schedule the
rest of the way whichever team soright now is Omaha has the best record
in the twenty team International League forthe first half, that team makes it
to the International League Championship Series.They will host the International League Championship Series

(38:14):
at the end of the year.No matter what they do in the second
half, they can go zero inseventy five. But they were the first
half league champion and they're in thechampionship series, and they will host whichever
team has the best record in thesecond seventy five games, so the records
reset, so if you're horrible inthe first half, you definitely have a
shot in the second half. Partof it is rosters changed so much.

(38:36):
You know, if a team isreally really good in the second half of
the season, but maybe they wereyoung at the beginning, you don't want
to punish them. That's the partialidea behind it. But right now Syracuse
is technically even in June in aplayoff race with ten games left in the
first half, and if it doesn'tend up working out, you still have
the second half to look forward to, because I don't think this team is
going to get much worse as thisseason goes on. I absolutely love that

(39:00):
idea. I don't know who getscredit for it, Rob Manfred, somebody
in the Major League Baseball office.If you follow minor league sports and understand
that roster change everything that is sogood for the sport and for the fans
when they're actually invested in the gamesmean more, you get to see a
championship. Great whoever gets to creditwell done, because that makes it so

(39:21):
much easier to continue to find whatthis team can do and makes the games
matter. I love that. Igotta let you go. I know you're
very busy, you got a gamecoming up, but I do want to
drop this note. I know youand I have been texting about it.
I'm thrilled. My kid's first sportingevent is coming up on Fathers Day this
Sunday, where you're heading over tothe Syracuse met game. Both my boys,
one's, three ones one, thewhole three generations of Gozes are heading

(39:44):
in the Mets game. So Idon't know if I'm gonna break into the
broadcast booth. You know my cousinBett as I call him cousin Ben,
So I just want to give youan Evanson love. You might see the
Kazlowski boys walking around the ballpark withsome hot dogs and helmet ice creams and
everything else. So very broadcast,and who knows, maybe we'll bump into
each other on Sunday. Hey,looking forward to that. I will keep

(40:06):
my eyes peeled and even if wedon't see you guys during the game,
I'll look forward to seeing you onthe field, maybe running the bases,
and maybe bring your gloves because youget play catch on the field after the
game on Sunday. WHOA, Iknew about running the bases, but the
old catch with dad at the endof the game. This could be some
good stuff. We'll get some stuffon social We'll tag you and to all
that good stuff. He is thevoice of the Syracuse Mets, the Triple

(40:28):
A affiliate of the New York Mets. Michael Tricarco Tricky. We appreciate you
man, Thank you so much forthe time and hope I'll bumping you on
Sunday. Hey, thanks as always, looking forward to it.