March 14, 2026 • 43 mins
Our Padres Insider From The UT Kevin Acee Joins Us With The Latest On Joe Musgrove The WBC And More. Rocco Miller, Bracketeer.org Talks Aztecs March Madness Chances.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:42):
This part is sponsored by Our American Stories podcast. San
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(01:03):
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Speaker 3 (01:15):
About Annie Oakley.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You won't want to miss the next episode of our
American Stories.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
All right, San Diego Sports seven six sixty. Here on
I could hear myself? Is it is it all right?
Sn shure for back weekend? I know I don't think
it for whatever I hear myself so bad guy. Oh okay, okay,
(01:52):
that's me, that's me.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We got Kevin Kevin is okay, all right, bear with me.
I'm now good. I'm working on We've had a couple
of ten Kevin, Kevin, I know.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You're Yeah, you got a long day ahead, so let's.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Have you know.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Yeah, Kevin, can I tell you about my day for
a second, because I know your schedule is crazy covering baseball.
I know your schedule is crazy. For what my day
today is crazy because the essex plate it is. I'm
doing this four hour radio show. I'm in Las Vegas.
I don't know what time it is, you know what
I mean? Like, I don't even know what I'm doing.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
And do you believe how much time you have before
that game starts?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Right, it's still five hours. Padres could play the whole time.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Media something though. Okay, I'm gonna give you something, a
little knowledge that.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Maybe you didn't have because I heard the uh uh,
the Annie Oakley reference.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Okay, okay you hear did you hear the sports.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Update and the sponsor and and then this Antie Oakley
show that's going to be on.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
You know where she's from, No idea.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
She was born in North Star, Ohio.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Okay, there is one.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Other famous resident of North Star, Ohio.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
Two hundred and fifty people Craig Stamon and Annie Oakley born.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
In the same town.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Oh my gosh, this is where you go. I love that.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
You love that.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
That is a great way to get us started. All right,
let's get there's a lot of big bucks, keV. This
is exactly that's why you're insider. Kevin Acy from the
ute with us right now at San Diego Sports seven sixty.
You've been writing on Joe Musgrove over the last twenty
four hours for our listeners. What's the latest with Joe
and his health? With the season at less than two
weeks away.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
It just seems very very unlikely that he's going to
start the season in the rotation, and whether that's that
he misses the first turn through.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
You know, they play six games in their first eight days.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Did you get back on the mound here early in
the week and then get on one start here and
then goes you know, stays and gets a minor league
start and then he's able to go I mean, or
is it two three turns that he misses and then
Boom is able to you know what they.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Hope will be hit the ground running, but.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
He, you know, he had to be shut down. He
came back and the arm didn't feel great after a
pretty good and strong and promising outing. And and I know,
not trying to paint this as like a rosy picture,
but also this isn't entirely unexpected either. Now did they
hope or did they think he would be after his
(04:26):
first spring training start.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
I don't know that they did, but this was I
just want to make it clear they're not just like
doing some sort.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Of revisionist history or trying to say, oh, this is okay.
They've been saying all along.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
They didn't know how it was going to go.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
And you know that there would be probably more than
one time where Joe would get some extra rest and
and right now, that's what it is, and Joe, you know,
maintains that. That's all it is. That's what the padres maintained,
and that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
And so that's where we're at.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I feel like this is timing John by the way,
it's been such a successful surgery over the years. I mean,
buy and large. Those that have Timmy John recover from it. Now,
it's different when you have it multiple times and buy
and large. Maybe not always, but like anything in life,
you can't say something always occurs, but players do recover
from it. But it is fair to say that it
really can be a roller coaster for the player that
(05:19):
next year. And it's it's so dependent on Some guys
are on twelve month timelines because if when they have it,
other guys have eighteen months more like Joe. Some feel
great after this amount of time, others. Then it's the
control factor. So like we should just kind of expect
the unexpected, right, Like, I'm not expecting the worst to
your point, but I am expecting the unexpected a little
bit with Joe over the next few months.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
Yes, and he could be this is his great point.
And you know what I wrote after his first start
that hey, that was real nice, but hey, here's what
could happen.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
And then lo and behold, here we are. You know
it was just like File five or six days later, But.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
That's exactly what happened. It's just this the bumpy road began.
He could be on track and killing it. You know
who would on track? Last spring? Training, coming back from
Tommy John and having a from my understanding, a really
strong spring Sandy l Contra and then what was his
regular season like for the first four months. Terrible, And
(06:13):
so like that's the kind of thing that could happen,
is that, like Joe could be cruising along now everyone's all,
this is gonna be great. He's gonna throw one hundred
and fifty and he's gonna have a tow somethra and
the season started and you don't know what's gonna hang you. No,
don't know what's gonna happen. So it's not good. I mean,
I think that goes without saying, but I realize I'm
(06:34):
trying to I'm playing it down a little bit, so
I want to make sure I'm clear, Like I don't
think I should be happy about this or be like
there's no concern, but this also was not unexpected.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Well, when you're dealing with uncertainty, I'll brought it out
to like now, the Padres rotation, the thing with Muskros, Yeah,
there was going to be you know, maybe some highs
and lows. I'm sure the Padres anticipated at least to
some extent. How do they deal with that uncertainty when
you just look at the rotation as a whole. You know,
who's who's that sixth or seventh option right now? That
(07:07):
Becau's realistic, that might be filling in early if necessary.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Well, not to scoop myself, and I don't like to
do that, but I'm.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
Starting to think broader and talk to people broader.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
So you have you know, Walker Bueler, who I think
is going to be your number five.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
And then you know, people in the organization been talking
about Harman Marquez. Now they weren't talking about him like
you know, gonna win the cy. Young was certainly on
the team, but was like a favorite. You know, there's
a contract situation, is his veteran status, and he got
destroyed and and from my understanding, looked. I wasn't there,
Jeff Sanders was. It was a night game that's called
veteran move and so it was a nice retraining game hockey.
(07:49):
And so he looked terrible and and so okay, where
do you go from there? Is it Marco Gonzalez? It's
probably not Tristan mackenzie though he you know, is an option.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
So is it JT. Sears, who you know.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
Looked okay, and has looked better as.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
The spring has gone on. Sure, those are.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Options, but what about the idea that right now, like
I said, they play six games in eight days, what
about they go with five guys and then they've got
this super deep bullpen and they've got Logan, Glaspie, Jackson, Wolves,
Kyle Hart all having great springs. What if it's like
they try to put together a bullpen game if things
(08:26):
have gone well with their first five starters or whatever
it is, because they have the two off days in
eight days, maybe they're going through with five guys until
like whatever I've mapped out the tenth game or something,
the twelfth game, and then they go a bullpen game
or they throw a bullpen game in there somewhere. It's
like there's some creative ways they can go with the depth.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Of their bullpen.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Now that can.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
Also go terribly sideways on you.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
So I'm not saying that's what they're planning on doing,
but like they do have some options.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
I would say, correct me if I'm rolling Kevin AIC's
or Podjas Insider with us right now on San Diego
Sports seven sixty, Like two things are true, And I
think you've made this point on one hand, of course,
everyone wants Joe Musgrove to be healthy. But on the
other hand, even if he isn't, at least to start
the year. This is what teams deal with. They play
one hundred and sixty two games. If there's a couple
of starts in there that are question marks, or you know,
(09:18):
you don't have the best pitching matchup in the sport,
it could be overcome, right, I mean, over the course
of one sixty two they can find ways to navigate this,
assuming Joe ultimately finds his health along the way.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yes, and like.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
And you know what, the offense got to score six
to seven runs sometimes, you know what I mean, like it.
It's got to go hand in hand. But I mean,
we've talked about this before. I know you've spent a
fair amount of time on it. It's the reason that
you know, people like whatever it is, it's Steamers or whatever.
You know, the fangrass is down on the podres and
it's pretty it's fairly straightforward, right, They're starting with this
(09:57):
big question. But to your point, a good team, every
team's going to have these things, and a good team
finds a way to overcome it.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
And the Dodgers have one guy with one hundred and
fifty innings last year.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
I mean, no, I'm not saying just because it's been
done by the richest team, the deepest team in history,
that that that's how it's going to be done, or
that's how you should model your team around. But when
you face speed bumps, then you gotta you know, find
find a way around it. And I am now watching
(10:32):
the Dominican just onload on Korea.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
By the way, Oh interesting because I knew that. I
didn't realize that I don't have that on and you're
now hold on, well, let's let's segue now.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
For a minute.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
So because if the Dominic, if the Dominican gets to
the semi finals, and we've got these Padres obviously these
critical figures and Tatisa Machado, how do you how do
you plan on covering the WBC if if these teams
are advancing, I'll be there.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
I will leave tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Uh of Dominican wins because you got, you know, the
two guys in there, and I feel like that's the
San Diego story that could be facing Mason.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Miller in the semis.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
But it's really about Manny and Tatis and I just
feel like that's something that we can offer to our
readers for me to be there and kind of paint that.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Scene so really good.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
It was reasonably sure before this game started, But I
believe this is always two outs, just like boom boom,
boom boom, and it's free to go in the second Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yep, three nothing right now, you've been writing about the ownership.
What is the latest in terms of a potential sale
when it comes to a timeline and are we still
at five groups or is that now whittled down from
where we were just a few weeks ago.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
We're down to four reasonably sure based on the people
I checked with today that the three groups we know
about are still a part of that for but I
do not know that for sure.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
So but that people are.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Like, there's only a small group of people met with
the four prospective owners that were in Peoria this week,
and they no one's saying who they are. I've said
all along when I'm talking with you and elsewhere, this
is not the kind of thing that people are willing
to talk about. But that those four groups did comments
(12:18):
and look, to me, the interesting part is like this
is a coveted property and these guys are going to
get north of three billion dollars. And I remember when
you know, in the beginning it was said like two
seven five are nound there If you're like, what, no, Yeah,
that's what sports franchises go for now. And this is
(12:40):
one that you know, that's a really good fan base
and a.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Really good team and a really good venue in a
really good city.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
And so to me, that's the really interesting part is
that this price is just going to shatter the Mets.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Like that doesn't mean that if the Mets were.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
The fell again, or the Phillies, or the Dodgers of course,
or the Yankees, it wouldn't break that. But in terms
of record breaking prices of teams that you know will
have sold probably by April, that you know unders are
going to get a price that I think might shock
some people, that shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Shock people, which is interesting.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Just one follow up on that, So to break down
that math for a moment, he isn't the largest largest
shareholder the Siler Trust, which includes Shield and her children.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Is that correct? Yep? So twenty four right, So think
about it.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, just this sheer math on that a quarter
of three billion is seven hundred and fifty million, so
rough numbers, it's an incredible amount of the windfall is incredible.
The payout here is I mean, it's unbelievable, obviously, and.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
It's going to be things said or someone like John Seidler.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Who stepped up for his family.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
I'm a huge baseball fan, but not a guy.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
Necessarily you know, was terribly involved with the Padres or
has a big share.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
So let's say his share is four percent, right, one hundred.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
And twenty million dollars based on a three billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Sound amazing, amazing amount of money, Kevin.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Before you go, Sandra Bogarts, I know you you communicated
with him, You've caught up with him as he gets
ready for year four in San Diego. What's the general
sense from Bogarts in terms of where he is right
now in his career and what he wants to see
himself look like?
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And you know, his fourth year in San Diego.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Just give give the Padres, give himself a few more
years of being the kind of player that he was.
And I know we talked about this, but it will
never cease to amaze me how good this man was
for let's call it six years and then how bad
(14:47):
he has been for half of every year that he's
been here, and then for half of every year he's
been here, he's actually been pretty close to what he
was in Boston throughout, you.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Know, his good years.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
And so that's what he keeps thinking is really amazing
how strongly he has finished each of his three seasons
here and the guy looks great.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
Does that matter now?
Speaker 5 (15:14):
But you know better than coming in fat, I guess
uh uh.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
And you know he did have a really nice finish
again last year. I think it's super important. But I
think we've talked about.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
This before, like you can't predict what is going to
be the difference with.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
A team like Xander can stink, but oh Man, Manny
and and Fernando had career years, or Jackson and Fernando
had career years. Well, but Vander Bolgerts can be that.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Guy who can get the Padres over the hump.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
He can be or at least you know, his past
suggests that. I thought last year was an important year,
uh for us to find out about him, And so
that makes this year even more important for us to
find out who Xander Bogart is because this is his
age thirty three season, like that's as old as me
in real life. Like that's that's beyond middle age basically.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Right in the sport. It's a good point.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
And and still yeah, and still the first half of
his contract with the Padres. So that's and we've had
that guy. That's it's for another day. But I mean,
you know, it's it's it's a business. So there's gonna
have to be a level of production, not just now,
but moving forward for Sander Bogart.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
He's very aware. Look, yeah, we can never view.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
If Xander Bogarts made Ja Croner worth money.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
We would have thought it was a great uh, you know.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
A fine contract, right, Definitely, he doesn't. He makes twenty
five mili every year.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
There, yeah, exactly, that's exactly right, Kevin. Appreciate you taking time.
Safe travels if you are ultimately traveling this week coming
up for the WBC, and we'll catch up with you again,
not next week.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
All right, right, all take care, all right, great.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Stuff fro our Padres insider, Kevin Ac. We're going to
react to that on the other side.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Plus coming up here and I'm looking at for Randa
Mendoza thinking oh this good work.
Speaker 8 (17:06):
San Diego Sports seven sixty, America's finest sports station.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
All right, back with you here on San Diego Sports
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that is your chance to be entered. All right, really,
insightful conversation there with with Kevin on a couple of topics,
Joe Musgrove ownership, Xander Bogart's WBC first mentioned by the
way the Padres today in the Cactus League. They have
(18:19):
busted out the bats again. They're beating the Athletics today
and the ninth I n it's thirteen to eight, so
always encouraging, but again without a lot of the regulars
right now because of the WBC, including Fernando Tatis Junior
and Manny Machado and on Q man Tatis is like
again I said it maybe earlier this week. Whoever, that
was Sergio dipp the interview he did with who Advance
(18:41):
Joseph with the Denver Broncos. Like he's having the time
of his life. That's Fernando Tatis ja. Anytime Tatis is
playing in like the WBC or the playoffs in Major
League Baseball, the guy just goes on a binge.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
He's just having the time of his life.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
And tonight it's an elimination game because it's the quarterfinals.
Winner moves on to the semi finals. They're playing Korea
and they had this big three run rally with two
outs in the second inning so early, but three nothing
Dominican over Korea and Tatis as a two out RBI
single in this game. Machiado has started as well in
this game. I mean, I know it's five games for Tatis,
(19:17):
but fifteen hundred ops in five games is really impressive.
It's been better than Wa Soto's been. He's been better
than Junior Camarino has been. He's been like Flatty, He's
been like flat Guerrero in this event so far, beaut
Carrero has been on fire as well. But I mean,
this could ultimately be the champion. This Dominican team. We
(19:37):
talked about their lineup they're pitching is held up. And
then again the nightcap in the WBC is the US
and Canada, where one of those two teams is going
to move on as well. So again, it's been an
interesting tournament. I think I'm at the point is this cool?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Like?
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Is this cool, Brent for me to root for the
Dominican Like? Am I allowed to for the Dominican over
the US?
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Is that?
Speaker 6 (20:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I can't do that, not over them? What if?
Speaker 4 (20:05):
So you're saying, if they play, I have to root
for Tatisa Machado to to not be.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Good It's kind of like the fantasy football thing, right,
you can root for them to do well and hope
they lose, but if they do well, they're probably not
going to lose.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
True, Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I mean, if it is, I guess, US versus Dominican, Yeah,
you're okay. You want to see the US win it,
but not really at the expense of Tatisa Machada playing well.
Like I wouldn't want to see Tatista strike out to
end the WBC, for example, against the US, Like that's
not something I would be personally looking forward to, saying, well.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
That's like the Major League Baseball All Star Game. It's
like every year it's just like, okay, let's not have
it be a CUB that gives up the game winning
home run or has some sort of air or you know,
big things. So then the next morning everyone's like, oh,
it's all PCA's fault or something like this. So yeah,
it could be that way to where it's just like, okay,
you know, we just don't want the you know, Dominican
(21:03):
to lose on a tatis air or something that's gonna
look bad.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
And you imagine, no. You bring up a great point
with the fantasy sports element. It's like you start like
you're a diehard Bears fan, for example, like Brent, and
now you're rooting against Caleb Williams because of a fantasy matchup.
You know, but you're a diehard Bears fan and they
need to win the game and you want Caleb to
because they're not winning without Caleb Williams playing well. But
you're playing Caleb Williams in fantasy. So is that I
(21:28):
don't find that a true win win. That's more like
a lose lose sometimes when you're in those situations. But yeah,
I guess you're I mean, at the end of the day,
if it comes down to the US versus the Dominican,
I think probably most Prodgers fans are rooting for the US.
I think some might be rooting for like their players.
And again, I'm gonna be fine with it either way.
To your point, in real time, Okay, I buy it.
We're American, so you're rooting for the US side, But like,
(21:50):
are you gonna care forty eight hours later if the
Dominican wins or like four days later or ten days later.
I don't think most people will, So, you know, maybe
it's a bit of a win win. I just think
it's encouraging's what's happening with Tatis. And again, nobody's suggesting
he can do this for one hundred and something games,
and of course not, but like he's got to have
(22:11):
all kinds of confidence right now. He wrote something I
think in the Sporting Tribune or or the Players Tribune,
whatever it is where athletes pen stuff online, and it
was pretty interesting. He talked about his love for the
Dominican and growing up there and the country's infatuation with
baseball and his love for the sport.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
It was pretty interesting.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
So I do think he's really having a marvelous experience.
We don't know how it ends, but I think it's
an amazing experience for him, and I hope it's a
like launching pad, so to speak, for him this year.
Not to say that he's going to do it all
year long, but I do hope it is a launching
pad for him here in twenty twenty six. All right,
Rocomiller on the other side of bracketologists from bracketeer dot org.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
He is a teacher in the school and even the community.
So it's just go to iHeartRadio dot com slash teach.
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Speaker 3 (24:10):
And we've got some matchups tonight.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
The first one is Utah State and Nevada, and then
the encore against San Diego State and New Mexico. And
here to talk about it all, and what's on the
line is Roco Miller, friend of the show, I think
back with us for a third time this bracketology season,
and he's at bracketeer dot Org. I caught up with
him yesterday. I saw him in Vegas. So great to
reconnect with Roco. And what a time of year.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Roco.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Just give it to us bluntly for San Diego State
and New Mexico. What is on the line tonight for
these two teams.
Speaker 7 (24:45):
The entire season? And it says once as he can
be right, Yeah, you know your your whole goal is
to get to the NCAA Tournament. Two very high standard programs.
I would argue Yasteks the the program with the highest
standards in the league, and you know you can't get
there with a loss tonight. I don't think either team can.
(25:06):
So there's that there is there is somewhat of a
path and hope should the winner tonight UH play Utah
State for the championship game and lose in a you know,
maybe it doesn't even matter what the score is, but
just get to that opportunity because whoever wins tonight will
gain a little bit of ground. We know that the
wins above bubble tool is highly highly promoted throughout the season,
(25:30):
whether it be Dan Gavitt David Warlock, who runs the
NCAA Tournament. The selection Chack Keith Gill on the on
the Bracket preview show. So we understand that that gives
this game a little bit of extra weight because the
way that the tool is built is that it's an
accumulation tool.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (25:47):
And you'll get credit for the win now for me personally,
and I'm hoping the committee is doing the same thing.
I've budgeted two spots for the league because I thought
there was a better chance than fifth. I think goes
closer to seventy that somebody other than Utah State would
win this tournament. So we'll see how that plays out.
There's still a three to four chance if all things
(26:09):
are equal, and then there's still the opportunity of either
of these teams that win tonight and if they fall
to Utah State might have done enough to get in
that large bid.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
All right.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
So this is the time of year, Rock of Miller's
with us where if you are in a bubble situation,
and I think most people agree, including most San Diego
State fans. It's the opinion, it's my opinion as well,
that these teams have work to do. They've had good years,
but not enough as of yet to get into the NCAA. Tournament.
So yeah, what are you rooting for. You're rooting for
a lack of bid steelers as well, right, because the
(26:42):
winner of this game, again, if they can't win on Saturday,
their most realistic path is by making sure there isn't
more of a mess around other conference tournaments. Right, We've
had one bid steeler essentially so far, with Miami of
Ohio not winning their conference tournament, and now you're hoping
for kind of chalk elsewhere.
Speaker 7 (27:00):
That's correct, yep, So I think you know, interestingly enough,
the Mount West itself is the most likely to have
a second just depending on where the committee's at with
both the Aztecs and the Logos. But then, of course
if Nevada won it, that would certainly be a big steal.
And then you look at Georgetown, who's left in the
Big East. Li's like Seaton Hall is about to lose,
(27:21):
so we can we can cross them off. That's a
good thing for the Lobos and the Aztecs tonight. You
can look at the way Oklahoma's playing, or even Ole
miss who's still alive in the SEC. You've got there's
a few other examples across the board, right, I think
the ACC there's no chance anymore. So that's good. Same
with the Big twelve, and we'll see what happens in
the Atlantic Ten. I think the Atlantic ten is more
(27:42):
similar to the Mount West, where they're not going to
get more than two teams. Saint Louis is for sure
in so that's basically that their version of Utah State.
And now we see we wait and see if VCU
will either get in as an at large or just
maybe win this tournament. But I think if VCU loses
in anywhere in the tournament and someone else wins it,
(28:02):
they will likely not have a path to the City
at large. Fair or unfair. It's just really hard to
see that league geting three. Much like the Mount West.
At this stage of the game, we just we only
have a few more results to go.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
John, Yeah, no doubt. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I mean selection Sunday obviously within forty eight hours. Now,
you do this for a living, and you watch all
these games come in, and you look at the metrics
and the analytics, how do you explain the quote unquote
maybe as soft of a bubble as we have seen,
is that because of our reliance on some of these
metrics that automatically disqualify teams that twenty five years ago
(28:39):
might have had ute unquote better resumes, but when you
take the deeper dive, they're not as good. Like back
in the day at twenty six and five team making
it up like Belmont, I don't even know what.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
The record is.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Maybe they're finding their way in, but now it's well,
the metrics don't support their inclusion in this event. And
now of a sudden you've got these thirteen and fourteen
and fifteen lost teams and they're not very good. And
that explains the soft bubble, Like how do you justify
it and explain it?
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Yeah, I think there's something to do with that, you know.
I feel like the last ten years we've we've had
bubble issues. You know, in most most cases, most seasons,
if you're on the bubble, you have warts to begin with,
and if you're in those super conferences, which most of
the bubble teams are, you're probably losing at least a
game a week on average, if not more. And that's
just really hard to stomach. Are you really successful? Are
(29:27):
you really deserving of a bid? I understand the affinity
and the talent level that they possess, and if that's
all that matters. Then what's just give them a bit
at the start of the year. I'm more a little
bit old school in the way that I feel like
you should be rewarded for achieving great success. So I
think the example this year, you could look at a
South Florida out of the American the Americans, a high
(29:51):
you know, a higher budget conference, much like the Mountain
West and Memphis is the flagship school. They had their
worst year this year. They're already way out of it.
But South Florida had a great year. They got twenty
five to twenty six wins. They didn't get the big
wins out of conference. They had to take a couple
of losses throughout the conference play, but that's to be expected.
It's not an easy league to go perfect by any means.
(30:14):
And they're not even being disgust really, So you just
kind of cringe at that a little bit. When when
you are taking a look at a Texas team, for example,
that you know, if you take away their Quad four results,
they're ten and fourteen. You know, Oklahoma is like the
toast of the town right now, but they're still twelve
and fourteen in that category, and it just you know,
(30:34):
they get all the opportunities. You know, every one of
their at bats are are very critical at bats, and
you know it's just it's just an unbalanced game plus
plus in those leagues, John, the other thing is the
schedules are a lot of them are unbalanced, particularly in
the Big Twelve where you see teams like TCU and
UCF getting bids this year. I think in both of
(30:55):
those cases. I know UCF's case for sure, they played
the elite six teams in the league just one time,
and so they were able to kind of be the
dominant team of the bottom half. And they've now kind
of schemed the schedule within the conference to make sure
that one or two of those bottom teams can get
in and Eastaw Oklahoma State kind of flirt with that
for a while and TCU was outside, so now they
(31:17):
got two of those teams in plus their Elite six.
A lot of that happened in the in the a
SEC a little bit as well, and so that's why
I think too you see the backloaded schedule part of it.
That's kind of my third nugget here is why so
many of these teams, you know, they still have big
opportunities the last couple of weekends of the year, and
I think we'll probably remember for a while now that
(31:39):
last Saturday where seven bubble teams were more all lost,
maybe it was nine actually, But those opportunities are dialed
up in the fall when the schedules get built, so
they kind of try to anticipate that if you're a
good conference. So I think that's why we're seeing so
much of it. But there's clearly a divide between the
top teams in the country and in these leagues and
(31:59):
then the next set of teams.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
You made an interesting point in terms of you know,
everyone's understood this that the you know, power leagues have
more opportunities quote unquote to enhance their resume than teams
outside of the power structure. And there's advantages and disadvantages
maybe both ways. And listen, teams have plenty of opportunities.
But I go back, like this is what sports are.
In basketball. San Diego State lost a game You'll remember
this game in Phoenix by a point to Grant Canyon,
(32:24):
controversially with an amazing officiating crew of found was called
one Second Left. Most believe it was improperly called who cares,
It's either here nor there. Ultimately that a game like that,
a moment like that, one call can be the difference
for San Diego State being in or out of the field.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Now again you look at like a school in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Again, you could lose a game like that, and you
could lose more games like that, but you pick up
one or two along the way against that top forty
caliber opponent and you.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Can make up for it.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Just San Diego State hasn't had as many opportunities to
necessarily make up for that.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Now.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
They lost to Grand Canyon Home, so they had that,
you know, in their hands, and they didn't take advantage
of it. But I guess my point is the margins
are much thinner than I think people realize outside of
the power leagues, even when people talk about, oh, you know,
it's a historically bad bubble, and I don't disagree with that,
but I also recognize with some of these teams outside
the power leagues are up against to navigate their way
(33:17):
to it at large.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Birth would you agree.
Speaker 7 (33:21):
Yeah, absolutely. I mean that's the frustrating part as somebody
who tracks this every day at all the different levels.
It's just that the opportunities aren't the same. I get
that to a degree, but I also think it's very
difficult in the Mountain West, for example, but other leagues too,
to go win on the road. You got extreme you
got extreme differences between the locations in the Mountain West,
(33:43):
and it's very difficult to go a lot of those
buildings and get to win that. I certainly have more
respect for it than the majority of the committee. I
think it also doesn't help that there's there's nobody from
the mount West currently on the committee, so there's there's
that part of it too. I can't prove that it
helps or hurts. Obviously the leagues don't well the last
three years, going going four to six, then four again
(34:03):
with the bid allocation. But yeah, it is tough. But
the good news is I think the PAC twelve next
year you and I talked about this a little bit yesterday,
they will have uh probably they figure to have three
to four bids on an average year. I would imagine
Santa's Day and Gonzaga being premier programs, Utah State being
very consistent these last you know, five years at least,
(34:27):
right no matter who their coach agnostic. We'll see if
it needs in your one again next year and then
you have the Colorado State Boise combo that have been
pretty good I think four out of the last seven tournaments,
assuming they both missed this year, So those problems will
quickly go away for Aztec fans. But I do think
this year has just been really, really frustrating because the
non conference, you know, you take the home loss to Troy,
(34:51):
Baylor ends up having a horrible year. You have to
own that loss, and then you beat Oregon and then
this ends up being Oregon's worst year probably of the
entire in an Altman era.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
So yep.
Speaker 7 (35:03):
So it's just like some of this stuff is up
to chance, and sometimes some years you get those breaks,
some years you don't. But the one thing I did
like about last night's game, John, was you saw that
San Diego State physicality come back and out of every
team I saw yesterday, If they can just do that
two more days, regardless of the competition, I don't think
there's a team that can beat them in this tournament.
(35:25):
So let's just get the automatic qualifier. I think the
Aztecs are set up well they can if they can
maintain that level for two more nights.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
All right, Dad, we'll set up my final question Rocold.
I appreciate you taking time, as we know it's busy
inside forty eight hours to selection Sunday. If the Aztecs
win this tournament, what seed will they be?
Speaker 7 (35:43):
I think they slot in perfectly to that last eleven
seed that's just sitting there, you know right now, because
of the big steel in the MAC and because of
potentially a second mount West team, which would be the
Aztecs in this example, everybody had to bump up us spots.
So there's one extra number eleven seed compared to where
the projections were, you know, just last week, and it
(36:06):
would go right into Portland because right now, because of
BYU have to go to a Thursday site. If BYU
is in fact that last six seed where we have
them projected, they will play in the same pot as Gonzaga,
and of course for the Mountain West champion, whether it's
San Diego State or otherwise, they would slot perfectly in there.
(36:28):
BYU has not played San Diego State, they have not
played any of the other combinations New Mexico or Nevada,
and I think you would be right there playing b
YU in the first round with a chance to play Gonzaga,
a future rival in the second round, so we'll see
if that plays out. Obviously, if BYU moves to A seven,
it would be a different team. But I think that
Portland spot would still be there, and given all the
(36:50):
circumstances to get a preferred site like that would be
a pretty magical landing spot after all this chaos.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
It would be amazing, pretty forthtuitous as good is anywhere
other than Vie Haserina, which of course they won't be
playing in here in the upcoming Mountain West tournament. Rocco
great insight, awesome seeing you. Are you at the semi
final sideOr where are you at tonight?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
No, I got on the last flight home last night.
I'm back in the bracket. Yeah, I'm in the bracket bunker.
Did the show today until the sixty eight and then
we'll be reacting live on Sunday, Jeff Goodman and myself
and Brad walked Out who helps out as well with
the bracket side. And it's always a lot of fun.
So if you want to turn something else on during
the selection show, pull us up on your laptop. We'll
be on live reacting and you know, hopefully no show
(37:33):
stoppers this year. I just wanted to be a smooth announcement,
but I have a funny feeling there'll be at least
one surprise.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
I was going to say, there's always one surprise, and
if there is a surprise, that again, if the Essex
don't win this tournament, I'll take that as the surprise.
But Roco appreciate it taking time for you and look
forward to connecting soon.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Enjoy the next forty our.
Speaker 8 (37:50):
Beautiful game and SDFC live in one place, set Diego
Sports America's finest station.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
All right back with you on San Diego Sports seven
sixty in the five o'clock hour. You're gonna hear from
both John Stateak, who will call tonight's Mountain West semi final,
including San Diego State New Mexico, and we'll also hear
from Kevin A.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
C Or.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Padres Inside are much more again on the potential sale
of the Padres, Joe musgrove status heading into the season,
and Xander Bogart's expectations for twenty twenty six. I mean,
it's it's amazing that baseball season is essentially here. I mean,
the Padres are thirteen days away from playing in the
regular season. Padres winning the Caxas League earlier today. Our
(38:38):
attention for you know, this week has been on the WBC.
It will be next week as well. The Dominican is
moving on. I mean they're up seven to nothing, so
barring a complete catastrophe in an important game, it's only
the third inning. So yeah, crazier things have happened, but
they are all over the Korean WBC team, and Tatis
now has two RBIs in this game and his unbelievable
(39:00):
productive WBC continues. Many Machado has an RBI in this game.
In the base hit he's been good. He hasn't been
as good as Fernando Tazzis junior. And you know, this
is one of the great stories again in the WBC
and the Dominican I think they can.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
I don't know if you can run rule someone in
the quarterfinal. I think you can.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
I don't think you can do it in the semi
final or the final. But they might run rule Korea
because they're still batting in the third inning with the
bases loaded, with the chance to open up an even
larger lead than seven to nothing. So this is a
little bit of the appetizer tonight because later on tonight
you've got the US and Canada, and then I think
it's tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
You have Puerto Rico in Italy.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
Italy has been one of the darlings here, and then
you've got Venezuela and Japan, and then again those winners
feed into the semi finals next week and then ultimately
that championship game coming up.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
In the WBC.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
So again, US plays later on tonight against Canada, and listen,
it's baseball, so it's hard to really know it to
And again, I think the expectations heading into their loss
against Italy was the San Diego or excuse me, that
the US would have their way with Italy, and that
didn't necessarily transpire, and they're not going to get There's
no more mulligans, there's no more second chances, there's no.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
Well, if they lose to Canada, they might know. If
they lose to Canada, they're done.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
So I hope they look at it like that, a
little bit like what we talked about with college basketball
here today, like that there's no second chances right now,
there's no nine lives, like it's all in your hands.
It is a true winner, go home. And so that
makes for good theater, and that makes for good television.
I think that's why you've seen these good ratings, Like
I just saw that. I think Fox had over two
(40:37):
million viewers for a WBC game that didn't include the
US for the first time ever. That was that Italy
Mexico game because a lot was riding on it for
the United States. That was the game they were supposed
to televise on tub that they upgraded to like FS
one or FS two, and that had two million viewers.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
So I think a lot of.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Americans were intrigued because they wanted to see if the
US would move on or not. So this tournament has
done its job. It's raised the awareness of the sport.
I think it's gotten people excited for the start of
the regular season. I think there's high drama in terms
of is it going to be the Dominican with you know,
Taddi and Machado. Is going to be this US team that,
against some odds, considering they didn't control their own destiny.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Is able to pull it off at home? Is it
going to be.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
Japan again, we'd be their fourth WBC title in six years.
So there's there's some good intrigue and drama right now
in this event, and that's what you want. I think
as a viewer, again, is it my Is it my
favorite format? It's probably not, with some of the tie
breakers and pool play and where the games are played
and how you're determining some of this, but it has
(41:36):
proven to provide some compelling matchups to this point, and
that includes again even in Italy Mexico game that heading
into this I never would have thought in a million
years we would ever even mention, yet that was a
big topic of discussion, and again, two million Americans thought
it was a big enough topic to tune in the
other day. So you got that, and you've got just
an awesome weekend of college basketball if you're a college
(41:58):
basketball fan, the intro league of these conference tournaments and
Selection Sunday and everything that comes with it. So I'm
looking forward to the weekend, and I'm looking forward to
tonight again when San Diego State gets back in the
floor against the University of New Mexico. And I think
you'll enjoy our conversation coming up in a few minutes.
If you missed it earlier with John Zadak, I mentioned
it earlier. I go way back with John, who's a
(42:21):
TV broadcaster for CBS Sports and also the TV announcer
for the Cincinnati Reds and really really terrific college basketball announcer.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
And he's been here all weekend.
Speaker 4 (42:30):
And it's funny the spots that I run into him at,
like we were in Laramie and he's calling the game
on CBS, and then he works for Westwood One and
I ran into him a couple of years ago at
via Has Arena, the last time the NCAA tournament was
at Via Haas And here he is in Vegas for the.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Mounta West Tournament.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
So he's got really good insights to share on San
Diego State, New Mexico, also on that Utah State Nevada game,
and then also again in the five o'clock hour, you're
gonna hear from Kevin Ac, who I think is making
his way for Florida because the Dominican team is going
to move on to the semi finals. Boring again a
complete collapse because they are again leading here today over
Korea in the WBC. Again last check they were leading
(43:09):
seven to nothing and it is seven to nothing through
three innings in that WBC game. So we'll hear from
John Sadac coming up on the other side. You'll hear
from Kevin AC at five point thirty
San Diego Sports seven sixteen, said a global leader in
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Speaker 2 (00:42):
This part is sponsored by Our American Stories podcast. San
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for San Diego FC. San Diego Sports seven sixty. The
Aztecs are still in Vegas to continue the out in
West Conference tournament tonight when they face New Mexico. Our
(01:03):
pregame coverage with Fletch will begin a little after eight,
and John will have the tip after nine on the
next Our American Stories podcast, and I'll share the story
of the Queen of the Sharpshooters herself. We're of course talking.
Speaker 3 (01:15):
About Annie Oakley.
Speaker 2 (01:16):
You won't want to miss the next episode of our
American Stories.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
All right, San Diego Sports seven six sixty. Here on
I could hear myself? Is it is it all right?
Sn shure for back weekend? I know I don't think
it for whatever I hear myself so bad guy. Oh okay, okay,
(01:52):
that's me, that's me.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
We got Kevin Kevin is okay, all right, bear with me.
I'm now good. I'm working on We've had a couple
of ten Kevin, Kevin, I know.
Speaker 5 (02:02):
You're Yeah, you got a long day ahead, so let's.
Speaker 3 (02:04):
Have you know.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
Yeah, Kevin, can I tell you about my day for
a second, because I know your schedule is crazy covering baseball.
I know your schedule is crazy. For what my day
today is crazy because the essex plate it is. I'm
doing this four hour radio show. I'm in Las Vegas.
I don't know what time it is, you know what
I mean? Like, I don't even know what I'm doing.
Speaker 6 (02:22):
And do you believe how much time you have before
that game starts?
Speaker 4 (02:26):
Right, it's still five hours. Padres could play the whole time.
Speaker 5 (02:31):
Media something though. Okay, I'm gonna give you something, a
little knowledge that.
Speaker 6 (02:34):
Maybe you didn't have because I heard the uh uh,
the Annie Oakley reference.
Speaker 5 (02:40):
Okay, okay you hear did you hear the sports.
Speaker 6 (02:43):
Update and the sponsor and and then this Antie Oakley
show that's going to be on.
Speaker 3 (02:48):
You know where she's from, No idea.
Speaker 5 (02:51):
She was born in North Star, Ohio.
Speaker 3 (02:55):
Okay, there is one.
Speaker 5 (02:57):
Other famous resident of North Star, Ohio.
Speaker 6 (03:03):
Two hundred and fifty people Craig Stamon and Annie Oakley born.
Speaker 5 (03:07):
In the same town.
Speaker 3 (03:08):
Oh my gosh, this is where you go. I love that.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
You love that.
Speaker 4 (03:13):
That is a great way to get us started. All right,
let's get there's a lot of big bucks, keV. This
is exactly that's why you're insider. Kevin Acy from the
ute with us right now at San Diego Sports seven sixty.
You've been writing on Joe Musgrove over the last twenty
four hours for our listeners. What's the latest with Joe
and his health? With the season at less than two
weeks away.
Speaker 6 (03:34):
It just seems very very unlikely that he's going to
start the season in the rotation, and whether that's that
he misses the first turn through.
Speaker 5 (03:45):
You know, they play six games in their first eight days.
Speaker 6 (03:48):
Did you get back on the mound here early in
the week and then get on one start here and
then goes you know, stays and gets a minor league
start and then he's able to go I mean, or
is it two three turns that he misses and then
Boom is able to you know what they.
Speaker 5 (04:03):
Hope will be hit the ground running, but.
Speaker 6 (04:06):
He, you know, he had to be shut down. He
came back and the arm didn't feel great after a
pretty good and strong and promising outing. And and I know,
not trying to paint this as like a rosy picture,
but also this isn't entirely unexpected either. Now did they
hope or did they think he would be after his
(04:26):
first spring training start.
Speaker 5 (04:28):
I don't know that they did, but this was I
just want to make it clear they're not just like
doing some sort.
Speaker 6 (04:33):
Of revisionist history or trying to say, oh, this is okay.
They've been saying all along.
Speaker 5 (04:38):
They didn't know how it was going to go.
Speaker 6 (04:39):
And you know that there would be probably more than
one time where Joe would get some extra rest and
and right now, that's what it is, and Joe, you know,
maintains that. That's all it is. That's what the padres maintained,
and that's all it is.
Speaker 7 (04:54):
And so that's where we're at.
Speaker 3 (04:58):
Correct me if I'm wrong.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
I feel like this is timing John by the way,
it's been such a successful surgery over the years. I mean,
buy and large. Those that have Timmy John recover from it. Now,
it's different when you have it multiple times and buy
and large. Maybe not always, but like anything in life,
you can't say something always occurs, but players do recover
from it. But it is fair to say that it
really can be a roller coaster for the player that
(05:19):
next year. And it's it's so dependent on Some guys
are on twelve month timelines because if when they have it,
other guys have eighteen months more like Joe. Some feel
great after this amount of time, others. Then it's the
control factor. So like we should just kind of expect
the unexpected, right, Like, I'm not expecting the worst to
your point, but I am expecting the unexpected a little
bit with Joe over the next few months.
Speaker 6 (05:40):
Yes, and he could be this is his great point.
And you know what I wrote after his first start
that hey, that was real nice, but hey, here's what
could happen.
Speaker 5 (05:48):
And then lo and behold, here we are. You know
it was just like File five or six days later, But.
Speaker 6 (05:53):
That's exactly what happened. It's just this the bumpy road began.
He could be on track and killing it. You know
who would on track? Last spring? Training, coming back from
Tommy John and having a from my understanding, a really
strong spring Sandy l Contra and then what was his
regular season like for the first four months. Terrible, And
(06:13):
so like that's the kind of thing that could happen,
is that, like Joe could be cruising along now everyone's all,
this is gonna be great. He's gonna throw one hundred
and fifty and he's gonna have a tow somethra and
the season started and you don't know what's gonna hang you. No,
don't know what's gonna happen. So it's not good. I mean,
I think that goes without saying, but I realize I'm
(06:34):
trying to I'm playing it down a little bit, so
I want to make sure I'm clear, Like I don't
think I should be happy about this or be like
there's no concern, but this also was not unexpected.
Speaker 4 (06:46):
Well, when you're dealing with uncertainty, I'll brought it out
to like now, the Padres rotation, the thing with Muskros, Yeah,
there was going to be you know, maybe some highs
and lows. I'm sure the Padres anticipated at least to
some extent. How do they deal with that uncertainty when
you just look at the rotation as a whole. You know,
who's who's that sixth or seventh option right now? That
(07:07):
Becau's realistic, that might be filling in early if necessary.
Speaker 5 (07:12):
Well, not to scoop myself, and I don't like to
do that, but I'm.
Speaker 6 (07:16):
Starting to think broader and talk to people broader.
Speaker 5 (07:20):
So you have you know, Walker Bueler, who I think
is going to be your number five.
Speaker 6 (07:24):
And then you know, people in the organization been talking
about Harman Marquez. Now they weren't talking about him like
you know, gonna win the cy. Young was certainly on
the team, but was like a favorite. You know, there's
a contract situation, is his veteran status, and he got
destroyed and and from my understanding, looked. I wasn't there,
Jeff Sanders was. It was a night game that's called
veteran move and so it was a nice retraining game hockey.
(07:49):
And so he looked terrible and and so okay, where
do you go from there? Is it Marco Gonzalez? It's
probably not Tristan mackenzie though he you know, is an option.
Speaker 5 (07:58):
So is it JT. Sears, who you know.
Speaker 6 (08:00):
Looked okay, and has looked better as.
Speaker 5 (08:02):
The spring has gone on. Sure, those are.
Speaker 6 (08:03):
Options, but what about the idea that right now, like
I said, they play six games in eight days, what
about they go with five guys and then they've got
this super deep bullpen and they've got Logan, Glaspie, Jackson, Wolves,
Kyle Hart all having great springs. What if it's like
they try to put together a bullpen game if things
(08:26):
have gone well with their first five starters or whatever
it is, because they have the two off days in
eight days, maybe they're going through with five guys until
like whatever I've mapped out the tenth game or something,
the twelfth game, and then they go a bullpen game
or they throw a bullpen game in there somewhere. It's
like there's some creative ways they can go with the depth.
Speaker 5 (08:47):
Of their bullpen.
Speaker 6 (08:48):
Now that can.
Speaker 5 (08:49):
Also go terribly sideways on you.
Speaker 6 (08:50):
So I'm not saying that's what they're planning on doing,
but like they do have some options.
Speaker 4 (08:56):
I would say, correct me if I'm rolling Kevin AIC's
or Podjas Insider with us right now on San Diego
Sports seven sixty, Like two things are true, And I
think you've made this point on one hand, of course,
everyone wants Joe Musgrove to be healthy. But on the
other hand, even if he isn't, at least to start
the year. This is what teams deal with. They play
one hundred and sixty two games. If there's a couple
of starts in there that are question marks, or you know,
(09:18):
you don't have the best pitching matchup in the sport,
it could be overcome, right, I mean, over the course
of one sixty two they can find ways to navigate this,
assuming Joe ultimately finds his health along the way.
Speaker 3 (09:30):
Yes, and like.
Speaker 6 (09:34):
And you know what, the offense got to score six
to seven runs sometimes, you know what I mean, like it.
It's got to go hand in hand. But I mean,
we've talked about this before. I know you've spent a
fair amount of time on it. It's the reason that
you know, people like whatever it is, it's Steamers or whatever.
You know, the fangrass is down on the podres and
it's pretty it's fairly straightforward, right, They're starting with this
(09:57):
big question. But to your point, a good team, every
team's going to have these things, and a good team
finds a way to overcome it.
Speaker 5 (10:08):
And the Dodgers have one guy with one hundred and
fifty innings last year.
Speaker 6 (10:12):
I mean, no, I'm not saying just because it's been
done by the richest team, the deepest team in history,
that that that's how it's going to be done, or
that's how you should model your team around. But when
you face speed bumps, then you gotta you know, find
find a way around it. And I am now watching
(10:32):
the Dominican just onload on Korea.
Speaker 4 (10:35):
By the way, Oh interesting because I knew that. I
didn't realize that I don't have that on and you're
now hold on, well, let's let's segue now.
Speaker 3 (10:42):
For a minute.
Speaker 4 (10:43):
So because if the Dominic, if the Dominican gets to
the semi finals, and we've got these Padres obviously these
critical figures and Tatisa Machado, how do you how do
you plan on covering the WBC if if these teams
are advancing, I'll be there.
Speaker 5 (10:57):
I will leave tomorrow.
Speaker 6 (10:58):
Uh of Dominican wins because you got, you know, the
two guys in there, and I feel like that's the
San Diego story that could be facing Mason.
Speaker 5 (11:08):
Miller in the semis.
Speaker 6 (11:09):
But it's really about Manny and Tatis and I just
feel like that's something that we can offer to our
readers for me to be there and kind of paint that.
Speaker 5 (11:18):
Scene so really good.
Speaker 6 (11:21):
It was reasonably sure before this game started, But I
believe this is always two outs, just like boom boom,
boom boom, and it's free to go in the second Yeah.
Speaker 4 (11:31):
Yep, three nothing right now, you've been writing about the ownership.
What is the latest in terms of a potential sale
when it comes to a timeline and are we still
at five groups or is that now whittled down from
where we were just a few weeks ago.
Speaker 6 (11:44):
We're down to four reasonably sure based on the people
I checked with today that the three groups we know
about are still a part of that for but I
do not know that for sure.
Speaker 5 (11:55):
So but that people are.
Speaker 6 (11:57):
Like, there's only a small group of people met with
the four prospective owners that were in Peoria this week,
and they no one's saying who they are. I've said
all along when I'm talking with you and elsewhere, this
is not the kind of thing that people are willing
to talk about. But that those four groups did comments
(12:18):
and look, to me, the interesting part is like this
is a coveted property and these guys are going to
get north of three billion dollars. And I remember when
you know, in the beginning it was said like two
seven five are nound there If you're like, what, no, Yeah,
that's what sports franchises go for now. And this is
(12:40):
one that you know, that's a really good fan base
and a.
Speaker 5 (12:45):
Really good team and a really good venue in a
really good city.
Speaker 6 (12:48):
And so to me, that's the really interesting part is
that this price is just going to shatter the Mets.
Speaker 5 (12:53):
Like that doesn't mean that if the Mets were.
Speaker 6 (12:56):
The fell again, or the Phillies, or the Dodgers of course,
or the Yankees, it wouldn't break that. But in terms
of record breaking prices of teams that you know will
have sold probably by April, that you know unders are
going to get a price that I think might shock
some people, that shouldn't.
Speaker 3 (13:13):
Shock people, which is interesting.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
Just one follow up on that, So to break down
that math for a moment, he isn't the largest largest
shareholder the Siler Trust, which includes Shield and her children.
Speaker 3 (13:25):
Is that correct? Yep? So twenty four right, So think
about it.
Speaker 4 (13:30):
I mean, just this sheer math on that a quarter
of three billion is seven hundred and fifty million, so
rough numbers, it's an incredible amount of the windfall is incredible.
The payout here is I mean, it's unbelievable, obviously, and.
Speaker 5 (13:44):
It's going to be things said or someone like John Seidler.
Speaker 6 (13:48):
Who stepped up for his family.
Speaker 5 (13:50):
I'm a huge baseball fan, but not a guy.
Speaker 6 (13:52):
Necessarily you know, was terribly involved with the Padres or
has a big share.
Speaker 5 (13:56):
So let's say his share is four percent, right, one hundred.
Speaker 6 (14:00):
And twenty million dollars based on a three billion dollars.
Speaker 3 (14:03):
Sound amazing, amazing amount of money, Kevin.
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Before you go, Sandra Bogarts, I know you you communicated
with him, You've caught up with him as he gets
ready for year four in San Diego. What's the general
sense from Bogarts in terms of where he is right
now in his career and what he wants to see
himself look like?
Speaker 3 (14:19):
And you know, his fourth year in San Diego.
Speaker 6 (14:23):
Just give give the Padres, give himself a few more
years of being the kind of player that he was.
And I know we talked about this, but it will
never cease to amaze me how good this man was
for let's call it six years and then how bad
(14:47):
he has been for half of every year that he's
been here, and then for half of every year he's
been here, he's actually been pretty close to what he
was in Boston throughout, you.
Speaker 5 (15:01):
Know, his good years.
Speaker 6 (15:02):
And so that's what he keeps thinking is really amazing
how strongly he has finished each of his three seasons
here and the guy looks great.
Speaker 7 (15:13):
Does that matter now?
Speaker 5 (15:14):
But you know better than coming in fat, I guess
uh uh.
Speaker 6 (15:18):
And you know he did have a really nice finish
again last year. I think it's super important. But I
think we've talked about.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
This before, like you can't predict what is going to
be the difference with.
Speaker 6 (15:34):
A team like Xander can stink, but oh Man, Manny
and and Fernando had career years, or Jackson and Fernando
had career years. Well, but Vander Bolgerts can be that.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Guy who can get the Padres over the hump.
Speaker 6 (15:49):
He can be or at least you know, his past
suggests that. I thought last year was an important year,
uh for us to find out about him, And so
that makes this year even more important for us to
find out who Xander Bogart is because this is his
age thirty three season, like that's as old as me
in real life. Like that's that's beyond middle age basically.
Speaker 3 (16:14):
Right in the sport. It's a good point.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
And and still yeah, and still the first half of
his contract with the Padres. So that's and we've had
that guy. That's it's for another day. But I mean,
you know, it's it's it's a business. So there's gonna
have to be a level of production, not just now,
but moving forward for Sander Bogart.
Speaker 5 (16:31):
He's very aware. Look, yeah, we can never view.
Speaker 6 (16:34):
If Xander Bogarts made Ja Croner worth money.
Speaker 5 (16:37):
We would have thought it was a great uh, you know.
Speaker 6 (16:39):
A fine contract, right, Definitely, he doesn't. He makes twenty
five mili every year.
Speaker 4 (16:45):
There, yeah, exactly, that's exactly right, Kevin. Appreciate you taking time.
Safe travels if you are ultimately traveling this week coming
up for the WBC, and we'll catch up with you again,
not next week.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
All right, right, all take care, all right, great.
Speaker 4 (16:58):
Stuff fro our Padres insider, Kevin Ac. We're going to
react to that on the other side.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
Plus coming up here and I'm looking at for Randa
Mendoza thinking oh this good work.
Speaker 8 (17:06):
San Diego Sports seven sixty, America's finest sports station.
Speaker 4 (17:15):
All right, back with you here on San Diego Sports
seven sixty. Roco Miller bracketologists will join us at four
point thirty on this the final business day before selection Sunday, right,
that's coming up in two days. So Roco Miller back
in the show, his thoughts on San Diego State and
New Mexico. They score off here tonight in this massive
showdown in Las Vegas, a game you can hear on
(17:36):
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San Diego Sports seven sixty and Fox on March twenty sixth.
And if you want to be there in person, you
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on the free iHeartRadio app. Tap the red microphone to
(17:57):
leave us a talk back saying the keyword iHeart Awards Again.
The keyword at the talkback mike is iHeart Awards. And
that is your chance to be entered. All right, really,
insightful conversation there with with Kevin on a couple of topics,
Joe Musgrove ownership, Xander Bogart's WBC first mentioned by the
way the Padres today in the Cactus League. They have
(18:19):
busted out the bats again. They're beating the Athletics today
and the ninth I n it's thirteen to eight, so
always encouraging, but again without a lot of the regulars
right now because of the WBC, including Fernando Tatis Junior
and Manny Machado and on Q man Tatis is like
again I said it maybe earlier this week. Whoever, that
was Sergio dipp the interview he did with who Advance
(18:41):
Joseph with the Denver Broncos. Like he's having the time
of his life. That's Fernando Tatis ja. Anytime Tatis is
playing in like the WBC or the playoffs in Major
League Baseball, the guy just goes on a binge.
Speaker 3 (18:52):
He's just having the time of his life.
Speaker 4 (18:54):
And tonight it's an elimination game because it's the quarterfinals.
Winner moves on to the semi finals. They're playing Korea
and they had this big three run rally with two
outs in the second inning so early, but three nothing
Dominican over Korea and Tatis as a two out RBI
single in this game. Machiado has started as well in
this game. I mean, I know it's five games for Tatis,
(19:17):
but fifteen hundred ops in five games is really impressive.
It's been better than Wa Soto's been. He's been better
than Junior Camarino has been. He's been like Flatty, He's
been like flat Guerrero in this event so far, beaut
Carrero has been on fire as well. But I mean,
this could ultimately be the champion. This Dominican team. We
(19:37):
talked about their lineup they're pitching is held up. And
then again the nightcap in the WBC is the US
and Canada, where one of those two teams is going
to move on as well. So again, it's been an
interesting tournament. I think I'm at the point is this cool?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Like?
Speaker 4 (19:54):
Is this cool, Brent for me to root for the
Dominican Like? Am I allowed to for the Dominican over
the US?
Speaker 3 (19:59):
Is that?
Speaker 6 (20:00):
No?
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I can't do that, not over them? What if?
Speaker 4 (20:05):
So you're saying, if they play, I have to root
for Tatisa Machado to to not be.
Speaker 2 (20:08):
Good It's kind of like the fantasy football thing, right,
you can root for them to do well and hope
they lose, but if they do well, they're probably not
going to lose.
Speaker 3 (20:20):
True, Yeah, you're right.
Speaker 4 (20:22):
I mean, if it is, I guess, US versus Dominican, Yeah,
you're okay. You want to see the US win it,
but not really at the expense of Tatisa Machada playing well.
Like I wouldn't want to see Tatista strike out to
end the WBC, for example, against the US, Like that's
not something I would be personally looking forward to, saying, well.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
That's like the Major League Baseball All Star Game. It's
like every year it's just like, okay, let's not have
it be a CUB that gives up the game winning
home run or has some sort of air or you know,
big things. So then the next morning everyone's like, oh,
it's all PCA's fault or something like this. So yeah,
it could be that way to where it's just like, okay,
you know, we just don't want the you know, Dominican
(21:03):
to lose on a tatis air or something that's gonna
look bad.
Speaker 4 (21:06):
And you imagine, no. You bring up a great point
with the fantasy sports element. It's like you start like
you're a diehard Bears fan, for example, like Brent, and
now you're rooting against Caleb Williams because of a fantasy matchup.
You know, but you're a diehard Bears fan and they
need to win the game and you want Caleb to
because they're not winning without Caleb Williams playing well. But
you're playing Caleb Williams in fantasy. So is that I
(21:28):
don't find that a true win win. That's more like
a lose lose sometimes when you're in those situations. But yeah,
I guess you're I mean, at the end of the day,
if it comes down to the US versus the Dominican,
I think probably most Prodgers fans are rooting for the US.
I think some might be rooting for like their players.
And again, I'm gonna be fine with it either way.
To your point, in real time, Okay, I buy it.
We're American, so you're rooting for the US side, But like,
(21:50):
are you gonna care forty eight hours later if the
Dominican wins or like four days later or ten days later.
I don't think most people will, So, you know, maybe
it's a bit of a win win. I just think
it's encouraging's what's happening with Tatis. And again, nobody's suggesting
he can do this for one hundred and something games,
and of course not, but like he's got to have
(22:11):
all kinds of confidence right now. He wrote something I
think in the Sporting Tribune or or the Players Tribune,
whatever it is where athletes pen stuff online, and it
was pretty interesting. He talked about his love for the
Dominican and growing up there and the country's infatuation with
baseball and his love for the sport.
Speaker 3 (22:31):
It was pretty interesting.
Speaker 4 (22:32):
So I do think he's really having a marvelous experience.
We don't know how it ends, but I think it's
an amazing experience for him, and I hope it's a
like launching pad, so to speak, for him this year.
Not to say that he's going to do it all
year long, but I do hope it is a launching
pad for him here in twenty twenty six. All right,
Rocomiller on the other side of bracketologists from bracketeer dot org.
Speaker 3 (22:53):
He is a teacher in the school and even the community.
So it's just go to iHeartRadio dot com slash teach.
Speaker 9 (23:03):
San Diego Sports No.
Speaker 2 (23:20):
Your sport is sponsored by our American Stories podcast. San
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Speaker 3 (23:37):
Their next game is against New Mexico.
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Speaker 4 (24:03):
Brett mentions that we are in Vegas for this critical event,
the Final Mountains Tournament for San Diego State on his
way to the PAC twelve.
Speaker 3 (24:10):
And we've got some matchups tonight.
Speaker 4 (24:13):
The first one is Utah State and Nevada, and then
the encore against San Diego State and New Mexico. And
here to talk about it all, and what's on the
line is Roco Miller, friend of the show, I think
back with us for a third time this bracketology season,
and he's at bracketeer dot Org. I caught up with
him yesterday. I saw him in Vegas. So great to
reconnect with Roco. And what a time of year.
Speaker 3 (24:35):
Roco.
Speaker 4 (24:36):
Just give it to us bluntly for San Diego State
and New Mexico. What is on the line tonight for
these two teams.
Speaker 7 (24:45):
The entire season? And it says once as he can
be right, Yeah, you know your your whole goal is
to get to the NCAA Tournament. Two very high standard programs.
I would argue Yasteks the the program with the highest
standards in the league, and you know you can't get
there with a loss tonight. I don't think either team can.
(25:06):
So there's that there is there is somewhat of a
path and hope should the winner tonight UH play Utah
State for the championship game and lose in a you know,
maybe it doesn't even matter what the score is, but
just get to that opportunity because whoever wins tonight will
gain a little bit of ground. We know that the
wins above bubble tool is highly highly promoted throughout the season,
(25:30):
whether it be Dan Gavitt David Warlock, who runs the
NCAA Tournament. The selection Chack Keith Gill on the on
the Bracket preview show. So we understand that that gives
this game a little bit of extra weight because the
way that the tool is built is that it's an
accumulation tool.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
Uh.
Speaker 7 (25:47):
And you'll get credit for the win now for me personally,
and I'm hoping the committee is doing the same thing.
I've budgeted two spots for the league because I thought
there was a better chance than fifth. I think goes
closer to seventy that somebody other than Utah State would
win this tournament. So we'll see how that plays out.
There's still a three to four chance if all things
(26:09):
are equal, and then there's still the opportunity of either
of these teams that win tonight and if they fall
to Utah State might have done enough to get in
that large bid.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
All right.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
So this is the time of year, Rock of Miller's
with us where if you are in a bubble situation,
and I think most people agree, including most San Diego
State fans. It's the opinion, it's my opinion as well,
that these teams have work to do. They've had good years,
but not enough as of yet to get into the NCAA. Tournament.
So yeah, what are you rooting for. You're rooting for
a lack of bid steelers as well, right, because the
(26:42):
winner of this game, again, if they can't win on Saturday,
their most realistic path is by making sure there isn't
more of a mess around other conference tournaments. Right, We've
had one bid steeler essentially so far, with Miami of
Ohio not winning their conference tournament, and now you're hoping
for kind of chalk elsewhere.
Speaker 7 (27:00):
That's correct, yep, So I think you know, interestingly enough,
the Mount West itself is the most likely to have
a second just depending on where the committee's at with
both the Aztecs and the Logos. But then, of course
if Nevada won it, that would certainly be a big steal.
And then you look at Georgetown, who's left in the
Big East. Li's like Seaton Hall is about to lose,
(27:21):
so we can we can cross them off. That's a
good thing for the Lobos and the Aztecs tonight. You
can look at the way Oklahoma's playing, or even Ole
miss who's still alive in the SEC. You've got there's
a few other examples across the board, right, I think
the ACC there's no chance anymore. So that's good. Same
with the Big twelve, and we'll see what happens in
the Atlantic Ten. I think the Atlantic ten is more
(27:42):
similar to the Mount West, where they're not going to
get more than two teams. Saint Louis is for sure
in so that's basically that their version of Utah State.
And now we see we wait and see if VCU
will either get in as an at large or just
maybe win this tournament. But I think if VCU loses
in anywhere in the tournament and someone else wins it,
(28:02):
they will likely not have a path to the City
at large. Fair or unfair. It's just really hard to
see that league geting three. Much like the Mount West.
At this stage of the game, we just we only
have a few more results to go.
Speaker 3 (28:14):
John, Yeah, no doubt. It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (28:17):
I mean selection Sunday obviously within forty eight hours. Now,
you do this for a living, and you watch all
these games come in, and you look at the metrics
and the analytics, how do you explain the quote unquote
maybe as soft of a bubble as we have seen,
is that because of our reliance on some of these
metrics that automatically disqualify teams that twenty five years ago
(28:39):
might have had ute unquote better resumes, but when you
take the deeper dive, they're not as good. Like back
in the day at twenty six and five team making
it up like Belmont, I don't even know what.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
The record is.
Speaker 4 (28:47):
Maybe they're finding their way in, but now it's well,
the metrics don't support their inclusion in this event. And
now of a sudden you've got these thirteen and fourteen
and fifteen lost teams and they're not very good. And
that explains the soft bubble, Like how do you justify
it and explain it?
Speaker 7 (29:02):
Yeah, I think there's something to do with that, you know.
I feel like the last ten years we've we've had
bubble issues. You know, in most most cases, most seasons,
if you're on the bubble, you have warts to begin with,
and if you're in those super conferences, which most of
the bubble teams are, you're probably losing at least a
game a week on average, if not more. And that's
just really hard to stomach. Are you really successful? Are
(29:27):
you really deserving of a bid? I understand the affinity
and the talent level that they possess, and if that's
all that matters. Then what's just give them a bit
at the start of the year. I'm more a little
bit old school in the way that I feel like
you should be rewarded for achieving great success. So I
think the example this year, you could look at a
South Florida out of the American the Americans, a high
(29:51):
you know, a higher budget conference, much like the Mountain
West and Memphis is the flagship school. They had their
worst year this year. They're already way out of it.
But South Florida had a great year. They got twenty
five to twenty six wins. They didn't get the big
wins out of conference. They had to take a couple
of losses throughout the conference play, but that's to be expected.
It's not an easy league to go perfect by any means.
(30:14):
And they're not even being disgust really, So you just
kind of cringe at that a little bit. When when
you are taking a look at a Texas team, for example,
that you know, if you take away their Quad four results,
they're ten and fourteen. You know, Oklahoma is like the
toast of the town right now, but they're still twelve
and fourteen in that category, and it just you know,
(30:34):
they get all the opportunities. You know, every one of
their at bats are are very critical at bats, and
you know it's just it's just an unbalanced game plus
plus in those leagues, John, the other thing is the
schedules are a lot of them are unbalanced, particularly in
the Big Twelve where you see teams like TCU and
UCF getting bids this year. I think in both of
(30:55):
those cases. I know UCF's case for sure, they played
the elite six teams in the league just one time,
and so they were able to kind of be the
dominant team of the bottom half. And they've now kind
of schemed the schedule within the conference to make sure
that one or two of those bottom teams can get
in and Eastaw Oklahoma State kind of flirt with that
for a while and TCU was outside, so now they
(31:17):
got two of those teams in plus their Elite six.
A lot of that happened in the in the a
SEC a little bit as well, and so that's why
I think too you see the backloaded schedule part of it.
That's kind of my third nugget here is why so
many of these teams, you know, they still have big
opportunities the last couple of weekends of the year, and
I think we'll probably remember for a while now that
(31:39):
last Saturday where seven bubble teams were more all lost,
maybe it was nine actually, But those opportunities are dialed
up in the fall when the schedules get built, so
they kind of try to anticipate that if you're a
good conference. So I think that's why we're seeing so
much of it. But there's clearly a divide between the
top teams in the country and in these leagues and
(31:59):
then the next set of teams.
Speaker 4 (32:01):
You made an interesting point in terms of you know,
everyone's understood this that the you know, power leagues have
more opportunities quote unquote to enhance their resume than teams
outside of the power structure. And there's advantages and disadvantages
maybe both ways. And listen, teams have plenty of opportunities.
But I go back, like this is what sports are.
In basketball. San Diego State lost a game You'll remember
this game in Phoenix by a point to Grant Canyon,
(32:24):
controversially with an amazing officiating crew of found was called
one Second Left. Most believe it was improperly called who cares,
It's either here nor there. Ultimately that a game like that,
a moment like that, one call can be the difference
for San Diego State being in or out of the field.
Speaker 3 (32:40):
Now again you look at like a school in the SEC.
Speaker 4 (32:43):
Again, you could lose a game like that, and you
could lose more games like that, but you pick up
one or two along the way against that top forty
caliber opponent and you.
Speaker 3 (32:51):
Can make up for it.
Speaker 4 (32:52):
Just San Diego State hasn't had as many opportunities to
necessarily make up for that.
Speaker 3 (32:56):
Now.
Speaker 4 (32:56):
They lost to Grand Canyon Home, so they had that,
you know, in their hands, and they didn't take advantage
of it. But I guess my point is the margins
are much thinner than I think people realize outside of
the power leagues, even when people talk about, oh, you know,
it's a historically bad bubble, and I don't disagree with that,
but I also recognize with some of these teams outside
the power leagues are up against to navigate their way
(33:17):
to it at large.
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Birth would you agree.
Speaker 7 (33:21):
Yeah, absolutely. I mean that's the frustrating part as somebody
who tracks this every day at all the different levels.
It's just that the opportunities aren't the same. I get
that to a degree, but I also think it's very
difficult in the Mountain West, for example, but other leagues too,
to go win on the road. You got extreme you
got extreme differences between the locations in the Mountain West,
(33:43):
and it's very difficult to go a lot of those
buildings and get to win that. I certainly have more
respect for it than the majority of the committee. I
think it also doesn't help that there's there's nobody from
the mount West currently on the committee, so there's there's
that part of it too. I can't prove that it
helps or hurts. Obviously the leagues don't well the last
three years, going going four to six, then four again
(34:03):
with the bid allocation. But yeah, it is tough. But
the good news is I think the PAC twelve next
year you and I talked about this a little bit yesterday,
they will have uh probably they figure to have three
to four bids on an average year. I would imagine
Santa's Day and Gonzaga being premier programs, Utah State being
very consistent these last you know, five years at least,
(34:27):
right no matter who their coach agnostic. We'll see if
it needs in your one again next year and then
you have the Colorado State Boise combo that have been
pretty good I think four out of the last seven tournaments,
assuming they both missed this year, So those problems will
quickly go away for Aztec fans. But I do think
this year has just been really, really frustrating because the
non conference, you know, you take the home loss to Troy,
(34:51):
Baylor ends up having a horrible year. You have to
own that loss, and then you beat Oregon and then
this ends up being Oregon's worst year probably of the
entire in an Altman era.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
So yep.
Speaker 7 (35:03):
So it's just like some of this stuff is up
to chance, and sometimes some years you get those breaks,
some years you don't. But the one thing I did
like about last night's game, John, was you saw that
San Diego State physicality come back and out of every
team I saw yesterday, If they can just do that
two more days, regardless of the competition, I don't think
there's a team that can beat them in this tournament.
(35:25):
So let's just get the automatic qualifier. I think the
Aztecs are set up well they can if they can
maintain that level for two more nights.
Speaker 4 (35:32):
All right, Dad, we'll set up my final question Rocold.
I appreciate you taking time, as we know it's busy
inside forty eight hours to selection Sunday. If the Aztecs
win this tournament, what seed will they be?
Speaker 7 (35:43):
I think they slot in perfectly to that last eleven
seed that's just sitting there, you know right now, because
of the big steel in the MAC and because of
potentially a second mount West team, which would be the
Aztecs in this example, everybody had to bump up us spots.
So there's one extra number eleven seed compared to where
the projections were, you know, just last week, and it
(36:06):
would go right into Portland because right now, because of
BYU have to go to a Thursday site. If BYU
is in fact that last six seed where we have
them projected, they will play in the same pot as Gonzaga,
and of course for the Mountain West champion, whether it's
San Diego State or otherwise, they would slot perfectly in there.
(36:28):
BYU has not played San Diego State, they have not
played any of the other combinations New Mexico or Nevada,
and I think you would be right there playing b
YU in the first round with a chance to play Gonzaga,
a future rival in the second round, so we'll see
if that plays out. Obviously, if BYU moves to A seven,
it would be a different team. But I think that
Portland spot would still be there, and given all the
(36:50):
circumstances to get a preferred site like that would be
a pretty magical landing spot after all this chaos.
Speaker 4 (36:57):
It would be amazing, pretty forthtuitous as good is anywhere
other than Vie Haserina, which of course they won't be
playing in here in the upcoming Mountain West tournament. Rocco
great insight, awesome seeing you. Are you at the semi
final sideOr where are you at tonight?
Speaker 7 (37:10):
No, I got on the last flight home last night.
I'm back in the bracket. Yeah, I'm in the bracket bunker.
Did the show today until the sixty eight and then
we'll be reacting live on Sunday, Jeff Goodman and myself
and Brad walked Out who helps out as well with
the bracket side. And it's always a lot of fun.
So if you want to turn something else on during
the selection show, pull us up on your laptop. We'll
be on live reacting and you know, hopefully no show
(37:33):
stoppers this year. I just wanted to be a smooth announcement,
but I have a funny feeling there'll be at least
one surprise.
Speaker 4 (37:38):
I was going to say, there's always one surprise, and
if there is a surprise, that again, if the Essex
don't win this tournament, I'll take that as the surprise.
But Roco appreciate it taking time for you and look
forward to connecting soon.
Speaker 3 (37:49):
Enjoy the next forty our.
Speaker 8 (37:50):
Beautiful game and SDFC live in one place, set Diego
Sports America's finest station.
Speaker 4 (38:04):
All right back with you on San Diego Sports seven
sixty in the five o'clock hour. You're gonna hear from
both John Stateak, who will call tonight's Mountain West semi final,
including San Diego State New Mexico, and we'll also hear
from Kevin A.
Speaker 3 (38:16):
C Or.
Speaker 4 (38:16):
Padres Inside are much more again on the potential sale
of the Padres, Joe musgrove status heading into the season,
and Xander Bogart's expectations for twenty twenty six. I mean,
it's it's amazing that baseball season is essentially here. I mean,
the Padres are thirteen days away from playing in the
regular season. Padres winning the Caxas League earlier today. Our
(38:38):
attention for you know, this week has been on the WBC.
It will be next week as well. The Dominican is
moving on. I mean they're up seven to nothing, so
barring a complete catastrophe in an important game, it's only
the third inning. So yeah, crazier things have happened, but
they are all over the Korean WBC team, and Tatis
now has two RBIs in this game and his unbelievable
(39:00):
productive WBC continues. Many Machado has an RBI in this game.
In the base hit he's been good. He hasn't been
as good as Fernando Tazzis junior. And you know, this
is one of the great stories again in the WBC
and the Dominican I think they can.
Speaker 3 (39:14):
I don't know if you can run rule someone in
the quarterfinal. I think you can.
Speaker 4 (39:17):
I don't think you can do it in the semi
final or the final. But they might run rule Korea
because they're still batting in the third inning with the
bases loaded, with the chance to open up an even
larger lead than seven to nothing. So this is a
little bit of the appetizer tonight because later on tonight
you've got the US and Canada, and then I think
it's tomorrow afternoon.
Speaker 3 (39:38):
You have Puerto Rico in Italy.
Speaker 4 (39:39):
Italy has been one of the darlings here, and then
you've got Venezuela and Japan, and then again those winners
feed into the semi finals next week and then ultimately
that championship game coming up.
Speaker 3 (39:49):
In the WBC.
Speaker 4 (39:51):
So again, US plays later on tonight against Canada, and listen,
it's baseball, so it's hard to really know it to
And again, I think the expectations heading into their loss
against Italy was the San Diego or excuse me, that
the US would have their way with Italy, and that
didn't necessarily transpire, and they're not going to get There's
no more mulligans, there's no more second chances, there's no.
Speaker 3 (40:12):
Well, if they lose to Canada, they might know. If
they lose to Canada, they're done.
Speaker 4 (40:15):
So I hope they look at it like that, a
little bit like what we talked about with college basketball
here today, like that there's no second chances right now,
there's no nine lives, like it's all in your hands.
It is a true winner, go home. And so that
makes for good theater, and that makes for good television.
I think that's why you've seen these good ratings, Like
I just saw that. I think Fox had over two
(40:37):
million viewers for a WBC game that didn't include the
US for the first time ever. That was that Italy
Mexico game because a lot was riding on it for
the United States. That was the game they were supposed
to televise on tub that they upgraded to like FS
one or FS two, and that had two million viewers.
Speaker 3 (40:52):
So I think a lot of.
Speaker 4 (40:53):
Americans were intrigued because they wanted to see if the
US would move on or not. So this tournament has
done its job. It's raised the awareness of the sport.
I think it's gotten people excited for the start of
the regular season. I think there's high drama in terms
of is it going to be the Dominican with you know,
Taddi and Machado. Is going to be this US team that,
against some odds, considering they didn't control their own destiny.
Speaker 3 (41:14):
Is able to pull it off at home? Is it
going to be.
Speaker 4 (41:16):
Japan again, we'd be their fourth WBC title in six years.
So there's there's some good intrigue and drama right now
in this event, and that's what you want. I think
as a viewer, again, is it my Is it my
favorite format? It's probably not, with some of the tie
breakers and pool play and where the games are played
and how you're determining some of this, but it has
(41:36):
proven to provide some compelling matchups to this point, and
that includes again even in Italy Mexico game that heading
into this I never would have thought in a million
years we would ever even mention, yet that was a
big topic of discussion, and again, two million Americans thought
it was a big enough topic to tune in the
other day. So you got that, and you've got just
an awesome weekend of college basketball if you're a college
(41:58):
basketball fan, the intro league of these conference tournaments and
Selection Sunday and everything that comes with it. So I'm
looking forward to the weekend, and I'm looking forward to
tonight again when San Diego State gets back in the
floor against the University of New Mexico. And I think
you'll enjoy our conversation coming up in a few minutes.
If you missed it earlier with John Zadak, I mentioned
it earlier. I go way back with John, who's a
(42:21):
TV broadcaster for CBS Sports and also the TV announcer
for the Cincinnati Reds and really really terrific college basketball announcer.
Speaker 3 (42:29):
And he's been here all weekend.
Speaker 4 (42:30):
And it's funny the spots that I run into him at,
like we were in Laramie and he's calling the game
on CBS, and then he works for Westwood One and
I ran into him a couple of years ago at
via Has Arena, the last time the NCAA tournament was
at Via Haas And here he is in Vegas for the.
Speaker 3 (42:45):
Mounta West Tournament.
Speaker 4 (42:46):
So he's got really good insights to share on San
Diego State, New Mexico, also on that Utah State Nevada game,
and then also again in the five o'clock hour, you're
gonna hear from Kevin Ac, who I think is making
his way for Florida because the Dominican team is going
to move on to the semi finals. Boring again a
complete collapse because they are again leading here today over
Korea in the WBC. Again last check they were leading
(43:09):
seven to nothing and it is seven to nothing through
three innings in that WBC game. So we'll hear from
John Sadac coming up on the other side. You'll hear
from Kevin AC at five point thirty
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